SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH VERBS—FIVE RULES FOR ESL STUDENTS
RULE
1:
Include helping verbs as needed to
create special tenses.
>Present progressive:
>The committee is meeting right
now.
>[helping verb = is; main
verb = meeting]
>Present perfect:
>The committee has met here
before.
>[helping verb = has; main
verb = met]
>Past perfect:
>The committee had voted to
adjourn.
>[helping verb = had; main
verb = voted]
>Future:
>The committee will meet tomorrow.
>[helping verb = will; main
verb = meet]
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 1
RULE
2:
>Learn to use modals. Modals are
used before the simple form of the main verb to create special meaning.
Susan canrun the
mile in under nine minutes.
> (Susanis able to
run the mile in under nine minutes.)
The soldiers mustlay
down their arms.
>(The soldiers are required to
lay down their arms.)
We couldstudy better
if the library were quieter.
>(We would be able to study
better if the library were quieter.)
MODALS
>can
>may
>will
>would
>could
>might
>shall
>should
>must
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 2
RULE
3:
>When using modals to describe
situations in the past, use the past modal + simple form or the
past modal + the past perfect form of the main verb.
Not: I could walked when
I was six months old. But: I could walk when
I was six months old.
>Not: Carol might was there. But: Carol might have
been there.
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 3
RULE
4:
>Combine gerunds and infinitives
correctly with verbs.
A gerund is an -ing noun formed from
a verb; it stands for an activity.
Eating is my favorite
pastime.
An infinitive is the basic form of a verb
preceded by -to. Infinitives act as nouns, adjectives, or
adverbs.
>Noun:
>To serve
others is her only desire.
>Adjective:
>I have made a list
of people to call.
>Adverb:
>I run to lose weight.
Observe the following rules when you combine gerunds and
infinitives with verbs:
Some verbs take both gerunds and infinitives.
Infinitive: I love to swim in the ocean.
OR Gerund: I love swimming in the ocean.
Other verbs have different meanings when combined with
gerunds and infinitives.
Infinitive: Sandy forgot to unplug
the coffee pot. Gerund: Sandy forgot unplugging the
coffee pot.
[In the first example, Sandy did not unplug
the coffeepot. In the second, she
unplugged the coffeepot but forgot she had done
so.]
Some verbs can be used with gerunds but not with
infinitives. In general, these are transitive verbs, which take direct
objects.
Not: I imagined to be rich. But: I imagined being rich.
Verbs to Use with Gerunds, Not with Infinitives
>admit
>deny
>endure
>practice
>reject
>approve
>discuss
>finish
>prevent
>suggest
>avoid
>disprove
>give up
>recall
>understand
>consider
>dispute
>- - -
>recommend
Some verbs can be used with infinitives but not with
gerunds.
Not: I want sleeping for a week. But: I want tosleep for a
week.
Verbs to Use with Infinitives,
Not with Gerunds
>ask
>demand
>long
>refuse
>agree
>desire
>plan
>say
>arrange
>expect
>pledge
>swear
decline
>- - -
>promise
>vow
PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 4
RULE
5:
>Learn which phrasal verbs can
be separated by a noun or pronoun and which cannot.
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb + a preposition which
together have an entirely different meaning from the verb alone. For example,
the verb look simply means "see," but look ahead means "plan
or predict."
A noun or pronoun can be placed between the verb and
the preposition in some
phrasal verbs:
He threwout the old newspaper.
(discarded)
He threw the old newspaper out..
ORHe threw it out.
With other phrasal verbs, a noun or pronoun cannot
be placed between the verb and the preposition.
2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education