10. Conjugation of verb

A conjugated verb is a verb that has been changed from its base form to express tense, person, number, aspect, mood, and voice. For example, a different form of the same verb is used to show when an action takes place, to agree with the person (who could be first, second, or third person), to agree with a singular or plural subject, etc.

This list shows verbs conjugated in different ways according to tense, aspect, person, number, gender, mood, and voice.

Tense – Verbs come in three tenses: present, past and future

Each verb (in bold) is conjugated for the tenses as follow:

Present tense: She cycles to school.

(The simple present tense shows an action that always happens or happens often.)

Past tense: She cycled to school.

(The simple past tense shows an action in the past.)

Future tense: She will cycle to school.

(The simple future tense shows an action that happens in the future.)

Aspect – All verbs have both tenses and aspects. Each of the three main tenses (past, present, and future) is subdivided into aspects: simple, continuous or progressive, perfect, and perfect continuous or perfect progressive. These different combinations of tenses and aspects tell us whether the actions are continuous, completed, or both continuous and completed.

Person – Verbs are conjugated for each of the six different persons:

first person singular: I go;

second person singular: you go;

third person singular: he/she/it/one goes

first person plural: we go;

second person plural: you go;

third person plural: they go

Number – Verbs have two numbers: singular and plural.

He/she/it walks away.

(The singular verb walks is used to agree with the singular subject.)

We/You/They walk to school.

(The plural verb walk is used to agree with the plural subject.)

Gender – Verbs have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter.

Mood – Verbs can be in one of the three moods: indicative, imperative, or subjunctive. (See 9. Moods of the verb)

Voice – Verbs can be in the active voice or the passive voice. (See Lesson 15 - Active and Passive Voice)