Reference
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English Verb System in Two pages.doc
X-Words in English have 5 jobs
VERB FORMS: There are 6 forms of every verb (except to be which has 8 forms)
With X-Words That Show |
With X-Words That Hide |
||||
Base |
“present participle” |
“past participle” |
present “s” |
“present” |
“past” |
BASE |
ING |
D-T-N |
V/Xdoes |
V/Xdo |
V/Xdid |
go |
going |
gone |
goes |
go |
went |
want |
wanting |
wanted |
wants |
want |
wanted |
X-Word and Verb Form Match-ups
X-Word |
Always matches with Verb Form: |
Example: |
do does did
|
V/Xdo à do + BASE V/Xdoes à does + BASE V/Xdid à did + BASE |
I like music. Do you like music? Anna likes music. Does Ana like music? Her parents liked music. Did your parents like music? My parents didn’t like classical music. |
can could will would shall should ought to must might may |
+ BASE
|
Can you help me? I can do it. She can’t do it.
You shouldn’t practice too much. That Paganini piece must be hard! |
have has had |
+ D-T-N |
She has played the violin for 10 years. She hasn’t played the violin for 10 years. Has she played the violin for 10 years? |
am is are was were |
+ ING + D-T-N to make the PASSIVE tense + no verb (description of subject) |
He’s going to bed now. This piece was written by Mozart.
I was busy. |
To be
The ONLY verb in English that has 8 forms; be, being, and been, can be MIDDLE X-Words.
X and BASE |
X and ING |
X and D-T-N |
X |
X |
X |
be |
being |
been |
am are |
is |
was were |
Semi-Modals
Most semi-modals use the BASE
be going to /gonna/ |
+ BASE |
I’m going to go home now. I’m not going to go home now. |
intention (future) |
have to /hafta/ |
+ BASE |
I have to study for the test tonight. She doesn’t have to study. |
obligation |
have got to /gotta/ |
+ BASE |
I’ve got to go. /Gotta go./ (no negative or questions) |
obligation |
ought to /awtta/ |
+ BASE |
He ought to practice more. (negative or questions rare in Am Eng) |
obligation |
used to /usta/ |
+ BASE |
She used to live in Seoul. Negatives and questions always use DID. I didn’t use to live in Seoul. |
In the past, but not now. |
Expanded verbs
Sometimes you can have more than one X-Word (usually have or been); the same rules apply:
Examples:
X X+BASE D-T-N
/coulda/
/shoulda/
/woulda/
X X X
BASE D-T-N ING
will always matches with a BASE (have)
have always matches with a D-T-N (been)
been can match with ING (taking)
X BASE D-T-N ING
could always matches with a BASE (have)
have always matches with D-T-N (been)
been can match ING (sitting)