by R. S. Karunaratne

Base form of verbs

The base form of a verb does not have endings such as “s”, “ed” or “ing.”
We use the base form of verbs in the following situations:
We use the base form of verbs with “I, you, we and they.”

I do it my way.

You always complain about the weather.
We attend school on weekdays.
They open their shops at 9 a.m.
Some people say one thing and do another thing.
We use the base form of verbs with plural nouns.

Some students protest against teachers.
The chefs thaw the frozen meat before cooking it.
They feel honoured to lead our delegation.
Most sales assistants do their job well.

We use the base form of verbs to give instructions, warnings, advice, commands and make requests.

Fry the fish in hot oil. (instruction)
Move away from the middle of the road. (warning)
Stay on good terms with your neighbours. (advice)
Get ready at once. (command)
Give me another ice-cream, please. (request)

When we use the base form of verbs together with “to”, we call it an “infinitive” or “a non-finite verb”. A sentence with an infinitive is not complete unless it contains a finite verb as well.

You need to pass the examination to get a good job.
We have to learn how to write a precis.
They got ready to visit an ancient temple.
The Army advanced to attack the enemy.
Some dogs bark only to frighten people.

A finite verb changes its form according to the tense and the subject of the sentence. However, a non-finite verb does not change its form.

Children like to play.
Sama likes to play.
Ganga teaches well.
Cats relish fish.
Our pet cat relishes milk.

We used to renew our radio licences every year.
He renewed his radio licence every year.

We use the base form of a verb with modal verbs such as “can, may, might and should”.

She can pass the examination easily.
You may leave the class early to attend your grandmother’s funeral.
We might meet him in Italy.
You should fill this form to obtain a driving licence.
A witness should answer all the questions put to him.

[Activity ]

Some of the following sentences contain mistakes in verb forms. Rewrite them and check your answers with the key.

1. I was asked to bend over and touch my toes...............................
2. The Railway authorities agreed to paid compensation for the lost parcel..
3. I enjoys an ice-cream after lunch....................................
4. Arrange the desks and chairs for the examination.........................
5. The child started to crying when he was brought before the dentist......
6. Gets Miss Lourdes on the phone, please.................................
7. You needs to wash the vegetables before cooking them....................
8. The university will releases the results next week.......................
9. You should consulted a specialist immediately ..........................
10. I feels honoured to chair the meeting ..................................

Key:

1.Correct 2.The Railway authorities agreed to pay compensation for the lost parcel. 3.I enjoy an ice-cream after lunch. 4. Correct 5.The child started to cry when he was brought before the dentist. 6.Get Miss Lourdes on the phone, please. 7. You need to wash the vegetables before cooking them. 8.The university will release the results next week. 9.You should consult a specialist immediately. 10.I feel honoured to chair the meeting.

Fun with proverbs

A proverb is a popular short saying with words of advice or warning. Proverbs are used in speech and writing. Here is a carefully selected collection of proverbs for your knowledge bank.

1. For want of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost The proverb stresses the importance of seeming trifles. It dates back to the 17th century.

2. Forbidden fruit is sweetest When we are asked not to have something, we want it more than ever.

3. A forced kindness deserves no thanks If the doer of a kind act does so against his will, he does not deserve to be thanked.

4. Forewarned is forearmed When we are warned before hand that something is going to happen, we will be able to take precautionary measures.

5. Fortune favours the bold Only those who have the courage to try will succeed in life.

6. Fortune knocks at least once at every man’s gate When opportunity comes, be prepared to seize it.

7. A friend in need is a friend indeed Genuine friends are those who come to help you when you are in need of it.

8. Full of courtesy, full of craft If a man is extravagantly polite, he is trying to cheat you.

9. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may Take advantage of your opportunities before it is too late.

10. Give a dog a bad name and hang him If you ruin a man’s reputation, he will not be able to re-establish himself as an honest person.

11. Give a lie twenty-four hours’ start and you can never overtake it A lie must be refuted immediately, otherwise it will be accepted as truth by others.

12. Give a thief enough rope and he’ll hang himself If a bad person gets a lot of opportunities to further his ends, he will ruin himself.

13. Give credit where credit is due Acknowledge the good points even if they come from your opponents.

14. Give knaves an inch and they will take a yard If you grant a small favour to somebody, they will try to take much more than they are offered.

15. A golden key opens every door Money helps you to get over obstacles and reach your goal.

Starters:

The superlative degree

The superlative degree is formed by adding “est” to the adjective.
Nethmi is the prettiest girl in our class.
My grandfather is the oldest man in the village.
Sukumar is the brightest boy in his class.

Dhananja is the tallest girl in our team.
Purnima is the fastest runner in our school.

We work in the biggest building in Colombo.
We also add “most” to form the superlative degree.
Anula is the most beautiful girl in the class.

Geometrical Equation is the most difficult book I have ever read.
Amarasuriya is the most prosperous man in Galle.

The fox is the most cunning animal in the Animal Kingdom.
The United States has the most advanced war planes.
If an adjective ends in “y”, we add “iest’ to form the superlative degree.

Easy: This is the easiest way to reach the station.
Heavy:The elephant carried the heaviest load to the lorry.

Pretty: Suba is the prettiest girl in our office.
Tiny: We cannot see the tiniest creatures with our naked eyes.
Lovely: Hantane is the loveliest part of Peradeniya.

We use “the” in front of the superlative form.
This church is the oldest building in the town.
The Nile is the longest river in Egypt.

Australia is the smallest continent in the world.
Excuse me, where’s the nearest post office?
Is iron the heaviest metal found in the world?
Sometimes we use the superlative form without a noun.

Bala is an excellent speaker.
I think he is the best in the club.
I live in a very old house.
People say that it is the oldest in the town.
Kevin is a very nice boy. Teachers say that he is the nicest in the class.

Titanic is a very good film.
I think it is the best I have ever seen.
Amaradeva is a popular classical singer.
I think he is the most popular in Sri Lanka.

We use “I’ve ever, you’ve ever” with the superlative.
Dread is the worst film I’ve ever seen.
What’s the most unusual place you’ve ever visited?

This is the worst mistake I’ve ever made in my life.
You’re the most interesting person I’ve ever met.
India is the most interesting country I’ve ever visited.

[Activity]

Complete the following sentences using superlatives. Check your answers with the key.

1. The church is very old. It’s ................... in Hikkaduwa.
2. Yesterday was a very happy day. It was ...............day in my life.
3. My Fair Lady is a very good film. It’s .................. I’ve ever seen.
4. Sandra is a popular singer. She is .................singer in the island.
5. Kolonna is a very beautiful village. It’s .........village I’ve ever visited.
6. It was a very warm day. It was ......................... day of the year.
7. Krishnamurti was a very learned philosopher. He’s ................... philosopher of India.
8. Sydney is a very large city. I think it is ............city in Australia.
9. The Nile is a very long river. We know that it is .........river in Egypt.
10. Everest is a very high mountain. I think it’s .....mountain in the world.

Key:

1. the oldest
2. the happiest
3. the best
4. the most popular
5. the most beautiful
6. the warmest
7. the most learned
8. the largest
9. the longest
10. the highest

Adjectives from nouns

It is useful to know how to build word families.
For a start, let’s make adjectives from nouns.

Write the relevant adjective against each noun and check your answers with the key.

[Nouns] [Adjectives]

1. spot ..................
2. steam ..................
3. steepness ..................
4. stiffness ..................
5. stone ..................
6. storm ..................
7. strangeness ............
8. strength ..................
9. stress .................
10. strike .................
11. structure ..................
12. study .................
13. stupidity .................
14. style ..................
15. substance ..................
16. success ..................
17. suddenness .................
18. suggestion..................
19. support ..................
20. supposition ............
21. surprise ..................
22. suspicion ..................
23. swearing ..................
24. symbol ..................
25. sympathy ..................
26. system ................
27. talk ..................
28. taste ..................
29. tax ..................
30. tear ..................
31. technique ..................
32. technology..................
33. theory ..................
34. thickness ..................
35. thinness ..................

Key:

1. spotted
2. steamy
3. steep
4. stiff
5. stony
6. stormy
7. strange
8. strong
9. stressful
10. striking
11. structural
12. studious
13. stupid
14. stylish
15. substantial
16. successful
17. sudden
18. suggestive
19. supportive
20. supposed
21. surprised
22. suspicious
23. sworn
24. symbolic
25. sympathetic
26. systematic
27. talkative
28. tasty
29. taxable
30. tearful
31. technical
32. technological
33. theoretical
34. thick
35. thin