General English is very important topic in various competitive exams like SSC CGL,CHSL,UPSC,Banks and other exams. By knowing rules of english grammar you can crack General english section in any competitive exam very easily.Here we provide sme important rules of English grammar.
- Certain nouns being a singular form represent plurality and therefore, take a plural verb in a sentence.
Example: police, clergy, people, peasantry, cattle.
- People has left. (Incorrect)
- People have left. (Correct)
- Certain nouns take the plural verb because of their plural form.
Example: Clothes, Scissors, trousers, amends, spectacles, thanks.
- The spectacles is missing. (Incorrect)
- The spectacles are missing. (Correct)
- When a noun denoting weight, number, money, length or measure is following a number, the noun form does not change as long as another noun or pronoun follows it.
Example: Million, pair, meter, year, dozen.
- This is a 9-meters scale. (Incorrect)
- This is a 9-meter scale. (Correct)
- When the pronoun ‘one’ is used, it should be maintained throughout the whole sentence.
- One must help his siblings. (Incorrect)
- One must help one’s siblings. (Correct)
- For living people ‘whose’ is generally used and for things that are non-living ‘which’ is used.
- Which phone is kept on charging? (Incorrect)
- Whose phone is kept on charging? (Correct)
- ‘Fewer’ is used for denoting number while ‘Less’ is used for denoting quantity.
- No less than thirty dogs were. (Incorrect)
- No fewer than thirty dogs were. (Correct)
- Sentences are always opposite to question tags, for example, if the question tag is positive then the sentence is negative and vice versa.
- It’s a bit early, is it? (Incorrect)
- It’s a bit early, isn’t it? (Correct)
- Instead of ‘who’ or ‘which’, the relative pronoun ‘that’ is used after adjectives in the superlative degree.
- These are the best which he could get. (Incorrect)
- These are the best that he could get. (Correct)
- ‘As’ is used both before and after the adjective to show equality.
- I can write as fast, if not faster than her. (Incorrect)
- I can write as fast as, if not faster than her. (Correct)
- ‘Though’ is always followed by ‘yet’ in a sentence and not by ‘but’.
Thus,
- Though he is rich but he is kind. (Incorrect)
- Though he is rich, yet he is kind. (Correct)
- ‘Not’ is never used with ‘unless’ as ‘unless’ expresses a condition that is always used in the negative sense.
Thus,
- Unless you do not pay the fine, you will not be excused. (Incorrect)
- Unless you pay the fine, you will not be excused. (Correct)
- ‘While’ implies a time duration of doing something and ‘When’ denotes a general sense.
Thus,
- When learning how to box, the technique is of utmost importance. (Incorrect)
- While learning how to box, the technique is of utmost importance. (Correct)
Valuable & Handy Grammatical Rules
Rule- 1: Certain nouns have a singular form, but they always take plural verbs, e.g. Peasantry, Gentry, Police, People, Vermin, Cattle etc.
- Incorrect: The cattle was grazing in the field yesterday.
- Correct: The cattle were grazing in the field yesterday.
Rule- 2: ‘One of, each of, none of,’ are always followed by nouns in the plural form.
- Incorrect: One of the player was not on the field.
- Correct: One of the players was not on the field.
- Incorrect: Each of the student was given two books.
- Correct: Each of the students was given two books.
Rule- 3: If a collective noun does not act as a single unit, then it takes a plural verb.
- Incorrect: The medical panel was divided in its diagnosis.
- Correct: The medical panel were divided in their diagnosis.
- Incorrect: The family is at sixes and sevens regarding the division of ancestral property.
- Correct: The family are at sixes and sevens regarding the division of ancestral property.
Rule- 4: The possessive of the pronoun ‘one’ is ‘one’s’ and not ‘his/their’.
- Incorrect: One must do his duty towards humanity.
- Correct: One must do one’s duty towards humanity.
Rule- 5: Prepositions are not used with words uptown, downtown, outside, inside, downstairs and upstairs.
- Incorrect: Grandpa went to upstairs a few minutes ago.
- Correct: Grandpa went upstairs a few minutes ago.
- Incorrect: You must go to outside immediately.
- Correct: You must go outside immediately.
Rule- 6: If a recurrent action becomes problematic or irritating, present continuous tense should be used instead of simple present tense.
- Incorrect: He always hits me without any reason.
- Correct: He is always hitting me without any reason.
Rule- 7: It is preferable not to split the infinitive (to+V1)
- Incorrect: She liked to never play basketball.
- Correct: She never liked to play basketball.
Rule- 8: If two actions in a sentence are to take place in future, the conditional clause uses the simple present and the other clause uses the simple future.
- Incorrect: If she will come to Delhi, we will meet her.
- Correct: If she comes to Delhi, we will meet her.
- Incorrect: As soon as he will enter the room, you will turn off the lights.
- Correct: As soon as he enters the room, you will turn off the lights.
Rule- 9: For the conditional that refers to an impossible past condition and its likely result in the past, we use: Past Perfect & Would+Have+V3. Past Perfect is used for the impossible past condition. Would+Have+V3 is used for the likely result.
- Incorrect: If Joan would have invited me to the party, I would have met her.
- Correct: If Joan had invited me to the party, I would have met her.
Rule- 10: If two actions are shown to happen in the past, the action that happened first uses past perfect whereas the action that happened later uses simple past.
- Incorrect: By the time we reached there, he left the place.
- Correct: By the time we reached there, he had left the place.
Rule- 11: In case of comparisons, the subject of a sentence must be compared with another subject or a subjective pronoun. An objective pronoun must not be compared with the subject of a sentence.
- Incorrect: Janis is taller than me.
- Correct: Janis is taller than I.
- Incorrect: Devika is as honest as him.
- Correct: Devika is as honest as he.
Rule- 12: We must never use ‘not’ along with ‘until’ and ‘unless’.
- Incorrect: The workers will not leave the building until their demands are not met.
- Correct: The workers will not leave the building until their demands are met.
Rule- 13: Question tags are negative, if the sentence is positive and vice versa.
- Incorrect: She has returned to her family, has she?
- Correct: She has returned to her family, hasn’t she?
- Incorrect: You don’t respect me, don’t you?
- Correct: You don’t respect me, do you?
Rule- 14: The words hardly, barely, scarcely, and rarely carry the force of a negative. Therefore, the question tag used after them must be positive.
- Incorrect: It is barely worth the price, isn’t it?
- Correct: It is barely worth the price, is it?
- Incorrect: Their actions are hardly reasonable, aren’t they?
- Correct: Their actions are hardly reasonable, are they?
Rule- 15: Between is followed by ‘and’ and not ‘to’.
- Incorrect: He is expected to arrive between 7pm to 8pm.
- Correct: He is expected to arrive between 7pm and 8pm.
Rule-16: We should use fewer, not less, with plural nouns.
- Incorrect: They have got less burgers than they need.
- Correct: They have got fewer burgers than they need.
Rule-17: Lest mustn’t be used along with not. The only helping verb that can be used after lest is should.
- Incorrect: Think carefully lest you should not commit a mistake.
- Correct: Think carefully lest you should commit a mistake.
- Correct: Think carefully lest you commit a mistake.
Rule-18: No sooner should be followed by than, not when.
- Incorrect: No sooner had we started studying, when there was an interruption because of a power cut.
- Correct: No sooner had we started studying, than there was an interruption because of a power cut.
- Incorrect: No sooner had she graduated, when she got a reputed job.
- Correct: No sooner had she graduated, than she got a reputed job.
Rule-19: The verb following ‘both (of)’ construction is always positive and plural. ‘Both’ isn’t used in negative structures.
- Incorrect: Both of these options are not correct.
- Correct: Both of these options are wrong.
- Incorrect: Both of them are not aware of what happened yesterday.
- Correct: Both of them are unaware of what happened yesterday.
Rule-20: We must not use the article a/an after kind of, sort of, type of etc.
- Incorrect: What sort of an animal is that?
- Correct: What sort of animal is that?
- Incorrect: Shark is a type of a fish.
- Correct: Shark is a type of fish.
A. SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT
1 . Two or more Singular Subjects connected by and usually take a Verb in the Plural.
For example,
Incorrect- Hari and Ram is here.
Correct- Hari and Ram are here.
2. If two Singular Nouns refer to the same person or thing, the Verb must be Singular.
Incorrect- The Secretary and Principal are coming.
Correct- The Secretary and Principal is coming.
(Here the same person is .Secretary as well as Principal)
3. If the Singular Subjects are preceded by each or every, the Verb is usually Singular.
For example,
Incorrect- Every boy and girl were ready.
Correct- Every boy and girl was ready.
4. Two or more Singular Subjects connected by or, nor, either ….. or, neither …. nor take a Verb in the Singular.
For example,
Incorrect- Neither he nor I were there.
Correct- Neither he nor I was there.
5. When the Subjects joined by ‘or/nor are of different numbers, the Verb must be Plural, and the Plural Subject must be placed next to the Verb.
For example,
lncorrect- Neither the Assistant Masters nor the Headmaster was present.
Correct- Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were
present. ‘
6. When the Subjects joined by or, nor are of different persons, the Verb agrees in person with the one nearest to it.
For example,
Incorrect- Either he or I is mistaken.
Correct- Either he or I, am mistaken.
7. A Collective Noun takes a Singular Verb when the collection is thought of as a whole, a Plural Verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of.
For example,
Correct- The Council has chosen the President.
Correct- The military were called out.
8. Some Nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning, take a Plural Verb.
For example,
Incorrect- Mathematics are a branch of study in every school.
Correct- Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.
- Words joined to a Singular Subject by with, together with, in addition to, or, as well as, etc. are parenthetical, and therefore do not affect the number of the Verb.For example,Incorrect- The Chief, with all his men, were massacred .• Correct-The chief, with all his men, was massacred.10. When the Subject of the Verb is a Relative Pronoun care should be taken to see that the Verb agrees in Number and Person with the Antecedent of the relative.For example,Incorrect- I, who is your friend, . will guard you,r interests.Correct- I, who am your friend will guard your interests.
B. USES OF PARTICIPLES AND INFINITIVES
- Ask, advise, allow, command, force, forbid, invite, encourage, compel, beg, order•, imagine, instruct, permit, persuade, tell, require, remind, teach, etc. are followed by Object + To +V2For example,Incorrect- He advised to do it by me.Correct- He advised me to do it. But if these are used in Passive Voice, then they are followed by To +V,.For example,Correct- She was permitted to go with him.12. Know is followed by how/ where/when/why and Infinitive.For example,Incorrect- I know to write a letter.Correct- I know how to write a letter.
13. After let, bid, behold, watch, see, feel, make etc. we use Bare-Infinitive and not To-infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- I heard him to speak on several subjects.
Correct- I heard him speak on several subjects.
14. Bare Infinitive is used after Modal Auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, dare not, need not).
For example,
Incorrect- You need not to work hard.
Correct- You need not work hard.
15. Had better, had rather,had as soon … as … , had sooner etc. are fol-lowed by Bare Infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- He had better to go now.
Correct- He had better go now.
16. Conjunction than is also followed by Bare Infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- He had better read than to write.
Correct- He had better read than write.
17. When but is used as a Preposition and preceded by any form of the Verb do, then but is followed with Bare Infinitive.
Incorrect- He did nothing but to wander.
Correct- He did nothing but wander.
- Every Participile must have a Subject of Reference.For example,Incorrect- Being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.Correct- It being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.
- For completed action Having + Va is used in Active Voice, whereas Having + been + Va or Being + Va is used in Passive Voice. After should not be used in such a sentence.For example,Incorrect- After the leader having been killed, the followers ran away.Correct- The leader having been killed, the followers ran away.20. Participles like considering, judging, referring, concerning, regarding, viewing, broadly speaking etc. do not take any Subject of Reference.For example,Correct – Considering the case, I took the decision.Here I is not a Subject of Reference of considering. So, there is no Subject of Reference for ‘considering, still the sentence is correct.
C. USES OF VERBS
- When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same Number, then we must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are, am, was, were, have, has) for both of them.For example,Incorrect- Three- killed and one were injured.Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.22. A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form of Verb is same for both the subjects.Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.
23. Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the form of the principal Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries. ‘
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.
24. When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be correctly associated with the both.
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.
Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.
25. A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate clause.
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.
Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.
26. A Past Tense in main clause may be followed by a Present Tense
in the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.
27. When the subordinate clause comes after ‘lest’, the auxiliary Verb ‘should’ must be used, whatever be the Tense of the Verb in the main clause.
Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.
Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.
28. An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between ‘to’ and verbal part of,the infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter:
Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.
29. An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents’ an action prior to that of the governing Verb.
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.
Correct- I should have liked to go there.
30. Gerund if preceded by a Pr-o-noun, that Pronoun must be in Possessive case.
Incorrect – He emphasised me going there.
Correct- He emphasised my go-ing there.
31. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began in the past time and still. going at the time of speaking~ It is used with, Adverbials of time introduced by ‘since’, ‘for’ and ‘how long~.
Incorrect- How long are you working i~ this office?
Correct- How long have you been working in this office?
32. A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.
Incorrect- They were punished for come late.
Correct- They were punished for, coming late.
33. The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and condition. Here the Present In¬definite Tense is used.
Incorrect- I shall wait for you till you will finish your work.
Correct- I shall wait for you, till you finish your work.
34. The Present Perfect Tense is not used with the Adverbs of past time like yesterday, in 1990 etc. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used.
Incorrect~ I have bought a cycle yesterday.
Correct-I bought a cycle yesterday.
The Past Perfect Tense is used to represent the earlier of the two past actions.
Incorrect- When I reached the station, the train already left.
Correct- When I reached the station, the train had already left.
35. Modal Auxiliaries are not used together. But two Auxiliaries can be connected by a Conjunction.
For example,
Incorrect-He should must do it. Correct- He should and must do
it.
36. When need or dare is fol-lowed by not, it turns into modal auxiliary. In that situation it takes Bare Infinitive ‘and we cannot use needs not or dares not.
For example,
Incorrect- He needs not do it. Correct- He need not do it.
Rules of English Grammar For SSC CGL and Bank PO
D. USES OF ADJECTIVES
- Adjectives of quantity show how much of a thing is meant. Adjectives of quantity (some; much, little, enough, all, no, any, great, half, sufficient, whole) are used for Uncountable Nuns only.For example,Incorrect-I ate a few rice. Correct- I ate some rice.38. Numeral Adjectives are used for Countable Noun only and they show how many persons or things are meant or in what order a person or thing stands,For example,Incorrect- I have taught you little things.Correct- I have taught you a few things.39. When cardinal and ordinal are used together ordinal preceds the cardinal.For example,Incorrect- The four first boys will be given the chance.
Correct- The first four boys will be given the chance.
40. Later, latest refer to time, latter and last refer to position.
For example,
Incorrect- I reached at 10 am.
But he was latter than I expected.
Correct- I reached at 10 am. But he was later than I expected,
41. Farther means more distant or advanced; further means additional.
For example,
Incorrect- He insisted on farther improvement.
Correct- He insisted on further improvement.
42. Each is used in speaking of two or more things, every is used only in speaking of more than two.
For example,
Incorrect- Every of the two boys will get a prize.
Correct- Each of the two boys will get a prize.
43. To express quantity or degree some is used in affirmative sentences, any in negative or interrogative sentences.
For example,.
Incorrect- Have you bought some mangoes?
Correct- Have you bought any mangoes?
44. In comparing two things, the Comparative should be used, The Superlativ should not be used.
Incorrect- Which is the best of the two?
Correct- Which is the better of the two?
45. When two qualities of the same person or thing are compared,the Comparative in-er is not used. ‘More’ is used for this purpose.
Incorrect- He is wiser than brave.
Correct- He is more wise than brave.
46. When comparison is made by means of a comparative, the thing compared should be excluded from the class of things with which it is compared by using ‘other’ or some such word.
Incorrect- He is cleverer than any boy in the class.
Correct- He is cleverer than any other boy in the class.
47. When comparison is made by means of a superlative, the thing com-pared should include the class of things with which it is compared.
Incorrect- He is the strongest of all other men.
Correct- He is the strongest of all men ..
48. When two persons or things are compared, it is important that the same parts of things should be compared.
Incorrect- The population of Bombay is greater than Delhi.
Correct- The population of Bombay is greater than that of Delhi.
49. Double comparatives and superlatives should not be used.
1. Incorrect- He is the most cleverest boy in the class.
Correct- He is the cleverest boy in the class.
2. Incorrect- He is more wiser than his brother.
Correct- He ‘is wiser than his brother.
50. The comparative Adjectives superior inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior prefer, etc., should be followed by ‘to’ instead of ‘than’.
Incorrect- He is senior than me.
Correct- He is senior to me.
Rules of English Grammar For SSC CGL and Bank PO
51. Adjectives like ‘unique’, ideal,perfect, complete, universal, entire, extreme, chief, full square and round, which do not admit different degrees of comparison should not be compared.
Incorrect- It is the most unique thing.
Correct- It is a unique thing.
52. All the Adjectives which refer to the same Noun should be in the same degree of comparison.
Incorrect- He is the wisest and honest worker in the office.
Correct- He is the wisest and most honest worker in the office.
53. ‘Elder’ and ‘eldest’ should be used for persons only, strictly speaking, they are used for the members of the same family only. ‘Older’ and ‘oldest’ are used for both persons and things.
Incorrect- He is my older brother.
Correct- He is my elder brother.
E. USES OF ADVERBS
- To modify a Verb, an Adjective or another Adverb, we use an Adverb.Incorrect- She writes very careful.Correct- She writes very carefully.Carefully is an Adjective which cannot modify the Adverb very, therefore carefully (Adverb) must be used in place of Adjective careful.55. Too means more than required and it is used with Unpleasant Adjective. So, we cannot use too glad, too happy, too pleasant, too healthy.For example,Incorrect- I am too glad to meet you.Correct- I am very glad to meet you.56. A sentence which is based on ”Too …. To” format, we cannot replace to with so that. If we replace to with so that, too also must be replaced with cannot.For example,
Incorrect- He is too weak so that he cannot walk.
Correct- He is too weak to walk. Correct- He is so weak that he cannot walk.
57. Much too is followed by Unpleasant Adjective, whereas too much is followed by Noun.
Much too + Unpleasant Adjective.
Too much + Noun.
For example,
Incorrect- His failure is too much painful for me.
Correct- His failure is much too painful for me.
Incorrect- His wife’s rude behavior gives him much too pain.
Correct- His wife’s rude behavior gives him too much pain.
58. Quite and all are not used together.
For example,
Incorrect- He is quite all right. Correct- He is quite right. or He
is all right-
59. A/An + Fairly + Adjective +
Noun or Rather + A + Adjective For example,
(i) a fairly good book
(ii) rather a difficult problem.
But we cannot use Pleasant Adjective with rather and Unpleasant Adjective with fairly.
For example,
Incorrect- It was a rather good book.
Correct- It was a fairly good book.
60. Enough, when used as an Adverb, is preceded by a positive degree Adjective or Adverb.
For example,
Incorrect- He is greater enough to pardon you.
Correct- He is great enough to
pardon you.
61. Two negatives cancel each other. Hence two negatives should not be used in the same sentence unless we make an affirmation.
Incorrect-I have not got none.
Correct- I.have not got any.
62. ‘At present’ means ‘at the present time’, ‘presently’ means ‘shortly’. These should not be confused.
1. Incorrect- Nothing more can be done presently.
Correct- Nothing more can be done at present.
2. Incorrect- He will come back at present.
Correct- He will come back presently.
63. ‘Hard’ means ‘diligently’, strenuously’, ‘Hardly’ means ‘scarcely at all’. These two Adverbial forms of ‘hard’ must not be confused.
1. Incorrect- He tried hardly to win the race.
Correct- He tried hard to win the race.
2. Incorrect- She has eaten hard anything today.
Correct- She has eaten hardly anything today.
64. ‘Much’ is used before past participles and Adjectives or Adverbs of comparative degree. ‘Very’ is used before the present participles and Adjectives and Adverbs of positive degree.
1. Incorrect- The news is much surprising.
Correct- The news is very surprising.
2. Incorrect-I was very surprised at hearing the news.
Correct- I was much surprised at hearing the news.
65. Hardly is an Adverb which means rarely. Whereas hard is an Adjective which means tough, rigid.
For example,
Incorrect- It is a hardly job.
Correct- It is a hard job.
66. Ago is always used with Past Indefinite Tense. So, if ago is used in a sentence, that sentence must be in the Past Indefinite Tense.
For example,
Incorrect- He has come a month ago.
Correct- He came a month ago. 67. At present means at this moment and it is used with •Present Tense, whereas presently and shortly are used for future’ action and generally’ used with Future Indefinite Tense.
For example,
Incorrect- Presently he is in the room.
Correct- At present he is in the room.
68. Early means “just after the beginning of anything” and soon means just after a point of time.
For example,
Roses blossomed early this spring.
69. The sentence which starts with seldom, never. hardly. rarely or scarcely takes an inverse structure, Le., Verb + Subject – Structure. For example,
Incorrect- Seldom I had seen such a beautiful sight.
Correct- Seldom had I seen such a beautiful sight.
70. Inversion is also used in a sentence which starts with here/there/ away/out/up/indoor or outdoor and Main Verb, or Aux + Main Verb is used before the Subject.
For example,
Incorrect- Away Sita went Correct- Away went Sita.
Rules of English Grammar For SSC CGL and Bank PO
F. USES OF CONJUNCTIONS
- Two Conjunctions should not be used in the same sentence.Incorrect- Although she was tired, but she still went on working.Correct- Although she was tired, she still went on working.72. ‘Both’ should be followed by ‘and’. It should be used in the positive sense. In the negative sense, ‘neither’ ….. .’nor• should be used in place of ‘both’.incorrect- Both Ravi as well as Raja were present there.Correct- Both Ravi and Raja were present there.73. ‘Either … or’, ‘neither …. nor:‘both and’, ‘not only but also’should be followed by the same parts of speech.
Incorrect- He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
Correct- He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage.
74. ‘Neither’ should be followed , by ‘nor’, ‘either’ should be followed by ‘or’. Both these should not be con¬fused.
Incorrect- He washed neither his hands or his face.
Correct- He washed neither his hands nor his face.
75. ‘No sooner’ should be fol¬lowed by ‘than’, not by ‘but’ or ‘then’.
Incorrect- No sooner do I finish this book then I shall begin another.
Correct- No sooner do I finish the book, than I shall begin another.
76. ‘Hardly’ and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’ or ‘before’, but not by ‘than’ or ‘that’.
Incorrect- Hardly did I reach the station, than the train left it.
Correct- Hardly did I reach the station when the train left it.
77. ‘That’ should not be used before a sentence in Direct Speech and before Interrogative Adverbs and Pronouns in the Indirect Speech.
1. Incorrect- He said that, “I shall go there.”
Correct- He said, “I shall go there”.
2. Incorrect- He asked me that who I was.
Correct- He asked me who was.
G. USES OF PREPOSITION
- Objective case (of Noun or• Pronoun) is used after Preposition.For example,Incorrect- I do not depend on he.Correct- I do not depend on him.79. The Prepositions used after two words must be made clear if these two words are connected by and or or.For example,Incorrect- She is conscious and engaged in her work.Correct- She is conscious of and engaged in her work.80. If a Principal Verb is used after about, after, at, before. for, from, in, on. to, that Verb must be in ing (V4) form.For example,
Incorrect- You prevented me from do it.
Correct- You prevented me from doing it. .
81. On, in, at, are not used before today, tomorrow, yesterday, the following day, the next day etc.
For example,
Incorrect- He will go there on to-morrow.
Correct- He will go there tomorrow.
82. No Preposition is used before the word home. At home is a phrase which bears a different meaning.
For example,
Incorrect- Bring a T.V. set at home.
Correct- Bring a T.V. se$ home. 83. After Transitive Verbs, like dis¬cuss, describe, reach, order, tell, demand, attack, resemble, ridicule, etc. we directly use the object and no Preposition is used after the Verb.
For example:
Incorrect- The poet describes about the beauty of naturel in this poem.
Correct- The poet describes the beauty of nature in this poem.
84. Say/suggest/propose/speak/reply/explain/talk/listen/write is followed by to-Preposition if there is a person in the form of object.
For example,
1. Incorrect- He did not reply me.
Correct- He did not reply to me. 2. Incorrect- He did not write to a letter.
Correct- He did not write a letter.
H. USES OF PRONOUNS
- When a Pronoun is used as the complement of the Verb ‘to be’, it should be in the nominative case.Incorrect- If I were him, I would not do it.Correct- If I were he, I would not do it.86. When the Pronoun is used as the object of a Verb or of a Preposition, it should be in the objective case.1. Incorrect- Let you and I do it.Correct- Let you and me do it.2. Incorrect- These presents are for you and I.Correct- These presents are for you and me.87. Emphatic Pronouns can notstand alone as Subjects~ Incorrect- Himself did it. Correct- He himself did it.
88. The Indefinite Pronoun ‘one’ should be used throughout if used at all.
Incorrect- One must not boast of his own success.
Correct- One must not boast of one’s own success.
89. ‘Either’ or ‘neither’ is used only in speaking of two persons or things; ‘any’, ‘no one’ and ‘none’ is used in speaking of more than two.
1. Incorrect- Anyone of these two roads leads to the railway station.
Correct- Either of these two roads leads to the railway station.
2. Incorrect- Neither of these three boys did his homework.
Correct- No one of these three boys did his homework.
90. ‘Each other’ is used in speaking of two persons or things; ‘one an¬other’ is used in speaking of more than two.
Incorrect- The two brothers loved one another.
Correct- The two brothers loved each other.
91. A Noun or Pronoun governing a Gerund should be put in the possessive case.
Incorrect- Please excuse me being late.
Correct- Please excuse my being late.
92. A Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
Incorrect- Each of these boys has done their homework.
Correct- Each of these boys has done his homework.
93. When two or more Singular Nouns are joined by ‘and’, the Pronoun used for them must be in Plural.
Incorrect- Both Raju and Ravi have done his homework.
Correct- Both Raju and Ravi have done their homework.
94. When two or more Singular Nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, a Pronoun used for them must be in the singular.
Incorrect- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in their duty.
Correct- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in his duty.
95. When two or more singular nouns joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, ‘either … or’, ‘neither .. nor’, the Pronoun used for them should be in the singular.
Incorrect- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done their homework.
Correct- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done his homework.
96. When two or more singular Pronouns of different persons come together, the Pronoun of second per¬son singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the first person singular (I) comes last and the pronoun of the third person singular (he) comes in between.
Incorrect- I, You and he must work together ..
Correct- You, he and I must work together.
97. When two or more plural Pro-nouns of different persons come together first person plural (we) comes first, then second person plural (you) and last of all third person plural (they).
Incorrect- You, they and we must work together ..
Correct- We, you and they must work together.
98. The Relative Pronoun who is in subjective case, whereas whom is in objective case. Therefore, for who there must be a Finite Verb in the sentence. Or otherwise, when whom (Object) is used in the sentence and there is more Finite Verb’s than the number of Subjects in the sentence, then whom should be changed into who (Subject).
For example,
Incorrect- The doctor whom came here was Ram’s brother.
Correct- The doctor who came here was Ram’s brother.
99. With Superlative Degree Adjective, only, none, all etc., as Relative Pronoun we use that and not which or who.
For example,
Incorrect- All which glitters is not gold.
Correct- All that glitters is not gold.
100. After let, if a Pronoun is used, that Pronoun must be in the Objective Case.
For example,
Incorrect- Let he go there.
Correct- Let him go there.
31 Important rules in Spotting the errors
1. Some nouns always take a singular verb.
Scenery, advice, information, machinery, stationery, furniture, abuse, fuel, rice, gram, issue, bedding, repair, news, mischief, poetry, business, economics, physics, mathematics, classic, ethics, athletics, innings, gallows.
For example:
(A) The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting. (Incorrect)
(B) The scenery of Kashmir is enchanting. (Correct)
(A) He has given advices. (Incorrect)
(B) He has given advice. (Correct)
(A) The Indian team defeated the English by innings. (Incorrect)
(B) The Indian team defeated the English by an innings. (Correct)
(A) Mathematics are a difficult subject. (Incorrect)
(B) Mathematics is a good / difficult subject. (Correct)
Note if you have to indicate that the number of news, advice, information or furniture is more than one, the examples listed below can be followed:
(A) I have a lot of news to tell you. (Incorrect)
(B) He has sold many pieces of his furniture. (Correct)
2. ‘No sooner’ is always followed by ‘than’
(i) No sooner had I entered the class when the students stood up. (Incorrect)
(ii) No sooner had I entered the class than the students stood up. (Correct)
2. More than one indicates a plural sense and it agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb.
For instance:
(i) More than employees were killed in the accident. (Incorrect)
(ii) More than one employee was killed in the accident. (Correct)
3. It is common practice in conversation to make the statement and ask for confirmation; as , ‘it’ is very hot, isn’t it? Two points are to be kept in mind. If the statement is positive, the pattern will be
Auxiliary + n’t + Subject
If the statement is negative, the pattern will be
Auxiliary + subject
Example:
(i) It is raining, is it? (Incorrect)
(ii) It is raining isn’t it? (Correct)
(iii) You are not busy, aren’t you? (Incorrect)
(iv) You are not busy, are you? (Correct)
4. The two first is a meaningless expression for it implies that two things may be first. We should say ‘the first two’.
Example:
(i) The two first chapters of novel are dull. (Incorrect)
(ii) The first two chapters of the novel are dull. (Correct)
5.‘Only’ should be placed immediately before the word it qualifies.
Example:
(i) He only lost his ticket in the stampede. (Incorrect)
(ii) Only he lost his ticket in the stampede. (Correct)
6. An infinitive verb should not be split.
Example:
(i) I request you to kindly help me. (Incorrect)
(ii) I request you kindly to help me. (Correct)
7. Care should be taken in the use of
Example:
(i) The doctor saw the pulse of the patient. (Incorrect)
(ii) The doctor felt the pulse of the patient. (Correct)
8. Scarcely should be followed by when, not by than.
(i) Scarcely had he arrived than he had to leave again. (Incorrect)
(ii) Scarcely had he arrived when he had to leave again. (Correct)
9. Till is used of time and to is used of place.
(i) The office will remain open to six in the evening. (Incorrect)
(ii) The office will remain open till six in the evening. (Correct)
10. The preposition “off” denotes “separation”, “at a distance from” or “far from” whereas the preposition “of” denotes cause, origin, quality, possession.
(i) He put of his coat. (Incorrect)
(ii) He put off his coat. (Separation) (Correct)
(iii) He died off cancer. (Incorrect)
(iv) He died of cancer. (Cause) (Correct)
11. Beside means by the side of while besides means in additions to.
(i) He sat besides the chair. (Incorrect)
(ii) He sat beside the chair. (Correct)
12. Between is used for only two things or persons while among is used for more than two.
(i) You have to choose among tea and coffee. (Incorrect)
(ii) You have to choose between tea and coffee. (Correct)
13. Above and below merely denote position while over and under also carry a sense of covering or movement.
(i) The bird flew above the lake. (Incorrect)
(ii) The bird flew over the lake. (Correct)
14. During is used when we are talking about the time within which something happens. For is used when we are talking about how long something lasts.
(i) There were few incidents of irregularity for the Emergency years. (Incorrect)
(ii) There were few incidents of irregularity during the Emergency years. (Correct)
15. There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money, weight or number. When they are preceded by a numeral, they remain unchanged in form.
Foot, meter, pair, score, dozen, head, year, hundred, thousand, million
(i) It is a three – years degree course. (Incorrect)
(ii) It is a three – year degree course. (Correct)
16. Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.
Trousers, scissors, spectacles stockings, shorts measles, goods, alms, premises, tidings, annals, chattels, etc.
Example:
(i) Where is my trouser? (Incorrect)
(ii) Where are my trousers? (Correct)
17. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
Example:
(i) Every man must bring his luggage.
(ii) All students must do their home work.
(iii) Each of the girls must carry her own bag.
18. The pronoun ‘one’ must be followed by ‘one’s’.
Example:
(i) One must finish his task on time. ( Incorrect)
(ii) One must finish one’s task on time ( Correct)
19. ‘Whose’ is used for living persons and ‘which’ for lifeless objects.
Example:
(i) Which photograph is lying here? ( Incorrect)
(ii) Whose photograph is living there? ( Correct)
20. Use of ‘less’ and ‘fewer’
Example:
‘Less’ denotes quantity and ‘fewer’ denotes number.
(i) No less than fifty persons were (Incorrect)
(ii) No fewer than fifty people were (Correct)
21.‘One of’ always takes a plural noun after it.
Example:
(i) It is one of the most important day in my life. (Incorrect)
(ii) It is one of the most important days in my life. (Correct)
22. Use of ‘not only ‘and ‘but also ‘examine the sentences given below.
Example:
(i) He not only comes for swimming but also for coaching the learners. (Incorrect)
(ii) He comes not only for swimming but also for coaching the learners. (correct)
23. Adverb ‘as’ is not used with verbs like ‘appointed’, ‘elected’ , ‘considered’, ‘called’ but it is used with ‘regard’.
Example:
(i) He was elected as President of our society.(Incorrect)
(ii) He was elected President of our society.(Correct)
(iii) I regard Ramesh my friend (Incorrect)
(iv) I regard Ramesh as my friend (Correct)
24. The case of the noun or pronoun preceding or succeeding the verb ‘to be’ should be the same.
Example:
(i) It is him who came to see us. (Incorrect)
(ii) It is he who came to see us. (Correct)
(iii) It is me who caught the thief . (Incorrect)
(iv) It is I who caught the thief. (Correct)
25. Neither is followed by nor, not by
(i) The phone neither went dead or worked properly. (Incorrect)
(ii)The phone neither went dead nor worked properly. Correct)
- Certain nouns possess a singular form but still represent plurality and thus, take a plural verb when used in a sentence.
For Example: Cattle, peasantry, people, clergy, police.
Thus,
The Police has come (Incorrect)
The Police have come (Correct)
- Certain nouns always take the plural verb because their form is always plural.
Like: Scissors, trousers, spectacles, thanks, premises.
For Example: ,
The scissors is kept on the table. (Incorrect)
The scissors are kept on the table. (Correct)
- When a number is followed by a noun denoting measure, length, money, number or weight, the form of the nouns does not change so long as they are followed by another noun or pronoun.
Like: Million, pair, metre, year, dozen, foot, head.
For Example:
This is a nine-metres cloth. (Incorrect)
This is a nine-metre cloth. (Correct)
- When a number is followed by a noun denoting measure, length, money, number or weight, but these are not followed by another noun or pronoun, then they take the plural form.
Like: Million, pair, metre, year, dozen, foot, head.
For Example: ,
This sari is nine yard long. (Incorrect)
This sari is nine yards long. (Correct)
- Certain nouns, especially of the collective category, are used as singular when they specify a unit.
Like: Public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, jury.
For Example: ,
The public were unanimous in their opinion. (Incorrect)
The public was unanimous in its opinion. (Correct)
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