English grammar

1. 1.Some nouns( uncountable) always take a singular verb.
Eg: scenery, information, furniture, machinery, equipment, luggage, news, advice
etc
The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting.- wrong
The scenery of Kashmir is enchanting.- correct
The machineries are defective.- wrong
The machinery is defective.
2. Some nouns are singular in form but are plural nouns and hence take a plural
verb. Eg- cattle, people, police, gentry, infantry
The police has arrested the criminals.- wrong
The police have arrested the criminals- correct

2.  3. SOME NOUNS ARE ALWAYS PLURAL AND TAKE A PLURAL VERB
ONLY. Eg- scissors, trusers, surroundings, thanks, congratulations, goods,
proceeds etc.
 Where is my trousers?- wrong
Where are my trousers?- correct
The surrounding of a place should be clean- wrong
The surroundings of a place should be clean.
4. COLLECTIVE NOUNS ALWAYS TAKE A SINGULAR VERB, WHEN
TAKEN AS A UNIT. BUT WHEN THERE IS A SENSE OF DIVISION, THEY
ARE TREATED AS PLURAL AND SO TAKE A PLURAL VERB.
The jury has given its verdict.- correct
The committee is going to take a decision today.- Correct
The audience have taken their seats.- correct

3. • 5. A PRONOUN MUST AGREE WITH ITS ANTECEDENT IN
PERSON, NUMBER AND GENDER. EG-
Every man must bring his luggage.
Each student must bring their books- wrong
Each student must bring his books.- correct
All students must do their homework.- correct
6. THE PRONOUN ‘ONE’ MUST BE FOLLOWED BY ‘ONE’S ‘.
One must finish his work in time.- wrong
One must finish one’s work in time.
7. CERTAIN VERBS WHEN USED TRANSITIVELY TAKE A
REFLEXIVE PRONOUN WITH THEM- eg- enjoy, avail, resign,
absent, pride, exert, apply, acquit etc
He absented from the class.- wrong
He absented himself from the class.- correct

4. • 8. ‘WHO’ DENOTES SUBJECTS, WHILE ‘WHOM’ DENOTES OBJECTS.
Whom do you think won the award?- wrong
Who do you think won the award?- correct
who are you talking to?- wrong
Whom are you talking to?- correct
9.’WHOSE’ IS USED FOR LIVING THINGS AND ‘WHICH’ FOR LIFELESS
OBJECTS.
what book do you read?- wrong
Which book do you read?-correct
which photograph is lying there?- wrong
whose photograph is lying there?- correct
10. ‘EACH OTHER’IS USED FOR TWO SUBJECTS OR OBJECTS , WHILE
‘ONE ANOTHER’ IS USED FOR MORE THAN TWO.
Romeo and Juliet loved each other.- correct
All the students of the class help one another.- correct

5. • 11. IF DIFFERENT PRONOUNS ARE TO BE USED TOGETHER IN A SENTENCE, THE
GENERAL ORDER IS 2+3+1, WHILE IF A FAULT IS TO BE CONFESSED THE ORDER
BECOMES- 1+2+3
• Ram , I and you have finished our studies.- wrong
You , Ram and I have finished our studies.- correct.
You and he must bring his books.- wrong
You and he must bring your books.-correct
12. WITH WORDS LIKE ‘LET’, ‘LIKE’ etc THE OBJECTIVE CASE OF THE PRONOUN IS USED.
Let I do it.- wrong
Let me do it.- correct
A man like I will not do it- wrong
A man like me will not do it.- correct
13. THE RELATIVE PRONOUN ‘THAT’ IS PREFERRED TO ‘WHO’ AND ‘WHICH’ WITH WORDS
LIKE ‘ALL’, ‘SAME’, ‘NONE’, ‘NOTHING’ , ONLY, ‘ANY’, SUPERLATIVE DEGREE, AND
ALSO INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.
Man is the only animal who can talk.- wrong
Man is the only animal that can talk- correct
What is there which I do not know?- wrong
What is there that I do not know?- correct

6.  14. CERTAIN ADJECTIVES DO NOT ADMIT OF COMPARISON AND
HENCE THEY ARE ALWAYS IN THE POSITIVE DEGREE.
EG- ABSOLUTE, IDEAL, SUPREME, PERFECT, EXCELLENT, ETERNAL,
IMPOSSIBLE, EVERLASTING, CHIEF, COMPLETE, EXTREME, UNIQUE
This is the most unique building that I have seen.- wrong
This is the unique building that I have seen.
15. NORMALLY ‘THAN’ IS USED IN THE COMPARATIVE DEGREE , BUT
WITH WORDS LIKE’SUPERIOR’, ‘INFERIOR’, SENIOR’, ‘JUNIOR’,
‘PREFER’, ‘PRIOR’, ‘ANTERIOR’, ‘POSTERIOR’- ‘TO’ IS USED.
Shelley is junior than Wordsworth- wrong
Shelley is junior to Wordsworth.- correct
I prefer reading to sleeping.
16. ‘SOME’ IS USED FOR QUANTITY OR DEGREE, AND IS PART OF
POSITIVE OR REQUEST SENSED QUESTIONS. ‘ANY’ IS ONLY USED IN
NEGATIVES AND INTERROGATIVES
I shall buy some apples.
Have you bought any apples?

7.  17. ‘FEW’ IS USED FOR COUNTABLE NOUNS WHILE ‘LITTLE’ IS USED TO SHOW
QUANTITY.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
A few boys will pass the examination.
18. PLEASE NOTE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADJECTIVES LIKE- ELDER/OLDER,
FARTHER/FURTHER, LATER/ LATTER, LAST/ LATEST, NEAREST/ NEXT
My elder sister stays in CHENNAI.
Raju is older than me.
What is the latest news in the town?
We haven’t received any further information.
19. WHEN A COMPARISON IS MADE BY USING A COMPARATIVE FOLLOWED BY
‘THAN’, THE WORD ‘OTHER’ MUST BE USED TO EXCLUDE THE CLASS OF
THINGS BEING COMPARED.
He is stronger than any man.- wrong
He is stronger than any other man.- correct

8.  20. ‘ VERY’ IS USED IN POSITIVE DEGREE AND PRESENT PARTICIPLES, WHILE’
MUCH’ IS USED WITH COMPARATIVE DEGREE AND PAST PARTICIPLES.
He is a very strong man- correct
It is a much interesting book.- wrong( use very)
I am very obliged to my friend.- wrong
I am very much obliged to my friend.- correct
21. WHEN TWO QUALITIES OF A PERSON OR THING ARE COMPARED ‘MORE’OR
‘LESS’ IS USED BEFORE THE ADJECTIVE, AND THE ADJECTIVE IS IN POSITIVE
DEGREE.
Suman is better than brave.- wrong
Suman is more good than brave.- correct
22. WHEN TWO OR MORE ADJECTIVES ARE USED TO QUALIFY THE SAME NOUN,
ALL THE ADJECTIVES MUST BE IN THE SAME DEGREE.
Sita is more intelligent and wise than Rekha.- wrong
Sita is more intelligent and wiser than Rekha.- correct

9.  23. TWO SUBJECTS JOINED TOGETHER BY ‘AND’ TAKE A PLURAL VERB.( BUT
IF THEY POINT OUT TO ONE NOUN, THE VERB IS SINGULAR)
Fire and water do not agree.
Slow and steady wins the race.
24. SUBJECTS JOINED TOGETHER BY- WITH, TOGETHER WITH, ALONG WITH, AS
WELL AS, NO LESS THAN, UNLIKE, IN ADDITION TO – TAKE A VERB IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRST SUBJECT.
Ram , as well as, his ten friends is going.
The house along with its contents is insured.
25. SUBJECTS JOINED TOGETHER BY- EITHER, NEITHER, EITHER…..OR,
NEITHER….NOR, NOT ONLY….BUT ALSO- TAKE A VERB ACCORDING TO THE
SUBJECT NEAREST TO THE VERB.
Either Ramesh or I am to do the work.
Not only the landlord but his servants have been blamed for the murder.

10.  26. ‘EACH, EVRYONE, EVERY, NONE, NOBODY, ONE, ANY, EITHER, NEITHER,
MANY A, MORE THAN ONE’- ARE SINGULAR IN MEANING AND HENCE
THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A SINGULAR VERB AND PRONOUN.
Each student has come.
Many a student has not done his homework.
More than one man was present there.
one must tolerate one’s friend.
27. IF THE SUBJECT OF A VERB IS A RELATIVE PRONOUN, THE VERB AGREES
WITH THE ANTECEDENT OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUN.
She is one of the noblest women that have ever lived on this planet.
It is I who am responsible for this mistake.
28. A VERB MUST ONLY AGREE WITH ITS SUBJECT AND NOT THE COMPLEMENT.
Our only guide at night were the stars.- wrong
Our only guide at night was the stars.

11.  29. A PRESENT OR FUTURE TENSE IN THE PRINCIPAL CLAUSE MAY BE
FOLLOWED BY ANY TENSE IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSE.
My father says that he served in the army for some years.
30. A PAST TENSE IN THE PRINCIPAL CLAUSE IS FOLLOWED ONLY BY A PAST
TENSE IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSE( EXCEPTION- UNIVERSAL TRUTHS,
INTRODUCTION OF ‘THAN’IN SUB CLAUSE)
He saw that the clock has stopped.- wrong
He saw that the clock had stopped.- correct
The teacher observed that the earth moves round the sun.
He helped him more than he helps his own children.
31. THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE IS USED FOR REGULAR AND HABITUAL
ACTIONS.
He always comes late.
Death spares none in this world.

12.  32. THE STATIVE VERBS, VIZ- VERBS OF PERCEPTION, APPEARANCE,
POSSESSION, THOUGHT, EMOTIONAL STATES- SHOULD BE USED IN THEIR
CONTINUOUS FORMS.
This story appears to be true.( don’t use’ is appearing’)
He has a large farm house.( don’t use ‘is having’)
33. USE THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE WITH SUBJUNCTIVE STATES LIKE- WISH, AS IF,
SUPPOSE, IT IS TIME ETC.
If only I knew her name.
It is time we decided upon this subject.
He walks as if he were drunk.
34. WHEN THERE IS A SENSE OF CONTINUITY, AND AN ACTION HAS HAPPENED
IN RECENT PAST AND STILL CONTINUES TILL THE PRESENT, USE THE
PERFECT CONTINUOUS FORM OF THE VERB.
India is independent for the last sixty years.- wrong.
India has been independent for the last sixty years.- correct

13.  35. IF THERE IS A CONJUGATION BETWEEN THE PAST AND PRESENT
SUCH THAT TWO ACTION HAPPEN, ONE FOLLOWED BY OTHER, USE
SIMPLE PAST FOR THE OLDER ONE, WHILE PRESENT PERFECT FOR
THE RECENT ONE.
We have not seen him since he met with that terrible accident.
since he joined his office at Nehru Place, he has not taken any leave.
36. IF TWO ACTIONS ARE SHOWN HAPPENING IN THE PAST, ONE
AFTER THE OTHER, TENSE OF THE FIRST ACTION SHOULD BE IN
PAST PERFECT, WHILE THE OTHER IS IN SIMPLE PAST.
The patient died before the doctor arrived.- wrong
The patient had died before the doctor arrived.- correct
37. IF TWO ACTIONS ARE INDICATED AND BOTH ARE TO HAPPEN IN
FUTURE, THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES IS- PRINCIPAL CLAUSE- SIMPLE
FUTURE, SUBORDINATE CLAUSE- SIMPLE PRESENT.
If it rains, I shall not attend the meeting.

14.  38. IF THE CONDITION IS IN PAST PROBABILITY, THE PRINCIPAL
CLAUSE HAS WOULD+ V1 FORM OF THE VERB.
 If he threatened me, I would call the police.
39. TWO ACTIONS IN THE PAST, ONE DEPENDING ON THE OTHER’,
SHOULD HAVE THE SEQUENCE AS FOLLOWS- HAD + PAST
PARTICIPLE……….. WOULD + HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE
If you had practised regularly , you would have won the match.
Had you worked hard, you would have succeeded in the exams.
40.WHEN AN ACTION HAS TAKEN PLACE IN TWO CLAUSES OF THE
SENTENCE, IT IS USED IN BOTH THE CLAUSES AS PER THE
REQUIREMENT.
My brother has and is still doing excellent work for the organization.- wrong
My brother has done and is still doing excellent work for the organization.

15.  41. DON’T USE ANY PREPOSITIONS WITH THESE VERBS IN THE ACTIVE
VOICE- ORDER, ATTACK, SIGN, RESEMBLE, INVESTIGATE, TELL, DESCRIBE,
DISCUSS, CONTROL, TELL ETC.
 He ordered for samosas.- wrong
He ordered samosas.
our teacher cannot control on the students.- wrong
Our teacher cannot control the students.
42. IF TWO WORDS ARE JOINED BY CONJUNCTION, CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN
TO USE SUITABLE PREPOSITIONS WITH BOTH THE WORDS IF REQUIRED.
I was surprised at as well as pleased with her performance.
He is senior to and older than me.
43. DON’T USE ‘AS’ AFTER THESE VERBS- NAME, ELECT, THINK, CONSIDER,
CALL, APPOINT, MAKE, CHOOSE( USE WITH VERBS LIKE- REGARD, DEFINE,
KNOW, DESCRIBE, VIEW, TREAT)
The teacher called him a fool.
Biology is defined as the study of living things.

16.  44. THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF QUESTION TAGS IS AS FOLLOWS-
POSITIVE STATMNT- AUXILIARY+ n’t+ SUBJECT
NEGATIVE STATMNT- AUXILIARY + SUBJECT
It is raining, isn’t it?
You are not busy , are you?
45. FOLLOWING VERBS ARE ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE-
DECIDE, PLAN, EXPECT, FAIL, HOPE, INTEND, LEARN, PROMISE, REFUSE, WANT,
AGREE, CONSENT, TRY, LOVE
I refuse meeting him.
I refuse to meet him.
46. FOLLOWING VERBS AND PHRASES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A GERUND-
ENJOY, ADMIT, DENY, APPRECIATE, REGRET, AVOID, LOOKING FORWARD TO, IS
USED TO, DO NOT MIND, OBJECT TO,
He enjoys surfing the internet.
He is used to working hard.

17.  47. REMEMBER TO USE THE BARE INFINITIVES WITH THESE WORDS-
BID, LET, MAKE, NEED, DARE, SEE, HEAR, had better, had rather, would rather,
SOONER THAN, RATHER THAN
Make him stand( don’t use ‘to’)
I saw him to cry.( don’t use ‘to’)
48. UNLESS IS USED FOR CONDITION, UNTIL FOR TIME. BOTH ARE NEGATIVE
WORDS
Unless you work hard , you can’t pass.
49. ‘LEST’ MUST BE FOLLOWED BY’ SHOULD’
Run fast lest you should lose the race
50.’THOUGH’ IS FOLLOWED BY ‘YET’ NOT ‘BUT’
‘SCARCELY’ AND ‘HARDLY’ ARE FOLLOWED BY ‘WHEN’
‘NO SOONER’ IS FOLLOWED BY ‘THAN’
‘SINCE’ FOR POINT OF TIME, ‘FOR’ FOR PERIOD OF TIME.