Loading...
Loading...
"Right Form of Verbs" questions ask you to fill in the correct verb form in a sentence. This is one of the highest-frequency BCS topics. Success depends on memorizing specific rules about which structures demand which verb forms (base, gerund, infinitive, past participle).
Modals: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to
EXCEPTION — When "to" is a PREPOSITION (not part of infinitive), use GERUND:
| Expression | Correct Form |
|---|---|
| be used to | be used to going (accustomed to) |
| look forward to | look forward to hearing |
| be accustomed to | be accustomed to living |
| object to | object to working |
| be devoted to | be devoted to serving |
"Used to go" (past habit, infinitive) vs "be used to going" (accustomed, gerund) — BCS loves this!
These verbs MUST be followed by a gerund:
enjoy, avoid, mind, finish, consider, suggest, deny, admit, keep, practice, risk, miss, appreciate, delay, imagine, resist, postpone, tolerate, quit, recall
Mnemonic: "MEGA DISK PM" — Mind, Enjoy, Give up, Avoid, Deny, Imagine, Suggest, Keep, Practice, Miss
These verbs MUST be followed by an infinitive:
want, wish, hope, expect, decide, promise, refuse, agree, plan, afford, pretend, manage, learn, offer, fail, appear, seem, tend, threaten, claim
| Structure | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| make + object + | base form (V1) | He made me do it. |
| let + object + | base form (V1) | Let him go. |
| have + object + | V3 (past participle) | I had my car repaired. |
| get + object + | V3 (past participle) | I got my hair cut. |
| get + person + | to + V1 | I got him to help me. |
| Structure | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Would rather + | base form (V1) | I would rather stay home. |
| Had better + | base form (V1) | You had better leave now. |
| It's high time + | Past tense (V2) | It's high time you started studying. |
| As if / As though + | Past tense (V2) | He talks as if he knew everything. |
| No sooner...than + | Past Perfect (had+V3) | No sooner had I reached than it rained. |
Q1. "She made him _____ the work." (a) to do (b) doing (c) do (d) done
Answer: (c) do Explanation: After "make + object", we use the base form (V1). "Made him do" follows the causative rule. Not "to do" (that would be "got him to do") and not "doing" or "done".*
Q2. "I look forward to _____ from you." (a) hear (b) hearing (c) be heard (d) have heard
Answer: (b) hearing Explanation: In "look forward to", the word "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. After a preposition, we always use a gerund (-ing form). So it's "look forward to hearing."*
Q3. "He is used to _____ early." (a) get up (b) getting up (c) got up (d) gets up
Answer: (b) getting up Explanation: "Be used to" means "be accustomed to" — here "to" is a preposition, so it takes a gerund. Don't confuse with "used to get up" (past habit) where "to" is part of the infinitive.*
Q4. "It's high time we _____ a decision." (a) make (b) made (c) have made (d) will make
Answer: (b) made Explanation: After "It's high time", we use the Past tense (V2) to express that something should have been done already. "Made" is the past form of "make".*
Q5. "She would rather _____ at home than go out." (a) stays (b) stayed (c) stay (d) to stay
Answer: (c) stay Explanation: After "would rather", we use the base form (V1). No "to", no "-s", no past form. "Would rather stay" is the correct structure.*
"Used to going" vs "used to go" — completely different meanings! "He used to go" = past habit (infinitive). "He is used to going" = accustomed to (gerund). BCS tests this constantly.
"Look forward to" takes GERUND, not infinitive. "I look forward to hearing" NOT "I look forward to hear." Students see "to" and assume infinitive.
"Make" takes base form, but "get" takes "to + V1" for people. "He made me do it" vs "He got me to do it." Mixing these up is a common trap.
"Enjoy" NEVER takes infinitive. "I enjoy reading" NOT "I enjoy to read." Same for avoid, mind, finish, suggest.
"It's high time" takes PAST tense, not present. "It's high time you studied" NOT "It's high time you study." The past tense here indicates urgency, not past time.