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This is a paradigm of English verbs, that is, a set of conjugation tables, for some of the most common verb classes.

[edit] Verb Parts

In terms of verb inflection, English is actually a very simple language, having only two finite tenses (present and preterite), and a present and preterite participle. All other constructions are conveyed with combinations of various auxiliaries in the verb phrase.(with the exception of a third person singular marking).

[edit] Conjugations

Weak verbs are the largest class of English verbs. Occasionally, weak verbs will have consonantal or vowel alternations (e.g. think).^[1]

Weak Verbs

Present	Present (Third Person Singular)	Preterite	Present Participle	Preterite Participle
play	plays	played	playing	played

Strong verbs use ablaut, in seven classes, in their inflection.^[1]

Strong Verbs

Class	Present	Present (Third Person Singular)	Preterite	Present Participle	Preterite Participle
1	ride	rides	rode	riding	ridden
2	fly	flies	flew	flying	flown
3	sing	sings	sang	singing	sung
4	break	breaks	broke	breaking	broken
5	give	gives	gave	giving	given
6	shake	shakes	shook	shaking	shaken
7	throw	throws	threw	throwing	thrown

Preterite Present verbs have no participles, and do not inflect for number. Some of these verbs exist in a subjunctive mood, but generally, the subjunctive mood has become divorced in meaning from the main verb and formed its own verb.

Preterite Present (lacking some forms)

Present	Present (Third Person Singular)	Preterite	Present Participle	Preterite Participle
can	can	could	none	none

The verbs do, will, and go, are anomalous. Will has no preterite or participles (it marks future tense), but there are forms such as would and willing, which are based on archaic use of will.

Do, Will, Go (often used as auxiliaries)

Class	Present	Present (Third Person Singular)	Preterite	Present Participle	Preterite Participle
do	do	does	did	doing	done
will	will	will	none	none	none
go	go	goes	went	going	gone

The verb be is unusual, as the verb is an amalgam of three other verbs.

Be (infinitive to be)

Tense	First Person Singular	Second Person Singular	Third Person singular	Plural	Participle
Present	am	are	is	are	being
Preterite	was	were	was	were	been

[edit] References