English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010

Lesson 8: The verb base
Unit 2: Verbs
Part I: Kinds of words

Sometimes a verb changes its form. Let’s look at the following sentences. The verb is underlined in each one.

1. John should study.

2. John studied.

3. John is studying.

4. John studies.

You certainly can’t say, *John should studied, or John to studied, so how do we know that studied is a verb? To test the word, you have to see if it can follow should or to in a different form, not necessarily in the form that you see in a particular sentence. For example, if you see John studied, ask yourself if there’s a different form of studied that can follow should or to. In this case there is: John should study or John decided to study. So study and all its forms are verbs. The form of the verb that follows should or to is called the base form or infinitive form. The term infinitive is used to refer either to the base form alone (for example, study), or to the to + base form (for example, to study).

Let’s put each of these verbs into its base form. The base form is underlined.

5. working: (should, to) work

6. believed: (should, to) believe

7. written: (should, to) write

8. wore: (should, to) wear

9. throws: (should, to) throw

Test yourself 8.1

Put each of the verbs below into its base form. Simply find the form that follows should or to.

Sample: grew: grow

Getting started (answers on p. 41)

1. wrote: ...

2. talking: ...

3. thought: ...

4. considered: ...

5. seen: ...

More practice (answers on the website)

6. investigates: ...

7. spoken: ...

8. married: ...

9. decides: ...

10. found: ...

Test yourself 8.2

Which of the following words are verbs? You may have to put some into their base form in order to be sure. Remember also that a verb usually indicates an action.

Getting started (answers on p. 41)

1. danced

2. sofa

3. large

4. gave

5. stares

More practice (answers on the website)

6. pushed

7. goodness

8. at

9. carries

10. them

Test yourself 8.3

Underline the verbs in each of the sentences below, using the should or to tests to help you. You may have to put some verbs into their base forms in order to be sure. Remember also that a verb usually indicates an action.

Sample: She grabbed his arm.

Getting started (answers on p. 41)

1. The host greeted us cordially.

2. She should say that again.

3. Jonathan walked over to the car.

4. He washes dishes every evening.

5. You can’t speak Vietnamese.

More practice (answers on the website)

6. My neighbor flew to Chicago.

7. The children wanted some candy.

8. Tomorrow we might go to the museum.

9. The censor usually objects to the same seven words.

10. In the afternoon I bought a present for my son.