SKILL 31: AFTER BE, USE THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE OR THE PAST PARTICIPLE

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

SKILL 31: AFTER BE, USE THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE OR THE PAST PARTICIPLE

The verb be in any of its forms (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) can be followed by another verb. This verb should be in the present participle or the past participle form.

examples

Ø Weare do our homework Ø The homework was do early. Ø Tom is take the book. Ø The book was take by Tom

(should be are doing) (should be was done) (should be is taking) (should be was taken)

The following chart outlines the possible forms of comparatives and superlatives.  

EXERCISE 30: Each of the following sentences contains a comparative or superlative. Circle the comparative and superlative. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

_______	3	The message was took by the receptionist.
_______	4	Being heard was extremely important to him.
_______	5	The Smiths are build their house on some property that they own in the desert.
_______	6	It had been noticed that some staff members were late.
_______	7	The report should have been submit by noon.
_______	8	Are the two companies merge into one.
_______	9	He could be taking four courses this semester.
_______	10	The score information has been duplicates on the back-up disk.

 

ANSWER KEY

1	I	(eat should be eating)
2	C
3	I	(took should be taken)
4	C
5	I	(build should be building)
6	C
7	I	(submit  should be submitted)
8	I	(merge should be merging)
9	C
10	I	(duplicates should be duplicated)