Tips

Verb-Subject Agreement
Error of Proximity
Two subjects joined by and plural
If both point to the same thing (one thing singular
Parenthetical words joined to a singular subject singular (e!g! with" as well as
Two or more singular subjects connected by or" nor singular
#hen one of them is plural plural (and nearer to it
#hen subjects of different person joined by or! nor $erb is of person nearer to it
Either" neither" each" e$eryone" many a singular
Each % and e$ery & singular
Pains" means singular or plural (depends
'ouns which are plural in meaning plural (e!g! do(en needs a plural $erb
'one plural" but singular also in some cases
)ollecti$e noun singular (but if indi$iduals are thought of plural* e!g! the team is united!
The jury are di$ided in their decision+because it no more is collecti$e in a sense+
Plural noun is a proper name singular (e!g! ,rabian 'ights
Plural noun denote some specific -uantity or amount as a whole singular (e!g! fifteen minutes
is!!
#hen each or e$ery follows a subject" it has no bearing on the $erb form!
Adverbs
,d$erbs modify $erbs" adjecti$es or ad$erbs!
Thence . from there* #hence . from where (use of from with these is wrong* from thence is
wrong usage
/nly ,d$erb of 0anner" 1egree 2 Time admit of comparison
/rder of ,d$erbs 0anner" place" time
0anner" place are placed after the $erb (or object
3re-uency" 1egree are normally placed between the subject 2 the $erb (if the $erb has more
than one word" then placed after the first
If the $erb is 4
am5are5is5was 667 after
8efore 966 be (do 8efore 966 ha$e to" used to
If adjecti$e (ad$erb 66 then before the adjecti$e (ad$erb
8ut enough is always placed after
/nly is placed immediately after the word it modifies
E$er" ne$er" scarcely are often misplaced (e!g! scarcely anyone belie$es+right* no one
scarcely belie$es+wrong
:eldom or ne$er+right
:eldom if e$er+right
:eldom or e$er+wrong
'e$er for not is wrong! (E!g! ;e was ne$er born in India+wrong* ;e was not born in India+
right
too . more than enough
too <. $ery5much
/f course <. certainly" undoubtedly
/f course . natural or ine$itable conse-uence
Nouns & Pronouns
=ncountable nouns do not ha$e plurals! )annot be used with a5an! (e!g! ad$ice" news"
information" luggage" wor>" business" weather" traffic" scenery" paper" soap" bread" etc!
Possessi$e )ase
?
@i$ing beings" personified objects" space or time (denoting an amount
,pposition s is added to the latter
Two subjects when different possession is implied" then both of them has s
#hen joint possession is implied" only the latter has s
Pronoun after than5as nominati$e form (e!g! taller than I 8ut if $erb is missing then objecti$e
form can be used! (Taller than me+is also correct
,nybody" e$erybody" e$eryone" anyone" each singular! Aender is as per context
/ne should be used throughout
'one singular5plural as per context
,nyone used only when there are more than two persons
Each" either" neither singular
3or relati$e pronouns $erb must agree with antecedent of the relati$e pronoun
(e!g! ;e is one of the cle$erest boys that ha$e passed this year! This is only one of the
poems that is worth reading!
Possessi$e case pronoun cannot be used as antecedent
Third person pronoun should not be used as antecedent to who5that
(e!g! 0ucools room is so messy that his mother calls him a pig! ;im is wrong! 'eeds an
antecedent and there is none! 0ucools is possessi$e case! ;im should e replaced by mucool
Comparisons
@IBE Cs ,:
@i>e 66 to comapre people" things (nouns
,s 66 to compare clauses (any phrase that in$ol$es a $erb
:=); ,: . 3or Example
such as <. li>e !!!Dsuch asD cannot be substituted for Dli>eD
)omparisons must be logically and structurally parallel!
Two things 66 comparati$e degree
0ore things 66 superlati$e degree
1ifferent from 66 is correct
1ifferent than 66 incorrect
Verb Tense, Mood & Voice
Infiniti$es 66 to E the $erb
:plit Infiniti$es are wrong
e!g! to E FFF E Cerb !!!is wrong!!!nothing should come in between to and the $erb!
PGE:E'T PEG3E)T 66 ha$e5has E past participle
past666666(continuing666667present
P,:T PEG3E)T 66 ;ad E past participle
HTo ha$eH . HhadH
These are correct forms4
has had
had had
Gefer 0anhattan
I3!!!T;E'!!!
If she wins!!!will gi$e!!! (present
If she won!!!would gi$e!!!(past
If she had won!!!would ha$e gi$en!!!(future
I
)/=@15#/=@1 ne$er appear in the I3 clause!
I3 $s #;ET;EG 667 =se whether not if" when you ha$e to ma>e a choice!
Subjunctive Mood
If I were!!!(contrary to reality
=ncertainity 667 ;opes" desires" proposals" re-uests
3ormed using HThatH!!!then plural form to be used for singular subjects!
e!g! It is urgent that she sign!!!not signs<<
that he be!!!infiniti$e form without HtoH!
J