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The verb to leave in English
15.02.2024
4 minutes to read
The verb to leave in English: 3 forms
The verb 'to leave' in English is one of the important elements of the verb arsenal. Its use is widespread both in everyday conversation and in formal domains. In this article we will look at the main forms of this verb and its use in different contexts.
Table of contents
The meaning of the verb "to leave" can be quite varied depending on the context of its use.
1. Leaving a place: In colloquial speech, "to leave" is often used to express the action of leaving a place. For example:
"I have to leave the party early."
"She left the office at 5 PM yesterday."
2. Leaving an object or person unattended: The verb "to leave" can also mean the action of leaving an object or person unattended. For example:
"Don't leave your belongings unattended."
"She left her children with their grandparents while she went shopping."
3. Absence: In some cases, "to leave" can indicate a state of absence. For example:
"He left his keys at home."
"Sorry, I left my wallet in the car."
4. Leaving a message, instruction, or task: In formal contexts, "to leave" can be used to indicate the action of leaving a message, instruction, or task. For example:
"Please leave a message after the beep."
"The teacher left homework for the students to complete."
Time Forms: The verb "to leave" also plays an important role in the formation of different forms of verb tenses in English. For example:
Past tense: "He left for work early this morning."
Future tense: "I will leave for the airport tomorrow."
Thus, the verb "to leave" is a multifunctional element of the English language, widely used in everyday speech and in formal domains.
1. Leaving a place: In colloquial speech, "to leave" is often used to express the action of leaving a place. For example:
"I have to leave the party early."
"She left the office at 5 PM yesterday."
2. Leaving an object or person unattended: The verb "to leave" can also mean the action of leaving an object or person unattended. For example:
"Don't leave your belongings unattended."
"She left her children with their grandparents while she went shopping."
3. Absence: In some cases, "to leave" can indicate a state of absence. For example:
"He left his keys at home."
"Sorry, I left my wallet in the car."
4. Leaving a message, instruction, or task: In formal contexts, "to leave" can be used to indicate the action of leaving a message, instruction, or task. For example:
"Please leave a message after the beep."
"The teacher left homework for the students to complete."
Time Forms: The verb "to leave" also plays an important role in the formation of different forms of verb tenses in English. For example:
Past tense: "He left for work early this morning."
Future tense: "I will leave for the airport tomorrow."
Thus, the verb "to leave" is a multifunctional element of the English language, widely used in everyday speech and in formal domains.
Meaning of the verb to leave in different contexts
This table presents the three main forms of the verb "to leave" in English: infinitive, present tense and past tense. The verb "to leave" means "to leave" or "to go away" and is used in different contexts. For example, in the infinitive ("to leave") it can be part of infinitive constructions, in the present tense ("leave") to indicate an ongoing action, and in the past tense ("left") to describe events that have already happened.
3 basic forms of the verb to leave
In addition to the basic forms, the verb "to leave" is also used in a variety of phrasal verb constructions that expand its meaning and are used to express different meanings. For example:
Leave behind:
She accidentally left her keys behind at the office. - She accidentally left her keys behind at the office.
Leave out:
They decided to leave him out of the project. - They decided to leave him out of the project.
Leave off (discontinue):
Let's leave off arguing and find a solution. - Let's leave off arguing and find a solution.
Leave for (to go somewhere):
They're leaving for vacation tomorrow. - They're leaving for vacation tomorrow.
These and other phrasal verbs with "leave" expand its use and help express more precise nuances in spoken and written language.
Leave behind:
She accidentally left her keys behind at the office. - She accidentally left her keys behind at the office.
Leave out:
They decided to leave him out of the project. - They decided to leave him out of the project.
Leave off (discontinue):
Let's leave off arguing and find a solution. - Let's leave off arguing and find a solution.
Leave for (to go somewhere):
They're leaving for vacation tomorrow. - They're leaving for vacation tomorrow.
These and other phrasal verbs with "leave" expand its use and help express more precise nuances in spoken and written language.
Phrasal verbs
The verb "to leave" is also used in different tenses to convey different shades of time and action. Here are some examples of how the verb "to leave" is used in different tenses:
1. Present Simple:
She leaves for work every morning at 7. - She leaves for work every morning at 7.
2. Present Continuous:
They are leaving for the airport right now. - They are leaving for the airport right now.
3. Past Simple:
He left his umbrella at home yesterday. - He left his umbrella at home yesterday.
4. Past Continuous:
While we were having dinner, she left abruptly. - While we were having dinner, she left abruptly.
5. Present Perfect:
She has just left the building. - She just left the building.
6. Past Perfect:
By the time we arrived, they had already left. - By the time we arrived, they had already left.
7. Future Simple:
We will leave for the concert in an hour. - We will leave for the concert in an hour.
The verb "to leave" in various tenses helps to convey the chronology of events and to indicate their duration, completion, or future planning.
1. Present Simple:
She leaves for work every morning at 7. - She leaves for work every morning at 7.
2. Present Continuous:
They are leaving for the airport right now. - They are leaving for the airport right now.
3. Past Simple:
He left his umbrella at home yesterday. - He left his umbrella at home yesterday.
4. Past Continuous:
While we were having dinner, she left abruptly. - While we were having dinner, she left abruptly.
5. Present Perfect:
She has just left the building. - She just left the building.
6. Past Perfect:
By the time we arrived, they had already left. - By the time we arrived, they had already left.
7. Future Simple:
We will leave for the concert in an hour. - We will leave for the concert in an hour.
The verb "to leave" in various tenses helps to convey the chronology of events and to indicate their duration, completion, or future planning.
Using the verb in different tenses
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