How to conjugate verbs in English in the Present Tense

Learn about English verb conjugation in the present tense and discover more about the rules and patterns involved. This article provides a comprehensive guide to conjugating verbs, including regular and irregular forms, for both singular and plural subjects. Understand the importance of the infinitive form and its various uses in English grammar. Expand your knowledge of verb forms and gain practical tips for effective communication.

Conjugating verbs in the present tense in English is relatively straightforward and simply requires understanding the basic rules of verb conjugation and being familiar with any irregular verbs. Remember that the most important thing to keep in mind is that the form of the verb will change depending on the subject of the sentence.

Learning to conjugate is not always easy and obvious, so come and book a course on Univext to speed up the process and take advantage of advice from our teachers.

Infinitive Form

In English, the infinitive form of a verb is the base form of the verb, usually preceded by the word "to." For example, the infinitive form of the verb "walk" is "to walk." The infinitive form of a verb is used to express a wide range of grammatical functions including as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It is also used in combination with modal verbs and in phrasal verbs. Understanding the infinitive form of a verb is essential for proper grammar and effective communication in English. To conjugate a verb in the present tense, you will need to remove the word "to" and use the appropriate form of the verb for the subject of the sentence.

For example, in the sentence "To walk is good for health," "to walk" is the infinitive form of the verb and it is used as the subject of the sentence. In another sentence "I like to walk," "to walk" is the infinitive form of the verb and it is used as the object of the sentence.

Infinitive forms of verbs can also be used in combination with modal verbs such as "can," "may," "must," "should," etc. These combinations create an idiomatic phrase. For example: "You should to study more" is incorrect, but "You should study more" is correct. There are also certain verb phrases in English that are formed by combining an infinitive form of a verb with another verb. These are known as phrasal verbs. Examples of phrasal verbs include "to put up with" (to tolerate), "to look forward to" (to anticipate), "to put off" (to postpone).

It's also important to note that there are some irregular verbs in English that do not have an infinitive form that is preceded by "to." These verbs are called "bare infinitives" and they are used after modal verbs such as "can," "may," "must," "should," etc. For example: "I can swim," "she may come," "we must try."

Regular Verbs Conjugation

Singular Person Conjugation

To conjugate a verb in the first person singular (me) and in the second person singular (you), you will simply use the base form of the verb. For example, "I walk" "You walk".

To conjugate a verb in the third person singular (he, she, it), you will add -s or -es to the base form of the verb. For example, "He walks," "She talks," "It plays."

Exemples:

• "I walk to the park every day."
• "You walk to the store to buy groceries."
• "He walks to work every morning."

Plural Person Conjugation

To conjugate a verb in the first person plural (we), in the second person plural (you) and in the third person plural (they) you will simply use the base form of the verb. For example, "We walk," "You walk," "They walk."

Exemples:

• "We talk about our plans for the weekend."
• "You talk to your classmates during break."
• "They talk about their day at work every night."

Irregular Verbs Conjugation

It's important to note that there are some irregular verbs in English that do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation. Instead of adding -s or -es to the base form of the verb for the third person singular, irregular verbs have unique forms that must be memorized.

It's also important to pay attention to the verb 'be,' as it's form changes according to the subject of the sentence.

Here are some examples.

Verbs "be", "have", "do"

Verbs "catch", "say", "go"

As you can see from these examples, irregular verbs have unique forms for each person and number (first person singular, second person singular, third person singular, first person plural, second person plural, third person plural) and they don't follow the regular pattern of adding -s or -es to the base form of the verb for the third person singular. It is important to memorize the different forms of irregular verbs in order to use them correctly in your speaking and writing.

Conclusion

In summary, conjugating verbs for the first, second, and third person singular involves changing the form of the verb to match the subject of the sentence. For the first person singular, the base form of the verb is used. For the second person singular, -s is added to the base form. And for the third person singular, -s or -es is added to the base form. However, there are some irregular verbs that do not follow this pattern and need to be memorized.

It's important to study and practice verb conjugation in order to communicate effectively in English. This includes understanding the basic conjugation rules and being familiar with irregular verb forms. A good way to practice is to use flashcards and conjugate a verb in all its forms, using it in a sentence.

If you want to learn English in the most productive and efficient way, register for free on Univext and book a class with one of our teachers today. Our teachers will know how to help you and will find a personal approach for each student.

Exercise