chomp!chomp!This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, 2015 by Robin L. Simmons.

Verb FormsI know you can say hook , hooked . . .But can you say took, tooked?

This presentation covers the use of standard regular and irregular verb forms.A verb form item on an objective test might look like this . . .

Sample ItemThomas sang along until the CD ended; then as

he was choosing a new disk, he lost control of

the car and drived into a ditch.

sungchosingdroveNo change is necessary.Thomas sang along until the CD ended; then as Ahe was choosing a new disk, he lost control of Bthe car and drived into a ditch. C

sungchosingdroveNo change is necessary.Thomas sang along until the CD ended; then as Ahe was choosing a new disk, he lost control of Bthe car and drove into a ditch. C

sungchosingdroveNo change is necessary.Is sang, choosing, or drived a badly formed verb?Drived is incorrect, which option C fixes.

Regular verbs have reliable forms.Or to fish, fish(es), fished, fished, fishing!

InfinitiveSimple PresentSimple PastPast ParticiplePresent Participleto laughlaugh(s)laughedlaughedlaughingto startstart(s)startedstartedstartingto traveltravel(s)traveledtraveledtraveling

Irregular verbs, however, have no consistent patterns.For example, to catch, catch(es), caught, caught, catching!

InfinitiveSimple PresentSimple PastPast ParticiplePresent Participleto drivedrive(s)drovedrivendrivingto thinkthink(s)thought thoughtthinkingto drinkdrink(s)drankdrunkdrinkingto swimswim(s)swamswumswimming

On many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary to look up the correct form!X

When in doubt, rely on gut feelings.Hey, Ive seen that verb before!Your eyes have seen in print and your brain has registered all of the possible verb forms that you will encounter for this skill. If you dont recognize the right answer, go with the one that feels right.

Instead of skipping class to go fishing, Yolanda should of studied for her accounting exam.Dont confuse of and have.My grade was a disaster!Instead of skipping class to go fishing, Yolanda should have studied for her accounting exam.

Confirm that used to is in the past tense.Now that hes older, Fred has a full-time job, but he use to spend his summers fishing. Youre a bad influence!Now that hes older, Fred has a full-time job, but he used to spend his summers fishing.

Quick TestDirections: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose No change is necessary.Show me what you know.

Item 1We knew that Charley had hid the cookies in

his bedroom, so we stole his key and searched in

all the dresser drawers.

knowedhiddenstealedNo change is necessary.We knew that Charley had hid the cookies in A Bhis bedroom, so we stole his key and searched in Call the dresser drawers.

knowedhiddenstealedNo change is necessary.We knew that Charley had hidden the cookies in A Bhis bedroom, so we stole his key and searched in Call the dresser drawers.

knowedhiddenstealedNo change is necessary.

Item 2If we had known that you were serving squid eyeball stew, we would of come for dinner!

of camehave camehave comeNo change is necessary.If we had known that you were serving squid eyeball stew, we would of come for dinner!

of camehave camehave comeNo change is necessary.If we had known that you were serving squid eyeball stew, we would of come for dinner!

of camehave camehave comeNo change is necessary.

Item 3Priscilla use to have a pet parakeet; her mothers

story is that the bird escaped and flew away, but

Priscilla believes that the cat ate it.

usedfliedeatenNo change is necessary.Priscilla use to have a pet parakeet; her mothers Astory is that the bird escaped and flew away, but BPriscilla believes that the cat ate it. C

usedfliedeatenNo change is necessary.Priscilla used to have a pet parakeet; her mothers Astory is that the bird escaped and flew away, but BPriscilla believes that the cat ate it. C

usedfliedeatenNo change is necessary.

Item 4Julissa was soaked during the afternoon thunderstorm because she had choosed to walk to school rather than drive.

chosenchoosenchoseNo change is necessary.Julissa was soaked during the afternoon thunderstorm because she had choosed to walk to school rather than drive.

chosenchoosenchoseNo change is necessary.Julissa was soaked during the afternoon thunderstorm because she had choosed to walk to school rather than drive.

chosenchoosenchoseNo change is necessary.

Item 5James brung roses and begged forgiveness, but

when Rhonda saw that her ex still hadnt shaved his ridiculous mustache, she shut the door in his

face.

broughtseenshuttedNo change is necessary.James brung roses and begged forgiveness, but Awhen Rhonda saw that her ex still hadnt shaved Bhis ridiculous mustache, she shut the door in his Cface.

broughtseenshuttedNo change is necessary.James brought roses and begged forgiveness, but Awhen Rhonda saw that her ex still hadnt shaved Bhis ridiculous mustache, she shut the door in his Cface.

broughtseenshuttedNo change is necessary.

Item 6If Toby had tooken Charlenes advice, that bottle of soda wouldnt have exploded all over the front of his new white shirt.

tooktookedtakenNo change is necessary.If Toby had tooken Charlenes advice, that bottle of soda wouldnt have exploded all over the front of his new white shirt.

tooktookedtakenNo change is necessary.If Toby had tooken Charlenes advice, that bottle of soda wouldnt have exploded all over the front of his new white shirt.

tooktookedtakenNo change is necessary.

Item 7Cooper laid the 10-page paper on Professor

Cooks desk; he had wrote the last sentence at

2:50 p.m., and then he ran across campus to

deliver the work by the 3 oclock deadline.

layedwrittenrunNo change is necessary.Cooper laid the 10-page paper on Professor ACooks desk; he had wrote the last sentence at B2:50 p.m., and then he ran across campus to Cdeliver the work by the 3 oclock deadline.

layedwrittenrunNo change is necessary.Cooper laid the 10-page paper on Professor ACooks desk; he had written the last sentence at B2:50 p.m., and then he ran across campus to Cdeliver the work by the 3 oclock deadline.

layedwrittenrunNo change is necessary.

Item 8We would have knowen that Dr. Carlson had moved up the date of the quiz if we attended her calculus class more frequently.

of knowenhave knownhave knewNo change is necessary.We would have knowen that Dr. Carlson had moved up the date of the quiz if we attended her calculus class more frequently.

of knowenhave knownhave knewNo change is necessary.We would have knowen that Dr. Carlson had moved up the date of the quiz if we attended her calculus class more frequently.

of knowenhave knownhave knewNo change is necessary.

Item 9Margaret breaked the cookie and gave half to

the young man stuck in the elevator with her; they

told stories to pass the time as mechanics

worked on the hydraulics.

brokegivedtelledNo change is necessary.Margaret breaked the cookie and gave half to A Bthe young man stuck in the elevator with her; they

told stories to pass the time as mechanics Cworked on the hydraulics.

brokegivedtelledNo change is necessary.Margaret broke the cookie and gave half to A Bthe young man stuck in the elevator with her; they

told stories to pass the time as mechanics Cworked on the hydraulics.

brokegivedtelledNo change is necessary.

Item 10Meredith would have went to the concert, but Gregory misplaced the tickets, which they still havent found.

of wenthave gonehave goedNo change is necessary.Meredith would have went to the concert, but Gregory misplaced the tickets, which they still havent found.

of wenthave gonehave goedNo change is necessary.Meredith would have went to the concert, but Gregory misplaced the tickets, which they still havent found.

of wenthave gonehave goedNo change is necessary.

chomp!chomp!Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on irregular verb forms. Go to chompchomp.com!

The End.Dont let the right verb form get away!

*sungwas chosingdroveNo change is necessary.*****usedfliedeatenNo change is necessary.**broughtseenshuttedNo change is necessary.**