Right Form of Verbs

Through the “Right Form of Verbs” section we have to follow certain rules to determine the correct form of the work verbs we use. Also, the way to work for “Right Form of Verbs” is to use the right form of a verb in a sentence. It is only used to correctly match the verb with the sentence. All the rules of Right form of verbs are discussed below:

Rules Of “Right Form Of Verbs”

• If Subject is 3rd Person Singular number and Verb is in Simple Present Tense then add s or es at the end of Verb.

Example:

• He (eat) rice.

Ans: He eats rice.

• Universal truth (eternal truth), habitual fact (habitual action) means Simple Present Tense.

Example:

• The sun (give) us light.

Ans :The sun gives us light.

If there is always, regularly, sometimes, often, generally, daily, everyday, occasionally, usually, normally, etc. in the sentence which does not mention any time, it will be Simple Present Tense.

• He always (sleep) in the morning.
• Ans. He always sleeps in the morning. 
• When she (take) breakfast normally?
• Ans. When does she take breakfast normally?
• A good boy (learn) his lessons regularly.
• Ans: A good boy learns his lessons regularly.

To make a sentence without Be Verb negative or interrogative, you have to use do, does or did according to Tense and Subject.

• The girl not (read) a book.
• Ans: The girl does not read a book.
• He (come) home yesterday?
• Ans: Did he come home yesterday? 

If the Assertive sentence is negative, then do not / don’t, doesn’t is used in case of Simple Present Tense.

Note: If the subject of the given sentence is third person singular number, then doesn’t / doesn’t comes after the answer sentence. The verb in brackets does not change.

• He (not eat) rice regularly.
• He does not / doesn’t eat rice regularly.

Note: If the subject of the given sentence is 1st person/2nd person plural, it is followed by do not / don’t. The verb in brackets does not change.

• They (not go) to school everyday.
• They don’t /do not go to school everyday.

Note: In case of Simple Past Tense, didn’t /did not sit after the subject of the answer sentence and the verb in brackets does not change.

• The boy (not play) yesterday.
• Ans: The boy didn’t /didn’t play yesterday.

If there is what, when, where, who, which, whose, why, how in Interrogative Sentence then to be verb has to be added before Subject according to Tense and Person. If there is no To be verb, do/does or did according to Tense and Person.

• Why he (look) so happy?
• Ans: Why does he look so happy?
• What you (do)?
• Ans: What do you do?
• Where they (go) yesterday?
• Ans: Where did they go yesterday?

Note-1: If the subject is 3rd person singular number, in case of Simple Present Tense, does is placed at the beginning of the answer sentence. The verb in brackets does not change.

• Q: What he (want)?
• Ans: What does he want?

Note-2: If the subject is 1st person, 2nd person and plural, do is placed at the beginning of the answer sentence in case of Simple Present Tense. The verb in brackets does not change.

• Q: What you (do)?
• Ans: What do you do?

Note-3 : If the given sentence is in Simple Past Tense, did is placed at the beginning of the answer sentence. The verb in brackets does not change.

• Q: I (go) to market yesterday?
• Ans. Did I go to market yesterday?

Noun এর বিস্তারিত আলোচনা দেখুন

The present continuous tense of the verb is used to indicate an action that is currently going on. In this case, the present time (at present, now, at this moment etc.) is mentioned.

• He (read) a book now.
• Ans: He is reading a book now.
• They (play) at this moment.
• Ans: They are playing at this moment.

If there is has / have / had in a sentence then the verb is past participle. For example-

• He has (finish) the work.
• Ans: He has finished the work.
• We have (select) him captain.
• Ans: We have selected him captain.

Present Perfect Tense is just, just now, already, yet, ever, lately, recently, never.

• I (see) him recently.
• Ans: I have seen him recently.
• You ever (be) to Dhaka?
• Ans: Have you ever been to Dhaka?
• He (go) out just now.
• Ans: He has gone out just now.

If there is a past indicative word or phrase (eg: yesterday, ago, long since, last night, once etc.) then the Verb is in Past form.

• He (come) home last night.
• Ans: He came home last night.
• I (see) him yesterday,
• Ans: I saw him yesterday.
• I (meet) you long ago.
• Ans: I met you long ago.

No sooner had……than, scarcely had…. When, hardly had……before, Verb in 1st bracket should be past participle and Verb in 2nd bracket should be past form. For example:-

• No sooner had he (take) the money than he went away.

• No sooner had he taken the money than he went away.

If the 1st part of Since is Simple Present/Present Perfect Tense then the next part is Simple Past Tense. For example:

• It is many years since I (come) to Dhaka.
• Ans: It is many years since I came to Dhaka.
• Many years have passed since his father (marry).
• Ans: Many years have passed since his father married.

If the first part of Since is Simple Past Tense, then the next part is Past Perfect Tense. For example-

• It was many years since I (come) to Dhaka.

• Ans: It was many years since I had come to Dhaka.

The first part of Before is in Past Perfect Tense and the next part is in Simple Past Tense. And if the first part of after is Simple Past Tense, then the next part is Past Perfect Tense.

• He (go) to bed before I came.
• Ans: He had gone to bed before I came.
• I came after he (leave) home.
• Ans: I came after he had left home.

If there are two verbs in a simple sentence, then ing should be added to the verb in brackets or to should be placed before the verb or the past participle of the verb should be.

• I saw him (read).
• Ans: I saw him reading.
• I don’t want (read) this book.
• Ans: I don’t want to read this book.
• I got the letter (type).
• Ans: I got the letter typed.

After had better, had rather, would better, would rather, let, must, need, dare etc., the given verb is present form and if to is preceded by the given verb, the to is raised.

• You had better (to take) rest.
• Ans: You had better take rest.
• I will not let you (to leave) the class room.
• Ans: I will not let you leave the class room.

If would that is at the beginning of the sentence, could is placed after the subject and the present form of the given verb is placed.

• Would that I (see) a tiger.

• Ans: Would that I could see a tiger.

To be and having is followed by the Past Participle of the original Verb.

• He ran away having (see) the police.
• Ans: He ran away having seen the police.
• The work is to be (do).
• Ans: The work is to be done.

If there is mind, worth, without, past, cannot help, could not help, with a view to, look forward to, would you mind, get used to and preposition before the given Verb, ing should be added to the Verb in brackets.

• I went to the library with a view to (make) note there.
• Ans: I went to the library with a view to making note there.
• He never thought of (go) abroad.
• Ans: He never thought of going abroad.

If it is high time, it is time, wish, fancy, etc., the past form of the verb in brackets is I

• I fancy I (turn) pale.
• Ans: I fancy I turned pale.
• It is high time we (take) proper action.
• Ans: It is high time we took proper action.
• I wish I (see) you again.
• Ans: I wish I could see/saw you again.

As though, as if, wish is in the place of to be in brackets.

• I wish I (to be) a poet.
• Ans: I wish I were a poet.
• He talks as if he (to be) leader.
• Ans: He talks as if he were leader.

As though/as if the first part is Simple Present Tense and the second part is Simple Past Tense. If the first part is Simple Past Tense then the next part is Past Perfect Tense.

• He speaks as though he (understand) everything.
• Ans: He speaks as though he understood everything.
• She spoke as if I (not hear).
• Ans: She spoke as if I had not heard.

If every, each, one of, the given verb is singular.

• One of the boys (be) absent yesterday.
• Ans: One of the boys was absent yesterday.
• Everybody/Everyone (want) peace.
• Ans: Everybody/Everyone wants peace.

If can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would etc. are used as auxiliary verb, the main verb will be Present Tense. For example-

• You may (meet) me tomorrow.
• Ans: You may meet me tomorrow.
• I can (draw) picture.
• Ans: I can draw picture.
• He may (pass) the exam.
• Ans: He may pass the exam.
• We should (do) our duty.
• Ans: We should do our duty.

If the verb in the previous part of the bracket i.e. the main clause is in the past tense and the next part refers to any time (next day, next week, next month, next year etc.) then would or should sit before the verb in the bracket. In this case the verb in brackets is present form.

• He said that he (go) home the next day.
• Ans: He said that he would go home the next day.

am, is, are, was, were etc. After “to be” verb, in case of Passive Voice, the Past Participle of the Verb is.

• His pocket has been (tear).
• Ans: His pocket has been torn.
• The books were (print) in time.
• Ans: The books were printed in time.

If + Simple Present Tense + Simple Future Tense If the If clause is Simple Present Tense then the other (Principal clause) is Simple Future Tense. For example:-

• If he works hard, he (prosper) in life.
• Ans: If he works hard, he will prosper in life.
• If you run in the rain, you (fall) sick.
• Ans: If you run in the rain, you will fall sick.
• I will not go out if he (not come).
• Ans: I will not go out if he does not come.

If + Simple Past + Past Conditional (Subject + would/might /could + Present form of the main Verb) If the If clause is in the Simple Past, the (other part) of the Principal Clause sits after the Subject might / could / would + the Verb in brackets Present form sitting. For example:-

• If he came, I (help) him.
• Ans: If he came, I would help him.
• If I had much money, I (buy) a car.
• Ans: If I had much money, I would buy a car.
• I would help him if he (need).
• Ans: I would help him if he needed.

If + Past Perfect Tense + Perfect Conditional (subject + would have / could have / might have + Past Participle form of Verb in bracket). If the If clause is in Past Perfect Tense, the subject of the other part (Principal Clause) might have / would have / could have and the verb in bracket is the Past Participle. For example:-

• If he had seen me he (call) me.
• Ans: If he had seen me he might have called me.
• If she had worked hard she (succeed).
• Ans: If she had worked hard she could have succeed.
• They would have invited us if we (support) them.
• Ans: They would have invited us if we had supported them.

If a sentence starts with Had + Subject + Past Participle, the other one becomes Perfect Conditional, i.e. after Subject, would have / could have / might have + the past participle of the verb in brackets.

• Had I been a rich man, I (help) the poor.
• Ans: Had I been a rich man, I would have helped the poor.
• Had I possessed vast property, I (found) a hospital for the poor.
• Ans: Had I possessed vast property. I would have founded a hospital for the poor.

Of the two Clauses that have If + Subject + were, the other (Principal clause) is followed by might / would / could. And the present form of the verb in the bracket sits.

Special note: instead of might/could/would might have/would have/could have + past participle of the verb in bracket can be placed. For example:-

• (1) If I were a bird, I (fly)
• Ans: If I were a bird, I would fly.
• Or, If I were a bird, I would have flown.
• (ii) If I were you, I (not do) this.
• Ans: If I were you, I would not do this.
• Or, If I were you, I would not have done this.
• (iii) If I were a king. I (help) the poor.
• Ans: If I were a king, I would help the poor.
• Or, If I were a king, I would have helped the poor.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense of the verb means that an action started in the past and continues till now. For example:

• I (sleep) for three hours.
• Ans: I have been sleeping for three hours.
• It (rain) since morning.
• Ans: It has been raining since morning.

When verbs like have, has, had, get, got act as Causative verbs in a sentence, then the verb in brackets is the Past Participle.

• I got the door (close) by him.
• Ans: I got the door closed by him.
• I had my water (boil).
• Ans: I had my water boiled.

Should/might is placed after the subject after lest in a sentence with Lest.

• He read more lest he (fail) in the exam.
• Ans: He read more lest he might/should fail in the exam.

ing is added to the verb in brackets immediately after while. But if there is subject after while, the part of while is Past Continuous Tense.

• While (walk) at the station, I met him.
• Ans: While walking at the station, I met him. 
• While he (walk) in the campus, he met me.
• Ans: While he was walking in the campus, he met me.

The verb of a sentence is used according to the number and person of its subject, that is, if the subject is singular, the verb is singular and if the subject is plural, the verb is plural.

• The price of rice (be) costly.
• Ans: The price of rice is costly.
• The leaves of the tree (be) dry in winter.
• Ans: The leaves of the tree are dry in winter.

If it means the same length, quantity or place, the subject is plural but the verb is singular.

• Fifty miles (be) a long way.
• Ans: Fifty miles is a long way.

If a sentence starts with there and there is a singular number after it, then there is a singular verb after there. And if there is a plural number, there is a plural verb after there.

• There (be) a high school in our village.
• Ans: There is a high school in our village.
• There (be) two high schools in our village.

Some Exercise for you of Right form of verbs:

• Have you ever (fall) off a horse?
• I (suffer) from fever for a long time. 
• He (has) an accident recently. 
• He (be) in the army for two years. 
• I (give) up smoking since I got a job. 
• I (know) him for a long time.
• It is two year since he (die).
• The brave never (fear) death.
• The valiant soldiers (fight) till the last. 
• Biting wind (blow) in winter.
• Flowers (bloom) in the spring. 
• Farmers (reap) crops in late autumn. 
• If you invited him, he (come).
• He has not written to me since he (leave) home. 
• I have changed my mind since I (hear) the news.
• We have not got any letter of him since he (go) to London. 
• It is many days since I (see) you last. 
• If he runs, he (get) there in time. 
• The dog (bark) if you pull its tail.
• If the fog gets thicker, the plane (not fly).
• If I were you, I (plant) some trees round the house. 
• If she dyed her hair blue, everyone (laugh).
• If he left his bicycle outside, someone (steal) it. 
• If I knew your telephone number, I (phone) you. 
• If I had known you, I (receive) you at the station.
• He usually (go) to school by bus but today he (go) by train.
• Size does not matter (chop) wood.
• The baby (cry) because it is hungry now. What you (go) to drink now?
• He (return) home just now.
• He not yet (finish) the work.
• If a convict had tried to leave the country, he (catch). 
• If we had found him earlier, we (save) his life.
• If I had started in time, I (get) the train.
• The virtuous (be) blessed.
• What you (do) now?
• Why Mr. Peter (look) so angry?
• You (watch) television often?