🏃 Verbs
Action words, forms, modals, and common errors.
Verbs
Verbs: The "Queen" of Speech
Verbs are often considered the "Queen" of speech because they are the most essential part of any sentence. A sentence cannot exist without a verb.
What is a Verb?
A Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. It tells us what a subject does or what happens to it.
- Action: Describes dynamic activities (e.g., The farmer ploughs the field).
- State: Describes a condition or situation (e.g., Ramesh is a banker).
- Feeling/Possession: Describes internal states (e.g., She has a scholarship, He feels confident).
Types of Verbs
Verbs are broadly categorized into two main types based on their function in a sentence:
1. Main Verbs (Primary Verbs)
Main verbs (or lexical verbs) carry the core meaning of the sentence. They identify the specific action or state.
- Key Characteristic: They are compulsory for a sentence to have a complete meaning.
- Functions:
- Action: She cleared the IBPS exam.
- State/Link: He is a field officer.
- Possession: They have a cooperative society.
2. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)
Auxiliary verbs (or helping verbs) support the main verb. They do not have a complete meaning on their own but add functional information.
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Verbs
Verbs: The "Queen" of Speech
Verbs are often considered the "Queen" of speech because they are the most essential part of any sentence. A sentence cannot exist without a verb.
What is a Verb?
A Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. It tells us what a subject does or what happens to it.
- Action: Describes dynamic activities (e.g., The farmer ploughs the field).
- State: Describes a condition or situation (e.g., Ramesh is a banker).
- Feeling/Possession: Describes internal states (e.g., She has a scholarship, He feels confident).
Types of Verbs
Verbs are broadly categorized into two main types based on their function in a sentence:
1. Main Verbs (Primary Verbs)
Main verbs (or lexical verbs) carry the core meaning of the sentence. They identify the specific action or state.
- Key Characteristic: They are compulsory for a sentence to have a complete meaning.
- Functions:
- Action: She cleared the IBPS exam.
- State/Link: He is a field officer.
- Possession: They have a cooperative society.
2. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)
Auxiliary verbs (or helping verbs) support the main verb. They do not have a complete meaning on their own but add functional information.
- Key Characteristic: They are not compulsory (unless the tense requires them) and accompany a main verb.
- Functions:
- Tense: They tell us when the action happened (e.g., is, was, has).
- Mood/Condition: They express possibility, ability, or necessity (e.g., can, could, must).
Verbs with Dual Roles (Primary Auxiliaries)
Some verbs are special because they can function as both a Main Verb and a Helping Verb depending on the sentence. These include forms of Be, Do, and Have.
A. The Verb "Be" (is / am / are / was / were / be)
As a Main Verb
(i) Expressing height, weight, age, size, colour, feeling, condition:
- The wheat crop is ready for harvest.
- The sack of bajra is very heavy.
- This cooperative society is twenty years old.
- The NABARD officer is satisfied with the report.
- The irrigation pump is in good condition.
(ii) Showing date, time, and weather:
- Yesterday was the last date for applications.
- It is half past eleven.
- The weather over Vidarbha is hot and dry.
(iii) Showing existence or providing information:
- There are several vacancy notifications on the website.
- She is a crop insurance officer.
- That building is the new district cooperative bank.
(iv) Expressing a command or request:
- Be attentive during the interview.
- Be honest in your answer sheet.
As a Helping Verb
(i) Forming Continuous Tenses (is/am/are/was/were + present participle):
- The farmer is irrigating his sugarcane field.
- They were harvesting the rice when the rain started.
(ii) Forming Passive Voice (is/am/are/was/were + past participle):
- The subsidy is disbursed by the district collector.
- The application form was filled by the candidate.
(iii) Indicating Future Plans (is/am/are/was/were + to + verb):
- She is to submit her project by Thursday.
- The new fertiliser policy is to take effect next season.
(iv) Giving Orders/Instructions:
- All candidates are to report at the examination centre by 9 AM.
- Officers are to attend the training programme without fail.
(v) Past Plans (uncertain outcome): If 'was/were' + infinitive is used, it indicates an activity was planned in the past, but the speaker is unsure whether it occurred.
- He was to appear for the NABARD interview. (We don't know if he did.)
(vi) Immediate Future (be + about + to + verb):
- The RBI is about to release its monetary policy statement.
- The results are about to be declared.
B. The Verb "Do" (do / does / did)
As a Main Verb
(i) Performing a task:
- She always does her revision before going to sleep.
- He did his best during the group discussion round.
(ii) In negative and interrogative sentences:
- Farmers in that region usually do not use drip irrigation.
- Does she know the syllabus for IBPS SO?
- Did they submit the loan application last week?
(iii) In continuous forms:
- They are doing a soil health assessment together.
- She was doing her mock test when the electricity went off.
As a Helping Verb
(i) Forming negatives (simple present/past):
- I do not find this explanation convincing.
- They did not receive their crop insurance payout on time.
(ii) Forming interrogatives:
- Does she solve previous year papers every day?
- Did he clear the preliminary examination?
(iii) Emphasis in affirmative sentences:
- She does score consistently in the English section.
- He did submit the form before the deadline.
(iv) Persuasive requests/invitations:
- Please do attend the orientation session.
(v) Question tags:
- She studies agriculture, doesn't she?
- He cleared the mains exam, didn't he?
(vi) Avoiding verb repetition:
- Suresh reads newspapers daily and so does his sister.
- They practise reasoning daily and so do we.
(vii) Short answers:
- Did you complete the syllabus? — Yes, I did.
- Does he attempt mock tests? — No, he doesn't.
C. The Verb "Have" (has / have / had)
As a Main Verb
(i) Indicating possession, relationships, illness:
- She has a degree in agriculture.
- He has a fever today.
- He had a small farm near the Godavari river when he was young.
(ii) Indicating eating, drinking, enjoying, doing:
- Have lunch / breakfast / dinner / a meal
- Have chai / juice / lassi / a drink
- Have a good time / a holiday / rest / a bath
- Have a discussion / a disagreement / a walk
(iii) In continuous tenses:
- She is having lunch with her study group.
- They were having a great time at the village fair.
⚠️ Point to remember: When "have" is used to indicate possession, it is NOT used in the continuous tense.
- ✅ She has a plot near the irrigation canal. (Possession → no continuous)
- ❌ She is having a plot near the irrigation canal.
(iv) Colloquial "got": In casual language, 'got' is used after have/has/had without adding independent meaning.
- He has got two brothers. = He has two brothers.
(v) "Have been" = visited/gone:
- Have you ever been to the Kumbh Mela?
- I have never been to the NABARD headquarters.
As a Helping Verb
(i) Forming Perfect Tenses:
- She has studied agricultural economics for three years. (Present Perfect)
- By the time the officer arrived, the farmers had already dispersed. (Past Perfect)
(ii) Modal Perfect Tenses:
- She can have finished the revision by now.
- He must have forgotten the interview date.
- We could have scored better in the reasoning section.
(iii) Has/have/had + had: In this construction, the second 'had' is the main verb.
- She has had three cups of chai today.
- He had had enough of the repeated power cuts.
(iv) Causative: Have + object + past participle (work done by someone else):
- I had my application form checked by the senior officer. (Someone else checked it)
- She has her fields ploughed before the monsoon.
- They had their pump repaired before the sowing season.
(v) Obligation: Have + to + verb:
- She has to submit her assignment before the results are declared.
- They had to revise the entire syllabus in two weeks.
(vi) Conditional inversion with "Had":
- If she had prepared thoroughly, she would have cleared the interview. → Had she prepared thoroughly, she would have cleared the interview. ✅
D. Classification by Number and Tense
Here is a quick reference guide to how these auxiliary verbs behave with different subjects and tenses:
| Type | Verb | Singular Subject (He/She/It) | Plural Subject (We/They) | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Be | is / am | are | I uses 'am' |
| Present | Have | has | have | I/You use 'have' |
| Present | Do | does | do | I/You use 'do' |
| Past | Be | was | were | You uses 'were' |
| Past | Have | had | had | (Same for all) |
| Past | Do | did | did | (Same for all) |
E. Special Case: The Imaginary "Were"
Usually, "Was" is used for Singular subjects in the past tense (I was, He was). However, there is one major exception: Imagination.
- Rule: When a sentence expresses a hypothetical situation, wish, or imagination (something not real), we always use "Were", regardless of the subject (even for I, He, She).
💡 The Logic: This is called the Subjunctive Mood. It signals that the statement is "Not a Reality".
- Normal (Reality): He was a bank clerk. (Fact)
- Imaginary (Hypothetical): If I were a collector, I would help farmers. (Imagination — I am not a collector)
- Examples:
- I wish I were an IAS officer. (Correct)
- If she were selected, she would relocate to Delhi. (Correct)
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
Main verbs can be further divided based on whether they require an object.
1. Transitive Verbs (T.V.)
A Transitive Verb necessitates a direct object to complete its meaning. The action transfers from the subject to something else.
- Structure: Subject + Verb + Object
- Example: The officer inspected the godown.
- (You cannot just say "The officer inspected." You must explain what was inspected. "The godown" is the object.)
- Example: The farmer sold the wheat.
- ("The wheat" receives the action.)
2. Intransitive Verbs (I.V.)
An Intransitive Verb does not require a direct object. The action is complete in itself or modifies the subject.
- Structure: Subject + Verb (+ Adverb/Preposition)
- Example: The child sleeps.
- (Discussion ends here. No object is needed.)
- Example: She went to Patna.
- (Note: "Patna" here is part of a prepositional phrase "to Patna", not a direct object of "went".)
Important Rules for Transitive & Intransitive Verbs
Rule 1: Some transitive verbs like give, ask, offer, promise, tell take two objects — one indirect (person) and one direct (thing).
- The bank gave her (indirect) a loan (direct).
Rule 2: Some verbs can be used in both transitive and intransitive forms:
- He drives the tractor every morning. (Transitive)
- The tractor drives smoothly. (Intransitive)
- The officer stopped the vehicle. (Transitive)
- The vehicle stopped suddenly. (Intransitive)
Rule 3: When an intransitive verb is used with a preposition, it functions as a transitive verb.
- No one relies on the seasonal rainfall alone. ("relies on" acts as transitive)
- He carried out the survey as instructed.
Rule 4: Cognate Objects — Sometimes, intransitive verbs take an object similar in meaning to the verb itself (called a cognate object).
- The brave soldier died a glorious death.
- The old woman dreamt a strange dream.
- He lived a simple, virtuous life.
Rule 5: Adverbial Objects — When a noun modifies a verb and denotes time, place, distance, weight, or value, it is called an adverbial object.
- She went home. (place)
- The marathon runner swam a mile. (distance)
- He held the post for ten years. (time)
Verbs of Incomplete Predication
Some intransitive verbs do not give complete meaning on their own and require a complement.
- Verbs of complete predication: The candidate smiled. ✅ (Full meaning)
- Verbs of incomplete predication: The crop seems... ❌ (Incomplete — seems what?)
Common verbs of incomplete predication: be, seem, become, appear.
They require a complement to complete their sense:
- The soil seems fertile. (Adjective)
- He became a district manager. (Noun)
- She appears confident. (Past participle)
- The Ganga is wide near Varanasi. (Adjective)
Factitive Verbs: If a transitive verb takes an object and still doesn't give complete meaning, it needs a complement called a factitive.
- The board made him president. (Noun complement)
- The collector declared the village flood-affected. (Adjective complement)
- He found her still working at midnight. (Participle complement)
Finite vs. Non-Finite Verbs
Verbs can also be classified by whether they change form based on the subject.
1. Finite Verbs
Finite verbs change their form depending on the tense and the subject (number and person).
- She sows wheat every November. (Singular Subject → sows)
- They sow wheat every November. (Plural Subject → sow)
- She sowed wheat last November. (Past Tense → sowed)
2. Non-Finite Verbs
Non-finite verbs do not change their form. They act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs rather than the main verb of the clause.
- In She wants to clear the exam and They want to clear the exam, the verb "to clear" stays the same regardless of subject.
There are three main types of Non-Finite verbs: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives.
Infinitive Rules (To + V1)
An Infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by "to". It can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
- Full Infinitive: She wants to become an IBPS officer.
- Bare Infinitive: (Without "to") — Let her speak. / He made the clerk redo the form.
Rule 1: "How + to + verb" after certain verbs
Verbs like know, learn, explain, teach, ask, discover, wonder, remember, show, forget require "how + to + verb" to indicate manner or method.
- ❌ He knows to operate the new irrigation pump.
- ✅ He knows how to operate the new irrigation pump.
- ❌ She learned to prepare a project report.
- ✅ She learned how to prepare a project report.
Rule 2: Verbs followed by To-Infinitive
Certain verbs are directly followed by the to-infinitive: afford, agree, attempt, beg, begin, choose, consent, decide, desire, endeavour, hesitate, intend, learn, like, love, manage, mean, need, offer, prefer, prepare, pretend, refuse, try, want, wish, etc.
- ❌ He can't afford buying new textbooks this month.
- ✅ He can't afford to buy new textbooks this month.
- ❌ Have you decided taking the RRB SO exam this year?
- ✅ Have you decided to take the RRB SO exam this year?
Rule 3: Object + Infinitive after certain verbs
Certain verbs use the object + infinitive construction: advise, allow, compel, encourage, expect, forbid, force, instruct, invite, oblige, order, permit, persuade, request, tell, want, warn, etc.
- ❌ The trainer advised her taking notes during the lecture.
- ✅ The trainer advised her to take notes during the lecture.
- ❌ They invited the farmers attending the cooperative meeting.
- ✅ They invited the farmers to attend the cooperative meeting.
Rule 4: Infinitive after Adjectives
Generally, infinitives (not gerunds) are used after adjectives.
- ❌ She is glad helping the village community.
- ✅ She is glad to help the village community.
- ❌ The aspirants are eager learning about the new exam pattern.
- ✅ The aspirants are eager to learn about the new exam pattern.
Rule 5: Infinitive for Purpose
Infinitives are used to indicate purpose or reason (use "to," not "for + V-ing").
- ❌ He practises daily for improving his speed.
- ✅ He practises daily to improve his speed.
- ❌ The NABARD officer visited the village for assessing the damage.
- ✅ The NABARD officer visited the village to assess the damage.
Rule 6: Infinitive to Qualify a Noun
Infinitives are used to qualify or describe a noun (use "to," not "for + V-ing").
- ❌ The ambition for serving the nation drives him.
- ✅ The ambition to serve the nation drives him.
- ❌ A chance for clearing IBPS PO excited the whole family.
- ✅ A chance to clear IBPS PO excited the whole family.
Rule 7: Bare Infinitive after certain verbs
The bare infinitive (without "to") is used after: make, help, feel, let, hear, watch, see, know, notice, have.
- ❌ The officer made the applicant to resubmit the form.
- ✅ The officer made the applicant resubmit the form.
- ❌ I had the mechanic to fix the water pump.
- ✅ I had the mechanic fix the water pump.
Rule 8: Bare Infinitive after "had better," "would rather," etc.
The bare infinitive is used after "had better," "would better," "had rather," "would rather," "sooner than," "as soon."
- ❌ You had better to revise the entire chapter tonight.
- ✅ You had better revise the entire chapter tonight.
- ❌ We would rather to attempt the reasoning section first.
- ✅ We would rather attempt the reasoning section first.
Rule 9: Bare Infinitive after "why" / "why not"
When forming interrogative phrases using "why" or "why not," the bare infinitive is used.
- ❌ Why to worry about things outside your control?
- ✅ Why worry about things outside your control?
- ❌ Why not to apply for the FCI recruitment this year?
- ✅ Why not apply for the FCI recruitment this year?
Rule 10: Bare Infinitive after "and," "than," "but"
The bare infinitive is used after "and," "as," "than," "except," and "but."
- ❌ She would rather walk to the exam centre than to take an auto.
- ✅ She would rather walk to the exam centre than take an auto.
- ❌ We can't help but to admire his dedication to the cause.
- ✅ We can't help but admire his dedication to the cause.
- ❌ He decided to revise the notes and to relax for a while.
- ✅ He decided to revise the notes and relax for a while.
Rule 11: Infinitive after "too + adjective" / "adjective + enough"
The infinitive (not "for + V-ing") is used after "too + adjective" and "adjective + enough."
- ❌ The dal is too hot for eating right now.
- ✅ The dal is too hot to eat right now.
- ❌ The canal is not wide enough for navigating large boats.
- ✅ The canal is not wide enough to navigate large boats.
Rule 12: Perfect Infinitive
When the infinitive action takes place before the finite action, the perfect infinitive (to have + V3) is used.
- ❌ She seems to submit her application already.
- ✅ She seems to have submitted her application already.
- ❌ He appears to miss the last train to Jaipur.
- ✅ He appears to have missed the last train to Jaipur.
Rule 13: Continuous Infinitive
Certain verbs like appear, believe, consider, happen, hope, like, love, pretend, report, seem, think are followed by the continuous infinitive (to be + V-ing).
- ❌ She appears to revise for the banking exam. (at this moment)
- ✅ She appears to be revising for the banking exam.
- ❌ The report states the flood to advance towards the district.
- ✅ The report states the flood to be advancing towards the district.
Rule 14: No Split Infinitives
Do not use a split infinitive — avoid placing an adverb between "to" and "verb." Place the adverb at the end.
- ❌ She wanted to carefully read the question paper.
- ✅ She wanted to read the question paper carefully.
- ❌ He decided to firmly oppose the unfair policy.
- ✅ He decided to oppose the unfair policy firmly.
Rule 15: Need & Dare as Modal Auxiliaries
When "Need" and "Dare" are used as modal auxiliary verbs, they take the bare infinitive (without "to").
- ❌ You need not to repeat the experiment.
- ✅ You need not repeat the experiment.
- ❌ She dare not to raise the issue before the committee.
- ✅ She dare not raise the issue before the committee.
Gerund Rules (V + ing as Noun)
A Gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a Noun. It answers the question "What?".
- Farming requires patience and hard work. (Subject)
- She enjoys reading about Indian agriculture. (Object)
- He is addicted to gambling. (Object of preposition)
Rule 1: Verbs followed by Gerund
Certain verbs are followed by the gerund (not infinitive): admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, consider, contemplate, delay, deny, dislike, detest, endure, enjoy, mind, love, resist, forgive, mention, postpone, stop, start, defer, prefer, finish, risk, propose, escape, suggest, practise, imagine, hate, mean, regret, fancy, miss, pardon, excuse, resent, etc.
- ❌ We anticipate to secure a rank in the top ten.
- ✅ We anticipate securing a rank in the top ten.
- ❌ She contemplated to shift to a new study centre.
- ✅ She contemplated shifting to a new study centre.
Rule 2: Gerund after Prepositions (except "to")
Verbs used after prepositions (except "to") are always used in the gerund form.
- ✅ We discussed the issue before drafting the letter.
- ✅ He improved his score by practising every day.
- ❌ He has been penalised for misbehave with the supervisor.
- ✅ He has been penalised for misbehaving with the supervisor.
- ❌ She is fond of grow vegetables on the terrace.
- ✅ She is fond of growing vegetables on the terrace.
Rule 3: "To + Gerund" Phrases
The following phrases end in "to" but are followed by a Gerund, not a base verb (because "to" here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive):
with a view to, look forward to, accustomed to, habituated to, addicted to, devoted to, dedicated to, object to, prone to, given to, key to, in addition to, tantamount to, admit to, averse to, be used to, conducive to, owing to, take to
- ❌ She is accustomed to work long hours during harvest season.
- ✅ She is accustomed to working long hours during harvest season.
- ❌ He is addicted to scroll through social media at night.
- ✅ He is addicted to scrolling through social media at night.
- ✅ I look forward to meeting the NABARD examiner. (Not meet)
💡 The Logic: Why "V+ing"? Because in these phrases, "to" is a Preposition, not part of an infinitive.
- Rule: Prepositions are always followed by a Noun (or Gerund).
- Think of: I am dedicated to the cause (Noun). → So, I am dedicated to serving (Noun/Gerund).
Rule 4: "Can't bear / can't help / can't stand" + Gerund
The gerund is used after "can't bear," "can't help," and "can't stand."
- ❌ She can't bear to see the crops fail year after year.
- ✅ She can't bear seeing the crops fail year after year.
- ❌ They can't stand to wait in the queue at the bank.
- ✅ They can't stand waiting in the queue at the bank.
Rule 5: Possessive before a Gerund
Any noun/pronoun preceding a gerund should be in possessive form.
- ❌ We are glad about them clearing the mains examination.
- ✅ We are glad about their clearing the mains examination.
- ❌ Meena singing at the cultural event delighted everyone.
- ✅ Meena's singing at the cultural event delighted everyone.
💡 The Logic:
- Gerund = Noun.
- You say "My book", not "Me book".
- Similarly, you say "My preparing", not "Me preparing".
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns table
| Possessive Adjective | Possessive Pronoun | Objective Pronoun | Subjective Pronoun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Per. Sing. | my | mine | me | I |
| 1st Per. Plu. | our | ours | us | We |
| 2nd Per. Sing/Plu. | your | yours | you | You |
| 3rd Per. Sing. Masc. | his | his | him | He |
| 3rd Per. Sing. Fem. | her | hers | her | She |
| 3rd Per. Sing. Neut. | its | (X - None) | it | It |
| 3rd Per. Plu. | their | theirs | them | They |
⚠️ Exception: In the case of the passive form of gerunds or when the noun refers to a non-living thing, the possessive case is not used.
- ❌ We discussed the pump's needing repairs.
- ✅ We discussed the pump needing repairs.
Rule 6: "Go" / "Come" + Gerund for Sports & Physical Activities
The gerund is used with "go" and "come" when referring to sports or other physical activities.
- ❌ They go to swim in the river every evening.
- ✅ They go swimming in the river every evening.
- ❌ He came to trek through the Sahyadri range.
- ✅ He came trekking through the Sahyadri range.
Rule 7: "No point in" / "No use" Constructions
- "In + V-ing" is used after "no point," "no sense," "no harm":
- There is no point in memorising every formula blindly.
- There is no harm in attempting a mock test today.
- "V-ing" (without "in") is used after "no good," "no use," "no worth," "busy":
- It's no good regretting the time you wasted.
- It's no use blaming others for your poor preparation.
Participle Rules (V as Adjective)
A Participle is a verb form that functions as an Adjective to describe a noun.
- Present Participle (V + ing): Describes an ongoing state. → The flowing river.
- Past Participle (V3): Describes a completed state. → The harvested wheat.
- Perfect Participle (Having + V3): Indicates an action completed before another. → Having submitted her form, she went home.
Rule 1: Dangling Participle (Participle must relate to the subject)
A participle clause or phrase should always be related to the subject given after it; otherwise, the sentence is considered impure (a "dangling participle").
- ❌ Tired from the long journey, the dharamshala looked inviting.
- ✅ Tired from the long journey, they found the dharamshala inviting.
- ❌ Having scored well in mains, a bank job was expected.
- ✅ Having scored well in mains, she expected a bank job.
Rule 2: Independent Participle Clauses
When a participle clause begins with words like "regarding," "considering," "concerning," "supposing," "referring," "speaking," "touching," "owing," "allowing," "judging," etc., the subject following such clauses remains independent (no dangling error).
- ✅ Considering your preparation level, you should attempt the mains.
- ✅ Supposing you finish early, we can review the answers together.
Rule 3: Object + Present Participle
Using object + present participle is appropriate after verbs like "find," "catch," "spend," "leave," and "waste."
- ❌ She spent the evening to revise current affairs.
- ✅ She spent the evening revising current affairs.
- ❌ They wasted hours to discuss irrelevant topics.
- ✅ They wasted hours discussing irrelevant topics.
Rule 4: Omit "as" after certain verbs
The use of "as" is not done after verbs like "think," "elect," "consider," "name," "choose," "make," "declare," "appoint," "call," and "crown."
- ❌ The board elected him as chairman.
- ✅ The board elected him chairman.
- ❌ The district authority declared her as the best farmer.
- ✅ The district authority declared her the best farmer.
Rule 5: Get/Be + Participle
The verb used after "get" and "be" should be either a present participle or a past participle.
- ❌ She got him laugh with her comment.
- ✅ She got him laughing with her comment.
- ❌ The report was submit before noon.
- ✅ The report was submitted before noon.
Rule 6: Keep / Remain / Go on + Present Participle
Present participle is used after "keep," "remain," and "go on."
- ❌ He kept the labourers waited for two hours.
- ✅ He kept the labourers waiting for two hours.
- ❌ The professor went on to explain the agricultural credit system.
- ✅ The professor went on explaining the agricultural credit system.
Rule 7: Transferred Negation
If a noun clause is used after "think," "imagine," "suppose," and "believe," then "not" is used before the verb preceding the clause (not inside the clause).
- ❌ She thinks the results will not be declared today.
- ✅ She doesn't think the results will be declared today.
- ❌ I imagine the paper will not be difficult this year.
- ✅ I don't imagine the paper will be difficult this year.
Rule 8: Two Auxiliary Verbs — Different Forms
When two auxiliary verbs are used in a sentence, different forms of verbs are used with both accordingly.
- ✅ She has revised the entire syllabus, and she will excel in the exam.
- ✅ He teaches at a coaching centre, and by December, he will have taught for five years.
Rule 9: Causative Verb Structure
When "have" or "get" is used as a causative verb, it follows the structure: have/get + object + past participle (V3).
Common structures:
- I have my fields ploughed before monsoon. (Someone else ploughs them)
- I am having my fields ploughed.
- I will have my fields ploughed.
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are special auxiliary verbs that express possibility, necessity, permission, or ability.
Key Rules:
- They never change form (no -s, -ed, -ing).
- They are always followed by the Base Form (V1) of the main verb used without "to" (except ought to and used to).
💡 The Logic: Modals express a "Mode" or "Mood" (Probability, Ability), not the action itself. They are "markers" placed before the action. They don't have different "times" themselves; they just shift the perspective.
1. Can / Could
- Can:
- Ability: I can read a Hindi newspaper fluently.
- Informal Permission: Can I check the notice board?
- Theoretical Possibility: Waterlogging can destroy the entire crop.
- Could:
- Past Ability: She could solve 30 questions in an hour when she was in top form.
- Polite Request: Could you share the study material?
- Possibility: The exam date could change.
2. May / Might
- May:
- Permission (Formal): May I enter the examination hall, sir? (More respectful than can)
- Possibility (High): It may rain heavily over central India today. (Good chance)
- Might:
- Possibility (Low): He might qualify the prelims. (Less certain than may)
- Tentative Suggestion: You might try the previous year papers from 2019.
3. Will / Shall
- Will:
- Future Action: The results will be published next week.
- Determination/Promise (I/We): I will complete this revision tonight.
- Shall:
- Suggestion (I/We): Shall we attempt this section together?
- Formal/Legal Obligation: The borrower shall repay the loan within five years.
4. Should / Ought to / Must
- Should: Advice or Suggestion.
- You should focus more on the numerical ability section.
- Ought to: Moral Obligation (Stronger than should).
- We ought to respect the contribution of farmers to the nation.
- Must: Compulsion or Strong Necessity.
- Candidates must carry a valid photo ID to the exam hall.
- I must finish this topic before tomorrow.
5. Detailed Usage of "Would"
"Would" is a versatile modal with several advanced uses:
- Past of "Will" (Indirect Speech):
- Direct: She said, "I will clear the IBPS PO exam."
- Indirect: She said that she would clear the IBPS PO exam.
- Possibility:
- Would it be possible to reschedule the interview?
- I wonder if he would join the new batch.
- Polite Requests (Interrogative):
- Would you please explain the concept once more?
- Past Habit: (functionally similar to used to)
- My grandfather would wake up at five every morning to tend to the fields.
- Conditional Sentences:
- Type 2 (Unlikely/Hypothetical): If I scored 90 in English, I would clear the cutoff.
- Type 3 (Impossible/Past): If she had applied earlier, she would have been shortlisted.
- Wish / Choice / Preference:
- I wish he would respond to the notice.
- I would rather attempt quant first than start with English. (Preference)
6. Question Tags with Imperatives
- General Imperative: Uses "will you?"
- Submit the form before five o'clock, will you?
- "Let us" sentences: Uses "shall we?"
- Let us go over the current affairs once more, shall we?
Marginal Modals (Semi-Modals)
These verbs share characteristics of both modals and main verbs: Need, Dare, and Used to.
1. Need & Dare
They act as Modals mainly in Negative and Interrogative sentences.
- As a Modal: (No "s", follows bare infinitive)
- She need not bring extra documents. (Correct)
- He dare not challenge the examiner's decision. (Correct)
- As a Main Verb: (Takes "s", follows "to")
- She needs to bring her admit card.
- He dares to question the established method.
2. Used to
- Usage 1: Past Habit (Modal-like)
- He used to walk five kilometres to reach the nearest school. (He did this before, but not now).
- Usage 2: Be Used To (Adjective phrase meaning "accustomed to")
- Structure: Subject + be + used to + Gerund (-ing)
- She is used to working under pressure. (Correct)
- She is used to work under pressure. (Incorrect)
💡 The Logic: Why "working"?
- In "Be used to", used to works as an Adjective phrase meaning "accustomed to".
- The "to" is a Preposition.
- Prepositions take Nouns (Gerunds). → accustomed to (what?) → working under pressure.
Confusing Verbs
Some verbs look similar but have different meanings and forms.
Lie vs. Lay
| Word | Meaning | Type | V1 | V2 | V3 | ing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lie | To recline/rest | Intransitive (No Object) | Lie | Lay | Lain | Lying |
| Lay | To put/place | Transitive (Needs Object) | Lay | Laid | Laid | Laying |
| Lie | To tell a lie | Intransitive | Lie | Lied | Lied | Lying |
- He lay under the neem tree for hours yesterday. (Past of Lie - Recline)
- She laid the application form on the officer's desk. (Past of Lay - Place)
Fall vs. Fell
| Word | Meaning | Type | V1 | V2 | V3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | To drop down | Intransitive | Fall | Fell | Fallen |
| Fell | To cut down | Transitive | Fell | Felled | Felled |
- The ripe mangoes fell from the tree. (Dropped)
- The workers felled several trees to widen the road. (Cut down)
Find vs. Found
| Word | Meaning | Type | V1 | V2 | V3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Find | To discover | Transitive | Find | Found | Found |
| Found | To establish | Transitive | Found | Founded | Founded |
- The auditors found several discrepancies in the records. (Discovered)
- She founded a self-help group for women farmers. (Established)
Common Errors to Avoid
-
Redundancy with Modals:
- Incorrect: She could not be able to attend the interview. (Could = Be able to)
- Correct: She could not attend the interview. / She was not able to attend the interview.
-
Double Modals:
- Incorrect: He might likely get selected. (Might = Likely)
- Correct: He might get selected. / He is likely to get selected.
-
"Lest" uses "Should":
- Incorrect: Revise thoroughly lest you will forget the formulae.
- Correct: Revise thoroughly lest you should forget the formulae. (Or use subjunctive: lest you forget)
💡 The Logic: "Lest" means "for fear that". It expresses a hypothetical fear.
- Hypotheticals use the Subjunctive Mood.
- "Should" is the marker for this mood here (meaning "in case it happens"). "Will" is for definite future, so it contradicts the "fear/possibility" meaning of Lest.
-
Used to + Gerund (after "be"):
- Incorrect: He is used to handle difficult questions.
- Correct: He is used to handling difficult questions.
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Concept / Topic | Key Details / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Verb = "Queen" of Speech | Every sentence requires a verb; without it there is no sentence |
| Main vs Auxiliary | Main verb carries meaning; auxiliary (helping) verb adds tense/mood/voice |
| Be / Do / Have — Dual Role | These three can be both main verb AND auxiliary verb depending on context |
| "Have" — NOT continuous for possession | "She has a farm" (not "is having a farm"). Use continuous only for actions: "She is having lunch" |
| Imaginary "Were" | Subjunctive mood — use were for ALL subjects in hypothetical/wish contexts: "If I were an officer..." |
| Transitive Verb | Takes a direct object: "The officer inspected the godown" |
| Intransitive Verb | No direct object; action complete in itself: "The child sleeps" |
| Cognate Object | Intransitive verb + noun of similar meaning: "He died a glorious death" |
| Finite vs Non-Finite | Finite verbs change with tense/subject; non-finite (gerund, participle, infinitive) do not |
| Infinitive: How + to | After know, learn, explain, teach, show — use "how to": "She knows how to operate the pump" |
| To-Infinitive verbs | afford, agree, decide, refuse, want, wish, manage, try, etc. → followed by to + V1 |
| Bare Infinitive | After make, let, help, hear, see, watch, feel, notice, have → V1 without "to" |
| Bare Infinitive phrases | had better, would rather, sooner than → bare infinitive: "You had better revise" |
| No Split Infinitive | Never place adverb between "to" and verb: "to carefully read" → "to read carefully" |
| Infinitive for purpose | Use "to + V1" for purpose, not "for + V-ing": "practises daily to improve" |
| Perfect Infinitive | When infinitive action is BEFORE main action: "She seems to have submitted" |
| Verbs + Gerund | admit, avoid, enjoy, finish, mind, postpone, suggest, imagine, miss, regret, consider, deny, etc. |
| Preposition + Gerund | After any preposition (except to in infinitives): "fond of growing", "penalised for misbehaving" |
| "To" as preposition + Gerund | accustomed to, look forward to, addicted to, used to, with a view to → V+ing: "look forward to meeting" |
| Possessive before Gerund | Noun/pronoun before gerund takes possessive form: "Their clearing", "Meena's singing" |
| Go/Come + Gerund | Sports/physical activities: "go swimming", "come trekking" (not "go to swim") |
| Dangling Participle | Participle clause subject must match sentence subject: "Having scored well, she expected a job" |
| Verbs without "as" | elect, name, consider, think, appoint, call, choose, make, declare, crown — no "as" |
| Causative: have/get + obj + V3 | "I had my form checked" — someone else does the action |
| Can/Could | Can = present ability/permission; Could = past ability/polite request/possibility |
| May/Might | May = formal permission/high possibility; Might = lower possibility |
| Should/Ought to/Must | Should = advice; Ought to = moral obligation; Must = compulsion |
| Would — past habit | "He would wake up at five to tend the fields" (similar to used to) |
| Lest + should | "Revise lest you should forget" — never use will/would/may/might after lest |
| Need/Dare as modals | Modal use: "need not bring", "dare not raise" (bare infinitive, no "to") |
| Used to vs Be used to | Used to + V1 = past habit; Be used to + V-ing = accustomed to |
| Lie vs Lay | Lie (recline) → lay → lain (intransitive); Lay (place) → laid → laid (transitive) |
| Fall vs Fell | Fall → fell → fallen (intransitive); Fell → felled → felled (to cut down, transitive) |
| Find vs Found | Find → found → found (discover); Found → founded → founded (establish) |
| Modal Redundancy | "Could not be able" is wrong — could = be able to; use one or the other |
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