Verbs – Shortcut Rules
Shortcut Rule 1 : If the subject is of the third person, singular number (He, She, It) add ‘S’ or ‘es / ies’ to the first form of the verb to make it singular number.
She plays the violin every day.
He loves his parents.
The dog barks at the people.
The bird flies in the Sky.
He does his duty.
Shortcut Rule 2 : The following verbs are not usually used in the continuous form. See / Smell / Feel / Hear / Notice / Recognize / See / Think / Agree / Believe / Consider / Remember / Hope / Understand / Mind / Suppose / Hate / Love / Know / Have / Want / Forgive / Keep / Prevent etc. But they may be used in continuous forms in a particular cases.
He is having a telephone connection. ☓
He has a telephone connection ✔
The flower is smelling sweet ☓
The flower smells sweet (you can say I am smelling this flower) ✔
The manager is seeing your application (Seeing – Examining) ✔(in particular situation)
Shortcut Rule 3 : The present perfect tense should not be used with adverbs indicating past time. Instead the simple past tense should be used.
I have seen a film last night ☓
I saw a film last night. ✔
He has left for Hyderabad last week. ☓
He left for Hyderabad last week. ✔
Shortcut Rule 4 : The present perfect tense with “For or Since” is used to express an action began at some time in the past and is still continuing upto the time of speaking or just finished.
For………………………….. period of time (for 2 days / for 10 days / for a long time) Since
…………………………point of time. (Since 1996, Since morning, since yesterday, since last week)
I know him since 1986 ☓
I have know him since 1986 ✔
Out teacher is sick for the last two days ☓
Our teacher has been sick for the last two days. ✔
Shortcut Rule 5 : The present perfect continuous Tense” is also used for actions began in the past and are still continuing.
I am reading this novel since morning. ☓
I have been reading this novel since morning. ✔
They are going to English classes for the last one month. ☓
They have been going to English classes for the last one month. ✔
Shortcut Rule 6 : When the first action led to the second action immediately The simple Past Tense + Simple Past Tense are used.
When he opened the gate, they came in. ✔
Shortcut Rule 7 : When the first action completed before the second one started, the Past Perfect Tense for the first finished action and the Simple Past Tense for the Second are used.
The patient had died before the doctor arrived. ✔
Shortcut Rule 8 : After negative sentences, the question tag used should be in an ordinary interrogative form.
She didn’t like that book, didn’t she? ☓
She did not like that book, did she? ✔
They have not told him the news, Haven’t they? ☓
They have not told him the news, Have they? ✔
Shortcut Rule 9 : After Positive Statements, we use the negative interrogative.
I am a student, Am I? ☓
I am a student, Aren’t I? ✔
Let’s play for some Time, Shall We? ✔
He works hard, Does He? ☓
Shortcut Rule 10 : When the verb in the principal clause is in a past tense, the verbs in the subordinate clauses are normally in the Past Tense.
He said that He will pass the examination. ☓
He said that he would pass the examination. ✔
They told me that they have paid the fees. ☓
They told me that they had paid the fees. ✔