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Verb Conjugation—Grammar Rules

Verb conjugation refers to how a verb changes to show a different person, tense, number or mood.

To be verb conjugation

In English, we have six different persons: first person singular (I), second person singular (you), third person singular (he/she/it/one), first person plural (we), second person plural (you), and third person plural (they). We must conjugate a verb for each person. The verb to be is a particularly notable verb for conjugation because it’s irregular.

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Conjugation of the irregular verb to be:

First Person Singular Second Person Singular Third Person Singular
I am you are he/she/it is
First Person Plural Second Person Plural Third Person Plural
we are you are they are

Verb tense conjugation

Verbs are also conjugated according to their tenses. Verb tense indicates when the action in a sentence is happening (e.g., in the present, future, or past). Regular verbs follow a standard pattern when conjugated according to tense. Look at the examples below:

Conjugation of the regular verb to live (based on tense):

Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future
live lived will live
Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous
am living was living will be living
Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect
have lived had lived will have lived
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous
have been living had been living will have been living

 

Conjugation of the regular verb to work (based on tense):

Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future
work worked will work
Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous
am working was working will be working
Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect
have worked had worked will have worked
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous
have been working had been working will have been working

 

Irregular verbs do not follow a standard pattern when conjugated according to verb tense. The following example illustrates this point:

Conjugation of the irregular verb to drink (based on tense):

Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future
eat ate will eat
Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous
am eating was eating will be eating
Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect
have eaten had eaten will have eaten
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous
have been eating had been eating will have been eating
Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future
drink drank will drink
Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous
am drinking was drinking will be drinking
Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect
have drunk had drunk will have drunk
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous
have been drinking had been drinking will have been drinking
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