Welcome to “51 Bite-Size Lessons on Verbs”!

To many English as a Second Language / Foreign Language (ESL / EFL) students, verbs cause much more confusion than other aspects of English.

This book intends to address some of the most frequently encountered verb difficulties. It provides an easy-to-follow, three-step “Choose, Explain, Review” format to clarify some confusing verb usages. The book is not designed to offer comprehensive instructions. Rather, it helps fill the gap, one small step at a time, in many ESL / EFL students’ understanding of verbs. The answer key can be found at the end of every lesson.

Each lesson is built on one or two mini topics familiar to students so that they will be able to learn and practice how verbs are used in context. The areas of verb usage covered include “Be” / “Do” verbs, subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, modals, gerunds / infinitives, and subjunctive verbs.

Though some of the lessons are prepared for beginner level students, most of the contents target those at the intermediate level and up. The book can be used as a self-study tool or a supplement to a course.

About the Author

Lin Cui is a professor in the English as a Second Language & Linguistics Department at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, where she has been teaching since 1999. She can be reached at lcui@harpercollege.edu.