Verbs and tenses are one of the most difficult parts of the English language for learners. There seem to be so many different tenses and structures that are not simple. I have compiled this book to help make verbs easier to understand. The book is in five parts:

Chapter 1 The basics

Here we look at the main terms used to describe different kinds of verb, eg transitive and intransitive.

Chapter 2 Tenses

In this section, we explain the wide range of tenses in English, as in for example I work, I am working, I worked, I have worked, I had worked, I will have worked. This section ends with a summary of the different tenses.

Chapters 3–13 Other kinds of verb

Here we consider other kinds of verb: auxiliaries (eg do, can, may); questions and negatives; the passive (eg The car was driven by Daniel); conditionals (with if); phrasal verbs, eg break down, make up; the infinitive; participles; reported speech; and the subjunctive.

Chapter 14 Useful verbs

Here we look at some common verbs (eg come, do, make go, put, set) and their phrasal verbs, together with their definitions and examples of usage.

Chapter 15 Irregular verbs

A list of irregular verbs in English.

Additional features throughout the book include ‘Grammar extra’ panels with further useful information, eg the different words that go with do and make, the difference between been and gone and between bring and take and different words to use instead of say.

Cross-references guide you to relevant information in other locations in the text.

I hope this short book will not only increase your understanding but also improve your use of English verbs.

Books in the “Second basic to read this aloud” bookshelf created by Adri Syamsoeyadi