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English verbs have five basic
forms: the base form, the - S
form,
the - ing
form, the past
form, and the
past participle form.
The base form is the
verb "with no special endings"--no - s,
- ing,
past-tense
ending,
and so on. Here are the most common
uses
of the
base form:
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If the verb tense is simple present
and if the verb
is
not BE, the base form is used with I,
you,
we,
and they.
Examples:
I / you / we / they have a
problem.
I /
you / we / they speak
English.
I /
you / we / they like sports.
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| 2. |
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If
the verb tense is simple present or
past
and if the verb is
not BE, the base form is used
after
auxiliary verbs
in questions and
negatives.
Examples:
Do I / you / we / they have a
problem?
Does he / she / it have a
problem?
No, I
/ you / we / they don't have a
problem.
No, he / she / it doesn't
have a
problem.
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Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they
do
what you wanted?
No, I / you / he / she / it / we / they
didn't do
what you wanted.
_______________________
Do I / you / we / they need
anything?
Does he / she / it
need anything?
No, I / you / we / they don't need
anything.
No, he / she / it doesn't
need anything.
_______________________
Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they
need
anything?
No, I / you / he / she / it / we / they
didn't need anything.
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| 3. |
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The base form is also used in commands.
Examples:
Leave!
/ Don't leave!
Do
the laundry tomorrow. / Don't do it tonight.
Be
quiet! / Don't be so noisy!
Please stay longer. / Please don't leave
now.
Please
help me. / Please don't ignore me.
Please be on time. / Please don't be
late.
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| 4. |
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The base form is also used directly
after modal
auxiliaries (can , could,
may, might, must, will,
would, shall, should,
and their negative forms).
Examples:
I / You / He / She / It / We / They
can, could,
may, might,
will, would, shall, should, must
help
you.
I / You /
He / She / It / We / They
can't, couldn't,
may not,
might not, won't, wouldn't, shan't,
shouldn't, mustn't help you.
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In addition, the base form is used directly
after
to (the infinitive
structure).
Examples:
They want to see the Grand Canyon.
I prefer to leave early today.
He needs to go to a meeting.
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Another use for the base form is with
make and
have,
an object, and another verb. Use
a base form
for the second verb when
make
and have
show how
the subject
caused another thing to happen.
Examples:
The made us stay late today.
Please make your dog be
quiet!
I'll have someone help
you right away.
Has he had someone wash
his car?
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| 7. |
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Another use for the base form is in
"that" clauses
after certain verbs that
show requests or commands.
Examples:
He asked that we be
careful.
The
manager requested that Bob work
late.
The supervisor demanded that Jane
finish
the report before she left for the day.
The ruler commanded that his subjects
pay higher taxes.
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Another similar use for the base form
is in "that"
clauses after adjectives
that show urgency.
Examples:
It's important that we be
careful.
It's
necessary that Bob work
late in order to
finish
the project on
time.
It's
urgent that she finish
the report today
because
it needs to be faxed by 9:00
PM.
It's
madatory that the subjects pay higher
taxes
because the ruler can ask for whatever he
wants.
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Special Notes:
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Notice that the base form and the "I
/ you / we / they"
form for most verbs are
the same, but that they are
different for
BE:
Come to
class on time.
I
/ You / We / They
always come to class on time.
Be on time.
I / You /
We / They are always on time for class.
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| 2. |
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Notice that the negative form of a command
with
BE uses don't:
Be on time.
Don't
be late.
Please be quiet!
Please
don't be so noisy!
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Most of the modal auxiliaries
have past forms with
have and
a past participle
(may have
left, could
have helped,
would have
known, should have done,
etc.). In
these combinations, have is a base form. |
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| 4. |
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When to is part of a phrasal
verb, an - ing form
follows to, not a base form:
I look forward to taking
a vacation.
Who put him up to doing
that?
We got
to talking and forgot about the time.
(There are very few phrasal verbs that
end in to, however.)
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Next:
more
on verb forms
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