Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: verbs ! what a wonderful world

Hello everybody !
I've never written a whole message in English till now,
but I'd like to improve the language so I think this is a good way (in
addition to lurk..).
I'll be grateful if you correct all my mistakes.
This is the question that didn't let me sleep tonight...
A few days ago, I've been asked about the past tense of the verb to verify
and my answer was
'verified'. In that moment I was sure about that.
Later, I had a little doubt so I looked up the dictionary to find out the
correct answer but I couldn't find the solution...
I know that (I think to know that...):
1) regular verbs ending -y take -ed
2) some irregular verbs take -ied (try = tried)
3) some other take -id (pay = paid)
4) some other take different forms
In case of irregular verbs the dictionary usually give information about the
past tense.
Whe I looked up the dictionary (Hazon-Garzanti) for the verb 'to try' I
found the information
to try   p.p = tried,
so I expected to find a similar suggestion for the verb 'to verify', but in
this case no information were given.
In addition the verb is not included in the list of most common irregular
verbs... so I wonder: what should I do in case of doubt ?
Can you help me to get through this verbs-jungle ??
Thanks in advance to everybody!!
Bye

verbs... so I wonder: what should I do in case of doubt ?
I'm not familiar with bilingual dictionaries, but I'm sure you're
right. I have no idea why your dictionary doesn't give you this info.
When you're doubtful or dubious just ask here! :)
kisses,
Janis

When you're doubtful or dubious just ask here! :)
But the answer is... ?
Or we have to assume that if she's right the answer is 'verified'?
manuel 'fmf' ferrero

...

Well, if I said he's right the answer is 'verified'.
Janis

addition to lurk..).
isn't it : in addition to lurking?
CC

isn't it : in addition to lurking?
It is !

right. I have no idea why your dictionary doesn't give you this info.
The best English dictionaries give the plurals for ox and goose, but
not for cat and dog. The best Italian dictionaries give the second
person singular for -ire verbs, but not -are verbs.
The underlying principle should be apparent.
Ciao, 
Raymot
=======
Brisbane, Australia
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

 Can you help me to get through this verbs-jungle ??
Actually, verbs are pretty easy in English.  English verbs can have a
maximum of five forms (if they are irregular).  Now think of the 3
Italian conjugations.  The indicative has 4 simple tenses (and 4
compound tenses).  The subjunctive has 2 simple tenses.  The
conditional has one.  So there are in all 7 simple tenses.  Each tense
has 6 persons with a different ending each.  So 7x6 is 42.  Now
multiply that x3 (the number of conjugations) and you come out with 126
possible forms.  Right?  And that's only for the regular verbs. That's
not counting the irregular verbs and those verbs that have spelling
changes like cerco, cerchi, cerca, cerchiamo, cercate, cercano.
English is a snap compared to Italian!
Anyway, here are two addresses where you will find two lists of
irregular verbs.
www.englishpage.com/irregualrverbs/window2.html
www.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm
ciao
Arianna
Sent via Deja.com 
http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

the verb 'to verify', but in
this case no information were given.
In addition the verb is not included in the list of most common
irregular verbs... so I wonder: what should I do in case of doubt ?
<<<The dictionary does not include the past tenses of the verb "To verify "
because  they are formed according to a very simple rule :
I  verbi che finiscono in Y che segue una consonante cambiano la Y in I
prima di aggiungere  -ed :
 Study-Studied
Carry- Carried
Cry-Cried
Verify-Verified
I verbi che finiscono in Y che segue una vocale mantengono la Y nel past
tense :
Play-Played
Obey-Obeyed
Toy-Toyed
Convey-Conveyed
Yours
Sal


That must be an Australian usage - I've certainly never heard it before.
The Collins dic. confirms what I thought; the definition it gives of "look
up" is "to discover (something required to be known) by resorting to a work
of reference, such as a dictionary".
So I would say "I looked the word up in the dictionary", or "I consulted
the dictionary".
I'm afraid I somehow managed to send my last message in this thread before
it was finished, but I think everybody else has covered more or less all I
intended to say.
All verbs ending in -ify take the past tense -ified; I can't think of any
exceptions.
Mary
(remove "nospam" to reply)
---
All life is a conjugation of the verb "to eat."

word is spoken in everyday speech, to more likely it is to be irregular.
I don't understand this form 'are more often than not irregular'.
The second sentence makes me think that words used in everyday speech (buy
and pay can be cosidered so) are more likely to be irregular, while the
first one makes me think just the other way round....

You all have been very helpful !
Many many many thanks :)
My knowledge of grammar is of course very limited and my little grammar book
just didn't help me to improve it (I think I'd better change it...:)))
About the past tense it just reports the following indications:
- regular verbs simply take -ed (the example was to stay = stayed !! here
started my confusion)
- irregular verbs can have different forms
- some verbs ending -y take -ied
- some other -id
etc...
These general suggestions led me to assume (is it acceptable as 'mi hanno
portato a pensare che...'?) that all regular verbs ending -y
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