English as a Second Language | Myself & Others

Welcome to the "Myself & Others" Verb Focus Study Guide!

Hello! In this chapter, we are learning how to use the correct verbs to describe ourselves, our personalities, our feelings, and our relationships with others. Verbs are the engine of your sentences—they show action, state, and identity.

Why is focusing on verbs important here?
When you describe yourself or your friends, you need precision. Saying "I am tired" is very different from "I feel tired," even though they are similar. Getting these verbs right makes your English clearer and more powerful!

1. Verbs of Identity and State: The Power of Linking Verbs

When you describe who you are or what state you are in, you usually use a special group of verbs called Linking Verbs.

What is a Linking Verb?

Linking verbs do not show action; they connect the subject (the person) to a noun or adjective that describes or identifies them. Think of them as an "equals sign" (=) in your sentence.

• The King of Linking Verbs: To Be (am, is, are, was, were).
• Other Common Linking Verbs: seem, appear, feel, look, taste, smell, sound, become.

Step-by-Step: Using Linking Verbs for Self-Description

1. Identify the Subject: I, My sister, The students.
2. Choose the Verb (and conjugate it): Usually the verb to be.
3. Add the Description (Noun or Adjective):
   I + am + a dedicated student. (Noun)
   My friends + are + supportive. (Adjective)

Example Connections:
I am outgoing.
My relationship became stronger after the trip.
She seems very friendly and approachable.

2. Verbs of Routine and Habit: Action Verbs in the Simple Present

When you describe your personality, you often talk about what you regularly do or how you usually behave. For this, we use Action Verbs in the Simple Present Tense.

Context: Describing My Habits and My Friends' Routines

Action verbs show movement, activity, or exertion.
Examples: study, help, play, visit, communicate, work.

The Crucial 'S' Rule (The Third-Person Singular)

This is one of the most common mistakes ESL students make! Don’t worry, we have a trick for it.

When your subject is He, She, or It (or any singular noun like My brother or The teacher), the verb MUST end in -s or -es.

Memory Aid: S for Singular!

• Correct: My friend helps me with homework. (Singular friend + s)
• Incorrect: My friend help me with homework.
• Correct: I help others often. (I/You/We/They do NOT add 's')

Did you know? Using the Simple Present Tense for actions implies that this is a permanent trait or a regular characteristic of the person you are describing.

3. Verbs of Internal State: Stative (Non-Continuous) Verbs

When talking about Myself & Others, we constantly describe feelings, thoughts, and opinions. These are internal states, not actions you can physically see.

Verbs that describe feelings, thoughts, senses, or possession are called Stative Verbs (or Non-Continuous Verbs).

The Golden Rule: No Continuous Tense!

Stative verbs almost never use the -ing form (Present Continuous, Past Continuous, etc.) because these verbs describe a stable state, not a temporary action in progress.

Categories of Stative Verbs:

1. Feelings/Emotions: love, hate, like, prefer, want, need.
2. Thinking/Beliefs: know, understand, believe, remember, think (when it means 'believe').
3. Senses (Passive): smell, sound, seem, appear.

Common Mistake to Avoid:

WRONG: I am needing a new laptop.
RIGHT: I need a new laptop.

WRONG: She is believing the story.
RIGHT: She believes the story.

Example Sentences for Identity:
I understand how my classmates feel about the exam.
My parents love my sense of humor.

4. Verbs for Relationships and Interaction

When we discuss Others, we describe how we interact. This often requires understanding if the verb needs an object (Transitive) or if it stands alone (Intransitive).

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs in Interaction

1. Transitive Verbs (Need an Object):
These verbs need something or someone to "receive" the action. They are used frequently when describing helping or supporting others.

Structure: Subject + Transitive Verb + Object
Examples:

• I support my study group. (The group receives the support.)
• We met the new teacher yesterday.

2. Intransitive Verbs (Do Not Need an Object):
These verbs make sense all by themselves. They are often followed by a preposition to connect them to other information.

Structure: Subject + Intransitive Verb (+ Prepositional Phrase)
Examples:

• We spoke softly. (The sentence is complete.)
• I always talk to my best friend about my problems. (The preposition 'to' is necessary to connect 'talk' and 'friend'.)

Focus on Essential Phrasal Verbs for Relationships

Phrasal verbs (verb + preposition/adverb) are crucial for discussing connections. Treat the verb and the preposition as one unit!

• Rely on: I rely on my parents for advice. (Depend on)
• Look up to: I look up to my older sister. (Admire)
• Get along with: We get along with our new neighbors easily. (Have a good relationship)

5. Quick Reference: The Past and Present Perfect for Experience

When describing your personal history, development, or experiences with others, you need past tenses.

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

Simple Past (Completed, specific time): Used to state facts about past events that shaped who you are.
Example: I moved here three years ago.

Present Perfect (Experience, change over time): Used to discuss experiences that happened sometime in the past, or actions that started in the past and continue now. This is key for describing relationship history or personal development!
Structure: Have/Has + Past Participle

• Experience: I have met many interesting people during this course.
• Change/Growth: I have become much more confident since last year.
• Ongoing Relationship: We have known each other since primary school.

Final Tip: Master Irregular Verbs!
Many verbs used for identity and interaction are irregular (e.g., be/was/been; meet/met/met; know/knew/known). Make sure you memorize the past simple and past participle forms!