Verbs describe actions or states of being. Example verbs are "run," "be," and "look."
Active and Passive Verbs
Verbs have an active and passive quality. Active verbs "do":

run
write
inspect
prepare

Passive verbs describe states of being and suggest no action:

be
am
is
are
was
were
being
been

Sentences written with passive verbs become passive sentences.


Grammar Expert
Lay vs. Lie
The distinction between "lay" and "lie" is subtle and sometimes confusing. "Lay" and "lie" are both verbs, but of different form.
"Lay" is always used as an action applied to some object. "Lay" describes the action of placing something down.
"Lie" describes the condition of being placed down.
Examples:

I lay the cards on the table.

-- "Lay" is an action applied to "cards."

The cards lie on the table.

-- "Lie" describes the condition of "cards."

The past-tense form of "lay" is "laid." The past-tense form of "lie" is "lay." This also causes confusion because of the similarity of spelling with the present tense "lay."

I lie the cards on the table.
The cards laid on the table.
I laid the cards on the table.

-- "Laid" is the past-tense form of "lay." "Laid" describes an action applied to "cards."

The cards lay on the table.

-- "Lay" is the past-tense form of "lie." "Lay" describes the condition of "cards."

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Subject and Verb Agreement
The subject of a sentence or clause must agree in number with the verb associated with it. For example, the following sentence is incorrect:

The shipment were delivered to your warehouse.

The subject, "shipment," is a singular noun, and the verb, "were," refers to a plural noun. The singular verb "was" must be substituted for "were" to correct the sentence:

The shipment was delivered to your warehouse.

Most problems with subject and verb agreement involve the choice between "is" or "are" and "was" or "were." Other verbs may be incorrectly used as well. The rules for subject and verb agreement are simple:
1. Use the singular form of the verb when the subject is a singular noun. "Is" and "was" are singular verbs.
2. Use the plural form of the verb when the subject is a plural noun. "Are" and "were" are plural verbs.


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Verb Agreement with Collective Subjects
When the subject of a sentence or clause is a collective noun, such as "crowd" or "group," the subject is in fact singular, since it refers to a single unit comprising several things. Use the singular form of the verb in this case.

A group of anxious reporters were blocking the exit.

-- The collective subject "group" is singular.

A group of anxious reporters was blocking the exit.
Management are opposed to this approach.

-- "Management" is the singular collective subject.

Management is opposed to this approach.
The box of trophies were reported stolen.

-- "Box" is the singular collective subject.

The box of trophies was reported stolen.

When individual members of a collective subject are identified, treat the subject as plural :

Several members of the audience were noisy.
The audience was quiet.



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Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects
Compound subjects joined by "and" are normally treated like plural subjects, even if the individual parts are singular:

Your ticket and itinerary are ready.
That behavior and attitude are no longer tolerated.
Both John and Mary are going.

When the conjunction joining two parts of a compound subject is "or" or "nor," the verb must agree with the part closest to it:

Either the chairman or the members cancel the motion.

-- The verb "cancel" is closest to the plural "members."

Either the members or the chairman cancels the motion.

-- The verb "cancels" is closest to the singular "chairman."

Neither the cow, the pig, nor the chickens have been fed today.

-- The verb "have" is closest to the plural "chickens."

Neither the chickens, the pig, nor the cow has been fed today.

-- The verb "has" is closest to the singular "cow."

Neither Fred nor Sam was here today.

-- The verb "was" is associated with the singular "Sam."

When the subject contains the word "either," use the singular form of the verb.

Either Bill or Barb are going.
Either Bill or Barb is going.
Either of us are going.
Either of us is going.
Either person are capable.
Either person is capable.

Grammar Expert
Verb Agreement with "ics" Words
Words ending in "ics," such as "statistics," "mathematics," "graphics," "physics," and "politics," are normally treated as singular collective nouns. When the word is preceded by an article (e.g., "a," "an," or "the") or a preposition (e.g., "of"), or modified by an adjective, treat it as a plural noun.

Mathematics are my best subject.
Mathematics is my best subject.
The graphics for your book design is ready.

-- "The" is an article.

The graphics for your book design are ready.
The physics of planetary motion is beyond my grasp.
The physics of planetary motion are beyond my grasp.

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Verb Agreement with Indefinite Subjects
When the subject is an indefinite word such as "all," "most," or "some," the word referred to by the subject determines whether the verb is singular or plural. If the referenced word is plural use the plural verb form.

Most of the cars is on sale.

-- The indefinite subject "most" refers to the plural "cars."

Most of the cars are on sale.
Most of the car were damaged.

-- "Most" refers to the singular "car."

Most of the car was damaged.
None of the cars was damaged.
None of the cars were damaged.
The majority of students has passed.
The majority of students have passed.
Thirty-three percent of our customers wants better service.
Thirty-three percent of our customers want better service.

When the subject is "one" in a phrase like "one of the," the noun referred to by "one" is always plural, so the verb is plural.

One of the toasters is broken.
One of the toasters are broken.
She is one of the people who works in my office.
She is one of the people who work in my office.

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Verb Agreement with Measured Subjects
A singular subject quantified by a measurement is treated as a singular, so use the singular form of the verb.

Eight feet of electrical cord are required.

-- "Cord" is the singular subject.

Eight feet of electrical cord is required.
The purchase price were three million dollars.

-- "Price" is the subject.

The purchase price was three million dollars.

If the subject is plural, and the measurement specifies the number or quantity, use the plural form of the verb.

Forty boxes of popcorn was sold.

-- "Boxes" is the plural subject.

Forty boxes of popcorn were sold.
Three million dollars was raised for the homeless.

-- "Dollars" is the plural subject.

Three million dollars were raised for the homeless.

Treat the fractional part of a singular subject as singular:

Three-quarters of the pie is gone.

Treat the fractional part of a collection consisting of more than one as plural :

Three-quarters of the pies are gone.

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Distinguishing the Subject
The subject is the "who" or "what" about which the sentence or clause is written. Distinguishing the subject of a sentence or clause is important to knowing which form of verb to use.

The main reason the report was delivered late are the people in the copy room.

-- "Reason" is the subject, not "people."

The main reason the report was delivered late is the people in the copy room.
Snowstorms is the leading cause of employee lateness this month.

-- "Snowstorms" is the subject, not "cause."

Snowstorms are the leading cause of employee lateness this month.
The interest we receive from our investments are a major source of income.

-- "Interest" is the subject, not "investments."

The interest we receive from our investments is a major source of income.
Which one of the folders are being kept?

-- "One" is the subject, not "folders."

Which one of the folders is being kept?
There was three men waiting to see me when I returned.

-- "Men" is the plural subject.

There were three men waiting to see me when I returned.

Grammar Expert
Verb Agreement with Problem Subjects
Certain subjects cause confusion because they seem singular but are really plural, or vice versa.
Nouns which denote pairs are always treated as plural , and so take plural verbs :

The scissors is in the drawer.
The scissors are in the drawer.
My pants is in the wash.
My pants are in the wash.

Similar words for pairs:

reins scales
shears spectacles
tongs trousers
tweezers pliers

The pronoun "you" is treated as plural, even if it refers to a single person:

You is sitting in my chair.
You are sitting in my chair.



Grammar Expert
Verb Tense
Verb tense indicates when an action or state occurs over time. Verbs can be expressed in three tenses: past, present, and future:

They agreed with the proposal.

-- "Agreed" is the past-tense verb

They agree with the proposal.

-- Present tense

They will agree with the proposal.

-- Future tense

Sentences containing more than one clause sometimes present a problem, since each clause contains its own verb. Normally, all verbs in a sentence are in the same tense. Exceptions exist, however.
When the verb in the independent clause is in the past tense, the verb in a dependent clause is also usually in the past tense:

They said they agreed with the proposal.

-- Both "said" and "agreed" are past-tense verbs

He informed me he had written the letter weeks ago.

-- Both "informed" and "had written" are past-tense verbs

When the verb in the independent clause is in the future tense, the verb in a dependent clause is usually in the present tense. This is true because the independent clause verb places the time of the remainder of the sentence in the future:

They will say they agree with the proposal.

-- "Will say" is in the future tense, but "agree" is in the present tense

When the verb in the independent clause is in the present tense, the verb in a dependent clause can be in any tense, depending on the time ordering of actions:

We need a new projector because the one was have was broken.

-- "Need" is a present-tense verb, and "was" is past-tense

We need a new projector because the one we have is broken.

-- Both "need" and "is" are present-tense verbs

We need a new projector because the one we have will break soon.

-- "Will break" is a future-tense verb



Grammar Expert
Split Infinitives
A split infinitive is an adverb inserted between the word "to" and an infinitive verb:

I decided to quickly leave.

The split infinitive is considered weak by some people. The word "to" and the infinitive verb really form a single unit. Inserting an adverb between them makes them separate, so they lose their association. Moving the adverb following the infinitive verb may be preferable:

I decided to leave quickly.

Note that moving the adverb ahead of the word "to" results in ambiguity:

I decided quickly to leave.

-- Does "quickly" apply to "decided" or to "leave"?

Don't substitute "and" for "to" when forming infinitive verbs.

I will try and come if I have time.
I will try to come if I have time.



Grammar Expert
Participles
Participles are verb forms that usually end in "ed" ( past tense ) or "ing" ( present tense ).
A participle at the beginning of a sentence must have a noun or pronoun subject or a "dangling participle" results:

Having opened the window, the room was noticeable cooler.

-- The subject of the participle "having" is missing, so the participle "dangles"

Noticing their poor performance, the stocks were sold.
While skiing yesterday, my nose was frostbitten.

Correct these sentences by providing subjects for the participles:

Peter having opened the window, the room was noticeably cooler.
Noticing their poor performance, Wayne sold the stocks.
While I was skiing yesterday, my nose was frostbitten.

The gerund also ends in "ing," but is really a verb transformed to a noun:

Her skating is excellent.

-- "Skating" is the gerund