Verbs can be Passive or Active.

An Active verb is a verb in an active sentence, in which the subject performs the verb. An example of an active verb in an active sentence is 'I hit the dog.'

A Passive verb is a verb in a passive sentence. In a passive sentence, the action is performed upon the subject. An example of this is: 'The dog was hit by me.'. The two sentences have the same denotative meaning, but their connotative meaning is quite different; active verbs are much more powerful and personal.

English, like many Germanic languages, contains both strong (or irregular; they aren't quite the same thing) and weak (regular) verbs. Irregular verbs are one of the more difficult aspects of learning English. Each irregular verb (http://wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary_Appendix:Irregular_Verbs) must be memorized, because they are not often easy to identify otherwise.

For a regular verb, the changes in form are minimal.

• When talking about actions that took place in the past, add ed to the end of the verb root. E.g., walk becomes walked.
• When talking about actions that take place in the present, add s to the end of the verb root when the subject of the sentence is in the third person (not yourself or the person to whom you are speaking).
• When talking about actions that take place in the future, add the word will before the verb.
• To describe an action that takes place over a length of time, add the appropriate form of the verb to be (http://wiktionary.org/wiki/Be) before the verb and add ing to the end of the verb root.
• To describe an action that has been completed, change the verb root to put it in the past tense (see the first point) and add the appropriate form of the verb to have (http://wiktionary.org/wiki/Have) (note that you can have to have in any tense you want, but keep the main verb in the past) before the verb.
• Also note that you can combine the previous two points by putting the appropriate form of to have before the past participle of to be (been), and putting both of them before the verb.

A Verb is a word that signifies to be, to act, or to be acted upon: as, I am, I rule, I am ruled; I love, thou lovest, he loves. VERBS are so called, from the Latin Verbum, a Word; because the verb is that word which most essentially contains what is said in any clause or sentence.

An English verb has four CHIEF TERMS, or PRINCIPAL PARTS, ever needful to be ascertained in the first place; namely, the Present, the Preterit, the Imperfect Participle, and the Perfect Participle. The Present is that form of the verb, which is the root of all the rest; the verb itself; or that simple term which we should look for in a dictionary: as, be, act, rule, love, defend, terminate.

The Preterit is that simple form of the verb, which denotes time past; and which is always connected with some noun or pronoun, denoting the subject of the assertion: as, I was, I acted, I ruled, I loved, I defended.

The Imperfect Participle is that which ends commonly in ing, and implies a continuance of the being, action, or passion: as, being, acting, ruling, loving, defending, terminating.

The Perfect Participle is that which ends commonly in ed or en, and implies a completion of the being, action, or passion: as, been, acted, ruled, loved.

Verbs are divided, with respect to their form, into four classes; regular and irregular, redundant and defective.

A regular verb is a verb that forms the preterit and the perfect participle by assuming d or ed; as, love, loved, loving, loved.

An irregular verb is a verb that does not form the preterit and the perfect participle by assuming d or ed; as, see, saw, seeing, seen.

A redundant verb is a verb that forms the preterit or the perfect participle in two or more ways, and so as to be both regular and irregular; as, thrive, thrived or throve, thriving, thrived or thriven.

A defective verb is a verb that forms no participles, and is used in but few of the moods and tenses; as, beware, ought, quoth.

Verbs are divided again, with respect to their signification, into four classes; active-transitive, active-intransitive, passive, and neuter.

An active-transitive verb is a verb that expresses an action which has some person or thing for its object; as,

"Cain slew Abel."

"Cassius loved Brutus."

An active-intransitive verb is a verb that expresses an action which has no person or thing for its object; as,

"John walks."

"Jesus wept."

A passive verb is a verb that represents its subject, or what the nominative expresses, as being acted upon; as,

"I am compelled."

"Caesar was slain."

A neuter verb is a verb that expresses neither action nor passion, but simply being, or a state of being; as,

"There was light."

"The babe sleeps."

Verbs have modifications of four kinds; namely, Moods, Tenses, Persons and Numbers.

Moods.

Moods are different forms of the verb, each of which expresses the being, action, or passion, in some particular manner.

There are five moods; the Infinitive, the Indicative, the Potential, the Subjunctive, and the Imperative.

The Infinitive mood is that form of the verb, which expresses the being, action, or passion, in an unlimited manner, and without person or number: as,

"To die,--to sleep;--To sleep!--perchance, to dream!"

The Indicative mood is that form of the verb, which simply indicates or declares a thing: as, I write; you know: or asks a question; as,

"Do you know?"

"Know ye not?"

The Potential mood is that form of the verb which expresses the power, liberty, possibility, or necessity, of the being, action, or passion: as,

"I can walk; he may ride; we must go."

The Subjunctive mood is that form of the verb, which represents the being, action, or passion, as conditional, doubtful, and contingent: as,

"If thou go, see that thou offend not."

"See thou do it not."--Rev., xix, 10.

The Imperative mood is that form of the verb which is used in commanding, exhorting, entreating, or permitting: as,

"Depart thou."

"Be comforted."

"Forgive me."

"Go in peace."

Tenses.

Tenses are those modifications of the verb, which distinguish time. There are six tenses; the Present, the Imperfect, the Perfect, the Pluperfect, the First-future, and the Second-future.

The Present tense is that which expresses what now exists, or is taking place: as,

"I hear a noise; somebody is coming."

The Imperfect tense is that which expresses what took place, or was occurring, in time fully past: as,

"I saw him yesterday, and hailed him as he was passing."

The Perfect tense is that which expresses what has taken place, within some period of time not yet fully past: as,

"I have seen him to-day; something must have detained him."

The Pluperfect tense is that which expresses what had taken place, at some past time mentioned: as,

"I had seen him, when I met you."

The First-future tense is that which expresses what will take place hereafter: as,

"I shall see him again, and I will inform him."

The Second-future tense is that which expresses what will have taken place, at some future time mentioned: as,

"I shall have seen him by tomorrow noon."

Persons and numbers.

The person and number of a verb are those modifications in which it agrees with its subject or nominative.

In each number, there are three persons; and in each person, two numbers: thus,

Singular. 1st per. I love, 3d per. He loves; Plural. 1. We love, 2. You love, 3. They love.

Definitions universally applicable have already been given of all these things; it is therefore unnecessary to define them again in this place.

Where the verb is varied, the third person singular is regularly formed by adding s or es: as, I see, he sees; I give, he gives; I go, he goes; I fly, he flies; I vex, he vexes; I lose, he loses.

Where the verb is not varied to denote its person and number, these properties are inferred from its subject or nominative: as, If I love, if he love; if we love, if you love, if they love.

The conjugation of verbs.

The conjugation of a verb is a regular arrangement of its moods, tenses, persons, numbers, and participles.

There are four PRINCIPAL PARTS in the conjugation of every simple and complete verb; namely, the Present, the Preterit, the Imperfect Participle, and the Perfect Participle. A verb which wants any of these parts, is called defective; such are most of the auxiliaries.

An auxiliary is a short verb prefixed to one of the principal parts of an other verb, to express some particular mode and time of the being, action, or passion. The auxiliaries are do, be, have, shall, will, may, can, and must, with their variations.

To do.

Present tense; and sign of the indicative present.

Sing. I do, he does; Plur. We do, you do, they do.

Imperfect tense; and sign of the indicative imperfect.

Sing. I did, he did; Plur. We did, you did, they did.

To be.

Present tense; and sign of the indicative present.

Sing. I am, he is; Plur. We are, you are, they are.

Imperfect tense; and sign of the indicative imperfect.

Sing. I was, he was; Plur. We were, you were; they were.

To have.

Present tense; but sign of the indicative perfect.

Sing. I have, he has; Plur. We have, you have, they have.

Imperfect tense; but sign of the indicative pluperfect.

Sing. I had, he had; Plur. We had, you had, they had.

Shall and will.

These auxiliaries have distinct meanings, and, as signs of the future, they are interchanged thus:

Present tense; but sign of the indicative first-future.

Simply to express a future action or event:--

Sing. I shall, he will; Plur. We shall, you will, they will.

To express a promise, command, or threat:--

Sing. I will, he shall; Plur. We will, you shall, they shall.

Imperfect tense; but, as signs, aorist, or indefinite.

Used with reference to duty or expediency:--

Sing. I should, he should; Plur. We should, you should, they should.

Used with reference to volition or desire:--

Sing. I would, he would; Plur. We would, you would, they would.

May.

Present tense; and sign of the potential present.

Sing. I may, he may; Plur. We may, you may, they may.

Imperfect tense; and sign of the potential imperfect.

Sing. I might, he might; Plur. We might, you might, they might.

Can.

Present tense; and sign of the potential present.

Sing. I can, he can; Plur. We can, you can, they can.

Imperfect tense; and sign of the potential imperfect.

Sing. I could, he could; Plur. We could, you could, they could.

Must.

Present tense; and sign of the potential present.

Sing. I must, he must; Plur. We must, you must, they must.

If must is ever used in the sense of the Imperfect tense, or Preterit, the form is the same as that of the Present: this word is entirely invariable.

Verb may be conjugated in four ways.

Affirmatively; as, I write, I do write, or, I am writing; and so on.

Negatively; as, I write not, I do not write, or, I am not writing.

Interrogatively; as, Write I? Do I write? or, Am I writing?

Interrogatively and negatively; as, Write I not? Do I not write? or, Am I not writing?

Simple form, active or neuter.

The simplest form of an English conjugation, is that which makes the present and imperfect tenses without auxiliaries; but, even in these, auxiliaries are required for the potential mood, and are often preferred for the indicative.

The regular active verb LOVE, conjugated affirmatively.

Principal parts.

Present.  Preterit.  Imperfect    Perfect
                     Participle.  Participle.
Love.     Loved.     Loving.      Loved.

Infinite mood.

The infinitive mood is that form of the verb, which expresses the being, action, or passion, in an unlimited manner, and without person or number. It is used only in the present and perfect tenses.

Present tense.

This tense is the root, or radical verb; and is usually preceded by the preposition to, which shows its relation to some other word: thus,

To love.

Perfect tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliary have to the perfect participle; and, like the infinitive present, is usually preceded by the preposition to: thus,

To have loved.

Indicative mood.

The indicative mood is that form of the verb, which simply indicates or declares a thing, or asks a question. It is used in all the tenses.

Present tense.

The present indicative, in its simple form, is essentially the same as the present infinitive, or radical verb; except that the verb be has am in the indicative.

The simple form of the present tense is varied thus:--

Singular. I love, He loves; Plural. We love, You love, They love.

This tense may also be formed by prefixing the auxiliary do to the verb: thus,

Singular. I do love, He does love; Plural. We do love, You do love, They do love.

Imperfect tense.

This tense, in its simple form is the preterit; which, in all regular verbs, adds d or ed to the present, but in others is formed variously.

The simple form of the imperfect tense is varied thus:--

Singular. I loved, He loved; Plural. We loved, You loved, You loved,

This tense may also be formed by prefixing the auxiliary did to the present: thus,

Singular. I did love, He did love; Plural. We did love, You did love, They did love.

Perfect tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliary have to the perfect participle: thus,

Singular. I have loved, He has loved; Plural. We have loved, You have loved, They have loved.

Pluperfect tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliary had to the perfect participle: thus,

Singular. I had loved, He had loved; Plural. We had loved, You had loved, They had loved.

First-future tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliary shall or will to the present: thus,

Simply to express a future action or event:--

Singular. I shall love, He will love; Plural. We shall love, You will love, They will love.

To express a promise, volition, command, or threat:--

Singular. I will love, He shall love; Plural. We will love, You shall love, They shall love.

Second-future tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliaries shall have or will have to the perfect participle: thus,

Singular. I shall have loved, He will have loved; Plural. We shall have loved, You will have loved, They will have loved.

Potential mood.

The potential mood is that form of the verb, which expresses the power, liberty, possibility, or necessity of the being, action, or passion. It is used in the first four tenses; but the potential imperfect is properly an aorist: its time is very indeterminate; as,

"He would be devoid of sensibility were he not greatly satisfied."--Lord Kames, El. of Crit., Vol. i, p. 11.

Present tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliary may, can, or must, to the radical verb: thus,

Singular. I may love, He may love; Plural. We may love, You may love, They may love.

Imperfect tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliary might, could, would, or should, to the radical verb: thus,

Singular. I might love, He might love; Plural. We might love, You might love, They might love.

Perfect tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliaries, may have, can have, or must have, to the perfect participle: thus,

Singular. I may have loved, He may have loved; Plural. We may have loved, You may have loved, They may have loved.

Pluperfect tense.

This tense prefixes the auxiliaries, might have, could have, would have, or should have, to the perfect participle: thus,

Singular. I might have loved, He might have loved; Plural. We might have loved, You might have loved, They might have loved.

Subjunctive mood.

The subjunctive mood is that form of the verb, which represents the being, action, or passion, as conditional, doubtful, or contingent. This mood is generally preceded by a conjunction; as, if, that, though, lest, unless, except. But sometimes, especially in poetry, it is formed by a mere placing of the verb before the nominative; as, "Were I," for, "If I were;"--"Had he," for, "If he had;"--"Fall we" for, "If we fall;"--"Knew they," for, "If they knew." It does not vary its termination at all, in the different persons. It is used in the present, and sometimes in the imperfect tense; rarely--and perhaps never properly--in any other. As this mood can be used only in a dependent clause, the time implied in its tenses is always relative, and generally indefinite; as,

"It shall be in eternal restless change, Self-fed, and self-consum'd: if this fail, The pillar'd firmament is rottenness."--Milton, Comus, l. 596.

Present tense.

This tense is generally used to express some condition on which a future action or event is affirmed. It is therefore erroneously considered by some grammarians, as an elliptical form of the future.

Singular. If I love, If He love; Plural. If we love, If you love, If they love.

In this tense, the auxiliary do is sometimes employed; as,

"If thou do prosper my way."--Genesis, xxiv, 42.

"If he do not utter it."--Leviticus, v, 1.

"If he do but intimate his desire."--Murray's Key, p. 207.

"If he do promise, he will certainly perform."--Ib., p. 208.

"An event which, if it ever do occur, must occur in some future period."--Hiley's Gram., (3d Ed., Lond.,) p. 89.

"If he do but promise, thou art safe."--Ib., 89.

"Till old experience do attain To something like prophetic strain."--MILTON: Il Penseroso.

These examples, if they are right, prove the tense to be present, and not future, as Hiley and some others suppose it to be.

Imperfect tense.

This tense, like the imperfect of the potential mood, with which it is frequently connected, is properly an aorist, or indefinite tense; for it may refer to time past, present, or future: as,

"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there that an other priest should rise?"--Heb., vii, 11.

"They must be viewed exactly in the same light, as if the intention to purchase now existed."--Murray's Parsing Exercises, p. 24.

"If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."--Matt., xxiv, 24.

"If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?"--1 Corinthians, xii, 17.

"If the thankful refrained, it would be pain and grief to them."--Atterbury.

Singular. If I loved, If he loved; Plural. If we loved, If you loved, If they loved.

Imperative mood.

The imperative mood is that form of the verb, which is used in commanding, exhorting, entreating, or permitting. It is commonly used only in the second person of the present tense.

PRESENT TENSE. Plural. Love [you,] or Do you love.

Participles.

The Imperfect.  The Perfect.  The Preperfect.
Loving.         Loved.        Having loved.

The irregular active verb SEE, conjugated affirmatively.

Principal parts.

Present. Preterit. Imp. Participle. Perf. Participle.
See.     Saw.      Seeing.          Seen.

Infinitive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. To See.

PERFECT TENSE. To have seen.

Indicative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I see, He sees; Plural. We see, You see, They see.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I saw, He saw; Plural. We saw, You saw, They saw.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I have seen,He has seen; Plural. We have seen, You have seen, They have seen.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I had seen, He had seen; Plural. We had seen, You had seen, They had seen.

FIRST-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall see, He will see; Plural. We shall see, You will see, They will see.

SECOND-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall have seen, He will have seen; Plural. We shall have seen, You will have seen, They will have seen.

Potential mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I may see, He may see; Plural. We may see, You may see, They may see.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might see, He might see; Plural. We might see, You might see, They might see.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I may have seen, He may have seen; Plural. We may have seen, You may have seen, They may have seen.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might have seen, He might have seen; Plural. We might have seen, You might have seen, They might have seen.

Subjunctive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. If I see, If he see; Plural. If we see, If you see, If they see.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. If I saw, If he saw; Plural. If we saw, If you saw, If they saw.

Imperative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Do thou see; Plural. See [you,] or Do you see.

Participles.

The Imperfect.  The Perfect.  The Preperfect.
Seeing.         Seen.         Having seen.

The irregular neuter verb BE, conjugated affirmatively.

Principal parts.

Present. Preterit. Imp. Participle. Perf. Participle.
Be.      Was.      Being.           Been.

Infinitive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. To be.

PERFECT TENSE. To have been.

Indicative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I am, He is; Plural. We are, You are, They are.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I was, He was; Plural. We were, You were, They were.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I have been, He has been; Plural. We have been, You have been, They have been.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I had been, He had been; Plural. We had been, You had been, They had been.

FIRST-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall be, He will be; Plural. We shall be, You will be, They will be.

SECOND-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. We shall have been, He will have been; Plural. We shall have been, You will have been, They will have been.

Potential mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I may be, He may be; Plural. We may be, You may be, They may be.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might be, He might be; Plural. We might be, You might be, They might be.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I may have been, He may have been; Plural. We may have been, You may have been, They may have been.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might have been, He might have been; Plural. We might have been, You might have been, They might have been.

Subjunctive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. If I be, If he be; Plural. If we be, If you be, If they be.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. If I were, If he were; Plural. If we were, If you were, If they were.

Imperative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Plural. Be [you,] or Do you be.

Participles.

The Imperfect.  The Perfect.  The Preperfect.
Being.          Been.         Having been.

Compound or progressive form.

Active and neuter verbs may also be conjugated, by adding the Imperfect Participle to the auxiliary verb BE, through all its changes; as,

"I am writing a letter."

"He is sitting idle."

"They are going."

This form of the verb denotes a continuance of the action or state of being, and is, on many occasions, preferable to the simple form of the verb.

The irregular active verb READ, conjugated affirmatively, in the Compound Form.

Principal parts of the simple verb.

Present. Preterit. Imp. Participle. Perf. Participle.
Read.    Read.     Reading.         Read.

Infinitive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. To be reading.

PERFECT TENSE. To have been reading.

Indicative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I am reading, He is reading; Plural. We are reading, You are reading, They are reading.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I was reading, He was reading; Plural. We were reading, You were reading, They were reading.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I have been reading, He has been reading; Plural. We have been reading, You have been reading, They have been reading.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I had been reading, He had been reading; Plural. We had been reading, You had been reading, They had been reading.

FIRST-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall be reading, He will be reading; Plural. We shall be reading, You will be reading, They will be reading.

SECOND-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall have been reading, He will have been reading; Plural. We shall have been reading, You will have been reading, They will have been reading.

Potential mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I may be reading, He may be reading; Plural. We may be reading, You may be reading, They may be reading.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might be reading, He might be reading; Plural. We might be reading, You might be reading, They might be reading.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I may have been reading, He may have been reading; Plural. We may have been reading, You may have been reading, They may have been reading.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might have been reading, He might have been reading; Plural. We might have been reading, You might have been reading, They might have been reading.

Subjunctive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. If I be reading, If he be reading; Plural. If we be reading, If you be reading, If they be reading.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. If I were reading, If he were reading; Plural. If we were reading, If you were reading, If they were reading.

Imperative mood.

Plur. Be [ye or you] reading, or Do you be reading.

Participles.

The Imperfect.  The Perfect.  The Preperfect.
Being reading.  ---------     Having been reading.

Form of passive verbs.

Passive verbs, in English, are always of a compound form; being made from active-transitive verbs, by adding the Perfect Participle to the auxiliary verb BE, through all its changes: thus from the active-transitive verb love, is formed the passive verb be loved.

The regular passive verb BE LOVED, conjugated affirmatively.

Principal parts of the active verb.

Present. Preterit. Imp. Participle. Perf. Participle.
Love.    Loved.    Loving.          Loved.

Infinitive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. To be loved.

PERFECT TENSE. To have been loved.

Indicative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I am loved, He is loved; Plural. We are loved, You are loved, They are loved.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I was loved, He was loved; Plural. We were loved, You were loved, They were loved.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I have been loved, He has been loved; Plural. We have been loved, You have been loved, They have been loved.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I had been loved, He had been loved; Plural. We had been loved, You had been loved, They had been loved.

FIRST-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall be loved, He will be loved; Plural. We shall be loved, You will be loved, They will be loved.

SECOND-FUTURE TENSE. Singular. I shall have been loved, He will have been loved; Plural. We shall have been loved, You will have been loved, They will have been loved.

Potential mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. I may be loved, He may be loved; Plural. We may be loved, You may be loved, They may be loved.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might be loved, He might be loved; Plural. We might be loved, You might be loved, They might be loved.

PERFECT TENSE. Singular. I may have been loved, He may have been loved; Plural. We may have been loved, You may have been loved, They may have been loved.

PLUPERFECT TENSE. Singular. I might have been loved, He might have been loved; Plural. We might have been loved, You might have been loved, They might have been loved.

Subjunctive mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Singular. If I be loved, If he be loved; Plural. If we be loved, If you be loved, If they be loved.

IMPERFECT TENSE. Singular. If I were loved, If he were loved; Plural. If we were loved, If you were loved, If they were loved.

Imperative mood.

PRESENT TENSE. Plural. Be [or you] loved, or Do you be loved.

Participles.

The Imperfect.  The Perfect.  The Preperfect.
Being loved.    Loved.        Having been loved.

Form of negation.

A verb is conjugated negatively, by placing the adverb not after it, or after the first auxiliary; but the infinitive and participles take the negative first: as, Not to love, Not to have loved; Not loving, Not loved, Not having loved.

First person singular.

IND. I love not, or I do not love; I loved not, or I did not love; I have not loved; I had not loved; I shall not, or will not, love; I shall not, or will not, have loved.

POT. I may, can, or must not love; I might, could, would, or should not love; I may, can, or must not have loved; I might, could, would, or should not have loved,

SUBJ. If I love not, If I loved not.

Third person singular.

IND. He loves not, or He does not love; He loved not, or He did not love; He has not loved; He had not loved; He shall not, or will not, love; He shall not, or will not, have loved.

POT. He may, can, or must not love; He might, could, would, or should not love; He may, can, or must not have loved; He might, could, would, or should not have loved.

SUBJ. If he love not, If he loved not.

Form of question.

A verb is conjugated interrogatively, in the indicative and potential moods, by placing the nominative after it, or after the first auxiliary: as,

First person singular.

IND. Love I? or Do I love? Loved I? or Did I love? Have I loved? Had I loved? Shall I love? Shall I have loved?

POT. May, can, or must I love? Might, could, would, or should I love? May, can, or must I have loved? Might, could, would, or should I have loved?

Third person singular.

IND. Loves he? or Does he love? Loved he? or Did he love? Has he loved? Had he loved? Shall or will he love? Will he have loved?

POT. May, can, or must he love? Might, could, would, or should he love? May, can, or must he have loved? Might, could, would, or should he have loved?

Form of question with negation.

A verb is conjugated interrogatively and negatively, in the indicative and potential moods, by placing the nominative and the adverb not after the verb, or after the first auxiliary: as,

First person plural.

IND. Love we not? or Do we not love? Loved we not? or Did we not love? Have we not loved? Had we not loved? Shall we not love? Shall we not have loved?

POT. May, can, or must we not love? Might, could, would, or should we not love? May, can, or must we not have loved? Might, could, would, or should we not have loved?

Third person plural.

IND. Are they not loved? Were they not loved? Have they not been loved? Had they not been loved? Shall or will they not be loved? Will they not have been loved?

POT. May, can, or must they not be loved? Might, could, would, or should they not be loved? May, can, or must they not have been loved? Might, could, would, or should they not have been loved?

Irregular verbs.

An irregular verb is a verb that does not form the preterit and the perfect participle by assuming d or ed; as, see, saw, seeing, seen. Of this class of verbs there are about one hundred and ten, beside their several derivatives and compounds. List of the irregular verbs:

• English irregular verbs

                             Imperfect     Perfect
Present.  Preterit.          Participle.   Participle.

Arise,    arose,             arising,     arisen.
Be,       was,               being,       been.
Bear,     bore or bare,      bearing,     borne or born.
Beat,     beat,              beating,     beaten or beat.
Begin,    began or begun,    beginning,   begun.
Behold,   beheld,            beholding,   beheld.
Beset,    beset,             besetting,   beset.
Bestead,  bestead,           besteading,  bestead.
Bid,      bid or bade,       bidding,     bidden or bid.
Bind,     bound,             bing,        bound.
Bite,     bit,               biting,      bitten or bit.
Bleed,    bled,              bleeding,    bled.
Break,    broke,             breaking,    broken.
Breed,    bred,              breeding,    bred.
Bring,    brought,           bringing,    brought.
Buy,      bought,            buying,      bought.
Cast,     cast,              casting,     cast.
Chide,    chid,              chiding,     chidden or chid.
Choose,   chose,             choosing,    chosen.
Cleave,   cleft or clove,    cleaving,    cleft or cloven.
Cling,    clung,             clinging,    clung.
Come,     came,              coming,      come.
Cost,     cost,              costing,     cost.
Cut,      cut,               cutting,     cut.
Do,       did,               doing,       done.
Draw,     drew,              drawing,     drawn.
Drink,    drank,             drinking,    drunk, or drank.
Drive,    drove,             driving,     driven.
Eat,      ate or ~eat,       eating,      eaten or eat.
Fall,     fell,              falling,     fallen.
Feed,     fed,               feeding,     fed.
Feel,     felt,              feeling,     felt.
Fight,    fought,            fighting,    fought.
Find,     found,             finding,     found.
Flee,     fled,              fleeing,     fled.
Fling,    flung,             flinging,    flung.
Fly,      flew,              flying,      flown.
Forbear,  forbore,           forbearing,  forborne.
Forsake,  forsook,           forsaking,   forsaken.
Get,      got,               getting,     got or gotten.
Give,     gave,              giving,      given.
Go,       went,              going,       gone.
Grow,     grew,              growing,     grown.
Have,     had,               having,      had.
Hear,     heard,             hearing,     heard.
Hide,     hid,               hiding,      hidden or hid.
Hit,      hit,               hitting,     hit.
Hold,     held,              holding,     held or holden.
Hurt,     hurt,              hurting,     hurt.
Keep,     kept,              keeping,     kept.
Know,     knew,              knowing,     known.
Lead,     led,               leading,     led.
Leave,    left,              leaving,     left.
Lend,     lent,              lending,     lent.
Let,      let,               letting,     let
Lie,      lay,               lying,       lain.
Lose,     lost,              losing,      lost.
Make,     made,              making,      made.
Meet,     met,               meeting,     met.
Outdo,    outdid,            outdoing,    outdone.
Put,      put,               putting,     put.
Read,     r~ead,             reading,     r~ead.
Rend,     rent,              rending,     rent.
Rid,      rid,               ridding,     rid.
Ride,     rode,              riding,      ridden or rode.
Ring,     rung or rang,      ringing,     rung.
Rise,     rose,              rising,      risen.
Run,      ran or run,        running,     run.
Say,      said,              saying,      said.
See,      saw,               seeing,      seen.
Seek,     sought,            seeking,     sought.
Sell,     sold,              selling,     sold.
Send,     sent,              sending,     sent.
Set,      set,               setting,     set.
Shed,     shed,              shedding,    shed.
Shoe,     shod,              shoeing,     shod.
Shoot,    shot,              shooting,    shot.
Shut,     shut,              shutting,    shut.
Shred,    shred,             shredding,   shred.
Shrink,   shrunk or shrank,  shrinking,   shrunk or shrunken.
Sing,     sung or sang,      singing,     sung.
Sink,     sunk or sank,      sinking,     sunk.
Sit,      sat,               sitting,     sat.
Slay,     slew,              slaying,     slain.
Sling,    slung,             slinging,    slung.
Slink,    slunk or slank,    slinking,    slunk.
Smite,    smote,             smiting,     smitten or smit.
Speak,    spoke,             speaking,    spoken.
Spend,    spent,             spending,    spent.
Spin,     spun,              spinning,    spun.
Spit,     spit or spat,      spitting,    spit or spitten.
Spread,   spread,            spreading,   spread.
Spring,   sprung or sprang,  springing,   sprung.
Stand,    stood,             standing,    stood.
Steal,    stole,             stealing,    stolen.
Stick,    stuck,             sticking,    stuck.
Sting,    stung,             stinging,    stung.
Stink,    stunk or stank,    stinking,    stunk.
Stride,   strode or strid,   striding,    stridden or strid.
Strike,   struck,            striking,    struck or stricken.
Swear,    swore,             swearing,    sworn.
Swim,     swum or swam,      swimming,    swum.
Swing,    swung or swang,    swinging,    swung.
Take,     took,              taking,      taken.
Teach,    taught,            teaching,    taught.
Tear,     tore,              tearing,     torn.
Tell,     told,              telling,     told.
Think,    thought,           thinking,    thought.
Thrust,   thrust,            thrusting,   thrust.
Tread,    trod,              treading,    trodden or trod.
Wear,     wore,              wearing,     worn.
Win,      won,               winning,     won.
Write,    wrote,             writing,     written.

Redundant verbs.

A redundant verb is a verb that forms the preterit or the perfect participle in two or more ways, and so as to be both regular and irregular; as, thrive, thrived or throve, thriving, thrived or thriven. Of this class of verbs, there are about ninety-five, beside sundry derivatives and compounds. List of the redundant verbs:

                                  Imperfect
Present.  Preterit.               Participle.  Perfect Participle.

Abide,    abode or abided,        abiding,     abode or abided.
Awake,    awaked or awoke,        awaking,     awaked or awoke.
Belay,    belayed or belaid,      belaying,    belayed or belaid.
Bend,     bent or bended,         bending,     bent or bended.
Bereave,  bereft or bereaved,     bereaving,   bereft or bereaved.
Beseech,  besought or beseeched,  beseeching,  besought or beseeched.
Bet,      betted or bet,          betting,     betted or bet.
Betide,   betided or betid,       betiding,    betided or betid.
Bide,     bode or bided,          biding,      bode or bided.
Blend,    blended or blent,       blending,    blended or blent.
Bless,    blessed or blest,       blessing,    blessed or blest.
Blow,     blew or blowed,         blowing,     blown or blowed.
Build,    built or builded,       building,    built or builded.
Burn,     burned or burnt,        burning,     burned or burnt.
Burst,    burst or bursted,       bursting,    burst or bursted.
Catch,    caught or catched,      catching,    caught or catched.
Clothe,   clothed or clad,        clothing,    clothed or clad.
Creep,    crept or creeped,       creeping,    crept or creeped.
Crow,     crowed or crew,         crowing,     crowed.
Curse,    cursed or curst,        cursing,     cursed or curst.
Dare,     dared or durst,         daring,      dared.
Deal,     dealt or dealed,        dealing,     dealt or dealed.
Dig,      dug or digged,          digging,     dug or digged.
Dive,     dived or dove,          diving,      dived or diven.
Dream,    dreamed or dreamt,      dreaming,    dreamed or dreamt.
Dress,    dressed or drest,       dressing,    dressed or drest.
Dwell,    dwelt or dwelled,       dwelling,    dwelt or dwelled.
Freeze,   froze or freezed,       freezing,    frozen or freezed.
Geld,     gelded or gelt,         gelding,     gelded or gelt.
Gild,     gilded or gilt,         gilding,     gilded or gilt.
Gird,     girded or girt,         girding,     girded or girt.
Grave,    graved,                 graving,     graved or graven.
Grind,    ground or grinded,      grinding,    ground or grinded.
Hang,     hung or hanged,         hanging,     hung or hanged.
Heat,     heated or het,          heating,     heated or het.
Heave,    heaved or hove,         heaving,     heaved or hoven.
Hew,      hewed,                  hewing,      hewed or hewn.
Kneel,    kneeled or knelt,       kneeling,    kneeled or knelt.
Knit,     knit or knitted,        knitting,    knit or knitted.
Lade,     laded,                  lading,      laded or laden.
Lay,      laid or layed,          laying,      laid or layed.
Lean,     leaned or leant,        leaning,     leaned or leant.
Leap,     leaped or leapt,        leaping,     leaped or leapt.
Learn,    learned or learnt,      learning,    learned or learnt.
Light,    lighted or lit,         lighting,    lighted or lit.
Mean,     meant or meaned,        meaning,     meant or meaned.
Mow,      mowed,                  mowing,      mowed or mown.
Mulct,    mulcted or mulct,       mulcting,    mulcted or mulct.
Pass,     passed or past,         passing,     passed or past.
Pay,      paid or payed,          paying,      paid or payed.
Pen,      penned or pent,         penning,     penned or pent. (to coop,)
Plead,    pleaded or pled,        pleading,    pleaded or pled.
Prove,    proved,                 proving,     proved or proven.
Quit,     quitted or quit,        quitting,    quitted or quit.
Rap,      rapped or rapt,         rapping,     rapped or rapt.
Reave,    reft or reaved,         reaving,     reft or reaved.
Rive,     rived,                  riving,      riven or rived.
Roast,    roasted or roast,       roasting,    roasted or roast.
Saw,      sawed,                  sawing,      sawed or sawn.
Seethe,   seethed or sod,         seething,    seethed or sodden.
Shake,    shook or shaked,        shaking,     shaken or shaked.
Shape,    shaped,                 shaping,     shaped or shapen.
Shave,    shaved,                 shaving,     shaved or shaven.
Shear,    sheared or shore,       shearing,    sheared or shorn.
Shine,    shined or shone,        shining,     shined or shone.
Show,     showed,                 showing,     showed or shown.
Sleep,    slept or sleeped,       sleeping,    slept or sleeped.
Slide,    slid or slided,         sliding,     slidden, slid, or slided.
Slit,     slitted or slit,        slitting,    slitted or slit.
Smell,    smelled or smelt,       smelling,    smelled or smelt.
Sow,      sowed,                  sowing,      sowed or sown.
Speed,    sped or speeded,        speeding,    sped or speeded.
Spell,    spelled or spelt,       spelling,    spelled or spelt.
Spill,    spilled or spilt,       spilling,    spilled or spilt.
Split,    split or splitted,      splitting,   split or splitted.
Spoil,    spoiled or spoilt,      spoiling,    spoiled or spoilt.
Stave,    stove or staved,        staving,     stove or staved.
Stay,     staid or stayed,        staying,     staid or stayed.
String,   strung or stringed,     stringing,   strung or stringed.
Strive,   strived or strove,      striving,    strived or striven.
Strow,    strowed,                strowing,    strowed or strown.
Sweat,    sweated or sweat,       sweating,    sweated or sweat.
Sweep,    swept or sweeped,       sweeping,    swept or sweeped.
Swell,    swelled,                swelling,    swelled or swollen.
Thrive,   thrived or throve,      thriving,    thrived or thriven.
Throw,    threw or throwed,       throwing,    thrown or throwed.
Wake,     waked or woke,          waking,      waked or woke.
Wax,      waxed,                  waxing,      waxed or waxen.
Weave,    wove or weaved,         weaving,     woven or weaved.
Wed,      wedded or wed,          wedding,     wedded or wed.
Weep,     wept or weeped,         weeping,     wept or weeped.
Wet,      wet or wetted,          wetting,     wet or wetted.
Whet,     whetted or whet,        whetting,    whetted or whet.
Wind,     wound or winded,        winding,     wound or winded.
Wont,     wont or wonted,         wonting,     wont or wonted.
Work,     worked or wrought,      working,     worked or wrought.
Wring,    wringed or wrung,       wringing,    wringed or wrung.

Defective verbs.

A defective verb is a verb that forms no participles, and is used in but few of the moods and tenses; as, beware, ought, quoth. List of the defective verbs:

Present.   Preterit.

Beware,    ------
Can,       could.
May,       might.
Methinks,  methought.
Must,      must.
Ought,     ought.
Shall,     should.
Will,      would.
Quoth,     quoth.
Wis,       wist.
Wit,       wot.

A part of the text in this article, was taken from the public domain English grammar "The Grammar of English Grammars" (http://www.gutenberg.net/etext/11615) by Goold Brown, 1851.