Learn the right forms of verbs with all the rules for SSC, HSC, admission, and job exams: tense markers, subject-verb agreement, gerunds, infinitives, conditionals, and more, with 30 exercises and answers.
One blank, one verb, and a dozen possible shapes: write, writes, wrote, written, writing, to write, will write. Which one is correct? That single decision is the whole game of right forms of verbs, and it quietly pulls together everything you know about tense, subject, voice, and sentence structure. It looks hard, but it is not, because the choice is guided by clear rules and by little signal words in the sentence. Learn those rules, and you can fill any blank with confidence. This lesson covers all of them, for SSC, HSC, admission, and job exams.
একটি শূন্যস্থান, একটি verb, আর এক ডজন সম্ভাব্য রূপ: write, writes, wrote, written, writing, to write, will write। কোনটি সঠিক? এই একটি সিদ্ধান্তই হলো right forms of verbs এর পুরো খেলা, আর এটি নীরবে tense, subject, voice ও বাক্যগঠন সম্পর্কে তোমার সব জ্ঞান একসাথে করে। দেখতে কঠিন মনে হলেও এটি কঠিন নয়, কারণ এই পছন্দটি পরিষ্কার নিয়ম আর বাক্যের ছোট ছোট সংকেত-শব্দ দিয়ে চালিত হয়। তাহলে চলো, শুরু করা যাক।
What is the Right Form of Verb?
The right form of verb means using the correct shape of a verb in a sentence, chosen according to the subject, the time of the action, the voice, and the signal words present.
Right form of verb মানে একটি বাক্যে verb এর সঠিক রূপ ব্যবহার করা, যা subject, কাজের সময়, voice এবং উপস্থিত সংকেত-শব্দ অনুযায়ী বেছে নেওয়া হয়।
A verb can appear in several forms: the base (present), the past, the past participle, the to-infinitive (to + verb), or the gerund (verb + ing). This lesson is really a summary of many chapters, tenses, subject-verb agreement, person, and voice, so a quick revision of those will help.
একটি verb কয়েকটি রূপে আসতে পারে: base (present), past, past participle, to-infinitive (to + verb), বা gerund (verb + ing)। এই পাঠটি আসলে অনেকগুলো অধ্যায়ের সারসংক্ষেপ, তাই সেগুলো একবার ঝালিয়ে নিলে সুবিধা হবে।
Rule 1: The Doer Rule (Tense or Voice?)
This is the first and most important thing to check for every blank. Ask: is the subject the doer of the action? If the subject does the action (an active sentence), choose the verb form from the rules of tense. But if the subject does not do the action, and instead receives it (a passive sentence), choose the verb form from the rules of voice.
প্রতিটি শূন্যস্থানের জন্য এটাই প্রথম ও সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ যাচাই। জিজ্ঞেস করো: subject কি কাজটির কর্তা? subject কাজটি করলে (active বাক্য) tense এর নিয়ম থেকে verb এর রূপ বাছো। আর subject কাজটি না করে বরং তা গ্রহণ করলে (passive বাক্য) voice এর নিয়ম থেকে verb এর রূপ বাছো।
Examples:
- Active: I (write) a report now. → I am writing a report now. (I is the doer, so tense)
- Passive: A report (write) by me now. → A report is being written by me now. (the report is not the doer, so voice)
Rule 2: Subject-Verb Agreement (s/es)
In the present indefinite tense, a third person singular subject (he, she, it, one name) takes a verb with ‘s’ or ‘es’. A plural subject or I/we/you/they takes the base verb.
Present indefinite tense এ একটি third person singular subject (he, she, it, একটি নাম) ‘s’ বা ‘es’ যুক্ত verb নেয়। আর plural subject বা I/we/you/they base verb নেয়।
Examples:
- The boy (play) football. → The boy plays football.
- The boys (play) football. → The boys play football.
Rule 3: Present Indefinite Tense Markers
Some words show a regular habit and call for the present indefinite tense (verb, or verb + s/es). When you see one, use that tense.
কিছু শব্দ একটি নিয়মিত অভ্যাস বোঝায় এবং present indefinite tense (verb, বা verb + s/es) দাবি করে। এমন একটি দেখলে সেই tense ব্যবহার করো।
| Marker | Meaning (অর্থ) |
|---|---|
| always | সবসময় |
| usually | সাধারণত |
| often | প্রায়ই |
| sometimes | কখনো কখনো |
| generally / normally | সাধারণত |
| frequently | ঘন ঘন |
| regularly | নিয়মিত |
| occasionally | মাঝে মাঝে |
| seldom | কদাচিৎ |
| now and then | মাঝে মাঝে |
| every day / daily | প্রতিদিন |
| every week / month / year | প্রতি সপ্তাহে / মাসে / বছরে |
| on Mondays, on Fridays | প্রতি সোমবার, প্রতি শুক্রবার |
Example:
- Most people (visit) this shrine on Fridays. → Most people visit this shrine on Fridays.
Rule 4: Present Continuous Tense Markers
Some words show an action in progress or a gradual change, and call for the present continuous tense (am/is/are + verb + ing).
কিছু শব্দ চলমান কাজ বা ক্রমশ পরিবর্তন বোঝায়, আর present continuous tense (am/is/are + verb + ing) দাবি করে।
| Marker | Meaning (অর্থ) |
|---|---|
| now | এখন |
| at this moment | এই মুহূর্তে |
| at present | বর্তমানে |
| day by day | দিন দিন |
| gradually | ধীরে ধীরে |
| increasingly | ক্রমবর্ধমানভাবে |
| more and more | ক্রমশ বেশি |
| year after year | বছরের পর বছর |
| rapidly | দ্রুত |
Example:
- The prices of goods (rise) day by day. → The prices of goods are rising day by day.
Rule 5: Present Perfect Tense Markers
Some words show a recently finished action whose result matters now, and call for the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle).
কিছু শব্দ সদ্য শেষ হওয়া কাজ বোঝায় যার ফল এখন গুরুত্বপূর্ণ, আর present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) দাবি করে।
| Marker | Meaning (অর্থ) |
|---|---|
| just | এইমাত্র |
| just now | এইমাত্র |
| already | ইতিমধ্যে |
| yet | এখনো |
| ever | কখনো |
| never | কখনো না |
| recently / lately | সম্প্রতি |
| so far | এ পর্যন্ত |
| by this time | এতক্ষণে |
Example:
- The little boy just now (leave) this place. → The little boy has just now left this place.
Rule 6: Past Indefinite Tense Markers
Some words point to a definite past time and call for the past indefinite tense (the past form of the verb).
কিছু শব্দ একটি নির্দিষ্ট অতীত সময় নির্দেশ করে এবং past indefinite tense (verb এর past রূপ) দাবি করে।
| Marker | Meaning (অর্থ) |
|---|---|
| yesterday | গতকাল |
| ago | পূর্বে |
| long ago | বহু আগে |
| last night / week / year | গত রাত / সপ্তাহ / বছর |
| once | একদা |
| once upon a time | একদা |
| in 2010 | ২০১০ সালে |
| in the past | অতীতে |
| previously | পূর্বে |
| the day before | আগের দিন |
Example:
- The students (go) there long ago for a picnic. → The students went there long ago for a picnic.
Rule 7: Since and For (Present Perfect)
When a sentence shows an action continuing from the past up to now, marked by ‘since’ (a point of time) or ‘for’ (a length of time), use the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense.
যখন একটি বাক্য অতীত থেকে এখন পর্যন্ত চলা একটি কাজ বোঝায়, ‘since’ (সময়ের বিন্দু) বা ‘for’ (সময়ের ব্যাপ্তি) দিয়ে চিহ্নিত, তখন present perfect বা present perfect continuous tense ব্যবহার করো।
Examples:
- I (live) here since 2019. → I have been living here since 2019.
- He (suffer) from fever for three days. → He has been suffering from fever for three days.
Rule 8: Modal + Base Verb
A modal verb (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must) is always followed by the base form of the verb, never the -s, -ing, or past form.
একটি modal verb (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must) এর পরে সবসময় verb এর base form বসে, কখনো -s, -ing বা past form নয়। বিস্তারিত জানতে দেখো modal verbs।
Examples:
- You must (do) the work yourself. → You must do the work yourself.
- She can (speak) three languages. → She can speak three languages.
Rule 9: To + Base Verb (Infinitive)
Usually, the word ‘to’ is followed by the base form of the verb. This ‘to + base verb’ is called the infinitive, and it often shows purpose.
সাধারণত ‘to’ এর পরে verb এর base form বসে। এই ‘to + base verb’ কে infinitive বলা হয়, আর এটি প্রায়ই উদ্দেশ্য বোঝায়।
Examples:
- He came here to (help) us. → He came here to help us.
- She hopes to (win) the prize. → She hopes to win the prize.
Rule 10: ‘To’ Phrases + Verb + ing (The Exceptions)
Here is the exception to Rule 9. In some fixed phrases, the ‘to’ is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so the verb after it takes the -ing form. Learn these phrases well.
এখানে Rule 9 এর ব্যতিক্রম। কিছু নির্দিষ্ট phrase এ ‘to’ একটি preposition, infinitive এর অংশ নয়, তাই এর পরের verb -ing রূপ নেয়। এই phrase গুলো ভালোভাবে শেখো।
Common phrases: with a view to, with an eye to, look forward to, addicted to, accustomed to, used to (be used to / get used to), object to, confess to, opposed to, prone to, devoted to.
Examples:
- He came with a view to (help) others. → He came with a view to helping others.
- I am looking forward to (meet) you. → I am looking forward to meeting you.
Rule 11: Preposition + Verb + ing (Gerund)
When a verb comes right after a preposition (in, on, at, of, for, by, before, after, without, about), it takes the -ing form, called a gerund.
যখন একটি verb একটি preposition (in, on, at, of, for, by, before, after, without, about) এর ঠিক পরে আসে, এটি -ing রূপ নেয়, যাকে gerund বলা হয়।
Examples:
- She is fond of (sing) songs. → She is fond of singing songs.
- He left without (say) a word. → He left without saying a word.
Rule 12: Gerund as Subject and After Certain Verbs
A verb used as the subject of a sentence takes the -ing form. Also, some verbs (enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, keep, stop) are followed by the gerund, while others (want, hope, decide, agree, promise) are followed by the to-infinitive.
একটি বাক্যের subject হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত verb -ing রূপ নেয়। এছাড়া কিছু verb (enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, keep, stop) এর পরে gerund বসে, আর কিছু verb (want, hope, decide, agree, promise) এর পরে to-infinitive বসে।
Examples:
- (Swim) is a good exercise. → Swimming is a good exercise.
- He enjoys (play) football. → He enjoys playing football.
- She wants (be) a doctor. → She wants to be a doctor.
Rule 13: Causative and Perception Verbs
After make, let, see, hear, and watch (with an object), the next verb is a bare infinitive (base form, no ‘to’). But in the causative ‘have/get + object’, the verb takes the past participle.
make, let, see, hear, watch (একটি object সহ) এর পরে পরবর্তী verb একটি bare infinitive (base form, ‘to’ ছাড়া) হয়। কিন্তু causative ‘have/get + object’ এ verb past participle রূপ নেয়।
Examples:
- The teacher made the boy (stand) up. → The teacher made the boy stand up.
- I saw him (cross) the road. → I saw him cross the road.
- I had my watch (repair) yesterday. → I had my watch repaired yesterday.
Rule 14: Introductory ‘Here’ and ‘There’
When a sentence begins with ‘Here’ or ‘There’, the subject is not obvious. So look at the noun that follows: if it is singular, use a singular verb; if plural, use a plural verb.
যখন একটি বাক্য ‘Here’ বা ‘There’ দিয়ে শুরু হয়, subject স্পষ্ট থাকে না। তাই পরের noun টি দেখো: singular হলে singular verb, plural হলে plural verb।
Examples:
- There (be) some old coins in this box. → There are some old coins in this box.
- Here (be) a glass of water for you. → Here is a glass of water for you.
Rule 15: No sooner had / Scarcely had / Hardly had
When a sentence begins with ‘No sooner had’, ‘Scarcely had’, or ‘Hardly had’, two past actions happen one right after another. The first verb takes the past participle, and the verb after ‘than / when / before’ takes the past form.
যখন একটি বাক্য ‘No sooner had’, ‘Scarcely had’, বা ‘Hardly had’ দিয়ে শুরু হয়, দুটি অতীত কাজ একটির পর একটি ঘটে। প্রথম verb past participle রূপ নেয়, আর ‘than / when / before’ এর পরের verb past form নেয়।
Examples:
- No sooner had he (see) the police than he (run) away. → No sooner had he seen the police than he ran away.
- Scarcely had we (reach) the station when the train (leave). → Scarcely had we reached the station when the train left.
Rule 16: While + Verb + ing
When a verb comes right after ‘while’, add -ing to it. But if a subject comes after ‘while’ (while + subject), use the past continuous tense (was/were + verb + ing).
যখন একটি verb ‘while’ এর ঠিক পরে আসে, এতে -ing যোগ করো। কিন্তু ‘while’ এর পরে একটি subject থাকলে (while + subject), past continuous tense (was/were + verb + ing) ব্যবহার করো।
Examples:
- While (go) to school, I met him. → While going to school, I met him.
- Stay calm while (listen) to a speech. → Stay calm while listening to a speech.
- While she (walk) along the road, a snake bit her. → While she was walking along the road, a snake bit her.
Rule 17: Conditional Sentences (If)
Conditional sentences with ‘if’ follow three fixed patterns. Learn all three, because they are heavily tested.
‘if’ যুক্ত conditional বাক্য তিনটি নির্দিষ্ট গঠন অনুসরণ করে। তিনটিই শেখো, কারণ এগুলো খুব বেশি আসে।
- Type 1 (real): If + present, … will/can + base verb.
- Type 2 (unreal present): If + past, … would/could + base verb.
- Type 3 (unreal past): If + past perfect, … would/could have + past participle.
Examples:
- If it (rain), we will stay home. → If it rains, we will stay home.
- If I (be) a bird, I would fly. → If I were a bird, I would fly.
- If he had studied, he (pass) the exam. → If he had studied, he would have passed the exam.
Rule 18: It is high time / I wish / As if (Unreal Past)
After ‘It is high time’, ‘It is time’, ‘I wish’, ‘as if’, and ‘as though’, the verb takes the past form, even though the meaning is about the present. This is the unreal past.
‘It is high time’, ‘It is time’, ‘I wish’, ‘as if’, ‘as though’ এর পরে verb past form নেয়, যদিও অর্থটি বর্তমান নিয়ে। একে unreal past বলা হয়।
Examples:
- It is high time we (finish) the project. → It is high time we finished the project.
- I wish I (have) more time. → I wish I had more time.
- He talks as if he (know) everything. → He talks as if he knew everything.
Rule 19: Would rather / Had better + Base Verb
After ‘would rather’ and ‘had better’, use the base form of the verb. These express preference and advice.
‘would rather’ ও ‘had better’ এর পরে verb এর base form ব্যবহার করো। এরা পছন্দ ও উপদেশ প্রকাশ করে।
Examples:
- I would rather (die) than beg. → I would rather die than beg.
- You had better (consult) a doctor. → You had better consult a doctor.
Rule 20: Non-Finite Participles (Having / Being)
To join two related past actions, use “Having + past participle” for the earlier action. To show a reason, use “Being + adjective or past participle” at the start.
দুটি সম্পর্কিত অতীত কাজ জোড়া দিতে, আগের কাজের জন্য “Having + past participle” ব্যবহার করো। একটি কারণ দেখাতে, শুরুতে “Being + adjective বা past participle” ব্যবহার করো।
Examples:
- Having (finish) his lunch, he went out. → Having finished his lunch, he went out.
- (Be) ill, he could not attend the class. → Being ill, he could not attend the class.
30 Exercises on Right Forms of Verbs
Fill in each gap with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
বন্ধনীর verb টির সঠিক রূপ দিয়ে প্রতিটি gap পূরণ করো। নিজে চেষ্টা করার পরে উত্তর মিলিয়ে নাও।
- My brother (visit) our farm every morning.
- We (meet) our relatives recently.
- No sooner had he (understand) the fact than he left the room.
- Once upon a time, there (be) a king in this land.
- He is preparing with a view to (invite) you.
- Here (be) a book for your reference.
- It is high time we (train) our team.
- While they (play) in the field, the coach arrived.
- The prices of goods (rise) day by day.
- This letter (write) by me last week.
- He (read) the newspaper every morning.
- The little boys (run) very fast.
- (Swim) is a good exercise.
- She is fond of (sing) songs.
- I (live) in this city for five years.
- You must (do) the work yourself.
- He came here to (help) the poor.
- If it rains tomorrow, we (stay) at home.
- If I were rich, I (help) the needy.
- If he had worked hard, he (pass) the exam.
- I saw the thief (enter) the house.
- The teacher made the boy (stand) up.
- I had my watch (repair) yesterday.
- He enjoys (play) cricket on holidays.
- She wants (be) a doctor in future.
- I would rather (die) than beg.
- You had better (consult) a doctor.
- Having (finish) his lunch, he went out.
- Neither he nor his brothers (be) present yesterday.
- He behaves as if he (be) a king.
Answers
- visits (habit, third person singular)
- have met (recently)
- understood (No sooner had + past participle)
- was (once upon a time)
- inviting (with a view to + ing)
- is (introductory Here, singular object)
- trained (It is high time + past)
- were playing (while + subject)
- are rising (day by day)
- was written (passive, past)
- reads (every morning, singular subject)
- run (plural subject)
- Swimming (gerund as subject)
- singing (preposition ‘of’ + gerund)
- have been living (or have lived) (for five years)
- do (modal + base verb)
- help (to + base verb)
- will stay (conditional type 1)
- would help (conditional type 2)
- would have passed (conditional type 3)
- enter (perception verb + bare infinitive)
- stand (make + bare infinitive)
- repaired (have + object + past participle)
- playing (enjoy + gerund)
- to be (want + to-infinitive)
- die (would rather + base verb)
- consult (had better + base verb)
- finished (Having + past participle)
- were (neither…nor, agrees with the nearer plural subject)
- were (or was) (as if + unreal past)
A Tip for the Exam
For every blank, run a quick checklist in your head. First, is the subject the doer, tense, or the receiver, voice? Second, is there a signal word (a tense marker, ‘since’, ‘while’, ‘if’, ‘to’, a preposition, a modal)? That word usually decides the form on its own. Third, check the subject’s number for agreement. Work through the blank in that order, and the right form will nearly always reveal itself. And always keep the three forms of common verbs, present, past, past participle (go, went, gone), ready in memory, because you cannot apply any rule without them.
প্রতিটি শূন্যস্থানের জন্য মনে মনে একটি দ্রুত তালিকা চালাও। প্রথমে, subject কি কর্তা (tense), নাকি গ্রহীতা (voice)? দ্বিতীয়ত, কোনো সংকেত-শব্দ আছে কি (tense marker, ‘since’, ‘while’, ‘if’, ‘to’, একটি preposition, একটি modal)? সেই শব্দই সাধারণত নিজে থেকে রূপটি ঠিক করে দেয়। তৃতীয়ত, agreement এর জন্য subject এর number দেখো। এই ক্রমে এগোও, সঠিক রূপটি প্রায় সবসময় নিজেই বেরিয়ে আসবে। আর সাধারণ verb এর তিনটি রূপ, present, past, past participle (go, went, gone), সবসময় মুখস্থ রাখো।
Related Lessons
Keep building your grammar with these lessons:
- 12 Tenses in English Grammar: Full Classification
- Voice Changing Theory in English Grammar
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules, Examples & Exercises
- Modal Verbs in English Grammar: Rules, Uses & Examples
- Person in English Grammar: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Person
- Essay Writing in English: Structure, Rules & Sample Essay
- Verb: Types, Finite, Non-Finite, and Auxiliary Verbs
- Special Use of Words and Phrases: HSC Gap-Filling Rules & Examples
- Completing Sentences with Clauses & Phrases: HSC Rules & Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the right form of verb?
It is the correct shape of a verb in a sentence, chosen according to the subject, the time of the action, the voice, and the signal words present, such as “He plays” or “A letter was written”.
What is the first thing to check in a right-form-of-verb question?
Check whether the subject is the doer of the action. If it is, use the rules of tense (active). If the subject only receives the action, use the rules of voice (passive).
How do tense marker words help?
Words like ‘always’ point to the present indefinite, ‘now’ to the present continuous, ‘just now’ to the present perfect, and ‘yesterday’ to the past indefinite. The marker tells you which tense to use.
Why is “It is high time we finished” in the past form?
Because ‘It is high time’, ‘I wish’, and ‘as if’ take the unreal past: a past-form verb that carries a present, imaginary meaning.
What are the three conditional patterns?
Type 1: If + present, will + base (If it rains, we will stay). Type 2: If + past, would + base (If I were rich, I would help). Type 3: If + past perfect, would have + past participle (If he had studied, he would have passed).