Five Verb Forms How to Form V5 Regular Verbs Irregular Verbs Tense → Form Comparison Quiz Game Flashcards Drag & Drop Exercises
Class 7 · English Grammar
19

Verb Forms (V1–V5)

Master the five forms every verb can take — Base, Past Simple, Past Participle, Present Participle & Third Person Singular!

📚 ✍️ 💡 🌟 🚀
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What Are the Five Verb Forms?

V1, V2, V3, V4 & V5 — every verb wears five different costumes

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Definition

Every English verb has five forms. These forms are used to build different tenses. Knowing all five forms of a verb is the key to writing correct sentences!

V1
Base Form / Infinitive
The simplest dictionary form of the verb.
play go write eat
V2
Past Simple
Used for actions completed in the past.
played went wrote ate
V3
Past Participle
Used with has/have/had for perfect tenses.
played gone written eaten
V4
Present Participle (-ing)
Used with is/am/are/was/were for continuous tenses.
playing going writing eating
V5
Third Person Singular (-s/-es)
Used with he/she/it in Simple Present Tense.
plays goes writes eats

💡 Quick Summary

Verb V1 (Base) V2 (Past) V3 (Past Part.) V4 (-ing) V5 (-s/-es)
🎾playplayedplayedplayingplays
🚶gowentgonegoinggoes
✍️writewrotewrittenwritingwrites
🍔eatateeateneatingeats

💡 Notice: For regular verbs, V2 and V3 are the same (played/played). For irregular verbs, they can all be different!

🔐

How to Form V5 (the -s/-es Form)

Rules for adding -s or -es to create the third person singular form

📜 When Do We Use V5?

V5 is used only in the Simple Present Tense when the subject is he, she, it, or any singular noun.

V1 (I/You/We/They)
They play football every evening.
V5 (He/She/It)
He plays football every evening.

Rule 1: Add -s

Most verbs — just add -s to the base form.

play → plays eat → eats run → runs read → reads write → writes sing → sings

Rule 2: Add -es

If the verb ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z, or -o, add -es.

go → goes do → does watch → watches wash → washes fix → fixes pass → passes buzz → buzzes

Rule 3: Consonant + y → -ies

If the verb ends in a consonant + y, change y to i and add -es.

carry → carries study → studies fly → flies try → tries cry → cries

Rule 4: Vowel + y → just -s

If the verb ends in a vowel + y, simply add -s.

play → plays stay → stays enjoy → enjoys buy → buys say → says

Rule 5: Irregular V5 Forms

A few verbs have special V5 forms.

have → has be → is

Regular Verbs — V1 to V5 Table

25 common regular verbs with all five forms

✅ Regular Verbs (V2 & V3 add -d / -ed / -ied)

For regular verbs, V2 and V3 are always the same. V4 adds -ing. V5 adds -s/-es.

# V1 (Base) V2 (Past) V3 (Past Part.) V4 (-ing) V5 (-s/-es)
1playplayedplayedplayingplays
2walkwalkedwalkedwalkingwalks
3talktalkedtalkedtalkingtalks
4jumpjumpedjumpedjumpingjumps
5cookcookedcookedcookingcooks
6likelikedlikedlikinglikes
7lovelovedlovedlovingloves
8openopenedopenedopeningopens
9closeclosedclosedclosingcloses
10studystudiedstudiedstudyingstudies
11carrycarriedcarriedcarryingcarries
12stopstoppedstoppedstoppingstops
13clapclappedclappedclappingclaps
14paintpaintedpaintedpaintingpaints
15dancedanceddanceddancingdances
16watchwatchedwatchedwatchingwatches
17washwashedwashedwashingwashes
18helphelpedhelpedhelpinghelps
19callcalledcalledcallingcalls
20askaskedaskedaskingasks
21needneededneededneedingneeds
22trytriedtriedtryingtries
23useusedusedusinguses
24workworkedworkedworkingworks
25enjoyenjoyedenjoyedenjoyingenjoys
🔥

Irregular Verbs — V1 to V5 Table

40 common irregular verbs grouped by pattern

🔴 Pattern A: All Three Different (V1 ≠ V2 ≠ V3)

The base form, past simple, and past participle are all different.
# V1 (Base) V2 (Past) V3 (Past Part.) V4 (-ing) V5 (-s/-es)
1gowentgonegoinggoes
2eatateeateneatingeats
3writewrotewrittenwritingwrites
4singsangsungsingingsings
5drinkdrankdrunkdrinkingdrinks
6swimswamswumswimmingswims
7taketooktakentakingtakes
8givegavegivengivinggives
9seesawseenseeingsees
10breakbrokebrokenbreakingbreaks
11speakspokespokenspeakingspeaks
12beginbeganbegunbeginningbegins
13choosechosechosenchoosingchooses
14flyflewflownflyingflies
15knowknewknownknowingknows
16throwthrewthrownthrowingthrows
17drivedrovedrivendrivingdrives
18forgetforgotforgottenforgettingforgets
19drawdrewdrawndrawingdraws
20fallfellfallenfallingfalls
21growgrewgrowngrowinggrows
22hidehidhiddenhidinghides
23rideroderiddenridingrides
24riseroserisenrisingrises
25shakeshookshakenshakingshakes

🟠 Pattern B: V2 and V3 Are the Same

Past simple and past participle are identical.
# V1 (Base) V2 (Past) V3 (Past Part.) V4 (-ing) V5 (-s/-es)
1buyboughtboughtbuyingbuys
2bringbroughtbroughtbringingbrings
3catchcaughtcaughtcatchingcatches
4teachtaughttaughtteachingteaches
5thinkthoughtthoughtthinkingthinks
6fightfoughtfoughtfightingfights
7findfoundfoundfindingfinds
8feelfeltfeltfeelingfeels
9keepkeptkeptkeepingkeeps
10leaveleftleftleavingleaves
11loselostlostlosingloses
12sitsatsatsittingsits

🟢 Pattern C: All Three the Same (V1 = V2 = V3)

The verb does not change at all in any form (except V4 and V5).
# V1 (Base) V2 (Past) V3 (Past Part.) V4 (-ing) V5 (-s/-es)
1cutcutcutcuttingcuts
2putputputputtingputs
3shutshutshutshuttingshuts
4setsetsetsettingsets
5letletletlettinglets
6hithithithittinghits
7hurthurthurthurtinghurts
8readreadreadreadingreads

🔵 Pattern D: V1 and V3 Are the Same

The base form and past participle are the same, but past simple is different.
# V1 (Base) V2 (Past) V3 (Past Part.) V4 (-ing) V5 (-s/-es)
1comecamecomecomingcomes
2runranrunrunningruns
3becomebecamebecomebecomingbecomes
4overcomeovercameovercomeovercomingovercomes

🤔 Did You Know?

🌟 The verb "read" is a tricky one! It looks the same in V1, V2, and V3, but the pronunciation changes: V1 = "reed," V2 & V3 = "red."

🌟 The verb "be" is the most irregular verb in English. It has 8 forms: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being!

🌟 Only about 200 verbs in English are irregular. The other thousands of verbs are all regular — just add -ed!

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Which Tense Uses Which Form?

A quick reference to know exactly which V-form goes where

📋 Tense → Verb Form Quick Reference

This table shows you which verb form (V1–V5) is used in each tense.

Tense Structure Form Used Example (verb: write)
Simple Present (I/you/we/they) Subject + V1 V1 They write letters.
Simple Present (he/she/it) Subject + V5 V5 She writes letters.
Simple Past Subject + V2 V2 She wrote a letter.
Simple Future Subject + will + V1 V1 She will write a letter.
Present Continuous Subject + is/am/are + V4 V4 She is writing a letter.
Past Continuous Subject + was/were + V4 V4 She was writing a letter.
Future Continuous Subject + will be + V4 V4 She will be writing a letter.
Present Perfect Subject + has/have + V3 V3 She has written a letter.
Past Perfect Subject + had + V3 V3 She had written a letter.
Future Perfect Subject + will have + V3 V3 She will have written a letter.
Present Perfect Continuous Subject + has/have been + V4 V4 She has been writing since morning.
Past Perfect Continuous Subject + had been + V4 V4 She had been writing for an hour.

💡 Memory trick: Continuous = V4 (-ing), Perfect = V3 (past participle), Simple Past = V2, Simple Present with he/she/it = V5!

💡 Tips & Tricks for Remembering Verb Forms

🎯 V5 is easy: It is just V1 + s/es. The only exceptions are have → has and be → is.
📚 V4 is always the same: Just add -ing to V1. It works for regular AND irregular verbs!
🎵 Sing the irregular V1-V2-V3: Make a rhythm — "go-went-gone, eat-ate-eaten, write-wrote-written, sing-sang-sung!"
📋 Regular verbs are easy: For regular verbs, V2 = V3 (both end in -ed). So you only really need to learn V2/V3 of irregular verbs!
🛠️ Use flashcards: Write V1 on the front, V2-V3-V4-V5 on the back. Test yourself 5 verbs a day, and in two weeks you will know them all!
💡 Group by pattern: Learn irregular verbs in families — all-different (go-went-gone), same-V2V3 (buy-bought-bought), all-same (cut-cut-cut). Patterns make memorisation 3x faster!
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Comparative Study

Understand the differences between verb forms through side-by-side comparisons

⚖️ V2 (Past Simple) vs V3 (Past Participle) — What's the Difference?

Students often confuse V2 and V3, especially because for regular verbs, they are the same! But for irregular verbs, they can be very different.

Verb (V1)V2V3Same?V2 in sentenceV3 in sentence
playplayedplayedYesShe played yesterday.She has played well.
gowentgoneNoHe went home.He has gone home.
writewrotewrittenNoI wrote a letter.I have written a letter.
eatateeatenNoWe ate lunch.We have eaten lunch.
buyboughtboughtYesShe bought a book.She has bought a book.
singsangsungNoThey sang a song.They have sung a song.
cutcutcutYesHe cut the rope.He has cut the rope.
swimswamswumNoShe swam fast.She has swum fast.
KEY RULE
V2 is used ALONE (Simple Past) → "I wrote"
V3 is used WITH has/have/had (Perfect Tenses) → "I have written"

👥 V1 (Base Form) vs V5 (Third Person -s/-es) — When to Use Which?

In the Simple Present Tense, the verb form depends on the subject:

SubjectForm UsedExampleWhy?
IV1I play cricket.First person → always V1
YouV1You play cricket.Second person → always V1
We / TheyV1They play cricket.Plural → always V1
He / She / ItV5He plays cricket.Third person singular → V5
Ram (name)V5Ram plays cricket.One person = he/she → V5
The dogV5The dog runs fast.One animal = it → V5
The boysV1The boys run fast.Plural = they → V1
MEMORY TRICK
If the subject is one person/thing (not I or you) → add -s/-es (use V5)
Everything else → use V1 (base form)

⚙️ Regular vs Irregular Verbs — Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureRegular VerbsIrregular Verbs
V2 ruleAdd -ed (played, walked, jumped)Changes unpredictably (went, wrote, ate)
V3 ruleSame as V2 — add -ed (played, walked)Often different from V2 (gone, written, eaten)
V2 = V3?Always yesSometimes yes, sometimes no
V4 ruleAdd -ing (playing, walking)Add -ing (going, writing)
V5 ruleAdd -s/-es (plays, walks)Add -s/-es (goes, writes)
How many?Thousands (most English verbs)About 200 common ones
Easy to learn?Yes — one pattern for allHarder — must memorise each one
Examplesplay, walk, jump, cook, dance, helpgo, eat, write, sing, swim, buy, run

💥 Commonly Confused Verb Pairs — All 5 Forms Compared

These verb pairs look or sound similar but have different meanings and forms:

VerbMeaningV1V2V3V4V5
lie (to recline)lielaylainlyinglies
lay (to put down)laylaidlaidlayinglays
rise (go up)riseroserisenrisingrises
raise (lift something)raiseraisedraisedraisingraises
sit (be seated)sitsatsatsittingsits
set (place something)setsetsetsettingsets
hang (suspend)hanghunghunghanginghangs
hang (execute)hanghangedhangedhanginghangs
find (discover)findfoundfoundfindingfinds
found (establish)foundfoundedfoundedfoundingfounds

📚 One Verb, All 9 Tenses — Complete Comparison

See how the verb "write" changes across every tense:

TenseV-FormStructureExample
Simple PresentV1 / V5S + V1/V5I write / She writes
Present ContinuousV4S + is/am/are + V4She is writing
Present PerfectV3S + has/have + V3She has written
Simple PastV2S + V2She wrote
Past ContinuousV4S + was/were + V4She was writing
Past PerfectV3S + had + V3She had written
Simple FutureV1S + will + V1She will write
Future ContinuousV4S + will be + V4She will be writing
Future PerfectV3S + will have + V3She will have written
PATTERN TO NOTICE
V1 → Simple Present & Simple Future  |  V2 → Simple Past only  |  V3 → All Perfect tenses  |  V4 → All Continuous tenses  |  V5 → Simple Present (he/she/it)
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Interactive V1-V5 Quiz

Test yourself! Fill in the missing verb forms and check your answers

V1 (Base Form)
play
Score: 0 / 0
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Flashcard Flipper

Click any card to flip it and reveal all verb forms!

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Drag & Drop Verb Sorting

Drag each word to the correct V-column!

V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
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Exercises

5 exercises to master all five verb forms!

✍️ Exercise A: Write All 5 Forms

Write the V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5 forms of each verb given below.

  1. speak → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  2. carry → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  3. swim → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  4. teach → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  5. fly → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  6. enjoy → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  7. cut → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  8. give → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  9. watch → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  10. begin → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  11. study → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  12. drink → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  13. close → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  14. run → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
  15. buy → V2: , V3: , V4: , V5:
🔒 Show Answer
1. speak → V2: spoke, V3: spoken, V4: speaking, V5: speaks
2. carry → V2: carried, V3: carried, V4: carrying, V5: carries
3. swim → V2: swam, V3: swum, V4: swimming, V5: swims
4. teach → V2: taught, V3: taught, V4: teaching, V5: teaches
5. fly → V2: flew, V3: flown, V4: flying, V5: flies
6. enjoy → V2: enjoyed, V3: enjoyed, V4: enjoying, V5: enjoys
7. cut → V2: cut, V3: cut, V4: cutting, V5: cuts
8. give → V2: gave, V3: given, V4: giving, V5: gives
9. watch → V2: watched, V3: watched, V4: watching, V5: watches
10. begin → V2: began, V3: begun, V4: beginning, V5: begins
11. study → V2: studied, V3: studied, V4: studying, V5: studies
12. drink → V2: drank, V3: drunk, V4: drinking, V5: drinks
13. close → V2: closed, V3: closed, V4: closing, V5: closes
14. run → V2: ran, V3: run, V4: running, V5: runs
15. buy → V2: bought, V3: bought, V4: buying, V5: buys

✍️ Exercise B: Fill in the Correct Verb Form (V1–V5)

Choose the correct form of the verb given in brackets to complete each sentence.

  1. She (write) a diary every night. [hint: Simple Present, she]
  2. They (go) to the park yesterday. [hint: Simple Past]
  3. I have already (eat) my lunch. [hint: Present Perfect]
  4. The children are (play) in the garden right now. [hint: Present Continuous]
  5. He (catch) the ball brilliantly in the last match. [hint: Simple Past]
  6. My father (drive) to work every morning. [hint: Simple Present, he]
  7. We were (sing) when the teacher arrived. [hint: Past Continuous]
  8. She had (speak) to the principal before leaving. [hint: Past Perfect]
  9. The dog always (run) after the postman. [hint: Simple Present, the dog]
  10. I will (bring) my notes tomorrow. [hint: Simple Future]
  11. He has (break) the window. [hint: Present Perfect]
  12. They (study) French at their school. [hint: Simple Present, they]
  13. She was (dance) beautifully on stage. [hint: Past Continuous]
  14. The teacher will have (teach) this chapter by Friday. [hint: Future Perfect]
  15. He (fly) a kite every Sunday. [hint: Simple Present, he]
🔒 Show Answer
1. writes
Simple Present + she (singular) = V5. write → writes.
2. went
Simple Past = V2. go → went (irregular).
3. eaten
Present Perfect (have + V3). eat → eaten.
4. playing
Present Continuous (are + V4). play → playing.
5. caught
Simple Past = V2. catch → caught (irregular).
6. drives
Simple Present + he (singular) = V5. drive → drives.
7. singing
Past Continuous (were + V4). sing → singing.
8. spoken
Past Perfect (had + V3). speak → spoken.
9. runs
Simple Present + the dog (singular) = V5. run → runs.
10. bring
Simple Future (will + V1). bring stays as bring.
11. broken
Present Perfect (has + V3). break → broken.
12. study
Simple Present + they (plural) = V1. study stays as study.
13. dancing
Past Continuous (was + V4). dance → dancing.
14. taught
Future Perfect (will have + V3). teach → taught.
15. flies
Simple Present + he (singular) = V5. fly → flies (consonant + y → -ies).

✍️ Exercise C: Identify the Verb Form (V1–V5)

Read each sentence and identify which form (V1, V2, V3, V4, or V5) the underlined verb is in.

  1. She writes beautiful poetry.
  2. They went to the zoo last weekend.
  3. He has spoken to the manager already.
  4. The baby is sleeping peacefully.
  5. We play cricket every Sunday.
  6. The glass was broken by the wind.
  7. She danced at the school function.
  8. My mother cooks delicious food.
  9. They were running in the park.
  10. I will help you with your homework.
🔒 Show Answer
1. writes = V5
Third person singular present (she writes). The -s ending on "write" makes it V5.
2. went = V2
Past simple form of "go." go → went → gone. "Went" is V2.
3. spoken = V3
Past participle, used with "has" (Present Perfect). speak → spoke → spoken.
4. sleeping = V4
Present participle (-ing form), used with "is" (Present Continuous).
5. play = V1
Base form. Used with "we" (plural) in Simple Present → no -s added = V1.
6. broken = V3
Past participle, used with "was" (passive voice). break → broke → broken.
7. danced = V2
Past simple form. dance → danced. Used in simple past tense.
8. cooks = V5
Third person singular present (my mother cooks). cook + s = V5.
9. running = V4
Present participle (-ing form), used with "were" (Past Continuous).
10. help = V1
Base form, used after "will" (Simple Future = will + V1).

✍️ Exercise D: Correct the Verb Form Errors

Each sentence has one wrong verb form. Rewrite the sentence with the correct form.

  1. She have written a beautiful poem.
  2. He goed to the market last evening.
  3. They has eaten all the mangoes.
  4. The boy is ran very fast.
  5. My sister studys hard for her exams.
  6. We have already spoke to the principal.
  7. The birds was singing on the tree.
  8. She cutted the cake with a knife.
  9. He have been playing since morning.
  10. The baby cryed all night long.
🔒 Show Answer
1. She has written a beautiful poem.
"She" is third person singular → use "has" (not "have") with V3.
2. He went to the market last evening.
"Go" is irregular. V2 = "went" (not "goed"). There is no -ed form for "go."
3. They have eaten all the mangoes.
"They" is plural → use "have" (not "has") with V3.
4. The boy is running very fast.
Present Continuous needs is + V4 (-ing form). "Ran" is V2, not V4.
5. My sister studies hard for her exams.
Consonant + y → change y to i and add -es. study → studies (not "studys").
6. We have already spoken to the principal.
"Have" requires V3 (past participle). speak → spoke (V2) → spoken (V3). "Spoke" is V2, not V3.
7. The birds were singing on the tree.
"Birds" is plural → use "were" (not "was") in Past Continuous.
8. She cut the cake with a knife.
"Cut" is an all-same verb (V1=V2=V3 = cut). There is no "cutted."
9. He has been playing since morning.
"He" is singular → use "has" (not "have") in Present Perfect Continuous.
10. The baby cried all night long.
Consonant + y → change y to i and add -ed. cry → cried (not "cryed").

✍️ Exercise E: Mixed Bag

A mix of matching, odd-one-out, and quick-fire questions!

Part 1: Match the Column

Match each V1 in Column A with its correct V3 in Column B:

Column A (V1)Column B (V3)
1. takea. driven
2. singb. known
3. drivec. taken
4. knowd. thrown
5. throwe. sung

Part 2: Odd One Out

Circle the verb that does NOT belong to the same pattern as the others:

  1. cut, put, shut, buy, hit
  2. sing, drink, swim, begin, teach
  3. played, walked, jumped, went, cooked
  4. come, run, become, give, overcome
  5. buy, catch, think, find, go

Part 3: Quick Fire — True or False?

  1. V5 is used with "I" in Simple Present Tense.
  2. V4 always ends in "-ing."
  3. "Gone" is the V2 form of "go."
  4. For regular verbs, V2 and V3 are always the same.
  5. "Has" is the V5 form of "have."
🔒 Show Answer

Part 1: Match the Column

1 → c: take → taken
2 → e: sing → sung
3 → a: drive → driven
4 → b: know → known
5 → d: throw → thrown

Part 2: Odd One Out

6. Odd one out: buy
cut, put, shut, hit are all "all-same" verbs (V1=V2=V3). "Buy" is different: buy-bought-bought.
7. Odd one out: teach
sing, drink, swim, begin all follow the "all-different" pattern (sang-sung, drank-drunk, etc.). "Teach" follows V2=V3 pattern (taught-taught).
8. Odd one out: went
played, walked, jumped, cooked are all regular V2 forms (add -ed). "Went" is the irregular V2 of "go."
9. Odd one out: give
come, run, become, overcome all follow V1=V3 pattern. "Give" follows the all-different pattern (give-gave-given).
10. Odd one out: go
buy, catch, think, find all follow V2=V3 pattern (bought-bought, caught-caught, etc.). "Go" is all-different (go-went-gone).

Part 3: True or False?

11. False
V5 is used with he/she/it (third person singular) in Simple Present, NOT with "I." With "I," we use V1.
12. True
V4 (Present Participle) is always formed by adding "-ing" to the base form.
13. False
"Gone" is V3 (past participle) of "go." V2 of "go" is "went."
14. True
For regular verbs, both V2 and V3 end in -ed and are identical (e.g., played-played, walked-walked).
15. True
"Has" is the V5 (third person singular) form of "have." He has, she has, it has.
🏆 🌟 📚

Fantastic Work on Verb Forms!

Now you know all five verb forms (V1–V5) and exactly where each one is used. Keep practising and these will become second nature!

Next up: Chapter 20 — Tenses (V1–V5) →

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