 Wrong: a principle enshrined under the Constitution

 Correct: a principle enshrined in the Constitution

 Wrong: it resulted to the death of the victim

 Correct: it resulted in the death of the victim

 Wrong: it may result to damage to property

 Correct: it may result in damage to property

 Wrong: the right vested to the municipality

 Correct: the right vested in the municipality

 Wrong: the trust and confidence reposed upon him

 Correct: the trust and confidence reposed in him

 Wrong: is permitted to intervene into the proceedings

 Correct: is permitted to intervene in the proceedings

 Wrong: an insurable interest into the life of his brother

 Correct: an insurable interest in the life of his brother

 Wrong: the respondent of the proceedings

 Correct: the respondent in the proceedings

 Wrong: an increase of the value of the property

 Correct: an increase in the value of the property

 Wrong: the reason lies on the principle that

 Correct: the reason lies in the principle that

 Wrong: failure on the performance of his duties

 Correct: failure in the performance of his duties

 Wrong: on the process of gathering evidence

 Correct: in the process of gathering evidence

 Wrong: is not interested on the services of a lawyer

 Correct: is not interested in the services of a lawyer

 Wrong: a power exclusively lodged on Congress

 Correct: a power exclusively lodged in Congress

 Wrong: it leaves no doubt on the mind of the court

 Correct: it leaves no doubt in the mind of the court

 Wrong: is holding a knife on his hand

 Correct: is holding a knife in his hand

 Wrong: a personal stake on the outcome of the case

 Correct: a personal stake in the outcome of the case

 Wrong: this shall apply on cases of probationary employment

 Correct: this shall apply in cases of probationary employment

Mastering Verb Forms

BAR EXAM ENGLISH·SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016

The present tense helping verbs "do" and

"does" and their negative forms "do not" and
"does not" must be followed by the base form
of the main verb. The base form is the simplest
 or the bare infinitive form of the verb, i.e.,
without -s, -es, -d, or -ed. The formula is:

do / does / do not / does not +

base form of the main verb
 Wrong: I do believes that the questioned act is invalid.

 Correct: I do believe that the questioned act is invalid.

 Wrong: Does she knows who attacked her?

 Correct: Does she know who attacked her?

 Wrong: The assailed ordinances do not violates the equal protection clause.

 Correct: The assailed ordinances do not violate the equal protection clause.

 Wrong: His gross annual income does not exceeds P500.000.

 Correct: His gross annual income does not exceed P500.000.

The helping verb "did" and its negative form

"did not" must also be followed by the base
form, not by the past participle form, of the
main verb. The formula is:

did / did not + base form of the

main verb
 Wrong: Did he paid the balance on the account?

 Correct: Did he pay the balance on the account?

 Wrong: Did he filed a demurrer to the evidence?

 Correct: Did he file a demurrer to the evidence?

 Wrong: Maria did not returned the money immediately.

 Correct: Maria did not return the money immediately.

 Wrong: Vicky at first did not wanted to go with her father.

 Correct: Vicky at first did not want to go with her father.

In the passive voice, the helping verb "to be"

shall be followed by the past participle form of
the main verb. The formula is:

is / was / were / be + past

participle of the main verb
 Wrong: The lessor is oblige to maintain the lessee in the peaceful enjoyment of
the lease during all the time covered by the contract.

 Correct: The lessor is obliged to maintain the lessee in the peaceful enjoyment of
the lease during all the time covered by the contract.

 Wrong: In a contract to sell, ownership is retain by the seller and is not to pass to
the buyer until full payment of the price.

 Correct: In a contract to sell, ownership is retained by the seller and is not to pass
to the buyer until full payment of the price.

 Wrong: Capacity to succeed is govern by the law of the nation of the decedent.

 Correct: Capacity to succeed is governed by the law of the nation of the decedent.
 Wrong: Dencio was involve in a shooting incident.

 Correct: Dencio was involved in a shooting incident.

 Wrong: The suspects were recognize by the witness.

 Correct: The suspects were recognized by the witness.

 Wrong: The right against self-incrimination is a personal right which may be

invoke by the witness.

 Correct: The right against self-incrimination is a personal right which may be

invoked by the witness.

The plural quantifier one of the requires a

plural noun.

The same rule applies to all, several, among,

between, these, those, and the prepositional phrases a
lot of, lots of, plenty of, loads of, tons of, each of, both
of, a couple of, hundreds of, and thousands of.

 Wrong: This case falls under one of the exception to the principle of hierarchy of
courts.

 Correct: This case falls under one of the exceptions to the principle of hierarchy
of courts.

 Wrong: One of the witness is no longer available to testify.

 Correct: One of the witnesses is no longer available to testify.

 Wrong: The joinder may be allowed provided one of the cause of action falls
within the jurisdiction of said court, and the venue lies therein.
 Correct: The joinder may be allowed provided one of the causes of action falls
within the jurisdiction of said court, and the venue lies therein.