Problems With Verbs

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PROBLEMS WITH VERBS

A verb is a word or phrase that expresses existence, action, or experience. There are
two kind of verbs in English. They are the main verb and the auxiliary verb. In some
grammar books, the auxiliary verb is called a helping verb because it is used with a
main verb. Every english sentence must have a main verb. The sentence may or may
not have an auxiliary.

1. Problem with Verbs

1. Missing Main Verb.


Remember that every English sentence must have a subject and a main verb.
The verb consists of main verb and auxiliary verb. A main verb is a verb telling
action or activity while auxiliary that’s usually called helping verb or modals is
used with a main verb.

Example: The sound of the machine bothers my concentration.


They make a lot of mistakes in grammar
The pretty girl in our class with long brown hair has brown eyes.
. Sam is almost always a lot of fun

2. Subject – Verb Agreement * Third person singular –s*

Example: That man live in California. (wrong)


That man lives in California. (correct)

3. Wrong tense. Watch for key “time words” and phrases

Example: Yesterday I go to the dance. (wrong)


Yesterday I went to the dance. (correct)

4. Passive and non-passive expressions Extra “be” or Omitted be

Example: What was happened last night? (wrong)


What happened last night? (correct)

I concerned about my grades. (wrong)


I am concerned about my grades. (correct)
5. Modal usage Insertion of “to”

Example : I had better to go. (wrong)


I had better go. (correct)

We may to copy all sentences (wrong)


We may copy all sentences (correct)
Sam has to check his blood this morning (correct, obligation)
Sam has checked his.....

6. Non-base form after modal

Example: I could played basketball. (wrong)


I could play basketball. (correct)

7. Wrong word choice


Example: I have met Johanna for five years. (wrong)
I have known Johanna for five years. (correct)

8. Regular and Irregular Verbs

Even when you understand the correct uses of verb tenses, you can run into
trouble with irregular verbs. Irregular verbs form the past tense and past
participle in a variety of ways, not by adding -d or -ed as regular verbs do.

9. Inconsistency in tenses

Another common error is illogically mixing tenses in a sentence, the verbs must
be consistent, either by being in the same tense or by reflecting past and future
times in relation to your main tense.

Example: Roberto went into the market, walks over to the produce section,


and picks through the tomatoes.  (inconsistent tenses)

In the preceding sentence there is no logical reason to move from the past tense
( went) to the present tense ( walks, picks). Use the past tense or the present
tense—not both. Rewrite the sentence using consistent tenses.

Roberto went into the market, walked over to the produce section,


and picked through the tomatoes.  (consistent tenses)
10. Confusing the present and the past tense

Such as using “Present Simple, Present Continuous and Present


Perfect/Perfect Continuous, and also Past Simple, Past Continuous and
Past Perfect , learners must pay more attetntion in using those tenses.

The simple present talk about things in general. We use it to say that something
happens repeatedly all the time or is true in general.

Example: We begin our lecture at 7; 30


We pray five times a day
The earth goes round the sun

When we talk about something we use present continuous which is happening


at the time of speaking, a period around the present and the present perfect is
used when we express a past action when the time is not mentioned and has
connection with the present.

11. The following verbs require an “Infinitive” in The Complement

agree decide hesitate need refuse appear


demand hope offer seem arrange deserve
intend plan tend ask expect learn
prepare threaten claim fail manage pretend
wait consent forget mean promise want

Example: We demand to know our status

12. These verbs require “ing-Form” in The Complement

admit complete deny appreciate consider discuss


avoid delay enjoy finish practice risk
keep quit stop mention recall suggest
miss recommend tolerate postpone regret understand
Forbid may be used with either an infinitive or an - ing complement

Example: She mentions stopping at Malioboro later.


13. Verb Phrases that Require an” ing-Form” in the complement

approve off do not mind keep on be better off think off


forget about look forward to can’t help get through object to
count on insist on think about

Example: she forgot about canceling her appointment.

14. Logical Conclusions - “must + have + participle” = past event (avoid using
“should” and “can” instead of “must”). It is a like conclusion of present
observstion about something that happened in the past. Example, when i get up
in the morning I see the sign “missed voice call on my phone cell” I may be
concluded that “someone must have called me last night”
Example: This pen won’t write; it must have run out of ink.

15. Logical Conclusions – “ must be + -ing = event in the present time (avoid
using “verb-word” instead of “ing-form”).

Example: The line is busy; someone must be using the telephone now

16. Logical Conclusions – Events that Repeat (avoid using “an infinitive” or
“an ing- form” instead of “verb-word after must”).

Example: Carol always gets good grades; she must study a lot.

17. Desires= The verb wish is used to say that we feel disappointed about
something that we did or din’t do.
Wish (past) + that + s + had+ participle/
could/would have + participle

Example; I wish that I would have never come here


Now he wished that he had listened more carefully.

Remember that although the verb wish is in present, this pattern refers to desire
in the past.

Wish (present) + that + s + verb past


Could/would + verb word

Example: They wish that you called every day


I wish that you could call tomorrow
Remember that although the verb wish is in present, this pattern refers to desire
in for customs and future events. Avoid using this pattern to express desires in
the past. Avoid using will instead of could or would.

18. Past custom

S + used to + verb word

Example: He used to live in the country

Avoid using a form of be after the subject. Avoid using the incorrect form of
use to

S + BE + used to + -ing form

Example: He was used to living in the country

Avoid using a form of be after used to. Avoid using a verb word instead of an
–ing form.

19. Advisability

S + had better + verb word

Example: You had better take chemistry 600 this semester

S + had better + not + verb word

Example: You had better not take chemistry 600 this semester

Remember that although had is past form, it refers to future time in this pattern.
Avoid using an infinitive or past form of a verb instead of a verb word. Avoid
using don’t instead of not.

20. Question forms for invitations and customs

Would you like + infinitive

Example: Would you like to watch the news today?

Do you like + infinitive

Example: Do you like to watch the news everyday?


Remeber that would like means want. it is used in a question from for an
invitation. A specific date such as today is usually included.

21. Preference

S + woud rather + verb word

Example: I would rather drive

S + would rather + not + verb word

Example: I would rather not drive

Avoid using an infinitive or an –ing form instead of a verb word

S + would rather + that + s + V (past)

Example: I would rather that you drove

S + would rather + that + S + didn’t + verb word

Example: I would rather that you didn’t drive

Avoid using a present verb or a verb word instead of a past verb. Avoid
using should and a verb word instead of a past form.

22. Subjunctives

S + V + that + S + verb word

Example: Mr. Johnson prefers that she speak with him personally

Remember that the following verbs are used before that and the verb word
clause.
Ask demand desire insist prefer recommend require suggest

Avoid using modal before the verb


Noun + that + S + verb word

Example: The recomandation that we be evaluated was approved

Remember that the following nouns are used in this pattern

Recommendation, reuirement, suggestion

Avoid using a present or past verb instead of a verb word. Avoid using modal
before the verb word

23. Affirmative agreement

S + BE + , + and + so + BE + S

Example: They were suprised, and so were we

S + V + , + and + so + DO + S

Example: My wife talked to him about it, and so did i

24. Negative agreement

S + MODAL HAVE TO BE not + verb word participle verb word –ing form, +
and + neither + MODAL HAVE DO BE + S

Example: - My roommate won’t go, and neither will I


- My roommate hasn’t gone, and neither have I
- My roommate doesn’t go, and neither do I
- My roommate isn’t going, and neither am I

S + MODAL HAVE DO BE not + verb word participle verb word –ing form +
and + S + MODAL HAVE DO BE not + either

Example: - My roommate won’t go, and I won’t either


- My roommate hasn’t gone, and I haven’t either
- My roommate doesn’t go, and I don’t either
- My roommate isn’t going, and I’m not either

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