Verb Forms and Verb Tenses The Base Form

Verb Forms and Verb Tenses

The Base Form

English verbs have five basic forms: the base form, the - S form, the - ing form, the past form, and the past participle form. The base form is the verb "with no special endings"--no - s, - ing, past-tense ending, and so on. Here are the most common uses of the base form: 1. If the verb tense is simple present and if the verb is not BE, the base form is used with I, you, we, and they. Examples: I / you / we / they have a problem. I / you / we / they speak English. I / you / we / they like sports. 2. If the verb tense is simple present or past and if the verb is not BE, the base form is used after auxiliary verbs in questions and negatives. Examples: Do I / you / we / they have a problem? Does he / she / it have a problem? No, I / you / we / they don't have a problem. No, he / she / it doesn't have a problem. _______________________ Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they do what you wanted? No, I / you / he / she / it / we / they didn't do what you wanted. _______________________ Do I / you / we / they need anything? Does he / she / it need anything? No, I / you / we / they don't need anything. No, he / she / it doesn't need anything. _______________________ Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they need anything? No, I / you / he / she / it / we / they didn't need anything. 3. The base form is also used in commands. Examples: Leave! / Don't leave! Do the laundry tomorrow. / Don't do it tonight. Be quiet! / Don't be so noisy! Please stay longer. / Please don't leave now. Please help me. / Please don't ignore me. Please be on time. / Please don't be late. 4. The base form is also used directly after modal auxiliaries (can , could, may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, and their negative forms). Examples: I / You / He / She / It / We / They can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must help you. I / You / He / She / It / We / They can't, couldn't, may not, might not, won't, wouldn't, shan't, shouldn't, mustn't help you. 5. In addition, the base form is used directly after to (the infinitive structure). Examples: They want to see the Grand Canyon. I prefer to leave early today. He needs to go to a meeting. 6. Another use for the base form is with make and have, an object, and another verb. Use a base form for the second verb when make and have show how the subject caused another thing to happen. Examples: The made us stay late today. Please make your dog be quiet! I'll have someone help you right away. Has he had someone wash his car? 7. Another use for the base form is in "that" clauses after certain verbs that show requests or commands. Examples: He asked that we be careful. The manager requested that Bob work late. The supervisor demanded that Jane finish the report before she left for the day. The ruler commanded that his subjects pay higher taxes. 8. Another similar use for the base form is in "that" clauses after adjectives that show urgency. Examples: It's important that we be careful. It's necessary that Bob work late in order to finish the project on time. It's urgent that she finish the report today because it needs to be faxed by 9:00 PM. It's madatory that the subjects pay higher taxes because the ruler can ask for whatever he wants. __________________________________________ Special Notes: 1. Notice that the base form and the "I / you / we / they" form for most verbs are the same, but that they are different for BE: Come to class on time. I / You / We / They always come to class on time. Be on time. I / You / We / They are always on time for class. 2. Notice that the negative form of a command with BE uses don't: Be on time. Don't be late. Please be quiet! Please don't be so noisy! 3. Most of the modal auxiliaries have past forms with have and a past participle (may have left, could have helped, would have known, should have done, etc.). In these combinations, have is a base form. 4. When to is part of a phrasal verb, an - ing form follows to, not a base form: I look forward to taking a vacation. Who put him up to doing that? We got to talking and forgot about the time. (There are very few phrasal verbs that end in to, however.)