Vexing
Verbs
FORM
-
To use the correct verb,
you must memorize it!
I see you.
I saw you yesterday. I have
seen you before.
I go now. I
went
yesterday. I have gone before.
I bring it
now. I brought it yesterday. I have
brought it before.
I do it now.
I did it yesterday. I have
done it before.
TENSE (Yes,
English has 12 tenses, but don't get tense about them!)
-
Don't switch between tenses
without reason.
PRESENT: Action occurring at the
present moment (also to state a truth, to discuss a creative work)
I dance.
Charlie dances. The Titanicexemplifies
social inequalities.
PAST: Action completed at a definite
time before the present moment
We danced the
night away.
FUTURE: Action occurring at some
time beyond the present moment
Next year we will dance.
PRESENT PERFECT: Action continuing
up to the present moment
I have danced
for
the last time.
PAST PERFECT: Action continuing to
a fixed moment in the past
I had danced
with
Charlie before I married him.
FUTURE PERFECT
Action continuing to a fixed moment in the
future
Before Christmas, I will
have waltzed all night long with Charlie.
VOICE
-
Use the active voice unless
the receiver of the action is more important than the doer of the action.
PASSIVE: The president was
shot by a lawyer.
ACTIVE: A lawyer shot
the
president.
AGREEMENT
-
Use singular verbs with
singular subjects, and use plural verbs
with plural subjects.
Charlie dances.
Charlie and Tonya dance. To
dance and to sing are enviable.
Star Wars
is a movie.