🔤 Verb Forms
English verbs change form to show who is doing an action and when it happens. Most changes involve adding simple endings like -s, -ed, or -ing. Learning these patterns will help you understand conversations, books, signs, and everyday English more easily. Each English phrase includes translations in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
🟢 The Most Common English Verb Endings
👤 -s / -es
Used with he, she, and it in the present tense.
🌞 wake → wakes
🚗 drive → drives
📺 watch → watches
Used with he, she, and it in the present tense.
🌞 wake → wakes
🚗 drive → drives
📺 watch → watches
📅 -ed
Most regular verbs add -ed to describe the past.
🎨 paint → painted
📦 pack → packed
☎️ call → called
Most regular verbs add -ed to describe the past.
🎨 paint → painted
📦 pack → packed
☎️ call → called
🏃 -ing
Used for actions that are happening now or continuing.
🚲 ride → riding
🍳 cook → cooking
📖 read → reading
Used for actions that are happening now or continuing.
🚲 ride → riding
🍳 cook → cooking
📖 read → reading
🧠 When to Use Each Ending
Present Habits
She walks to work every morning.
The museum opens at ten.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ella camina al trabajo todas las mañanas. / El museo abre a las diez.
🇫🇷 French: Elle marche jusqu'au travail tous les matins. / Le musée ouvre à dix heures.
🇩🇪 German: Sie geht jeden Morgen zu Fuß zur Arbeit. / Das Museum öffnet um zehn.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lei cammina al lavoro ogni mattina. / Il museo apre alle dieci.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela caminha para o trabalho todas as manhãs. / O museu abre às dez.
She walks to work every morning.
The museum opens at ten.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ella camina al trabajo todas las mañanas. / El museo abre a las diez.
🇫🇷 French: Elle marche jusqu'au travail tous les matins. / Le musée ouvre à dix heures.
🇩🇪 German: Sie geht jeden Morgen zu Fuß zur Arbeit. / Das Museum öffnet um zehn.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lei cammina al lavoro ogni mattina. / Il museo apre alle dieci.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela caminha para o trabalho todas as manhãs. / O museu abre às dez.
Past Events
We visited the aquarium last weekend.
The concert ended late.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Visitamos el acuario el fin de semana pasado. / El concierto terminó tarde.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons visité l'aquarium le week-end dernier. / Le concert s'est terminé tard.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben letztes Wochenende das Aquarium besucht. / Das Konzert endete spät.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo visitato l'acquario lo scorso fine settimana. / Il concerto è finito tardi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Visitamos o aquário no fim de semana passado. / O show terminou tarde.
We visited the aquarium last weekend.
The concert ended late.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Visitamos el acuario el fin de semana pasado. / El concierto terminó tarde.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons visité l'aquarium le week-end dernier. / Le concert s'est terminé tard.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben letztes Wochenende das Aquarium besucht. / Das Konzert endete spät.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo visitato l'acquario lo scorso fine settimana. / Il concerto è finito tardi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Visitamos o aquário no fim de semana passado. / O show terminou tarde.
Actions Happening Now
The children are building a sandcastle.
I'm waiting for the bus.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Los niños están construyendo un castillo de arena. / Estoy esperando el autobús.
🇫🇷 French: Les enfants construisent un château de sable. / J'attends le bus.
🇩🇪 German: Die Kinder bauen eine Sandburg. / Ich warte auf den Bus.
🇮🇹 Italian: I bambini stanno costruendo un castello di sabbia. / Sto aspettando l'autobus.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: As crianças estão construindo um castelo de areia. / Estou esperando o ônibus.
The children are building a sandcastle.
I'm waiting for the bus.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Los niños están construyendo un castillo de arena. / Estoy esperando el autobús.
🇫🇷 French: Les enfants construisent un château de sable. / J'attends le bus.
🇩🇪 German: Die Kinder bauen eine Sandburg. / Ich warte auf den Bus.
🇮🇹 Italian: I bambini stanno costruendo un castello di sabbia. / Sto aspettando l'autobus.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: As crianças estão construindo um castelo de areia. / Estou esperando o ônibus.
🟡 Common Spelling Changes
✏️ Drop the Silent E
make → making
write → writing
bake → baking
make → making
write → writing
bake → baking
🔄 Double the Last Letter
run → running
swim → swimming
sit → sitting
run → running
swim → swimming
sit → sitting
🔤 Change Y to I
study → studied
carry → carries
try → tried
study → studied
carry → carries
try → tried
🔵 Some Verbs Are Irregular
🚶 go → went → gone
🍽️ eat → ate → eaten
✍️ write → wrote → written
🛒 buy → bought → bought
✈️ fly → flew → flown
🔑 find → found → found
⚠️ Common Learner Mistakes
❌ She walk to school.
✅ She walks to school.
✅ She walks to school.
❌ He is makeing dinner.
✅ He is making dinner.
✅ He is making dinner.
❌ We goed home.
✅ We went home.
✅ We went home.
❌ They writed a letter.
✅ They wrote a letter.
✅ They wrote a letter.
❓ Useful Questions
What do you usually do after work?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué sueles hacer después del trabajo?
🇫🇷 French: Que faites-vous habituellement après le travail ?
🇩🇪 German: Was machen Sie normalerweise nach der Arbeit?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa fai di solito dopo il lavoro?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você costuma fazer depois do trabalho?
Uses the base form of the verb after do.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué sueles hacer después del trabajo?
🇫🇷 French: Que faites-vous habituellement après le travail ?
🇩🇪 German: Was machen Sie normalerweise nach der Arbeit?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa fai di solito dopo il lavoro?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você costuma fazer depois do trabalho?
Uses the base form of the verb after do.
Who cooks dinner in your family?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién cocina la cena en tu familia?
🇫🇷 French: Qui prépare le dîner dans votre famille ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer kocht bei Ihnen zu Hause das Abendessen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi cucina la cena nella tua famiglia?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem cozinha o jantar na sua família?
Uses the -s ending for third person singular.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién cocina la cena en tu familia?
🇫🇷 French: Qui prépare le dîner dans votre famille ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer kocht bei Ihnen zu Hause das Abendessen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi cucina la cena nella tua famiglia?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem cozinha o jantar na sua família?
Uses the -s ending for third person singular.
What happened yesterday?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué pasó ayer?
🇫🇷 French: Que s'est-il passé hier ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist gestern passiert?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa è successo ieri?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que aconteceu ontem?
Encourages answers using past tense verbs.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué pasó ayer?
🇫🇷 French: Que s'est-il passé hier ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist gestern passiert?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa è successo ieri?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que aconteceu ontem?
Encourages answers using past tense verbs.
What are you reading right now?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué estás leyendo ahora mismo?
🇫🇷 French: Que lisez-vous en ce moment ?
🇩🇪 German: Was lesen Sie gerade?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa stai leggendo in questo momento?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você está lendo agora?
Uses the -ing form for actions happening now.
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué estás leyendo ahora mismo?
🇫🇷 French: Que lisez-vous en ce moment ?
🇩🇪 German: Was lesen Sie gerade?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa stai leggendo in questo momento?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que você está lendo agora?
Uses the -ing form for actions happening now.
💬 Everyday Conversation
Weekend Plans
A: What are you doing this weekend?
B: I'm visiting my grandparents.
A: Do you visit them often?
B: Yes. We usually have lunch together every Sunday.
🇪🇸 Spanish:
A: ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana?
B: Voy a visitar a mis abuelos.
A: ¿Los visitas a menudo?
B: Sí. Normalmente almorzamos juntos todos los domingos.
🇫🇷 French:
A: Que faites-vous ce week-end ?
B: Je vais rendre visite à mes grands-parents.
A: Les voyez-vous souvent ?
B: Oui. Nous déjeunons généralement ensemble tous les dimanches.
🇩🇪 German:
A: Was machen Sie dieses Wochenende?
B: Ich besuche meine Großeltern.
A: Besuchen Sie sie oft?
B: Ja. Wir essen normalerweise jeden Sonntag zusammen zu Mittag.
🇮🇹 Italian:
A: Cosa fai questo fine settimana?
B: Vado a trovare i miei nonni.
A: Li visiti spesso?
B: Sì. Di solito pranziamo insieme ogni domenica.
🇵🇹 Portuguese:
A: O que você vai fazer neste fim de semana?
B: Vou visitar meus avós.
A: Você os visita com frequência?
B: Sim. Normalmente almoçamos juntos todos os domingos.
A: What are you doing this weekend?
B: I'm visiting my grandparents.
A: Do you visit them often?
B: Yes. We usually have lunch together every Sunday.
🇪🇸 Spanish:
A: ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana?
B: Voy a visitar a mis abuelos.
A: ¿Los visitas a menudo?
B: Sí. Normalmente almorzamos juntos todos los domingos.
🇫🇷 French:
A: Que faites-vous ce week-end ?
B: Je vais rendre visite à mes grands-parents.
A: Les voyez-vous souvent ?
B: Oui. Nous déjeunons généralement ensemble tous les dimanches.
🇩🇪 German:
A: Was machen Sie dieses Wochenende?
B: Ich besuche meine Großeltern.
A: Besuchen Sie sie oft?
B: Ja. Wir essen normalerweise jeden Sonntag zusammen zu Mittag.
🇮🇹 Italian:
A: Cosa fai questo fine settimana?
B: Vado a trovare i miei nonni.
A: Li visiti spesso?
B: Sì. Di solito pranziamo insieme ogni domenica.
🇵🇹 Portuguese:
A: O que você vai fazer neste fim de semana?
B: Vou visitar meus avós.
A: Você os visita com frequência?
B: Sim. Normalmente almoçamos juntos todos os domingos.
📝 Example Sentences
📸 The photographer edits every picture carefully.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El fotógrafo edita cada foto con cuidado.
🇫🇷 French: Le photographe retouche chaque photo avec soin.
🇩🇪 German: Der Fotograf bearbeitet jedes Bild sorgfältig.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il fotografo modifica ogni foto con cura.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O fotógrafo edita cada foto com cuidado.
Present tense with the -s ending.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El fotógrafo edita cada foto con cuidado.
🇫🇷 French: Le photographe retouche chaque photo avec soin.
🇩🇪 German: Der Fotograf bearbeitet jedes Bild sorgfältig.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il fotografo modifica ogni foto con cura.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O fotógrafo edita cada foto com cuidado.
Present tense with the -s ending.
🌷 Our neighbors planted tulips last spring.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nuestros vecinos plantaron tulipanes la primavera pasada.
🇫🇷 French: Nos voisins ont planté des tulipes le printemps dernier.
🇩🇪 German: Unsere Nachbarn haben letzten Frühling Tulpen gepflanzt.
🇮🇹 Italian: I nostri vicini hanno piantato tulipani la scorsa primavera.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nossos vizinhos plantaram tulipas na primavera passada.
Regular past tense using -ed.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nuestros vecinos plantaron tulipanes la primavera pasada.
🇫🇷 French: Nos voisins ont planté des tulipes le printemps dernier.
🇩🇪 German: Unsere Nachbarn haben letzten Frühling Tulpen gepflanzt.
🇮🇹 Italian: I nostri vicini hanno piantato tulipani la scorsa primavera.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nossos vizinhos plantaram tulipas na primavera passada.
Regular past tense using -ed.
🏄 My cousin is learning to surf.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi primo está aprendiendo a surfear.
🇫🇷 French: Mon cousin apprend à surfer.
🇩🇪 German: Mein Cousin lernt surfen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mio cugino sta imparando a fare surf.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Meu primo está aprendendo a surfar.
Present continuous with the -ing form.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi primo está aprendiendo a surfear.
🇫🇷 French: Mon cousin apprend à surfer.
🇩🇪 German: Mein Cousin lernt surfen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mio cugino sta imparando a fare surf.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Meu primo está aprendendo a surfar.
Present continuous with the -ing form.
🎭 The theater opens at seven every evening.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El teatro abre a las siete todas las noches.
🇫🇷 French: Le théâtre ouvre à sept heures tous les soirs.
🇩🇪 German: Das Theater öffnet jeden Abend um sieben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il teatro apre alle sette ogni sera.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O teatro abre às sete todas as noites.
Third person singular in the present tense.
🇪🇸 Spanish: El teatro abre a las siete todas las noches.
🇫🇷 French: Le théâtre ouvre à sept heures tous les soirs.
🇩🇪 German: Das Theater öffnet jeden Abend um sieben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il teatro apre alle sette ogni sera.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O teatro abre às sete todas as noites.
Third person singular in the present tense.
🌧️ Heavy rain flooded the streets overnight.
🇪🇸 Spanish: La lluvia intensa inundó las calles durante la noche.
🇫🇷 French: La forte pluie a inondé les rues pendant la nuit.
🇩🇪 German: Starker Regen hat die Straßen über Nacht überschwemmt.
🇮🇹 Italian: La pioggia intensa ha allagato le strade durante la notte.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A chuva forte inundou as ruas durante a noite.
A completed action in the past.
🇪🇸 Spanish: La lluvia intensa inundó las calles durante la noche.
🇫🇷 French: La forte pluie a inondé les rues pendant la nuit.
🇩🇪 German: Starker Regen hat die Straßen über Nacht überschwemmt.
🇮🇹 Italian: La pioggia intensa ha allagato le strade durante la notte.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A chuva forte inundou as ruas durante a noite.
A completed action in the past.
🦋 Scientists discovered a rare butterfly.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Los científicos descubrieron una mariposa rara.
🇫🇷 French: Les scientifiques ont découvert un papillon rare.
🇩🇪 German: Wissenschaftler haben einen seltenen Schmetterling entdeckt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gli scienziati hanno scoperto una farfalla rara.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os cientistas descobriram uma borboleta rara.
A completed action in the past.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Los científicos descubrieron una mariposa rara.
🇫🇷 French: Les scientifiques ont découvert un papillon rare.
🇩🇪 German: Wissenschaftler haben einen seltenen Schmetterling entdeckt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gli scienziati hanno scoperto una farfalla rara.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os cientistas descobriram uma borboleta rara.
A completed action in the past.
🏆 Final Practice
Choose the correct verb form before checking the answer.
- She _____ to work every morning. → drives
- We _____ dinner together yesterday. → cooked
- The children are _____ in the garden. → playing
- He has _____ the answer. → found
- My brother _____ comic books every weekend. → collects
- They _____ the mountain last summer. → climbed