Past-Tense Verbs

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Past-Tense Verbs
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English has only two kinds of verbs, each with
the same three main parts.

• REGULAR
• Infinitive to WALK
• Past tense WALKED
• (no helping verb used)
• Past participle WALKED
• (with helping verb)

• IRREGULAR
• Infinitive to FLY
• Past tense FLEW
• (no helping verb used)
• Past participle
• FLOWN
• (with helping verb)

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Whats the difference between a regular and an
irregular verb?

• A regular verb never changes the main verb
  itself it just adds a -d or an -ed when
  describing past actions
• dancedanced talktalked
• Irregular verbs are unpredictable. When
  describing past actions, they might (1) stay the
  same, (2) change just a part of the word, or (3)
  change the whole word
• cutcut growgrew thinkthought

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Regular Past-Tense Verbs Tip 1

• Remember to add the -d or -ed endings to mark the
  past, especially those endings that we dont hear
  clearly!
• Every day, I walk downtown.
• Yesterday, I walked downtown.
• For weeks now, I have walked downtown.
• Every day, we dance until dawn.
• Yesterday, we danced until dawn.
• For weeks, we have danced until dawn.

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Regular Past-Tense Verbs Tip 2

• Be extra careful when the word to follows a
  past tense verb its easy to forget the verb
  ending because we dont hear it.
• Grammar used to be easy.
• This is supposed to be fun.

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Regular Past-Tense Verbs Tip 3

• Remember to use the change y to i when you add
  -ed rule!

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Irregular Past-Tense Verbs Tip 1

• Some verbs stay the same in the present and the
  past. Dont be tempted to add an ending.

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Irregular Past-Tense Verbs Tip 2

• Unlike other verbs, to be has both a singular and
  a plural form in the past tense. Be sure to use
  the right form.

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Memorize any of the irregular past tense verbs
that dont sound natural to you.
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What about other tenses?

• All other past-tense verbs are formed from the
  past participle and some kind of a helping verb
  like has/have/had/is/was/were
• He has asked the 64,000 question.
• The case was decided in their favor.
• She had succeeded beyond her wildest hopes.
• You have been selected to enter the Publishers
  Clearinghouse sweepstakes!

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Past participles of regular verbs end in -d or
-ed, just as the past-tense verb does.
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Unfortunately, the past participles of irregular
verbs are as unpredictable as the past tense is.
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And just to make things really confusing,
consider
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Warning Potential Trouble Spot!

• Past participles are often used as adjectives, to
  describe other words. Remember the -ed ending!
• What is the prescribed solution?
• ( the solution that someone has prescribed)
• You seem shocked.
• ( something has shocked you)

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Try some out! Are there any missing endings
below?

• She appears to be a very prejudiced person.
• My critical thinking teacher was astonished that
  I finished the quiz so early.
• I think everything is finally settled to
  everyones satisfaction.

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Warning Potential Trouble Spot 2!

• Dont confuse the past tense of the irregular
  verbs (no helping verb) with the past participle
  (with helping verb).
• I begun my homework early this week.
• He had gave me his address.

X
X
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Warning Potential Trouble Spot 3!

• Watch the passive verbs ( a combination of is,
  are, was, were, be, been, or being plus the past
  participle). Be sure to use the participle form.
• My heart is broken.
• (not is broke)
• The course was well designed.
• (not was well design)
• The report will soon be written.
• (not will soon be wrote)

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To review past-tense verbs, see Chapter 19.