{"id":96,"date":"2024-05-28T23:28:27","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T23:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/karenmariepalmer.com\/theroughwritersguide\/chapter\/working-with-verbs\/"},"modified":"2024-05-28T23:29:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T23:29:13","slug":"working-with-verbs","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/karenmariepalmer.com\/theroughwritersguide\/chapter\/working-with-verbs\/","title":{"raw":"All About Verbs: Tenses, Mood, and Subject-Verb Agreement","rendered":"All About Verbs: Tenses, Mood, and Subject-Verb Agreement"},"content":{"raw":"\n
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Choosing Appropriate Verb Tenses<\/h1>\n

In order to understand verb tenses, it's important to understand what verb tense refers to. In general, verb tense gives us information about three different areas.<\/p>\n

First, the tense<\/span> of a verb usually gives readers a sense of time<\/strong>. In other words, verb tense explains if the action in the sentence took place previously (past tense), is taking place right now (present tense), or will take place some time in the future (future tense).<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, tense can indicate continual or recurring action<\/strong> (progressive<\/span>), action that has completely taken place as of a certain time (perfect<\/span>), and action that began in the past but continues or recurs through the present time (perfect progressive<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally verbs can indicate person<\/strong> (first, second, or third) and number<\/b> (singular or plural).<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe following image gives a broad overview of how a verb can communicate whether an action is occurring in the past, present, or future; if the action is complete, recurring, or continuing from the past; and what the person and number of the subject is. In this image, progressive tense is called \"continuous\":\n\n \n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"]\"Verb<\/a> Image licensed CC BY SA<\/a>.<\/em>[\/caption]\n\n

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Verb tenses allow you to attach timing to sentences you write and say. To make your meaning clear, you need to choose the correct tense for the timing and you need to be sure to include all the needed words for that tense.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Verb Tenses<\/th>\nTiming of Action<\/th>\nAdditional Words and Endings Needed to Complete Verb<\/th>\nExamples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Simple present<\/td>\nTaking place right now<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\nI hike.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You hike.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She hikes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simple past<\/td>\nStarted and finished in the past<\/td>\nAdd -ed<\/em> to verb.<\/td>\nI hiked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You hiked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She hiked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simple future<\/td>\nWill take place after now<\/td>\nAdd will<\/em> or shall<\/em> to the present-tense verb<\/td>\nI will hike.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You will hike.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She will hike.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Present progressive<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Taking place right now and will continue to take place<\/td>\nAdd am<\/em>, is<\/em>, or are<\/em> to the verb + -ing<\/em><\/td>\nI am hiking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You are hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He is hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past progressive<\/td>\nTook place in the past at the same time that another action took place<\/td>\nAdd was<\/em> or were<\/em> to the verb + -ing<\/em><\/td>\nI was hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You were hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He was hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Future progressive<\/td>\nWill take place in the future and will continue on indefinitely<\/td>\nAdd will be<\/em> or shall be<\/em> to the verb + -ing<\/em><\/td>\nI will be hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You will be hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He will be hiking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Present perfect<\/td>\nHappened at an indefinite time in the past or started in the past and continues now<\/td>\nAdd has<\/em> or have<\/em> to the past participle of the verb (usually-ed<\/em>)<\/td>\nI have hiked this trail before. (in the past)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I have hiked this trail since I was five years old. (in the past and continues)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past perfect<\/td>\nTook place before some other past action<\/td>\nAdd had<\/em> to the past participle of the verb (usually -ed<\/em>)<\/td>\nBy the time I saw Jenny, I had hiked past the food station.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Future perfect<\/td>\nWill take place some time in the future before some other action<\/td>\nAdd will have<\/em> to the past participle of the verb (usually-ed<\/em>)<\/td>\nI will have hiked for two hours before you even wake up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Present perfect progressive<\/td>\nBegan in the past, continues now, and might continue into the future<\/td>\nAdd has<\/em> or have been<\/em> to the verb + ing<\/em><\/td>\nI have been hiking for a while.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past perfect progressive<\/td>\nTook place on an ongoing basis in the past and was completed before another past action<\/td>\nAdd had been<\/em> to the verb + -ing<\/em><\/td>\nYou had been walking for an hour when you saw the swans.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Future perfect progressive<\/td>\nTakes place in the future on an ongoing basis<\/td>\nAdd will have been<\/em> to the verb + -ing<\/em><\/td>\nThey will have been hiking once a week by then.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In this chart, you can see how the verb \"to run\" changes depending on the time, state of action, person, and number: <\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Person<\/strong><\/td>\nSingular Present<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural Present<\/strong><\/td>\nSingular Past<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural Past<\/strong><\/td>\nSingular Past Participle<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural Past Participle<\/strong><\/td>\nSingular Progressive<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural Progressive<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
First<\/strong><\/td>\nI run.<\/td>\nWe run.<\/td>\nI ran.<\/td>\nWe ran.<\/td>\nI have run.<\/td>\nWe have run.<\/td>\nI am running.<\/td>\nWe are running.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second<\/strong><\/td>\nYou run.<\/td>\nYou all run.<\/td>\nYou ran.<\/td>\nYou all ran.<\/td>\nYou have run.<\/td>\nYou all have run.<\/td>\nYou are running.<\/td>\nYou all are running.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third<\/strong><\/td>\nHe\/she\/it runs.<\/td>\nThey run.<\/td>\nHe\/she\/it ran.<\/td>\nThey ran.<\/td>\nHe\/she\/it has run.<\/td>\nThey have run.<\/td>\nHe\/she\/it is running.<\/td>\nThey are running.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nHere is a video reviewing all of the tenses and how they work:\n\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/_4WvhaauLj8\n

Using Irregular Verbs Correctly<\/h2>\n

Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the expected verb tense patterns. Note the difference between regular and irregular verbs in the two tables below:<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Regular Verbs<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Base<\/th>\nPast Tense<\/th>\nPast Participle (Preceded by Form of \u201cto Have\u201d)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
accept<\/td>\naccepted<\/td>\naccepted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bump<\/td>\nbumped<\/td>\nbumped<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dry<\/td>\ndried<\/td>\ndried<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hop<\/td>\nhopped<\/td>\nhopped<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
observe<\/td>\nobserved<\/td>\nobserved<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
print<\/td>\nprinted<\/td>\nprinted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
shrug<\/td>\nshrugged<\/td>\nshrugged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wobble<\/td>\nwobbled<\/td>\nwobbled<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Irregular Verbs<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Base<\/th>\nPast Tense<\/th>\nPast Participle (Preceded by Form of \u201cto Have\u201d)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
break<\/td>\nbroke<\/td>\nbroken<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bite<\/td>\nbit<\/td>\nbitten<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
catch<\/td>\ncaught<\/td>\ncaught<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
teach<\/td>\ntaught<\/td>\ntaught<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
awake<\/td>\nawoke<\/td>\nawoke\/awakened<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
arise<\/td>\narose<\/td>\narisen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bear<\/td>\nbore<\/td>\nborne<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bring<\/td>\nbrought<\/td>\nbrought<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
choose<\/td>\nchose<\/td>\nchosen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
come<\/td>\ncame<\/td>\ncome<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
do<\/td>\ndid<\/td>\ndone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
eat<\/td>\nate<\/td>\neaten<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fall<\/td>\nfell<\/td>\nfallen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
freeze<\/td>\nfroze<\/td>\nfrozen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
get<\/td>\ngot<\/td>\ngot\/gotten<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
give<\/td>\ngave<\/td>\ngiven<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
go<\/td>\nwent<\/td>\ngone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
run<\/td>\nran<\/td>\nrun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
drink<\/td>\ndrank<\/td>\ndrunk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ring<\/td>\nrang<\/td>\nrung<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
have<\/td>\nhad<\/td>\nhad<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hear<\/td>\nheard<\/td>\nheard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
know<\/td>\nknew<\/td>\nknown<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lay<\/td>\nlaid<\/td>\nlaid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lead<\/td>\nled<\/td>\nled<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lie<\/td>\nlay<\/td>\nlain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ride<\/td>\nrode<\/td>\nridden<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rise<\/td>\nrose<\/td>\nrisen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
say<\/td>\nsaid<\/td>\nsaid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
see<\/td>\nsaw<\/td>\nsaw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
shine*<\/td>\nshone<\/td>\nshone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
shine*<\/td>\nshined<\/td>\nshined<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
take<\/td>\ntook<\/td>\ntaken<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n
*Note that some words have more than one conjugation based on meaning. For example, the sun and lights shine\/shone\/shone, but when we deal with shoes, we shine\/shined\/shined.<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n\nNow look at how a regular and irregular verb are conjugated side by side:\n

Verb Tenses for the Regular Verb \u201cLook\u201d and the Irregular Verb \u201cEat\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tense<\/th>\nNumber and Person<\/th>\nPast<\/th>\nPresent<\/th>\nFuture<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n

Simple<\/strong><\/p>\n

Past: main verb + -<\/strong>ed<\/em> or irregular variations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Present: main verb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Future: will or shall + main verb<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

First-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nI looked.<\/td>\nI look.<\/td>\nI will look.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I ate.<\/td>\nI eat.<\/td>\nI will eat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nWe looked.<\/td>\nWe look.<\/td>\nWe will look.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We ate.<\/td>\nWe eat.<\/td>\nWe will eat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nYou looked.<\/td>\nYou look.<\/td>\nYou will look.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You ate.<\/td>\nYou eat.<\/td>\nYou will eat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nYou looked.<\/td>\nYou look.<\/td>\nYou will look.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You ate.<\/td>\nYou eat.<\/td>\nYou will eat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nHe looked.<\/td>\nHe looks.<\/td>\nHe will look.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She ate.<\/td>\nShe eats.<\/td>\nShe will eat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nThey looked.<\/td>\nThey look.<\/td>\nThey will look.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They ate.<\/td>\nThey eat.<\/td>\nThey will eat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Progressive<\/strong><\/p>\n

Verb + -<\/strong>ing<\/em> and a form of the verb \u201cto be\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Past: was, were<\/strong><\/p>\n

Present: am, is, are<\/strong><\/p>\n

Future: will be<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

First-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nI was looking.<\/td>\nI am looking.<\/td>\nI will be looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I was eating.<\/td>\nI am eating.<\/td>\nI will be eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nWe were looking.<\/td>\nWe are looking.<\/td>\nWe will be looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We were eating.<\/td>\nWe are eating.<\/td>\nWe will be eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nYou were looking.<\/td>\nYou are looking.<\/td>\nYou will be eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You were eating.<\/td>\nYou are eating.<\/td>\nYou will be looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nYou were eating.<\/td>\nYou are eating.<\/td>\nYou will be eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You were looking.<\/td>\nYou are looking.<\/td>\nYou will be looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nHe was looking.<\/td>\nHe is looking.<\/td>\nHe will be looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She was eating.<\/td>\nShe is eating.<\/td>\nShe will be eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nThey were looking.<\/td>\nThey are looking.<\/td>\nThey will be looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They were eating.<\/td>\nThey are eating.<\/td>\nThey will be eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Perfect<\/strong><\/p>\n

Past participle and a form of the verb \u201cto be\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Past: had<\/strong><\/p>\n

Present: has, have<\/strong><\/p>\n

Future: will have<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

First-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nI had looked.<\/td>\nI have looked.<\/td>\nI will have looked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I had eaten.<\/td>\nI have eaten.<\/td>\nI will have eaten.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nWe had looked.<\/td>\nWe have looked.<\/td>\nWe will have looked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We had eaten.<\/td>\nWe have eaten.<\/td>\nWe will have eaten.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nYou had looked.<\/td>\nYou have looked.<\/td>\nYou will have looked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You had eaten.<\/td>\nYou have eaten.<\/td>\nYou will have eaten.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nYou had looked.<\/td>\nYou have looked.<\/td>\nYou will have looked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You had eaten.<\/td>\nYou have eaten.<\/td>\nYou will have eaten.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nHe had looked.<\/td>\nHe has looked.<\/td>\nHe will have looked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She had eaten.<\/td>\nShe has eaten.<\/td>\nShe will have eaten.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nThey had looked.<\/td>\nThey have looked.<\/td>\nThey will have looked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They had eaten.<\/td>\nThey have eaten.<\/td>\nThey will have eaten.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Perfect progressive<\/strong><\/p>\n

Verb + -<\/strong>ing<\/em> and a form of the verb \u201cto be\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Past: had been<\/strong><\/p>\n

Present: has been, have been<\/strong><\/p>\n

Future: will have been<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

First-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nI had been looking.<\/td>\nI have been looking.<\/td>\nI will have been looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I had been eating.<\/td>\nI have been eating.<\/td>\nI will have been eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nWe had been looking.<\/td>\nWe have been looking.<\/td>\nWe will have been looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We had been eating.<\/td>\nWe have been eating.<\/td>\nWe will have been eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nYou had been looking.<\/td>\nYou have been looking.<\/td>\nYou will have been looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You had been eating.<\/td>\nYou have been eating.<\/td>\nYou will have been eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nYou had been looking.<\/td>\nYou have been looking.<\/td>\nYou will have been looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You had been eating.<\/td>\nYou have been eating.<\/td>\nYou will have been eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person singular<\/strong><\/td>\nHe had been looking.<\/td>\nHe has been looking.<\/td>\nHe will have been looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She had been eating.<\/td>\nShe has been eating.<\/td>\nShe will have been eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third-person plural<\/strong><\/td>\nThey had been looking.<\/td>\nThey have been looking.<\/td>\nThey will have been looking.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They had been eating.<\/td>\nThey have been eating.<\/td>\nThey will have been eating.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Handling Specific Problematic Verbs<\/h2>\n

Some verbs are especially problematic either because their meanings are confused or because some of their forms sound alike. Handle these verbs by knowing which ones give you trouble and then focusing on the conjugation of those specific verbs. Some of these most commonly troublesome verbs are in the following table. You need to know two key verb types to read this table: transitive<\/a><\/span> (when an object receives the action of the verb; in other words, something is done to something) and intransitive<\/a><\/span> (a verb that does not act on an object).<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Problematic Verb Set (Base, Past, P. Part.)<\/th>\nGuidelines<\/th>\nExamples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
borrow\u2026lend<\/td>\nThe verb borrow<\/em> means \u201cto temporarily get from someone else,\u201d and lend<\/em> means \u201cto temporarily give to someone else.\u201d<\/td>\nI borrowed<\/em> Kyle\u2019s backpack since I had lent<\/em> mine to Alice.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
borrow, borrowed, borrowed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lend, lent, lent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bring\u2026take<\/td>\nThe starting point of the action causes the confusion between these two verbs. If you bring<\/em> something, you have to start somewhere else and end up at the common location. If you take<\/em> something, you have to start at the common location and end up somewhere else.<\/td>\nHe brought<\/em> his clean life jacket to the river and took<\/em> away a filthy life jacket.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bring, brought, brought<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
take, took, taken<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
feel\u2026think<\/td>\nThe verb feel<\/em> is emotion based and the verb think<\/em> is logic based.<\/td>\nI feel<\/em> excited about the tree-top ride, but I think<\/em> it might cost more than I can afford.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
feel, felt, felt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
think, thought, thought<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lay\u2026lie<\/td>\nThe verb lay<\/em> is transitive and means \u201cto put,\u201d so whenever you put something down, use lay<\/em>. If you could replace the verb with put<\/em> or place<\/em>, you should use lay<\/em>. The verb lie<\/em> means \u201cto rest\u201d or \u201cto tell a falsehood.\u201d<\/td>\nI laid<\/em> my sunglasses down on a rock.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lay, laid, laid<\/td>\nI lay<\/em> on the rock myself for twenty minutes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lie, lay, lain (rest)<\/td>\nThe ranger jokingly lied<\/em> about the trail being a short one.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lie, lied, lied (fib)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
learn\u2026teach<\/td>\nThe verb learn<\/em> always means to \u201ctake in information\u201d and to teach<\/em> always means to \u201cgive out information.\u201d<\/td>\nI learned<\/em> that Yellowstone was the first national park in the United States. When we go there this summer, I\u2019m going to see what Old Faithful can teach<\/em> me about geysers.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
learn, learned, learned<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
teach, taught, taught<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
raise\u2026rise<\/td>\nThe verb raise<\/em> is transitive, so you always have to raise something. The verb rise<\/em> means to \u201cgo up\u201d or \u201cget up.\u201d<\/td>\nWe are planning to rise<\/em> early so that we are ready to start hiking when the sun rises, so raise<\/em> your hand now if you have a problem with that plan.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
raise, raised, raised<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rise, rose, risen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
set\u2026sit<\/td>\nThe verb sit<\/em> is always intransitive and set<\/em> usually transitive. The most common confusion is when referring to putting something down. Whenever the meaning is to put<\/em>, use set<\/em>.<\/td>\nThe squirrel set<\/em> his nut on the ground and sat<\/em> looking at me.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
set, set, set<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sit, sat, set<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Matching Infinitives and Participles to Verb Tenses<\/h2>\n

Verbals are words formed from verbs that function as other parts of speech. One type of verbals, gerunds (laughing, eating), always function as nouns (e.g., \u201cLaughing<\/em> is good for you\u201d). Present, past, and present perfect participles are verbals that function as adjectives (e.g., \u201cThe sound of laughing<\/em> children always cheered him up,\u201d \u201cThe sight of the broken<\/em> tricycle left in the rain made him gloomy\u201d). Infinitives (to laugh, to have eaten) are another main type of verbals that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. When using any of these verbals, make sure you match the tense of the verb in the sentence.<\/p>\n\n

\n

Infinitives<\/h3>\n

When the action of the infinitive takes place after or at the same time as the action of the main verb, use the present tense:<\/p>\n\n

\n
We plan to camp<\/em> in the National Redwood Forest this week.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When the action of the infinitive takes place before the action of the main verb, present the infinitive in perfect tense<\/a><\/span>:<\/p>\n

We planned to have been camping<\/em> in the National Redwood Forest last week.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

\n

Participle Phrases<\/h3>\n

Participle phrases can begin with the present participle, past participle, or present perfect participle.<\/p>\n

The present participle is the correct choice when the action of the participle is happening at the same time as the action of the main verb:<\/p>\n\n

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Resulting<\/em> in large openings called goosepen scars, fire ravages redwood trees without killing them.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When the action of the participle takes place before the action of the main verb, you can use either a past participle or a present perfect participle:<\/p>\n\n

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Scarred<\/em> by a fire years ago, the large redwood tree still stands tall and awesome. (past participle in participle phrase)<\/p>\n

Having posed<\/em> for several pictures inside the redwood trunk, we climbed out and previewed the shots.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Exercise 1<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n

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1. Identify the verb tense used in each of the following sentences:<\/p>\n\n