Principal Parts of Verbs

Principal Parts of Verbs

Every verb has four basic forms, which are called the principal parts of the verb.

• ​Base

• Present Participle

• Past

• Past Participle

  • All participle forms need a helping verb, like is, are, has, or have.

Base and Present Participle

Formed by adding -ing to the end of the base form:

• [is] calling

• [is] happening

• [is] running

​Present Participle

Smallest form:

• call

• happen

• run

​Base Form

Past and Past Participle

Needs a helping verb, but is usually the same as past form

• [have] called

• [have] happened

​Past Participle

Usually formed by adding -d or -ed to the base form:

• called

• happened

​Past

​Irregular Verbs

• Words that form past and past participle forms in ways other than using -d or -ed are called irregular verbs.

Open Ended

What is the past form of this verb?

run

Open Ended

What is the past participle form of this verb?

run

[have]

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

Yesterday, the first daffodils pushed up through the soil

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

The older children are already practicing their baseball skills.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

Has your grandmother planted her spring herbs yet?

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

I run five miles every day.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

I ran up the hill.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

Has she mentioned the weather lately?

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

Lily is hurrying down the hall today!

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

Kyla jumped over the fence to escape.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

Remi is chasing the frisbee with determination.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

When are we running to town?

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

They have called several times today.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle

Multiple Choice

Identify the form of the verb in the following sentence.

I play clarinet in my free time.

• base

• present participle

• past

• past participle