C. USES OF VERBS
21. 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 the 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 Pronoun, 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 in 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 followed 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.
English grammar usage
D. USES OF ADJECTIVES
37. 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-l 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,
Correct- The first four boys will be given the chance
Incorrect-The four first 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 Superlative 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.
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
54. 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, i.e., 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.
English Grammar
F. USES OF CONJUNCTIONS
71. 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 followed 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.
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