{"id":148901,"date":"2023-03-11T00:56:34","date_gmt":"2023-03-11T05:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/english-verb-conjugation\/"},"modified":"2025-02-23T23:41:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T04:41:49","slug":"english-verb-conjugation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/english-verb-conjugation\/","title":{"rendered":"English Verb Conjugation: Tenses, Moods and Grammar Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you get nervous or confused when you hear the words English verb conjugation?\u00a0Learning the ropes of<\/em> (the main parts of) English verb conjugation not only helps you sound like a native speaker but also helps you express important information.<\/p>\n

The secret to conjugating verbs is to master the elements of person, mood and tense<\/a>.\u00a0When you do, English verb conjugation will be a no-brainer<\/em> (super easy).<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Person and Number<\/h2>\n

In English verb conjugation<\/a>, person<\/em> means that the verb changes based on subject-verb agreement.<\/p>\n

Subject-verb agreement is when the subject must match the verb in terms of number<\/strong>\u2013both should be either singular or plural. If the subject is singular, you would add\u00a0“the special friend” -s\u00a0<\/em>to the verb.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

The girl walks<\/strong> down the street. <\/em><\/p>\n

Walk <\/em> is the infinitive, or base form. The girl <\/em>\u00a0is singular, so you add -s<\/em>. Grammarians refer to this as “inflection.”<\/p>\n

There are exceptions, though, with English pronouns<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Pronoun<\/th>Verb<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
I <\/td>walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You <\/td>walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He \/ She \/ It <\/td>walks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We <\/td>walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They <\/td>walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Notice that for\u00a0he \/ she \/ it<\/em>, you would add\u00a0-s<\/em>. But when the subject is I \/ we \/ they \/ you,<\/em> the verb remains as is.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

I walk<\/strong> down the street. <\/em><\/p>\n

Person in Main Verb Conjugation<\/h3>\n

Walk<\/em> is considered a “main verb.” Main verbs show a specific action affecting the subject<\/strong> of the sentence and can stand alone with or without a helping verb. Oftentimes, they’re referred to as “lexical verbs” since they convey the semantic meaning in the sentence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

I skip<\/strong> to grandma’s house. <\/em><\/p>\n

We know that the visual and actual action skip <\/em> is different from walk,<\/em>\u00a0or even run <\/em>. Other main verbs include talk , act , stop <\/em>\u00a0and so on. They express the actual action.<\/p>\n

Conjugating main verbs means you’ll add an\u00a0-s<\/em>\u00a0for subject-verb agreement when necessary.<\/p>\n

I \/ we \/ they skip<\/strong> to grandma’s house. <\/em><\/p>\n

She \/ he \/ it skips<\/strong> to grandma’s house. <\/em><\/p>\n

Person in Auxiliary Verb Conjugation<\/h3>\n

The most well-known auxiliary verb is to be<\/em><\/a>. While the to be<\/em> verb (am , is , are , was , were )<\/em> has less meaning than a main verb, it\u2019s both super common and irregular. We\u2019ll get into irregular verbs in a minute.<\/p>\n

To be<\/em> verbs have less meaning in English because they usually “help” the main verb to form a verb phrase.<\/p>\n

The to be<\/em> verb can be by itself or paired with a main verb as an auxiliary verb. Auxiliary verbs “help” the main verb express the actual action<\/strong> by expressing the person, tense or mood.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

I am<\/strong> happy that I\u2019m learning<\/strong> English. <\/em><\/p>\n

I am skipping<\/strong> to grandma’s house. <\/em><\/p>\n

She is skipping<\/strong> to grandma’s house. <\/em><\/p>\n

As with main verbs, the to be<\/em> verb must have subject-verb agreement, and it expresses number and gender.<\/p>\n

Tense<\/h2>\n

When conjugating English verbs, the tense shows when the action takes place<\/strong>. In English, there are three main tenses: the present, past and future.<\/p>\n

Here is a summary of the major verb tenses<\/a> in English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Type of Tense<\/th>Verb Tense<\/th>Example<\/th>How to Form<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Simple <\/td>Simple Present<\/td>I work <\/td>Main verb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simple Past<\/td>I worked <\/td>Main verb + past participle (\"-ed\") for regular verbs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simple Future<\/td>I will work <\/td>\"will\" + main verb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Continuous<\/td>Present Continuous<\/td>I am working <\/td>to be <\/em> verb + main verb + present participle (\"-ing\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past Continuous<\/td>I was working <\/td>to be <\/em> verb + present participle (\"-ing\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Future Continuous<\/td>I will be working <\/td>\"will be\" + present participle (\"-ing\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perfect<\/td>Present Perfect<\/td>I have worked <\/td>\"have\" \/ \"has\" + past participle (\"-ed\" for regular verbs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past Perfect<\/td>I had worked <\/td>\"had\" + past participle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Future Perfect<\/td>I will have worked <\/td>\"will have\" + past participle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Simple Present<\/h3>\n

Present simple<\/a> expresses something factual or true now<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I love<\/strong> chocolate. <\/em><\/p>\n

She works<\/strong> at a language school. <\/em><\/p>\n

It can also express a habit<\/strong> or something that happens regularly.<\/p>\n

I run<\/strong> every day. <\/em><\/p>\n

I practice<\/strong> the piano all the time. <\/em><\/p>\n

Simple Past<\/h3>\n

The past simple verb conjugation expresses a finished or completed action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I walked<\/strong> home yesterday from juggling practice. <\/em><\/p>\n

The past simple verb conjugation form is the main verb + past participle<\/a> (-ed)<\/em> for regular verbs.<\/p>\n

The past simple can use the to be<\/em> verb to show how the subject feels about something<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I was proud<\/strong> to become the world\u2019s fastest juggler. <\/em><\/p>\n

Simple Future<\/h3>\n

The simple future tense expresses an action that will happen<\/strong> in the future.<\/p>\n

I will study<\/strong> in the morning. <\/em><\/p>\n

The simple future tense form is will \u00a0<\/em>+ base form (study). It’s important to note that the simple future doesn’t change for subject-verb agreement or gender.<\/p>\n

He \/ she \/ we \/ they will study<\/strong> in the morning. <\/em><\/p>\n

Present Continuous<\/h3>\n

Present continuous tense<\/a> shows an action that\u2019s happening right now<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I am running<\/strong> to the store. <\/em><\/p>\n

The present continuous verb conjugation form is the to b<\/em>e verb (am )<\/em> + main verb (run )<\/em> + present participle (-ing<\/em>). Or, it’s the verb + present participle.<\/p>\n

The to be<\/em> verb must also change for subject-verb agreement.<\/p>\n

She is running<\/strong> to the circus. <\/em><\/p>\n

The present continuous can also express actions that will happen, that happen regularly or that will happen soon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I am working<\/strong> as a juggler now. <\/em><\/p>\n

I am going<\/strong> to meet him in an hour. <\/em><\/p>\n

Past Continuous<\/h3>\n

The past continuous tense<\/a> shows a longer action in the past being interrupted by a shorter action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I was talking<\/strong> on the phone when my brother arrived. <\/em><\/p>\n

The past continuous verb conjugation is the to be<\/em> verb + present participle (-ing<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Past continuous tense also expresses an action in progress around a particular time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I was working<\/strong> at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. <\/em><\/p>\n

I was doing<\/strong> homework yesterday. <\/em><\/p>\n

Future Continuous<\/h3>\n

You can also show a future action by using the present continuous<\/strong> verb conjugation.<\/p>\n

I am going <\/strong>to study in the morning. <\/em><\/p>\n

We are going to the movies later. <\/em><\/p>\n

Present Perfect<\/h3>\n

The present perfect<\/a> poses a challenge for English learners, not only in meaning but also when conjugating due to the tricky nature of irregular verbs.<\/p>\n

The present perfect describes an action that happened in the past but is still important now<\/strong>. Or, the action occurred at an indefinite period in the past.<\/p>\n

I have studied<\/strong> English here before. <\/em><\/p>\n

He has written<\/strong> to me several times. <\/em><\/p>\n

The present perfect tense conjugation is formed with have \/ has <\/em>\u00a0+ past participle (-ed<\/em> for regular verbs). Irregular verb endings vary (change).<\/p>\n

Past Perfect<\/h3>\n

The past perfect tense expresses an action that was completed before another action<\/strong> in the past.<\/p>\n

I had walked<\/strong> home before she told me I couldn\u2019t do it. <\/em><\/p>\n

You form this tense with had <\/em>\u00a0+ past participle. The form is the same regardless of gender or subject-verb agreement.<\/p>\n

Thomas was happy that she \/ he \/ we \/ they had walked<\/strong> home yesterday. <\/em><\/p>\n

Future Perfect<\/h3>\n

The future perfect tense is used when you’re going to finish an action before some point in the future:\u00a0<\/p>\n

By tomorrow evening, I will have finished my test. <\/em><\/p>\n

To form this tense, combine will have \u00a0<\/em>+ past participle. You can also use the future perfect tense to say an action will happen before a specific event:\u00a0<\/p>\n

My sister will have left already when I arrive, so we won’t be able to meet. <\/em><\/p>\n

Irregular Verbs\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Verb conjugation becomes trickier with irregular verbs<\/a> because of spelling and pronunciation changes. For regular verb conjugation, you either add an -s<\/em> or -ed<\/em> ending to the main verb depending on the person or tense.<\/p>\n

Irregular verbs seem like they have no rhyme or reason to their conjugations. English teachers usually recommend memorizing irregular verb forms.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Infinitive<\/th>Past Tense<\/th>Participle<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
go <\/td>Went <\/td>Gone <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
be <\/td>Was \/ Were <\/td>Been <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
begin <\/td>Began <\/td>Begun <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
buy <\/td>Bought <\/td>Bought <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Mood<\/h2>\n

English verb conjugation shows the speaker\u2019s mood or attitude towards a context or situation<\/strong>. There are three main moods<\/a> in English verb conjugation.<\/p>\n

Indicative<\/h3>\n

This mood expresses an opinion or fact<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

She thinks<\/strong> that Mozart is the best composer. <\/em><\/p>\n

The form, in this case, is the present simple tense, but the mood of the speaker shows an assertion or opinion.<\/p>\n

Subjunctive<\/h3>\n

This mood shows a hypothetical or imaginary situation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If I were<\/strong> a millionaire, I would<\/strong> quit my job. <\/em><\/p>\n

Imperative<\/h3>\n

This mood gives a command, order or request<\/strong>. You can use any main verb in its base form to express the imperative mood.<\/p>\n

Eat <\/strong>all your vegetables. <\/em><\/p>\n

Sit<\/strong> down next to me. <\/em><\/p>\n

You can learn more about giving commands with this lesson from our YouTube channel<\/a>:<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n

Common Problems with English Verb Conjugation<\/h2>\n

If you’re having problems with English verb conjugation, you’re not alone. Below are some common issues that all learners struggle with and some tips to overcome them.<\/p>\n

Using Inconsistent Verb Forms<\/h3>\n

If the story happened in the past, stay in the past. If you’re talking about what’s happening now, stay in the present. And, if you’re talking about the future, only use future tenses.<\/p>\n

One way to overcome the problem of using inconsistent verb forms (or tenses) is to write or practice telling a story in the present or the past<\/strong>. It helps to first write the story and then practice telling the story out loud without looking at your paper.<\/p>\n

You can also check out Betty Azar’s “Fundamentals of English Grammar,”<\/a>\u00a0which offers interactive activities, both written and spoken, for practicing English verb tenses, as well as other grammar points. She’s not referred to as the queen of grammar for nothing!<\/p>\n

Not Adding the -s<\/em> or -ed<\/em>\u00a0Participle Endings<\/h3>\n

Learners tend to avoid or miss the -s<\/em> or -ed<\/em> verb endings in both written and spoken English. It comes from being unsure of how to use them, resulting in avoidance.<\/p>\n

Education.com<\/a> has some useful worksheets<\/strong> to help you practice endings.<\/p>\n

Using Irregular Verb Forms<\/h3>\n

To avoid spelling and pronunciation errors, learners can keep a notebook of irregular verb forms<\/strong> or practice conjugating the verbs out loud.<\/p>\n

For spelling practice, the website Quizlet<\/a> is helpful. It lets you create lists of vocabulary words and then practice spelling them.<\/p>\n

Avoiding Conjugation<\/h3>\n

Oftentimes, learners rely on the present tense for every situation. Or, they avoid specific tenses, like the present perfect.<\/p>\n

When you begin learning English\u2014or any language\u2014the first tense you learn is the present. Changing to other tenses when needed can be challenging at first, so the tendency is to rely on the tense you feel comfortable using.<\/p>\n

But, when you avoid conjugation, your exact meaning is lost and you may confuse the listener. Try practicing conjugation with online games<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to help you conjugate without fear.<\/p>\n

Fun Activities to Practice English Verb Conjugation<\/h2>\n

When it comes to mastering English verb conjugation, you don’t have to write the conjugations over and over again. For some fun activities, try the following:<\/p>\n