important english grammar tips part-ii-

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Important English Grammar Tips Part-II

CONTENTS

S.No GrammarTopics Page No.

1. Adjectives About Adjectives 01

Common Error in Use of Adjectives 01

2. Verbs Common Error in Use of Verbs 04

Subject-Verb Agreement 06

3. Finite Verbs About Finite Verbs 08

Exercise on Finite Verbs with Explanations 09

4. Noun

Types of Noun 10

Exercise on Noun with Explanations 11

Usage of Collective Noun 15

Common Errors in Use of Noun 16

Pronoun 17

Exercise on Pronoun with Explanations 18

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Adjectives

About Adjectives:

An adjective is a describing word. It qualifies a noun and adds to the meaning of it.

Adjectives are used before nouns to qualify them directly or used after linking verbs

to qualify them indirectly. Some adjectives can be used only attributively or only

predicatively.

Adjectives of quality refer to certain qualities: brave, rich, poor, polite, intelligent.

Adjectives of size, weight & shape refer to the size, weight & shape, ex: tall, heavy,

flat.

Adjectives of color; ex: black, blue, green, yellow.

Classifying adjectives or Proper adjectives are made from proper nouns.

ERRORS IN USE OF ADJECTIVES

1). When there are two objects of comparison, then to avoid repetition of noun,

‘that’ is used for singular noun

‘those’ is used for plural noun

For example,

The climate of Mumbai is better than Delhi. (Incorrect)

The climate of Mumbai is better than that of Delhi. (Correct)

2). Compound adjective formed by adding ‘worth’ is placed after the noun

For example,

This is a worth seeing sight. (Incorrect)

This is a sight worth seeing. (Correct)

3). When two adjectives with differing degrees of comparison are used they should be

completed in themselves

For example,

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She is as wise, if not wiser than her brother. (Incorrect)

She is as wise as, if not wiser than her brother. (Correct)

4). Some adjectives like ‘unique, ideal, perfect, extreme, complete, universal, infinite,

perpetual, chief, entire, round, impossible’ are not compared

For example,

It is the most unique book. (Incorrect)

It is an unique book. (Correct)

5). When two adjectives in superlative or comparative degree are used together, the one

formed by adding ‘more’ or ‘most’ must follow the other adjective

For example,

He is more intelligent and wiser than his brother. (Incorrect)

He is wiser and more intelligent than his brother. (Correct)

6). When we compare two qualities in the same person or thing, then the comparative ending

with ‘er’ is not used alone

For example,

You are wiser than old. (Incorrect)

You are more wiser than old. (Correct)

7). When comparative degree is used in superlative sense, it is followed by ‘any other’

For example,

Ajith is better than any bowler. (Incorrect)

Ajith is better than any other bowler. (Correct)

8). Adjective ‘less’ refers to quantity

For example,

He takes no fewer than a liter of milk. (Incorrect)

He takes no less than a liter of milk. (Correct)

9). Adjective ‘fewer’ refers to number

For example,

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They have less books than I have. (Incorrect)

They have fewer books than I have. (Correct)

10). ‘Each’ is used for one of two or more things

For example,

Every of the two boys was wrong. (Incorrect)

Each of the two boys was wrong. (Correct)

11). ‘Every’ is used for more than two things taken as a group

For example,

He read each book I gave him. (Incorrect)

He read every book I gave him. (Incorrect)

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Verbs

ERRORS IN USE OF VERBS:

1.) If two actions in a sentence are shown happening in the past, one after the other, the first

act should be in past perfect and the second in simple past.

For example,

He left before I reached the venue.(Incorrect)

He had left before I reached the venue.(Correct)

2.) A single verb should be made to serve two subjects, only when the form of verb is same for

both the subjects.

For example,

I am hungry and my sister sleepy. (Incorrect)

I am hungry and my sister is sleepy. (Correct)

3.) A verb when preceded by a preposition must be the gerund.

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For example,

They were warned for come late. (Incorrect)

They were warned for coming late. (Correct)

4.) 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,

One-killed and two were injured. (Incorrect)

One was killed and two were injured. (Correct)

5.) Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal verb, only when the form of the principal

verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries.

For example,

He never has and never will take such long leave. (Incorrect)

He never has taken and never will take such long leave. (Correct)

6.) When there is only one auxiliary to two principal verbs it should be correctly associated with

the both, if not two auxiliary verbs must be used.

For example,

Ten students have passed one failed. (Incorrect)

Ten students have passed, one has failed. (Correct)

7.) 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.

For example,

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We start early lest we shall miss the train. (Incorrect)

We start early lest we should miss the train. (Correct)

8.) To modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb, we use an Adverb.

For example,

She speaks very intelligent. (Incorrect)

She speaks very intelligently. (Correct)

9.) Modal Auxiliaries are not used together. But two auxiliaries can be connected by a

conjunction.

For example,

He should must say it. (Incorrect)

He should and must say it. (Correct)

10.) When need or dare is followed by not, it turns into modal auxiliary. In that situation it takes

infinitive and we cannot use ‘needs not’ or ‘dares not’

For example,

He dares not do it. (Incorrect)

He dare not do it. (Correct)

COMMON ERRORS IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1). ‘Else’ is always followed by ‘but’ and never by ‘than’

For example,

It is nothing else than poverty that makes them naïve. (Incorrect)

It is nothing else but poverty that makes them naïve. (Correct)

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2). ‘As if’ is always followed by ‘were’ even with the third person singular, when it shows

pretension

For example,

He speaks as if he was a good man. (Incorrect)

He speaks as if he were a good man. (Correct)

3). ‘Not’ is never used with ‘until’

For example,

I will talk until you do not speak. (Incorrect)

I will talk until you speak. (Correct)

4). ‘No sooner’ should always be followed by ‘then’ and not by ‘but’ or ‘than’

For example,

No sooner I finish this work, than I shall begin another. (Incorrect)

No sooner I finish this work, then I shall begin another. (Correct)

5). ‘Hardly’ and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’ or ‘before’ and not by ‘than’ or ‘that’

For example,

Hardly did I reach the venue, than the event started. (Incorrect)

Hardly did I reach the venue, when the event started. (Correct)

6). ‘That’ should not be used before a sentence in Direct speech

For example,

She said that, “He will go there.” (Incorrect)

She said, “He will go there.” (Correct)

7). ‘That’ should not be used before interrogative adverbs and pronouns in the indirect speech.

For example,

She asked me that where I was. (Incorrect)

She asked me where I was. (Correct)

8). If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing then the verb must be singular.

For example,

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Secretary and principal are coming. (Incorrect)

Secretary and principal is coming. (Correct)

9). Two or more singular subjects are connected by ‘and’ then the verb will be plural.

For example,

Arvind and Ashwin is coming. (Incorrect)

Arvind and Ashwin are coming. (Correct)

10). Two subjects joined by ‘and’ will always take a plural verb, but when considered as a

single unit then the verb will be singular.

For example,

Bread and jam was bought separately. (Incorrect)

Bread and jam were bought separately. (Correct)

(In the above example, bread and jam are two separate subjects joined by ‘and’)

Bread and jam are my breakfast. (Incorrect)

Bread and jam is my breakfast. (Correct)

(In this example, bread and jam is considered as a single unit verb i.e., as breakfast in whole.)

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Finite verbs

The word Finite means limited. A verb that undergoes changes in accordance with the

tense, person and number of the subject is called a Finite Verb. A Finite verb includes all the

verbs with auxiliary verb or modal auxiliary verbs with a subject.

Examples:

1. I speak French

2. You speak French

3. He speaks French

4. They speak French.

5. I shall speak French

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6. They could speak French

7. We spoke French

8. They had spoken French

Note: The verb speak – undergoes changes as speaks, spoke, had spoken, shall speak, could

speak etc. All these are finite verbs.

Exercise- Find the finite verbs from these sentences:

1.) Nisha dances well.

Explanation: Here the finite verb is dances. Because, the word dances contains the

auxiliary verb.

Answer: Nisha dances well.

2.) We are enjoying the movie.

Explanation: Here the finite verb is are enjoying. As it is limited form of the subject.

Answer: We are enjoying the movie.

3.) They have completed the work.

Explanation: Here the finite verb is ‘have completed’. Here the verb says about the

number of subject that is changed.

Answer: They have completed the work.

4.) I shall try to get it.

Explanation: Here, the finite verb is shall try. As it is limited verb.

Answer: I shall try to get it.

5.) We may start our journey to night.

Explanation: Here, the finite verb is may start. As it is limited verb.

Answer: We may start our journey to night.

6.) I saw him playing cricket.

Explanation: Here, the finite verb is saw. As it is reflects about the person with modal

auxiliary.

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Answer: I saw him playing cricket.

7.) She has accepted my suggestion.

Explanation: Here, has accepted is the finite verb. As it is auxiliary verb.

Answer: She has accepted my suggestion.

8.) Who cares the poor?

Explanation: Here, the finite verb is cares. As it are auxiliary verbs.

Answer: Who cares the poor?

9.) Does he promise to help you?

Explanation: Here, the finite verbs are does and promise. As these are two auxiliary

verbs.

Answer: Does he promise to help you?

10.) She likes cooking.

Explanation: Here, the finite verb is likes. As it is an auxiliary verb.

Answer: She likes cooking.

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Nouns

A noun is a naming word. It can be the name of a person, place, animal, thing or event.

Kinds of Nouns:

Common Noun

Proper Noun

Collective Noun

Abstract Noun

Material Noun

1.) Common Noun:

A common noun names general things. It is the name that is common to the same kind of

persons, place or things

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Ex. soldiers, spoons, girls, pens, birds etc

2.) Proper Noun:

A proper noun name specific things. It is the name of a particular person, place, thing or

event. It begins with a capital letter.

Ex: Kolkata, Kabir Khan, Hogghly, Sophia Girls’ School, etc.

3.) Collective Noun:

A collective noun is the name given to a group of people or things. A collective noun is

treated as a singular noun. Collective nouns take everything under one group.

4.) Abstract Noun:

An abstract noun names qualities in persons, animals or things. It is usually the

name of a quality, actions or state which we normally cannot see or touch, though we

can feel them or think of them.

5.) Material Noun:

A material noun names something we can see and touch, a substance, a material,

something used for making things. It can also be an article of food or drink.

These are the raw elements or objects existing in nature.

Exercise- Underline the noun and name its kind – common (Com), proper (Pro), collective

(Coll), abstract (Abs), material (Mat).

1.) The Sun Temple depicting mythological conception of the Sun God riding twenty four

wheeled chariots driven by seven horses carved in stone is at Konark, Orrisa.

Answer: The Sun Temple (pro) depicting mythological conception of the Sun God (pro) riding

twenty four (com)wheeled chariots driven by seven horses (pro) carved in stone (mat) is at

Konark, Orrisa. (pro)

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Explanation: Here, Sun Temple, Sun God, is proper noun, as it is mentioned specific thing and

also mentioned about a particular place, and Konark, Orrisa, as it mention about the place.

And seven horses mentions about the numbers so it is common noun. Next, stone is material

noun as we can see the touch and we can also touch the stone.

2.) Abraham Lincoln was the man responsible for abolishing slavery and injustice in the United

States of America.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln (pro) was the man (com) responsible for abolishing slavery (abs)

and injustice in the United States of America. (pro)

Explanation: Abraham Lincoln as it mentions the particular name and United States of America

is also mentions about the particular place so they both are proper nouns. Man, as it means

about the person so it is common noun. Slavery, as it mentions about the quality of the person,

so it is abstract noun.

3.) Rajasthan is a land of kings and is famous for its royal grandeur.

Answer: Rajasthan (pro) is a land of kings (com) and is famous for its royal grandeur (pro).

Explanation: Rajasthan, mentions about the particular place and Royal grandeur is an event,

so they both are considered to be proper nouns. Kings is specifically mentions about the

person, so this is common noun.

4.) A plague of locusts destroyed the entire crop of grains.

Answer: A plague of locusts (com) destroyed the entire crop (pro) of grains. (pro)

Explanation: A plague of locusts is a form of a group of things, and this is a collective noun.

Crops and grains are mentions about the particular things. So this is proper noun.

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5.) Tourism is the backbone of San Francisco’s economy.

Answer: Tourism is the backbone of San Francisco’s (pro) economy.

Explanation: San Francisco is a particular and specific place so this is proper noun.

6.) Los Angeles is a city brimming with energy and creativity.

Answer: Los Angeles (pro) is a city (com) brimming with energy and creativity.

Explanation: Los Angeles is a particular place, so this is a proper noun. City is a general city,

so this is a common noun.

7.) Camel riding, a traditional sport, is extremely popular in the Emirates.

Answer: Camel (pro) riding, a traditional sport, is extremely popular in the Emirates. (com)

Explanation: Camel is a particular animal, so this is a proper noun. Emirates are the general

place, so this is a common noun.

8.) I was surprised to see a brood of chicks and a litter of puppies playing together.

Answer: I was surprised to see a brood of chicks (coll) and a litter of puppies (coll) playing

together.

Explanation: Brood of chicks and litter of puppies are group of animals, so this is a collective

noun.

9.) A.R.Rahman is the first Indian music composer, who won the Oscar award in the year

2009.

Answer: A.R.Rehman (pro) is the first Indian music composer, (com) who won the Oscar

award (pro) in the year 2009.

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Explanation: A.R.Rehman is a particular person and Oscar award is a particular award, so they

both are proper nouns.

Music composer is a general instrument so this is a common noun.

10.) Renowned both for its beauty and as source of hydro electric power, the Niagara Falls is a

massive waterfall on the Niagara river.

Answer: Renowned both for its beauty (com) and as source of hydro electric power, the

Niagara Falls (pro) is a massive waterfall on the Niagara river (pro)

Explanation: Beauty is a general and common thing, so this is a common thing. Niagara Falls

and Niagara River are mentioned about particular place so this is a proper noun.

1.) Nouns which are used in singular form:-

(i) Scenery, information, furniture, advice, machinery, stationery, news, poetry,

business, mischief, fuel, issue, repair, bedding.

The scenery of this place is worth seeing.

He has received no information so far.

(ii) Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Classics, Ethics, Athletics, innings, gallows.

Example: Economics is a very interesting subject.

The Indian team defeated the Australian by an innings.

(iii) Brick, bread, fruit, word (as ‘promise’)

Example: Let me buy some fruit.

He is true to his word.

(iv) Words like dozen, score, hundred, thousand, million when preceded by a

numeral.

Example: He bought ten dozen oranges.

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I have four pair of shoes.

(v) Expressions as a ten-rupee note, a two-hour journey, a four-mile walk, a Five-

year plan, a six-man committee etc.

Example: A ten-rupee note is lying there.

2.) Nouns used only in plural form

(i) Cattle, police, poultry, people, gentry, peasantry, artillery.

Example: The police have caught the thief.

Cattle are grazing in the field.

(ii) Scissors, trousers, stockings, spectacles, shorts, alms, remains, riches, good,

measles.

Example: My scissors are very sharp.

My Spectacles are missing.

3.) Noun used both as singular and plural in the same form.

(i) Deer, sheep, fish, apparatus, wages.

Example: The wages of sin is death.

The wages of the workers have been raised.

I saw a sheep grazing in the field.

Sheep are sold cheaper than goat.

(ii) Collective nouns as jury, public, team, audience, committee, government,

audience, congregation, orchestra.

Example: The team are looking quite fit.

The team has not turned up yet.

4.) Use of collective Nouns

Crowd of people Mob of angry people

Herd of cattle/cows Fleet of ships/cruisers

Team of players Pack of wolves

Flight of birds Pack of cards

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Bouquet of flowers Loaf of bread

Shoal/school of fish Heap of corn

Bundle of sticks Stock of grain

Army of soldiers Class of pupils

Flock of sheep Bunch of grapes

Crew of sailors Herd of lions

Swarm of bees Pile of books

Garland of beads Hoarde of nomads

Gang of thieves Block of flats

Library of books File of papers

5.) One of or any of is followed by plural words.

Example: I want one of the books kept on the table.

Any of these tools may serve the purpose.

6.) Plural nouns are used with fractions and decimal over 1.

Example: It took us one and a half hours.

COMMON ERRORS IN NOUNS

1). The noun following ‘none of’, ‘some of’, ‘one of’ must be plural but the verb agrees in

number with the subject of the sentence

For example,

Some of my friend are coming to dinner. (Incorrect)

Some of my friends are coming to dinner. (Correct)

2). Some nouns are singular in form but they are used as plural nouns(‘scissors, spectacles,

people, company, police, etc.’) and always take a plural verb

For example,

The police has arrested the thief. (Incorrect)

The police have arrested the thief. (Correct)

The spectacles is on the table. (Incorrect)

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The spectacles are on the table. (Correct)

3). When nouns indicating length, money, weight, or number are used after numbers they

retain the same form in the plural

For example,

He has bought three dozen banana. (Incorrect)

He has bought three dozen bananas. (Correct)

4). Collective nouns like public, team, committee, team, government, etc. can be used both as

singular and plural noun depending on the meaning, that is, when they indicate a unit it is

singular and when it refers to its members it is plural

For example,

A team were appointed to interview the candidate. (Incorrect)

A team was appointed to interview the candidate. (Correct)

The committees was divided on the basis of their qualification. (Incorrect)

The committees were divided on the basis of their qualification. (Correct)

5). Some nouns are used only in singular form and they always take a singular verb

For example,

The sceneries of this place is worth watching. (Incorrect)

The scenery of this place is worth watching. (Correct).

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Pronouns

A word that is used place of noun is called a pronoun. Pronouns are words used in the

place of nouns; they are singular and plural. There are indefinite pronouns, interrogative

pronouns, demonstrative pronouns and relative pronouns.

The following is the table of personal pronouns in English with their functions:

Subject

Pronouns

Object

Pronoun

Adjective

Pronoun

Possessive

Pronoun

Reflexive

Pronoun

I Me My Mine Myself

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We Us Our Ours Ourselves

You You Your Yours Yourself

You You Your Yours Yourselves

He Him His His Himself

She Her Her Hers Herself

It It Its _ Itself

They Them Their Theirs Themselves

Subject pronouns function as subjects; object pronouns as object pronouns as objects;

adjective pronouns (or possessive adjectives) as adjectives. Possessive pronouns function as

complements Ex. Instead of ‘This is my book’ we say ‘This book is mine’; reflexive pronouns

(or self pronouns) intensify the meaning.

Exercise- Use appropriate pronouns in the blanks in the following passage.

Abdullah studies in Althorah School. ______is a big school but _____ is far away from

_______ house. So, _______ goes to school by bus. ______brothers also study in the same

school. All of _______ go to school by the same bus. The driver is an old man. _______ is

known to _____ father and _____ is kind to the boys. Abdullah’s mother wakes up early, cooks

for _______ and packs ______ breakfast before _______ leaves for school. _______ is a kind

mother and helps _______ sons to study well. Abdullah helps _______ father in the shop in the

evenings. _______ is a small house. _______ is also old but comfortable. ______ live happily

there for a long time.

Answers with Explanations:

Abdullah studies in Althorah School. It (Here, ‘it’ represents the school, as it is a subject

pronouns, so the answer is ‘it’) is a big school but it (same here also, represents the

school, so ‘It’ will be the suitable pronoun) is far away from his (Here, the name Abdullah

is to be mentioned, so here ‘his’ will be the suitable pronoun) house. So, he (here

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subjective pronoun should be added, so ‘he’ will be the correct pronoun) goes to school by

bus. His (Here, to mention Abdullah’s brother, in short we say ‘his’) brothers also study in

the same school. All of them (Here, the word brothers says that there will be more than one

person, so this is to be objective pronoun, so ‘them’ will be correct pronoun) go to school by

the same bus. The driver is an old man. He (Here, the sentence is mentioned about the

driver, so Subjective pronoun so, ‘he’ will be correct and suitable pronoun) is known to his

(this sentence says about his father, so ‘his’ will be suitable answer) father and he

(the driver is kind to the boys, so to mention about the driver we say ‘he’) is kind to the boys.

Abdullah’s mother wakes up early, cooks for them (it says more than one people, so it is

objective pronoun, ‘them’ will be correct pronoun) and packs their (Here, his mother packs

lunch, of the boys, so the suitable pronoun will be ‘their’) breakfast before they (here, it

indicates the boys, here ‘they’ will be the suitable pronoun) leaves for school. She (here this is

about Abdullah’s mother, so ‘she’ will be the correct pronoun) is a kind mother and helps her

(here, mother helps her sons in studies, so to mention about her ‘her’ will be suitable pronoun)

sons to study well. Abdullah helps his (here, it says about Abdullah, so ‘his’ will be the

correct pronoun) father in the shop in the evenings. Theirs (this says about the whole family

of Abdullah, so adjective pronouns so, ‘theirs’ will be the correct pronoun) is a small house. It

(this says about the house, so ‘it’ will be the correct pronoun) is also old but comfortable. They

(this says about the family of Abdullah, so ‘they’ will be the suitable pronoun) live happily there

for a long time.

important english grammar tips part-ii-

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