Verb: Difference between revisions

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A '''verb''' is a word in the structure of written and spoken languages that generally defines action. Verbs also define time. They tell if an action occurs in the [[present]], the [[past]] or the [[future]]. They also tell if an action occurred in the past and is still occurring in the present. Verbs also tell if the subject is perfroming the action or the action is happening to the subject.
A '''verb''' is a word in the structure of written and spoken languages that generally defines action. Verbs also define time. They tell if an action occurs in the [[present]], the [[past]] or the [[future]]. They also tell if an action occurred in the past and is still occurring in the present. Verbs also tell if the subject is performing the action or the action is happening to the subject.
 
== Tenses ==
 
=== Simple present tense ===
The simple present tense describes actions that happen daily or on a regular basis. Here are some examples.
# I '''drink''' coffee every morning.
# She '''exercises''' once a week.
# They '''meet''' for coffee every Friday morning.
 
'''Note''': In the second sentence, the verb ends in "s". Verbs in the simple present tense, in the third person singular, end with "s". For example,
# He '''drinks''' coffee.
# She '''plays''' soccer.
# It '''crawls''' slowly in the night.
 
In the third person singular,
If the verb ends in "y" and a vowel precedes the "y", add "s". For example,
# She '''plays''' guitar.
# He '''stays''' in the country on weekends.
 
If the verb ends in "y" and a consonant precedes the "y", change the "y" to "i" and add "es". For example,
 
# She '''studies''' all night.
# He '''flies''' from Washington D.C. to Atlanta every weekend.
 
=== Simple past tense ===
The simple past tense describes an action that happened in the past. You may or may not know specifically when the action occurred in the past. You form the past tense by adding '''ed''' to the end of the verb. Here are some examples.
# It '''crawled''' slowly in the night.
# I '''worked''' last Saturday.
# She '''explained''' the Algebra homework to me.
 
If the verb ends with an "e" just add "d".
# I '''exercised''' last night.
# He '''practiced''' piano until 2am.
 
If the verb ends with a consonant and a vowel precedes the consonant, for example the verb permit (the verb ends with "t" (consonant) and an "i" (vowel) precedes the "t") double the final consonant and add "ed". Here are some examples:
# I '''permitted''' her to go to the concert.
# She '''committed''' her campaign to environment issues.
 
If the verb ends in "y" and a vowel precedes the "y", add "ed". For example,
# I '''played''' guitar at the party.
# They '''stayed''' overnight.
 
If the verb ends in "y" and a consonant precedes the "y", change the "y" to "i" and add "ed". For example,
# We '''studied''' in the library.
# They '''partied''' all night.
 
== Continuous/progressive tenses ==
* Present continuous/progressive tense
* Past continuous/progressive tense
* Future continuous/progressive tense
 
== Perfect tenses ==
* Present perfect
* Past perfect
* Future Perfect


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 18:01, 26 February 2008

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A verb is a word in the structure of written and spoken languages that generally defines action. Verbs also define time. They tell if an action occurs in the present, the past or the future. They also tell if an action occurred in the past and is still occurring in the present. Verbs also tell if the subject is performing the action or the action is happening to the subject.

See also