Mastering the Right Forms of Verbs is essential for correct English sentence structure, grammar exams, and fluent writing. This comprehensive exercise guide provides solved examples, grammatical rules, and practice questions to help you apply verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and gerunds correctly.
Important Exercise on Right Forms of Verbs
Review these 65 detailed examples covering conditional clauses, continuous tenses, passive voice, infinitives, and modal verbs:
1. If I (be) __ a king!
Ans: If I were a king!
2. It is 10 am now. The sun (shine) __ in the eastern sky.
Ans: It is 10 am now. The sun is shining in the eastern sky.
3. We often (fall) __ a victim of circumstances.
Ans. We often fall a victim of circumstances.
4. Aslam (to be) __ ill for about month.
Ans. Aslam has been ill for about a month.
5. They (to dig) __ the pond for a month.
Ans. They have been digging the pond for a month.
6. We (not have) __ a holiday since the beginning of the year.
Ans. We have not had a holiday since the beginning of the year.
7. I (to live) __ here since 1972.
Ans. I have been living here since 1972.
8. He (move) __ to Chicago just a few months ago.
Ans. He moved to Chicago just a few months ago.
9. All the books (to sell) __ yesterday.
Ans. All the books were sold yesterday.
10. I opened the door as soon as I (hear) ___ the bell.
Ans. I opened the door as soon as I heard the bell.
11. I (to hang) ___ the picture on the wall yesterday.
Ans. I hung the picture on the wall yesterday.
12. We were watching the news when the telephone (ring) ___.
Ans. We were watching the news when the telephone rang.
13. As the sun (shine) ___ I decied to go out.
Ans. As the sun was shining/shone, I decied to go out.
14. Don't make a noise while your father (sleep) ___.
Ans. Don't make a noise while your father is sleeping.
15. The patient (die) ___ before the doctor come.
Ans. The patient had died before the doctor come.
16. The train left after I (reach) ___ the station.
Ans. The train left after I had reached the station.
17. I reached the station after the train (to leave) ___.
Ans. I reached the station after the train had left.
18. Next August, Lata and Tanim (marry) __ for 10 years.
Ass. Next August, Lata and Tanim will have married for 10 years.
19. I (go) __ on Saturday evening.
Ans. I am going on Saturday evening.
20. It's time you (realize) __ your mistakes.
Ans. It's time realized your mistakes.
21. It is time (do) __ the work.
Ans. It is time to do the work.
22. He talks as if he (to know) __ everything.
Ans. He talks as if he knew everything.
23. He looks as though he (see) __ a ghost.
Ans. He looks as though he saw a ghost.
24. Some days (pass) __ since my father died. Ans. Some days have passed since my father died.
25. Five years (to pass) __ since I met you last.
Ans. Five years have passed since I met you last.
26. I don't mind (help) __ with the cooking but I am not going to wash the dishes.
Ans. I don't mind helping with the cooking but I am not going to wash the dishes
27. I am looking forward (see) __ you.
Ans. I am looking forward to seeing you.
28. He worked instead of (play) __.
Ans. He worked instead of playing.
29. Would you mind (sing) __ a folk song?
Ans. Would you mind singing a folk song?
30. My father insists on (use) __ quality materials for the construction of our new house.
Ans. My father insists on using quality materials for the construction of our new house.
31. I saw him (go) __.
Ans. I saw him going.
32. He ran fast lest he (miss) __ the train.
Ans. He ran fast lest he should miss the train.
33. Keep watch on my bag lest the thief (steal) __ it.
Ans. Keep watch on my bag lest the thief should steal it.
34. I went to the market with a view to (buy) __ a book.
Ans. I went to the market with a view to buying a book.
35. Hasan has (to choose) __ the right path.
Ans. Hasan has chosen the right path.
36. We (complete) __ a holiday since the beginning of this year.
Ans. We have completed a holiday since the beginning of this year.
37. He gave up (play) __ football when he got married.
Ans. He gave up playing football when he got married.
38. The sun (set) __ they went home.
Ans. The sun having set, they went home.
39. He watched you to go) __ away.
Ans. He watched you go/going away.
40. Look! the girls (play) __ football.
Ans. Look! the girls are playing football.
41. I heard the baby (cry) __ for his food.
Ans. I heard the baby crying/cry for his food.
42. He (dare) __ go there.
Ans. He dared/dare go there.
43. Rishan walks as if he (be) __ lame.
Ans. Rishan walks as if he were lame.
44. Only after I (go) __ home, I remembered my doctor's appointment.
Ans. Only after I went home, I remembered my doctor's appointment
47. He did not let me (play) __ the guitar.
Ans. He did not let me play the guitar.
48. I got my car (repair) __.
Ans. I got my car repaired.
49. The speaker failed to make the audience (listen) __ to him patiently.
Ans. The speaker failed to make the audience listen to him patiently.
50. Seeing is (believe) __.
Ans. Seeing is believing.
51. Bread and butter (be) __ my favourite breakfast.
Ans. Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
52. He was so exhausted that he decided to lie) __ down for a while.
Ans. He was so exhausted that he decided to lay down for a while.
53. New programs will be (telecast) __ next week in Bangladesh
Ans. New programs will be telecast next week in Bangladesh
54. Television Neela (burn) __ her hand when she was cooking dinner.
Ans. Neela burnt her hand when she was cooking dinner.
55. My uncle arrived while I (cook) __ the dinner.
Ans. My uncle arrived while I was cooking the dinner.
56. I wish I (win) __ the game this time.
Ans. I wish I could win/won the game this time.
57. Time and tide (wait) __ for none.
Ans. Time and tide wait for none.
58. You must boil vegetables before (use) __ in the stew.
Ans. You must boil vegetables before using in the stew.
59. We have never (have) __ a car.
Ans. We have never had a car.
60. Sabita talks to the pet bird as if it (understand) __ her.
Ans. Sabita talks to the pet bird as if it understood her.
61. The effects of the climate change (be) __ devastating.
Ans. The effects of the climate change are devastating.
62. When water (freeze) ___ it turns into ice.
Ans. When water freezes it turns into ice.
63. Mr. Khan (found) ___ this factory in 1961.
Ans. Mr. Khan founded this factory in 1961
64. There is plenty of time. You not (have) ___ to hurry.
Ans. There is plenty of time. You don't have to hurry.
65. She did not let me (see) ___ what she was painting.
Ans. She did not let me see what she was painting.
_________________________
Do you want to learn Group Verbs/Phrasal Verbs? Click to read all the posts on group verbs/phrasal verbs:
◼️Group Verbs/Phrasal Verbs: Part 1
◼️Group Verbs/Phrasal Verbs: Part 2
◼️Group Verbs/Phrasal Verbs: Part 3
Key Takeaways
- Verb forms change based on tense markers like "yesterday", "since", or "now".
- Subjunctive clauses using "as if" or "wish" often require past or past perfect forms (e.g., *were*, *knew*).
- Prepositions and phrases like "with a view to" and "looking forward to" are followed by gerunds (-ing forms).
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of the right forms of verbs by answering these questions in the comments below:
- If I (be) __ a bird, I would fly in the sky.
- He walked fast lest he (miss) __ the bus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the right forms of verbs?
The right forms of verbs refer to using the correct tense, number, voice, and mood of a verb according to the time reference, subject, and grammatical rules of a sentence.
How do you know when to use past tense in verb exercises?
Look for specific time indicators in the sentence such as "yesterday", "ago", "last year", or clauses that denote completed past actions.