One way of minimizing the difficulties ESL and EFL learners have with the English verb phrase is to associate a clear function with each form. One important function in most learning situations is that of description. An area of pivoting on the stem and stem + s forms of the verb in sentence patterns SVC, There VC, SV, SVO and SVOO can be established. Learners can express most necessary concepts in core terms. Development is along the line of learning more and more sophisticated ways of expressing the same concepts. In both beginning and remedial situations errors can be controlled by developing from stem + s to stem forms and from stative to dynamic verbs. In the establishment of form and function, the one should never be isolated from the other in mechanical drills. For the most efficient learning all material should be self-motivating. It is an important pedogogic assumption that language has a set of functions. There exist many models of the types of functions fulfilled by language in our lives. One of these, suggested as a basis for developing ESL/ EFL courses (McEldowney 1976) numbers the general area of description among the functions isolated. The purpose of this paper is to isolate one central language item-the verb-and to discuss ways of developing teaching material for this area.