Unit 3

Verbs
• Actions that people do, divided to 4 categories of normal verbs:
Verbs
• 1. VERBS OF ACTION – words that express actions done by a person, animal or nature.
• Examples – run, eat, sleep, jump, fall, swim, take, attack, escape, wear, hide, enter,
leave, beat, move, catch and many, many more.
• 2. VERBS OF SPEECH – used to quote dialogues and to report what a person has said
while expressing the speaker’s intentions, emotions or tone of voice.
• Examples – ask, say, reply, apologise, exclaim, suggest, plead, argue, shout, mumble,
demand, urge and many, many more.
• 3. VERBS OF KNOWING AND THINKING –a person’s thoughts, beliefs and ideas.
• Examples – know, trust, suppose, consider, remember, assume, wonder, forget,
understand, predict, guess, imagine, worry, learn, discover and many, many more.
• 4. VERBS OF SENSES – refers to the sense of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing.
• Examples – hear, feel, sniff, smell, lick, stroke, stare, taste, look, and many, many more.
• Sometimes known as helping verbs, are used to link nouns (things, people) to adjectives
(description), adverbs and other nouns.
• Examples:
• 1. Verb “to be”
• is (singular-present)

Auxiliary verb
• Example: He (singular) is (present) excited.
• are (plural-present plus special case of the singular “YOU”)
• Example: They (plural) are (present) excited and YOU (singular) are (present) excited.
• am (only for “I”)
• Example: I AM excited.
• was (singular-past)

(av)
• Example: He (singular) was (past) excited.
• were (plural-past plus special case of the singular “YOU”)
• Example: They (plural) were (past) excited and YOU (singular) were (past) excited.
• Verb “to do”
• do (plural-present plus special cases of the singular “I” and “YOU”)
• Example: They (plural) do (present) their work, I DO my homework and YOU DO your work.
• does (singular-present)
• Example: He (singular) does (present) his homework.
• did (singular-past and plural-past).

Continued
• Example: He (singular) did (past) his homework and they (plural) did their homework.
• Verb “to have”
• has (singular-present)
• Example: He (singular) has (present) a pen.
• have (plural-present plus special cases of the singular “I” and “YOU”)
• Example: They (singular) have (present) pens, I (singular) have (present) a pen and YOU
(singular) have (present) a pen.
• had (singular-past and plural-past).
• Example: He (singular) had (past) a pen and they (plural) had (past) pens.
Modal verbs – Can
• To state abilities.
• Example: Fish can swim, John can cycle, etc.
• To express HIGHER possibilities based on assumptions or conditions.
• Example: Snakes can be dangerous, I think the work can be done early, etc.
• To request someone to do something FORCEFULLY in question form.
• Example: Can you stay back after school? Can you come over here now?, etc.
• To request for permission in question form or give permission for doing
something.
• Example: Can I join you? Can I enter?
Modal verbs – Could
• To act as a past tense of “can”.
• Example: I could run fast in the past, she could play the violin when she was
five, etc.
• To express LOWER possibilities based on assumptions or conditions.
• Example: The dog could bite you if you stand near it, if the rain stops, we could
go out for a swim, etc.
• To make requests POLITELY in question form.
• Example: Could I ask you a question? Could I have your address please? etc.
• To make LESS CERTAIN judgements in question form.
• Example: Could he be the one who stole my money? Could she be my
daughter? etc.
Modal verbs – Will
• To express something that is going to happen in the future in a HIGHLY
CERTAIN manner.
• Example: They will be there later, he will call his father soon, etc.
• To express higher possibilities based on assumptions or conditions.
• Example: If you miss the bus, you will be late for school, it will be disastrous if
any major earthquake happens, etc.
• To make requests, or ask for help in a LESS POLITE manner in question form.
• Example: Will you help me carry this bag? Will you clean it for me? etc.
Modal verbs – Would
• To act as the past tense of “will”.
• Example: Roy said he would come.
• To express something that is going to happen in future in a less certain manner.
• Example: Most of my friends would attend my birthday party.
• To indicate an action that happened repeatedly or commonly in the past.
• Example: He would exercise twice a day in his younger days.
• To express lower possibilities based on assumptions or conditions.
• Example: I would by this house if I have enough money.
• To express intentions, preferences or wishes in a polite way.
• Example: I would like to speak to you, I would prefer to sit beside Tammy.
• To make requests, invitations or ask for help POLITELY in question form.
• Example: Would you please come over tonight? Would you like to join us?
Modal verbs – May
• To express HIGHER possibilities.
• Example: That person in uniform may be a policeman.
• To express HIGHER possibilities based on assumptions or conditions.
• Example: You may fail the test if you don’t study harder.
• To give permission.
• Example: You may ask questions now.
• To make enquiries, offer help or request for permission POLITELY in question
form.
• Example: May I know your closing time? May I help you? May I go to the toilet?
• To express a wish or hope.
• Example: May your dreams come true!
Modal verbs – Might
• To act as the past tense of “may”.
• Example: My sister told me that she might need to see a doctor.
• To express LOWER possibilities.
• Example: Mice might chase cats one day.
• To express LOWER possibilities based on assumptions or conditions.
• Example: That woman might strike the lottery if she keeps trying!
Modal verbs – Shall
• To express something that is going to happen in the future.
• Example: I shall be fourteen next year.
• To GENTLY imply something that the speaker thinks IS NEEDED TO BE DONE,
regardless whether it is right or wrong.
• Example: We shall take care of our parents when they are old.
• To seek advice GENTLY or POLITELY in question form.
• Example: Shall we ask our parents for some advice?
• In the past, “shall” has to be used with the 1st person pronouns (I, we) and “will”
has to be used with the 2nd and 3rd person pronouns (you, he, she, they and it).
• In modern English usage, this rule does not have to be followed so strictly
anymore so there can be usages of “I WILL”, “HE SHALL”, “THEY SHALL”, etc.
Modal verbs – Should
• To act as a past tense of “shall”.
• Example: I thought she should be ready by now.
• To FORCEFULLY imply something that the speaker thinks IS NEEDED TO BE
DONE, regardless whether it is right or wrong.
• Example: The fat boy should exercise at least once a week.
• To express expectations with HIGHER confidence.
• Example: He should be finished by now.
• To seek advice FIRMLY in question form.
• Example: Should I reject his proposal?
Modal verbs – Must
• To FORCEFULLY imply something the speaker thinks HAS TO BE DONE,
regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
• Example: You must obey the law at all times.
• To make judgements in a LESS CERTAIN manner.
• Example: This must be your room. (shows uncertainty)
• On the other hand, we can also use “must” when we complain about
something in question form.
• Example: Why must you sleep so late?
• Example: Must you talk so loudly?
Modal verbs – Ought to
• To imply something the speaker thinks is the RIGHT THING to be done.
• Example: We ought to be alert of our safety at all times when we are out there.
• Most importantly, “ought to” is to ADVISE someone to do the RIGHT THING in
a serious manner.
• Example: You ought to clean up the mess in your room as soon as possible.
• To express expectations.
• Example: You all ought to finish your essays by Monday.