🔤 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 several languages.
🟢 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 talk about the past
🎨 paint → painted
📦 pack → packed
☎️ call → called
most regular verbs add -ed to talk about the past
🎨 paint → painted
📦 pack → packed
☎️ call → called
🏃 -ing
used for actions happening now or still continuing
🚲 ride → riding
🍳 cook → cooking
📖 read → reading
used for actions happening now or still continuing
🚲 ride → riding
🍳 cook → cooking
📖 read → reading
🧠 When to Use Each Ending
Present habits
add -s or -es after he / she / it
She walks to work every morning.
The museum opens at ten.
🇫🇷 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.
add -s or -es after he / she / it
She walks to work every morning.
The museum opens at ten.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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
regular verbs add -ed
We visited the aquarium last weekend.
The concert ended late.
🇫🇷 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.
regular verbs add -ed
We visited the aquarium last weekend.
The concert ended late.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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
use am / is / are + the -ing form
The children are building a sandcastle.
I'm waiting for the bus.
🇫🇷 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.
use am / is / are + the -ing form
The children are building a sandcastle.
I'm waiting for the bus.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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
remove the final e before adding -ing
make → making
write → writing
bake → baking
remove the final e before adding -ing
make → making
write → writing
bake → baking
🔄 Double the last letter
short verbs often double the last consonant before -ing
run → running
swim → swimming
sit → sitting
short verbs often double the last consonant before -ing
run → running
swim → swimming
sit → sitting
🔤 Change y to i
after a consonant, y often becomes i
study → studied
carry → carries
try → tried
after a consonant, y often becomes i
study → studied
carry → carries
try → tried
🔵 Some Verbs Are Irregular
🚶 go → went → gone
this verb does not add -ed
this verb does not add -ed
🍽️ eat → ate → eaten
this verb does not add -ed
this verb does not add -ed
✍️ write → wrote → written
this verb does not add -ed
this verb does not add -ed
🛒 buy → bought → bought
the past form stays the same as the participle
the past form stays the same as the participle
✈️ fly → flew → flown
this verb does not add -ed
this verb does not add -ed
🔑 find → found → found
the past form stays the same as the participle
the past form stays the same as the participle
⚠️ Common Learner Mistakes
❌ She walk to school.
✅ She walks to school.
add -s after she
✅ She walks to school.
add -s after she
❌ He is makeing dinner.
✅ He is making dinner.
drop the silent e before -ing
✅ He is making dinner.
drop the silent e before -ing
❌ We goed home.
✅ We went home.
go is irregular
✅ We went home.
go is irregular
❌ They writed a letter.
✅ They wrote a letter.
write is irregular
✅ They wrote a letter.
write is irregular
❓ Useful Questions
What do you usually do after work?
use the base form after do
🇫🇷 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?
use the base form after do
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
Who cooks dinner in your family?
use the -s ending after who / he / she
🇫🇷 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?
use the -s ending after who / he / she
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
What happened yesterday?
this question invites a past-tense answer
🇫🇷 French: Que s'est-il passé hier ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist gestern passiert?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa è successo ieri?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que aconteceu ontem?
this question invites a past-tense answer
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
What are you reading right now?
use the -ing form for an action happening now
🇫🇷 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?
use the -ing form for an action happening now
Show translations
🇪🇸 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?
💬 Everyday Conversation
Weekend plans
mix of -ing and present habit forms
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.
🇪🇸 B: Voy a visitar a mis abuelos.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Los visitas a menudo?
🇪🇸 B: Sí. Normalmente almorzamos juntos todos los domingos.
🇫🇷 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.
🇩🇪 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.
🇮🇹 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.
🇵🇹 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.
mix of -ing and present habit forms
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.
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🇫🇷 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.
🇩🇪 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.
🇮🇹 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.
🇵🇹 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.
present tense with the -s ending
🇫🇷 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
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🌷 Our neighbors planted tulips last spring.
regular past tense with -ed
🇫🇷 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 with -ed
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🏄 My cousin is learning to surf.
present continuous with the -ing form
🇫🇷 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
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🎭 The theater opens at seven every evening.
third person singular in the present tense
🇫🇷 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
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🌧️ Heavy rain flooded the streets overnight.
a completed action in the past
🇫🇷 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
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🦋 Scientists discovered a rare butterfly.
a completed action in the past
🇫🇷 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
Show translations
🇪🇸 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.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the verb form that fits.
Read the situation. Choose the verb form that fits.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%