Unit 2: Grammar and Usage

Additional Parts of Speech: Verbs and Tenses

The subject of a sentence is a noun or a pronoun. The predicate of a sentence is a verb. A verb is a word that shows action or state. In order to have a complete thought a verb must be used. In many ways the verb is the most important word in the sentence. We must be very careful using verbs because most errors in grammar come from the wrong use of verbs.

Tense is a word used to refer to the time shown by the verb. Three primary tenses are :

Present tense - time that is now.

Past tense - time before the present.

Future tense - time still to come.

Examples: I am talking now.

        I have talked previously.

        I will talk in the very near future.

THIRD PERSON SINGULAR OF A PRESENT TENSE VERB

1. To form the third person singular, for most verbs, just add the letter s.

Examples :   He runs.     It sleeps.

2. Verbs which end in y preceded by a consonant, change y to i and add es to form the third person singular.

Examples :    The baby cries.     She replies.

3. Verbs ending in o preceded by a consonant, add es in the third person singular.

Examples :    He goes.     Her voice echoes.

4. In verbs ending in s, x, sh, and ch, add es in the third person singular.

Examples :    He passes.     He watches.     She taxes.