Verbs
This section looks at the grammar of verbs—their structure and form—and how we use them in everyday English.
What is a verb?
The verb is king in English. But what is it?Verb classification
We divide verbs into two broad classes.Helping Verbs - Main Verbs - Quiz
Verb forms
Some languages have 30+ forms of a verb. English has 8 at most.Main Forms - Helping Forms - Quiz
Be Verb Rock Star Song
The verb be is a very special verb in English. Listen to the song.
Tense
Don't get stressed out over tense. Learn to speak naturally with tense.What? - Tense System - Tenses - Songs
going to
I am going to do itfor, since for time
for two days, since 1st AprilSubjunctive mood
She insists that he come.Voice
Active voice and passive voiceCats eat mice. Mice are eaten by cats.
used to do/be used to
I used to do it. I am not used to it.Future time
I will do it. I am going to do it. I am doing it. I do it.Conditionals
if I win, if I won, if I had wonModal Verbs
can, shall, must...Multiword verbs
Including phrasal verbsput out, look after, get on with
Questions
Do you like tea? Why do you like tea? Do you like tea or coffee?Tag questions
You like me, don't you?Infinitive or -ing?
I like to do, I like doingVerb meanings with continuous tenses
Am I being silly?Subject-verb agreement
In general a subject and a verb must agree in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. But life isn't always that easy.Gerunds
Verbs in -ing form sometimes act like nouns.fishing is fun, I hate working