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ENGLISH VERB

cover

to take on, to cover (a task)

  • Regular verb
  • Gerund: covering
  • Past participle: covered

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Simple present · now, habits and facts

  1. I I take it on
  2. you you take it on
  3. he, she, it he takes it on
  4. we we take it on
  5. they they take it on

Past

Simple past · finished actions

  1. I I took it on
  2. you you took it on
  3. he, she, it he took it on
  4. we we take it on
  5. they they took it on

Future

Future · “will”

  1. I I will take it on
  2. you you will take it on
  3. he, she, it he will take it on
  4. we we will take it on
  5. they they will take it on

Present continuous

Present continuous · happening right now

  1. I I am taking it on
  2. you you are taking it on
  3. he, she, it he is taking it on
  4. we we are taking it on
  5. they they are taking it on

Present perfect

Present perfect · “have done”

  1. I I have already taken it on
  2. you you have already taken it on
  3. he, she, it he has already taken it on
  4. we we have already taken it on
  5. they they have already taken it on

Conditional

Conditional · “would”

  1. I I would take it on
  2. you you would take it on
  3. he, she, it he would take it on
  4. we we would take it on
  5. they they would take it on

Imperative

Imperative · requests and orders

  1. you take it!

How to use cover

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Lucas covers the front desk on Mondays.

    Lucas covers the reception on Mondays.

  2. Past

    Who covered the night shift last week?

    Who covered the night shift last week?

  3. Future

    I will cover the kitchen while you're away.

    I'll take care of the kitchen while you're away.

  4. Present continuous

    I'm covering for Ana, she's sick today.

    I'm covering for Ana; she's sick today.

  5. Present perfect

    She has covered my shifts many times.

    She has already covered my shifts many times.

  6. Conditional

    I would cover the door, if nobody else can.

    I'd take the door if no one else can.

  7. Imperative

    Cover the phones until I get back.

    Cover the phones until I get back.

Good to know

  • "Cover for someone" is to replace someone at work: "can you cover for me on Friday?".
  • "Cover" can also mean covering costs: "the insurance covers the hospital".

Where you hear cover

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

English for Brazilians · Intermediate Level 3

  • I cover the door from four-thirty. I'll cover the door starting at four-thirty.
  • Walter covered the door after four-thirty. Walter covered the door after four-thirty.
  • Who will cover the kids' room? Who will cover the kids' room?
16
Who is in charge on the day?

Intermediate Level 3 · covering the door

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular verb.