Grammar for Writing
Chapter 4, Lesson 1
"Principal Parts of Verbs," pp. 106-109 / Workbook pp. 73-75
A verb is a word that shows action, condition, or state of being.
Every verb has four principal parts: present, present participle, past, and past participle. Use these to form the various verb tenses and create other verb forms.
- An action verb, such as believe or protest, shows either physical or mental action.
- A linking verb, such as feel, and be, describes a state of being and connects the subject with a word in the predicate.
Every verb has four principal parts: present, present participle, past, and past participle. Use these to form the various verb tenses and create other verb forms.
Principal Parts of Verbs
Present
protest organize speak write |
Present Participle
(is) protesting (is) organizing (is) speaking (is) writing |
Past
protested organized spoke wrote |
Past Participle
(has) protested (has) organized (has) spoken (has) written |
Grammar for Writing
Chapter 4, Lesson 2
"Verb Tenses," pp. 110-113 / Workbook pp. 76-78
Verb tenses indicate when a action or a state of being occurs - in the past, present, or future.
There are three simple tenses (past, present, and future) and three perfect tenses (past perfect, present perfect, and future perfect). These tenses are formed from the principal parts of verbs and make up the verb's conjugation.They give writers many ways to describe past, present, and future events.
There are three simple tenses (past, present, and future) and three perfect tenses (past perfect, present perfect, and future perfect). These tenses are formed from the principal parts of verbs and make up the verb's conjugation.They give writers many ways to describe past, present, and future events.
Grammar for Writing
Chapter 4, Lesson 3
"Progressive and Emphatic Forms," pp. 115-116 / Workbook pp. 79-81
The progressive form of a verb describes an ongoing action or state of being.
The Secretary of State is working for better understanding among people.
Each of the six tenses has a progressive form. To create these forms, combine the appropriate simple or perfect tense of be with the present participle of the main verb.
The emphatic form of a verb (do + verb) is used to make a verb more forceful.
There's no question that Nelson Mandela did influence human rights policies.
The Secretary of State is working for better understanding among people.
Each of the six tenses has a progressive form. To create these forms, combine the appropriate simple or perfect tense of be with the present participle of the main verb.
The emphatic form of a verb (do + verb) is used to make a verb more forceful.
There's no question that Nelson Mandela did influence human rights policies.
Grammar for Writing
Chapter 4, Lesson 4
"Active and Passive Voice," pp. 117-118 / Workbook pp. 82-84
The voice of an action verb indicates whether the subject performs or receives the action.
Example: Millions of women and children have been helped by Mother Jones's
activism.
Example: Jones was known as "the mother of the laboring class."
- In active voice sentences the subject does the action.
- In passive voice sentences the subject receives the action.
- The sentence that uses the active voice is stronger, uses fewer words, and clearly
- The sentence that uses the passive voice is weaker and less direct. It is, however,
Example: Millions of women and children have been helped by Mother Jones's
activism.
Example: Jones was known as "the mother of the laboring class."