Understanding the Third Form of Verbs in English

In English grammar, verbs come in different forms that serve various purposes. One of these is the 'third form' of a verb, a term more popular in British English. This article aims to clarify what this term means and how it differs from other verb forms in English.

British vs. American Terminology

The term 'third form' of a verb, as used by British ESL/EFL teachers, is sometimes puzzling to American teachers and students. In American English, verbs are referred to by their 'principle parts,' which are a more descriptive way of categorizing verb forms.

Let's take the verb 'do' as an example:

BASE do 3S does SIMPLE PAST did PRESENT PARTICIPLE doing PAST PARTICIPLE done

Amusingly, no one knows which of these is the 'third form,' and some prefer the American system's descriptive nature over the abstract British system. However, if you search for 'third form verb,' you will likely find the answer to your question.

3rd Person Singular and Plural

One interpretation of the 'third form' term could refer to the 3rd person singular and 3rd person plural forms. For the verb 'take,' for example:

3rd person singular: he/she/it takes 3rd person plural: they take

Understanding the Past Participle (Verb 3)

Another interpretation of the 'third form' is the past participle, which is often the same as the past simple form of a verb. For example, in the verb 'cook':

Base (infinitive form) cook Past Simple cooked Past Participle (Verb 3) cooked

However, some past participles may have different spellings, as with the verb 'eat':

Base (infinitive form) eat Past Simple ate Past Participle (Verb 3) eaten

Additionally, the past participle can be used as an adjective, qualifying a noun, as in 'a depressed boy' or 'you are so excited today.'

Verb Forms in English

English verbs have several forms that serve different grammatical functions. These forms are typically referred to as principle parts, as follows:

V1 (Base) - the infinitive form without 'to,' such as 'run' V2 (Present) - the simple present form, such as 'runs' V3 (Past) - the simple past form, such as 'ran' V4 (Past Participle) - the past participle form, such as 'run' V5 (Present Participle) - the present participle form, such as 'running'

The third form (V3) is used to express the simple past tense in active voice. For example:

He wrote a letter to his uncle.

The following examples illustrate this further:

play - v1 - plays - played - played - playing write - v1 - writes - wrote - written - writing cut - v1 - cuts - cut - cut - cutting fly - v1 - flies - flew - flown - flying

In summary, the term 'third form' of a verb can refer to different things, such as the 3rd person singular and plural, or the past participle. Understanding these forms is crucial for mastering English grammar, and by familiarizing yourself with the various verb forms, you can improve your language skills and make your communication more effective.