Right Forms of Verbs: Rules and Examples

Verbs are the most frequently used parts of speech in sentences. The correct/right form of the verb occupies a prominent part of the grammatical rules of the English language. Every part of a sentence is somehow linked with the verb. It appears in different forms in a sentence depending upon the nature and grammatical perspective of the subject (subject-verb agreement), tenses, moods, voices, different structures, modals, etc.

Forms of Verbs:

Base Past Past Participle Present Participle Gerund (noun) Infinitive

Do, cook, eat Did, cooked, ate Done, cooked, eaten Doing, cooking, eating Doing, cooking, eating To do, to cook, to eat

be (am, is, are) –  (was, were) been being being to be

have had had having having to have

Note: Participles (without auxiliaries), infinitives, and gerunds do not work as the verb in a sentence. Gerunds work as nouns while participles and infinitives work as adjectives or adverbs.

Right Forms of Verb Rules:

Rule 1:

Subject-verb agreement: Verbs are followed by the subjects in the sentences, and they must agree with the subjects according to their number and person. For example,

• • It (be) a beautiful bird. (is)
  • They (be) men. (are)

Rule 2:

A sentence is always used in the present indefinite tense if it has universal truth. For example,

• • The sun (rise) in the east. (rises)
  • He said that God (be) one. (is)

Rule 3:

A clause has only one verb. In fact, a clause cannot contain more than one finite verb but can have participles (without auxiliaries), infinitives, and gerunds. For Example,

• • I wanted ^{(main verb)} to go ^(infinitive) to the market.
  • Swimming^(gerund) is^(verb) a good exercise to keep ^(infinitive) you fit and healthy.
  • Pray ^(verb) for the departed ^{(past participle)}
  • Don’t get^(verb) off a running^{(present participle)} vehicle.

Rule 4:

If the article “the” comes before an adjective to indicate the class, the verb takes the plural form. For example,

• • The rich (be) not always happy. (are)

Rule 5:

Each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, anybody, anything, and nothing take a singular form of the verb in a sentence. For example:

• • Nothing (go) in vain in life. (goes)
  • Each of the boys (be) good. (is)

Rule 6:

Not the subjects before but the subjects after these signal words/phrases or, nor, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also agree with verbs. For example:

• • Either he or I (be) to go there. (am)
  • Neither her nor his friends (be) present. (are)

Rule 7:

Use a singular verb after “the number of“, “many a“, and “. For example:

• • The number of students in the class (be) 90. (is)
  • Many a flower (bloom) in spring. (blooms)

Rule 8:

Use a singular verb after “more than one“, but a plural verb after “more than two/three…“. For example,

• • More than one student (be) to blame. (is)
  • More than two students (be) present today. (are)

Rule 9:

The connector since has two usages.

1. 1. If “since” is used to indicate a cause, the verbs of the two clauses will be of the same tense. For Example:

• • I didn’t go since you didn’t come.
  • Since you were busy, I didn’t disturb you.

1. 2. If “since” is used to indicate time, the verb of the second clause will be different from the first. In this case, use the present indefinite/perfect tense in the clause before “since” and the past indefinite tense with the “since” clause. Also, note that if the “since” clause is in the past perfect tense, the other clause will be in the past indefinite tense. For example,

• • We haven’t seen each other since he (leave). (left)
  • It (be) 10 years since he played football. (is/has been)
  • 21 years passed since we (meet). (had met)

Rule 10:

Use the present perfect tense if a sentence contains the adverbs such as “ever“, “never”, “just”, “already”, “recently”,  and “lately”. For example,

• • He just (finish) the work. (has just finished)
  • She recently (pass) the exam. (has recently passed)
  • I never (be) to the zoo. (have never been)
  • They already (come). (have already come)

*Note the American English uses the past simple tense in the above cases.

Rule 11:

Use a bare infinitive after had better, had rather, would rather, would better, let. For example,

• • You had better (leave) now. (leave)
  • I’d rather (go). (go)
  • She let him (go). (go)

Rule 12:

Use the “be” verb and the “past participle” form of a verb if there is a passive subject. For example,

• • English (speak) across the globe. (is spoken)
  • Ten people (kill) in the accident. (were killed)

Rule 13:

Use the “past indefinite tense” after the finished time signal words such as ago, back, last, yesterday, in the past, before. For example,

• • I (see) her two days ago/back. (saw)
  • It (be) Sunday yesterday. (was)

Rule 14:

No sooner had…than, hardly had…before, scarcely had…wehn, etc. are the adverbials that start with a past perfect tense and end with a past indefinite tense for the next clause. For example,

• • No sooner had I reached home than she left.
  • Scarcely had the police reached when the man died.
  • Hardly had I finished writing before the teacher ordered me to stop writing.

Rule 15:

Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, yet, so) and although/though, as, because, till/until, when, whenever, as soon as, while, which, what, that, etc. connect two clauses that have the verbs of the same tense. For example,

• • We went to London when we were young.
  • I got up, and he left the room.
  • As soon as I came here, he greeted me.
  • I could not go there because I was sick.

Rule 16:

As conjunctions after and before are used to connect two clauses which use past perfect tense and past simple. The past perfect tense always comes with a clause of simple past tense. For example,

• • The thief ran away after the policeman had come.
  • The patient had died before the doctor came.

Rule 17:

The conjunction lest requires a modal should in the following clause regardless of the tense of the first clause. For example,

• • Run faster lest you should miss the bus.
  • He will work hard lest he should get fired.
  • He worked hard lest he should get fired.

Rule 18:

Modals (can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, dare, used to, ought to, and must) always take the base form of the verbs after them. For example,

• • You should write every day.
  • I may go.
  • It might rain today.

Rule 19:

The clause ‘it is time’ or ‘it is high time’ requires a verb in the simple past if there is a clause after it.

It is high time + subject + simple past. . . .

It was high time + subject + past perfect . . .

It is high time + infinitive . . . . . . .

For example,

• • It is high time you studied attentively.
  • It is time to study attentively. (You can replace the clause by an infinitive removing the subject)
  • It was high time we had returned home. (It was high time requires past perfect tense)

Rule 20:

The conjunction as if/as though takes simple past/past perfect tense in the following clause.

Subject + simple present + as if/ as though + subject + past simple

Subject + simple past + as if/ as though + subject + past perfect

For example,

• • Chris talks as if he were the king. (Were is the only ‘be verb’ in this kind of sentence)
  • Peter played as though he had seen the ball very clearly.
  • I slept as if I had been dead.
  • He behaves as if he were mad.

Rule 21:

The verbs wish, fancy take simple past/past perfect tense in the following clause. For example,

• • I wish I (be) a millionaire. (were)
  • I fancied she (turn) pale. (had turned)

Rule 22:

Prepositions, articles, and possessives are always followed by nouns or gerund forms of the verbs. For example,

• • He is keen on moving to California.
  • I am thinking about doing the job.
  • Alex insisted on going out then.
  • She is interested in performing on the stage.

Rule 23:

To is the only proposition that takes the base form of the verb. However, there some phrases with to being at the end of them, which require the gerund form of the verbs.

With a view to, look forward to, be accustomed to, be used to, admit to, confessed to

For example,

• • He went there with a view to confessing his crimes.
  • I am looking forward to meeting the princess.
  • I was used to sleeping at this hour of the day.
  • He confessed to stealing that phone.

Rule 24:

To be, being, having, getting, etc. are generally followed by the past participle form of the verbs and other adjectives. For example,

• • Being tired, he took some time off from work.
  • He became astonished being robbed in the daylight.
  • John went to the market having eaten a burger.
  • He wanted to be educated.

Rule 25:

The causative verbs always take the next verb in its base form.

HAVE – GET – MAKE  – HELP – LET

*Note: Get takes the next verb as infinitives/past participles.

For example,

• • I had him wash the dishes.
  • He makes me do all the work.
  • He got me to make his dinner.
  • I got the glass broken.
  • Let him help her finish the assignment.

Rule 26:

The base form of the verb is also used in the clauses that use the subjunctive mood. Some certain verbs + the conjunction that requires the next clause to use the subjunctive mood and the clause uses the base form of the verb in it.

The verbs are:

Advise – demand – prefer – require – ask – insist Propose – stipulate – command – recommend  Suggest – decree – order – request – urge – move

Structure:

Subject + the verbs of the above box (any tense) + THAT + subject + base verb + .  .  .  .  .

For example,

• • He insisted that I stay at home.
  • The office requires that we complete our work timely.
  • She commanded that he stop making excuses for being late.
  • I recommend that you wake up early.

Note: There are some clauses also which require the verb of the next clause to be in base form.

The clauses are:

It is/was + past participle form of the verb of the above box + THAT It is/was urgent + THAT It is/was necessary + THAT It is/was important + THAT

For example,

• • It is important that you invite him.
  • It was necessary that I make a fence.
  • It was recommended that you meet the principal.

Rule 27:

Since a single clause cannot take two verbs, it usually converts the additional verbs to complement by making them infinitives or participles, or gerunds.

– Some verbs always take the additional verbs as a compliment by making them infinitives.

Verbs followed by the INFINITIVES

agree – desire – hope – plan – attempt – claim – decide – demand – expect – intend – prepare – tend – fail – learn – pretend – want – wish – refuse – need – forget – hesitate – offer – seem

For example,

• • He agreed (do) the job. (to do)
  • He desires (go) to the USA. (to go)
  • I want (discuss) the matter with you. (to discuss)
  • He failed (understand) my words. (to understand)

Verbs followed by the GERUNDS

appreciate – admit – delay – miss – report – suggest – deny – postpone – resent – avoid – enjoy – practice – resist – can’t help – finish – quit – resume – consider – mind – recall – risk

For example,

• • He admitted (do) the crime. (doing)
  • We enjoyed (ride) the boat. (riding)
  • I can’t help (love) you despite your stupidity. (loving)
  • Would you mind (open) the door for me? (opening)

Rule 28: Conditionals

There are four main kinds of conditionals. Look at their usages below:

• • The Zero Conditional:
    (if + present simple, … present simple)
    If you heat water to 100 degrees, it (boil). (boils)
  • The First Conditional:
    (if + present simple, … will/may/can + bare infinitive)
    If I win the lottery, I (travel) around the world. (will/may/can travel)
  • The Second Conditional:
    (if + past simple, … would/could/might + bare infinitive)
    If I won the lottery, I (travel) around the world. (would/might/could travel)
  • The Third Conditional
    (if + past perfect, … would/could/might + have + past participle)
    If I had won the lottery, I (travel) around the world. (would/could/might have traveled)

Note that you can put ‘if’ at the beginning, or in the middle. It doesn’t matter at all.

Also, note that the third conditional can be re-written in the following way:

Had I won (=If I had won) the lottery, I would/could/might have traveled around the world.

Rule 29:

Use the present perfect continuous tense if signal words “for” and “since” are preceded by time, that is (for/since + time). For example,

• • Ritu (read) for three hours. (has been reading)
  • It (rain) since morning. (has been raining)

Rule 30:

The verb agrees with the subject before these signal words/phrases: as well as, along with, with, together with, in addition to, accompanied by. For example,

• • He as well as his friends (want) to go. (wants)
  • Rita together with her kids (just come). (has just come)

Exercises

1. 1. The table (to collapse) ______ if you stand on it.
   2. He (to do) ______ his duty regularly.
   3. Peter (to wait) ______ for his sister since 6 o’clock.
   4. He (to come) _______ (to see) _______ me everyday last week.
   5. When I reached the street I (to realize) _____ that I (not to know) _____ the number of Mr.  Jaman’s house.

1. 6. Today she (to weigh) ______ 21 stone.
   7. I have my letter (to write) ______ by my sister.
   8. Thirty miles (to be) ______ a long way.
   9. The rich (to be) ______ not always happy.
   10. One of the books (to lose) ______ yesterday.
   11. I want the work (to do) ______ by Faresi.
   12. I would knit a sweater if I (to have) ______ more wool.
   13. I (to show) ______ you how to do it if I knew myself.
   14. I began (to read) ______ a novel yesterday.
   15. Where you (to go) ______ for your holiday last year?
   16. Rifat usually (to write) ______ in green ink but today he (to write) ______ in black.
   17. I went back to my study (to close) ______ the door.
   18. She (to be) ______ unconscious since four o’clock.
   19. The girl came (to run) ______ here.
   20. It is time he (to attend) ______ the meeting.
   21. You don’t need (to ask) ______ his permission every time you (to want) ______ to leave the room.
   22. The committee (to be) ______ divided in (to reach) ______ any decision.
   23. Many a man (to be) ______ present in the meeting yesterday.
   24. She (to make) ______ a cake when the light (to go) ______ off.
   25. He (to suffer) ______ from fever for the last five days.
   26. He (to come) _____ to see me every day.
   27. The man was (to hang) _____ for murder.
   28. My friend and benefactor (to have) _____ come.
   29. Her aunt died while she (to spend) _____ her holidays in Italy.
   30. Her aunt died while (to spend) _____ her holidays in Italy.
   31. I (to finish) _____ (to read) _____ the book yesterday.
   32. If the captain (to be) _____ more careful, the ship would not have sunk.
   33. We (to be) _____ here for a few days.
   34. What you generally (to do) _____ for a living?
   35. Milton was one of the greatest poets that ever (to live) _____.
   36. I found the boy (to lie) _____ on my bed.
   37. Many years (to pass) _____ since I (to meet) _____ you.
   38. The thief (to run) _____ away before the police arrived.
   39. I (to reach) _____ the field before anybody arrives.
   40. Would you mind (to open) _____ the door?
   41. I got the picture (to draw) _____ by my sister.
   42. I went back to my study (to close)___ the door.
   43. She pulled down her hair and let it (to fall) _____ to its full length.
   44. It just (to rain) _____.
   45. The ship (to leave) _____ the port before I arrived there.
   46. A variety of pleasing objects (to charm) _____ the eye.
   47. He never (to swim) _____ in the river before.
   48. The picture (to draw) _____ on the occasion of Independence Day.
   49. Have you (to see) _____ today’s paper?
   50. They have planned (to build) _____ a house.
   51. The quality of the mangoes (to be) _____ good.
   52. Let me (to sit) _____ for the test.
   53. He kept (to sing) _____ as he (to pass) _____.
   54. He kept on (to leave) _____ my house (to unlock) _____ even when I (to forbid) _____ him.
   55. The committee (to have) _____ already (to reach) _____ a decision.
   56. He is always (to tell) _____ lies.
   57. When he woke up, it (to rain) _____.
   58. I could not help (to laugh) _____.
   59. I (to finish) _____ reading the book before he came.
   60. I (to finish) _____ reading the book before he comes.
   61. He thought he (to hear) _____ music all around him.
   62. How long you (to wait) _____ for me? I (to wait) _____ for half an hour.
   63. I asked him if he (to prepare)_____ his lessons.
   64. I object to (to pay) _____ twice for the same thing.
   65. While we (to wait) _____ for the rice (to cook), I asked my guest if she (to have) a walk in the garden.
   66. While (to go) _____ to market I (to meet) _____ a poor old man (to lie) _____ on the road.
   67. It is as if a man (to wish) _____ to sit on a painted horse.
   68. Seeing is (to believe) _____.
   69. Well, it is many years since we first (to meet) _____.
   70. John, and not you, (to have) _____ won the prize.
   71. He loves her as though she (to be) _____ his sister.
   72. I went to the market with a view to (to buy) _____ a book-shelf.
   73. Rice and bread (to be) _____ our staple food.
   74. Bread and butter (to be) _____ our only breakfast.
   75. The crew (to be) _____ large.
   76. If I had a typewriter, I (to type) _____ it myself.
   77. A terrible flood (to take) _____ place in Bangladesh in 1988.
   78. I can’t but (to laugh) _____.
   79. I can’t help (to laugh) _____.
   80. She left for Germany after she (to complete) _____ a German language course.
   81. She left for Germany after (to complete) _____ a German language course.
   82. I have (to have) _____ my revenge at last.
   83. She fell ill after she (to hear) _____ the news.
   84. If you (to be) _____ a bird, you could fly.
   85. I, who (to be) _____ your friend, shall guard your interest.
   86. English (to teach) _____ in our family.
   87. I (to lie) _____ down and hid.
   88. Each of the sisters (to be) _____ clever.
   89. I don’t believe in (to overload) _____ my stomach.
   90. To see is (to believe) _____.
   91. Yesterday I (to buy) a new watch as my old one (to steal) _____.
   92. The boy fell down while he (to run) _____.
   93. The boy fell down while (to run) _____.
   94. Politics (to be) _____ with him the business of his life.
   95. The news (to be) _____ true.
   96. Neither you nor he (to be) _____ to blame.
   97. Size not (to matter) _____ in (to chop) _____ wood.
   98. They know only what (to suppose) _____ to be good.
   99. She just (to retire) _____ from her job.
   100. I was startled when the bill of fare (to bring) _____.
   101. He answered that the earth (to go) _____ round the sun.