RULES REGARDING USES OF VERBS

RULES REGARDING USES OF VERBS

1.When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same Number, then we
must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are, am, was, were, have, has) for both of them.
For example,
Incorrect- Three- killed and one were injured.
Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.


2.A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form of Verb is same for both the subjects.
For example,
Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.



3.Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the form of the principal Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries.
For example,
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.

4.When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be correctly associated with the both.
For example,
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.
Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.

5. A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate
clause.
For example,
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.
Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.

6.A Past Tense in main clause may be followed by a Present Tense in the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.
For example,
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.

7.When the subordinate clause comes after ‘lest’, the auxiliary Verb ‘should ’ must be used,
whatever be the Tense of the Verb in the main clause.
For example,
Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.
Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.

8.An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between ‘to’ and verbal part of the
infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
For example,
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter:
Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.

9.An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents’ an action prior to that of the governing Verb.
For example,
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.
Correct- I should have liked to go there.

10.Gerund if preceded by a Pronoun, that Pronoun must be in Possessive case.
For example,
Incorrect – He emphasised me going there.
Correct- He emphasised my go-ing there.

11.The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began in the past time and still going at the time of speaking. It is used with, Adverbials of time introduced by ‘since’, ‘for’ and ‘how long’.


For example,
Incorrect- How long are you working in this office?
Correct- How long have you been working in this office?

12.A Verb, when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.
For example,
Incorrect- They were punished for come late.
Correct- They were punished for, coming late.

13.The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and condition. Here the Present Indefinite Tense is used.
For example,
Incorrect- I shall wait for you till you will finish your work.
Correct- I shall wait for you, till you finish your work.

14.The Present Perfect Tense is not used with the Adverbs of past time like yesterday, in 1990 etc. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used.
For example,
Incorrect- I have bought a cycle yesterday.
Correct- I bought a cycle yesterday