Grammar: Verb

The Verb: A verb is a word used to denote an action or a state of being.

The boy climbed the wall.
She cooks very well

Auxiliary verbs or Auxiliaries or Helper verbs: be (am, is, was, are, were), has, have, does
and did.
Modal auxiliaries (Additional helper) : can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would
must, ought, used (to), need, dare.
He can complete the work.
We need to sort this out.
I shall get my car.

Transitive: Action denoted by the verb passes over from the doer or subject to some object.
The boy ate a biscuit. (You ask the question what to the verb. If you get an answer, it is a
transitive verb.)
Mother sings a lullaby.

Intransitive: Action denoted by the verbs does not pass over from the doer subject to an
object.
The child cries loudly.
The gymnast practises religiously.

Phrasal Verbs: Some verbs when combined with particular prepositions make a new verb.
These are called phrasal verbs. Example: We will not give up.

Infinite Verbs
Verbs that are not limited by person or numbers are regarded as infinite verbs. Infinite verbs
are not dependent on subjects, and are generally preceded by to. Infinite verbs do not add -s, -
es,-ed or -ing in their end.

To err is human, to forgive is divine.

Lovers love to roam in the park.

Participles
Participles are verbal adjectives that mainly modify nouns/pronouns. Participles exist in two
forms: present participle and past participle. Present participles generally end with –ing,
whereas, past participles and generally with –ed, -en, etc.

The running train was burning.

Let’s have another go with a renewed effort.

Gerunds
Gerunds are verb forms that function as a noun in a sentence. Gerunds end in -ing, and can
take an object regarded as the gerund complement.
Singing is his passion.

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 Grammar: Verb

Drawing the palace was difficult.

Active Voice: A verb is in the active voice when its form shows that the person or thing
denoted by the subject does something or is the doer of the action.
Amal likes Bimal
The car is making a noise.
Passive Voice: A verb is in the passive voice when its form shows that something is done to
the person or thing denoted by the subject. The person or thing denoted by the subject is not
active, but passive, i.e., suffers or receives the action.
Bimal is liked by Amal
A noise was made by the car

Direct and Indirect Speech

When we quote the actual words of a speaker, it is called Direct Speech. Direct Speech is
indicated by inverted commas.
When we report someone’s oral communication without using the exact words, we call it
Indirect Speech.

Subject-verb Agreement: A verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
1) A singular subject takes a singular verb while plural subjects take plural verbs.
The atrocities committed during the war were reported in detail by the victims.
The report proposes a novel way of reducing cost.

2) Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by and require a plural verb.
Carl and Beckett are among the few people who were apprehended.

3) If two singular nouns suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person or
thing, the verb should be singular.
My father and mentor calls me up everyday.

4) Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as, along with, are parenthetical. The
number of the verb is not affected in such cases.
The leader, with all his supporters, was present there.
She along with her children was escorted out of the mall.

5) Two or more singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.

Neither he nor she was spared.

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 Grammar: Verb

6) When two or more subjects of different numbers are joined by or or nor, the verb
matches the nearest subject.
Neither the captain nor his team mates were present.
Either the girl or her friends are celebrating.
Neither the teachers nor their principal is at fault.

7) When the subjects joined by or nor are of different persons, the verb agrees with the
nearer one.
Either he or them are responsible for this.
Neither she nor I have agreed to this.

8) Indefinite pronouns like anyone, anybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody,

everyone, everybody and distributive pronouns like each, neither, either, many a have
singular connotations and, thus, must be followed by a singular verb.
Nobody was allowed to disrupt the proceedings.
Everyone has a right to express their dissent.

9) Two nouns qualified by each or every, even though connected by and, require a singular
verb.
Every man and every woman was asked to sign the petition.

10) Some nouns, which are plural in form (ending in –s) but singular in meaning, take a
singular verb.
Mathematics is intimidating for some students.
The news was conveyed to her.

11) Some plural nouns (ending in –s) which are singular in form but plural in meaning take
plural verbs.
The stocked goods were seized by the police.
Scissors are dangerous in the hands of a child.

12) Indefinite pronouns like none, all and some take singular or plural verbs depending on
context.
None of my proposals were accepted.
All that glitters is not gold.

13) Singular subjects in first and second person (I, you) do not have-s endings in their verb
forms. Singular subjects in third person (he, she, it) have –s endings.

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 Grammar: Verb

She wants this.

Do you want this?

14) A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as one whole,
and a plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed of are thought of as
separate.
The jury is reconsidering its verdict.
The police are on complete alert.
The army is meant to defend the nation.

15) When the plural noun is a proper name for some single object or some collective unit, it
must be followed by a singular verb.
The United States is a dominant force.
A Thousand Mutinies is a landmark movie.

16) When the plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a
whole, the verb is generally singular.
10 million dollars is the final negotiated amount.

17) In a sentence with a compound subject, the positive and not the negative subject
agrees with the verb.
The host but not the guests was taken into custody.
The teachers and not only the Principal are going to attend the march.

18) The verb which is part of a clause agrees with the noun/pronoun modified by the
preposition/gerund/relative pronoun.
The building, which was sold at high price, is now crumbling.
He who talks the least is considered the wisest.

19) Some adjectives like more, most take singular or plural verbs depending on context.
Most of the readers have supported the action.
Most of it is wrong.
More is merrier
More activists are needed to make a difference.

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