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This is a paradigm of English verbs, that is, a set of conjugation tables, for some of the most common verb classes.
Verb Parts
In terms of verb inflection, English is actually a very simple language, having only two finite tenses (present and preterite), and a present and preterite participle. All other constructions are conveyed with combinations of various auxiliaries in the verb phrase.(with the exception of a third person singular marking).
Conjugations
Weak verbs are the largest class of English verbs. Occasionally, weak verbs will have consonantal or vowel alternations (e.g. think).[1]
| Present | Present (Third Person Singular) | Preterite | Present Participle | Preterite Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| play | plays | played | playing | played |
Strong verbs use ablaut, in seven classes, in their inflection.[1]
| Class | Present | Present (Third Person Singular) | Preterite | Present Participle | Preterite Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ride | rides | rode | riding | ridden |
| 2 | fly | flies | flew | flying | flown |
| 3 | sing | sings | sang | singing | sung |
| 4 | break | breaks | broke | breaking | broken |
| 5 | give | gives | gave | giving | given |
| 6 | shake | shakes | shook | shaking | shaken |
| 7 | throw | throws | threw | throwing | thrown |
Preterite Present verbs have no participles, and do not inflect for number. Some of these verbs exist in a subjunctive mood, but generally, the subjunctive mood has become divorced in meaning from the main verb and formed its own verb.
| Present | Present (Third Person Singular) | Preterite | Present Participle | Preterite Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| can | can | could | none | none |
The verbs do, will, and go, are anomalous. Will has no preterite or participles (it marks future tense), but there are forms such as would and willing, which are based on archaic use of will.
| Class | Present | Present (Third Person Singular) | Preterite | Present Participle | Preterite Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| do | do | does | did | doing | done |
| will | will | will | none | none | none |
| go | go | goes | went | going | gone |
The verb be is unusual, as the verb is an amalgam of three other verbs.
| Tense | First Person Singular | Second Person Singular | Third Person singular | Plural | Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | am | are | is | are | being |
| Preterite | was | were | was | were | been |
References
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
