SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH VERBS—FIVE RULES FOR ESL STUDENTS
RULE
1:
Include helping verbs as needed to
create special tenses.
Present progressive:
The committee is meeting right
now.
[helping verb = is; main
verb = meeting]
Present perfect:
The committee has met here
before.
[helping verb = has; main
verb = met]
Past perfect:
The committee had voted to
adjourn.
[helping verb = had; main
verb = voted]
Future:
The committee will meet tomorrow.
[helping verb = will; main
verb = meet]
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 1
RULE
2:
Learn to use modals. Modals are
used before the simple form of the main verb to create special meaning.
Susan can run the
mile in under nine minutes.
(Susan is able to
run the mile in under nine minutes.)
The soldiers must lay
down their arms.
(The soldiers are required to
lay down their arms.)
We could study better
if the library were quieter.
(We would be able to study
better if the library were quieter.)
MODALS
can
may
will
would
could
might
shall
should
must
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 2
RULE
3:
When using modals to describe
situations in the past, use the past modal + simple form or the
past modal + the past perfect form of the main verb.
Not: I could walked when
I was six months old. But: I could walk when
I was six months old.
Not: Carol might was there. But: Carol might have
been there.
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 3
RULE
4:
Combine gerunds and infinitives
correctly with verbs.
A gerund is an -ing noun formed from
a verb; it stands for an activity.
Eating is my favorite
pastime.
An infinitive is the basic form of a verb
preceded by -to. Infinitives act as nouns, adjectives, or
adverbs.
Noun:
To serve
others is her only desire.
Adjective:
I have made a list
of people to call.
Adverb:
I run to lose weight.
Observe the following rules when you combine gerunds and
infinitives with verbs:
Some verbs take both gerunds and infinitives.
Infinitive: I love to swim in the ocean.
OR
Gerund: I love swimming in the ocean.
Other verbs have different meanings when combined with
gerunds and infinitives.
Infinitive: Sandy forgot to unplug
the coffee pot. Gerund: Sandy forgot unplugging the
coffee pot.
[In the first example, Sandy did not unplug
the coffee pot. In the second, she
unplugged the coffee pot but forgot she had done
so.]
Some verbs can be used with gerunds but not with
infinitives. In general, these are transitive verbs, which take direct
objects.
Not: I imagined to be rich. But: I imagined being rich.
Verbs to Use with Gerunds, Not with Infinitives
admit
deny
endure
practice
reject
approve
discuss
finish
prevent
suggest
avoid
disprove
give up
recall
understand
consider
dispute
- - -
recommend
Some verbs can be used with infinitives but not with
gerunds.
Not: I want sleeping for a week. But: I want to sleep for a
week.
Verbs to Use with Infinitives,
Not with Gerunds
ask
demand
long
refuse
agree
desire
plan
say
arrange
expect
pledge
swear
decline
- - -
promise
vow
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 4
RULE
5:
Learn which phrasal verbs can
be separated by a noun or pronoun and which cannot.
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb + a preposition which
together have an entirely different meaning from the verb alone. For example,
the verb look simply means "see," but look ahead means "plan
or predict."
A noun or pronoun can be placed between the verb and
the preposition in some
phrasal verbs:
He threw out the old newspaper.
(discarded)
He threw the old newspaper out..
OR
He threw it out.
With other phrasal verbs, a noun or pronoun cannot
be placed between the verb and the preposition.
