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Verbs - Shortcut Rules - Part 2




Shortcut Rule 11 : When the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth the past tense in the main clause may be followed by a Present Tense.

  • He said that the sun rose in the East. ☓
  • He said that the sun rises in the East. ✔

Shortcut Rule 12 : The Past Tense in the main clause may be followed by any tense after the conjunction "Than" in the subordinate clause. 

  • He worked faster than we do / did. ✔

Shortcut Rule 13 : In Conditional Sentences, to express improbability in the Present, the Simple Past Tense in the if clause and the Present Conditional Tense in the main clause are used.

  • If I am the Principal, I would Punish Him. ☓
  • If I were the Principal, I would Punish Him. ✔
  • If he is rich, he would buy a car. ☓
  • If he were rich, He would buy a car. ✔

Shortcut Rule 14 : To express unfulfilled condition in the Past, we should express with "Past Perfect Tense" in the if clause and Perfect Conditional Tense in the Main Clause.

  • If you worked hard, you would have passed in the examination. ☓
  • If you had worked hard, you would have passed in the examination. ✔

Shortcut Rule 15 : For the interrogative sentences that begin with auxiliary verbs, "if or whether as a connective word in indirect speech.

  • He said to me, "Are you going there?" ☓
  • He asked me if I was going there. ✔
  • He asked me that I was going there ✔
  • "Are they ready or not?" she said to me. ☓
  • She asked me whether they were ready. ✔
  • She asked me that they were ready or not. ✔

Shortcut Rule 16 : No other conjunction should be used as a connective word, in indirect speech when the question indirect speech begins with "Why (or) How" question words.

  • He asked me that who my best friend was. ☓
  • He asked me who my best friend was. ✔
  • He asked me that How I got time to write all posts in my Blog. ☓
  • He asked me how I got time to write all posts in my Blog. ✔

Shortcut Rule 17 : No preposition is used after the verb "told" 

  • He told me that he passed the examination. ☓
  • He told me that he had passed the examination. ✔

Shortcut Rule 18 : The question forms  in direct speech should be changed to affirmative sentences in indirect speech.

  • The receptionist asked me who do I want to meet in the office. ☓
  • The receptionist asked me whom I wanted to meet in the office. ✔

Shortcut Rule 19 : The verb "Suggest" purpose in indirect speech should be followed by "that clause" with the auxiliary verb "should" 

  • He suggested me to go for a walk every morning. ☓
  • He suggested to me that I should go for a walk every morning. ✔

Shortcut Rule 20 : In the absence of an indirect object after "suggest" a gerund form is used.

  • He suggested going for a walk every morning. ✔

Shortcut Rule 21 : The verb "Tell" should be sued with an object.

  • He told that he had passed in the test. ☓
  • He said that he had passed in the test (OR) ✔
  • He told me that he had passed in the Test. ✔