Right Forms of Verb all Rules and Practice (1.7.7.1.2.1)
Right Form of Verbs - 100 Important Rules (1.7.7.1.2.2)
If a sentence is in Present Indefinite tense and the subject is a third person singular number, add 's/es' to the verb.
Suva writes a letter.
He plays football every evening.
She runs very fast.
The dog barks loudly.
John fixes the car.
Even if the subject is third person singular in Present Indefinite tense, do not add 's/es' after can, could, will, would, may, might, must, shall, should, etc.
Suva must come to her office on time.
He can sing very well.
She will go to the market tomorrow.
John should finish his homework.
The cat might climb the tree.
If a sentence expresses universal truth or habitual fact, it is in Present Indefinite Tense.
The earth moves around the sun.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The sun sets in the west.
Birds fly in the sky.
The moon reflects sunlight.
If a sentence contains words like sometimes, always, regularly, often, daily, every day, usually, generally, normally, ordinarily, occasionally, it is in Present Indefinite Tense.
Sabina learns her lessons regularly.
He watches TV every day.
She visits her grandmother often.
John plays the guitar usually.
They go to the gym daily.
If a sentence describes an action currently happening, it is in Present Continuous Tense. Words like now, at present, at this moment, at this very moment are often used.
The girls are watching the television now.
He is reading a book at this moment.
They are playing football now.
She is cooking dinner at present.
The children are studying in the library.
If a sentence contains have/has, it is in Present Perfect Tense.
Suva has written a letter to her sister.
He has finished his homework.
She has visited the museum.
They have bought a new car.
The cat has caught a mouse.
If a sentence contains already, yet, not yet, ever, just, just now, recently, lately, today, this week/year/month, in the meantime, never, ever, it is in Present Perfect Tense.
Have you ever been to Cox-Bazaar?
She has already finished her work.
He has not yet arrived.
They have just left.
We have never seen such a beautiful place.
If a sentence contains each, every, everyone, anyone, any, many a, everybody, everything, anybody, nobody, no one, nothing, anything, something, someone, one of, either, neither, the verb is singular.
Every mother loves her child.
Each student has a book.
No one knows the answer.
Somebody is calling you.
Anybody can do this work.
If a sentence describes a single length, amount, or space, the subject may look plural, but the verb is singular.
Ten miles is not a great distance nowadays.
Five dollars is a small price to pay.
Twenty years is a long time.
Ten kilometers is too far to walk.
Fifty kilograms is heavy.
If a sentence contains words or phrases indicating the past such as yesterday, ago, long since, long before, last night, last week, last month, a day before yesterday, the verb is in Past Indefinite tense.
She drew a picture yesterday.
He visited his friend last week.
They left the party an hour ago.
She finished her homework last night.
John bought a new phone a day before yesterday.
If a sentence contains words or phrases indicating the future such as tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next, in future, in the time to come, the verb is in Future Indefinite tense.
Nelly will come from Dhaka the day after tomorrow.
He will finish his project next week.
They will go on a trip tomorrow.
She will visit her grandparents next month.
We will start the new course in the future.
If a sentence contains 'before' connecting two past tenses, the part before 'before' is in Past Perfect tense, and the part after 'before' is in Past Indefinite tense.
We had reached our school before the bell rang.
She had finished her work before he arrived.
They had eaten dinner before the movie started.
He had left the office before the meeting began.
The rain had stopped before we went outside.
If a sentence contains 'after' connecting two past tenses, the part after 'after' is in Past Perfect tense, and the part before 'after' is in Past Indefinite tense.
They arrived at the station after the train had left.
She went home after she had finished her work.
He started playing after he had eaten dinner.
They left the house after the storm had passed.
We entered the room after they had cleaned it.
If a sentence contains 'no sooner had — than', 'scarcely had — when', or 'hardly had — when', the first part is in Past Perfect tense and the second part is in Past Indefinite tense.
No sooner had the bell rung than the teacher entered the classroom.
Scarcely had he left when it started raining.
Hardly had they arrived when the event began.
No sooner had the game started than it began to rain.
Scarcely had she spoken when everyone started laughing.
If a sentence contains 'since' connecting two clauses, and the part before 'since' is in Present Indefinite or Present Perfect tense, the part after 'since' is in Past Indefinite tense.
Ten years have passed since he left the house.
It has been five years since they moved here.
She has worked here since she graduated.
We have known each other since we were children.
He has played the piano since he was a boy.
If a sentence contains 'since' connecting two clauses, and the part before 'since' is in Past Indefinite tense, the part after 'since' is in Past Perfect tense.
Many years passed since I had met him last.
It was a long time since she had visited us.
He remembered it had been years since they had seen each other.
She felt like it had been ages since they had talked.
They realized it had been a decade since the incident had occurred.
In passive voice, always use the past participle form of the verb.
This work was done by her.
The letter was written by him.
The house was built by the contractor.
The cake was baked by her mother.
The book was read by the students.
In a simple sentence with two verbs, the second verb either takes the form 'verb+ing' or is preceded by 'to'.
She saw the boy playing in the field.
I went to the library to read books.
He likes to play football.
They prefer walking to driving.
She started singing a song.
In active voice, after modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, need, dare, used to, ought to), use the present form of the verb.
She can do it easily.
He should go to the doctor.
They will finish the project.
You must see this movie.
She might come to the party.
In passive voice, after modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, need, dare, used to, ought to), use 'be + past participle form' of the verb.
The task can be done quickly.
The project should be completed by the deadline.
The cake will be baked tomorrow.
The issue must be addressed immediately.
The rules may be changed soon.
After verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, etc.) use either the present participle or the base form of the verb without 'to'.
She saw the child running across the street.
I heard him sing a beautiful song.
They watched the movie end.
He noticed the leaves falling.
We felt the ground shake.
After certain verbs like make, let, and have, use the base form of the verb without 'to'.
She made him clean the room.
Let me help you with that.
They had the gardener trim the bushes.
He let the cat out.
She made the children play outside.
In conditional sentences, the structure depends on the type of conditional:
First Conditional: If + present simple, ... will + base form
Second Conditional: If + past simple, ... would + base form
Third Conditional: If + past perfect, ... would have + past participle
If it rains, we will stay inside.
If I had a car, I would drive to work.
If they had studied, they would have passed the exam.
If she calls, I will answer.
If he knew, he would help.
Use 'to' with infinitives except after certain verbs like let, make, see, hear, feel, and watch.
She wants to learn Spanish.
He decided to move to the city.
They plan to travel abroad.
I hope to see you soon.
She agreed to help with the project.
After expressions like 'it's time', 'would rather', 'had better', 'sooner than', and 'rather than', use the base form of the verb.
It's time we left.
I would rather stay home tonight.
You had better finish your homework.
She would sooner walk than drive.
He would rather read than watch TV.
When 'as if' or 'as though' is used to introduce a hypothetical or imaginary situation, use 'were' instead of 'was' after a singular subject.
She behaves as if she were the boss.
He talks as though he were an expert.
They act as if it were a joke.
She sings as though she were a professional.
He drives as if he were in a race.
When 'as if' or 'as though' connects two clauses, if the first clause is in the present tense, the second clause is in the past simple tense. If the first clause is in the past tense, the second clause is in the past perfect tense.
She looks as if she has seen a ghost.
He talks as if he knew everything.
They behaved as if they had won the lottery.
She sings as though she were on stage.
He walked as if he had hurt his leg.
After 'while', if a verb follows immediately, use the present participle (verb + ing). If a subject follows, the verb in the clause is in the past continuous tense.
While eating, he received a call.
She was singing while cooking dinner.
He found a coin while walking.
They chatted while waiting.
He was reading while lying on the couch.
When 'lest' is used, follow it with a subject and 'should' or 'might' + base form of the verb.
Study hard lest you should fail.
He whispered lest he should wake the baby.
Walk carefully lest you should slip.
She wore a hat lest she should get sunburned.
He checked the documents lest he should miss anything.
After 'would that', use 'could' + base form of the verb to express a wish.
Would that I could fly.
Would that we could meet again.
Would that he could see this.
Would that they could join us.
Would that she could stay longer.
After expressions like each, every, one of, either, neither, use a singular verb because these are considered singular.
Each student is responsible.
Every child needs love.
One of the boys has a bicycle.
Either answer is correct.
Neither option works for me.
When 'the' precedes an adjective, it makes the subject plural, and the verb must be plural accordingly.
The rich have many privileges.
The poor suffer the most.
The elderly deserve respect.
The brave fight for justice.
The sick need care.
For titles, names, and phrases of measurement that look plural, use a singular verb because they are treated as a single entity.
Twenty miles is a long distance.
Fifty dollars is the fee.
Ten years is a long time.
Three weeks is enough.
The United States is large.
If a sentence starts with 'It', the following verb is singular.
It is raining.
It was a great day.
It seems easy.
It looks like fun.
It appears complicated.
If a sentence starts with 'There', use a singular verb if the noun following 'there' is singular. Use a plural verb if the noun following 'there' is plural.
There is a cat on the roof.
There are books on the table.
There was an error.
There were several options.
There is a new policy.
After expressions like let, had rather, had better, would better, do not, does not, need not, did not, did never, use the base form of the verb.
Let her go.
You had better study.
They did not attend.
We need not worry.
She does not know.
In conditional sentences, if the first part is in the present simple tense, the second part is in the future simple tense. (If + present simple + future simple)
If you study, you will pass.
If it rains, we will stay home.
If he calls, I will answer.
If she comes, we will leave.
If they win, they will celebrate.
In conditional sentences, if the first part is in the past simple tense, the second part uses 'would/could/might' + base form of the verb. (If + past simple + would/could/might + base form)
If she studied, she would pass.
If it rained, we would stay home.
If he called, I would answer.
If she came, we would leave.
If they won, they would celebrate.
In conditional sentences, if the first part is in the past perfect tense, the second part uses 'would have/could have/might have' + past participle of the verb. (If + past perfect + would have/could have/might have + past participle)
If she had studied, she would have passed.
If it had rained, we would have stayed home.
If he had called, I would have answered.
If she had come, we would have left.
If they had won, they would have celebrated.
After 'to', use the base form of the verb.
She went to buy a dress.
They plan to travel soon.
He likes to swim.
We need to prepare.
She wants to learn French.
After prepositions (on, in, of, for, from, by, after, at, beyond, upon, against, with, without, before), use the present participle (verb + ing).
She is interested in learning.
He is good at playing chess.
They are worried about missing the bus.
She is fond of dancing.
He apologized for being late.
After expressions like 'cannot help', 'could not help', 'look forward to', 'with a view to', 'get used to', 'mind', 'would you mind', 'worth', 'past', use the present participle (verb + ing).
I cannot help laughing.
She looks forward to meeting you.
He is getting used to living here.
Would you mind closing the door?
The book is worth reading.
When a verb is the subject of a sentence, use the present participle (verb + ing).
Swimming is good exercise.
Reading improves knowledge.
Dancing makes her happy.
Running keeps him fit.
Cooking is her hobby.
After 'by', use the present participle (verb + ing).
She expressed her grief by saying that her phone was stolen.
He improved his skills by practicing daily.
They saved money by cutting expenses.
She learned French by taking classes.
He solved the problem by thinking creatively.
In conditional sentences, if the first clause is in the past simple tense, the second clause uses 'would/could/might' + base form of the verb. (If + past simple + would/could/might + base form)
If she requested, I would go.
If it rained, we could stay home.
If he asked, I might help.
If she wanted, we could leave.
If they won, they would celebrate.
In conditional sentences, if the first clause is in the past perfect tense, the second clause uses 'would have/could have/might have' + past participle of the verb. (If + past perfect + would have/could have/might have + past participle)
If she had invited me, I would have come.
If it had rained, we would have stayed home.
If he had asked, I would have helped.
If she had wanted, we would have left.
If they had won, they would have celebrated.
In conditional sentences, if the first clause is in the present simple tense, the second clause uses 'will' + base form of the verb. (If + present simple + will + base form)
If she calls, I will answer.
If it rains, we will stay home.
If he comes, I will go.
If she wants, we will leave.
If they win, they will celebrate.
After expressions like 'be supposed to', 'be to', 'be about to', 'be going to', use the base form of the verb.
She is supposed to arrive soon.
They are to meet at noon.
He is about to leave.
We are going to watch a movie.
She is about to speak.
After 'than', use the base form of the verb.
It is easier than I thought.
She is stronger than I expected.
They are taller than they seem.
He runs faster than I do.
She sings better than I can.
After certain adjectives and adverbs (like glad, happy, sorry, eager, reluctant, ready, afraid, willing, glad, etc.), use the base form of the verb.
I am glad to see you.
She is eager to learn.
He is ready to leave.
They are willing to help.
She is afraid to speak.
Use the base form of the verb after 'let', 'make', 'see', 'hear', 'watch', 'notice', 'feel', 'help'.
Let him go.
She made me laugh.
I saw him run.
They heard her sing.
He helped me carry the bag.
After 'prevent from', 'prohibit from', 'stop from', use the present participle (verb + ing).
He was prevented from leaving.
They were prohibited from smoking.
She stopped me from crying.
The rain prevented us from going out.
The noise stopped him from sleeping.
After 'advise', 'allow', 'permit', 'forbid', 'recommend', 'suggest', use the base form of the verb with an object or the present participle without an object.
She advised me to study.
He allowed her to go.
They permitted us to enter.
He forbids me to smoke.
She suggested going to the park.
When 'like', 'love', 'hate', 'prefer', 'start', 'begin', 'continue', 'cease' are followed by another verb, use either the base form or the present participle.
I like to read / reading.
She loves to dance / dancing.
He hates to wait / waiting.
They prefer to walk / walking.
We started to run / running.
When 'get', 'have', 'make', 'let', 'see', 'hear', 'feel', 'watch', 'notice' are followed by an object and another verb, use the base form of the verb.
I had him fix the car.
She made him apologize.