Introduction to Verbs

 

500 Verbs

Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to describe facts and habits. 

I applaud the singer. (fact)  Aplaudo a la cantante.

You study English every week. ( fact and habit)  Estudias íngles todas las semanas.

She walks her dog three times a day. (fact and habit)  Ella pasea a su perra tres veces al dia.

It is also used to describe events in the future. 

She arrives tomorrow.  Ella llega mañana.

Infinitive verbs in English begin with to.  For example, aprender is to learn. The simple present tense conjugation for first and second person drops the to: aprendo - I learn; aprendes - you learn; third person adds an -s: aprende - s/he learns. 

First person singular            I learn

Second person singular        You learn

Third person singular           She/he/it learns

First person plural                We learn

Second person plural            You learn

Third person plural               They learn

Spelling rules

For regular verbs, just add s:

• talk - talks
• improve - improves

For verbs that end in s, ss, sh, ch, x or o, add es:

• guess - guesses
• mash - mashes
• fix - fixes
• go - goes

For verbs ending in (consonant)y, change the y to i and add es

• carry - carries
• study - studies

For verbs ending in (vowel)y, just add s

• pray - prays
• spray - sprays

Define and conjugate the following verbs. We will do the first two together and you will finish the others as homework. Pick three verbs to use in a sentence using vocabulary you already know. * = check your spelling rules.

1. to play
2. to help
3. to dance
4. to clean
5. to kiss*
6. to dry*
7. to borrow
8. to need

Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used to describe a completed activity that happened in the past; it started in the past and ended in the past.

John baked a cake. John horneó un pastel.

I prepared the lessons. Preparé las lecciones.

Past tense for all subjects is formed by adding -ed (which is pronounced d, t or id depending on the sound with which the word ends -see ed endings). 

Singular - I learned, you learned, s/he learned.

Plural - we learned, you learned, they learned.

Spelling Rules

If a verb of one syllable ends (consonant-vowel-consonant), double the final consonant and add ed

• chat - chatted
• stop - stopped

If the final consonant is w, x or y, do not double it

• sew - sewed
• play - played
• fix - fixed

If the verb ends (consonant + y), change the y to i and add ed

• cry - cried
• fry - fried

Define and conjugate the following verbs. We will do the first two together and you will finish the others as homework. Pick three verbs to use in a sentence using vocabulary you already know.  * = check your spelling rules.

1. to lick
2. to ask
3. to fry*
4. to dream
5. to paint
6. to plan*
7. to look