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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay © 2015 1
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
Table of Contents
Overview and Spelling Rules .......................................................................... 3
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED: This entire verb list and this entire model is copyright
protected. I used a variety of techniques and software to generate this list from
scratch. Everything about this list is unique, edited, and selective.
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay © 2015 2
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay © 2015 3
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
This Giant Verb List contains 3,250 action verbs, linking verbs, and stative verbs. Most are action verbs. This list
does not contain helping verbs (see the helping verb section). Additionally, this list addresses irregular verbs
and all the strange spelling changes that occur when we add –s, –ed, and –ing to the base verbs.
As you will see, 1,984 out of the 3,250 verbs (61%) have a mark or number next to them. In fact, some verbs
have several marks or numbers. The marks and numbers indicate which spelling rules etc. applies to the verb.
I omitted a number of dicey, offensive, and violent verbs. That being said, I left in a few that are so ubiquitous
they are sure to appear in a student dictionary. In short, if a verb has at least one formal, legitimate, or artistic
use, I’ve likely included it.
I’ve tried to mark all the common spelling changes, exceptions, and irregularities. However, some verbs are so
fickle that it’s likely I’ve missed a couple. Teachers and students must sometimes do further research and
confirmation to fully understand the peculiarities of a verb. Most certainly, everyone still needs to have a
complete list of irregular verbs (marked +).
I would love to hear how you use the list and your success stories. Are you a teacher, a student, a reader, a
writer? If you have any ideas, strategies, or requests let me know. And if you have any questions, if you find an
error, or if you find a verb that you think I should add to the list or remove from the list, let me know.
Personally, having just printed out and read the entire list, I feel a change in my vocabulary. I’m familiar with all
of the verbs, but reading the list just once seems to have brought many new verbs into my working vocabulary.
I hope it does the same for you!
Shortly, I will be posting similar lists for several other parts of speech. I started this list project a few years ago,
but put it aside when faced with the sheer number of words and rules. At the time I was going to call the lists
Magic Word Lists, as simply browsing through the giant lists made me feel like my vocabulary and word sense
was growing extremely fast—much faster than if I had been working with a vocabulary program.
This list will challenge the ways you think about words. At first glance, you might think some words are a
mistake; however, upon closer inspection and reflection you will see the truth of the word. For example, when
I read the list and came across hammer, for a second, I wondered what it was doing on the list. And then I
thought about all the different ways to use the word hammer. Hammer is obviously both a noun and a verb.
For a variety of other verbs, I needed to confirm their validity through research. And each time I looked up a
word, it broadened my understanding of language.
By the way, if you teach elementary school or middle school writing, be sure to check out Pattern
Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay on the homepage. It’s the fastest, most effective way to teach
organized multi-paragraph essay writing to students! Guaranteed!
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay © 2015 4
Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
The Key: Understanding the Marks and Numbers Next to the Verbs
Read over and make sure you understand the spelling rules and marks. Also, take a quick look at the Totals.
They will give you an idea of how common or uncommon a rule is.
( ) Regular Verbs: Regular verbs don’t have a mark next to them. However, many of these regular verbs
still have a spelling change mark. If there is no spelling change mark next to the verb, just add –s, –ed, or –
ing to the end of the verb. It’s that simple! Total: 3,045
(+) Irregular Verbs: Irregular verbs have a “+” mark next to them. Some irregular verbs also have a spelling
change mark. However, you must still consult a complete list of irregular verbs. Total: 205
(LV) Linking Verbs: Some linking verbs can also be used as action verbs. Also, 9 linking verbs are regular
verbs and 5 are irregular. The eight forms of BE equal just one verb on this list. Total: 14
Regular Verbs with a Spelling Change: Adding –s, –ed, or –ing to the End of a Verb
(1) Rule 1 Drop the Final –E: If a regular verb ends with –e, drop the –e and add –ed or –ing. Note: When
adding –ed, we could say just add a –d. It brings about the same result. Exception: If the verb ends in –ee,
don’t drop the final –e; just add –d or –ing. Total: 1,245
(2) Rule 2a Double the Final Consonant: If a regular verb is one syllable, has one vowel, and ends with a
single consonant (except x), double the final consonant and then add –ed or –ing. The vowel sounds in
these words are short; hence, I call this rule SHORT ONE (1 syllable; 1 vowel; 1 ending consonant; and 1
short vowel sound). Total: 235 (2a and 2b)
(2) Rule 2b Double the Final Consonant: If a regular verb has two or more syllables, ends with a single
vowel then consonant, and the last syllable of the root word is stressed, then double the final consonant
and add –ed or –ing. If the final consonant is –l, American English usually does not double the consonant,
but British English does. (I’ve added RB for Rule Breaker to some of these British English words.)
(3) Rule 3 Change the Y to I: If the verb ends in –y, change the y to i and add –es (not –s) or –ed. Exception:
If a vowel immediately precedes the final y, just add –s or –ed. (Note: Don’t change the y to i when adding
–ing. Just add the –ing.) Total: 91
(4) Rule 4 Add –ES: When adding –s to the end of the verb, if the verb ends in –sh (63), –s (1), –ss (55), –x
(15), –ch (72), –z (2), or –o (10), add –es (not –s). The () indicate how many instances of each. Total: 218.
(RB) Rule Breakers: I’ve marked RB for words that break a spelling rule or are a strange exception in one
way or another. For example, the rule may work when adding –ed but not when adding –ing. Or perhaps,
American English spells it one way and British English spells it another way. Finally, some words just have
an uncommon spelling change when adding certain suffixes. You may need to do a little research yourself
if you wish to find out what makes the word a Rule Breaker. Total: 23
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
Traditionally, verbs have four principal parts: present, past, past participle, and present participle. However,
irregular verb lists often have just three columns. Please note that the three columns often have different
names as illustrated by the use of a.k.a.
The reason why so many irregular verb lists have just these three columns is because these three columns
provide all the information a person needs to understand irregular verbs. The present tense (bare infinitive) is
the true base verb, and the past tense and the past participle are the columns where nearly all the
irregularities occur.
These three columns are all a person needs to understand irregular verbs. However, if a person wants to
understand verbs in general, or if a teacher wants students to understand both regular and irregular verbs—
more columns are needed!
Using the following list of 207 irregular verbs, teachers can teach all the inflections that create all the verb
tenses, while also teaching irregular verbs. In short, the list SHOWS, NOT TELLS.
What’s the difference between an irregular verb and a verb that changes because of a spelling rule?
• Spelling Change: Spelling changes follow a common spelling rule. Please look at the list of 3,250 verbs
and examine the numbers next to them, along with the list of spelling rules. We use this same spelling-
rule number system moving forward.
• Irregular Verbs: Irregular verbs have changes that are strange or random. Many or most of these
irregular verbs are living dinosaurs from our Old English past.
QUIZ: With the base word do, is the inflection does irregular or the result of a spelling-rule change? Did you
have to think about it for at least a moment? You can find the answer on the irregular verb list that follows!
The following table has six columns in which we examine four aspects of regular and irregular verbs:
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
1 2 3 4 5 6
Past Present
Infinitive Present #1 Present #2 Past
Participle Participle
** It’s wise to think of column 6 as the –ing form or column, as –ing words function both as present participles
and as gerunds. Gerunds never function as verbs, so I did not add the word to the column.
As you can see, only column 4 (simple past tense) and column 5 (past participles) have irregular verbs (marked
IR*). Spelling-rule changes (marked with numbers) do not make a verb irregular.
In order to understand columns 1, 5, and 6, you must have a basic understanding of the three verbals:
infinitives, participles, and gerunds. Verbals look like verbs, but they act like a very different part of speech:
1. Infinitives (affect column 1): Infinitives function as or act like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns.
2. Participles (affect column 5 and 6): Participles function as or act like adjectives. We have two types of
participles: past participles (column 5) and present participles (column 6). To be clear, both types of
participles function as adjectives.
3. Gerunds (affect column 6): Gerunds function as or act like nouns.
Are these VERBAL THINGS still considered verbs? In my opinion, they should not be. If it doesn’t act like a verb
or function like a verb, in my opinion, it is not a verb. Some bold grammarians do say VERBALS ARE NOT VERBS.
Most people just avoid the issue or hedge and say, “Well, they still retain some verb qualities.”
Important Note: Columns 2-6 all have the ability to function as verbs. Column 1 can never function as a verb; it
always functions as a verbal. Columns 5-6 can function as both a verb and a verbal.
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
The Six Columns of a Verb: An Expanded Version of the Four Principal Parts
Traditionally, verbs have four principal parts: present, past, past participle, and present participle. The
following six columns provide (in my proud opinion) a much clearer picture of these principal parts.
Remember, just because it looks like a verb does not mean it functions or acts like a verb.
1. Infinitive: This form is “to + the base form.” (Of course, there are a few exceptions.) An infinitive never
functions as a verb.
Verbal #1 – Infinitives: Infinitives always function as an infinitive verbal. Infinitives function as
or act like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns. e.g., Everyone wanted to eat. (to eat = noun)
2. Present #1 (a.k.a. Simple Present Tense, Base Form, and Bare Infinitive): This base form always
functions as a verb. This base verb is used with these pronouns: I, you, they, and we. In short, this base
form (simple present) is used with first person, second person, and third person plural.
Some people call this base form the infinitive. However, why call it the same thing as column 1? It
creates confusion. Call it the bare infinitive, base form, present, or simple present tense, but don’t call
it the infinitive. (If someone calls it the infinitive, clarify what he or she means.) e.g., They bake a cake
every Sunday.
3. Present #2 (a.k.a. Simple Present Tense): This inflected –s form always functions as a verb. This is
simple present form just like column 2. In fact, I’ve never seen a list of verbs that creates a separate
column for this –s form. They simply add the –s in parentheses to column 2: e.g., read(s), throw(s) etc.
In short, there is no Present #1 and Present #2 except in this here model that I have created. The
difference is that Present #2 is used with these pronouns: he, she, and it. So, Present #2 is used with
third person singular. e.g., Jim bakes a cake every Sunday.
4. Past (a.k.a. Simple Past Tense): This inflected –ed form always functions as a verb. Warning: Nearly all
simple past tense verbs and past participles (column 5) are spelled the same. The only way to tell if a
word is simple past tense or a past participle is to analyze how it is used. e.g., Jim baked a cake.
5. Past Participle: Past participles need at least one helping verb (has, have, had) to function as a verb.
Together, the helping verb(s) and past participle form a verb phrase, and the past participle is the
MAIN VERB of both the verb phrase and of the sentence. e.g., The wood had rotted.
Verbal #2 – Participles: Both past participles (column 5) and present participles (column 6) can
be used as a participle verbal. Participles as verbals function not as verbs, but as adjectives. In
my book, if it functions as an adjective, it is an adjective e.g., The rotted wood crumbled.
(rotted = adjective)
6. Present Participle (–ing Form**): Present participles need at least one helping verb (am, is, are) to
function as a verb. Together, the helping verb(s) and present participle form a verb phrase, and the
present participle is the MAIN VERB of both the sentence and the verb phrase. e.g., I am running.
Verbal #2 Participles (function as adjectives) and Verbal #3 Gerunds (function as nouns): The –
ing Form can be used as two different types of verbals: (present) participles and gerunds. e.g.,
Participle: The running man fell. (running = adjective) e.g., Gerund: Running is excellent
exercise. (running = noun)
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
The following table contains most of the information that appears in the numbered list above. ** Nearly all
irregulars occur in columns 4 and 5.
1 2 3 4 5 6
-Infinitive -Present #1 -Present #2 -Past -Past Participle -Present Participle
-Simple Present -Simple Present -Simple Past
-Bare Infinitive Tense Tense
-Base Verb
** Irregulars ** Irregulars
to + base base Add –s Add –ed Add –ed Add –ing
Used only as a I, you, they, we he, she, it I, you, they, Acts as a verb Acts as a verb when
verbal – never we when used with used with helping
functions as a First person, Third person helping verbs verbs (am, is, are).
verb. second person, singular AND (have, has, had). Also acts as two
and third Also acts as a kinds of verbals:
person plural he, she, it. verbal: participle and
participle. gerund.
to run run runs ** ran ** ran running
to accept accept accepts accepted accepted accepting
We have about 29 irregular verbs with two versions similar to burned / burnt. With each of these two-version
irregular verbs, there is a story behind it, a debate going on, or a transition taking place. You must research
each occurrence if wish to know what is going on. I did! For each two-version verb, there is a valid explanation
for why the situation exists. As a rule, the first one (e.g., burned) is the more common version in the United
States. When one of these two versions eventually wins the war, the other version will become archaic. I’ve
marked a couple archaic versions as AR.
#3 Be and #66 Have: Take special notice of these two irregular verbs. They are both extremely common
and don’t follow even the rules of irregular verbs.
Prefixes: In one sense, irregular verbs with prefixes are are repeats of the irregular base verbs. However,
many students can use a refresher in prefixes, so I’ve included a number of them (for–, mis–, over–, re–, un–,
under–, with–, and more).
Hey! Have you checked out Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay yet? It’s the
fastest, most effective way to teach beginning writers and struggling writers essay
writing—guaranteed!
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
The Simplest Fact in all of Grammar: There are just Here are a few common linking-verb verb phrases:
23 helping verbs. Memorize them. 22. can be 23. could be 24. had been 25. has been
26. have been 27. may be 28. might be 29. might
** If you check a “12 Verb Tenses” chart, you will find have been 30. should be 31. will be AND MORE!
these words used repeatedly. However, look for these
words (would, be, was) if you don’t see one of those.
Of course, these words are only required if the word
in the column is going to be used as a verb. If the
word in the column is used as a verbal, these words
are not required.
Note: Both lists are divided up to help with easy memorization. Also, notice that the first eight words on both
lists are exactly the same words.
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List
It’s worth memorizing both of these lists. The first thing to know is that the first eight words on each list are
the same words—the eight forms of BE or to be.
The second thing to know is this: All of the linking verbs are on the Giant Verb List or on the Giant Irregular
Verb List. Why? Because linking verbs are main verbs. In contrast, none of the helping verbs are on the Giant
Verb List or the Giant Irregular Verb List. Why? Because helping verbs are not main verbs.
You say, “But the eight forms of BE are on both lists.” Put simply, if the word is used as a helping verb, it is a
helping verb (i.e., it is not a main verb, and it is not on the lists). However, if the word is used as a linking verb,
it is a linking verb (i.e., it is a main verb, and it is on the lists). As I always say, it doesn’t matter how the word
looks; it matters how the word acts.
Helping Verbs: IS, AM, ARE, WAS, WERE, BE, BEEN, BEING
≠
Linking Verbs: IS, AM, ARE, WAS, WERE, BE, BEEN, BEING
They look the same, but they do not act the same. In short, they are not the same.
You say, “But have, has, and had are on the Giant Irregular Verb List, and they are also on the helping verbs
list. How can that be?” Once again, it doesn’t matter how the word looks; it matters how the word acts.
Helping Verbs: HAVE, HAS, HAD ≠ Irregular Verbs: HAVE, HAS, HAD
They look the same, but they do not act the same. In short, they are not the same.
Everything is the same in these two sentences except for one letter. However, as you can see, that one letter,
changes the way that one word acts, which changes everything.
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Giant Verb List Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay Giant Verb List