MOODS AND TENSES

The mood is a grammatical category by means of which modality is expressed. It is a

form showing the way in which the speaker considers the action denoted by the verb.
There are - 4 moods in English (the verb is predicate)
1) INDICATIVE
2) SUBJUNCTIVE
3) CONDITIONAL
4) IMPERATIVE
- 2 non-finite verb forms/verbals (the verb is not predicate)
1) INFINITIVE
2) PARTICIPLE
A third verbal might be added: the GERUND
1) The Indicative Mood shows that the speaker considers the action as real.
e.g. I go to school.
2) The Subjunctive Mood shows that the speaker considers the action as a supposed
fact. The Subjunctive Mood is dying out in contemporary English, we may at best
speak of subjunctive remnants (I were, I be).the other forms very frequently
coincide with the indicative.
3) The Conditional Mood shows that the speaker considers the action as conditioned or
desirable. Many English grammarians consider that the various conditional forms are
subjunctives.
4) The Imperative Mood denotes an order, a piece of advice, a request. In contemporary
English the imperative is only considered a second person form. The subject (you) is
unexpressed.
e.g. Go! Write!
According to a number of grammarians such forms as let me think! or lets go! are not
purely imperatival.
TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE MOOD
The tenses of the indicative mood cover all the divisions and sub-divisions of time
PRESENT
PAST
FUTURE

Past

Present

Future
--------|------------*------------|---------------**-----------------|----------------|----------*
past perfect

present perfect

Past Tense

past perfect

Present Tense

Past

near future

future perfect

Future Tense

future in the past

--------------|-----------------------------------*--------------------------------------|------------------------

Present Tenses
1. The Present Tense
specifically refers to the moment of speaking but it may cover different time
divisions of which the present moment is a part.
a. The present tense indefinite aspect; active voice and passive voice
in point of form, it coincides with short infinitive except the third person singular
which takes s or es.
(-es after verbs ending in: -ss, -sh, -x, -ch, -zz: to guess, to push, to box, to touch, to buzz, etc
after: -o : to go, to do
after -y preceded by a consonant: yi+es: to try, to study
after verbs ending in silent -e preceded by a sibilant: to place, to face)
to be is irregular
to have is also irregular
modal verbs do not take s in the third person singular.
Active Voice
A: I ask.
I: Do I ask?
N. I do not ask.

Passive Voice
A: I am asked.
I: Am I asked?
N: I am not asked.

The present tense indefinite is used:

to denote a general truth or statement
e.g. Water freezes at 0C.
A man is known by the company he keeps.
to denote some permanent state or characteristic of the subject

e.g. He lives in Bucharest.

to denote habit or recurrent actions, the present tense being often accompanied by
such adverbs as: always, never, frequently etc.
e.g. I often think of my childhood.
to show that an action simply occurs, that a simple fact in the present takes place
e.g. The boy learns better now.
The boy enters and shuts the door (stage direction).
Now I mix butter with cocoa (demonstration).
He runs and runs and marks the goal (a description commentary).
instead of the present continuous of certain verbs
e.g. He loves music.
instead of the present perfect of the verbs to hear, forget, tell, be told, to learn (a
afla).
e.g. I learnt from your letter (am aflat)
I hear that he is a doctor. (am auzit)
I am told that he is at the doctor. (mi s-a spus)
instead of the simple future
e.g. Tomorrow is Thursday.
to denote future actions (as a part of a plan or a program)
e.g. Jack comes tonight.
to denote future actions in subordinate clauses (conditional or temporal)
e.g. Ill be ready when you come.
Ill go to the theatre if the whether is good.
instead of past tense as a historic or dramatic present (to make it more vivid)
e.g. One day, the boy goes to the forest and there he finds a treasure.

b. The present tense continuous aspect

conjugated

is made up of the present of TO BE + the indefinite participle of the verb to be

Active
A: I am asking.
I: Am I asking?
N. I am not asking.

Passive
A: I am being asked.
I: Am I being asked?
N: I am not being asked.

It is used:
to denote states or actions of longer or shorter duration occurring at the moment
of speaking. It is often accompanied by such adverbials (compl. circ de timp) as: now, right
now, today, this very moment
e.g. What are you doing now?
to denote states or actions characteristic of the subject at a given period of time
which includes the moment of speaking
e.g. His brother is living in the country.

to denote states or actions permanently characteristic the subject or stressing the

idea of repetition (particularly with such adverbs as: always, continually, constantly, all the
time)
e.g. He is always going there.
Her child is crying all the time.
sometimes with a reference to an action or state in the future
e.g. Im leaving tonight.
2. The Present Perfect Tense
a. The present perfect tense indefinite aspect
is formed of the present TO HAVE + the past participle of the verb to be
conjugated
Active
A: I have asked.
I: Have I asked?
N. I have not asked.

Passive
A: I have been asked.
I: Have I been asked?
N: I have not been asked.

It is used:
to denote an action or state begun in the past and no longer continuing in the
moment of speaking, yet implying the result of the respective action
e.g. Have you read this book?
I have opened the window.
to denote an action or state begun in the indefinite past and still going on in the
present
e.g. The students have been here since 8 oclock.
to denote an action or state begun in the indefinite past and continuing to the
moment of speaking
e.g. No greater dramatist has come after Shakespeare in England.

The Present Perfect is usually used with some specific words: now, up to now, up
to the present, so far, lately, recently, just, already, this moment/month/morning, since then,
ever since, for, these two days, these two years, for.
b. The present perfect tense continuous aspect
is formed of the present perfect of TO BE + the indefinite participle of the
verb to be conjugated
Active
A: I have been asking.
I: Have I been asking?
N. I have not been asking.

Passive
-

It is used to denote:
action or states of duration which begun in the past and continue in the present
e.g. I have been learning English for six years.

action or states of duration which begun in the past and continue to the moment of
speaking
e.g. You have been traveling all day, you must be tired.
repeated actions (implying reproach)
e.g. How often have I been telling you not to answer back?
Past Tenses
1.
The Past Tense
a.
The Past Tense - indefinite aspect
is a simple tense, the second basic form of a verb (identical for all the persons;
except the verb to be was (I,II sg.) / were(II sg., pl.)
Active
Passive
A: I asked.
A: I was asked.
I: Did I ask?
I: Was I asked?
N. I did not ask.
N: I was not asked.

it denotes actions or states occurring at a definite moment/interval of time in the

past.

It is used:
as a narrative tense to denote actions or states that took place in the past
e.g. I went to the library and borrowed interesting books.
to denote repeated actions or states that took place in the past (usually with
adverbs like: every day, regularly, often, frequently)
e.g. He visited his uncle every day.
instead of past tense continuous
e.g. He liked that book.
in conditional clauses in accordance with the sequence of tenses
e.g. I would be grateful to you if you brought me the books (in fact brought is a
subjunctive, not a past tense form).

The Past Tense Indefinite is used with the following words:

lexical units denoting the time, the date, the year: at two oclock, in 1996, on
th
January 8 .
words like: when, then, at the time, after that, just then, formerly, once;
yesterday, the day before yesterday, the other day; last time, last summer; in the morning,
in the afternoon; two days ago, three weeks ago; whenever, while, before; during January,
during spring, during his lifetime.
b. The Past Tense Continuous
- is formed of the past tense of the aux. TO BE + the indefinite participle of the
verb to be conjugated.
Active
A: I was asking.
I: Was I asking?

Passive
A: I was being asked.
I: Was I being asked?

N. I was not asking.

N: I was not being asked.

denotes a continuous action or state in the past.

it is usually translated by the Romanian imperfect.
e.g. I was coming = veneam.
When booth the verb in the main clause and the subordinate clause denote continuous
actions or states in the past, the past tense continuous in one of them is generally replaced by the
indefinite past tense.
e.g. Instead of: He was eating apples when he was watching TV.
it is preferred either: He was eating apples when he watched TV.
or: He ate apples when he was watching TV.
The past indefinite may be used in both clauses
e.g. While he watched TV, he ate apples.
2. The Past Perfect Tense
a.
The Past Perfect - indefinite aspect
- is formed of the past tense of the auxiliary TO HAVE + the past participle of the
verb to be conjugated.
Active
A: I had asked.
I: Had I asked?
N: I had not asked.

Passive
A: I had been asked.
I: Had I been asked?
N. I had not been asked.

- it denotes an action or state begun and finished in the past, prior to another past
moment.
e.g. He went home after he had finished the classes.
- it may denote an action or a state, occurring after another past action or state expressed
by the past tense (usually the conjunction before is used).
e.g. Before he had read the whole book he made a few notes.
- in accordance with the sequence of tenses, the past perfect (in fact subjunctive past
perfect) is used in conditional clauses, when the conditional past/perfect occurs in the main
clause.
e.g. If you had come earlier, you would have met him.
b. The Past Perfect - continuous aspect
- is made up of the past perfect of the aux. TO BE + the indefinite participle of the
verb to be conjugated.
Active
A: I had been asking.
I: Had I been asking?
N: I had not been asking.

Passive
NO
PASSIVE
FORM

S
- it is used to denote prolonged actions or states in the past begun and finished before
other actions or states in the past.
e.g. They had been studying about life from the books, while he had been busy living it.
- sometimes it denotes actions and states begun in the past before another action or state
in the past but still continuing at the moment when the later occurred.
e.g. She had been writing for two hours when her sister came to see her.
The Past Tense and the Sequence of Tenses
A past tense in the main clause must be followed by another past tense in the subordinate
clause
a) to express the idea of simultaneousness, the past tense is followed by another past
tense
e.g. He said he knew you.
b) to express the idea of antecedence the past perfect is used in the subordinate clause
e.g. He said that he had been there.
He said that he had known you.
c) to express the idea of subsequence we use future in the past
e.g. He said that he would go there.
EXCEPTIONS!!!
1.
when the sentence contains only main clauses
e.g. Last year I was in Paris and next year I will go to New York
2.
when the subordinate clause contains a general or universal truth
e.g. He demonstrated that water boils at 100 C.
3.
in relative clauses (clarifying a noun from the main clause)
e.g. It was yesterday that I bought the books which you see on the shelf.
4.
in comparative clauses
e.g. Last year his spelling was worse than it is now/today.
5.
in subordinate clauses of cause
e.g. I didnt speak to him yesterday for I am sure I will see him this afternoon.
Future Tenses
a)
Near future
is made up of the present continuous of TO GO + the long infinitive of the
verb to be conjugated
Active
A: I am going to ask. (intentionez)
I: Am I going to ask?
N: I am not going to ask.

Passive
A: I am going to be asked.
I: Am I going to be asked?
N: I am not going to be asked.

it denotes actions or states that are not far from the moment of speaking, implying
intention(a fi pe punctul de a, a intentiona sa )
the near future in the past is made up of the preterit or past tense continuous of
TO GO and the long inf. of the verb to be conjugated

e.g. I was going to ask.

b)
conjugated

The indefinite future

is formed of the aux. SHALL/WILL + the short infinitive of the verb to be

Active
A: I shall/will ask.
I: Shall/will I ask?
N: I will/shall not ask.
wont/shant

Passive
A: I shall/will be asked.
I: Shall/will I be asked?
N: I will/shall not be asked.

it establishes the performing of an action in the future

e.g. He will play in another team.
We shall call on him when we have finished our work.
when SHALL/WILL are not used with other persons they are semi-auxiliaries and
imply the idea of necessity, command, obligation or volition, promise and determination. Is
called the future of promise and determination.
e.g. I will go there! (because I promised)
He shall go there!
c) The future continuous
made up of the future of the aux. TO BE + the indefinite participle of the verb
to be conjugated
Active
A: I will/shall be asking.
I: Shall/will I asking?
N: I shall/will not be asking.

Passive
-------------------------

it denotes an action or state in the future

e.g. Tomorrow we shall be working all day long.
d) Future in the Past
denotes a future action or state as viewed from a past moment
it is formed of the aux. WOULD + short infinitive of the verb to be conjugated
e.g. You promised me you would bring me the book.
e) Future Perfect indefinite aspect
- is made up of the indefinite future of the aux. TO HAVE + past participle of the
verb to be conjugated
Active
Passive
A: I shall have asked.
A: I shall have been asked.
I: Shall I have asked?
I: Shall I have been asked?
N: I shall not have asked.
N: I shall not have been asked.
-

denotes an action which will occur in the future, prior to another future action

e.g. I shall have read the book by seven oclock/when he comes.

- denotes an action begun before a future moment and still going on at that future
moment
e.g. We shall have known each other for 5 years by the end of this year.
- denotes a supposed action referring to the past (it is half modal)
e.g. You will have heard of his new work. (=might, possible)
f) The Future Perfect - continuous
is made up of the future perfect of the aux. TO BE + the indefinite participle
of the vb. to be conjugated
Active
Passive
A: I shall have been asking.
I: Shall I have been asking?
N: I shall not have been asking.
it denotes an action begun before a given moment in the future and continuing
into it, which is shown by the preposition for
e.g. When you come back, we shall have been waiting for you for more than one hour.
g) The Future Perfect in the Past
- it is formed of the future in the past of the aux. TO HAVE + past participle of the
vb. to be conj.
e.g. I should have asked
it is used after some past tense in the main clause to denote an action already
concluded before the moment in the future as viewed from the past
e.g. He said he would have done it by the end of the month.
The Future Tense and The Sequence of Tenses
a future tense in a main clause may be followed by any tense in the subordinate
clause except future
in temporal and conditional clauses the future tense in the main clause is usually
followed by:
a.
The Present Perfect to denote antecedence
e.g. We shall call him when we have finished our work.
b.
The Present to denote simultaneousness
e.g. The sun will shine when/if the rain stops

The Conditional Mood

1. The Conditional Present - is formed by means of the auxiliaries SHOULD/WOULD
and the short infinitive of the verb to be conjugated.

Active
I should ask.
Should I ask?
I should not ask.

Passive
I should be asked.
Should I be asked?
I should not be asked.

- it denotes an action whose fulfillment generally depends on the fulfillment of a condition.

e.g.: Wouldnt you go for a walk if it didnt rain?
- with verbs expressing desire (to like, to want, to wish) 6the condition may be excluded
altogether so that the conditional actually turns into an optative.
e.g.: I should like to see the play as soon as possible.
- the conditional may be also excluded with certain modal defective verbs used as forms of
the conditional present.
e.g.: You should remember his advice (modal verb).
They might come any time now.
2. The Conditional Present Continuous is made up of the conditional present of TO BE
and the infinitive participle of a notional verb.
- it denotes actions or states in progress.
e.g.: I should be asking.
He would be reading now if he were not so tired.
3. The Conditional Past is formed by the means of the auxiliaries SHOULD/WOULD
and the short perfect infinitive of the verb to be conjugated.
Active
Passive
I should have asked.
Should I have asked?
I should not have asked.

I should have been asked.

Should I have been asked?
I should have not been asked.

- it denotes an action or states whose fulfillment generally depends on the fulfillment of a

condition.
e.g.: We should have gone on with our work if it hadnt been so late.
- with verbs expressing desire the conditional may be excluded.
e.g.: She would have liked to live in London.
4. The Conditional Past Continuous is formed by means of the conditional past of TO
BE and the indefinite participle of the verb to be conjugated.
- it shows an action or state in progress.
e.g.: She would have been reading if she had not been so busy.

The Conditional and the Sequence of Tenses

I. Conditional Present in the main clause requires Subjunctive Past in the subordinate
clause.
e.g.: He should translate it if he had a dictionary.
(Past Subjunctive)

II. Conditional Past in the main clause requires Subjunctive Past Perfect in subordinate
clause.
e.g.: He should have translated it if he had had a dictionary.
(Subj. Past Perfect)
Subjunctive Mood
- is represented by the following forms:
1. Old Form (Present Subjunctive) which is the short infinitive
e.g.: I doubt he be among the tourists.
Long live he!
2. Modern Form:
a) Past Subjunctive i.e. the second form of the verb = past indicative excepting
BE
e.g.: I would go if I were you.
I were, you were, he/she/it were
(TO BE has the form were all along)
b) The Perfect Subjunctive i.e. HAD + 3rd form of the verb = past perf. of ind.
e.g.: I would have gone if I had been you.
- these three types of subjunctives are also called the synthetical subjunctive.

1. The Old Form occurs:

- in official and elevated style as well as in American Style.
e.g.: The judge asks that the prisoner be brought in.
Thought she be so young I will comfy in her.
- in fixed set phrases: if need be, be it so, so be it, be that, as it may, far be it from me to do
that, a year come tomorrow.
- in some structures, protests such as:
e.g.: Expenses be hanged!
That be hanged for a tale! (ce mai nscocire?)
2. Modern Form is used:
- after the following words: rather, although, then, than if, than that, that, if, as if, as
though, though, so that, lest, for fear;
- before words like: however, whatever, till, until, provided, but, exact, say, saving,
supposing, unless, whether, to suppose, to wish, it is necessary, it is essential, it is probable, it
is likely, it is possible, it is pity, it is a shame, it is right/wrong, it is proper, it is time/high time,
had better, had rather, would rather, would sooner.
e.g.: He treats me as if I were his sister.
He used to treat me as though I had been his sister.
With us he feels happier than if he lived alone.
I should like to read rather than go out.

Even if/though it were so that is my problem.

Whoever they be/were, he was never at home.
I wish I were a child again.
Supposed she went there.
It was suggested that she buy a book.
Its high time you had written that letter.
He had rather play than work.
3. Subjunctive equivalents (The Analytical Subjunctive)
- represents combinations of modal verbs used as auxiliaries or semi-auxiliaries and short
infinitives (let, may, might, should, would) or even indicatives.
a) LET + short infinitive - it is a subjunctive with an imperative value.
e.g.: Let her go for a walk!
b) MAY + short infinitive -it expresses:
Concession: e.g.: However I may think, I cant remember
Purpose:
e.g.: I have come so that you may tell me the news.
Hope or fear: e.g.: I hope you may be right!
Im afraid that we may miss the train.
In comparison after as if/though:
e.g.: She looks as if she may cry.
After it is possible/probable/likely:
e.g.: It is possible that he may be there.
A desire, a wish: e.g.: May you live long!
May I never see you again!.
c) MIGHT + short infinitive
- is used as may + infinitive but after the verb in the main clause, in the past tense
e.g.: She wished she might never see him.
I hoped you might be right.
I was afraid that we might miss the train.
Note: If the verb in the main clause is in present tense might shows situations whose fulfillment
is difficult.
e.g.: I know you are busy but I wish you might come here.
MIGHT + perfect infinitive - shows an action which was not accomplished
e.g.: She wishes she might have seen you.
d) SHOULD + short infinitive - it is used to express present or future
SHOULD + perfect infinitive - is used to express past
This constructions are used to show a difficult action but not impossible
e.g.: If you should meet him, tell him to call me. (this is an exception of rule which
says that we cant use should/could after IF)

After if, lest, for fear, till, until

e.g.: She works hard lest she should fail in her exam.
Stay until you should finish your work.
After that, so that to express a purpose, order, suggestion
e.g.: I suggest that they should be punished.

After to be glad, to be sorry, to be surprised, to be annoyed, to regret that, it is a pity,

it is a shame it is strange, it is odd, it is (un)fortunate, it is necessary, it is essential, it
is probable, it is likely, it is out of the question, its time, its high time, there is every
reason that.
e.g.: Im sorry (that) you should say so.
Im sorry (that) you should have said that.
In exclamatory, rhetorical sentences
e.g.: That she should behave like this!
You should have heard him praising her!
In conditional clauses when the future action is probable (the verb in the main clause is
in indicative or imperative)
e.g.: If she should buy (subjunctive) the book Ill let (ind.) you know.
Should he know the answer, he would answer (cond.) the question.
After as if/though, than, than that
e.g.: It looks as if we should miss the train.
After even if/though, however, whatever, etc. in concessive sentences
e.g.: I will speak my mind even though you should laugh at me.
However hard he should have to study he will never give up.
e) WOULD + short infinitive - to express present and future
WOULD + perfect infinitive - to express past
e.g.: I wish you would seat down (present action).
I wish she should come tomorrow (future action).
I wish you would have seen him (past action).
After wish, to express a possible desire
e.g.: I wish you would come early.
Note: If the desire is impossible than the subjunctive past (V2) is used.
e.g.: I wished you were here.
f) Infinitive
- sometimes the infinitive replaces the subjunctive and it translated with the Romanian
conjunctiv
e.g.: I shall get up early not to be late. (ca s nu)
He put up his hand as if to speak. (ca i cum)
She speaks loud to be heard (so that she may be heard).
He closed one eye to see better (so that he might see better).
- sometimes the infinitive changes the meaning of a sentence.
e.g.: Supposed the distance were (ar fi) one mile (unreal).
Supposed the distance to be (este) one mile (real).
g) Indicative
- the indicative may replace the subjunctive in colloquial speech
e.g.: I wish I was/were you.
Suppose he was your father.
The Imperative Mood
- is used in the second person singular and plural
e.g.: Come in! (You come in!)
Go away! (You go away!)
- the other persons have imperative equivalents such as the subj. with imperative value.

e.g.: Lets go!

Let me ask!
The Non-finite / Infinitive Forms of the verb (Verbal-s)
- in contrast with finite / personal forms, non-finite or infinite forms (verbals) do not express
person, number or mood and can not be used as predicates of sentences.
- the non-finite forms are the infinitive, the ING form (the indefinite participle), the perfect
participle, the indefinite gerund, the perfect gerund.
The Infinitive
- names the action/state expressed by the verb, without reference to person, no. or mood
e.g.: to go, to see, to be examined, to have been reading
- the basic form of the verb
- certain English verbs have no infinitive forms (can, may, must, shall, will, ought to)
1. Long Infinitives are forms proceeded by the particle to
e.g.: I know what to expect.
He wanted to be left alone.
2. Short Infinitives are form which are not preceded by the particle to
e.g.: I can read it.
- the short infinitive is used:
after auxiliary verbs
e.g.: I must go there
Exception: exceptions are the modals to have to, to be to, ought to, which require long
infinitives.
e.g.: I have to go there.
after modal combinations as: had better, had rather, had sooner, would rather
e.g.: You had better go to bad.
after the verbs: to see, to hear, to fear, to feel, to watch
e.g.: didnt you hear me calling to you?
after the verb to know in the past tenses and the present perfect
e.g.: I have known a change of medicine work wonders
Exception: when to know is in the passive it is followed by long infinitive
e.g.: He was known to be a good man.
after to make (when it means to cause, to determine)
e.g.: He made me realize the truth.
Exception: when to make is in the passive
e.g.: He was made to understand that.
after to have (meaning to allow)
e.g.: I will not have you talk such nonsense.
- in colloquial English (in USA) after to help.
e.g.: I helped you solve the problem
Infinitival constructions
There are four infinitival constructions:
1.
The Accusative with the Infinitive represents a combination of noun or pronoun in the
accusative case and an infinitive:
e.g.: I want you to come in time.
I heard him sing.
She wanted him to stay.

2.

3.
4.

The Nominative with the Infinitive represents a combination of noun or pronoun in the
nominative case and an infinitive
e.g.: He is known to be good student.
You are expected to come.
I happen to know them.
The FOR TO Infinitive contains an infinitive which is in predicate relationship to a
noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition FOR
e.g.: There is nothing for me to do.
The Absolute Infinitive Constructions are made up of a noun in the nominative case
and an infinitive (the noun being different from the subject of the sentence)
e.g.: The factory exceeded its quota, the surplus to be delivered in May.

The ING form

1. The Participle is a strictly verbal form, so it determinatives must be verbal.
a) The Infinitive Participle (gerunziu) denotes a continuous action or state.
e.g.: going, writing, being gone/written
b) The Perfect Participle is made up of HAVING + Past. Part. (V3) of a main verb
e.g.: having written
- it implies the idea of an action/state prior to the action/state denoted by the definite vb.
e.g.: Having seen for half an hour he returned home.
Participial Constructions
A. The Accusative with the Participle implies a continuous action/state
e.g.: I heard him singing.
I saw him coming.
B. The Nominative with the Participle is used after vbs of perception (to see, to hear)
e.g.: He was seen climbing the hill.
C. The Nominative Absolute Participial Constructions in which the participle stands in
predicative relation to a noun or pronoun in the nominative, but that noun/pronoun is not
the subject of the sentence
e.g.: The plan of the factory being exceeded, we congratulated the staff.
2. The Gerund has the characteristics of both a verb and a noun and therefore it must be
accompanied by both verb determinatives and noun determiners.
e.g.: Reading history is her favorite pastime.
a) The Infinitive Gerund (active or passive) may associate with any tense of the main vb.
e.g.: He is getting used to learning more.
He was getting used to learning more.
b) The Perfect Gerund denotes an action taking place before the action denoted by the personal
verb
e.g.: I remember having been there.
Accusative with gerund
e.g.: Forgive my disturbing you.
(noun determiner)
(determinant)
3. The Verbal Noun has the characteristics of a noun naming an action/state, but is not a
verbal form

a) Individual Nouns which, divided from verbs, lose their verbal character entirely and
partially (beginning=inceput, ending, coming)
b) Abstractions naming an action/state but discharging no verbal function
(beginning=incepere, ending, coming)
4. The Verbal Adjective
a) Adjectives that have the comparative and the superlative degree (surprising, interesting,
amazing)
b) Adjectives derived from verbs (namely from participles) having a verbal nature, but
discharging no verbal function and having no degrees of comparison
c) Adjectives derived from an ING form other than the participle (gerund or verbal noun)
having a verbal character but discharging no verbal function and having no degrees of
comparison (a writing table, a reading book)

The Past Participle is a non-finite form of the verb by means of which certain
compound tenses are built
e.g.: I have written.
I had written.
I shall have written.
- the perfect participle, infinitive, gerund also contain a past participle (to have gone, having
written)
a) Regular Past Participle (V3) e.g.: to talk talked talked
b) Irregular Past Participle
e.g.: to take took taken
- certain past participle have double forms e.g.: to learn learned learned / learnt learnt
to hide hid hidden / hid hid