This document provides a summary of 100 important grammar rules organized into categories including: - Parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, verbs and their usage - Sentence structure rules such as word order, subject-verb agreement, clauses - Comparisons and comparisons of adjectives, adverbs, quantities - Conditional sentences and their proper tense usage - Prepositions and prepositional phrases - Question tags and their formation The document serves as a comprehensive grammar reference covering many fundamental English language rules.

1. 100 Most Important
GRAMMAR Rules

2. Usual Order of A Sentence
Subject + Verb
He is lying.
He had scarcely sat down when the doorbell rang.

3. Inversion
Verb + Subject
Can you do that for me?
Will you bring me that pen?
What are you saying?
No sooner had we started baking the cake than the power
supply was shut.
Hardly had the teacher stepped out when the children
started shouting.

4. Uncountable Nouns
1. Milk 2. Oxygen
3. Water 4. Motivation
5. Furniture 6. Equipment
7. Scenery 8. Anger
9. Happiness 10. Wheat, Rice
11. Snow 12. Rain
13. Advice 14. Information
15. Bread 16. Luggage

5. number + dozen/score/hundred
when the number is indefinite or not present, the nouns
can be used in plural form
a. I bought two dozen oranges.
b. He owes me five thousand rupees.
Note: when the number is indefinite or not present, the
nouns can be used in plural form.
a. Dozens of people were injured when the fire broke out.
b. Thousands of workers have returned to their workplace.

6. used only in plural
Scissors, spectacles, trousers, sunglasses, goggles,
binoculars, etc
• You’ll need scissors to cut that.
• These trousers are fastened by a cord round the waist.

7. Numeral Adjective (definite) + Hyphen + Noun
A five-rupee note
The five-year plan
A ten-foot high wall
A five-judge bench

8. Hyphenated Compound Noun (Plural)
Sister-in-law || sisters-in-law
• Add “s” to the main word

9. Hyphenated Compound Noun (Possessive)
Sister-in-law || sisters-in-law || sister-in-law’s
• Add s/ ‘s to the last word

10. How to form the Possessive Case?
When the nouns are connected, add an apostrophe to the
latter one
Salim and Suleman’s music, Nadeem and Reshma’s bakery
When the nouns are connected but imply separate
possession
Rahul’s and Raj’s sons

11. How to form the Possessive Case?
• Avoid double apostrophe.
This is Ram’s father’s house. (Incorrect)
This is the house of Ram’s father. (Correct)

12. How to form the Possessive Case?
• Possessive noun qualified by a phrase or a clause
These are the toys of the children who are sleeping.
These are the children’s toys who are sleeping. (Incorrect)
This is the milk of the cow which is black.
This is the cow’s milk which is black. (Incorrect)

13. article + adjective = noun
The poor
The wealthy
The best

14. some collective nouns – both singular and plural
The jury was united in its opinion.
The jury were divided in their opinions.

15. Noun + preposition + same noun (singular noun)
Boat after boat, village after village, door to door
• Mistake after mistake was committed.
• He begged from door to door.
• Ship after ship arrived at the port.

16. Plural Noun after expressions – one of/ each of/ either
of/ neither of/ any one of/ very few of etc
One of the boys
Either of the roads
Neither of the books
Some of the students

17. Some nouns can be used in both singular and plural
reference
Sheep/ deer/ swine
A sheep is grazing in the field.
Whose sheep are these?

18. Possessive Pronoun & Possessive Adjective
Possessive Pronoun: dependent and independent
Dependent : pronoun + noun
My car, your pen, our books
Independent:
Mine, yours, ours
Note: Dependent possessive pronoun = possessive adjective

19. Some transitive verbs take reflexive pronoun for their
object if there is no other object to complete them.
Verbs: avail, absent, enjoy
I availed myself of the opportunity.
He absented himself from the class.
You must have enjoyed yourself during the vacation.

20. Order of personal pronouns
123- for a sentence with a negative connotation
231- for all the rest
I, you and he have been suspended for burning crackers
inside the hostel premises.
You, he and I have cleared the examination.

21. Relative Pronoun
Who: Subject of the sentence
Whom: Object of verb or preposition
a. Who/Whom did you see?
b. Who/Whom will you meet at the party?
c. With who/whom did you go to the fair?

22. Relative Pronoun
Who/ Which/ That
Who: persons
Which: animals, things, data, etc
That: both
Preference to that:
• Superlative degree
• Use of words such as some, any, all

23. Use of one and its forms
1. One should mind one’s own business.
2. One should avail oneself of every opportunity.
3. One cannot success unless one works very hard.

24. Its vs It’s
Its: belongingness
It’s: It is or it has

25. “to” phrases that take V+ing after them
Look forward to
Looking forward to
Devoted to
Committed to
Addicted to

26. Possessive adjective + gerund
Your leaving early was an impulsive decision.
Shirin objected to my borrowing his books.
My parents appreciated my taking part in the Olympiad.

27. Order of Adjectives
1. Quantity or number
2. Quality or opinion
3. Size
4. Age
5. Shape
6. Color
7. Proper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin,
or material)
I love the big old black antique car that is always parked in
front of that house.
I want two good reasons why you do not like mushrooms.

28. When two persons, things or qualities are to be
compared, ensure that the comparison is being done
between the right entities.
Indians eat more spices than Europeans. (do)
The climate of Mumbai is better than Delhi. (that
of)

29. When two qualities of the same person or the thing are
to be compared, -er comparatives should not be used.
Use more or less to form comparatives.
He is more brave than strong.
She is more industrious than intelligent.

30. Some comparatives are not followed by ‘than’ but the
preposition ‘to’
Inferior, superior, prior, anterior, posterior, senior, junior
White colonists commonly believed that black people
were inferior to white people.

31. Former and latter (two)
Both Rahul and Sohan are at fault; the former did not
inform the authorities and the latter was the mastermind
behind the plan.

32. LATER, LATTER, LATEST, LAST
Later & latest: time
Latter & last: position
I received the parcel later than expected.
You must submit your assignment latest by tomorrow.
The last chapter of the book is interesting.
The latter part of his life was spent at an old-age home.

33. ELDER, OLDER, ELDEST, OLDEST
Elder & eldest: only persons
Older, oldest: persons, animals and things
She is my elder sister.
She is older than her sister.
This is the eldest temple of the city. (Incorrect)
This is the oldest temple of the city. (Correct)

34. NEAREST, NEXT
Nearest: shortest distance
NEXT: one after the other (sequence)
Where is the nearest café?
The café is next to the post office.

35. Lest...should
Work hard lest you should fail.
He held my hand lest I should fall.

36. The reason why/ that is not followed by ‘due to/ owing
to/ because’
The reason why I did not attend the party is I was unwell.

37. Both is followed by and, not as well as
This class is both interesting and informative.
This class is interesting as well as informative.

38. such + a/an + adjective + noun OR so + adjective + a/an +
noun
Such a beautiful necklace/ so beautiful a necklace
Such a grand welcome/ so grand a welcome
Such an engaging book/ so engaging a book

39. Common Noun expresses the sense of an Abstract noun
a. The father in him came to his rescue at the last moment.
b. The warrior in him kept his spirits high.

40. No sooner…than/ Hardly, Barely, Scarcely…when
We had no sooner started baking the cake than there was
a power outage.
The teacher had hardly stepped out of the class when the
students started shouting.

41. Do + V1
Does + V1
Did + V1
I do like mangoes.
She does like mangoes.
I did like mangoes.

42. Identify the subject's number.
Caution: certain words that appear to be singular but are
plural and certain words that are plural but appear
singular.
Amount of distance, Period of time, Sum of money-
singular verb

43. The noun or pronoun closest to the verb may not always
be the subject.
The quality of apples is not good.

44. as well as, with, combined with, along with, together
with, coupled with, in addition to, accompanied by-
Parenthetical Effect
The brothers, along with their wives, were present.
Roshan, together with his friends, was going to the trip.

45. Positive subject and Negative subject
The watchman, not the servants, was at fault.

46. Here/ There
Here is the list of documents that you had asked me to
prepare.
There is some milk in the fridge.

47. Be wary of the traps.
I am/ I was but I do and I have
She needs to do this.
She need not do this.

48. Identify the role that the collective noun plays in the
sentence. (refers to the unit or individual members)
Refer:
Jury, audience, majority, etc.

49. If a sentence has multiple clauses, understand the
structure of each clause and identify the subject and the
verb for the same.
A number of students aced the scholarship test that was
conducted last week.

50. What does the combination of nouns or pronouns
represent?
Bread and butter is a wholesome food.
The poet and choreographer is dead.
The poet and the choreographer are dead.

51. Some words that are always followed by a singular verb
(anything, anybody, any one, someone, somebody,
something, no one, nobody, nothing)
Anybody is welcome.
Nothing is impossible.
Nobody is writing the test seriously.

52. Nouns made by joining "two" parts
Scissors are, trousers are, pliers are, sunglasses are

53. A number of VS The number of
A number of: plural
The number of: singular

54. A great many/ A good many
- a large number of people of things
a. A great many people has/ have gathered outside the
Minister’s residence.
b. A good many girls is/ are sitting there.

55. Each/ Every/ Either/ Neither
Each/ Every/ Either/ Neither + Singular Noun + Singular Verb
Each of/ Either of/ Neither of + Plural Noun + Singular Verb

56. We each …
a. We each have a pen.
b. We would each sing a song.

57. Two nouns qualified by ‘each’ or ‘every’, even though
connected by and, require only a singular verb.
a. Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets.
b. Each boy and each girl in this class has taken gradeUp
Super subscription.

58. Either…or, Neither…nor / …or… , …nor…
Either Ram or his brothers are to blame.
Neither the van nor the cars are fast enough.

59. Relevance of Articles
The poet and the choreographer are
The poet and choreographer is

60. Relevance of Possessives
Here is my mother, friend and confidant.
Here are my mother, my friend and my confidant.

61. Many a man/ Many men
Many a man – singular verb
Many men – plural verb
A. Many a man has lost his life.
B. Many men have lost their lives.

62. Omission of Preposition
Expressions of time (morning, evening, day, night, etc) with
qualifying words (this, that, next, every, last, all)
Rishi went home this morning.
Rishi met me last evening.
Rishi is coming again this Sunday.
Note: When there is no qualifying word, use relevant
preposition
Rishi went home in the morning.
Rishi met me in the evening.
Rishi is coming again on Sunday.

63. Open or First Conditional
The outcome is expected to happen in the future, i.e.
the possibility exists.
If you study hard, you will pass.
We can catch the bus, if we leave now.
Condition – Present Tense (No Modal)
Outcome – Simple Future Tense (Present Modal)

64. Closed or Third Conditional
Condition fulfilled in the past, Result in the past, i.e. no
possibility or the present situation would have been
different had something different happened in the past
If you had studied, you would have passed.
You would have passed, if you had studied.
Had you studied, you would have passed. (INVERSION)
Condition: Past Perfect (No Modal)
Outcome: Past Modal

65. Zero Conditional
The action/ condition and outcome happen simultaneously.
general truths—situations in which one thing always causes
another.
The correct tense to use in both clauses is the simple
present tense.
If you don’t brush your teeth well, you get cavities.
When you smoke cigarettes, your health suffers.

66. Imaginary or Second Conditional
The action/ condition is not true or is imaginary, used to
express wishes that cannot be fulfilled.
If I were the PM of the country, I would give everyone
free access to elementary education.
If I had the money, I would buy myself a luxury car.
Condition: Simple Past without Modal
Outcome: Modal

67. SOME vs ANY
Some: affirmative and interrogative
Any: negative and interrogative
✓ I have some information/ books for you.
✓ I do not have any information/ books for you.
✓ I want some more information/ books.
✓ I do not want any more books.
✓ Do you have some books with you?
✓ Do you have any friend with you?

68. Adverb of Manner, Place & Time
They met the client yesterday.
They are to be engaged next week.
There was mud everywhere.
I will go there.
She dances well.
She writes English well.
Two or more adverbs after the verb or object, order: manner, place,
time
She sang well in the concert.
We would go there tomorrow morning.

69. Adverb of frequency and some particular adverbs such as almost,
already, hardly, nearly, just, quite are placed
a. between the subject and the verb if the verb has only one word
Her husband never cooks.
We usually have breakfast at 8.
b. after the first word if there is more than one word
I have often told him to tie his laces tightly.
My mother has just gone out.

70. Verb = is/ am/are, adverb after them
I am never late for school.
He is seldom at home on Sundays.

71. Exception: enough is always used after the word it
modifies
Is the box big enough?
He was rash enough to interrupt.
He was loud enough to be heard.

72. Too – more than enough (negative or undesirable)
She is too beautiful.
She is very beautiful.
The day is very hot.
The day is too hot.

73. Too Much & Much Too – more than necessary or desirable
The watch is much too expensive for me to buy.
The suitcase is much too heavy; I won’t be able to carry it.
Fortunately, there wasn’t too much traffic on the road.
There has been too much rain and there are puddles all
around.

74. Fairly/ Rather
Fairly – liking or appreciation
Rather – dislike or disapproval
The painting is fairly nice.
It is rather hot today.

75. AT (PRECISE TIME) IN (MONTHS, YEARS,
CENTURIES, PERIODS)
ON (DAYS and DATES)
At 1 o’clock In December On Tuesday
At 1:00 PM In 1995 On 18 June
At noon/ dinnertime/ bedtime/
sunrise/ sunset
In 1990s On New Year’s Eve
At night/ at the same time In the past/ future/ next
century
On my birthday
In summer
In the morning/ afternoon/
evening
On Sunday morning/
evening/ afternnon

76. In time and On time
In time: early enough, On time: punctual
You should reach the station in time.
The train departed on time.

77. By and Near
By: more proximity
I live by the shopping complex.
I live near the shopping complex.

78. Because vs In Order That
Because – reason
In order that – purpose
I failed because I did not work hard.
I worked hard in order that I may pass.

79. Positive Tag: am, Negative Tag: aren’t
I am a teacher, aren’t I?
I am trying to do it, aren’t I?
I am not a teacher, am I?
I am not trying to do it, am I?

80. ❑ Shall → Shan’t
We shall go there, shan’t we?
We shall not go there, shall we?
❑ Will → Won’t
He will meet us there, won’t he?

81. Used to: Ques Tag
He used to live in Delhi, didn’t he?
I am used to this winter, aren’t I?

82. Verbs that can function as helping verbs and modals or
main verbs
He needs a car, doesn’t he?
He need not panic, need he?

83. Positive Imperative Sentence
will → order/ emphasis
would/ won’t → more polite
Stop shouting, will you? won’t/ can
Please have a seat, won’t you/ would you/ will you?
Get out, will you?

84. Let + Noun/ Pronoun → will or won’t
Let + Us → Shall
Let her sing, will you or won’t you?
Let them be alone, will you or won’t you?
Let them not fight over this, will you?
Let us sing, shall we?
Let us do the homework, shall we?
Let us not do this, shall we?

85. Few, A few, Little, A little
Few know good English, do they?
A few always support you, don’t they?
Little is known about him, is it?
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, isn’t it?

86. Some Frequently Used Superfluous Expressions
Actual experience/ fact
Add an or additional/ added bonus
Advance notice/ planning
Basic essentials
Free gift
Past record/ history

87. Some Frequently Used Superfluous Expressions
Cousin brother/ sister
Kindly request
All time record
Repeat again
Revert back

88. Active/ Passive Voice
What is Active Voice?
Subject: doer of the action
What is Passive Voice?
Subject: receiver of the action

89. Active and Passive Voice (Key Points)
• Conversion of Pronoun
• No Change (Tense)
• Keywords that can help you eliminate options
- Subjective and objective case of pronoun
- Being (continuous)
- Been (perfect)
• Type of Sentence & Tense do not change.

90. Narration (Key Points)
• What is Direct Speech?
- Quote the original speaker
• What is Indirect Speech?
- Do not quote the original speaker

91. Narration (Key Points)
• Type of Sentences
- interrogative, exclamatory and optative change into
assertive
- Check tense structure for elimination

92. MISCELLANEOUS
Despite vs In spite of

93. MISCELLANEOUS
Because vs Since vs For
Because: max force
Since: in between
For: least force

94. MISCELLANEOUS
The Pacific is the __superlative___ of all the oceans.
The pen is __comparative___ than the sword.
He is __comparative__ than any other person in the class.

95. MISCELLANEOUS
Hypothetical situation and compound conjunctions
He talks as if he were the boss.
Such an act would not be kind even if it were just.

96. MISCELLANEOUS
She loves to read, write and cooking. (Incorrect. Why?)
She loves to read. She loves to write. She loves to cooking.
She loves to read, write and cook. (Correct)
She loves reading, writing and cooking. (Correct)

97. MISCELLANEOUS
She has never and will never cheat on me. (Incorrect)
She has never cheated and will never cheat on me.
(Correct)
He should never but is always late to the class. (Incorrect)
He should never be but is always late to the class. (Correct)

98. MISCELLANEOUS
Either he is a lyricist or a poet. (Incorrect)
He is either a lyricist or a poet. (Correct)

99. MISCELLANEOUS
Rahul has a lavish home, a wife who is intelligent and a
cute child. (Incorrect)
Rahul has a lavish home, an intelligent wife, and a cute
child. (Correct)

100. MISCELLANEOUS
The students are interested and excited about SSC CGL &
CHSL Score Booster Course. (Incorrect)
The students are interested in and excited about ….

101. WHAT IS MODIFYING WHAT?
Freshly popped, I ate the popcorn. (incorrect. Are you freshly
popped?)
I ate the freshly popped popcorn. (correct. Popcorn is freshly popped)
I was bitten by a snake walking in the garden. (was the snake
walking?)
Walking in the garden, I was bitten by a snake. (I was walking.)
Walking through the forest, leaves started falling from the trees.
(incorrect. Were the leaves walking?)
Walking through the forest, I noticed the leaves falling from the trees.
(correct. I was walking)

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