Hey guys. This week and next week we’re going to talk about the 11 big verb tenses. We’re going to concentrate on verb forms, not uses. This is because English verb uses are difficult, and can take a lot of practice, but verb forms are very easy. If you consider yourself an intermediate English student or above, then you should know the 11 basic verb forms which I’m going to mention.
Today, we’re going to do 2 present tenses. Do you know these, and I mean really know them?
1. Present simple
Nice and easy. For most verbs just write the verb and add –s for he/she/it: I eat you eat he/ she eats we eat they eat
However, for verbs which end in a –y, lose the –y and add –ies for he/she/it: I study you study he/she/it studies we study they study
For verbs which end in –sh, -s,-ch or –x, add –es: I fax you fax he/she/it faxes we fax they fax
And, of course you should know that to go, to do and to have are irregular for he/she/it. go→goes do→does have→has
Make sure you know to be. I am you are he/she/it is we are they are
2. Present continuous Use the present simple of to be, and for most verbs just add –ing: I am doing She is seeing The children are learning
However, (i) for verbs which end in a single e, take off the e. I am arriving but The boy is being
You are makingThey are seeing
(ii) for verbs which end in –ie, change that to –y: The boy is lying She is dying
(iii) for verbs which end in consonant,vowel, consonant, double the last consonant.
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