Rules to use Verbs as Part of Speech

1. If two subjects used in a sentence do not have the same number, use separate auxiliaries for both of them.

Example –

 Incorrect – Five apples sold and one were purchased.

 Correct – Five apples were sold and one was purchased.

2. A single verb should be used for a subject only when the form of the verb is the same for both the subjects.

 Example –

Incorrect – I am intelligent and my sister creative.

Correct – I am intelligent and my sister is creative.

Maya is sixteen and Tushita (is) twenty. (Correct)

3. A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate clause.

Example –

Incorrect – Pratima failed because she misses classes.

Correct – Pratima failed because she missed classes.

4. A Past Tense in the main clause can be followed by a Present Tense in the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.

Example –

 Incorrect – We were told that the Earth moved round the sun.

Correct – We were told that the Earth moves round the sun.

5. Modal auxiliaries are not used together, but they can be connected by a conjunction.

Example –

Incorrect – You should must come.

Correct – You should and must come.

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