RIGHT FORMS OF VERBS

RIGHT FORMS OF VERBS

RIGHT FORMS OF VERBS
Right Forms of Verbs: Rules with Examples

The verbs are the most variable element of the sentences. The right form of verb encompasses most of the grammatical rules of English language. Every element of a sentence eventually relates to the verb. The verbs appear differently in a sentence on the basis of their subjects (subject-verb agreement), tenses, moods, voices, different structures, modals, etc.


Forms of Verbs:
Base Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
Gerund (noun)
Infinitive		 Do, work, love Did, worked, loved
Done, worked, loved
Doing, working, loving
Doing, working, loving
To do, to work, to love		 be (am, is, are) –  (was, were)
been
being
– – – –
to be 		have had
had
having

to have
Note: Participles (without auxiliaries), infinitives, and gerunds do not work as the verb in a sentence. Gerunds work as nouns, but participles and infinitives work as adjectives/adverbs.
Rules:

Rule 1:
Subject-verb agreement: the verbs are customarily followed by the subjects, and they must agree with the subjects according to their number and person. See the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement.

Rule 2:
The variability of the verbs mostly depends on different tenses of the sentences. A form of verbs depends on the time the actions have been performed. See the structures and details of The Present Tense, The Past Tense, and The Future Tense.

Rule 3:
The verbs are also related to the structures of different sentences and clauses. 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.
Example:
  • I wanted (main verb) to go (infinitive) to the wedding.
  • Swimming(gerund) is(verb) a good exercise to keep (infinitive) your body fit and healthy.
  • Pray (verb) for the departed (past participle)
  • Don’t get(verb) down from a running (present participle)

Rule 4:
Clauses can be connected by conjunctions and connectors. Some connectors take some specific forms of verbs. Conditionals use the conjunction if and it has some different sentence structures. See conditionals.

Rule 5:
The connector since has two usages.
  1. If since is used to indicate a cause, the verbs of the two clauses will be of the same tense.
Example:
  • I didn’t go since you didn’t come.
  • Since you were busy, I didn’t disturb you.
  1. If since is used to indicate time, the verb of the second clause will be different from the first.
Example:
  • We haven’t seen(present perfect) each other since he left(simple past).
  • It has been 20 years since he played
  • 20 years passed(simple past) since we had met(past perfect).
  • I could not sleep well for a single night since you had left

Rule 6:
No sooner had, hardly had, scarcely had, etc. are the adverbials that require a past perfect tense and a past indefinite tense for the sentence.
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 to stop writing.

Rule 7:
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 which have the verbs of the same tense.
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 8:
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. See the past perfect tense for details and examples.

Rule 9:
The conjunction lest requires a modal should in the following clause regardless of the tense of the first clause.
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 11:
Modals always take the base form of the verbs after them. See Modals for details.

Rule 12:
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 . . . . . . .
 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 13:
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
Example:
  • Robert talks as if he were the prince. (Were is the only ‘be verb’ in this kind of sentence)
  • Latham played as though he had seen the ball very clearly.
  • I slept as if I had been dead.
  • He behaves as if he were her husband.

Rule 14:
Prepositions, articles, and possessives are always followed by nouns or gerund form of the verbs.
Example:
  • He is keen on moving
  • I am thinking about doing the job.
  • Alex insisted on going out then.

Rule 15:
To is the only preposition 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, being accustomed to, being used to, admit to, confessed to
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 16:
To be, being, having, getting, etc. are generally followed by the past participle form of the verbs and other adjectives.
Example:
  • Being tired, he took some time off from work.
  • He became astonished being robbed in the daylight.
  • John went to bazar having eaten a burger.
  • He wanted to be educated.

Rule 17:
The causative verbs always take the next verb in its base form. See causative verbs and their usages.
HAVE – GET – MAKE  – HELP – LET
*Note: Get takes the next verb as infinitives/past participle.
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 18:
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 + .  .  .  .  .
Example:
  • He insisted that I stay at home.
  • The office requires that we complete our work timely.
  • She commanded that he stop
  • 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
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 19:
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 complement 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
Example:
  • He agreed to do
  • He desires to go to Disneyland.
  • I want to work
  • He failed 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
Example:
  • He admitted doing the crime.
  • We enjoyed riding the boat.
  • I can’t help loving
Would you mind opening the door for me?
MORE EXAMPLES:
Rule: 1

[Universal  Truth – Present Indefinite tense]

The earth (to move) round the sun.
Answer: The earth moves round the sun.

The virtuous (be) always happy.
Answer: The virtuous are always happy.

The virtuous (be) blessed.
Answer: The virtuous are blessed.

Rule: 2

[If you find two verb, one verb is – Present Participle form]

I saw him (to go) up over the hill
Answer: I saw him going up over the hill

I answered (to thank) her.
Answer: I answered thanking her.

The sailors saw an albatross (to fly) towards the ship.
Answer: The sailors saw an albatross flying towards the ship.

The old sailor went away (to leave) the marriage guest.
Answer: The old sailor went away leaving the marriage guest.

He saw the waiter (come) with a basket full of peaches.
Answer: He saw the waiter coming with a basket full of peaches.

We are none of us (to get) any younger.
Answer: We are none of us (to get) any younger.

I have a boy (to come) from the orphanage.
Answer: I have a boy coming from the orphanage.

Size don’t matter (to chop) wood.
Answer: Size don’t matter chopping wood.

Rule: 3

[If you find two clause, two verb is – same form]

When he (find) me, he acted crazy.
Answer: When he found me, he acted crazy.

A soft wind came and (blow) the ship gently back to harbor.
Answer: A soft wind came and blew the ship gently back to harbor.

He spoke so strangly that the guest (stand) still.
Answer: He spoke so strangly that the guest stood still.

Rule: 4

[If you find, principal clause in past tense and find next day/tomorrow in other clause Then, Subject + would]

He said that he (go) there the next day.
Answer: He said that he would go there the next day.

Rule: 5

[Universal Truth – Present Indefinite tense]

He answered that the earth (go) round the sun
Answer: He answered that the earth goes round the sun

The teacher said that honesty (to be) not always rewarded.
Answer: The teacher said that honesty is not always rewarded.

Rule: 6

[Present Perfect Tense + Since + Past Indefinite Tense]

Two years have passed since my father (to die).
Answer: Two years have passed since my father died.

Well, it is many years since they first (meet).
Answer: Well, it is many years since they first met.

It is eight years since jerry (to lose) his mother.
Answer: It is eight years since jerry lost his mother.

Rule: 7

[Present Perfect Tense – Subject + have/has + Past Participle form of verb]

He already (reach) here.
Answer: He has already reached here.

We just (move) to a new house.
Answer: We have just moved to a new house.

I just (get) my revenge at last.
Answer: I have just got my revenge at last.

He recently (get) married.
Answer: He has recently got married.

I just (receive) your letter.
Answer: I have just received your letter.

Rule: 8

[Right form of verbs in Interrogative sentence]

Why Mrs. Pitt (look) so angry?
Answer: Why does Mrs. Pitt look so angry?

Where you (go) now?
Answer: Where do you go now?

Where you (going) now?
Answer: Where are you going now?

Where you (go) yesterday?
Answer: Where did you go yesterday?

What you (going) to drink then?
Answer: What are you going to drink then?

Why not you (follow) my example?
Answer: Why don’t you follow my example?

Why Jerry (look) so proud?
Answer: Why does Jerry look so proud?

Why you (crying)?
Answer: Why are you crying?

Rule: 9

[If / Had + Past Perfect Tense, Subject + would have + Past Participle form of verb]

Had I been a rich man, I (help) the poor.
Answer: Had I been a rich man I would have helped the poor.

Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the air shaft, Della (let) her hair hang out the window to day.
Answer: Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the air shaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window to day.

Rule: 10

[If + Present Indefinite Tense, Future Indefinite Tense]
[If + Past Indefinite Tense, Subject + would + Present form of verb]
[If + Past Perfect Tense, Subject + would have + Past Participle form of verb]

If someone had not mentioned her name I hardly think I (recognize) her.
Answer: If someone had not mentioned her name I hardly think I would have recognized her.

If I (try) I would have succeeded.
Answer: If I had tried, I would have succeeded.


If you had read the book, you (learn) many things.
Answer: If you had read the book, you would have learned many things.

Rule: 11

I let the other boys (to use) skates.
Answer: I let the other boys use skates. [Let + Present form of verb]


My doctor would not let me (to drink) anything but champagne.
Answer: My doctor would not let me drink anything but champagne. [Let + Present form of verb]

Rule: 12

I have (to see) three deer.
Answer: I have seen three deer. [Have/Has/Had/Be + Past participle form of verb]

I have not yet (to choose) my career.
Answer: I have not yet chosen my career. [Have/Has/Had/Be + Past participle form of verb]

The ancient mariner had (to show) a true love for all living beings.
Answer: The ancient mariner had shown a true love for all living beings. [Have/Has/Had/Be + Past participle form of verb]

My doctor had absolutely (to forbid)me to champagne.
Answer: My doctor had absolutely forbidden me to champagne. [Have/Has/Had/Be+Past participle form of verb]

I was too young to have (learn) to say ‘no’ to a woman.
Answer: I was too young to have learned to say no ‘to’ a woman. [Have/Has/Had/Be+Past participle form of verb]

Rule: 13

I should be sorry to leave Paris without (have) some of them.
Answer: I should be sorry to leave Paris without having some of them. [without+verb+ing]

I must not condemn her without (know)
Answer: I must not condemn her without knowing. [without+verb+ing]

Rule: 14

He (fill) with strange wonder.
Answer: He was filled with strange wonder. [Passive Voice]

Her head cover with tiny close-lying curls.
Answer: Her head was covered with tiny close-lying curls. [Passive Voice]

I (fill) with a passionate resentment.
Answer: I was filled with a passionate resentment. [Passive Voice]

It surely (make) for Jim.
Answer: It surely had been make for Jim. [Passive Voice]

Life (to make up) of sobs.
Answer: Life is made up of sobs. [Passive Voice]

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