Verbs A verb is a doing word. It describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being. Ex: The boy ran to school.

The girl looks pretty. We went for a holiday to Spain. Types of Verbs Verbs are classified into different categories depending on their function and state. These classifications are: Lexical and Auxiliary verbs Dynamic and Stative verbs Finite and Non-Finite verbs Regular and Irregular verbs Transitive and Intransitive verbs Lexical and Auxiliary Verbs A Lexical verb is the main verb in a sentence. These are verbs that aren't dependent on other verbs. Ex: It rained all night. An Auxiliary verb is also known as a helping verb. Ex: It will rain tonight. Auxiliaries are of two types: a. Primary auxiliaries: (forms of) to be, to have, to do; and b. Modal auxiliaries: can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, and would. Dynamic and Stative Verbs A Dynamic verb indicates an action, process, or sensation. Ex: I bought a new guitar. A Stative verb describes a state, situation, or condition. Ex: Now I own a guitar. Some Stative verbs: to be, to have, to know, to like, to own, to seem. Finite and Non-Finite Verbs A Finite Verb expresses tense and stands on its own. Ex: She walked to school. A Non-Finite verb is dependent on another phrase or clause. Ex: While walking to school, she spotted a bulbul. A non-finite verb is also called an infinitive or participle. Regular and Irregular Verbs A Regular verb follows a typical grammar rule when conjugated in the past tense, i.e. -ed or -d (or in some cases -t) is added to the main verb. Ex: We finished the project. An Irregular verb does not follow the standard norm. Ex: Milind ate the wrapper on his candy bar. Here the verb to eat becomes ate in the past tense. Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs A Transitive verb is followed by a direct object. Ex: She sells seashells. An Intransitive verb doesn't take a direct object. Ex: He sat there quietly. (Note: Some verbs have both a transitive and an intransitive function.)

Tenses Verb tenses perform two functions: 1. They denote the time of action, such as past, present, or future; and 2. They indicate the degree of completion of the verb. SIMPLE TENSES Formula: Subject + verb (tense conjugation) Simple Past I ate an apple. Simple Present I eat an apple Simple Future I shall eat an apple

Simple Present Tense It is used in following 5 cases: 1) Habitual Actions I exercise every morning. (Habitual actions) 2) General or Universal Truths Time flies. (General truths) 3) Scientific Knowledge Light travels faster than sound. (Scientific knowledge) 4) Action occurring at the time of speaking/writing She lives in Toronto. (Action occurring at the time of writing) 5) To indicate future time when used with time expressions: We travel to Italy next week. Michael returns in the morning. 6) To describe works of literature and the arts: Hamlet avoids avenging his father's death for one reason. Examples He goes to church every Sunday. Water boils at 100 degree Celsius. Calcutta stands on the banks of Hoogli. The sun rises in the east. Simple Past Tense It is used in following 3 cases: 1) To indicate an action completed in the past with a time phrase I met her last year. (If the time phrase is not used then there is ambiguity between past habits and action completed in the past.) 2) For past habits I visited Jaipur every year. (now I dont) 3) After It is time or It is high time sentences It is high time we started studying. ( not start studying) It is time we went. (not go)

Simple Future Tense Used only for action that has still to take place He will play cricket.

PERFECT TENSES Formula: Subject + to have (tense conjugation) + past participle Past Perfect I had eaten an apple Present Perfect I have eaten an apple Future Perfect I shall have eaten an apple

Present Perfect Tense It is used in following 3 cases: 1) For activities completed in the immediate past He has just come. 2) For past action continuing to the present (but not a continuous action as such) We have lived in Mumbai for 10 years. (i.e. we are still living in Mumbai) 3) To talk about things that have already happened but the time in which it has happened is not over, i.e. it is still considered to be present I have drunk three cups of tea today. (today is the present) Mary has walked her poodle three times this week. (the week is the present) Marys dog has bitten me five times so far. (Dogs life is the present) I have written three books so far. (My life is the present, and I am not dead yet) The present perfect tense (has or have) is not used when time is specified (e.g. Last year, 1988, etc.) in the sentence. I have seen this film last year. (Incorrect) I saw this film last year. (Correct) Past Perfect Tense It is used to describe an action completed before a certain moment in the past. Because the present can be wide, to talk about past one has to qualify it by marking a moment as past. He had written a novel even before he was ten years old. Here the past moment is ten years old before which an action has been completed. Note: When two (or more) actions happen in the past, the earlier (or the earliest) one is denoted by past perfect while the later one(s) by simple past. When the teacher saw what the boy had done, she admonished him. Future Perfect Tense

To indicate the completion of an action by a certain future time. Since the present can be wide and based on context, the future is to be qualified by marking a moment in the future. I shall have read the book when you return from your holiday. Note: When two incidents (or more) of the future are being talked about, then the one that is to happen first is denoted by future perfect (if we want to talk about a action that will be completed by then) and the later one by simple present. I shall have eaten by the time you come back from work. CONTINUOUS TENSES Formula: Subject + to be (tense conjugation) + verb (-ing form) Past Continuous I was eating an apple Present Continuous I am eating an apple Future Continuous I shall be eating an apple

Present Continuous Tense Has following 2 uses: 1) To describe an action that is in progress and will be continued, but not necessarily going on at the time of speaking. The college authorities are building a new hostel. 2) Can also express an action that has been arranged to take place in the near future and ones immediate plans when used with a time phrase. I am meeting the Chief Minister tomorrow morning. We are going to a movie this evening. Some verbs are normally not used in the present continuous tense. These are: Verbs of perception: see, hear, smell, notice Verbs used to express feeling or states of mind: want, desire, wish, refuse, forgive, care, hate, like, admire, love Verbs involving the process of thinking: feel, know, mean, remember, forget, recall Verbs denoting possession: have, own, belong, possess Verbs such as: contain, consist, keep, seem, cost When the above verbs are used in present continuous tense, their meanings change: I see several mistakes in this book. I am seeing the principal at 3 p.m. (will be meeting) We hear several rumours about the minister. The judge will be hearing the case tomorrow. (conducting the trial) I have a house at Malakpet.

I am having my breakfast. (eating) The following are wrong: Im lovin it! They are understanding the lesson. I am having a telephone at my place. Instead, they should read: I love it. They understand the lesson. I have a telephone at my place.

Past Continuous Tense It is used in following 2 cases: 1) To denote an action going on at some time in the past When I saw her, she was writing a letter. 2) For persistent habits in the past. He was always chewing gum. Future Continuous Tense It is used in following 2 cases: 1) To express an action going on at some time in the future. By the time I reach home my wife will be cooking. 2) To express future events that are planned. Amitabh will be coming for Durga puja. CONTINUOUS PERFECT TENSES Formula: Subject + to have (tense conjugation) + been + verb (-ing form) Past Perfect Continuous Tense I had been eating an apple Present Perfect Continuous Tense I have been eating an apple Future Perfect Continuous Tense I shall have been eating an apple

Present Perfect Continuous Tense When the action as well as the time in which the action happened is considered unfinished and the fate of the action beyond that is unknown. I have been drinking tea all day. Marys dog has been barking like crazy since it was born. Note: This tense is typically used to make generalizations and philosophical statements. Western countries have been waging wars in the Middle East for thousands of years. Buddhists have been leading a ascetic existence for centuries. It is also used to express sarcasm or scorn in cases of actions begun in the past and still going on as the fate of the action is unknown. They have been building the road since last March. Past Perfect Continuous Tense To express an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued till that time.

Sunil Gavaskar had been playing cricket for more than a decade when Sachin was born.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense To indicate an action represented as being in progress over a period of time that will end in the future. She will have been teaching for five years when she gets married.

Conditionals If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. (conditional clause) (main clause) I will go to Japan, if I have enough money. (main clause) (conditional clause) There are three basic types of conditionals based on the nature of the condition and the time period of the condition. First Conditional Nature: Open condition (what is said in the condition is possible) Time: Refers to either the present or the future. (but the structure used remains present tense) Structure: If + present tense, will + infinitive / present tense / imperative Examples: If he is late, we will have to go without him. If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble. Second Conditional Nature: Unreal (impossible or improbable) but not closed. It may happen. Time: Present; the tense used in the structure is past but we are talking about the present. Structure: If + past tense, would + infinitive Examples: If I knew her name, I would tell you. If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable) If I became president, I would change social security. (unreal) (Compare this to: If I become president, I will change social security. (said by a presidential candidate) Third Conditional Nature: Unreal and closed; i.e. it cannot be changed. Time: Past; we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past. Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. Examples:

If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about the party. (But you didnt, and I have.)So the situation is unreal because we are talking about an incident in the past that did not happen that way and therefore the condition is closed too, as we cannot change it and the results stay as they are. Conditional I. Examples Conditional Clause Main Clause If + Present Tense Will + inf/ present tense / imperative If you help me with the dishes (if + present tense), I will help you with your homework. (will + infinitive) If the sum of the digits is divisible by three (if + present tense), the number is divisible by three. ( present tense) If you see Mr. Fox tonight (if + present tense), tell him I am unwell. (imperative) If + Past Tense Would + infinitive If I were you, I would tell my father. If + Past Perfect Would have + past participle If I had known better, I would not have committed this mistake.

II. Example III. Example

Rules: 1) The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in ifclauses, except to express willingness or request. Examples: If you will come this way, the manager will see you now. I would be grateful if you could give me a little help. 2) For the second conditional, were replaces was: If I were a rich man, I would donate to charity. 3) Instead of if not, we can use unless: Ill be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike. Hell accept the job unless the salary is too low. 4) There is a mixed type conditional for present results of an unreal, closed past. Structure: If + past perfect, would + infinitive If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].

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