1/ SHAPES

The root of a verb can take different shapes (addition of morphemes) that can give additional informations about it:

• NUMBER: Is it singular or plural? Ex: He speaks => singular / We speak: plural
• GENDER: There is no gender mark that we can add to a word in English, but in some languages, like French, gender exists (le suffixe "e" en français)
• PERSON:

1. 1st person => I / We
2. 2nd person => You
3. 3rd person => He / They

2/ FORMS

• TENSE :

1. PRESENT : BASE + 0 or BASE + -s at 3rd singular (he/she/it)
2. PAST: BASE + tense mark (-ed etc...)
3. FUTURE : WILL + BASE

• ASPECT :

1. SIMPLE : expression of a habit, short in time
2. PROGRESSIVE: Action that takes place during the speech, lasts in time

1. PERFECTIVE : When it has a definite start or end
2. IMPERFECTIVE : No precise/definite start or end

• MOOD :

• INDICATIVE = ACTUAL = REALIS => Expresses something real, that is actually happening

1. Declarative = You are going
2. Indicative = You go
3. Affirmative = Yes, I did/do
4. Negative = No, I won't

• SUBJONCTIF = HYPOTHETICAL = IRREALIS => Expresses something hypothetical, that we would like/dislike, or will possibly do.

1. Conditional = If I were to go there, I would have ...
2. Imperative = Go !
3. Potential
4. Optative

• VOICE :

1. ACTIVE = The verb has a clear actor. It is called "AGENT". X + Verb + Y
2. PASSIVE = The verb lacks of a clear actor. If "AGENT" is unknown, then we have a form of Y + be + past participle.