Section R2-a reviews the basic English verb forms and includes a list of common irregular verbs. As you edit your writing, pay particular attention to conditional clauses, two-word verbs, helping (auxiliary) verbs, and gerund or infinitive forms after verbs.

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T2-a Select verb tenses carefully in main clauses and conditional clauses.

Conditional clauses beginning with if or unless generally indicate that one thing causes another (a factual relationship); predict future outcomes or possibilities; or speculate about the past, present, or future, or impossible events or circumstances.

Change both verbs to the same tense to express general or specific truths or actions that happen together habitually.

Change the verb in the main clause to the future and the verb in the conditional clause to the present to express future possibilities or predictions.

To speculate about events or conditions that are unreal, improbable, or contrary to fact, change the verb in the main clause to would, could, or might plus the base form, and change the verb in the if conditional clause to the past tense.

Use were rather than was in an if clause.

To speculate about past actions that did not in fact occur, change the verb in the main clause to would have, might have, could have, or should have plus the past participle, and change the verb in the if clause to the past perfect.

Note: Do not add would have to the if clause.

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T2-b Learn the meanings of idiomatic two- and three-word verbs used in English.

Idiomatic two- or three-word (or phrasal) verbs usually combine a verb with a word that appears to be a preposition or an adverb (called a particle). The combined meaning cannot be understood literally, and similar expressions often have very different meanings.

hand in means “submit”

hand out means “distribute”

look into means “investigate”

look out for means “watch carefully”

run away means “leave without warning”

run into means “meet by chance”

walk out on means “abandon”

want out means “desire to be free of responsibility”

Native speakers of English will notice misuses of these idiomatic verbs even though they use the verbs without thinking about their literal meanings. When you are unsure of the meaning or usage of such verbs, consult a dictionary or ask a native speaker.

T2-c Use the correct verb forms after helping verbs.

After the helping (auxiliary) verbs do, does, and did, always use the base form of the main verb. After the helping verbs have, has, and had, always use the past participle form of the main verb. (See R2-a and G5.)

A modal such as will sometimes precedes have, has, or had.

Following the helping verbs be, am, is, are, was, were, and been (forms of be), use the present participle to show ongoing action (progressive tense).

Use one of the modal verbs with be. Use have, has, or had with been.

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After the helping verbs am, is, are, was, and were (forms of be), use the past participle to form the passive voice.

To form the passive, be, being, and been need another helping verb in addition to the past participle.

After a modal, use the base form.

T2-d Follow verbs with gerunds or infinitives.