Right Form of Verbs: 21 Most Powerful Rules to Master Verbs

Understanding the right form of verbs is the key to mastering English grammar. Whether you’re an HSC, SSC, or university-level student, applying the correct verb form ensures accuracy in your writing and speaking.

Read more – Simple, Compound, and Complex -Best 7 Powerful Rules

In this guide, we’ve compiled the 21 most essential rules with 105+ practical tasks and real-life examples to help you learn step by step. From subject-verb agreement to tense usage, modals, and conditional sentences, each rule is simplified for easy understanding.

Right Form of Verb: 21 Rules, Examples, and Exercises

Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement (Present Indefinite Tense)

If the subject is singular (especially 3rd person), the verb takes s/es.

Examples:

• He reads in class nine.
• I am a student.
• They are students.

Special Case: If subject is followed by “as well as, with, together with, along with, of, not” the verb agrees with the main subject.

• Karim with his friends is walking.

Tasks:

1. The moon (shine) at night.
2. I along with my friends (be) watching a movie.
3. The sun (rise) in the east.
4. The girl with her dolls (play) now.
5. The captain with his team (arrive) soon.

Rule 2: Uncountable Nouns or Units Take Singular Verb

Nouns like physics, news, mathematics, or units of measurement (distance, time) are singular.

Examples:

• One hundred miles is a long distance.
• Physics is difficult.

Task:

1. One dozen oranges (be) not sufficient.
2. Two liters of milk (cost) much.
3. Mathematics (be) his favorite subject.
4. News (travel) fast.
5. The sum of money (be) enough.

Rule 3: Singular Indefinite Quantifiers

Phrases like “one of the,” “each of,” “every,” “many a,” etc. take singular verb.

Example: One of the boys has come.

Task:

1. A lot of money (have) been spent.
2. One of the legs (be) broken.
3. Each of the students (has) a pen.
4. The number of participants (be) increasing.
5. None of the juice (be) left.

Rule 4: Plural Indefinite Quantifiers

Phrases like “all of the,” “some of the,” “both of the,” etc. take plural verb.

Example: A number of boys are playing.

Task:

1. Most of the people in Bangladesh (be) farmers.
2. Both of his parents (be) dead.
3. Some of the apples (be) rotten.
4. Few of them (know) the answer.
5. Many of the questions (be) difficult.

Rule 5: “It” and “There”

• “It” takes singular verb.
• “There” takes verb according to the number of object.

Examples:

• It has two legs.
• There are two schools.

Task:

1. There (be) a tube-well in front of my house.
2. It (have) three wheels.
3. There (be) a spider in the box.
4. It (be) raining now.
5. There (be) five students in the class.

Rule 6: “The + Noun” vs. “The + Adjective”

• “The + singular noun” → singular verb.
• “The + adjective” (to indicate a group) → plural verb.

Examples:

• The cow is a gentle animal.
• The rich are not always happy.

Task:

1. The dog (be) a pet animal.
2. The poor (need) help.
3. The sun (rise) in the east.
4. The sick (need) proper care.
5. The tiger (be) a wild animal.

Rule 7: Present Habitual Actions

Words like Daily, regularly, usually, naturally, often, always, frequently, everyday, generally indicate Present Indefinite Tense.

Example: He comes to college daily.

Task:

1. He (carry) an umbrella daily.
2. You (watch) television often?
3. He usually (go) to school by bus.
4. What you generally (do) for a living?
5. She always (speak) the truth.

Rule 8: Past Time References

Words like yesterday, ago, last, indicate Past Indefinite Tense (verb 2nd form).

Example: He went to London yesterday.

Task:

1. He (come) last night.
2. I (go) to market yesterday.
3. Where they (see) him last week?
4. She (leave) the house an hour ago.
5. They (meet) me last Friday.

Rule 9: Ongoing Present Actions

Words like “now, at present, then” indicate Present Continuous Tense.

Example: At present, he is doing a course.

Task:

1. What you (do) now?
2. The baby (cry) because it is hungry.
3. What you (go) to drink now?
4. I (read) a novel now.
5. They (watch) a movie at present.

Rule 10: Since/For + Time = Present Perfect Continuous

Used to express actions started in the past and still continuing.

Example: He has been reading for a long time.

Task:

1. The boy (suffer) from fever for five days.
2. They (play) football since morning.
3. I (live) here for ten years.
4. She (study) since noon.
5. He (work) on the project for two weeks.

Read more – Completing Sentence: Top 20 Powerful Rules with Easy Examples

Rule 11: Present Perfect Indicators

Words like already, ever, never, just, just now, yet, recently, lately, etc. → Present Perfect Tense.

Example: I have never seen the Taj Mahal.

Task:

1. He (return) just now.
2. They (reach) the playground.
3. I (receive) my father’s letter.
4. She just (get) the news.
5. The tree not (bear) fruit yet.

Rule 12: Preposition + Verb + ing

After certain prepositions/phrases (can not help, mind, would you mind, feel. like, with a view to, look forward to, object to, be used to, refer to,       committed to, contribute to, aim at, prefer to, be accustomed to, addicted to), verb takes -ing form.

Example: Would you mind smoking?

Task:

1. I can’t help (listen) to them.
2. She is used to (work) late.
3. He insisted on (go) to college.
4. I look forward to (hear) from you.
5. He is capable of (do) the task.

Rule 13: Verb Forms Based on Function (Usage of non-finite verb)

• After certain verbs: to + base form
• After perception verbs: bare infinitive or verb+ing
• After participles: V3 (past participle)

Examples:

• I want to go.
• I saw the boys playing.
• I bought a pen made in Japan.

Task:

1. I saw him (go) to town.
2. She found the child (sleep) on the bed.
3. I want (leave) now.
4. They made the children (cry).
5. The poem was (write) by Tagore.

Rule 14: Modals + Verb Base Form

Modal verbs (may, might, can, could, shall, should, will, would, must, to, ought to, have to, had

better, better, would rather, rather, etc.) are followed by base form.

Example: He should go.

Task:

1. I had better (go) now.
2. He must (finish) the work.
3. She can (speak) French.
4. You should (help) the poor.
5. We may (win) the match.

Rule 15: Modal Passive Structures

Form: Modal + be + past participle.

Example: A match will be played tomorrow.

Task:

1. The notice is to be (hang).
2. The work must be (complete) soon.
3. It may be (do) easily.
4. The boy should be (reward).
5. The cake will be (cut).

Rule 16: “It is time / high time / wish / as if / as though”

• “It is time / high time” → past form
• “wish” → unreal past

Example: It is high time we started the work.

Task:

1. I wish I (to be) a philosopher.
2. It is high time he (study).
3. She wishes she (know) the truth.
4. He talks as if he (be) a boss.
5. I wish I (sing).

Rule 17: If Clauses (Conditional Sentences)

• If + present + future
• If + past + would
• If + had + V3 + would have + V3

Examples:

• If he comes, I will go.
• If I saw him, I would talk.

Task:

1. If I had seen him, I (give) him the news.
2. If I were you, I (not do) this.
3. If he reads more, he (pass) the exam.
4. If you play in rain, you (catch) cold.
5. If he had run fast, he (win).

Rule 18: “Since” Time Constructions

• Present + since + past
• Past + since + had + V3

Example: It is long time since we first met.

Task:

1. Eight years have passed since Jerry (come).
2. It is many years since they (meet).
3. Ten years have passed since he (return).
4. It was long since I (see) her.
5. It is a week since he (go).

Rule 19: Time Clauses: Before/After

• Subject + V2 + after + Subject + had + V3
• Subject + had + V3 + before + Subject + V2

Examples:

• He died after the doctor had come.
• He had died before the doctor came.

Task:

1. The bus (leave) before I reached.
2. We started after the rain (stop).
3. He had gone before I (arrive).
4. The train (depart) after he had come.
5. The meeting had started before we (reach).

Rule 20: Causative Verbs

• Let/make + object + base verb
• Have/get + object + past participle

Examples:

• He made me do the work.
• I got the work done.

Task:

1. I got him (do) the work.
2. She made them (wait).
3. He had the letter (write).
4. We got the machine (repair).
5. I had my car (wash).

Rule 21: “Lest” Structures

• Lest + subject + should + base form

Example: He ran fast lest he should miss the train.

Task:

1. He worked hard lest he (fail).
2. Walk fast lest we (be) late.
3. She studies lest she (fall) behind.
4. Hurry up lest you (miss) the bus.
5. We protect the forest lest it (disappear).

Read more – Right forms of verbs এর নিয়ম ও ব্যবহার

EXERCISE FOR PRACTICE

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in brackets.

(Note: a and c include special instructions)

The results of the annual examination came out yesterday. All the students (a) _____ (‘pass’ in the negative) _____ well. A few of them (b) _____ (fail) _____ in some subjects. They were not (c) _____ (‘promote’ use past participle) _____ to the next higher class. When they (d) _____ (receive) _____ their report cards, their faces (e) _____ (turn) _____ pale. Some of them (f) _____ (begin) _____ to weep. Now, they are (g) _____ (go) _____ to the Headmaster to request him. They (h) _____ (want) _____ promotion in consideration or on condition.

2. Environment & Daily Life (Right Form Practice)

The environment of Dhaka city (a) _____ (‘be’ in the negative) good for health. The dwellers have to (b) _____ (eat) _____ adulterated food. They cannot find fresh air until they (c) _____ (go) _____ to parks. They cannot (d) _____ (buy) _____ fresh vegetables. They cannot get the supply of pure (e) _____ (‘drink’ use present participle) _____ water. They have to (f) _____ (hear) _____ constant sound. Excessive sound (g) _____ (cause) _____ their hearing problems. It is also bad for children and old people. But they cannot (h) _____ (get) _____ rid of sound pollution.

3. Junk Food Awareness

Children are fond of junk food. But they (a) _____ (‘eat’ in the negative) junk food. It (b) _____ (be) _____ very tasty, but it is never good for health. In front of every school, wayside vendors (c) _____ (sell) _____ junk foods. Children during school hours (d) _____ (buy) _____ these like hot cakes. By (e) _____ (‘eat’ use gerund) _____ these foods, they often (f) _____ (get) _____ sick. These foods (g) _____ (carry) _____ the germs of jaundice, diarrhoea and typhoid. The sickness sometimes (h) _____ (cause) _____ death. So you should avoid these foods from wayside mobile shops.

4. Healthy Eating Habits

We need food. We eat to live. We (a) _____ (‘eat’ use modal in the negative) for taste. We all should (b) _____ (avoid) _____ the foods which are only tasty but not good for health. But the usual habit of people is to (c) _____ (give) _____ importance to tasty foods. This habit is not always good for our body. It is only for this habit that we (d) _____ (satisfy) _____ our hunger with unhealthy foods. As a result, we are (e) _____ (‘face’ use past participle) _____ with physical problems. You should form the habit of (f) _____ (eat) _____ healthy foods. Thus you can (g) _____ (keep) _____ fit and (h) _____ (enjoy) _____ sound health.

5. Communicative English Context

Verbs: need, learn, go, do, modify, revise, design
Communicative competence in English is urgently (a) _____ in our country. The present world (b) _____ fast and developing by leaps and bounds. In order to keep pace with the present world, we cannot help (c) _____ English, but the present system of teaching and learning English is not up to the mark. The textbooks (d) _____ for the classes XI-XII have to (e) _____ and made updated.

6. Post-War Situation

Verbs: suffer, render, kill, come, bring, have, try

In the spring of 1945, the Second World War (a) _____ to an end. The war had (b) _____ great misery to the whole world. Millions of people (c) _____ and wounded. They included men, women and children. Millions of people (d) _____ homeless and (e) _____ from poverty, hunger and disease.

7. A Letter from Savar

Verbs: do, have, imagine, learn, get, go, be
It seems hard to believe that I (a) _____ in Savar for a whole month now! I promised to write and tell you how I was going on, so here (b) _____! When I first got here, I just (c) _____ used to the slow pace of life! Now, I (d) _____ to take things easy and I’m beginning to really feel at home. You can’t (e) _____ how beautiful the university campus is.

8. Story of Robert Bruce

Verbs: be, fight, regain, brood, try, inspire, help
Robert Bruce was the king of Scotland. Once he (a) _____ with the British forces and lost his kingdom. He fought several times to (b) _____ it but failed. One day, he sat in a lonely cave (c) _____ over his sad lot. Suddenly he saw a spider (d) _____ to reach the ceiling. This perseverance (e) _____ Bruce to try again.

---

9. Invention of Computer

Verbs: work, invent, discover, come, take, give, bring
Computer has (a) _____ about a revolutionary change. But it (b) _____ overnight. It (c) _____ a long time to be invented. Scientists (d) _____ hard and finally (e) _____ out successful.

10. Missing Cow – Mahesh

Verbs: find, look, feel, hear, be, return, send
Gafur was sitting thoughtfully on the veranda. Mahesh (a) _____ anywhere since yesterday. Amina (b) _____ in search of him since morning. She (c) _____ home at sunset and said, “You (d) _____, father? Manik Ghosh’s men (e) _____ Mahesh to the police station.”

11. Climate Crisis

Verbs: continue, cause, increase, find, burn, go, predict
Within the last century, CO₂ in the atmosphere (a) _____ dramatically. People (b) _____ huge amounts of fossil fuels. Scientists (c) _____ that human activity is responsible. They (d) _____ the temperature (e) _____ to rise.

12. Tragedy of Titanic

Verbs: sail, carry, contain, move, be, build, regard
The Titanic (a) _____ for New York on April 10, 1912. She (b) _____ 1316 passengers. At that time, it (c) _____ the largest ship ever (d) _____ and (e) _____ unsinkable.

13. SSC Exam Tension

Verbs: take, pray, offer, remain, keep, do, publish
Special prayers (a) _____ in families having examinees. Parents (b) _____ extra care. They (c) _____ for success. Usually they (d) _____ worried until the result (e) _____.

14. Visit to the Zoo

Verbs: walk, get, run, reach, sit, buy, open
Last Friday we (a) _____ to the zoo. We (b) _____ there before the gate (c) _____. We (d) _____ tickets and (e) _____ towards the lion’s den.

15. Letter and Joy

Verbs: do, get, beg, want, write, receive, choose
I (a) _____ your letter. You (b) _____ to know where I (c) _____ admitted and which subjects I (d) _____. I am now (e) _____ everything in detail.

16. Role of Co-curricular Activities

Verbs: say, be, provide, face, participate, enrich
Human life (a) _____ dynamic. A man cannot succeed unless he (b) _____ in co-curriculars. Travel (c) _____ our knowledge. It (d) _____ us real experience. It can be (e) _____ that travel is education.

17. Patriotism and Youth

Verbs: feel, lead, make, inspire, create, imply, devote
Patriotism (a) _____ people to be selfless. It (b) _____ virtues that (c) _____ people to (d) _____ for their country. Those lacking it (e) _____ no guilt to harm the nation.

18. Struggle and Courage

Verbs: dare not, visit, be, desire, attain, face, shall
Everyone (a) _____ success, but few (b) _____ it. Many (c) _____ take risks. Life (d) _____ not easy. We (e) _____ difficulties bravely.

19. A Joyful Family Moment

Verbs: write, reach, happen, come, do, twinkle, return
Your letter (a) _____ us yesterday. Mummy’s eyes (b) _____ with joy. Papa (c) _____ in the evening. We told him that you (d) _____ well. He smiled. We hope you (e) _____ for Christmas.

20. Sister’s Marriage

Verbs: begin, say, hold, bid, call, invite, recite
My sister’s marriage was (a) _____ last week. We (b) _____ all relatives. Guests (c) _____ in the evening. The Qazi (d) _____ verses from the Quran. While (e) _____ farewell, we cried.

21. Letter to Mim

Verbs: feel, be, serve, do, for, from
Happy to know your success (a) _____ medical field. Man is the noblest creation (b) _____ Allah. Greatness lies in (c) _____ humanity. Waiting to hear (d) _____ you.

22. Letter to Preety

Verbs: through, with, on, at, to
I received your email saying you’ll pass (a) _____ Dhaka next week. You want to meet (b) _____ me. You’ll be free (c) _____ Friday. You requested lunch (d) _____ my house. I agree (e) _____ your plan.

23. Letter to Rimi

Verbs: in, of, around, up, into
The world we live (a) _____ is full (b) _____ beauty. Many things (c) _____ us shape our environment. We should not turn a clean world (d) _____ a polluted one. Keep it clean by growing (e) _____.