Grammar: Verbs

Return to top or post contents

Having heard me, he spoke.

We will leave after seeing the entire film.

Return to top or post contents

She runs four miles every day.

I see him now!

They go out to dinner with the Petersons every Friday.

Jenni takes the test today.

Harry works in his garage on Sunday afternoons.

It has rained for a week.

They have been married for fifty years.

Mark and Helen have spent every Christmas with their children.

We are hiking Tamalpais this summer.

She is reading The Hobbit this week.

I am being so happy about my birthday today.

We are going to the movies this afternoon.

Jamie is acting up again these days.

She is always coming to the office late.

He is constantly talking.

You are learning English now.

You are not swimming now.

Are you sleeping?

I am not standing.

Is he sitting or standing?

They are reading their books.

They are not watching television.

Why aren’t you doing your homework?

I am not studying to become a dentist.

I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.

I am not reading any books right now.

Are you working on any special projects at work?

Aren’t you teaching at the university now?

Near Future
I am meeting some friends after work.

I am not going to the party tonight.

Is he visiting his parents next weekend?

Isn’t he coming with us tonight?

She is always coming to class late.

He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.

I don’t like them because they are always complaining.

I have been working in the garden all morning.

George has been painting that house for as long as I can remember.

I have just been finishing up.

You have been waiting here for two hours.

Have you been waiting here for two hours?

You have not been waiting here for two hours.

She has been working at that company for three years.

What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?

James has been teaching at the university since June.

We have been waiting here for over two hours!

Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

She has been watching too much television lately.

Have you been exercising lately?

Mary has been feeling a little depressed.

Lisa has not been practicing her English.

What have you been doing?

Teddy rode his horse to the finish.

They drove to Washington state from Wisconsin in a day-and-a-half.

We watched the movie for ten minutes before we left in disgust.

I met Jane last week.

He refused to meet with me.

She told him that Mary had blue eyes and long blonde hair.

I succeeded in finishing my book!

We were visiting family this past Christmas.

That pig was eating all the chocolate when we got in.

Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492.

The Second World War ended in 1945.

Credit to: Kruger

The federal census from 1870 indicates there were two adults and five children living in the household.

On May 10, 1889, the boat log lists a Françoise Melieu entering Canada from Cannes.

So a priest, a rabbi, and an imam walk into a bar . . .

The Empire Strikes Back

I was being held prisoner while injured.

We were going to the movies at eight yesterday.

She was writing a letter for two hours.

You were saying something about a package coming yesterday?

Matilda was always climbing trees when we were little.

I was watching TV when she called.

When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

What were you doing when the earthquake started?

I was listening to my iPod, so I didn’t hear the fire alarm.

You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.

While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.

Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.

While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.

What were you doing when you broke your leg?

I was snowboarding.

Last night at 6 pm, I was eating dinner.

At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.

Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

I was studying while he was making dinner.

While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

Were you listening while he was talking?

I wasn’t paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.

What were you doing while you were waiting?

Thomas wasn’t working, and I wasn’t working either.

They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

She was always coming to class late.

He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.

I didn’t like them because they were always complaining.

She had given up on George calling.

She hadn’t asked if he would marry her.

I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.

John had gone out when I arrived in the office.

I had saved my document before the computer crashed.

When they arrived, we had already started cooking.

She had just left the room when the police arrived.

I had just put the washing out when it started to rain.

I hadn’t been feeling well, so I sent him away.

Simon had not been expecting a positive answer when he got a job.

The hikers hadn’t been walking long before they got lost.

I had been working in the garden all morning.

George had been painting his house for weeks, but he finally gave up.

You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.

Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.

James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for Asia.

How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?

I had not been studying Turkish very long.

It had been snowing for a while before we left.

We had been playing tennis for only a few minutes when it started raining.

Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.

Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

She said she had been trying to call me all day.

They said they had been shopping.

I told you I had been looking for some new clothes.

Jake will run in the next race.

She will take the test in a couple of hours.

Will you wake me up when the baby cries?

Karen will translate the text from the German to prepare it for an English publication.

Mom, Jamie won’t help me put the leaves in the dining table.

Your father will not take sides on this issue.

Will you bake the cupcakes for Cheyenne’s party tomorrow?

I will make sure you get that promotion.

Yes, yes, yes, I promise I won’t tell him anything.

Promise me you‘ll be careful.

I will tell everyone what you did.

John will be taking part in the Ironman Triathalon next year.

The decision for artist-of-the-year suggests that Karen will be winning the award by September 15.

Note that arrives is simple present and not simple future.
Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?

You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Tonight at 6 pm, I am going to be eating dinner.

I will be in the process of eating dinner.

We will be in the process of driving through the desert.

I am going to be studying, and he is going to be making dinner tonight.

Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.

When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.

While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner.

I will have talked to my source by then.

Will she have finished painting the room by then?

Henry will have proposed to Mary by tomorrow afternoon.

Won’t Mac have closed the case this afternoon?

You will have been taking out the garbage for the past two years.

He will have been sorting out the recyclables for almost an hour.

We will have been flying a kite in competitions for three years.

They will have been traveling for days.

You are going to have been flying for two hours.

She is going to have been driving for six hours.

We are going to have been scuba diving for the past five years.

They are going to have been working in the yard since 2 p.m..

The movie will have been playing for over an hour by the time Karen arrives.

She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.

James will have been lecturing at the university for over a year by the time he leaves for Italy.

How long will you have been writing your novel before you finish it?

Janet will be exhilarated when she finishes her painting because she will have been working on it for over three weeks.

Jason’s pottery skills will be improved when he returns because he is going to have been attending that seminar for six months.

Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.

Claudia’s English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying English in the United States for over two years.

She gave the postman a letter.

Barney will send him the presentation tomorrow.

“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” – Pablo Picasso

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book.” – Moses Hadas

So, tell me about me, handsome.

Pshaw, you can’t get that by us.

How is that concerning you?

Peabody, you’re with him.

Are you excepting her?

Who else is coming besides them?

“By whomever . . .” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

And by whom is that said?

He sang his poem.

Who rang the bell?

Maria will open the school.

Please pass the butter.

Please pass the butter to Simon.

Please pass Simon the butter.

She lives near Brighton.

Are you going by the market anytime soon?

She’s on the television.

I told you it was in your inbox.

painting a door red

painting a red door

We wanted Bill to go to the airport.

Simon helped me to record the data.

No one saw the prisoner escape.

Simon helped me record the data.

We built a hay bale house.

Hannah found her ring.

Mary baked two dozen types of cookies and three pies yesterday afternoon.

They painted the living room a gorgeous sea green.

We swam all afternoon.

He gave her the letter.

The company paid the customer $500 as compensation.

The company paid $500 to the customer as compensation.

The compensation was $500, and the company paid it to the customer without delay.

The customer was paid $500 as compensation.

Five hundred dollars was paid to the customer as compensation.

Credit to: Sentence deconstruction courtesy of Ditransitive

She began to catch on the math problem

She began to catch on to the math problem.

They judged Henry’s dog Best of Show.

The men elected Frickfrack the new shop foreman.

U.S. News and World Report named our college the best in the northeast.

I am walking.

Take an umbrella because it might be raining.

Could it have been stopped?

It has to work.

It does take time.

• *  Only has a finite form, no infinitives or participles (Grammar Terms) and are always followed by a bare infinitive form of the verb.
• °  High modality
• ☉ Medium modality
• †  Low modality

We could meet at 6 p.m.

They may arrive a little bit early.

You should stop moaning.

Camilla may become queen.

Can mean Camilla is likely to become queen AND Camilla is allowed to become queen.

Only the context will make it clear which meaning is intended.

The linguine tastes delicious.

Paul became a physician.

That dress becomes you.

Herbert smelled the cake.

The cake smelled good.

I decided to try again.

That house needs fixing.

I wanted to go shopping.

I helped to pack her bags.

Women are not allowed to wear shorts here.

You are requested to attend Her Majesty’s celebration.

You shouldn’t be reading in the dark.

Would you mind stopping the car, please?

I thought we were going to try to plan to stop for world domination?

We promised to agree to try to make things work this time.

She made me go to the prom.

I had my car detailed.

Jill was accepted to Harvard but went to Yale instead.

Before mixing the ingredients for his world-famous cookies, Bobby swatted a fly buzzing around the kitchen and crushed a cockroach scurrying across the floor.

Before mixing the ingredients for his world-famous cookies, Bobby swatted a fly buzzing around the kitchen, crushed a cockroach scurrying across the floor, shooed the cat off the counter, picked his nose, scratched his armpit, licked his fingers, and sneezed.

The sleeping dogs

The sleeping people

The sleeping tree

The dog sleeps, eats, and howls.

I am going out to get groceries.

Coming around the corner, she saw a man breaking in to her house.

It sounded like a well-rehearsed patter.

The old witch cackled and clattered.

If that kid rattles his crib one more time . . .

The brook babbled and swirled merrily on its way.

Listening to him stutter and stammer his way through that speech is maddening.

She should start.

You may go at four o’clock.

All elections shall take place on schedule.

She can go.

You may go.

You should go.

You must go.

He must be there tomorrow at noon.

He might be there.

He may be there.

He should be there by now.

He must be there by now.

A.k.a. REAL

Credit to: Realis Mood

I would like a cup of coffee, please.

If you were here, you could have done it.

If I were in Tokyo, I would meet my friend.

If Jim had come here, I could have given him the pen.

Had Jane participated in the contest, she could have won the first prize.

Had you come to the office, you could have done the task.

I would like a glass of orange juice, please.

I might be able to attend the program if I can finish my work earlier.

Had I been there, I could have helped you.

If Rick had performed better, he could have won the first prize.

If John is not at the office, he might be outside.

If you want to attend the class, you should start now.

Had Aric started on time from home, he would not miss the flight.

You might have hurt yourself.

He could have gone over the cliff.

He must have gone.

He is said to have gone.

She ought to do it.

Can she hold back?

Must she go?

If he were arriving tomorrow, we could go to the concert (but he’s not coming until next week).

I ask that Shelly refrain if possible from weeping.

Roger recommended that Larry be on hand to launch the catboat.

The evil pirate king commanded that Davy walk the plank.

If snow be white, why then her breast are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. – Shakespeare

If she be not so to me
What care I how fair she be? – Ben Jonson.

God save the Queen!

Let there be light.

May you be forgiven.

So help me God.

May the best man win!

May all your troubles be small!

“May you be safe and protected from danger.
May you be happy and peaceful.
May you be healthy and strong.
May you have ease and well-being.” – Wilson

I believe in a rigorous run in the morning.

Can you look after my dog for a few days?

Everyone is talking about that new movie.

Wait for me!

* These are also modal verbs.

The team swam well at the meet.

We danced all night long.

We played our new game that afternoon.

She has eaten it.

We had left.

When will you have finished?

The tsunami had slammed into the shore, swept buildings off their foundations, and torn through the village.

They are calling the next band.

I am reading.

Were you shouting?

He will be sitting over there.

The snow was blowing everywhere.

She used to call me every night.

We used to go dancing every weekend.

Henry used to walk for miles.

The baby was coughing and coughing.

The constant flickering of the monitor was giving me a headache.

Mom, he’s kicking me.

The blinking light of my alarm clock was keeping me awake.

She has been crying off and on for hours.

We have been eating dinner.

Credit to: Burckmyer, 12

Well, she had been raised to be a queen before she actually became one.

Credit to: Burckmyer 12

His death happened first; the writer learned about it later on.

Credit to: Burckmyer 13

I reminded Miranda that it takes two to make an argument.

A gentler version:
I am expecting your report on cryogenic metallurgy by Thursday.

My reading group is looking forward to next month’s choice.

I like to read all the time.

We intended to leave early.

Phil agreed to give me a ride.

They were asked to bring some food.

Jennifer sits beside me in class.

Morgan’s house is across the street.

The play will begin at 7:00.

A.k.a. delexical verb, empty verb, explicator verb, intensifier, light verb, operator, secondary verb, semantically weak verb, thin verb

Credit to: Vector Verbs

has stimulated
have been running
will eat
has been running
was swimming
must be heading out

Mama says I have to write you a thank-you for giving me the Legos.

Craig dumped me because of my laughing at him.

We find out what equipment is needed for roasting the pig.

The guys’ll kill the vampire by jamming a stake through his heart.

The students have to pass the test.

She intends to attend the ceremony.

My neighbors happen to own a hot air balloon.

Grandpa can come start the fire for the barbecue.

He helps manage the student workers.

Would you come wash the dishes?

Fall asleep

Stop and give something to someone

He dropped off while watching TV.

Would you drop this off with Mary, please?

She added it up on her calculator.

She always gets the rules around.