Verb Conjugation Instructions for ESL Students

Verb Conjugation Instructions for ESL Students Learning how to conjugate verbs in English is not as difficult as many think. The key to learning how to conjugate verbs in English is to focus on how to conjugate the auxiliary verb. What are auxiliary verbs? Auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs. They are verbs that help the main verb. All tenses in English conjugate using an auxiliary verb. Only the present simple and the past simple in the positive form takes no auxiliary verb! Follow these easy steps on how to conjugate verbs, and youll conjugate verbs in English with ease. Learn how to identify the main verb in a sentence. Verbs express what someone or something does. Look for the verb that expresses the action of the sentence.Decide on when the action takes place. Does it take place in the present, the past, or the future?Once you have discovered the general time, find out the specific time. Is the action happening at the moment? Does the action happen every day? Has the action happened up to a point in the past, present or future?If the action happens regularly or is a habit, use the present simple verb form: For example: He doesnt work on Saturdays. They play football after school. etc.If the action happens once in the past at a specific point in time, use the past simple. For example: They went to school when they were young. Did Mary visit you last week?If the action happens up to a point in time use a perfect form: present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect. For example: She has worked her for many years. They had finished lunch by the time he arrived. Mary will have finished the report by five pm. If the action is happening at a specific moment in time use a continuous form: present continuous, past continuous or future continuous. For example: She is working at the moment. They will be playing tennis at 5 pm. Tom was eating when she arrived.Now that you know WHEN the action happens, and in what time frame, learn your helping verbs. Present simple or past - do, perfect forms - have, continuous forms - be.Learn to conjugate the helping verbs: I, you, we, they do / she, he, it does | I am / you, we, they are | I, you, we have / he, she it hasLearn which form the main verb takes for each form. Simple forms verb without to (i.e. play, walk, eat, work, etc.). Continuous forms verb ing (playing, walking, eating, working, etc.) Perfect forms past participle (verb in the third form, i.e. bought, understood, played, etc.)Conjugate the verb. Here is the thinking process: 1) Whats the general time? - past 2) Whats the specific time? - at a specific moment 3) Aha! continuous in the pa st OR past continuous 4) conjugate the helping verb - She was 5) Use the continuous form of the main verb: doing 6) Conjugate the verb: She was doing Remember these simple steps: Time? Action Happening? Simple, Continuous or Perfect? Auxiliary verb? Main Verb? Conjugate Example 1 Time? PresentAction Happening? Up to the presentSimple, Continuous or Perfect? PerfectAuxiliary verb? haveMain Verb? liveVerb Form? livedConjugate We have lived here for ten years. Example 2 Time? FutureAction Happening? happening at a specific momentSimple, Continuous or Perfect? continuousAuxiliary verb? beMain Verb? watchVerb Form? watchingConjugate She will be watching TV at nine. Example 3 Time? PastAction Happening? one day in pastSimple, Continuous or Perfect? simpleAuxiliary verb? didMain Verb? playVerb Form? playConjugate Did you play the piano yesterday? Tips Be patient with yourself when learning how to conjugate verbs.Remember that the present simple and past simple do NOT take auxiliary verbs in positive forms.Changes occur in the auxiliary verb, not in the main verb EXCEPT for the present simple.