Verbs: Tenses and Conjugations (Overview)

In English, all verbs have several forms and conjugations.  We use the different forms and conjugations to show who does an action and when an action takes place.

The most basic, unconjugated, form of a verb is the infinitive, which starts with “to.”

 Infinitive verbs include: to be, to walk, to buy.

Each verb has two simple indicative forms: present and past (preterite).  

Present verbs include: I am, you walk, they buy.

Past tense verbs include: I was, you walked, they bought.

Verbs also have a future tense, which shows actions in the future.  Future verbs are compound (not simple), but usually just add the word “will” to the present verb.

Future verbs include: will be, will walk, will buy

Most verbs also have an imperative form (which is a command).  These are typically just the present verb, minus any indication of who is doing the action (because they are telling the person hearing the words to do the action!).

Imperative forms include: be!, walk!, and buy!  

Verbs also have participle forms, which have many uses.  Present participles typically add an “ing” to the verb.  As a participle, a verb can be used in many ways:

Participle as adjective: The crying baby was very loud.

Participle as noun: Crying always makes me feel better.

For this lesson, we will be talking about participles as verbs.  When participles are used as verbs, they are used with other helping verb (such as am, have, or had) to create new verb forms:

Participles include: being, walking, buying.

Past Participles include: was, walked, bought.

We use participles as of the following compound verb forms:

Continuous verbs (continuing actions): is being, was walking, were buying

Perfect verbs (past continuing actions): had been, have walked, had bought

Each verb form has a range of conjugations that show who is doing the action.  In English, most regular verbs only have two conjugations (the only “different” one is for the singular third person).  Many irregular verbs have more than two conjugations.  

To Walk is a regular verb.  Here is the present tense conjugation of To Walk.

 SingularPlural
First PersonIwalkWewalk
Second PersonYou walkInformal: You guyswalk
Third PersonHe, She, ItwalksTheywalk

To Walk is a regular verb.  Here is the past tense conjugation of To Walk.

 SingularPlural
First PersonIwalkedWewalked
Second PersonYou walkedInformal: You guyswalked
Third PersonHe, She, ItwalkedTheywalked

To Be is an irregular verb. Here is the present tense conjugation of To Be.

 SingularPlural
First PersonIamWeare
Second PersonYou areInformal: You guysare
Third PersonHe, She, ItisTheyare

Here is the past tense conjugation of To Be.

 SingularPlural
First PersonIwasWewere
Second PersonYou wereInformal: You guyswere
Third PersonHe, She, ItwasTheywere

To Buy is an irregular verb. Here is the present tense conjugation of To Buy.

 SingularPlural
First PersonIbuyWebuy
Second PersonYou buyInformal: You guysbuy
Third PersonHe, She, ItbuysTheybuy

Here is the past tense conjugation of To Buy.

 SingularPlural
First PersonIboughtWebought
Second PersonYou boughtInformal: You guysbought
Third PersonHe, She, ItboughtTheybought

Verbs are easy to use in the present and past tense forms.  There are not many conjugations and, unless the verb is irregular, you just ad –ed to the end to make it past tense.  

Practice Problems:

  • Verbs: Present and Past Tense Practice

    In the following sentences, fill in the blank with the correct form (either present or past tense) of the verbs.  

    1) Today, Jack _________________ (to want) to find a way to help his mom.

     
    2) He _______________(to know) that she ________________ (to need) some extra money to buy food for the family.


    3) He ____________________ (to feel) really said and disappointed.


    4) Early that day, Jack __________________ (to want) to sell the family cow.


    5) He went to the Smith’s house and said, “You guys ______________ (to see) how great this cow is?  I know that you _______________ (to want) to buy it from me!” 


    6) The Smiths said, “We _________________ (to understand) how much your family _________________ (to crave) a good meal.  But we already _____________________ (to possess) a wonderful cow of our own!”


    7) Then Mrs. Smith ________________ (to ask), “Did you ___________________ (to ask) the Jamisons?  Last week, I heard that they _______________ (to need) a new cow because their cow ___________________ (to escape) from their barn.”


    8) When Ms. Smith said that, Jack __________________________ (to decided) to visit the Jamison’s as soon as possible.  But, Ms. Smith  ___________________________ (to explain) that they live to far away to go today.


    9) Now, as he _________________________ (to walk) into his front yard, Jack ______________________ (to know) that his mom will ask him about the cow.


    10) When she _____________________ (to see) him, Jack’s mom ___________________ (to inquire) if he has had any luck selling the cow.


    11) Jack ________________________(to shake) his head sadly.


    12) He ___________________________(to say), “Sorry, Mom.  When I went to the Smiths, they __________________________ (to explain) that they did not need a new cow.  But now, I __________________________ (to plan) to go see the Jamisons tomorrow.  Don’t worry!  I will find someone to buy the cow.  I _______________________ (to promise) that I will not let you down.”

Test Prep Practice

  • Verb Tense Agreement Test Prep

    1. Last year, $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{graphic designer}}}}$ Nickolay Lamm $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{has created}}}}$ some concept images of "Normal Barbie," a doll with average human proportions, $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{that became}}}}$  very popular around $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{the Internet.}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    2. Because my parents were Korean War refugees, $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{plunked}}}}$ in the middle of the midwestern United States, in my childhood I $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{have}}}}$ zero relatives: $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{no cousins, }}}}$  no aunts or uncles, no grandparents, and thus I was not regularly exposed to the $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{cycle of life.}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    3. I realize now that I have fulfilled $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{my childhood}}}}$ dream of $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{becoming a writer,}}}}$ despite everyone $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{telling}}}}$  me it could not $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{be done.}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    4. Imagine you are deep $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{under}}}}$ water, watching brightly colored schools of fish $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{swimming}}}}$ by, when suddenly you see a dark, ominous figure $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{emerge}}}}$  in the distance, and you $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{could not}}}}$call for help.  $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    5. It $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{was}}}}$ amazing that Ms. Zuiki will give extra credit points to $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{students}}}}$ who demonstrate, through $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{an additional project,}}}}$  that they have $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{mastered}}}}$ the material.  $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$


       
    6. The period right before the American Revolution was a time of great controversy; although the young colonists were worried about their young nation and feared fighting the British, it $\underline{\text{is a heady era for the young nation.}}$
      1. is a heady era for the young nation.
      2. was a heady era for the young nation.
      3. were a heady era for the young nation.
      4. are a heady era for the young nation.
      5. will be a heady era for the young nation. 
         
    7. Don't rush to judge your relationship; $\underline{\text{you will know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with}}$  only after you have lived through great trials and great joys and your love has survived.
      1. You will know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with <
      2. You knew that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with
      3. You did know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with
      4. You couldn't know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with
      5. You know that you have found the person that you are meant to spent your entire life with
    8. Although there is a great deal of physical evidence that supports the theory of natural selection, $\underline{\text{in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers will oppose it.}}$ 
      1. in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers will oppose it.
      2. in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers oppose it.
      3. in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers opposed it.
      4. in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers have opposed it.
      5. in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers will always oppose it.
    9. I want to become the type of person who, once she determines the path she wants to take and the goals she wants to reach,  $\underline{\text{never wavered from that course of action.}}$  
      1. never wavered from that course of action.
      2. never have wavered from that course of action.
      3. never will wavered from that course of action.
      4. never wavers from that course of action.
      5. never wavered off of that course of action.
    10. $\underline{\text{When the Ukrainian president is on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,}}$  Putin, the Russian President, bullied him into pulling out and, instead, entering an extended agreement with Russia.
      1. When the Ukrainian president is on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,
      2. When the Ukrainian president is on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe;
      3. When the Ukrainian president was on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,
      4. When the Ukrainian president was on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe;
      5. When the Ukrainian president will beon the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,

    Answer Key:

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