Affirmative I drink You drink He drinks She drinks It drinks We drink You drink They drink

Negative I don't drink You don't drink He doesn't drink She doesn't drink It doesn't drink We don't drink You don't drink They don't drink

Interrogative Do I drink? Do you drink? Does he drink? Does she drink? Does it drink? Do we drink? Do you drink? Do they drink?

Types of Verbs
Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided into three groups: Normal Verbs, NonContinuous Verbs, and Mixed Verbs.

Group I Normal Verbs

Most verbs are "Normal Verbs." These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses. Normal Verbs to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch, etc. Examples:

I eat dinner every day. I am eating dinner now.

Group II Non-Continuous Verbs

The second group, called "Non-Continuous Verbs," is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses. They include: Abstract Verbs to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist... Possession Verbs to possess, to own, to belong... Emotion Verbs to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind... Examples:

He is needing help now. Not Correct He needs help now. Correct He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct He wants a drink now. Correct

Group III Mixed Verbs

The third group, called "Mixed Verbs," is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. In a way, each meaning is a unique verb. Some meanings behave like "NonContinuous Verbs," while other meanings behave like "Normal Verbs." Mixed Verbs to appear, to feel, to have, to hear, to look, to see, to weigh... List of Mixed Verbs with Examples and Definitions: to appear:
Donna appears DONNA SEEMS CONFUSED.

confused. Non-Continuous Verb tonight. Normal Verb

My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club MY FAVORITE SINGER IS GIVING A PERFORMANCE AT THE JAZZ CLUB TONIGHT.

to have:
I have a I POSSESS A DOLLAR.

dollar now. Non-Continuous Verb now. Normal Verb

I am having fun I AM EXPERIENCING FUN NOW.

to hear:
She hears the music. SHE HEARS THE MUSIC WITH HER EARS.

Non-Continuous Verb

She is hearing voices. Normal Verb SHE HEARS SOMETHING OTHERS CANNOT HEAR. SHE IS HEARING VOICES IN HER MIND.

to look:
Nancy looks SHE SEEMS TIRED.

tired. Non-Continuous Verb at the pictures. Normal Verb

Farah is looking SHE IS LOOKING WITH HER EYES.

to miss:
John misses Sally. Non-Continuous HE IS SAD BECAUSE SHE IS NOT THERE. Debbie is missing her favorite SHE IS NOT THERE TO SEE HER FAVORITE PROGRAM.

Verb

TV program. Normal Verb

to see:
I see her. Non-Continuous I SEE HER WITH MY EYES.

Verb

 I am seeing the doctor. Normal Verb I AM VISITING OR CONSULTING WITH A DOCTOR. (ALSO USED WITH DENTIST AND LAWYER.) I am seeing her. Normal I AM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

Verb

He is seeing ghosts at night. Normal Verb HE SEES SOMETHING OTHERS CANNOT SEE. FOR EXAMPLE GHOSTS, AURA, A VISION OF THE FUTURE, ETC.

to smell:
The coffee smells THE COFFEE HAS A GOOD SMELL.

good. Non-Continuous Verb

I am smelling the flowers. Normal Verb I AM SNIFFING THE FLOWERS TO SEE WHAT THEIR SMELL IS LIKE.

to taste:
The coffee tastes THE COFFEE HAS A GOOD TASTE.

good. Non-Continuous Verb Verb

I am tasting the cake. Normal I AM TRYING THE CAKE TO SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

to think:
He thinks the test is HE CONSIDERS THE TEST TO BE EASY.

easy. Non-Continuous Verb Verb

She is thinking about the question. Normal SHE IS PONDERING THE QUESTION, GOING OVER IT IN HER MIND.

to weigh:
The table THE TABLE IS HEAVY.

weighs a lot. Non-Continuous Verb herself. Normal Verb

She is weighing SHE IS DETERMINING HER WEIGHT.

Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing: to be:

Joe is American. JOE IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

Non-Continuous Verb Verb

Joe is being very American. Normal JOE IS BEHAVING LIKE A STEREOTYPICAL AMERICAN. Joe is being very rude. Normal Verb JOE IS BEHAVING VERY RUDELY. USUALLY HE IS NOT RUDE.

Joe is being very formal. Normal Verb JOE IS BEHAVING VERY FORMALLY. USUALLY HE IS NOT FORMAL.

NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone's behavior is noticeably different. to feel:
The massage feels great. THE MASSAGE HAS A PLEASING FEELING. I don't I AM A LITTLE SICK. I AM A LITTLE SICK.

Non-Continuous Verb

feel well today. Sometimes used as Non-Continuous Verb

I am not feeling well today. Sometimes used as Normal Verb NOTICE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real difference in meaning between "I don't feel well today" and "I am not feeling well today."

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. 1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) . 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) . 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) . 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so loudly. 7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

Simple Present
FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person Examples:

You speak English. Do you speak English? You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do. Examples:

I play tennis. She does not play tennis. Does he play tennis? The train leaves every morning at 8 AM. The train does not leave at 9 AM. When does the train usually leave? She always forgets her purse. He never forgets his wallet. Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun. Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things. Examples:

Cats like milk. Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk? California is in America. California is not in the United Kingdom. Windows are made of glass. Windows are not made of wood. New York is a small city. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THAT THIS FACT IS UNTRUE.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well. Examples:

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM. The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM. When do we board the plane? The party starts at 8 o'clock. When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs. Examples:

I am here now. She is not here now. He needs help right now. He does not need help now. He has his passport in his hand. Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. Examples:

You only speak English. Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:

Once a week, Tom cleans the car. ACTIVE Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. PASSIVE

Active / Passive Verb Forms

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and "passive forms." You must learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.

Active Form
In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active. [Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action] Examples:

Passive Form
In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action. [Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action] Examples:

Active / Passive Overview

Active Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. Sam repaired the car. The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Many tourists have visited that castle. Recently, John has been doing the work. George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris. Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes. They will have completed the project before the deadline.

Passive Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom. Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah. The car was repaired by Sam. The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. That castle has been visited by many tourists. Recently, the work has been being done by John. Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

Present Continuous Simple Past Past Continuous

Present Perfect

Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect

Past Perfect Continuous

Simple Future
WILL

Simple Future
BE GOING TO

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John. At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John. The project will have been completed before the deadline.

Future Continuous
WILL

Future Continuous
BE GOING TO

Future Perfect
WILL

Future Perfect
BE GOING TO

They are going to have completed the project before the deadline. The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The project is going to have been completed before the deadline.

Future Perfect Continuous

WILL

The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. The bills used to be paid by Jerry. The pies would always be made by my mother. I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM. I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally tonight.

Future Perfect Continuous

BE GOING TO

Used to Would Always

Jerry used to pay the bills. My mother would always make the pies. I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

Future in the Past

WOULD

Future in the Past

WAS GOING TO

Simple Present Forms

Most Verbs
Most verbs conjugate like the verb "run" below. Notice how you add an "s" to third-person forms. Third-person negative forms and third-person questions are made using "does." Positive

Negative I

Question I do not You do not We do not

Do I Do you Do we Do they Does he

run. Yo u run. We run. Th ey run. He runs. Sh e runs. It runs.

run.

run?

run.

run?

run. They do not run. He does not run. She does not run. It does not run.

run?

run?

run? Does she run? Does it run?

Instead of "s," "es" is added to positive, third-person forms of verbs ending with the following sounds: s, z, sh, ch, j or zs (as in Zsa Zsa). These special "es"-forms have been marked below with an asterisk*. Positive

Negative I rush. You We They

Question I do not You do not We do not They do not He does not Do I rush? Do you rush? Do we rush? Do they rush? Does he

rush.

rush.

rush.

rush.

rush.

rush. He rushes. *

rush.

She rushes. * It rushes. *

rush. She does not rush. It does not rush.

rush? Does she rush? Does it rush?

To Have
The verb "have" is irregular in positive, third-person forms. This irregular form has been marked below with an asterisk*. Positive

Negative I You We

Question I do not You do not We do not They do not He does not Do I have? Do you have? Do we have? Do they have? Does he have? Does she have? Does it have?

have.

have.

have.

have.

have. The y have. He has. * She has. * It has. *

have.

have.

have. She does not have. It does not have.

To Be
The verb "be" is irregular in the Simple Present. It also has different question forms and negative forms. Positive

Negative I Yo W

Question I am

Am

am.

not. You are not. We

I? Ar e you? Ar

u are.

e are.

Th ey are. He is. Sh e is. It is.

are not. They are not. He is not. She is not. It is not.

e we? Ar e they? Is he? Is she? Is it?

Modal Verbs
Modal verbs behave differently from other verbs. Notice that they do not take "s" in the third person - there is no difference between first-person, second-person or third-person forms. Like the verb "be" described above, modal verbs also have different question forms and negative forms in Simple Present. Positive

Negative I should

Question I should not

Should I

go. You should go. We should go. They should go. He should go. She should go. It should go.

go. You should not go. We should not go. They should not go. He should not go. She should not go. It should not go.

go? Should you go? Should we go? Should they go? Should he go? Should she go? Should it go?

Would
"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in

the past. For more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would," visit the following tutorials: Conditional Tutorial, Future in the Past, and Would Always. Examples:

If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies.

CONDITIONAL

I knew that she would be very successful in her career. " " When they first met, they would always have picnics on the beach.
PAST OF WILL REPETITION

Using "Would" in Present, Past, and Future

Modal Use

Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

You can also use:

would
CONDITIONAL

1. If I were president, 1. If I were president, I would cut the cost of I would not raise education. taxes.
2. If I had been president, I would have cut the cost of education. 3. If I were elected president next year, I would cut the cost of education. 2. If I had been president, I would not have raised taxes. 3. If I were president, I would not sign the tax increase next week.

would
PAST OF "WILL"

I said I would help you.

He told me he would be here before 8:00.

I said I wouldn't help you.

He told me he would not be here before 8:00.

would
REPETITION IN PAST

When I was a kid, I would always go to the beach.

When I was a kid, I wouldn't go into the water by myself.

used to

When he was young, he would always do his homework.

When he got older, he would never do his homework.

Simple Present

Introduction
The simple present tense is one of the most common tenses in English. This page will explain the rules for forming the tense with regular verbs.

1. Forming the simple present tense

There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing": Subject I You He She It We They Verb Form simple form simple form simple form + S simple form + S simple form + S simple form simple form Example I sing You sing He sings She sings It sings We sing They sing

In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to have a verb with -S.

2. -s or -es ?
With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules: Verb ending in... s z sh ch How to make the 3rd person singular Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES

Example He passes She dozes She wishes He watches

consonant + y [anything else]

Change Y to I, then add -ES Add -S

It flies He sings

Irregular Verbs
ABCDEFGHK LMNPQRSTUW

Infinitive

Simple Past

Past Participle

A
arise awake arose awakened / awoke arisen awakened / awoken

B
backslide backslid backslidden / backslid

be bear beat become begin bend bet bid bid bind bite bleed blow break breed bring broadcast build burn burst bust buy

was, were been bore born / borne beat beaten / beat became become began begun bent bent bet / betted bet / betted bid / bade bidden bid bid bound bound bit bitten bled bled blew blown broke broken bred bred brought brought broadcast / broadcasted broadcast / broadcasted built built burned / burnt burned / burnt burst burst busted / bust busted / bust bought bought

C
cast catch choose cling clothe come cost creep cut cast caught chose clung clothed / clad came cost crept cut cast caught chosen clung clothed / clad come cost crept cut

D
daydream deal dig disprove dive dive do draw dream drink drive dwell daydreamed / daydreamt dealt dug disproved dove / dived dived / dove did drew dreamed / dreamt drank drove dwelt / dwelled daydreamed / daydreamt dealt dug disproved / disproven dived dived done drawn dreamed / dreamt drunk driven dwelt / dwelled

E
eat ate eaten

F
fall fell fallen

feed feel fight find fit (tailor, change size) fit (be right size) flee fling fly forbid forecast forego foresee foretell forget forgive forsake freeze

fed felt fought found fitted / fit fit / fitted fled flung flew forbade forecast forewent foresaw foretold forgot forgave forsook froze

fed felt fought found fitted / fit fit / fitted fled flung flown forbidden forecast foregone foreseen foretold forgotten / forgot forgiven forsaken frozen

G
get give go grind grow got gave went ground grew gotten / got given gone ground grown

H
hang have hear hew hide hit hold hurt hung had heard hewed hid hit held hurt hung had heard hewn / hewed hidden hit held hurt

K
keep kneel knit know kept knelt / kneeled knitted / knit knew kept knelt / kneeled knitted / knit known

L
lay lead lean leap learn leave lend let lie lie (not tell truth) light laid led leaned / leant leaped / leapt learned / learnt left lent let lay lied lit / lighted laid led leaned / leant leaped / leapt learned / learnt left lent let lain lied lit / lighted

lose

lost

lost

M
make mean meet misunderstand mow made meant met misunderstood mowed made meant met misunderstood mowed / mown

P
partake pay plead proofread prove put partook paid pleaded / pled proofread proved put partaken paid pleaded / pled proofread proven / proved put

Q
quick-freeze quit quick-froze quit / quitted quick-frozen quit / quitted

R
read rid ride ring rise run read (sounds like "red") read (sounds like "red") rid rid rode ridden rang rung rose risen ran run

S
saw say see seek sell send set sew shake shave shear shed shine shit shoot show shrink shut sing sink sit slay (kill) slay (amuse) sleep sawed said saw sought sold sent set sewed shook shaved sheared shed shined / shone shit / shat / shitted shot showed shrank / shrunk shut sang sank / sunk sat slew / slayed slayed slept sawed / sawn said seen sought sold sent set sewn / sewed shaken shaved / shaven sheared / shorn shed shined / shone shit/ shat / shitted shot shown / showed shrunk shut sung sunk sat slain / slayed slayed slept

slide sling slink slit smell sneak sow speak speed spell spend spill spin spit split spoil spread spring stand steal stick sting stink strew stride strike (delete) strike (hit) string strive sublet sunburn swear sweat sweep swell swim swing

slid slung slinked / slunk slit smelled / smelt sneaked / snuck sowed spoke sped / speeded spelled / spelt spent spilled / spilt spun spit / spat split spoiled / spoilt spread sprang / sprung stood stole stuck stung stunk / stank strewed strode struck struck strung strove / strived sublet sunburned / sunburnt swore sweat / sweated swept swelled swam swung

slid slung slinked / slunk slit smelled / smelt sneaked / snuck sown / sowed spoken sped / speeded spelled / spelt spent spilled / spilt spun spit / spat split spoiled / spoilt spread sprung stood stolen stuck stung stunk strewn / strewed stridden stricken struck / stricken strung striven / strived sublet sunburned / sunburnt sworn sweat / sweated swept swollen / swelled swum swung

T
take teach tear telecast tell test-drive test-fly think throw thrust tread understand undertake undo took taught tore telecast told test-drove test-flew thought threw thrust trod taken taught torn telecast told test-driven test-flown thought thrown thrust trodden / trod understood undertaken undone

U
understood undertook undid

W
wake waylay wear weave wed weep wet whet win wind withdraw withhold withstand wring write woke / waked waylaid wore wove / weaved wed / wedded wept wet / wetted whetted won wound withdrew withheld withstood wrung wrote woken / waked waylaid worn woven / weaved wed / wedded wept wet / wetted whetted won wound withdrawn withheld withstood wrung written