Verb Terminology

 Regular verbs—Verbs whose endings are –ed or –d in the past

Irregular verbs—Verbs whose roots change as the verbs are transformed from one tense to 

                              another (eat, ate, has/have eaten; sit, sat, has/have sat)

Transitive verbs—Verbs that require direct objects

Intransitive verbs—Verbs that do not require direct objects

Tense—the form of the verb that expresses the time period of the action or state of being

            Present—Expresses present action, habitual action, or action or state of being that 

                            is generally true

            Past—Expresses past action (marking time that occurs at any point before now)

            Future—Expresses future action

Present Perfect—Expresses action that began in the past and is true now or     

                            connected to the present

            Past Perfect—Expresses an action that was completed before another past action

            Future Perfect—Expresses an action that will be completed before another future  

                                       action (looking at an event into the future as if it has been  

                                       completed)

            Present Progressive—Expresses ongoing action in the present (aka continuous)

            Past Progressive—Expresses ongoing action in the past (aka continuous)

            Future Progressive—Expresses ongoing action in the future (aka continuous)

Conjugate: to express the various grammatical forms of a verb according to tense, number, 

                   person, voice and mood

First person—the speaker(s) of the verb (I or We)

Second person—the receiver(s) of the verb (You)

Third person—the person(s) about whom the verb is directed (He, She, It or They)

Mood—The attitude of the speaker or writer toward what he or she is speaking or writing

            Indicative mood states a fact or opinion or asks a question

            Imperative mood makes a demand or gives a direction. The understood subject    

            “you” is used.

            Subjunctive mood expresses a suggestion, a requirement, or a desire. It also  

             states a condition that is contrary to fact (imaginary or hypothetical).

             Note that the forms of the subjunctive depart from the usual forms.

            The manager asked that he donate money. (Suggestion)

            Rules require that the payment be mailed immediately. (Requirement)

            I wish I had more money! (Desire)

            Today would be a better day if it were a day off from work. (Present condition

             contrary to fact)

            The vacation could have been more fun if we had been better prepared. (Past

            condition contrary to fact: past perfect)

 Active Voice—the form of the verb that indicates that the subject is the doer of the verb

                        Example: Mary owned a little lamb.

Passive Voice—the form of the verb that indicates that the action is done to the subject.

                        Example: A little lamb was owned by Mary.

Verb number—refers to a designation of singular or plural

For a more detailed review of verbs, check  Charles Darling's Guide to Grammar and Writing website.

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