Forms of verb

Introduction

Any verb word must have the following forms…

{Let’s take the verb words (a) ‘walk’ and (b) ‘go’ for example.}

present/finiteV1	pastV2	past participle V3	presentparticiple ‘ing’ form	To-infinitive	Bare-infinitive	Gerund
a) walk/walksb)go/goes	walkedwent	walked gone	walking going	to walkto go	walkgo	walkinggoing

Though we see seven forms in the table, we limit ourselves to the first four forms for the time being; and we will deal with the other three in the next sub-topic.

And in the rows for the forms, we see two kinds “a)” and “b)”. The verb words in these two kinds differ in their spelling and, of course, in their pronunciation.

The verb words in kind ‘a)’ are called Regular Verbs or Weak Verbs and those in kind ‘b)’ are called Irregular Verbs or Strong Verbs.  The regular verbs take ‘d’ or ‘ed’ at the end of them to form past or past participle; but the irregular verbs  take different vowel changes to form past or past participle, or in some cases do not take any changes at all.

The main function of the different forms (strictly speaking, the first four forms in the table) of the verb words is to help us to make “Tenses”. {The other functions are dealt with in the other sub-topics.}

The Regular Verbs are numerous but, luckily, they do not present much difficulty because the root words have the same spelling (form) and the same pronunciation (only the addition of ‘d’ or ‘ed’) in the Past and Past Participle forms; but the Irregular Verbs, which are about two hundred, may cause some difficulty quite often.  And here we are given some of the most frequent of them to learn by heart, if needed.

THE IRREGULAR VERB FORMS

Present/finite Past Past Participle Present

Participle

abide                                      abode/abided          abode/abided                    abiding

arise                                       arose                         arisen                                  arising

awake                                     awoke                       awoken                               ———-

be

is                                           was                            been                                    being

am                                        was                            been                                    being

are                                        were                         been                                    being

bear                                        bore                          born/borne                        bearing

beat                                        beat                           beaten                                beating

become                                 became                     become                              becoming

befall                                      befell                         befallen                              ———–

beget                                      begot                         begotten                             ———–

begin                                      began                        begun                                  beginning

behold                                   beheld                      beheld                                                ———–

bend                                       bent                           bent                                     bending

bet                                          bet/betted               bet/betted                         ———–

bid (order somebody)                     bid                             bidden                                                ———–

bid bid                             bid                                       bidding

(offer a price in an auction)

bind                                        bound                       bound                                 binding

bite                                         bit                              bitten                                  biting

bleed                                      bled                           bled                                     bleeding

blow                                       blew                          blown                                  blowing

break                                      broke                        broken                                breaking

[brake (to stop a car, etc.)      braked                      braked                                braking]

breed                                       bred                          bred                                    breeding

bring                                        brought                   brought                              bringing

broadcast                              broadcast                 broadcast                ——

build                                         built                           built                                  building

burn                                         burnt/burned          burnt/burned                   burning

burst                                      burst                         burst                               ———–

buy                                         bought                      bought                                   buying

cast                                         cast                            cast                                    ———–

catch                                      caught                       caught                                 catching

choose                                   chose                        chosen                                ———–

cling                                        clung                         clung                                   clinging

clothe (to put on clothes)          clad/clothed            clad/clothed              ———–

come                                      came                         come                                   coming

cost                                         cost                            cost                                      ———–

creep                                     crept                         crept                                   creeping

cut                                          cut                             cut                                       cutting

deal                                        dealt                          dealt                                    dealing

dig                                           dug                            dug                                      digging

do                                           did                             done                                    doing

draw                                       drew                          drawn                                  drawing

dream                                    dreamt/dreamed    dreamt/dreamed              dreaming

drink                                       drank                         drunk                                  drinking

drive                                       drove                        driven                                 driving

dwell (to live in a place)         dwelt/dwelled         dwelt/dwelled                   ———–

eat                                          ate                             eaten                                   eating

fall                                           fell                             fallen                                   falling

feed                                        fed                             fed                                       feeding

feel                                         felt                             felt                                       feeling

fight                                        fought                       fought                                 fighting

find                                         found                        found                                  finding

flee                                         fled                            fled                                      fleeing

fling                                        flung                          flung                                    ———-

fly                                            flew                           flown                                   flying

forbid                                     forbade                     forbidden                           ———-

forget                                     forgot                        forgotten                            ———-

forgive                                   forgave                     forgiven                              forgiving

freeze                                    froze                          frozen                                 freezing

get                                          got                             got                                       getting

give                                         gave                           given                                   giving

go                                            went                          gone                                    going

grind                                       ground                      ground                                grinding

grow                                       grew                          grown                                  growing

hang (of things)                  hung                          hung                                    hanging

[hang (of people)                hanged                      hanged                                hanging]

have                                       had                            had                                      having

hear                                        heard                        heard                                  (hearing)

hide                                        hid                             hid                                       hiding

hit                                           hit                              hit                                        hitting

hold                                        held                           held                                     holding

hurt                                      hurt                           hurt                                (hurting)

keep                                       kept                              kept                                     keeping

kneel                                      knelt                             knelt                                    kneeling

knit                                        knit                               knit —-

(unite/draw together)

[knit                                      knitted                         knitted                            knitting

(make woollen clothes)

know                                      knew                         known                                 (knowing)

lay                                           laid                           laid                                       laying

lead                                         led                             led                                       leading

learn                                       learnt/learned         learnt/learned                   learning

leave                                      left                             left                                       leaving

lend                                        lent                            lent                                      lending

let                                let                      let                              letting

lie                                            lay                              lain                                       lying

[lie                                          lied                            lied                                      lying]

light                                        lit/lighted                  lit/lighted                       ———

lose                                         lost                             lost                                       losing

make                                      made                         made                                   making

mean                                      meant                        meant                                  ———-

meet                                       met                            met                                      meeting

mow                                      mowed                      mown/mowed                 mowing

pay                                          paid                           paid                                   paying

put                                          put                             put                                       putting

read                                        read (said as ‘red’) read (said as ‘red’)           reading

ride                                         rode                          ridden                                 riding

ring                                         rang                           rung                                   ringing

rise                                         rose                           risen                                    rising

[raise                                      raised                        raised                                raising]

run                                          ran                             run                                       running

saw                                         sawed                        sawn/sawed                       sawing

say                                          said                            said                                      saying

see                                          saw                            seen                                    (seeing)

seek                                        sought                       sought                                 seeking

sell                                          sold                            sold                                      selling

send                                       sent                           sent                                     sending

set                                          set                              set                                        setting

sew (said as ‘so’)                 sewed                       sewn                                    sewing

shake                                      shook                        shaken                                shaking

shear                                      shore/sheared        shorn/sheared                  shearing

shed                                       shed                           shed                                   shedding

shine                                      shone                        shone                                  shining

shoot                                      shot                           shot                                     shooting

show                                       showed                     shown/showed                  showing

shrink                                     shrank                      shrunk                                 shrinking

shut                                         shut                           shut                                    shutting

sing                                         sang                           sung                                     singing

sink                                         sank                           sunk                                     sinking

sit                                            sat                              sat                                        sitting

slay                                         slew                           slain                                     ———–

sleep                                      slept                          slept                                    sleeping

slide                                        slid                             slid                                       sliding

sling                                        slung                          slung                                   slinging

slit                                           slit                              slit                                        (slitting)

smell                                       smelt/smelled          smelt/smelled                  (smelling)

sow  (said as ‘so’)                 sowed                       sown                                       sowing

speak                                       spoke                        spoken                                  speaking

speed                                      sped                           sped                                       speeding

spell                                        spelt/spelled            spelt/spelled                       spelling

spend                                      spent                         spent                                     spending

spill                                         spilt/spilled              spilt/spilled                        spilling

spin                                         spun                         spun                                    spinning

spit                                          spat                          spat                                      spitting

split                                        split                           split                                     splitting

spread                                   spread                      spread                                  spreading

spring                                   sprang                      sprung                                  springing

stand                                     stood                        stood                                      standing

steal                                       stole                          stolen                                    stealing

stick                                       stuck                          stuck                                    sticking

sting                                       stung                         stung                                    stinging

stink                                        stank/stunk              stunk                                   stinking

stride                                      strode                       stridden                              ———–

strike                                      struck                        struck                                  striking

swear                                     swore                        sworn                                  swearing

sweep                                    swept                        swept                                  sweeping

swell                                      swelled                     swollen/swelled               swelling

swim                                       swam                         swum                                 swimming

swing                                      swung                        swung                                swinging

take                                         took                           taken                                    taking

teach                                      taught                        taught                                  teaching

tear                                          tore                            torn                                       tearing

tell                                            told                            told                                       telling

think                                       thought                     thought                               thinking

thrive                                      throve/thrived        thriven/thrived                  thriving

throw                                      threw                         thrown                                throwing

thrust                                     thrust                         thrust                                  (thrusting)

tread                                      trod                           trodden/trod                     treading

understand                           understood              understood                        —————-

undertake                             undertook                undertaken                        —————-

wake                                       woke/waked            woken/waked                    waking

wear                                       wore                          worn                                    wearing

weave                                    wove                         woven                                 weaving

weep                                      wept                          wept                                    weeping

wet                                         wet/wetted              wet/wetted                        ————-

win                                         won                           won                                     (winning)

wind                                       wound                      wound                                 winding

wring                                      wrung                      wrung                                  wringing

write                                       wrote                        written                                writing

With these different forms of the Irregular and Regular verb words, we make different TENSES depending on the context; and we also use the V3 form and the ‘ing’ form in other situations – not only as verbs but also as adjectives, etc.  Some forms are without ‘ing’ form which means they are not used in the CONTINUOUS TENSES, and some are put in brackets () which means they are used in the continuous tenses to give different meanings other than the regular meanings.

Finite and Non-finite Verbs:

Introduction:

He told me to go shopping.

(‘told’ – finite verb; ‘to go’ – non-finite verb; ‘shopping’ – non-finite verb)

Read the following sentences:

1.  They always find fault with me.

2.  She always finds fault with me.

3.  He found fault with me yesterday.

4.  They always try to find fault with me.

5.  She always tries to find fault with me.

6.  He tried to find fault with me yesterday.

In sentence 1, the verb ‘find’ has “they” for its subject, and as the subject “they” is a plural pronoun,

the verb ‘find’ is also in the plural form in SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE.

In sentence 2, the verb ‘finds’ has “ She” for its subject, and as the subject “she” is a singular pronoun, the verb “find” is also in singular form ‘finds’, in simple present tense.

Note that most of the singular Nouns are changed to their plural number with the addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’, but the VERB WORD becomes singular with the addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’!

For example:

This boy plays in the classroom.   [‘this boy’ noun – subject – singular number;  “plays” verb – singular (changed to singular with the addition of ‘s’) in SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE]

All the boys play in the classroom.  [‘boys’ noun – subject – plural number (changed to plural with the addition of ‘s’);  “play” verb – plural (without ‘s’) in simple present tense]

In sentence 3, the verb ‘found’ is used with yesterday, and the time frame being past, the verb word ‘find’ is changed into its past form ‘found’.

The verb word of a sentence which is limited by the person and number of the subject and the time frame – present, past and future – is called the FINITE VERB.  Every expression (subject) must have at least one Finite Verb in it!  All verb words in the ‘indicative’, ‘subjunctive’ and ‘imperative’ moods are FINITE.

Moods of the Verb:

*Indicative Mood: the form of a verb word in a sentence that tells us a fact — a simple statement.

**Subjunctive Mood: the form of a verb word in a sentence that expresses a wish, possibility or  uncertainty.

***Imperative Mood: the form of a verb in a sentence that expresses an order, request, command.

In sentences 4, 5, and 6, however, the verb word ‘try’ has taken the job of the verb word “find” in sentences 1, 2 and 3.  The verb ‘try’ is in its plural form in 4 because the subject ‘they’ is plural; in singular form in 5 because the subject ‘she’ is singular and in past form in 6 because the time frame (yesterday) is past.

But the verb word “find” in its ‘to-infinitive’ form – ‘to find’ — is the same in all three sentences – 4, 5 & 6.  It has not changed according to the person and number of the subject or the time frame in the sentence.

So the verb word which is not limited by the subject and the tense in any sentence is called the NON-FINITE VERB.

The Non-finite forms are:  past participle (V3)

present participle (‘ing’ form)

infinitive with to or to-infinitive

infinitive without to or bare-infinitive

gerund  & the verbal noun

{Let’s take the verb word “go” for example.}

present/ finite V1	past V2	past participle V3	presentparticiple ‘ing’ from	to-infinitive	bare-infinitive	gerund& verbal noun
go/goes	went	gone	going	to go	go	going

The ‘past participle’ V3 form and the ‘present participle’ ‘ing’ form are a special group.  They are used as parts of the verbs to form tenses and for other purposes also, but the ‘to-infinitive’, ‘bare-infinitive’, ‘gerund’ and ‘verbal noun’ forms are never used as verbs or parts of any verb.  Once a verb word is used in any one of these forms – ‘to-infinitive’, ‘bare-infinitive’, ‘gerund’ or ‘verbal noun’ — it loses the quality of being a main verb!

Clarification:

That man seems worried.   [worry – worried – worried – worrying]

‘seems’ — finite verb; ‘worried – non-finite verb – past participle form of the verb word ‘worry’

We fought a losing battle.  [lose -- lost -- lost -- losing]

‘fought’ – finite verb;  losing – non-finite verb – present participle form of “lose”

I made them do it again.     [do – did – done – doing – to do – do – doing]

‘made’ – finite verb; ‘do’ non-finite verb – the bare-infinitive form of “do”

He likes shooting.  [shoot – shot – shot – to shoot – shoot – shooting]

‘likes’ – finite verb;  ‘shooting’ – non-finite verb – the gerund form of “shoot”

Note: A verb word is given its name FINITE or NON-FINITE basing on its function and position in a sentence. We cannot generalise any verb word under any particular group unless that verb word is used in a sentence.

Nevertheless, there are certain verb words that always belong to a particular group, such as ANOMALOUS FINITE, etc. which we are going to discuss in the coming sub-topics.

It is to be noted that we do not make sentences or expressions just because we have learned some grammar rules; we learn grammar rules to express ourselves — what we think or need!

We discuss the rules of grammar more at this basic level because we all need a common system, a set of rules, to make everybody understand everybody else without much difficulty!!

It should not be like going to a railway-station and taking any train that you see on the platform just because it is there and ready to move; it must be like getting on the train that takes you to your destination even if  you have to wait for some time!!!

Let’s discuss each of the Non-finite forms in some detail – how they are used, when they are used and how to identify them…

The Participles – Present & Past:

1. Participles help us to form tenses…

e.g.

He is working in the garden.

‘is working’  the verb of this sentence  — one verb – two parts — present continuous tense

‘is’ showing the ‘present’ time and “working” – the present participle form

of the verb word ‘work’ — showing ‘continuous’ action

She has gone home.

‘has gone’ the verb of this sentence

one verb – two parts — present perfect tense

‘has’ showing the ‘present’ time and “gone” – the past participle form of the verb word ‘go’ – showing ‘completed’ action

2. Participles are used to qualify a noun or a pronoun, just as an adjective does…

e.g.

That singing boy is my cousin.

‘singing’ – present participle – telling us about the ‘boy’ – a noun, like an adjective

The faded roses will soon die.

‘faded’ — past participle – (fade – faded – faded – fading)

telling us about the “roses” – a noun, like an adjective

Compare:

[Participles are used as a part of the main verb.]

This boy is singing well.

[‘singing’ – present participle – part of the verb ‘is singing’ showing continuous action]

Those roses faded.   [‘faded’ – past form V2 – (fade – faded – faded – fading)

finite verb, showing what happened to those roses]

3. Participles are used as subjective complement of a verb…

e.g.

Her voice is pleasing.

‘Her voice’ – subject of the sentence

‘pleasing’ – present participle of the verb word ‘please’ – showing how ‘Her voice’, subject of sentence, is – so, it is called “the subject complement”

Note: If a quality is expressed by the ‘ing’ form of a verb word when it is used as a complement, it is called a participle; when it expresses an action or a state of being, it is called a gerund.

Compare:

Her voice is pleasing.   [‘pleasing’ – complement – present participle]

He likes shooting.         [‘shooting’ – an action & object of verb – gerund

4. Participles are used for forming phrases…

e.g.

The work having been done, we sat down to rest.

[‘having been done’ --  present participle phrase]

Frightened by the loud noise, the ox ran away.

[‘Frightened by the loud noise’ – frighten – frightened – frightened --  past participle phrase]

A special note:

A participle phrase should be placed as close as possible to the word it qualifies, otherwise ambiguity (confusion) may result; therefore, care should be taken to place the participle phrase attached to some noun or pronoun close to it.

a)  He saw two women sitting on his bed.

b)  Sitting on his bed, he saw two women.

In a), as the phrase is placed next to “women”, it qualifies this word and gives us the meaning that ‘the women were sitting on his bed’; in b), the phrase is placed close to the word “he” which it qualifies, thus giving us the meaning that ‘he was sitting on the bed’.

Compare:

The girl entering the room saw her uncle.

[The girl who was entering the room saw her uncle.]

On entering the room, the girl saw her uncle.

[While the girl was entering the room she saw her uncle.]

The girl saw her uncle entering the room.

[The girl saw her uncle when her uncle was entering the room.]

To-infinitive or Infinitive with to:

1. The “to-infinitive” form is used when a verb word is to be used as a subject in a sentence…

e.g.

To understand all is to forgive all.

[‘to understand’ – “to-infinitive” form of the verb word ‘understand’ – subject of the sentence; ‘to forgive’ – “to-infinitive” form of the verb word ‘forgive’ – complement]

2. The “to-infinitive” form is used when a verb word is to be used as a subjective complement…

e.g.

Her greatest pleasure is to sing.

[‘her greatest pleasure’ – subject of the sentence;  ‘to sing’ – complement of that subject]

[please see item 3 under “participles –  present & past” above]

3. The “to-infinitive” form is used after the preposition “about” and the verb word “ought”…

e.g.  He is about to go.

You ought to go now.

4. The “to-infinitive” is used when a verb word is either an Object or an Object complement f such verb words as:

allow                      order                       command                              encouraged

*like                        *dislike                   *hate                                      prefer

love                        ant                          wish                                        declare

intend                    hold                        consider                                 require

believe                    suppose                 presume                                 expect

fancy

*admit

understand

own

confess

appear

arrange

attempt

be able

be apt

be bound

be due

be eager

be liable

be ready

be entitled

dash be

prepared

be reluctant

fail

guarantee

promise

offer

threaten

determine

bother

be relieved

Some verbs may take either a ‘to-infinitive’ or a “gerund” for their object, for example, the verb words which are marked (*) in the above-mentioned list can be used with either ‘to-infinitive’ or a “gerund”. This point is clearly explained later.

Some examples related to item 4:

He likes to dance.    [‘to dance’ – object of the verb]

He likes her to dance. [‘her’ object; ‘to dance’ – object complement]

I was allowed to go.       [‘I’ – subject; ‘to go’ – subject complement]

We expect to leave town.   [‘to leave’ – object of the verb]

We expect him to leave town.   [‘him’ – object; ‘to leave’ object complement]

5. The “to-infinitive” is used after the ordinal numbers – first, second, last, etc…

e.g.

She was the first to go.

We are the last to go.

6. The “to-infinitive” is used after the ‘wh-’ words – who, what, which, how, etc…

e.g.

I don’t know what to do.

They asked me how to dress the baby.

7. The “to-infinitive” is used after ‘such…as’ and ‘so…as’…

e.g.

He acted in such a way as to make us think he was mad.

Bare-infinitive or Infinitive without ‘to’:

1. The Bare-infinitive is used after verb words expressing some kind of perception,

such as see, watch, mark, observe, hear, know, feel, bid, let, and make…

Any activity that takes shape in the mind is ‘perception’; for example, “see” is a perception verb, but ‘look’ is an action verb, and “hear” is a perception verb, but ‘listen’ is an action verb.

The verb word “to know”, when it means ‘to see’ or ‘experience’, may be followed by an infinitive with or without ‘to’:

e.g.

I have never known him make a mistake.

or

I have never known him to make a mistake.

e.g.

We watched the procession go by.

[‘watched’ – finite verb; “go” – non-finite – bare-infinitive]

I will let you do it.

[‘will let’ -- finite verb; “do” – non-finite – bare-infinitive]

2. Bare-infinitive form is used after such expressions as…

had better                             had rather                             had sooner

had as soon                           better than                            rather than

sooner than                          more than                             can but & cannot but

nothing but                           need only                              need hardly

e.g.

We had better go home now.

I had sooner run than walk.

The Gerund:

A Gerund is that part of a verb whose main function is that of a noun.  It does not

as a result, forgo its verbal functions like other Non-finite forms.

Noun Functions of a Gerund:

a)  The subject of a verb:   Singing is a pleasant pastime.

b)  The object of a verb:    She likes singing.

c)  The object of a preposition:  We are fond of singing.

d)  The subjective complement of a verb:  Her favourite pastime is singing.

{In sentence d), “singing” is not the part of the verb ‘is singing’ as in the sentence: “She is singing.”;

it is the complement of the subject “her favourite pastime’.  If the sentence is rewritten, ‘singing’ may become the subject: ‘Singing is her favourite pastime.’}

An example showing how a Gerund takes on the functions of a verb and a noun:

He likes teaching me English.

Here ‘teaching’ has the function of a noun as it is the Object of the verb ‘likes’

He likes… what? = teaching – object;

and it has the function of a verb as it has two objects:

he likes teaching… what? = English – direct object;

he likes teaching English… whom? = me – indirect object

{Please see the sub-topic “Active-Passive Voice}

A possessive adjective , or a noun or pronoun in possessive (genitive) case is often used together with a gerund.  For example, “Please excuse my coming late.”

(‘my’ – possessive adjective of pronoun ‘I’; “coming” – gerund)

= “Please excuse me for coming late.”

“Have you heard of President’s being in the UK?”

(‘president’s’ – possessive case)

= “Have you heard that the President is in the UK?”

1. The gerund form is used after a preposition…

e.g.

You are late in coming.       She is tired of learning.

2. The gerund form is used after such words/expressions as…

*to attempt           *to begin               *to continue         *to forget

*to hate                 *to intend             *to like                   *to love

*to omit                 *to regret              *to remember      *to stop

without                  instead of              finish                      admit

insist on                 prevent from        mind (= object to)   practise

tired of                   be used to              worth                     approve of

can’t help              enjoy                      deny                       get through

go on (= continue)   keep on                 risk                          be looking forward to

give up (= stop)      forget about          it’s no use              consider

have the pleasure of                take the pleasure of           there is no harm

be accustomed to

appreciate             object to                succeed in             think of

busy                        quit                         count on                avoid

better of                fond of

Some noteworthy points:

The verb words marked (*) in the above list may also take a ‘to-infinitive’ form as their object. The meaning may be slightly different.  This point is clearly discussed in the next item.

At the beginning of a sentence “on” and the gerund are to mean ‘as soon as’…

e.g.

On coming into town, he got arrested.

= As soon as he came into town, he got arrested.

Followed by ‘for’ + gerund

e.g.

I criticised him for saying that.

= I criticised him because he had said that.

followed by ‘from’ + gerund

e.g.

I discouraged him from doing it.

= [He wanted to do it but I stopped him from that idea.]

TO-INFINITIVE OR GERUND?

Both the to-infinitive and the gerund are almost similar in function.  Most of the verb words given in the lists above take either to-infinitive or gerund, however, the meaning is different.

Explanation:

a)  He stopped to talk.

b)  He stopped talking.

Sentence a) means that ‘he’ stopped whatever he was doing in order to talk.

Suppose he was writing something, he stopped that action to talk to somebody.

Sentence b) means that ‘he’ discontinued the action of talking to someone probably because he was angry with that person or hurt because the other person insulted him – he was just sulking.

c)  I forgot to post the letter.

d)  I forgot posting the letter.

Sentence c) means that I should have posted the letter long ago but I did not post it; it is still with me.

Sentence d) means that I do not quite remember whether I posted the letter or not.

The Verbal Noun

A verbal noun, although formed from a verb word, is a pure noun.  As such it has only one form ending in ‘ing’ form.  It cannot be used in Active and Passive Voice or in any tense.

Examples:

We listened to the playing of the music band.

[‘the playing’  --- verbal noun – object of preposition ‘to’ – no plural form]

This town has beautiful surroundings.

[‘surroundings’ --  verbal noun – object of verb ‘has’ – no singular form]

Compare:

a)  This road has a sharp turning.

[‘turning’ – verbal noun – plural “turnings”]

b)  The turning of the handle made me tired.

[‘the turning’ – verbal noun – no plural]

but…

c)  I am tired of turning the handle.

[‘turning’ – object of preposition ‘of’ – gerund]

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What a sentence!

A useful titbit…

She’s going camping, starting next week.

This sentence has three ‘ing’ forms in it, one right after the other!  This type of sentences may cause some confusion.  But take a closer look and you will see that it is as simple as any other sentence.

The first ‘ing’ form is the present participle – ‘is going’; the second one is a noun (gerund) and the third one is used in place of a full verb — for instance, “which is starting or which starts..” — a phrase!

{Remember that words like ‘camping’, ‘shopping’, ‘swimming’, ‘skiing’, etc. are never used with a preposition before them when they are used with the main (finite) verb “go”.}

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Before concluding this topic, the learners must note an important point:

It is not the end of the topic but only the beginning!  Because…

No one single book or course material can include all the rules and important points on any one particular topic.  There are many, many things one needs to learn.  And one learner may understand a particular point more easily than the other.

It is a matter of a particular learner’s ability that determines the time needed to learn a topic!

Some rules are deliberately avoided in this topic just to give the learner some food for thought! So, come up with your ‘quarries’ and make learning a lively interactive task.

<<< Back to The Verb /  Next Main & Auxiliary Verbs >>>

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