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8 UNIVERSAL RULES OF ENGLISH: PART-2

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8 UNIVERSAL RULES OF ENGLISH: PART-2
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8 Universal Rules of English Grammar

Rule #4: Forms of "BE" - Auxiliary Verb 3

"BE" is the most versatile auxiliary verb in English that expresses existence, identity, or state of being. It connects the subject with additional information about what or how the subject is.

Unique Feature:

"BE" is the ONLY auxiliary verb that has 8 different varieties - more than any other verb in English!

The 8 Forms of "BE" and Their Uses

FORM USAGE
BE Used with modals (will be, can be, should be)
IS Used with singular subjects (he, she, it) in present
AM Used only with "I" in present tense
ARE Used with plural subjects (we, they, you) in present
WAS Used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it) in past
WERE Used with plural subjects (we, they, you) in past
BEEN Used for perfect tenses & passive voice (have been, has been)
BEING Used for continuous passive voice (is being, was being)

Examples of Each Form

  • BE: I will be a doctor. → (modal + be)
  • IS: He is a cricketer. → (singular subject "He")
  • AM: I am an officer. → (only with "I")
  • ARE: They are students. → (plural subject "They")
  • WAS: She was happy yesterday. → (singular past)
  • WERE: We were at the park. → (plural past)
  • BEEN: I have been waiting. → (perfect tense)
  • BEING: The work is being done. → (continuous passive)

When Forms of "BE" Work as Helping Verbs

1. Continuous Tense

be, is, am, are, was, were show continuous/progressive tense when followed by V+ing (present participle).

Continuous Structure: Form of BE + V+ing

  • She is reading a book. → (Present Continuous)
  • They were playing cricket. → (Past Continuous)
  • I am working hard. → (Present Continuous)
  • We are studying English. → (Present Continuous)

2. Passive Voice

been and being are primarily used for passive voice, where the work is done ON the subject rather than BY the subject.

Passive Structure: Form of BE + V3

  • The letter is written by her. → (Simple Passive)
  • The work has been completed. → (Perfect Passive)
  • The house is being built. → (Continuous Passive)
  • The food was being cooked. → (Past Continuous Passive)

Practice Questions

Question 1: Choose the correct form: The children _______ playing in the garden.

(a) is (b) are ✓ (c) was (d) been
Answer: (b) are
"Children" is plural, so use "are" for present continuous tense

Question 2: The work _______ completed by tomorrow.

(a) is (b) will be ✓ (c) was (d) been
Answer: (b) will be
Future passive voice structure: will be + V3 "completed"

Quick Quiz

Quiz 1: I _______ an engineer next year.

(a) will be ✓ (b) am (c) was (d) been

Quiz 2: The food _______ prepared in the kitchen right now.

(a) was (b) is being ✓ (c) has been (d) will be

Remember: "BE" has 8 forms and is used for both continuous tenses and passive voice!

Rule #5: After "TO"

The preposition "TO" can appear in sentences in three different ways, each following specific grammatical patterns. Understanding these patterns is crucial for correct English usage.

Case 1: TO + No Verb

In this case, "TO" functions as a simple preposition indicating direction, place, or purpose, and is not followed by any verb. It shows movement or relationship between two elements.

Usage: TO shows direction, destination, or relationship

  • I went to gym. → (destination)
  • She came to my home. → (destination)
  • He gave the book to me. → (recipient)
  • We walked to the market. → (direction)

Case 2: TO + V1 (First Form of Verb)

This is the most common pattern where "TO" is followed by the infinitive form of the verb (V1). The verb after "TO" is always in its first form (plural by nature) regardless of the tense of the main sentence.

Key Rule: After "TO", always use V1 form except when it's a Gerund (Case 3)

Pattern: TO + V1
V1 remains the same across all tenses!
  • Future: I will have to pay. → (pay = V1)
  • Past: She had to earn money. → (earn = V1)
  • Present: They want to leave. → (leave = V1)
  • He decided to study harder. → (study = V1)
  • We plan to travel next month. → (travel = V1)

Case 3: TO + V-ING (Gerund)

Gerund is the V+ing form of a verb that functions as a noun in a sentence. It represents an action or activity as a thing. When "TO" is followed by V+ing, it creates a special grammatical structure that has limited but important uses.

What is a Gerund?

A Gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that acts like a noun. It names an action or activity.

Examples: swimming, reading, dancing, cooking → these are activities treated as nouns

There are only two specific conditions where V+ing form can come after "TO":

Condition A: Certain Fixed Phrases

These are limited, fixed expressions where "TO" is always followed by V+ing. These phrases must be memorized as they don't follow the general rule.

Fixed Phrases with TO + V-ING:

given to taken to prone to addicted to with a view to accustomed to devoted to averse to opposed to object to habituated to look forward to
  • She is devoted to learning Sanskrit.
  • He is looking forward to meeting you.
  • You came here with a view to earning fame.
  • She is addicted to smoking.
  • They are opposed to changing the rules.

Condition B: Verb + [Used To] + V-ING

When there's a verb before "used to", the structure changes to show being accustomed to something. This is different from "used to" for past habits.

Key Difference:

Past Habit: She used to gamble. (V1 form)

Being Accustomed: She is used to gambling. (V+ing form)

Pattern: Verb + Used To + V-ING
Shows being accustomed to something
  • She is used to gambling. → (accustomed to gambling)
  • He is used to teaching English. → (accustomed to teaching)
  • I am used to working late nights. → (accustomed to working)
  • They are used to living in the city. → (accustomed to living)

Visual Comparison

Past Habit

She used to gamble

(no longer does it)

Being Accustomed

She is used to gambling

(familiar with it)

Practice Questions - Rule 5

Question 1: I want _______ a doctor.

(a) to be ✓ (b) to being (c) being (d) be
Answer: (a) to be
After "to", use V1 form. "Be" is the first form of the verb.

Question 2: She is looking forward _______ you.

(a) to meet (b) to meeting ✓ (c) meet (d) meeting
Answer: (b) to meeting
"Look forward to" is a fixed phrase that takes V+ing form.

Question 3: He is used _______ late every night.

(a) to work (b) to working ✓ (c) work (d) working
Answer: (b) to working
"Is used to" means accustomed to something, takes V+ing form.

Question 4: They went _______ the temple.

(a) to ✓ (b) to go (c) to going (d) going
Answer: (a) to
"To" as preposition showing destination - no verb needed.

Question 5: She is devoted _______ classical music.

(a) to learn (b) to learning ✓ (c) learn (d) learning
Answer: (b) to learning
"Devoted to" is a fixed phrase that requires V+ing form.

Quick Quiz - Rule 5

Quiz 1: I decided _______ my job.

(a) to quit ✓ (b) to quitting (c) quit (d) quitting

Quiz 2: She came here with a view _______ knowledge.

(a) to gain (b) to gaining ✓ (c) gain (d) gaining

Quiz 3: He used _______ cricket when he was young.

(a) to play ✓ (b) to playing (c) play (d) playing

Remember: After TO → Generally V1, except for fixed phrases and "used to" constructions!

Rule #6: Modals

Modals are special helping verbs that express possibility, ability, permission, obligation, or necessity, and they always take the first form of the verb (V1) after them.

Important Note:

We will learn modals in much more detail in upcoming lessons. For now, just focus on understanding this basic rule for better grammar foundation!

Complete List of Modals

SHALL SHOULD WILL WOULD MAY MIGHT MUST CAN COULD OUGHT TO DARE NEED

Other Words That Take V1

Besides modals, there are some other words that also require the first form of the verb after them:

LET MAKE MADE HELP
Universal Rule: Modal/Helping Word + V1
Always use the first form of verb after modals and helping words!

Examples with Different Modals

  • Let me go. → (let + V1)
  • I will not let them win. → (let + V1)
  • She made him pay the bill. → (made + V1)
  • I will help him complete the work. → (help + V1)
  • They can win easily. → (can + V1)
  • You ought to respect your family. → (ought to + V1)
  • She should study harder. → (should + V1)
  • We must finish this today. → (must + V1)

Special Note About DARE and NEED

🔔 IMPORTANT TO NOTE 🔔

DARE and NEED work as modals ONLY in negative and interrogative sentences!

DARE as Modal vs Regular Verb

As Modal (Negative/Interrogative only):
  • He dare not speak in public. → (modal + V1)
  • Dare you go there alone? → (modal + V1)
As Regular Verb (All sentences):
  • I dare you to take the road less traveled. → (regular verb + to + V1)
  • She dared him to jump from the cliff. → (regular verb + to + V1)

NEED as Modal vs Regular Verb

As Modal (Negative/Interrogative only):
  • You need not worry about it. → (modal + V1)
  • Need I explain again? → (modal + V1)
As Regular Verb (All sentences):
  • I need to study harder. → (regular verb + to + V1)
  • She needs your help. → (regular verb + noun)

Practice Questions - Rule 6

Question 1: She can _______ English fluently.

(a) speak ✓ (b) speaks (c) speaking (d) spoke
Answer: (a) speak
After modal "can", always use V1 form of the verb.

Question 2: You need not _______ there.

(a) go ✓ (b) to go (c) going (d) went
Answer: (a) go
"Need not" is modal form in negative sentence, takes V1.

Question 3: Let him _______ his work.

(a) finish ✓ (b) finishes (c) finished (d) finishing
Answer: (a) finish
After "let", always use V1 form of the verb.

Question 4: I dare you _______ the challenge.

(a) accept (b) to accept ✓ (c) accepting (d) accepted
Answer: (b) to accept
"Dare" as regular verb takes "to + V1" structure.

Question 5: She made me _______ the truth.

(a) tell ✓ (b) to tell (c) telling (d) told
Answer: (a) tell
After "made", use V1 form directly without "to".

Quick Quiz - Rule 6

Quiz 1: We should _______ our parents.

(a) respect ✓ (b) respects (c) respecting (d) respected

Quiz 2: Dare you _______ into the haunted house?

(a) go ✓ (b) to go (c) going (d) went

Quiz 3: They will help us _______ the project.

(a) complete ✓ (b) to complete (c) completing (d) completed

Quiz 4: You must _______ your homework.

(a) do ✓ (b) does (c) doing (d) did

Quiz 5: I need _______ your advice.

(a) hear (b) to hear ✓ (c) hearing (d) heard

Remember: Modals and helping words always take V1 form after them!

📚 Comprehensive Quiz - Rules 4, 5 & 6

Test your understanding of all three rules with this comprehensive practice quiz!

Complete Quiz - 10 Questions

Q1: The students _______ preparing for their exams.

(a) are ✓ (b) is (c) was (d) been
Rule 4: "Students" is plural, use "are" for present continuous.

Q2: I want _______ a successful entrepreneur.

(a) to become ✓ (b) to becoming (c) become (d) becoming
Rule 5: After "to", use V1 form "become".

Q3: She should _______ more time with her family.

(a) spend ✓ (b) spends (c) spending (d) spent
Rule 6: After modal "should", use V1 form "spend".

Q4: The work has _______ completed successfully.

(a) be (b) been ✓ (c) being (d) is
Rule 4: Perfect tense structure: "has been" + V3.

Q5: He is looking forward _______ his old friends.

(a) to meet (b) to meeting ✓ (c) meet (d) meeting
Rule 5: "Look forward to" is a fixed phrase requiring V+ing.

Q6: They can _______ the match if they play well.

(a) win ✓ (b) wins (c) winning (d) won
Rule 6: After modal "can", use V1 form "win".

Q7: The building _______ constructed next year.

(a) is (b) will be ✓ (c) was (d) been
Rule 4: Future passive voice: "will be" + V3.

Q8: She is devoted _______ social service.

(a) to do (b) to doing ✓ (c) do (d) doing
Rule 5: "Devoted to" is a fixed phrase requiring V+ing.

Q9: You need not _______ about the result.

(a) worry ✓ (b) to worry (c) worrying (d) worried
Rule 6: "Need not" as modal takes V1 form.

Q10: I _______ working late hours now.

(a) am used to work (b) am used to working ✓ (c) used to work (d) am use to working
Rule 5: "Am used to" means accustomed to, takes V+ing.

🎉 Congratulations! 🎉

You've completed the comprehensive quiz covering Rules 4, 5, and 6!

📚 Rule 4: Forms of "BE" (8 varieties) for continuous tense and passive voice
🎯 Rule 5: After "TO" → V1, except fixed phrases and "used to" constructions
⚡ Rule 6: Modals and helping words always take V1 form

Keep practicing these fundamental rules to master English grammar! 💪

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Check out Part 3 for more Universal Grammar Rules!

Get ready for the remaining Universal Grammar Rules. Keep practicing these concepts until then!

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