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 Indefinite 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 Superlative 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 compared 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.
You may like to read ЁЯСЙ100 golden rules of English Grammar for error detection and sentence improvement-1
ЁЯСЙ100 golden rules of English Grammar for error detection and sentence improvement-3
