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Grammar
Module 3 Weeks 1-3
Action Verbs
Verb: the main word in the predicate.
- Action: action verb tells what the subject does or did.
Present-Tense Verbs
The tense of a verb tells when an action happens. The action can happen in the
present, past, or future.
2. Present: a verb in the present tense tells about an action that happens now or
happens often.
A present-tense verb must agree with the subject of the sentence. The subject and the
verb must both be singular or plural.
3. When the subject is a singular noun or he, she, or it, add –s to the verb.
1. A boy leaps into the air.
4. When the subject is a plural noun or I, we, you, or they, do not add –s to the
verb.
1. Firefighters save people from the devastating fires.
More Present-Tense Verbs
Remember that a verb in the present tense must agree with the subject of the sentence.
Both the subject and the verb must be either singular or plural.
5. Follow these rules to make a present-tense verb agree with the subject.
1. For verbs that end in ss, ch, sh, zz, or x:
1. Add –es when the subject is a singular noun or he, she, or it.
2. Do not add –es when the subject is a plural noun or I, we, you, or
they.
2. For verbs that end in a consonant or y:
1. Change y to i, and add –es when the subject is a singular noun or
he, she, or it.
2. Do NOT change y to i or add –es when the subject is a plural noun
or I, we, you, or they.
Past-Tense Verbs
6. A verb in the past tense tells about an action that already happened.
7. Follow these rules to form the past tense.
1. Add –ed to most verbs.
2. If a verb ends in e, drop the e and add –ed
3. If a verb ends in a consonant and y, change the y to i, and add –ed.
4. For most verbs that end in one vowel followed by one consonant, double
the consonant, and add –ed.
Future-Tense Verbs
A verb in the future tense tells about an action that will happen. The action has not
occurred. Use the special verb will to form the future tense.
The present, past, and future tenses are called simple tenses. They tell about action
that happens now, in the past, and in the future.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb links the subject of a sentence with other words that tell about the
subject. A linking verb does not show action.
Different forms of the verb be are often used as linking verbs. Use the form of be that
agrees with the subject of the sentence.
Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
A verb can be more than one word. In this kind of verb, the most important word is
the main verb. The helping verb usually works with the main verb to tell when the
action happened. The helping verb always comes before the main verb.
The main verb and the helping verb form a verb phrase.
8. Here are some common helping verbs.
1. am, is, are, was, were, will, has, have, had.
9. The verbs can, may, must, and should are called modals. These verbs are also
helping verbs.
Using Helping Verbs
The past tense is often formed by adding –ed to a verb. Another way to show a past
action is to use the helping verbs has, have, or had with the past-tense form of the main
verb.
Be sure to use the helping verb that agrees with the subject of the sentence.
Progressive Forms of Verbs
You have learned about the present, past, and future verb tenses. Each of these tenses
has a progressive form. The progressive form shows that an action is ongoing.
The present progressive form shows ongoing action that is still happening when the
words are written. To form the present progressive, use the helping verb am, is,
or are with the –ing form of the main verb.
The past progressive form shows ongoing action that was happening until another
action occurred. To form the past progressive, use the helping verb was or were with
the –ing form of the main verb.
The future progressive form shows ongoing action that will happen in the future. To
form the future progressive, use the helping verb will be with the –ing form of the main
verb.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not add –ed to show the past tense. Instead, the spelling of an
irregular verb changes to form the past tense. The spelling of many irregular verbs
changes again when they are used with the helping verbs has, have, or had.
There are many irregular verbs. Here are ten of them:
begin began has, have, or had begun
bring brought has, have, or had brought
come came has, have, or had come
do did has, have, or had done
eat ate has, have, or had eaten
give gave has, have, or had given
grow grew has, have, or had grown
make made has, have, or had made
say said has, have, or had said
swim swam has, have, or had swum
More Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not form the past tense by adding –ed. Instead, the spelling of an
irregular verb changes when the past tense is formed. The spelling may change again
when the irregular verb is used with the helping verbs has, have, or had.
break broke has, have, or had broken
draw drew has, have, or had drawn
drive drove has, have, or had driven
fly flew has, have, or had flown
ride rode has, have, or had ridden
sing sang has, have, or had sung
take took has, have, or had taken
tell told has, have, or had told
throw threw has, have, or had thrown
write wrote has, have, or had written
Contractions with NOT
A contraction is made by joining two words together. An apostrophe (‘) takes the place
of any letters that are left out. Some contractions are formed by joining a verb with the
word not.
Notice that the spelling of the verb will changes when it is combined with not to form the
contraction won’t.
is not isn’t do not don’t
are not aren’t does not doesn’t
was not wasn’t did not didn’t
has not hasn’t cannot can’t
have not haven’t could not couldn’t
were not weren’t should not shouldn’t
had not hadn’t would not wouldn’t
will not won’t
