Did you know –
· the rules for forming conditional sentences help us to
express contrary to fact wishes, assumptions or regrets
about missed opportunities.
· the simple present tense is used to talk about hard
facts and regular habits.
Most possessive nouns will have an
apostrophe -- but where you put that
apostrophe can be confusing.
Add 's to singular words to show possession.
Cat’s toy
Dog’s treat
If a singular word ends in s, it is still necessary to add 's.
Abhas's sneakers
Bus’s tyre
If you have added an s to make a word plural, in that case, add
only the apostrophe to the end of the word.
Dogs' sisters' in Boys’ hostel
collars laws
(dogs + ') (sisters + ') (Boys + ')
Just like singular possessives, plural possessives that don't end
in s add ’s.
Children's homework fish's bowls
(children + 's) (fish + 's)
· If two people own something together, use an 's after the
second person only.
Salim and Suleiman’s new song.
· If two people own two separate things, add 's to each name.
Aman's and Mehar’s rooms are painted the same colour.
(Each person has her own nails.)
· If a proper name ends with an s, you can add just the
apostrophe or an apostrophe and an s.
You are sitting in James’ chair.
Have you seen Abhas’s bike?
· If the possessor is a building, an object, or a piece of furniture,
you don’t need to add an apostrophe to show possession.
The maid cleaned the hotel’s room.
The maid cleaned the hotel room.
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
When the relationship of the modifying words to the terms they
modify is unclear. This is when a descriptive phrase doesn’t apply to
the noun that follows it.
After declining for months, Jenna tried a new tactic to maximise the
return to scale
What exactly is declining for months? the sentence gives the
impression that Jenna was declining. In reality, the sentence was
trying to say that the return to scale was declining .
To fix this problem, try flipping around the sentence structure
We get,
Jenna tried a new tactic to increase the return to scale after it had
been declining for months.
Between vs Among
Use between when referring to one-to-one relationships.
Between is used when naming distinct, individual items (can be
2, 3, or more)
Use among when referring to indistinct or nonspecific
relationships. Among is used when the items are part of a
group, or are not specifically named (MUST be 3 or more)
The negotiations between Brazil, Argentina, and Chile are
going well.
The negotiations among the countries of South America are
going well.
Me vs. I
Most people understand the difference between the two of
these, until it comes time for them to use one in a sentence.
When you get done with that book, can you send it to Ayushi
and I?
When you get done with that book, can you send it to Ayushi
and me?
"I" is the object of that sentence -- and "I" should not be used in
objects. In that situation, you'd use "me."
Rules of conjunction
The rules governing conjunctions are vital when we want
our text to appear coherent with logically related parts.
The conjunction both is followed by and (and not as well as)
I liked both the sedan and the SUV.
Until is time oriented and unless is action oriented.
Wait here until I come back.
Unless you pay attention, you will not pass.
Using the correct pair of co-relative conjunction
Not only …… But also
Hardly…..when
No sooner……than
On comparing two qualities of the same
person or things, we don’t use “-er”.
Raman is stronger than Billu. (We are comparing two different
individuals here)
But if we want to say that the strength of Raman is greater than
his intelligence, we will say;
Raman is more strong than intelligent.
Subject-verb agreement just means using
the right version of the verb to agree with
the subject.
If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular.
If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
The noun/pronoun closest to the verb may not be the subject.
· Balconies facing the park are very expensive.
· A bouquet of yellow roses lends colour and fragrances to the
room
If the noun suggests one idea to the mind, refers to the same
person/thing, the verb is singular
· Time and tide waits for none
· The novelist and poet is dead
Does a singular collective noun take a singular or
plural verb?
Well, it depends. If the collective noun refers to the group
as a unit, then it takes a singular verb. If it refers to the
individuals in the group or the parts that make up the
group, then the verb should be plural.
· This organisation puts a feast every year.
· A wolf pack hunts as a group.
When the members of a collective noun are performing an
action as individuals, use a plural verb.
· The pack of wolves were getting aggressive
· The cast have been practising their lines.
In case a sentence has two subjects, joined by or nor is plural,
the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the
verb.
· Either the thieves or the murderer has escaped from the
prison.
· Neither the murderer nor the thieves have escaped from the
prison.
The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or
are contrary to fact.
· If I were the Prime Minister, I would work day in and out for
my country.
· I wish it were 2021 already.
1.
Either Meenakshi (1)/ or one of (2)/ her friends (3)/ are
going to perform at the function tonite. (4)
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3
D. 4 E. No error
2.
The baskets, generally made (1)/ of wood but sometimes
of steel, and (2)/ set on an incline, is divided by partitions
(3)/ which are alternately wide and narrow
compartments. (4)
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3
D. 4 E. No error
3.
Today Jane Austen is one of the most (1)/ widely read
English novelists, besides she (2) /achieved little fame
(3)/ during her lifetime.(4)
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3
D. 4 E. No error
4.
If he was rich, he’d (1)/buy ten yachts (2)/and go on a
yearly(3)/ vacation to the Hawaii(4)/ No Error
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3
D. 4 E. No error
5.
I didn’t expect the juniors to know the (1)/ details of
every law, but I did want them (2)/ to know how to
research effectively, write (3)/ clearly, and be able to
influence the clients and myself.4/ No error
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3
D. 4 E. No error
6.
The park at the end (1)/ of our street,(2)/ which is
pristine, (3)/ is a favourite place of mine.(4) No error
A. Only 1
B. Both 1 and 3
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Only 3
E. No error
7.
Directions: Read each sentence to find out whether there is
any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one
part of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as it is mark
'no error' as the answer.
Physical appearance is part of the surface (a)/ of life, the
visible world of facts(b)/ that in Woolf’s fiction (c)/ could be
a source of stability.(d)/ No error (e) .
A. Physical appearance is part of the surface
B. of life, the visible world of facts
C. that in Woolf’s fiction
D. could be a source of stability
E. No error
8.
Direction: In the following question, a part of the sentence is bold. Below the
sentence alternatives to the bold part are given at (A), (B), (C) and (D) which
may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case the given
sentence is correct, your answer is (E), i.e., 'No correction required’.
As some crops not only need sunshine but also cold nights and chilled
showers to ripen, so character needs not only joy but trial and difficulty to
mellow it.
A. Not only need sunshine but also cold nights and chilling showers to ripen
B. Not only need sunshine but also coldest nights and chills showers to ripen
C. Need not only sunshine but also cold nights and chilling showers to ripen
D. Need not only sunshine but also cold nights and chilled showers to ripen
E. No correction required
9.
Direction: A sentence is divided into three parts I, II and III.
For each part, a correction statement is given. Determine
the part which requires correction.
No sooner had he opened his eyes/ but he heard the voice
he/ least wanted to hear.
I. No sooner he had open his eyes
II. Than heard the voice he
III. Lest wanted to hear.
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. Only III
D. Both I and II
E. Both II and III
10.
Direction: A sentence divided into four parts (1), (2), (3)
and (4) is given. The errors are in two parts of the
sentence. Determine the parts which require correction
and mark it as your answer. If the sentence is correct as it
is, mark the answer as 'No error'.
4. A simple, fast and precisely (1)/ method of adopting
the GPS to (2)/ calibrated radar azimuth and elevation
(3)/ is expatiated and is widely applied in radar
calibration. (4)
A. 1-2
B. 2-3
C. 1-3
D. 1-4
E. No error
