Present Simple Verb to BE
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present affirmative. Identify the verb and explain: What happens to the main verb depending on the subject?
I am hot.
You are hot.
He is hot.
She is hot.
It is hot.
We are hot.
You are hot.
They are hot.
For "I" in the first person singular, the verb is conjugated "am".
For "he," "she," and "it" in the third person singular, the verb is conjugated "is".
For "we" in the first person plural, "you" in the second person singular and plural, and "they" in the third person plural, the verb is conjugated "are".
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past affirmative. Identify the verb and explain: What happens to the main verb depending on the subject?
I was hot.
You were hot.
He was hot.
She was hot.
It was hot.
We were hot.
You were hot.
They were hot.
For "I" in the first person singular, and "he," "she," and "it" in the third person singular, the verb is conjugated "was".
For "we" in the first person plural, "you" in the second person singular and plural, and "they" in the third person plural, the verb is conjugated "were".
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present affirmative. Identify the verb and explain: what happens to the main verb depending on the subject?
I take pictures.
You take pictures.
He takes pictures.
She takes pictures.
We take pictures.
You take pictures.
They take pictures.
For "I" in the first person singular, "we" in the first person plural, "you" in the second person singular and plural, and "they" in the third person plural, the verb is conjugated JUST by removing "to" from the infinitive form.
Only for "he," "she," and "it" in the third person SINGULAR, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding an S to the end of the verb.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past affirmative. Identify the verb and explain: what happens to the main verb depending on the subject?
I took pictures.
You took pictures.
He took pictures.
She took pictures.
We took pictures.
You took pictures.
They took pictures.
In the Simple Past, the verb is conjugated by using the simple past form for every subject.
SUBJECT I
Read the following examples. Identify the subject and explain: what happens to the subject I when its POSITION changes in the sentence?
I take pictures.
He doesn't take pictures.
They took pictures.
Did I take pictures?
Does she take pictures?
Am I hot?
Were you hot?
The subject "I" is ALWAYS in capital letters anywhere in the sentence, whether at the start or the middle.
The verb to BE is the only main verb that can use contractions: Rewrite these sentences using contractions?
I am hot.
You are hot.
He is hot.
She is hot.
It is hot.
We are hot.
You are hot.
They are hot.
I'm hot.
You're hot.
He's hot.
She's hot.
It's hot.
We're hot.
You're hot.
They're hot.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past negative. Identify the verb and explain: where is the negative?
I was not hot.
You were not hot.
He was not hot.
She was not hot.
It was not hot.
We were not hot.
You were not hot.
They were not hot.
For the negative, maintain the conjugation in the affirmative and add "not" after the verb to BE.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present affirmative. Identify the verbs and explain: what happens to the main verb change when the subject is in the third person singular depending on the verb?
He takes pictures. (verb "to take")
She works at Yazigi. (verb "to work")
It mixes paint. (verb "to mix")
He finishes the test. (verb "to finish")
She watches TV. (verb "to watch")
It goes to the park. (verb "to go")
For most verbs, the verb is conjugated in the third person SINGULAR by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding an S to the end of the verb.
However, for verbs that end in CH, SH, X, O or SS, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding an ES to the end of the verb.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past affirmative. Identify the verb and explain: what happens to the main verb depending on the verb?
I took pictures at the last event.
You studied for the test.
He cried when he saw his grade.
She worked a lot last week.
It played with the ball.
We went to the beach.
You had a fever last night.
They liked the cake I made.
To conjugate regular verbs, add ED, D or IED to the end of the verb as follows:
ED, for the majority of the verbs (examples "to work" and "to play").
D, if the verb already ends in E (example "to like").
IED, if the verb ends in Y preceded by a consonant (examples "to cry" and "to study").
To conjugate irregular verbs, each verb has its own past simple form (examples "to take", "to see", "to go", "to have" and "to make").
AUXILIARY VERB
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present. Identify the verb and explain: what happens with the main verb in the presence of the auxiliary verb?
He takes pictures.
She takes pictures.
He doesn't take pictures.
She doesn't take pictures.
Does he take pictures?
Does she take pictures?
The auxiliary verb "does" already includes the necessary S for the third person singular, so the main verb is ONLY conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present negative. Identify the verb and explain: where is the negative?
I am not hot.
You are not hot.
He is not hot.
She is not hot.
It is not hot.
We are not hot.
You are not hot.
They are not hot.
For the negative, maintain the conjugation in the affirmative and add "not" after the verb to BE.
The verb to BE is the only main verb that can use contractions: how are the following sentences written using contractions?
I was not hot.
You were not hot.
He was not hot.
She was not hot.
It was not hot.
We were not hot.
You were not hot.
They were not hot.
I wasn't hot.
You weren't hot.
He wasn't hot.
She wasn't hot.
It wasn't hot.
We weren't hot.
You weren't hot.
They weren't hot.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present affirmative. Identify the verb and explain: what happens to the main verb change when the subject is in the third person singular?
He stays at hotels. (verb "to stay")
She says hello. (verb "to say")
It plays with balls. (verb "to play")
He studies English. (verb "to study")
She cries a lot. (verb "to cry")
It flies in the sky. (verb "to fly")
In the third person SINGULAR, if the verb ends in Y and is preceded by a consonant, it is conjugated by removing the Y and adding an IES to the end of the verb.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past negative. Identify the verb and explain: what happens to the main verb with the presence of the auxiliary verb?
I didn't take pictures.
You didn't take pictures.
He didn't take pictures.
She didn't take pictures.
We didn't take pictures.
You didn't take pictures.
They didn't take pictures.
In the Simple Past, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding the auxiliary verb "did" followed by "not", or its contraction "didn't", before the main verb for every subject.
AUXILIARY VERB
Read the following examples where the verb is both in the Simple Present and the Simple Past. Identify the verb and explain: what happens with the main verb in the presence of the auxiliary verb?
Do you take pictures?
He doesn't take pictures.
Does she take pictures?
She didn't take pictures.
Did he take pictures?
They didn't take pictures.
The auxiliary verb "did" is the simple past form of the auxiliary verb "do" or "does" in the present.
Following the same logic of the auxiliary verb "does", which already includes the necessary S for the third person singular, returning the main verb to the base form, the auxiliary verb "did" already includes the necessary change for the simple past form, so the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form.
The verb to BE is the only main verb that can use contractions: Rewrite these sentences using contractions?
I am not hot.
You are not hot.
He is not hot.
She is not hot.
It is not hot.
We are not hot.
You are not hot.
They are not hot.
I'm not hot.
You aren't hot.
He isn't hot.
She isn't hot.
It isn't hot.
We aren't hot.
You aren't hot.
They aren't hot.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past interrogative. Identify the verb and explain: where is the verb to BE?
Was I hot?
Were you hot?
Was he hot?
Was she hot?
Was it hot?
Were we hot?
Were you hot?
Were they hot?
For the interrogative, maintain the conjugation in the affirmative, but the verb to BE comes before the subject.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present negative. Identify the verb and explain: where is the negative?
I don't take pictures.
You don't take pictures.
He doesn't take pictures.
She doesn't take pictures.
We don't take pictures.
You don't take pictures.
They don't take pictures.
For "I" in the first person singular, "we" in the first person plural, "you" in the second person singular and plural, and "they" in the third person plural, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding the auxiliary verb "do" followed by "not", or its contraction "don't" before the main verb.
Only for "he," "she," and "it" in the third person SINGULAR, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding the auxiliary verb "does" followed by "not", or its contraction "doesn't" before the main verb.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Past interrogative. Identify the verb and explain: what happens to the main verb with the presence of the auxiliary verb?
Did I take pictures? / How did I take pictures?
Did you take pictures? / How did you take pictures?
Did he take pictures? / How did he take pictures?
Did she take pictures? / How did she take pictures?
Did we take pictures? / How did we take pictures?
Did you take pictures? / How did you take pictures?
Did they take pictures? / How did they take pictures?
In the Simple Past, for every subject, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding the auxiliary verb "did" before the subject.
INFORMATION QUESTIONS VS YES/NO QUESTIONS
Read the following examples where the verb is in the interrogative. Identify the answers and explain: how do questions start depending on the answer we need?
Does he take pictures? Yes, he does.
What does he take pictures of? He takes pictures of birds.
Did you take pictures? No, I didn't
Why didn't you take pictures? Because I don't have a camera.
Information questions start with WH words followed by the auxiliary, and need complete answers.
Yes/No questions start with the auxiliary verb, and need short answers with yes or no.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present interrogative. Identify the verb and explain: where is the verb to BE?
Am I hot?
Are you hot?
Is he hot?
Is she hot?
Is it hot?
Are we hot?
Are you hot?
Are they hot?
For the interrogative, maintain the conjugation in the affirmative, but the verb to BE comes before the subject.
CONTRACTIONS VS PRONOUNS (DOUBLE POINTS!)
Read the following examples. Identify the verb and explain: What is the difference between contractions and pronouns?
It's a lion.
The lion protected its cubs.
This cub is its.
Contractions represent IT IS; therefore, there is an apostrophe (')
Pronouns DON'T have apostrophes, because ITS is just one word.
Read the following examples where the verb is in the Simple Present interrogative. Identify the verb and explain: what do we need to do to form the interrogative?
Do I take pictures? / How do I take pictures?
Do you take pictures? / How do you take pictures?
Does he take pictures? / How does he take pictures?
Does she take pictures? / How does she take pictures?
Do we take pictures? / How do we take pictures?
Do you take pictures? / How do you take pictures?
Do they take pictures? / How do they take pictures?
For "I" in the first person and "you" in the second person singular, as well as for "we" in the first person, "you" in the second person, and "they" in the third person plural, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding the auxiliary verb "do" before the subject.
For "he," "she," and "it" in the third person singular, the verb is conjugated by removing "to" from the infinitive form AND adding the auxiliary verb "does" before the subject.
VERB TO BE VS OTHER VERBS (DOUBLE POINTS!)
Read the following examples where the verb is in the negative. Identify the answers and explain: Does every main verb need an auxiliary verb?
I'm not hot. / I don't take pictures.
You aren't hot. / You don't take pictures.
He isn't hot. / He doesn't take pictures.
She wasn't hot. / She didn't take pictures.
They weren't hot. / They didn't take pictures.
The verb to be DOESN'T USE auxiliary verbs.
DOUBLE POINTS!
What was the best thing you learned in this game that you won't make mistakes anymore from now on?
One answer per group.