Learning English Verb Conjugation

Learning English verb conjugation is very important for proper speaking, writing and also for your confidence level. Read this helpful guide to learn more about proper grammar and verb conjugation.

Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses

What is a verb?

A verb is a part of English speech that talks about an action, an occurrence or a state of being.

What is English verb conjugation?

English verb conjugation means that you are changing the verb to show that you are speaking about a change in person, tense (past, present, future), gender (or sex of the person speaking), number, voice or mood. 

How do we conjugate a verb?

Many things influence the conjugation of verbs, such as the person, number, voice, mood, tense and gender of the text. These must be taken into account when conjugating any verb.

Conjugating by person

In English grammar we conjugate verbs for six different person types, depending on who you are talking about. This also includes gender. 

1. First Person Singular – I (for example, I am tall)
   
   
2. Second Person Singular – You (for example, You are tall)
   
   
3. Third Person Singular – He/She/It (for example, She is tall)
   
   
4. First Person Plural – We (for example, We are tall)
   
   
5. Second Person Plural – You (for example, You are tall)
   
   
6. Third Person Plural – They (for example, They are tall)

Conjugating by number

Number not only lets you know how many people are involved in the action, but what person to conjugate the verb in.

For example, when you talk about one person who is not present you can say, "He is not here."

But if a few people are not present you can say, "they are not here."

Conjugation by voice

This lets you know if the subject is active or passive. Is the subject performing the action or is the subject being acted upon?

Active:
My professor wrote that book about politics. 

Passive:
The book about politics was written by my professor. 

Conjugation by mood

When we speak about mood we are speaking about the attitude of the speaker to what is being said.

There are three moods in English grammar: subjunctive, imperative and indicative.

Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used by the writer to indicate a request, requirement, or a condition contrary to a fact.

Examples:

• You seem as though you were uncertain.
  
  
• If I were you, I wouldn't say that. 

Imperative

The imperative mood means that a command is being given. 

Examples:

• Help me!
  
  
• Just talk to him.

Indicative

The indicative mood asks questions or states facts.

Examples:

• I sit over there.
  
  
• He likes to swim.

Conjugation by tense

In English grammar we also conjugate verbs in accordance to the different verb tenses.

Examples with the verb take:

• Simple past: took
  
  
• Simple present: take
  
  
• Simple future: will take
  
  
• Past progressive: was taking
  
  
• Present progressive: is taking
  
  
• Future progressive: will be taking
  
  
• Past perfect: had taken
  
  
• Present perfect: has taken
  
  
• Future perfect: will have taken
  
  
• Past perfect progressive: had been taking
  
  
• Present perfect progressive: has been taking
  
  
• Future perfect progressive: will have been taking

So this was the review of proper English verb conjugation. Now let us practice!

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