A verb is a word (run) or a phrase (run out) which expresses the existence of a state (hate, smell) or the doing of an action (swim, write). There are two important facts:
1)Verbs are used to express distinctions in time (past, present, future) through tense.
We saw them at the concert yesterday. (Past)
They are doing their homework at the moment. (Present)
Tom will be grateful to his parents all his life. (Future)
2)Auxiliary verbs are used with full verbs to give other information about actions and states. For example, be is used with the present participle of a full verb to say that an action is going on or in progress, at a particular time or with the past participle to form the passive voice.
He was reading a novel when I came in. (progressive aspect)
He was sent the confirmation by post. (passive voice)
Have is used with the past participle of a full verb to form perfect tenses and means the completion of an action.
You'll watch TV after you have finished doing your homework.
- Verb tenses
The only two cases where the form of the basic verb varies are present and past: hate (hates), write (writes) - present ; hated, wrote - past. For the other tenses all combinations of be + present participle and have + past participle as tenses are used. The same is true for will + bare infinitive to refer to the future. We must remember that tense in English is often not entirely related to time.
Could you lend me your eraser for a moment? (Present not past)
I will come on time, don't worry (more of a promise than a future action).
Tenses have two forms, simple and progressive (or continuous). The formula for the progressive aspect is S + Be + V-ing (or present participle):
simpleprogressive
present:I walkI am walking
past:I walkedI was walking
present perfect:I have walkedI have been walking
past perfect:I had walkedI had been walking
future in
the past:I would walk I would be walking
future:I will walkI will be walking
future perfect:I will have walkedI will have been walking.
Simple forms and progressive combinations can also occur with conditionals and modals:
present conditional:I would walkI would be
walking
past conditional:I would have walkedI would have
been walking
modal:I may walkI may be
walking.
- State and dynamic verbs
Some verbs are not generally used in progressive forms. They are called state verbs because they refer to states (e.g., experiences, conditions etc.) rather than to actions. In a sentence like, He loves/loved tennis more than any other game, - loves/loved' describe a state over which he has no control: it is an involuntary feeling.
Dynamic verbs usually refer to actions which are deliberate or voluntary, He's building a hen house, or they refer to changing situations, She's becoming prettier and prettier, that is to activities which have a beginning or an end. We have three situations:
1)Dynamic verbs with progressive and simple forms;
I'm cleaning up my room.
I always clean my room at the weekend.
2)Verbs which are nearly always state verbs (simple forms only):
I hear every noise from my neighbours through this thin wall.
3)Verbs that have dynamic or state uses:
a) deliberate actions: I'm weighing this sack of potatoes.
b) states:He weighs 180 pounds.
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