Key Terms

gerund

a verbal; the -ing form of the verb used as a noun. Ex.: I love dancing.

helping verbs

1. three common verbs that can either stand alone or be combined with ("help") other verbs: be, have, and do. Ex.: "I was angry" ("was" stands alone); "I was helping Sue" ("was" acts as helping verb).
2. nine verbs (also known as modals or modal auxiliaries) that are always used in combination with other verbs: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must

infinitive

a verbal; to plus the base form of the verb. Ex.: I love to dance.

modal auxiliaries

see modals

modals

nine verbs (also known as helping verbs) that are always used in combination with other verbs: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must

participle

a verbal; the -ing or -ed form of the verb used as an adjective. Ex.: I love dancing bears.

verb tense

the time that a verb shows

Tense	Example
Present	I work.
Past	I worked.
Future	I will work.
Present perfect	I have worked.
Past perfect	I had worked.
Future perfect	I will have worked.
Present progressive	I am working.
Past progressive	I was working.
Future progressive	I will be working.
Present perfect progressive	I have been working.
Past perfect progressive	I had been working.
Future perfect progressive	I will have been working.

verbals

words formed from verbs that often express action: these include infinitives, gerunds, and participles

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