PROBLEMS WITH THE FORM OF THE VERB

It is common in written expression questions on the TOEFL test for the verbs to be formed incorrectly. Therefore, you should check the form of the verb carefully. You should be familiar with the following verb forms: the base form, the present tense, the present participle, the past, and the past participle. The following are examples of each of these verb forms as they are used in this text:

• BASE FORM
  • walk
  • hear
  • cook
  • sing
  • come
  • begin
• PRESENT
  • walk(s)
  • hear(s)
  • cook(s)
  • sing(s)
  • come(s)
  • begin(s)
• PRESENT PARTICIPLE
  • walking
  • hearing
  • cooking
  • singing
  • coming
  • beginning
• PAST
  • walked
  • heard
  • cooked
  • sang
  • came
  • began
• PAST PARTICIPLE
  • walked
  • heard
  • cooked
  • sung
  • come
  • began

You should be particularly aware of the following three problematic situations with verbs because they are the most common and the easiest to correct: (1) check what comes after have; (2) check what comes after be; and (3) check what comes after will, would, and other modals.

NOTE: A more complete list of verb forms and an exercise to practice their use are included at the back of the text in Appendix F. You may want to complete this exercise before you continue with skills 30 through 32.