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Rule #12: If a “to be” verb (am, is, are, was, were) acts as the main verb in a sentence, and a pronoun comes after it, always use the subject form of the pronoun (I, he, she), not the object form (me, him, her).
❌ It was her who found the lost puppy.
✅ It was she who found the lost puppy.
What is a Verb?
Let’s start from the very basics.
We have a misconception about verbs. We think a verb is a word that shows only an action (Action Verbs).
Aroni eats rice.
In this sentence, Aroni is doing something.
What is she doing? She is eating rice. Eating rice → An action (Action Verbs)
But what about the following sentence..
Aroni is a student.
Is Aroni doing something in this sentence?
Not really, right?
But the word “is” is still a verb. So how can we say that a verb “shows only an action”? That’s a very limited definition of a verb. Because in so many instances a verb does not indicate any action.
Instead, a verb demonstrates a state of being. These verbs (State-of-Being Verbs) tell what something is, not what it does.
The above sentence is basically demonstrating Aroni’s state of being as a student.
More Examples:
I am happy. (“am” is the verb)
You look amazing. (“look” is the verb)
So, a verb is a word that shows an action or a state of being - it tells what is happening or what someone or something is doing or being!
What are Main Verbs and Helping Verbs? How do they differ?
Main/Principal Verb
The main verb is the most important verb in a sentence. It tells us what the subject is really doing or being.
The dog barks. (“barks” is the main verb - Action)
She is a student. (“is” is the main verb - it tells what she is - State of Being)
Helping/Auxiliary Verb
An auxiliary verb is a helping verb. It works with another verb (the main verb) to show time, the way something happens, or if it's a question or negative.
Common Auxiliary Verbs
am | is | are |
was | were | |
have | has | had |
do | does | did |
will | shall | |
can | may |
She is running. (“is” is the auxiliary verb and “running” is the main verb)
They have finished. (“have” is the auxiliary verb and “finished” is the main verb)
How are they different?
The main verb gives the main meaning (action or state).
The auxiliary verb helps the main verb, but doesn’t give the main action or state by itself.
Tip:
If a verb can stand alone and still make sense, it’s probably the main verb.
If it needs another verb to make sense, it’s probably an auxiliary (helping) verb.
What are “To Be” Verbs?
To be verbs are special verbs that show what something is, was, or will be (not an action, but a state).
Here is a list of all 8 “to be” verbs:
am | is | are |
was | were | |
be | being | been |
Are “State-of-Being” Verbs and “To Be“ Verbs the Same?
All “to be” verbs are state of being verbs, and state of being verbs are usually the “to be” verbs!
“To be” verbs show what something is, not any action.
This is why we can call “to be” verbs as state-of-being verbs - they show a state (like being happy, a student, tired, etc.), not something someone does.
What are Other “State-of-Being” Verbs that are not "To Be" Verbs?
Following is a non-exhaustive (“non-exhaustive” means that something is not complete or does not include everything) list:
become | seem | appear |
look | feel | sound |
grow | remain | stay |
taste | turn | prove |
And all of these “State-of-Being” verbs including “To Be” verbs are formally called Linking Verbs.
“State-of-Being Verbs” is not a formal linguistic term. In formal grammar and linguistics, these verbs are more commonly known as Linking Verbs.
But here’s the catch: you don’t need to know the formal terms to get into IBA. That’s why I often make up names or terms for different rules and concepts so that we have enough knowledge and foundation to ace the grammar questions in the IBA exam without going through the hassle of remembering difficult terminologies.
In short, you don’t have to remember what a Linking Verb is.
But just to humor you, let me give you a brief explanation of Linking Verbs.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are special verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to more information about the subject, usually an adjective or a noun that describes or renames it.
They do not show action. Instead, they link the subject to its state or quality. (State-of-Being Verbs)
Linking verbs work like an “equal sign” (=) in math, showing that the subject and the word after the verb are the same thing or have the same quality.
Can “To Be” Verbs Act as the Main Verb?
Understanding this concept is super critical for mastering this grammar rule.
A key part of this grammar rule is:
“If a “to be” verb (am, is, are, was, were) acts as the main verb in a sentence”
So in order for us to know whether we should apply this grammar rule or not in our IBA grammar questions (error detection or sentence correction), we need to understand how a “to be” verb functions as the main verb in a sentence.
And how can we discern whether a “to be” verb or any verb in question is acting like the main verb or the auxiliary verb?
Recall what I told you in Adaanist Grammar Rule #1. Grammar becomes super easy if you understand the meaning or essence of a sentence.
Hence, in order to identify whether a verb is the main verb or auxiliary verb, you need to understand the meaning of the sentence.
Consider the following 2 sentences:
I am happy. | I am feeling happy. |
|---|---|
What does this sentence mean? In this sentence, the subject (I) is describing their current state of being that they are experiencing happiness. | What does this sentence mean? In this sentence, the subject (I) is saying that they are feeling happiness right now. |
In this sentence, the verb “am” does not show any action. Instead, it indicates the subject’s (I) state. So the verb “am” is essentially connecting/linking the subject to the state of the subject/adjective “happy.” | "feeling" is the main verb (present participle form of "feel") and shows the action the speaker is performing - feeling happiness. "am" is an auxiliary (helping) verb here. "am" helps the main verb "feeling" form the present continuous tense (I am feeling). The sentence expresses an ongoing action - the act of "feeling" - rather than a permanent state. |
Main verb: “am” | Auxiliary Verb: “am” |
Now, you can clearly see that a “to be” verb can act as a main verb as well as an auxiliary verb depending on the context and sentence construction.
So when to apply this grammar rule?
When the “to be” verb is acting as the main/principal verb in the subject…
Why am I Calling this the Matching Rule?
The pronoun case/form before and after “to be” should be the same.
If the subject is “I,” then after “to be,” it should also be “I.”
Think of it like a mirror: the pronoun before “to be” should match the pronoun after.
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