100 Golden Rules of English Grammar | Abhyas 247
100 Golden Rules of English Grammar
For Error Detection & Sentence Improvement
A. Subject-Verb Agreement
Multiple Subjects with 'And': Two or more singular subjects connected by and usually take a plural verb.
Incorrect: Hari and Ram is here.
Correct: Hari and Ram are here.
Same Person or Thing: 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 both Secretary and Principal).
Each or Every: If singular subjects are preceded by each or every, the verb is usually singular.
Incorrect: Every boy and girl were ready.
Correct: Every boy and girl was ready.
Or/Nor/Either/Neither: Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either... or, neither... nor take a singular verb.
Incorrect: Neither he nor I were there.
Correct: Neither he nor I was there.
Different Numbers: When 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.
Incorrect: Neither the Assistant Masters nor the Headmaster was present.
Correct: Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were present.
Different Persons: When subjects joined by or/nor are of different persons, the verb agrees in person with the one nearest to it.
Incorrect: Either he or I is mistaken.
Correct: Either he or I am mistaken.
Collective Nouns: A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as a whole, and a plural verb when individuals are thought of separately.
Correct: The Council has chosen the President.
Correct: The military were called out.
Plural Form, Singular Meaning: Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning take a singular verb.
Incorrect: Mathematics are a branch of study.
Correct: Mathematics is a branch of study.
Parenthetical Phrases: Words joined by with, together with, in addition to, or as well as are parenthetical and do not affect the number of the verb.
Incorrect: The Chief, with all his men, were massacred.
Correct: The Chief, with all his men, was massacred.
Relative Pronouns: The verb following a relative pronoun must agree in number and person with its antecedent.
Incorrect: I, who is your friend, will guard your interests.
Correct: I, who am your friend, will guard your interests.
B. Uses of Participles and Infinitives
Object + To + V1: Verbs like advise, allow, command, force, invite, encourage are followed by Object + To + V1.
Incorrect: He advised to do it by me.
Correct: He advised me to do it.
Know + How/Where/When: The verb Know is followed by a question word and an infinitive.
Incorrect: I know to write a letter.
Correct: I know how to write a letter.
Bare Infinitive: After let, bid, watch, see, feel, make, we use the Bare Infinitive (without "to").
Incorrect: I heard him to speak.
Correct: I heard him speak.
Modal Auxiliaries: Bare Infinitive is used after modals (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, dare not, need not).
Incorrect: You need not to work hard.
Correct: You need not work hard.
Had Better/Rather: Had better, had rather, had as soon... as are followed by the Bare Infinitive.
Incorrect: He had better to go now.
Correct: He had better go now.
Than: The conjunction than is followed by the Bare Infinitive.
Incorrect: He had better read than to write.
Correct: He had better read than write.
But (Preposition): When but is used as a preposition and preceded by a form of do, it is followed by the Bare Infinitive.
Incorrect: He did nothing but to wander.
Correct: He did nothing but wander.
Subject of Reference: Every participle must have a logical Subject of Reference.
Incorrect: Being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay home.
Correct: It being a rainy day, Vijay decided to stay home.
Completed Action: Use Having + V3 for Active Voice and Having been + V3 for Passive Voice.
Incorrect: After the leader having been killed, the followers ran away.
Correct: The leader having been killed, the followers ran away.
Exceptions to Reference: Participles like considering, judging, regarding, broadly speaking do not always require a Subject of Reference.
Correct: Considering the case, I took the decision.
C. Uses of Verbs
Separate Auxiliaries: If two subjects in a sentence are not in the same number, use separate auxiliaries for both.
Correct: Three were killed and one was injured.
Shared Verbs: A single verb serves two subjects only if the form of the verb is appropriate for both.
Incorrect: I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct: I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.
Principal Verb Compatibility: Two auxiliaries need a principal verb that fits both forms.
Correct: He never has taken, and never will take such measures.
Auxiliary Association: One auxiliary for two principal verbs must correctly associate with both.
Correct: Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.
Sequence of Tenses: A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate clause.
Correct: He succeeded because he worked hard.
Universal Truths: A Past Tense in the main clause is followed by Present Tense if the subordinate clause is a universal truth.
Correct: Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.
Lest... Should: After lest, the auxiliary should must be used regardless of the main clause tense.
Correct: We start early lest we should miss the train.
Split Infinitive: Avoid placing an adverb between to and the verb.
Incorrect: To immediately reply.
Correct: To reply immediately.
Infinitive Tense: Use the present infinitive unless representing an action prior to the governing verb.
Correct: I should have liked to go there.
Possessive + Gerund: If a gerund is preceded by a pronoun, that pronoun must be in the possessive case.
Correct: He emphasized my going there.
Duration: Use Present Perfect Continuous for actions starting in the past and still continuing.
Correct: How long have you been working in this office?
Preposition + Gerund: A verb preceded by a preposition must be a gerund.
Correct: They were punished for coming late.
Condition/Time Clauses: Future Indefinite is not used in time or condition clauses; use Present Indefinite.
Correct: I shall wait till you finish your work.
Past Time Adverbs: Present Perfect is not used with yesterday or specific past dates; use Past Indefinite.
Correct: I bought a cycle yesterday.
Combined Modals: Modal auxiliaries are not used together; connect them with a conjunction.
Correct: He should and must do it.
Need/Dare Not: When need/dare is followed by not, it acts as a modal and takes the Bare Infinitive.
Correct: He need not do it.
D. Uses of Adjectives
Quantity: Adjectives of quantity (some, much, little) are for uncountable nouns.
Numeral Adjectives: Used for countable nouns (few, many).
Ordinal before Cardinal: Ordinals (first, second) precede Cardinals (one, two).
Correct: The first four boys.
Later vs. Latter: Later/Latest refer to time; Latter/Last refer to position.
Farther vs. Further: Farther means distance; Further means additional.
Each vs. Every: Each is for two or more; Every is for more than two.
Some vs. Any: Some for affirmative; Any for negative/interrogative.
Comparison of Two: Use Comparative degree, not superlative.
Correct: Which is the better of the two?
Comparing Qualities: When comparing two qualities of the same person, use more + positive adjective.
Correct: He is more wise than brave.
Excluding Subjects: In comparison, use other to exclude the subject from the group.
Correct: He is cleverer than any other boy.
Superlative Inclusion: The subject should be included in the class.
Correct: He is the strongest of all men.
Parallel Comparison: Compare the same parts of things.
Correct: The population of Bombay is greater than that of Delhi.
Double Comparatives: Avoid using more wiser or most cleverest.
Adjectives + To: Superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior take to, not than.
Absolute Adjectives: Unique, perfect, universal, complete cannot be compared.
Degree Consistency: All adjectives for the same noun must be in the same degree.
Elder vs. Older: Elder is for family; Older is for both people and things.
E. Uses of Adverbs
Adverb Modifiers: Use an adverb (not adjective) to modify a verb or adjective.
Correct: She writes very carefully.
Too: Means "more than required" (usually unpleasant). Use very for pleasant adjectives.
Too...To: Can be replaced by so...that...cannot.
Much too vs. Too much: Much too + Adjective; Too much + Noun.
Quite/All: Do not use together.
Fairly vs. Rather: Fairly for pleasant; Rather for unpleasant.
Enough Placement: Enough is preceded by a positive degree adjective.
Correct: Great enough to pardon you.
Double Negatives: Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence.
At Present vs. Presently: At present means now; Presently means shortly.
Hard vs. Hardly: Hard means diligently; Hardly means scarcely.
Very vs. Much: Very + Present Participle; Much + Past Participle.
Hard (Adj) vs. Hardly (Adv): Hard means tough; Hardly means rarely.
Ago: Always used with Past Indefinite Tense.
Presently: Usually used with Future Indefinite.
Early vs. Soon: Early is near the beginning; Soon is after a point in time.
Inversion (Adverbs): Sentences starting with seldom, never, hardly take inversion (Verb + Subject).
Correct: Seldom had I seen such a sight.
Inversion (Place): Sentences starting with here, there, away use inversion.
F. Uses of Conjunctions
Single Conjunction: Don't use two conjunctions like although and but together.
Both...and: Both is followed by and (positive sense).
Parallelism: Either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also must join the same parts of speech.
Correlatives: Do not confuse Neither...nor with Either...or.
No Sooner...Than: No sooner takes than, not then/but.
Hardly/Scarcely: Followed by when or before, never than.
That (Direct/Indirect): Do not use that before direct speech or interrogative adverbs in indirect speech.
G. Uses of Prepositions
Objective Case: Use objective pronouns (him, her, me) after prepositions.
Multiple Prepositions: Use separate prepositions if two words require them.
Correct: Conscious of and engaged in.
Preposition + V-ing: Verbs after prepositions must be in the -ing form.
Time Prepositions: No on/in/at before today, tomorrow, yesterday.
Home: No preposition before home with verbs of movement.
Transitive Verbs: No preposition after discuss, describe, reach, order.
Communication: Say, suggest, reply + to + person.
H. Uses of Pronouns
Complement 'To Be': Use nominative case (he, she, I).
Correct: If I were he.
Object of Verb: Use objective case (me, him, her).
Emphatic Pronouns: Cannot stand alone as subjects.
One: Use one's throughout (not his).
Either/Neither (Two): Use for two; use none/any for more than two.
Each other vs. One another: Each other (two); One another (more than two).
Possessive + Gerund: My being late (not me being late).
Agreement: Pronouns must match their antecedent in number and gender.
And (Plural): Singular nouns joined by and take a plural pronoun.
Same Person: If referring to the same person, use a singular pronoun.
Or/Nor (Singular): Singular subjects joined by or/nor take singular pronouns.
Order (Good): 2nd Person, 3rd Person, 1st Person (You, he and I).
Order (Plural): 1st, 2nd, 3rd (We, you and they).
Who vs. Whom: Who (Subjective); Whom (Objective).
That (Superlative/All): Use that with Superlatives and all, only, none.
Correct: All that glitters is not gold.
Let + Objective: Always use objective case after let.
Correct: Let him go.
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