Writing for Grammar
Chapter 4, Lesson 1
"Principal Parts of Verbs," pp. 106-109 / Workbook pp. 73-75
The principal parts of a verb are the four forms of the verb from which all forms of the verb can be made. In English the four principal parts are the present (or infinitive), the past tense, the past participle, and the present participle.
Principal Parts of the Verb To Walk:
(To walk is considered a regular verb because we add a -d or -ed to the verb for the past and past participle.)
Principal Parts of the Verb To Run:
Principal Parts of the Verb To Walk:
- present / infinitve: (to) walk
- past tense: walked
- past participle: walked
- present participle: walking
(To walk is considered a regular verb because we add a -d or -ed to the verb for the past and past participle.)
Principal Parts of the Verb To Run:
- present / infinitve: (to) run
- past tense: ran
- past participle: run
- present participle: running
Writing for Grammar
Chapter 4, Lesson 2
"Verb Tenses," pp. 110-113 / Workbook pp. 76-78
Verb tenses indicate when an action or a state of being occurs - in the past, present, or future. We use six different tenses to indicate time. The six tenses include the three ordinary tenses, and three perfect tenses.
Six Verb Tenses
Six Verb Tenses
- Present: I walk
- Past: I walked
- Future: I will walk
- Present Perfect: I have talked
- Past Perfect: I had talked
- Future Perfect: I will have talked
Writing for Grammar
Chapter 4, Lesson 3
"Progressive and Emphatic Forms," pp. 114-116 / Workbook pp. 79-81
Each of the six tenses has a progressive form that expresses a continuing action. You make the progressive forms by using the appropriate tense of the verb be plus the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.
The present and past tenses have additional forms, called emphatic, that add special force, or emphasis, to the verb. You make the emphatic forms by using do (or does) or did plus the base form of the verb.
Olga does think you’re right.
- PRESENT PROGRESSIVE They are waiting.
- PAST PROGRESSIVE They were waiting.
- FUTURE PROGRESSIVE They will be waiting.
- PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE They have been waiting.
- PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE They had been waiting.
- FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE They will have been waiting.
The present and past tenses have additional forms, called emphatic, that add special force, or emphasis, to the verb. You make the emphatic forms by using do (or does) or did plus the base form of the verb.
- PRESENT EMPHATIC
Olga does think you’re right.
- PAST EMPHATIC
Writing for Grammar
Chapter 4, Lesson 4
"Active and Passive Voice," pp. 117-118 / Workbook pp. 82-84
Active voice verb: An active voice verb is an action verb that shows the subject acting. Active voice is usually more vigorous than passive voice: Johnson discussed the problem is active voice.
Passive voice verb: A passive voice verb is an action verb that shows the subject passively being acted upon: The problem was discussed. Passive voice can make sentences seem weak, since the subject of the sentence is not doing anything, and passive voice also tends to leave out important information: If I say The problem was discussed, we do not know who discussed the problem, but if I say Johnson and Boswell discussed the problem, then we have both energy and information. Active voice is vigorous.
Active voice: The meteor struck the ship.
Passive voice: The ship was struck by the meteor.
Active voice: The Literary Society presented Dickens the award.
Passive voice: Dickens was presented with an award.
Passive voice verb: A passive voice verb is an action verb that shows the subject passively being acted upon: The problem was discussed. Passive voice can make sentences seem weak, since the subject of the sentence is not doing anything, and passive voice also tends to leave out important information: If I say The problem was discussed, we do not know who discussed the problem, but if I say Johnson and Boswell discussed the problem, then we have both energy and information. Active voice is vigorous.
Active voice: The meteor struck the ship.
Passive voice: The ship was struck by the meteor.
Active voice: The Literary Society presented Dickens the award.
Passive voice: Dickens was presented with an award.
Writing for Grammar
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
"Moods of Verbs," pp. 119-120 / Workbook pp. 85-87
In addition to the six verb tenses and active and passive voices, verbs have mood. There are three moods: the indicative, the imperative, and the subjunctive. The indicative and imperative moods are not difficult; they are the ordinary forms that we already know. The subjunctive mood, however, is different. We use the subjunctive in IF situations, with the verb were.
Most verbs we use are in the indicative mood, which indicates a fact or opinion:
Examples:
Some verbs are in the imperative mood, which expresses commands or requests. Though it is not stated, the understood subject of imperative sentences is you.
Examples:
When verbs show something contrary to fact, they are in the subjunctive mood.
When you express a wish or something that is not actually true, use the past tense or past perfect tense; when using the verb 'to be' in the subjunctive, always use were rather than was:
Examples:
Review
INDICATIVE: I need some help.
IMPERATIVE: Help me!
SUBJUNCTIVE: If I were smart, I'd call for help.
Most verbs we use are in the indicative mood, which indicates a fact or opinion:
Examples:
- He was here.
- I am hungry.
- She will bring her books.
Some verbs are in the imperative mood, which expresses commands or requests. Though it is not stated, the understood subject of imperative sentences is you.
Examples:
- Be here at seven o'clock. (Understood: You be here at seven o'clock.)
- Cook me an omelette. (Understood: You cook me an omelette.)
- Bring your books with you. (Understood: You bring your books with you.)
When verbs show something contrary to fact, they are in the subjunctive mood.
When you express a wish or something that is not actually true, use the past tense or past perfect tense; when using the verb 'to be' in the subjunctive, always use were rather than was:
Examples:
- If he were here... (Implied: ...but he's not.)
- I wish I had something to eat. (Implied: ...but I don't.)
- It would be better if you had brought your books with you. (Implied: ...but you haven't brought them.)
Review
INDICATIVE: I need some help.
IMPERATIVE: Help me!
SUBJUNCTIVE: If I were smart, I'd call for help.
Grammar for Writing
Chapter 4, Lesson 6
"Problems with Verbs," pp. 121-123 / Workbook pp. 88-90
Misuse of Tenses
Commonly Confused Verbs
leave/let lie/lay rise/raise sit/set
- Use the same tense to express two or more actions that occur at the same time.
- To show a sequence of past events. use the past perfect or past progressive tense to describe the older event and the simple past to describe the more recent one.
Commonly Confused Verbs
- Watch out for pairs of verbs that are spelled similarly and may sound alike.
leave/let lie/lay rise/raise sit/set