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.
9. 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
11. 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 +V2
For 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 fol¬lowed 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.
18. 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.
19. 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
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 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.
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-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.
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, 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.
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 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
78. 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 nature in this poem.
Correct- The poet describes the beauty of
nature in this poem.
84. Say/suggest/propose/speak/
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
85. 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 not
stand 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.