1 VERB (BASIC)

CHAPTER

Any word that denotes an action is verb. Hence verb is also called 'doing word'.
Verb can be classified into two categories.
Verb

Helping Verb Main verb

The word that expresses
an act or occurence. A
main verb is sometimes
Modals preceded by an auxiliary verb5
Primary Auxiliary Verb
Do not act as main verb.
(Be, Do, Have)
For eg- can, could may etc. They act as both
Note: 'Need', 'dare, helping verb and
and 'used to' act as marginal main verb.
auxiliary verbs; 'need'
and dare' act as both
main verb and modal.

Used to' acts as both 'modal and 'adjective'.

Auxiliary Verbs: They are used in addition to other verbs. These are also called
helping verbs.
Modal Auxiliary Verbs: They are also called helping verbs. Can, could, may,
might, shall, will, would, should, must and ought to are called Modal Auxiliary
Verbs.
E.g: 1.(a) She can run fast.
Modal M.V.

(b) You should study English.

Modal M.V.

2. Marginal Auxiliary Verbs: Used to, need and dare are Marginal Auxiliary verbs.
These modals can be used as a main verb (Need & Dare) or an adjective (used to)
in a sentence.

E.g.: 1. I am used to sleeping late at night.

H.V Adjective Gerund

English for General Competition-

 2. (a) I need you.
yERE
M.V.

(b) You need not come tomorrow. RB

Direct infintive
H.V 2
late.
3. (a) She does not dare to come home E.g
Infinitive
M.V.
3
I dare not his room without permission.
(b) enter
H.V. Direct infinitive

IMPORTANT POINTS ON AUXILIARY VERBSs

Rule 1: Modal Auxiliary verbs are not used as main verbs. They are on
helping verbs.
Eg.: I can lift this box
H.V. M.v
He should work hard.
H.V. M.V

Rule 2: Modal Auxiliary verbs are not used in V,, V2, Va 'ing' , or 's/es' form
forms do not change with subject, person or number.
E.g.: She can
help you.
V

You should
understand you friends.
Rule 3: Ought' and 'used' is always followed by Infinitive 'to +
V,'.
E.g.: We
r 3to)
ought respect our
parents.
to+ V

He used to
come late.
to+V

USE OF MODAL
AUXILIARY VERBSS
CAN &CoULD
Rule 1: Can denotes
power, ability and capacity.
Could denotes past
E.g
Eg He can lift the
ability, power or capacity.
box.
could not
come yesterday.

English for General Compe

AN
VERB (BASIC)-
Rule 2: Can is also used for taking /giving permission.
You can go now.
Eg
Rule 3: Can denotes theoretical possibility.
Eg: Everyone can make a mistake.

Rule 4: Could is used to show remote

possibility.
E.g: There could be a bomb under your seat.
Rule 5: Can shows friendly request; while could shows formal request.
E.g: (1) Can I take your scooter?
(2) CouldI talk to Mr. Shukla?
Note: Both 'able to' and 'could/ can' show capacity. Hence they are never used
together in a sentence.
Eg: I cannot be able to come tomorrow. ()
(This is a superiluous sentence. The word 'superfluous' means more thana

required.)
The correct sentence is:-
I cannot come tomorrow. ()
I will not be able to come tomorrow. ()

MAY,MIGHT & MUST

Rule 1: May' shows possibility
E.g.: It may rain tonight.
Rule 2: May expresses willingness in an optative sentence.
Eg May you live long!
Rule 3: We use 'may' in subordinate clause if Principal clause is in present tense,
and the subordinate clause starts with that/so that/in order that and the
subordinate clause denotes a purpose
E.g We eat so that we may live.
Rule 4: Might shows less possibility. May expresses possibility (neither low nor high).
B.g: 1. He might pass the exam but seeing his intelligence I do not have much
hope
2. It may rain tonight.
Rule 5: Must shows greater possibility.
Eg He stays in five-star hotels and travels by air. He must be rich.
Rule 6: When May, shows respect/request, it is always used in interrogative form.
E.g: 'May' I come in?
Englishfor General Competition
 may.
VERB
used with
is never

Note: Possibly/likely tomorrow. (*)

come
possibly
E.g (a) He may
superfluous.
sentence is
This
tomorrow.
come
(b) He may (V)
tomorrow.
come
(c) He will possibly
SHALL & WILL

in future tense. All the

ce
her
used with first
person 'I'and 'we'
Rule 1: Shall is
take 'will'. with me.
and he will
come
tomorrow

Eg I shall go to college interro

T and 'we but in ogati-
be used with
In Modern English, 'will'
can
'we'.
with I' and
'shal1'
sentences, we must u s e only
Eg.: Willl go? ()
Shall I go? ()
Shall is used with second person
(You), third person (He, She, It, The
Note: determination, compulsion and a
denote command, promise, threat,
similar c a s e s .
Will is used with I and We in
Eg: (a) Command
You shall leave the room at once.

b) Promise
You shall be awarded.
I will help you come what may.

(c) Threat
Trespassers shall be prosecuted.

I will punish you.

(d) Determination

I will work hard and score good marks.

(e) Compulsion
You shall be here for the meeting.
I will finish this work by tomorrow.
we
Rule (2]: Imperative sentence beginning with let us/let's, will have 'shall
question tag.

E.g.: Let us together, shall we?

dance
atene
Rule (3]: Shall is used with first person to make a suggestion in interrogative sen
Shall we talk to the management?
E.g.:
-Englishfor General Compe
 VERB (BASIC)-

In the following type of sentences

Note: shall/will is not used.
E.g.: If the sentence starts with past.

He hoped that he wil would

pass.
I f the sentence starts with past then would/should is used.
This rule is applicable even when modal/verb is used in place otf
wil/sna.
E.g. He said that he is was coming
This rule is not applicable if the 2nd part is a universal truth, habitual
action, general fact, idiom or phrase.
(1) He said that is not
E.g man a machine. ()
(2) Our teacher said that honesty is the best policy. ()
2 f two actions take place in future one after the other, and the first action
depends on the second,
(a) The first action will be in simple present tense.
(b) The second action will be in simple future tense.
E.g: IfI will come, I will meet you. ()
If I come, I will meet you. ()
Those who wil work hard, will pass the exam.(v)
Note: Simple future is never used immediately after the following words. Instead
simple present tense is used.
Eg: If, as soon as, in case, provided, unless, until, before, after, when. (see

chapter 'Conditional Sentence)

WOULD
Rule 1: Would is used to express past habit.
E.g: Iwould go to school by bus.
Rule 2: Would shows preference/ choice when it comes with rather.
Eg: He would rather die than beg.
Rule 3: If the sentence is in past, it will continue in past.
E.g: He hoped that he will would pass.(Would is the past of will)
Rule 4:We can use either 'Would', 'used to' or 'Simple Past Tense' to express Past
Routine Action.

E.g.: Iused to go to school by bus. I would return on foot. We played for hours before
would + V
used to+V

returning home.
Englishfor General Competition- 5
 clause of imaginative
VERB A
sentences,
Rule 5: Would is used in the principal

E.g:
Eg: IfI were a bird, I would fly in the sky.
a s they make a sentence
the following words
Note: "Was' is not used with
'ir, 'as if, 'would
that' and 'suppose'.
magn
E.g:
E8 I wish, 'as though',
the past of 'will' in indirect speech.
Rule 6 Would is used as

E.g
Eg He said, "He will go there." (Direct)
He said that he would go there. (Indirect)
Rule 7: Would is used for making a 'polite request' in an interrogative senten.
tene
E.g: Would you help me?
Rule 8: Would denotes 'probability'.
Eg.: He would be sleeping.
Rule 9: Would expresses a 'wish'.
Eg I wish, India would become a developed country so0on.

Rule 10: Would like to' shows 'wish'.

E.g.: I would like to talk to the manager.
SHOULD
suggestion/ advice.
Rule 1: Should is used to express
E.g.: 1. You should study English.
2. You should not laugh at his mistake.
Rule 3: If should is used after lest, it shows negative purpose.
E.g.: He ran fast, lest he should miss the train.
Note: Lest can also take V but plural form even with singular subjects.
E.g.: Take care lest you/he fall.
Note: Lest' doesn't take 'not' after it.
E He doesn't take risk lest he should not lose all his money. (Remove not)
OUGHT TO
Rule 1: Ought to" shows moral obligation or duty.
E-g We ought to love our country.

MUST
Rule 1: Must is used to denote compulsion.
E.g.: Candidates must write in ink.
Rule 2: Must also shows fixed determination.
E.g: India must win the World Cup.
Rule 3: Must expresses duty.
E.g.: A soldier must fight for his country.
USED TO
Used to' denotes past habit/situation.
E.g.: He used to study till 10 p.m.

Ypetit

6 -Englishfor General Compe

 VERB (BASIC)-
(ii) Use to' or Uses to does not show present routine action. Instead simple
present tense is used for such purpose.
E.g: He uses to study till 10 p.m. and then goes to bed. (x)
He studies till 10 p.m. and then goes to
bed.()
Note: See the use of 'used to' in
affirmative/negative/interrogative sentence.
(a) Affirmative
He used to come here.
(b) Negative
He used not to come here.
He did not use to come here.

(c Interrogative
Did he use to come here?
Used he to come here?
Note: When V + ing, is used after verb + used to, it shows habitual action.

E.g.: I am used to getting up late in the morning.

Vting

Note: In the following cases, to V, is not used. Instead

+ 'V +
ing' is used after 'to'.
Here 'to' is not a part of infinitive 'to +V'. Here 'to' is a preposition and after
all the prepositions, if we use a verb, the verb must be in V+ ing' form. Some
of the important phrases from which
questions are asked in exams are given
below.
E.g.:
E.g Be used to, accustomed to, averse to, with a view to, addicted to, devoted to,
in addition to, look forward to, object to, owing to, given to, taken to, prone
to.
Eg: He is addicted to smoking.
He was looking forward to meeting you.
I got used to driving on right, when I was in London.

DARE/NEED
'Dare' and 'need' are used as both 'main verb' as well as 'modal'.
Dare expresses challenges or courage.
Need expresses requirements.

Eg: (a) He needs me.

M.V

(b) She does not dare to go there.

M.V

(c) You need not come tomorrow.

Modal
English for General Competition-
 is generally
not used
as
m o d a l in positive
s e n se.
e
VER
Need/dare

.)
Eg: (1)_L need help him
obj.
Sub. modal

(2)1 need to help

him. (
Modal Iminitive
dare, if need and dare are 11
are
used in a
To+V, comes after need and pos
sentence.
hard.
Eg.:
E.g: (a) He needs to work
c o m e here.
(b) He will not dare to
sentence, 'not' is
followed by a bare.
Ifneed/dare is used in
-ve
üniti
means only 'V,' and not 'to + V,'.

I need not come tomorrow.

E.g.:
He dare not cheat anyone again.
Following modals are used for making a request
Modals Use E.g.
Friendly request Can I take your bike?
Can
Could Formal request Could I talk to Mr. Singh?
Request with respect May I come in,Sir?
May
Would Polite Request Would you help me?

Modals are used in the following ways in active and passive voice:

MODALS ACTIVE VoICE PASSIVE VOICE

Indefinite Sub+modal+V, +obj. Obj + modal + be +

V, +
by + sub.

Continuous Sub +modal + be

+V, t ing + obj. |xxxxx
Perfect Sub+modal + have +V + obj. ODj+modal + have + been +V, *Dy
Sub
Perfect Contünuous|4 ing modal
+
have been V, + + +
XxXxX
obj for +
/ since + time.

In the abovementioned chart you will find that a by

modal is always folo
See the formula given below,
where modal is used in nse.
perfect te
Sub + modal+have +V, +obj
8 General Co
Englishfor
VERB (BASIC)-
When some modals are used in formula 'modal + have + V, (e.g. should have
come, could have gone, need not have seen, must have seen etc.), there is a
hidden meaning in the sentence which is opposite to the meaning of the
sentence.
(This is not applicable in case of will, would and might)
E.g: (1) I could score good marks. (Meaning- I had the ability)
(2) I could have scored good marks.(Hidden meaning- I did not score,
though I had the ability.)
(3) You should work hard. (Just a suggestion)
(4) You should have worked hard. (Hidden meaning- You didn't)

PRIMARY AUXILIARYVERBS
Do, have, be are Primary Auxiliary Verbs. They are used as helping as well as
main verbs.

E.g: (1) 'Do' has the following forms:

Do/Does Did Done
V

(a) I do my work.
M.V.

(b) Idid not know hitm.

H.V. M.V.

(2) The forms of Have' are :

Has/have Had Had

V3

(i) 'Have' demonstrates possession.

I have a càr.
M.V.
() Have' is used as a helping verb n Perfect & Perfect Continuous Tense.

(a) I have not seen him.

EV M.V.

(b) I had been waiting for him for a long time.

H.V. M.V.
(i) Have +Inflnitive denotes forced action.
(a I have to work hard.
(b) She had to leave her job.

English forGeneral Competition- 9

 -VERB
forms:
following
(3) Be has the

are was, were been

Be, is, am, verb.
Va and m a i n B
as helping B
how it is used
Now let's see

doctor
(a) I am a

MV

working hard.
(b) He was
H.V M.V
to London.
(c) He has been
H.V M.V
MAIN VERB

MAIN VERBS: an occurence or a state

of being and
action,
I. Those verbs that express
an
forms a r e called Main Verbs.
those which have V,/V2/V,/ing or /s/es
E.g: 1 lnow you.

I knew you.

T have known you for two years.

change if the tense of the sentence chang

7 The forms of Main Verbs will

FORMSOF VERB3S
Present (1st form)
2 Past (2nd form)
3 3rd form
ing formn

GROUP-I s/esPc
Present Past 3rd Form - ing Form

(1* Fornm) (2d Formn) a r i s e s

Arise arose arisen

awoke
arising a w a k e s

Awake awaken awaking is/was

Be was, were been

10
being-EnglishforGeneral Comp
 VERB (BA
CONFUSING PAIR
t o give birth
1. Bear bore borm
to tolerate
Bear bore borne
to descend freely
2 Fall fell fallen to bring down
Fell felled felled
to come across
3. Find found found
to establish
Found founded founded
to reduce to powder or small pie.
4. Grind
Ground
gTOund
grounded
ground
grounded
to bring to ground pieces
5. to suspend by the neck
Hang hanged hanged
to suspend from peg etc.
Hang hung hung
6. Lie lied to make an untrue statement
lied
Lie to move into a horizontal position
lay lain
To sacrifice

Lay laid laid -To keep in a horizontal position

Hens lay eEgS

7. Rend rent rent t o tear break something violentiy
or
Rent rented rented t o grant possession in exchange of
a fixed amount
8. Rise rose risen >to get up, to progress, to ascend
Raise raised raised > to uplift, to collect, to set
Raze
upright
razed razed t o demolish
9. See saw seen to perceive by the eye
Saw av ed sawed/sawn t o cut with the help of a saw
a toothed blade
which is
used to cut trees etc
10. Wind wound wound t o move so as to encircle
Wound wounded wounded
something
11. Fly
to injure
flew flown to move in air as a
Flow flowed flowed bird does
to move in a
stream just
as water
does

18
tiio
-English for General Compe
 VERB (BASIC)-

SPOTTING THE ERROOR

1. (a) He was so inquisitive/ (b) that he rose
error.
many/ (c) questions in the class./ (d) No
2. (a) He was borne of poor
parents,/ (b) but brought up/ (c) in an affluent
No error family./ (d)
3. (a) The university was/ (b) found in 1950/ (c) when India
was not self
in many aspects./ (d) No error. dependent
4 (a) I complaint against him/ (b) as in spite of
to mend his ways./ (d) No error. my repeated warnings/ (c) he failed
5. (a) Failure must not have/ (b) permanent affect on a
tough survive./ (d) No error. person/ (c)because only the
6. (a) I keep my cool/ (b) and never loose my temper/
error.
(c) even when provoked/ (d) No
7. (a) He lied on the grass/ (b) for hours/ (c)
8. enjoying the cool
(a) During the rainy season/ (b) many rivers overflew their breeze./ (d)
No error.

great difficulty./ (d) No error. banks/ (c) and caused

9. (a) He lay his luggage/ (b) aside and lay down/ (c) to rest for a while
10. (a) When calamity fell the village,/ (b) they faced it/ (c) ./ (d) No erTor.
11. (a) The assassin was convicted/ (b) and ordered to/ (c) be bravely./ (d) No error.
12. hung./ (d) No error.
(a) If I leave now,/ (b) I will not be able to/ (c) return back before 9 p.m ./ (d) No
error.
13. (a) When the company offered him a purse on his retirement/ (b) he refused
(c) agree it ./ (d) No error. to/
14 (a) The timid creature was driven/ (b) into a narrow lane/ (c) where it was slewed
by the kidnapper./ (d) No error.
15. (a) Being implicated in a murder case,/ (b) he was conclusively suspected/ (c) for
all the unsolved murder cases./ (d) No error.
16. (a) My brother thinks/ (b) that somebody must have dared/ (c) him steal the
scooter./ (d) No error.
17. (a) When I was young,/ (b) I can run/ (c) faster than Mohan./ (d) No error.
18. (a) Harish needs not/ (b) come here/ (c) as it is getting dark./ (d) No error.
19. (a) He dare/ (b) not to/ (c) go there./ (d) No error.
20. (a) I use to/ (b) play Hockey/ (c) when I was of ten years./ (d) No error.
21. (a) A soldier/ (b) could fight/ (c) for his country and save his country's honour./ (d)
No error.
22. (a) I would rather/ (b) die/ (c) then beg./ (d) No error.
23. (a) Run fast/ (b) lest you/ (c) will miss the train/ (d) No error.
24. (a) He hoped/ (b) that he will/ (c) pass the exam with flying colours./ (d) No error.
25. (a) You need to work hard/ (b) but you need not/ (c) to waste time on unimportant
lessons/ (d) No error.
26.
la) She would broke/ (b)
(d) No error.
a plate every day/ (c) when she came to Delhi last month./
27. (a) The old lady/ (b) prayed that he/ (c) may live long./ (d) No error.
28. (a) Rama must not to/ (b) have treated his mistress/ (c) like that./ (d) No error.
29. (a) Waste material/ (b) should be recycle/ (c) if possible/ (d) No error.
English for General Competition 23
 VERB (BASIC)
alitis by spending

(b) be able to
contain/ (c) En
The Government cannot/ of crime
30 (a)
1% of GDP o n Health
sector./ (d) No errory e s t e r d a y at the
scene

just (c)
that he may be there/
31. (a) The policethink/ (b)
easily./ (d) No
(d) No error.
his sad mother/ (c) prayed./ (d) very easily./ (d)
it very
it * *

(a) "He nmay live long"/ (b) (c)

( ) "
32. he could keep/ keep/
the purse/ (b) though (d) No error
33a (a He returned habits./

error.
ought to learn/ (c) goodyou./ (d)) No
No
(d) No
error.
error.
(b) you
(a) When you had been young/ shall happy/ (c) a s much
as
34 1
much
a
35 (a) If you get good marks/ (b) in o u r dealings./ (d) No error
but I didn t./ (d) No
36. (a We oughtcold to/ (b) honest/ (c) (ci my woolen clothes
here/ (b) I should
bring/
37. i t i s very
a
eror (d) No error. soneuiles
We
used to get/ (c) up early?/ (b) and
38. (a) Are you/ (b) does not c o m e to o u r help/
39. O u r knowledge of history
invented America./
(d) No error
(a even fail to remember/ (c) who
the news/ (c) might true./
(d) No error. No e r r o r .
40. (a) I think/ (b) that he is at fault/
(d) (aj No error.
soon/ (b) I realised/ (c) expired in a month/
41 (a Very his visa/ (c) will be
42. a remembered/ (b) that neither w a s you/ (d) No error
He last meeting and/ (c) to be taken/ (d)
No
43. wasnt/ (b) at the are required/ (c)
(aI c a s e no disciplinary
action/ (b)
44. (a In any
above the s e a level/ (d)
error. 2190 metres
is situating/ (c)
of Yemen/ (b)
45. (a) The capital
the middle of the ocean./
No erroor.
the ship drowned/ (c) in
the heavy rains,/ (b)
46 (a) Owing to fabric you will
hot h a d e of/ (c) permeable
(d) No erfor.
were
clothes/ (b)
47. (a) If your jogging
drown/ (d) in your sweat.
Answers with Explanation

'Rose' means to 'get up

'raised' is the correct word.
1. (b) to produce ofisprings)
is
Dorn. V, of bear (to tolerate) is borne.
2. (a) V, of bear ( f o u n d . V3 of 1ound ( tö establish ) is founded
'founded' in place of
3. h) use Complalnt is a noun. Complaint' means a
/y. of complain is complairled.
4. or a problem.
grievance (Verb).
affect
(N) in place of
5. b) Use effect (Nis not
Use effect a anproprlate
an appropriate
word here.
here.
Lose'(Verb)
'Lose(Verb) is the
word
the cortect word.
GTa0Se (Adi) lied'.
6. of
Use lay' in place
in place or
7. (a) t word here which means to flow out
here which
word mea

Overflowed
is the correct
surplus',
become
of a particular
8. (b) it
because
has
space
correct
word and V, of lay'.
the
(a) Laid is word here which
re which means to
99. 'Befell' is an
appropiate
happen (something
ing bad)
10. (a) as if byfate'
especially 'Hange
of 'hung'. 'Hanged' means 'to
.

'Hanged'
in place
makes 'retttr. suspend by the eck'.
return' superfluous
11. (c)
Use

Remove
'back'.
The word
'back
neck
10 (c) -Engliih
VERB (BASIC)-
13. (c) Use 'accept' in place of 'agree'.
14. (c) Slain is the V, of 'slay'. Slewed is wrong
15. (b) 'Conclusively' means'putting an end to a debate, question or doubt'. The word
'Suspect' doesn't go with 'conclusively' as the sentence becomes self
contradictory.
16. (c) Add 'to' before 'steal'.
17. b) Use could (past) as the sentence is in past tense.
18. (a) Use 'need' in place of 'needs'. 'Need' is a modal here and not a main verb
19 b) 'dare not' is followed by go' and not 'to go'.
20. (a) Use 'I used to' in place of I use to'. 'Used to' expresses past routine action.
21. (b) Use 'must' or 'ought to' in place of 'could.
22. (c) Use than' in place of 'then'
23. (c) Use 'should' in place of 'will!. 'Lest is followed by 'should.
24 (b) Use would (past) as the sentence is in past tense.
25. (c) Need not is followed by 'V. Hence remove 'to'.
26. (a) V, is used after all the modals. Use break in place of 'broke'.
27. (c) Use 'might' (past) in place of 'may' (present) as the sentence is in past.
28. (a) Remove 'to' as the sentence must be in the formula 'must + not + have + V
29. (b) 'Should be" is followed by V. Recycled' is the appropiate word.
30. (b) Cannot' shows ability, remove 'be able to'.If we use both 'able to' and 'can
together in a sentence, the sentence becomes superfluous.
31. b) Change 'may' into 'might' (past). 'Yesterday' denotes 'past time'. Hence past
form of 'may' must be used.
32. (a) "May he live long is right. In an optative sentence, 'May' comes at the starting
of the sentence.
33. (b) Change 'could keep' to 'could have kept. From the sentence we understand
that the hidden meaning is '"he did not keep the purse'.
34. (b) Ought to learn' should be changed to 'ought to have learnt. From the sentence
we understand that the hidden meaning is "he did not learn good habits'
35. (b) Add main verb 'be' after 'shall'. A modal must be followed by a main verb
36. (a) Add 'be' after 'ought to'. A modal must be followed by a main verb.
37. (b) Use 'should have brought'. From the sentence we understand that the hidden
meaning is - "he did not bring
38. (b) Change 'get' into getting' (Here 'used to' denoted a habitual action)
39. (c) Change 'invented' into ' discovered' as 'to invent' means 'to make something
new that was not there before that time. "To discover' means 'to find out
something for the first time which was not in the knowledge of the people'
40. (c) Use 'be' after 'might'
41. (c) Change 'is' into 'was'.
42. (c) Change 'will be expired' into 'would expire'.
43. (c) Change 'was into 'were'. "You' takes 'were' and not 'was'.
44. (b) Change 'are' into 'is' because the subject "disciplinary action' is s1ngular.
45. (b) Change 'situating' to 'situated'.
46. (b) Use sank (Vo), in place of 'drowned' 'Sink' comes for non-living things.
47. (c) Change 'will' into 'would' as the sentence is in past tense.

English for General Competition- 25