EG1471_ePortfolio_2

Before I start, I must admit that I’m quite weak in my grammar and this was reflected in the evaluation test done in class last two weeks. As a result of the test, I realized that I’m actually very weak in certain areas, especially in determining the verb form. Firstly, I always neglect the use of base verb after the modal verbs. For example, “…hypnotist might suggests that…”; actually it should be “…hypnotist might suggest that…” (Hypnosis, intermediate worksheet 3, http://courses.nus.edu.sg/courseware/ITSELF/) The verb after a modal verbs (can, could, shall, should, may, might, must) must be in the base form. Besides that, the verb after ‘has’, ‘have’ and ‘had’ must be in the participle form. For instance, “…had otherwise forgot”; in fact, it should be “…had otherwise forgotten”. (Hypnosis, intermediate worksheet 3, http://courses.nus.edu.sg/courseware/ITSELF/) Although I’ve learn about these before, until now I still make this kind of errors frequently. Moreover, I always make mistake in parallelism of the sentence. For example, “ At the command of the hypnotist, subjects might lose all feeling in a limb, and a pinprick will cause them no pain.” (Hypnosis, intermediate worksheet 3, http://courses.nus.edu.sg/courseware/ITSELF/) At first, I really couldn’t see what’s wrong with the sentence, but after I checked the answer, the answer should be: “ …the subjects may lose all feeling…” Then only I realized – it’s the problem of parallelism of the sentence structure. The first part of the sentence is in the past tense but the second part is in the present tense! However, I’m very grateful that we’ve to do a portfolio to evaluate our mistakes, because after this portfolio, I believe everyone will be more aware about our errors. As for me, I’ll definitely be more careful in grammar usage in the future.

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Below are some information about the types of verb forms.

Verb forms

In general, all verbs have six different forms: base, present, past, infinitive, present participle, and past participle.

Base form is the dictionary entry form of the verb. Base verbs are usually used in two common places: in imperative sentences and in future tenses which are formed by using the verb will followed by a verb in its base form.

For example,

Study hard!
We will have to finish the portfolio on grammar by next Monday.

Except for the verb ‘be’, the present of verbs are formed in the following manner:
Third person singular - base+s
All other persons and numbers - base
For example,

The dog barks.
They swim.

However, for the verb ‘be’, its present form change according to the situation.
For example,

First person singular - be → am
Third person singular - be → is
All other persons and numbers - be → are

As for the past form, it can be divided into two categories: regular and irregular.
Regular verbs form their past by adding –ed or –d to the base form.
Example: passed, smiled

On the other hand, some irregular verbs formed the past by using a different vowel sound in the past form from the vowel used in the base form.
For example, ring → rang ; dig → dug

Some irregular verbs are hybrids of vowel change and end with –ed or –d.
For example, sell → sold ; tell → told

Besides that, some verbs have a vowel change but add –t rather than –ed or –d.
For example, keep →kept ; think → thought

Note that there are some one-syllable verbs that end in –t or –d have a past that is exactly the same as their base form.
For example: put, cut, rid, shut

Finally, there are a few verbs that have remarkably irregular past forms.
For example, go → went ; Be → was/were

For the infinitive form, the word ‘to’ is added before the base form.
For example, to answer; to go; to be

All present participles are formed by adding –ing onto the base form.
For example, talking; being; going.

However some are spelled differently due to the rules of spelling. For instance, the doubled-consonant rule will apply to some base forms ending in single consonant.
For example, hop →hopping ; hit → hitting

Similar to past verbs, the past participle verbs are also categorizes into regular and irregular form.
Regular past participle verbs are formed by adding-ed or –d to the base form. Therefore, the past and the past participles of regular verbs are identical.
For example,

past form - shouted ; laughed

past participle form - shouted ; laughed

On the other hand, some of the past participle verbs ended in –en or –n; some with vowel change; some are hybrids of vowel change and end with –en or –n; while some one-syllable verbs that end in –t or –d have a past that is exactly the same as their base form. The characteristics of past participle are very similar to the past form.
For example, fall → fallen; take → taken; bring → brought; hit → hit.

Modal verbs
An exceptional group of 5 verbs called modals doesn’t follow any of de patterns already discussed. They have both present and past forms (most of them do), but nothing else. Modals have no base forms, no infinitive forms, no present participle forms, and no past participle forms.
Present form : can ; may ; must ; shall ; will

past form : could ; might ; should ; would

Modals are helping verbs. They can never be used alone. They can only be used in combination with verb in the base form.
For example,

You can do it.
They must be careful.
You should know better.

It is very important for us to know the verb forms before making a sentence -- either to make a sentence in past tense or present tense; to make an imperative sentence and so on. Verb form must be determined before we make a sentence so that the sentence will not against the rules of parallelism.

Reference:
Mark Lester and Larry Beason, (2004). Handbook of English Grammar and Usage. United States : The McGraw-Hill Companies.






Exercise
1) If the coastal erosion continues to take place at the present rate, in another fifty years this beach ____ anymore.
A. doesn’t exist B. isn’t going to exist C. isn’t existing D. won’t be existing

2) According to research reports, people usually ____ in their sleep 25 to 30 times each night.
A. turn B. are turning C. have turned D. turned

Betty Schrampfer Azar, (2000). Understanding and using English Grammar. United States : Pearson education.

3) I think I’ll buy these shoes. _____really well.
A. They fit B. They have fit C. They’re fitting D. They were fitting

4) _____a party next Saturday. We’ve sent out the invitations.
A. We had B. We have C. We’ll have D. We’re having

5) When Martin_____the car, he took it out for a drive.
A. had repaired B. has repaired C. repaired D. was repairing

Fill in the correct verb form.
6) _____(I/lose) my bank card. I can’t find it anywhere.

7) The match_____(start). United are playing well.

8) _____(I/phone) the office at eleven to speak to the manager, but he isn’t there today.

9) I_____(lie) in the bath when the phone_____(ring). It_____(stop) after a few rings.

10) Your friend who_____(come) here the other day_____(seem) very nice. I_____(enjoy) meeting her.

11) I_____(walk) along the street when I suddenly_____(feel) something hit me in the back. I_____(not/know) what it was.

12) Rupert has left a message for you. He_____(ring) last night.




1) B 2) A 3) A 4) D 5) A 6) I’ve lost

7) has started 8) I phoned 9) was lying; rang; stopped

10) came; seemed; enjoyed 11) was walking; felt; didn’t know 12) rang

John Eastwood, (1992). Oxford Practice Grammar. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.