Common Verbs

identity, state, and location

Be changes more than any other English verb. Learn am, is, are, was, and were with the subject, not as isolated forms.

Forms am · is · are · was · were · been

possession, experience, and connection

Have often works inside a complete chunk: have lunch, have a meeting, have a problem, and have finished.

Forms has · had · having

receiving, changing, arriving, or understanding

Get is broad and conversational. The words after it usually reveal the exact meaning: get ready, get home, get an email, or get the joke.

Forms gets · got · gotten · getting

creating a result

Make focuses on a result or change: make a plan, make a decision, make someone laugh, and make the room quieter.

Forms makes · made · making

performing an activity or carrying grammar

Do can be a main verb in do the work and a helper in Do you work? Keep those two jobs separate.

Forms does · did · done · doing

moving, choosing, accepting, or requiring

Learn take through useful combinations: take a bus, take a break, take responsibility, and it takes time.

Forms takes · took · taken · taking

movement away or change into a state

Go often appears without an object. Notice the complete route or pattern: go home, go to work, go by train, and go wrong.

Forms goes · went · gone · going

movement toward a person, place, or viewpoint

The speaker’s viewpoint matters. Come moves toward here or a shared destination; go usually moves away from here.

Forms comes · came · coming

placing something in a position or form

Put normally needs both the thing and its destination: put the file in the folder. Many abstract meanings need a particle.

Forms puts · putting

continuing, retaining, or preventing change

The next form changes the pattern: keep the receipt, keep working, keep someone informed, and keep out.

Forms keeps · kept · keeping

doing a job, making an effort, or functioning

Work is often uncountable as a noun. A job is one position; work is the activity or responsibility.

Forms works · worked · working

signifying, intending, or having importance

Compare What does it mean?, I meant to call, and This means a lot to me. The grammar after mean signals the sense.

Forms means · meant · meaning