Verbs: auxiliary, or helping verbs
Module: Parts of Speech, including Verb Tenses
Lesson: Five Essential Irregular Verbs
There are more than 200 irregular verbs in the English language. Five of these – to be, to have, to go, to do and to make – are frequently and commonly used and should be memorized as soon as possible.
In this lesson, you will review & learn the meanings, structures & examples, pronunciations and the present, past and participle forms of these five essential irregular verbs.
Verb: TO BE
HOW TO SAY IT
BEEN: Rhymes with WIN, or CHIN (not bean)
BEING: BEE ying (slight ‘y’ sound)
BEEN: HOW TO USE IT
BEEN has an auxiliary verb before it:
It has been a great experience.
I have not been there yet.
An auxiliary verb is a verb used to form the tense, mood and voice of another verb. The verbs TO HAVE and TO BE are frequently used as auxiliary verbs.
BEING: HOW TO USE IT
BEING, as the present continuous form of the verb TO BE, has an auxiliary verb before it:
There are being nice.
He is being impatient.
BEING, as the gerund form of the verb TO BE, does not have an auxiliary verb before it:
Being nice is always free.
Being the best is not an easy job.
The gerund form of a verb is verb + ing. The gerund is usually equal to the infinitive (to + verb) form, but can be more descriptive and graphic than the infinitive form (to + verb) of a verb:
I like swimming in the ocean.
I like to swim in the ocean.
ORAL PRACTICE ACTIVITY
Read sentences 1 – 6 out loud.
Identify examples of the verb TO BE in the sentences.
Identify the subject and verb in each example.
Identify (orally) how the examples of TO BE are functioning, as action verbs or auxiliary verbs:
She was selected as corporate ambassador. (action verb)
She is the author of a best-selling novel.
Being prepared for an emergency is everyone’s responsibility.
In January 2019, he was recognized as Employee of the Month.
Have you been to France or Spain?
Thank you, it has been my pleasure and I hope you return soon! (auxiliary verb)
WRITTEN PRACTICE ACTIVITY
Write the correct or best form of the verb TO BE for items 1 – 12. Refer to the word or phrase in italics for time clues. The first is provided as an example:
You ARE at the office every day.
She _____ at the store yesterday.
We _____ there a long time ago.
He _____ notified of the bid last week.
I have _____ working on that since last month.
I _____ there when it happened.
Renewable energy _____ affordable and convenient.
_____ able to produce your own electricity is a good option.
It _____ the responsibility of all citizens to vote in every election.
We have _____ studying our options and will decide soon.
There has _____ some progress, but we still have a lot to learn.
_____ healthy _____ one of life’s greatest gifts.
We should _____ grateful for all blessings.