Verb Forms
Learn the small set of forms every verb takes—and discover the five topics you can explore in greater detail.
Start with the main idea
A small set of forms combines to build every tense.
Verb forms describes the different shapes a verb can take. Most English verbs have four key forms: a base form, an -ing form, a past form, and a past participle. These forms combine with helping verbs to build every tense in English.
Work, working, worked and worked are the four forms of a regular verb. Go, going, went and gone are the four forms of an irregular verb, which do not follow the same predictable pattern.
This page begins with the broad idea of what a verb form is. Once that foundation is clear, you can explore each of the five topics below in more detail.
The four core forms
Every verb takes each of these forms.
Each form plays a different role, and none of them is used entirely on its own.
The base form is the verb’s plain, dictionary form.
work
Used after most modal verbs, and as the starting point for every other form.
The -ing form shows an ongoing action.
working
Used in continuous tenses, and as a gerund functioning like a noun.
The past form shows a completed action.
worked
Used on its own in the simple past tense.
The past participle combines with have and be.
worked
Used in perfect tenses and passive structures, often identical to the past form in regular verbs.
A common thread
Whether a verb is regular decides how predictable its forms are.
For now, focus on noticing whether a verb follows the regular pattern, rather than memorising every exception.
A regular verb adds -ed for both the past form and the past participle.
work → worked → worked
An irregular verb often changes in its own way.
go → went → gone
The past form and the past participle can differ from each other, and from the base form, without following a predictable rule.
The -ing form stays consistent either way.
working / going
Both regular and irregular verbs form the -ing form the same predictable way, with only minor spelling adjustments.
Recognition clues
A few questions help identify which form is needed.
Use several clues together, and always consider what the surrounding sentence structure requires.
01
Does a modal verb come before this word?
If so, the base form is usually needed.
02
Is a form of be nearby?
This often signals the -ing form, for a continuous tense.
03
Is a form of have nearby?
This often signals the past participle, for a perfect tense.
04
Does the verb follow the regular -ed pattern?
If not, its past form and past participle may need to be checked individually.
Where do you go next?
Explore each verb form in detail.
Everything you’ve learned so far explains what a verb form is. The topics below each explore one form in much more detail. Choose any lesson that matches what you want to learn next.
Base Form
Learn how the plain form of a verb is used after modal verbs and as the foundation for every other form.
Example: She can work from home.
-ing Form
See how the -ing form builds continuous tenses, and how it can also function like a noun.
Example: She is working from home.
Past Form
Discover how the past form stands alone to show a completed action in the simple past tense.
Example: She worked from home yesterday.
Past Participle
Learn how the past participle combines with have and be to build perfect tenses and the passive voice.
Example: She has worked from home before.
Irregular Verbs
Explore the common patterns, and the lack of one, among verbs that do not follow the regular -ed rule.
Example: go, went, gone
Building your understanding
The same four forms build every tense a verb can take.
The forms above are not used in isolation. A single verb’s forms combine with helping verbs, again and again, to build the full range of English tenses.
One verb, four forms, many tenses
Each sentence below uses one of the four forms of work, combined with a different helping verb.
Examples
She works from home. — base form, with an -s ending, in the present simple.
She is working from home. — -ing form, in the present continuous.
She worked from home yesterday. — past form, in the simple past.
She has worked from home before. — past participle, in the present perfect.
Remember
As you work through the individual lessons, you’ll discover that each form plays a specific, recurring role. The individual lessons explain how to build and use each form correctly, on its own and in combination with others.
Before you continue
You’re ready to explore verb forms in more detail.
You now understand what a verb form is, the four forms every verb takes, and how regular and irregular verbs differ. From here, choose whichever form is most useful for your own learning.
Continue your learning
Every lesson in this section focuses on one verb form. Complete them in any order and return here whenever you need a refresher on the big picture.