Correct use of verbs with examples and structures for building strong English Grammar. Correct Use of Verbs Examples in English and Urdu. Correct Use of Verbs is important when it comes to write and speak English with correction. Correct use of verbs with Examples and PDF Book at the bottom of Page. Correct use of verbs exercises with all the rules. You will learn how to use and choose correct form of verb for a particular sentence.
This lesson will tell you pretty well how to use Verbs Correctly in sentences. Lemme tell you Verb is the backbone of English Grammar and being the backbone, it must be used correctly in sentences. And if you don’t know how to use verbs correctly, then you are at the right place and right page. After reading this post, you will be able to use each kind of verb correctly in sentence
Verbs occupies an important place in a sentences. As we all know that how important is oxygen for life. No living thing can survive without oxygen. Verb is oxygen of a sentence. Sentence is incomplete without verb. It adds sense to a sentence. It describe the meaning of a sentence. A verb always use with subject and object is optional.
We can define verb as:
“A word that performs some action in a sentence”
So it is clear from definition that verb is action doer word. We can explain it with some examples.
- Adam plays soccer.
- Lilly lives in Manchester.
- Smith studies in Oxford University.
- Vaughn likes hunting.
- Diana is running towards home in a hurry.
It is clear from above examples that verbs shows some activity in a sentence. Play, live, study, like and run are all examples of verbs in sentences.
Verbs come in three tenses: past, present, and future. The past is used to describe things that have already happened (e.g., earlier in the day, yesterday, last week, three years ago). The present tense is used to describe things that are happening right now, or things that are continuous.
Correct Use of Verbs Rules
Rule no 1: Verb will follow the subject in number and person. If subject is singular than verb will also be used according to singular subject. If verb is plural then we will use verb according to plural subject.
He were going to college. (Incorrect)
He was going to college. (Correct)
They has finished their home task. (Incorrect)
They have finished their home task. (Correct)
Eliza go to Smith College daily. (Incorrect)
Eliza goes to Smith College daily. (Correct)
Rule no 2: when two subjects are joined by “with” , ”along with” , “as well as” or “in addition to” , the verb and the pronoun will fallow first subject.
Here are some examples to explain the above rule.
The shop with its furniture were gutted. (Incorrect)
The shop with its furniture was gutted. (Correct)
The girls as well as their teacher loves music. (Incorrect)
The girls as well as their teacher love music. (Correct)
Rule no 3: when two subjects are joined by “or”, “either or”, “neither nor”, “not only but also” the verb and pronoun will follow the second object.
We will explain it by examples.
Neither he nor I are busy. (Incorrect)
Neither he nor I am busy. (Correct)
Either he or his brothers has stolen my book. (Incorrect)
Either he or his brothers have stolen my book. (Correct)
Rule no 4: when two different subjects are joined by
“And” we always use plural verbs.
Here are some examples.
A cat and a dog is fighting in the street. (Incorrect)
A cat and a dog are fighting in the street. (Correct)
A boy and a girl is playing in the garden. (Incorrect)
A boy and a girl is playing in the garden. (Correct)
Rule no 5: we always use singular verb after “many a” but we use plural verb after “many”.
Let us explain it with some examples.
Many a students were present in their class. (Incorrect)
Many a student was present in his class. (Correct)
Many a worker were doing his work. (Incorrect)
Many workers were doing their work. (Correct)
Rule no 6: we always use singular verb after the following words.
Each, every, either, neither, none, anyone,
No one, nobody, nothing etc.
Examples:
None of them were present there. (Incorrect)
None of them was present there. (Correct)
Each of them go to college on foot. (Incorrect)
Each of them goes to college on foot. (Correct)
Rule no 7: a) we always use singular verb after “majority” and “minority”
- B) We always use plural verb after “majority of” and “minority of.”
Look at the examples
Majority in the college have failed. (Incorrect)
Majority in the college has failed. (Correct)
Majority of the students in the college has failed. (Incorrect)
Majority of the students in the college have failed. (Correct)
Rule no 8: we use as after the following verbs.
“Regard”, “represent”, “portray”, “define”, “treat”, “depict”.
I regard him for my brother. (Incorrect)
I regard him as my brother. (Correct)
He was treated like a guest of honor. (Incorrect)
He was treated like a guest of honor. (Correct)
Rule no 9: we do not use “as” after the following verbs.
Consider, think, term, call, nominate, name, promote.
Examples:
I called him as a fool. (Incorrect)
I called him a fool. (Correct)
He was promoted as D.C. (Incorrect)
He was promoted D.C. (Correct)
Rule no 10: we always use “were” or “had” after “would that”, “as if” and ”as though.”
Examples:
Would that I was rich. (Incorrect)
Would that I were rich. (Correct)
He speaks as if he is mad. (Incorrect)
He speaks as if he were mad. (Correct)
Would that he has helped me. (Incorrect)
Would that he had helped me. (Correct)
So these are the rules for correct use of verb.
Now we will discuss some common examples for practice.
| He and his brother has come. (Incorrect) |
| He and his brother have come. (Correct) |
| Nobody like to meet him. (Incorrect) |
| Nobody likes to meet him. (Correct) |
| A large number of the students was present there. (Incorrect) |
| A large number of the students were present there. (Correct) |
| Two and two makes four. (Incorrect) |
| Two and two make four. (Correct) |
| Have anything useful happened? (Incorrect) |
| Has anything useful happened? (Correct) |
| Each of our students pay their fee in advance. (Incorrect) |
| Each of our students pays his fee in advance. (Correct) |
| Until you remains idle you will make no progress. (Incorrect) |
| Until you remain idle you will make no progress. (Correct) |
| Neither of them were prepared for emergency. (Incorrect) |
| Neither of them was prepared for emergency. (Correct) |
| Clark and his brother has come. (Incorrect) |
| Clark and his brother has come. (Correct) |
| Everyone who see you love you. (Incorrect) |
| Everyone who sees you love you. (Correct) |
| The boy and the girl sings. (Incorrect) |
| The boy and the girl sing. (Correct) |
| My students as well as I am doing this work. (Incorrect) |
| My students as well as I are doing this work. (Correct) |
| The minority of the people in Somalia is prosperous. (Incorrect) |
| The minority of the people in Somalia are prosperous. (Correct) |
| He and I am friends. (Incorrect) |
| He and I are friends. (Correct) |
| The king with all his ministers were murdered. (Incorrect) |
| The king with all his ministers was murdered. (Correct) |
