146. PRINCIPAL PARTS OF VERBS Notice the following verb forms: In these verb forms you will notice the present tense form give, the past tense form gave, and the past participle given. The past participle is a dependent form of the verb which cannot express an action as the past tense can. In the perfect tenses the past participle is always joined to some form of the verb have. These three parts of a verb-the present, the past, and the past participle, must be known in order to form all the tenses of the verb. They are called the principal parts because all other forms of the verb are built on them. The principal parts of give are: Present Past gave Past Participle given Give the principal parts of the verbs do, laugh, sing, jump, see, ring, play, walk, drive, hear. . Note that the present tense form is used in the simple present and the simple future; the past tense form in the past tense, and the past participle form in all of the perfect tenses. In the following sentences, supply the correct form of one of the verbs in the above list. The present form is given in parentheses. Remember that the past form must not have has, have, or had to help it; but the past participle form cannot be used without one of these words. 1. Anna (come) into the (lay) her books on the desk. room, where she (see) Nellie. schoolroom this morning and Then she (go) into the cloak 2. "Have you (see) Miss Clark this morning?" she asked. 3. "No, but I am sure she has (come)," replied Nellie. "I think she has (go) into the assembly hall." 4. "Have you (do) your arithmetic?" asked Anna. 5. "Yes, I (take) the examples home last night." 6. "I wish I had (take) them home," said Anna; "but I (go) home without them." 7. Just then Miss Clark (come) in, and when the children had (take) their seats, she (begin) school. 8. The pupils (choose) their own morning hymn, which they (sing) with great pleasure. 9. Then Miss Clark (begin) the geography lesson by asking in which direction the James River (flow) after it leaves the mountains. 10. The morning session closed with a talk about the airplane that had (fly) across the ocean. 147. REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS What letter is added to make the past tense and the past participle forms of twinkle? How are the past tense and the past participle forms of work made? The past participle form of the verb is also called the perfect form. A verb which forms its past tense and past participle by adding ed, d, or t to the present form is a regular verb. A verb which does not form its past tense and past participle by adding ed or d to the present form is an irregular verb. Dive is a regular verb-dive, dived, dived. The form dove should not be used. Write sentences containing the past participle forms of five of these verbs. Most verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding ed or d to the present form. These are regular verbs. Some verbs form their past tense and past participle by changing the vowel in the present form, or by making some other change in the word. These are irregular verbs. There are about one hundred fifty verbs that do not form the past tense and the past participle by adding d or ed to the present. You should commit to memory the principal parts of the irregular verbs frequently used so that you will not use them incorrectly in your conversation or composition. The principal parts of words not given in this book may be found in the dictionary. 148. PICTURE STUDY WASHINGTON'S SECOND INAUGURATION The frontispiece of this book shows the old State House, Philadelphia, March 4, 1793. Washington's carriage, drawn by six white horses, has stopped in front of the State House. He has left the carriage and is being greeted by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Washington is dressed in black velvet, with black silk stockings and knee buckles; he carries his hat under his arm, and wears a dress sword. We are told that he walked toward the State House, preceded by men bearing white wands who kept back the eager crowd that pressed on every side. One of these men may be seen in the picture, wearing a black hat and a scarlet coat. The artist painted Washington as a man of dignified, commanding bearing. At first sight of him as he stepped from his carriage, the crowd became profoundly still, and paid quiet homage to the man whose greatness made itself felt wherever he went. Oral discussion. What can you see in the crowd that makes it seem different from a large crowd today? Tell all the things that you see in the picture that would not be seen in a picture of an inauguration of a President today. Written assignment. Write two paragraphs about the picture. Make it so plain that anyone who had never seen the picture would recognize it from your description. You will need to pay particular attention to your adjectives and adverbs. 149. THE INFINITIVE I Read the following sentences: 1. I have a lesson to learn. 3. To eat is necessary. |