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Level: A1-A2

The 5 Verb Forms — Practice

Every English verb has five basic forms: infinitive, simple present, simple past, past participle, and present participle. Identify which form is highlighted in each sentence. 50+ click-to-hear ESL examples.

📝 Verbs unit · lesson 2 of 17 ⏱ about 11 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on Verbs — the guide Next in unit Subject–Verb Agreement →

  • Infinitive (base form)
  • I want to play tennis. – Infinitive
  • She likes to read books. – Infinitive
  • We need to go home. – Infinitive
  • He can swim very well. – Infinitive
  • You should try this dish. – Infinitive
  • They must leave now. – Infinitive
  • Open the door, please. – Infinitive
  • Stop! – Infinitive
  • Simple present
  • I work in an office. – Simple present
  • She plays tennis every day. – Simple present
  • He goes to school by bus. – Simple present
  • The Earth orbits the sun. – Simple present
  • Water boils at 100°C. – Simple present
  • They live in Paris. – Simple present
  • My sister studies medicine. – Simple present
  • Simple past
  • I worked late yesterday. – Simple past
  • She played the piano last night. – Simple past
  • We finished the project on time. – Simple past
  • He went to the store. – Simple past
  • They ate dinner at seven. – Simple past
  • She wrote me a letter. – Simple past
  • I took the bus to work. – Simple past
  • Past participle (after have/has/had, or in passive)
  • I have worked here for ten years. – Past participle
  • She has finished her homework. – Past participle
  • They had eaten before we arrived. – Past participle
  • The song was played twice. – Past participle
  • He has written three books. – Past participle
  • The window was broken by the storm. – Past participle
  • I have seen that movie. – Past participle
  • Present participle (after be, or as -ing form)
  • She is working right now. – Present participle
  • They are playing outside. – Present participle
  • I was reading when you called. – Present participle
  • He will be arriving soon. – Present participle
  • The baby is sleeping. – Present participle
  • We are studying for the test. – Present participle
  • It is raining heavily. – Present participle
  • Mixed practice — find the form
  • I drink coffee every morning. – Simple present
  • I am drinking coffee now. – Present participle
  • I drank coffee yesterday. – Simple past
  • I have drunk three cups already. – Past participle
  • I want to drink coffee. – Infinitive
  • She writes beautifully. – Simple present
  • She is writing an email. – Present participle
  • She wrote a poem last week. – Simple past
  • She has written many stories. – Past participle
  • She wants to write a novel. – Infinitive
  • I eat breakfast every morning. – Simple present
  • I am eating breakfast now. – Present participle
  • I ate breakfast yesterday. – Simple past
  • I have eaten breakfast already. – Past participle
  • I want to eat breakfast. – Infinitive