🔹Uses of the Base Form (V1)
1️⃣ Use base form of verb after the following verbs: see, watch, hear, notice, observe, feel, bid.
Examples:
You heard her sing a song.
I saw him eat the mangoes.
She felt the earth shake.
I bade him leave the room.
2️⃣ Use base form of verb after these expressions: couldn’t help but, nothing but, nothing except, would rather than.
Examples:
He couldn’t help but laugh.
She did nothing but weep.
I would rather die than beg.
3️⃣ Use base form of verb with the following auxiliary verbs : do, does, did.
Examples:
Does he come on time?
She did not participate in the debate.
Note: ‘Do, does, did’ are sometimes used in declarative sentences for emphasis.
Example: Ellen does understand the importance of honesty.
4️⃣ Time Clauses
We use the present simple in time clauses beginning with when, as soon as, by the time, after, before, as long as, and until to refer to the future when the main clause is in the future tense.
Examples:
When she arrives, we will start.
I will wait for him until he comes.
The students will have completed their assignments by the time the lecture ends.
Note: Do not use will in the time clause. Use the present simple instead.
❌ When she will arrive, we will start.
✅ When she arrives, we will start.
🔹Uses of the Past Form (V2)
1️⃣ Would rather + Person
Past form is used with ‘would rather + person’.
It is used for preference.
Examples:
I would rather Harry drove the car.
I would rather he helped me.
2️⃣ Past form is used with expression "it is time/it is high time"
It is high time expresses something should be done now because it is already late.
Example:
It is high time he applied for the job.
🔹Uses of the Past Participle (V3)
1️⃣ After auxiliary verbs: has, have, had, will have, shall have
He has installed a new application.
He will have gone home by now.
2️⃣ Passive Voice:
Tea was taken by me.
The price of petrol has been increased.
The result will be declared.
3️⃣ Past participle is used as an adjective:
The lost child was found.
The broken glass injured her feet.
🔹Uses of the Present Participle (-ing Form)
1️⃣ We use gerund(V-ing) after the following verbs:
Enjoy, finish, suggest, mind, keep, consider, postpone, avoid, miss, deny, admit, prevent, spend, propose, mention, resist, delay, can’t help.
Examples:
She finished washing the dishes.
He avoided meeting the stranger.
I could not help laughing.
2️⃣ We use gerund(V-ing) after the following words:
Get used to, is used to, averse to, look forward to, devote to, with a view to.
Examples:
He got used to waking up early.
She went to the market with a view to buying a book.
3️⃣ We use gerund(V-ing) after prepositions.
Examples:
He succeeded in getting first position.
We insisted on staying indoors.
She is afraid of climbing the mountain.
Common Mistakes with Verb Forms
❌ I saw him to leave the room.
✅ I saw him leave the room.
❌ She did not participated in the debate.
✅ She did not participate in the debate.
❌ I will call you when I will reach home.
✅ I will call you when I reach home.
❌ I would rather she stays at home.
✅ I would rather she stayed at home.
❌ It is high time he has bought a new car.
✅ It is high time he bought a new car.
❌ The damage road caused several accidents.
✅ The damaged road caused several accidents.
❌ The work was complete yesterday.
✅ The work was completed yesterday.
❌ She enjoys to read novels.
✅ She enjoys reading novels.
❌ He is used to smoke.
✅ He is used to smoking.
❌ She succeeded to pass the exam.
✅ She succeeded in passing the exam.