z

Principal Parts
OF VERBS
First Principal Part
z

BASE FORM
 A verb without any endings
added.
walk sing

write dance
Second Principal Part
z

PAST FORM
 Add –d or –ed for regular verbs.
walked danced
 Change the spelling for irregular
verbs.
wrote sang
Third Principal Part
z

PRESENT PARTICIPLE
 Add –ing to the base form of the
verb.
walk + ing = walking

dance + ing = dancing

sing + ing = singing

Third Principal Part
z

PRESENT PARTICIPLE
 They need be-verbs.

am + walking = am walking

is + dancing = is dancing

are + singing = are singing

Fourth Principal Part
z

PAST PARTICIPLE
 The same as the past form for
regular verbs.
walked danced
 Change the spelling for irregular
verbs. written sung
Fourth Principal Part
z

PAST PARTICIPLE
 They need helping verbs (has/
have).
has + danced = has danced

have + written = have written

EXAMPLES
PRESENT PAST
BASE FORM PAST FORM
PARTICIPLE PARTICIPLE
walk walked walking walked

write write writing written

sing sang singing sung

choose chose choosing chosen

teach taught teaching taught