THE ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER
PARTS OF SPEECH
VERBS
Verbs: actions or existing states
There are 3 types of verbs: action, linking, and helping.
Action verbs express things we do (physical and mental activity).
stop run study dig wash play
Examples: I ate a whole pizza. You earned an A in Algebra. I ran the 5-mile race.
Linking verbs join the subject with words that further identify or describe the subject.
(They sometimes are described as performing the function of an equal sign.)
am is are has was were be being become been seems
grow feel look prove smell sound taste
Examples: Boating is fun. His mother seems nice. You look well
= = =
Helping verbs help the main verb (action or linking verb).
Verbs that are only helping verbs: shall will should would must
ought (to) might can could may
Examples: I will go home soon. Joe must wear a uniform.
You may reheat the pizza if you are hungry.
Verbs that are used as either helping verbs or linking verbs:
has have had do does did
be being become been is are was were am
Examples – Helping verb: Sean has done well for five years. I did remember to call her.
Linking verb: She is late to class. My brother was a soldier.
There are three basic tenses: present, past, and future.
Each tense has a perfect form, indicating completed action; each has a progressive form,
indicating ongoing action; and each has a perfect progressive form, indicating ongoing
action that will be completed at some definite time.
Simple Forms
Progressive Forms
Perfect Forms
Perfect Progressive Forms
Present
take/s
am/is/are taking
have/has taken
have/has been taking
Past
took
was/were taking
had taken
had been taking
Future
will/shall take
will be taking
will have taken
will have been taking
Simple forms
Present tense describes unchanging, repeated, or customary action or situation
in the present. It can also represent a widespread truth.
Examples: Meaning
The castle is cold and made of stone. unchanging action
Every year, the board elects new members. recurring action
Au is the chemical symbol for gold. widespread truth
Past tense describes an action or situation that was started and finished in the past.
Most past tense verbs end in –ed. *Irregular verbs have special past and past participle
forms.
Examples: Meaning
His career as a professor ended in 2000. regular –ed past
I took the exam last August. irregular form of the verb
Future tense describes an action or situation that will occur in the future. This tense is
formed by using will/shall with the simple form of the verb.
The future tense can also be expressed by using am, is, or are with going to. We can also use the
present tense form with an adverb or adverbial phrase to show future time.
Examples: I will start college in January. She is going to perform her first recital in May.
The President speaks tomorrow. (Tomorrow is a future time adverb.)
*For more information on irregular verbs you may refer to http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/irregular-verb.html.
Progressive Forms
Present progressive tense describes an ongoing action that is happening at the same
time the statement is written. The tense is formed by using am/is/are with the verb form
ending in –ing.
Example: A new trend in education is changing the way instructors teach.
Past progressive tense describes a past action which was happening when another
action occurred. This tense is formed by using was/were with the verb form ending in –ing
Example: He was reading when I called.
Future progressive tense describes an ongoing or continuous action that will take
place in the future. The tense is formed by using will be or shall be with the verb form
ending in –ing.
Example: I shall be considering the options available to me.
Perfect Forms
Present perfect tense describes an action that happened at an indefinite time in the past
or that began in the past and continues in the present. This tense is formed by using
has/have with the past participle of the verb. Most past participles end in –ed. *Irregular
verbs have special past participles.
Examples: Meaning
Sue has traveled to many states to collect antiques. at an indefinite time
Men have fought in wars for centuries. continues into the present
Past perfect tense describes an action that took place in the past before another past
action. This tense is formed by using had with the past participle of the verb.
Example: By the time Adam arrived, the party had ended.
Future perfect tense describes an action that will occur in the future before some other
action. This tense is formed by using will have with the past participle of the verb.
Example: By the time Adam arrives, the party will have gone on for days.
*For more information on irregular verbs you may refer to http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/irregular-verb.html.
Perfect Progressive Forms
Present perfect progressive tense describes an action that began in the past,
continues in the present and may continue into the future. This tense is formed by using
has/have been and the present participle of the verb form ending in –ing.
Example: Lisa has been considering a transfer to Orlando where she will attend college.
Past perfect progressive tense describes a past, ongoing action that was completed
before some other past action. This tense is formed by using had been and the present
perfect of the verb form ending in ing.
Example: Before the budget cuts, the school had been awarding many more grants.
Future perfect progressive tense describes a future, ongoing action that will occur
before some specified future time. This tense is formed by using will have been and the
present participle of the verb form ending in –ing.
Example: By 2010, I will have been living in Daytona Beach for 20 years.
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Subject Verb Agreement
Singular or plural verbs must agree with the number of the noun to which they relate. In
the present tense, one must add an s or es to the present form of the verb when the
subjects or the entity performing the action is a singular third person: he, she, it, or words
for which these pronouns could substitute.
Singular
Plural
The student sings. (He or she sings)
Your children sing. (They sing)
The bird does migrate. (It does)
Those birds do migrate. (They do)
Some tenses of the verb do not use the added s.
Example: I had lunch with my mother on Saturday.
More information on subject and verb agreement can be found at
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/subverag.html
For additional information on verbs see http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary.html
Material adapted from LEO: Literacy Education Online Subject and Verb Agreement and Summary of Verb Tenses.
The Academic Support at Daytona State College, revised 6/09
