HUNDRED GOLDEN RULES TO FIND OUT ERRORS IN ENGLISH FOR ALL EKAMS ‘A. SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT T- Two or more Singular Subjects connected bya usually take a Verb inthe Plural Tncorreet Hari and Ram is bere. Correct Haak and Ram are he. 2. IF io Singular Nouns refer tothe same pervon or thing, the Verb must be Singular. Tncorrect- The Sccstaty and Principal are coming — | Correct: The Seoreary and Principals comings (Here the sane person is Secretary as well as Principal 2 IF the Singular Subjects are preceded by ach or ver, the Werb is usually Singular. Tncorredt- Every boy and girl were ready. ‘Correct: Every boy and git was wea Two or more Singular Subjects connected by 7, or, ether on neither. nor ake a Verb in the Singular. Tncorreet- Neither he or T were there Correc- Nether he nor E was thee "When the Subjects Jomed by ‘ivvor are of diferent numbers, the Verb must be Plural, and the Plural Subject must be placed next tothe Verb. Tncorrect - Neither the Assistant Masters nor the | Correct- Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Headmaster was present Masters were present." incorrect. Either he or Tis mistaken 7A Collective Noun takes a Singular Verb when the collection is thought of as a whole, a Plural Verb when the individuals of which iis composed are thought of. thor he oF I, am mistaken. Correct. The Council has choven the Present. Correet- The military were called out. ‘8 Some Nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning, take a Plural Verb. Incorrect- Mathematics are a branch of study in Correci- Mathematics isa branch of study in every ‘every school. school, 9. Words joined to a Singular Subject by wih, rogether vith, n addition fo, on as well as, te. are parenthetical, and therefore do not affect the number of the Verb. Incorrect- The Chief, with all his men, were Correci-The chief, massacred. 10. When the Subject of the Verb is a Relative Pronoun care should be taken to see that the Verb agrees in ‘Number and Person with the Antecedent ofthe relative. Incorreet-I, who is your friend, Will guard your | Correct I, who am your fiend, will guard your imeress. interests. all his men, was massacred. B. USES OF PARTICIPLES AND INFINITIVES TL, Ask, advise, allow, command, foree, forbid, invite, encourage, compel, beg, order, imagine, instruct, permit, persuade, tell, require, remind, teach, ete. are followed by Object + To +V2 Tncorrect: He advised to do Wby me. Correct He advised me to do it Buti these are used in Passive Voice, then they are followed by To +V,, For example, Correct: She was permitted to go with him. 12, Know is followed by how? where/when/vhy and Infinitive,Incorrect: [know to waite a letier. Conect Tknow how to wate a er, 1B. Alter let, bid, behold, wateh, see, feel, make ete. we ‘use Bare-Infinitive and not To-afinitive. Incorreet- [heard him to speak on several subjects, Core. Pheard him speak on several subjests. ‘14. Bare Infinitive is used after Modal Auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, shal, should, will, would, must, dare not, need not). TIncorrect- You need not to work hard. Correct You need not work hard 15, Had better, had rather , had as soon .. as... had sooner etc. are followed by Bare Tnfinitive. Incorreet- He had better to go now. Corre: He had better go now. 16. Conjunetion than is also followed by Bare Infinitive. Incorrect- He had better read than to write. Correct: He had better read than write, 17, When but is used as a Preposition and preceded by. Bare Infinitive. ‘any form of the Verb do, then but i followed with Tncorrect- He did nothing but to wander. Conect He did nothing but wander 18, Every Partieipile must have a Subject of Reference. Incorrect: Being a rainy day Vijay decided fo slay at home. CGorrect= I being @ rainy day Vijay decided to say at home. 19. For completed action Having + Va i used in Active Voice, whereas Having + been + Va or Being + Vas used in Paseive Voice. Afler showld not be used in such a sentence. Tncorrect- After the leader having been Killed, the followers ran away. Comect The leader having been lilled, the Followers ran away. 20. Participles ike considering, judging, referring, con not take any Subject of Reference. cerning, regarding, viewing, broadly speaking ete. do Correct= Considering the ease, Ttook the decision. Hore Is nota Subject of Reference of considering. So, there is no Subject of Reference for ‘considering, stil the sentence is coerect. ‘CAUSES ( OF VERES 21, When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same Number, then we must have to use Separate Auniliares (sare, am, was, were, have, has) Tor both of them, Tncorrect- Three- Killed and one were injured. Correct: Three were Killed and one was injured. 22. A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjecis, only when the form of Verb is same Tor both the subjects. Tncorrect- [am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen. Correct: Tam seventeen years old and my sister B 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. * Tncorreet- He never has, and never will take such strong measures. Correct- He never has taken, and never will take suck strong measures, 24. When there is only one auxiliary to hwo principal Verbs W should be correctly associated with the both Tncorrect- 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 cause. Tncorrect- He succeeded because he works hard. Correct: He suceeeded because he worked hat 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. Tncorrect- Our (acher sald that the earth moved round the sun, Correct Our teacher said that the earth moves round the27. When the subordinate Gause comes after Test, the ‘Tense of the Verb in the main clause. ‘auxiliary Verb Should” umst be used, whatever be the Tncorreet- We start early lest we shall miss the tain. Correct: We start early let we should mise the tain 28. An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between ‘(o" and verbal part of, the infinitive. (This {s called the split infinitive). Incorrect- T hoped to immediately reply to your leer: Correct- Thoped to reply immediately to your ter 29. Am infinitive should be in the present tense unless Verb. it represents an action prior to that of the governing Incorrect- [should have liked to have gone-there. Correct: should have liked to go there. 30. Gerund if preceded by a Pronoun, that Pronoun must be in Possessive case. Incorrect - He emphasised me going there. Correct- He emphasised my going there. 31. The Present Perfect Continnons Tense is used Tor am aetion that began in the past time and sil. going at the time of speaking~It is used with, Adverbials of time introduced by ‘since’, for! and "how long-.. Tncorrect- How long are you working in this office? Correct- How long have you been working inthis office? 32. A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund. Tncorrect- They were punished for come late. Correct They were punished for, coming late. 38. The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and condition, Here the Present Indefinite Tense is used, Incorrect- [shall wait for you tll you will finish your work. Correct-T 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 ete. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used. incorrect Ihave bought a eyele yesterday. Correct hought a eyele yesterday, ‘The Past Perfoct Tense is used to represent the the two past actions. Incorrect- When I reached the station, the train already ret. Correct- When I reached the station, the train had aeady let. ‘35, Modal Auniliaries are not used together. Bul bwo A\ wailiaries can be connected by a Conjunction, Incorrect-He should must do it, Correct: He should and must doit 36. When need or dare is followed by not, it turns Infinitive ‘and we cannot use needs not or dares not. nto modal auxiliary. Tn that situation it takes Bare Incorrect: He needs not doit. Correct He need not doi. D. USES OF ADJECTIVES 37. Adjectives of quant ‘enough, all, no, any ‘show how much of a thing is meant. Adjectives of quantity (some; much, litle, great, half, sufficient, whole) are used for Uncountable Nuns only. Incorrect ate a few rice. ‘Correct Tate some rice 38. Numeral Adjectives are used for Countable Noun ‘meant or in what order a person or thing stands, ‘only and they show how many persons or things are Tncorreet- Thave taught you litle things. Gorrect= Thave taught you a Tew things 39. When cardinal and ordinal are used together ordinal precedes the cardinal Tncorreet. ‘The Tour first bow will be given the chance. Corracr The First Tour boys will e given the chance0. Later, latest refer to ime, latter and last refers to position, Tncorrect- Freached at 10 am. But he was later than [Correct 1 reached af 10 am. But he wa later than T Texpeeted. expected, “I. Farther means more distant or advanced; further means additional. Incorrect- He insisted on farther improvement. Correct He insisted on further improvement. “2. Each is used in speaking of two or more things every is used only in speaking of more than two, Incorrect- Every ofthe two boys will get a prize, | Correct- Fach ofthe two boys will get a prize, 4B. To express quantity or degree some is used in affirmative sentences, any in negative or interrogative sentences. Tncorrect- Have you bought some mangoes? Correct Have you bought any mangoes? ‘Hn comparing two things, the Comparative should be used; The Superlative should not be used. Tncorrect: Which i the best of the two? Correct” Which isthe better ofthe wo? <5. When ¢wo qualities ofthe same person or thing are compared, the Comparative isnot used. “More is used for this purpose. Tncorrect- He is wiser than brave. Conect- He is more wise than brave. 46. When comparison is made by means of a comparative, the thing compared should be excluded from the lass of things with which itis compared by using ‘other’ or some such word. Tincorrect- He ks leverer than any boy in the cass. | Correct He i cleverer than any oiler boy inthe cass “47. When comparison is made by means of a superlative, the thing com-pared should include the class of ‘things with which itis compared. Tncorrect- He fs the strongest of all other men. Correct He i the srongest of all men 48. When (wo persons or things are compared, it is important that the same parts of things should be ‘compared. Incorredt- The population of Bombay is greater than | Correct- The populition of Bombay i greater than that Delhi. of Deli. 49. Double comparatives and superlatives should not be used. 1 Incorrect- He is the most cleverest boy in the class. | > Incorrect He is more wiser than his brother. Correct: He is the eleverest hoy in the clas. Corret- He is wiser than his brother, ‘0. The comparative Adjectives superior inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior prefer, ete. should be followed by ‘to instead of than’. Tncorrect- He is senior than me. Conc He i senior to me. “BH. Adjectives like ‘unique’, ideal, perfect, complete, universal, entire, extreme, which do not admit different degrees of comparison should not be compared. Tull square and round, Tncorreet- Its the most unique thing, Conect Iss unique thing 32. All the Adjectives which refer to the same Noun should be in the same degree of comparison. Tncorrect- He is the wisest and honest worker in the | Correct He & tho wisest and most honest worker in the office. 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 bath persons and things. Tncorrect- He is my older brother. Comet: He i my elder brother. E. USES OF ADVERBS. ‘EA, To modify a Verb, an Adjective or another Adverb, we use an Adverb, incorrect. She writes very careful, Correct: She writes very carefully Carefully is an Adjective which Adverb very, therefore carefully (Adverb) must be usedin place of Adjective careful ‘55, Too means more than required and it is used with Unpleasant Adjective. So, we cannot use too glad, too |happy, too pleasant, too healthy. Tncorrect- Tam too glad to meet you. Correct- Tam very glad 19 meet you. ‘36. A sentence which is based on “Tuo .. To" format, ‘0 that {00 also must be replaced with cannot, ‘we cannot replace £9 with so thaf. If we replace with Tncorrect- He is too weak so that he cannot walk. Correci- He is too weak to walk. Correct- He is so weak that he cangot walk. ‘37. Much too is followed by Unpleasant Adjective, whereas too much is followed by Noun. ‘Much too + Unpleasant Adjective. ‘Too much + Noun. Tncorrect- His fallure Is too much painful for me. Incorrect- His wife's rude behavior gives him much 100 pain. Correct- His failure is much too painful for me. Correct- His wife's rude behavior gives him too auch P ‘38. Quite and all are not used together. Tncorrect- He fs quite all ight. Correct He i quite right or He fall 8 59. ATAn + Fairly + Adjective + [Noun or Rather +A + Adjective For example, (a fairly good book (i) rather a dificult problem, But we cannot use Pleasant Adjective with rather and Unpleasant Adjective with fairly. Tneorrect- I was a rather good book, Correct Te was a fly good book “0, Enough, when used as an Adverb, is preceded by a positive degree Adjective or Adverb, Tncorrect- He is greater enough to pardon you. Correct: He i great enough to pardon you.” ‘GF. Two negatives cancel each other, Hence two negatives should wot be used in the same sentence unless we make an aifirmation. ncorrect-I have not got none. (Correct: Lhave not got any. (2. At present” means fat the present time’, ‘presently” ‘means ‘shortly’. These should not be confused. T Incorrect- Nothing more can be done presently. Correct: Nothing more ean be done at present. 2. Incorrect” He will come Back at present ‘Conve He will come back presently. Hand’ means ‘diligently’, strenuously’, Hardly” means ‘scarcely at all. These two Adverbial fons of “hard! must not be confused. 1 Tncorrcet- He tried hardly to win the race. Correct: He tried hard to win the race, 2 Tncoreet- She bas eaten hard anything today ‘Correct: She has eaten hardly anything today. ‘64, "Much’ is used before past participles and Adjectives or Adverbs of comparative degree. ‘Very’ is used before the present participles and Adjectives and Adverbs of positive degree. Incorrect: The news is much surprising. Correct. The news is very surprising. 2. Tncorreet-T was very surprised a hearing the news, Comreet- I was much surprised at hearing the news. ‘Hardly is an Adverb which means rarely. Whereas ‘hard is an Adjective which means tough, rigidTncorrest- Ii a hardly job. Conect Ws a handjob. (66. Ago is always used with Past Indefinite Tense. So, Tago is used in a sentence, that sentence must be in the Past Indefinite Tense. Tncorrect- He has come a month ago. Correct He eame & month ago. 67. At present means at this moment and itis used with Present Tense, whereas presently and shorily are used for future’ action and generally’ used with Future Indefinite Tense. Incorrect- Presently he i in the room. Correct- At present be is in the room, (68. Farly means "just aller the beginning of anything” and soon means just aller a point of time. ‘Roses blossomed early this spring. @. The sentence which starts with seldom, never. hardly. rarely or scarcely takes wn Inverse structure, Le, Verb + Subject - Structure. Tncorreet- Seldom I had seen such a beautiful sight, | Correct- Sekiom had T seen such a beautiful Sight. 70. Juversion is also used in a sentence which starts with here/there/ away/out/uplindoor oF outdoor and Main ‘Verb, or Aux + Main Verb is used before the Subject. Incorreet- Away Sita went Correct- Away went Sita. FUSES OF CONJUNCTIONS: 7. Two Conjunetions should not be used in the same sentence. Incorredt- Although she was tired, but she still went |Conect Although she was tied, she sill weal om ‘on working. working 772. Both should be followed by ‘and’. It should be used in the positive sense. In the negative sense, ‘neither nor® should be used in place of "both Incorrect: Both Ravi as wall as Raja were present | Comic Both Ravi and Raja wore prosent there there. 7B. Either .. oF, ‘neither speech. ‘nor: ‘both und’, ‘not only but also’ should be followed by the same parts of | Tncorreet- He not only lost his ticket, but also his | Correct- He lost wot only his ticket but also his gga Iuguage. 74, "Neither" should be followed , by ‘nor’, ‘ether’ should be followed by ‘or’. Both these should not be confused. Tncorrect- He washed neither bis hands or his face. | Coneci- He washed neither his hands wor his fae, 75. "No sooner” should be folntowed by “han’, not by but” oF ‘then’. TIncorrect- No sooner do finish this book then Tshall | Corvec- No sooner do I finish the book, than T shall begin another. begin another. 76. ‘THardly" and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’ or ‘before’, but not by ‘than’ or ‘that’. Incorreet- Hardly did I reach the station, than the [Correct Hardly did Treach the Matton when the tran lot train left it. a 77. "That" should not be used before a sentence in Direct Speech and before Interrogative Adverbs and Pronouns in the Indirect Speech. Incorrect- He said that, "Tshall go there.” 2 Tncoreet- He asked me that who Twas, Corrects He said, "I shall go there". Conve He asked me who was, 6. USES OF PREPOSITION "78. Objective case (of Noun or Pronoun) i used after Preposition. Incorreet- Ido not depend on he. Correct- To not depend om him. 79. The Prepositions used after two words must be made dear if these two words are connected by and or oF Tncorrect- She is conscious and engaged in her work. | Correct She is conscious oF and engaged in her work,‘Wo, Wa Principal Verb is used after about, aller, at, before. for, from, in, on. to, that Verb must bein ing (V4) form. Tncorreet- You prevented me from do it Correct- You prevented me from doing ®. ‘31. On, in, af, are not used before today, tomorrow, yesterday, the folowing day, the next day ete. ncorreet- He will go there on to-morrow. Correct- He will o there tomorrow. ‘82 No Preposition is used before the word home. At home isa phrase which bears a different meaning. Incorreet- Bring a TV. set at home. Correct- Bring aT. set home. ‘3. After Transitive Verbs, like dis-euss, describe, reach, order, tell, demand, attack, resemble, ridicule, ete. ‘we directly use the object and no Preposition is used after the Verb. Tncorrect- The poet describes about the beauty of | Correct The poet deveribes the beauty of manure in this ‘nature i this poem. poem. ‘84, Say/sugzest/propose/speal reply /explain/all/listen/write is followed by to-Preposition if there isa person in the form of object. ‘T.ncorrect- He did not reply me. 2. Inconeet- He did aot write 10 a letter. Covrect- He did not reply to me, Coneet. He did not write a leer H. USES OF PRONOUNS: $5, When a Pronoun is used as the complement of the Verb ‘to be it should be inthe nominative ease. Incorreet- IFT were him, I would not do it. Correci- IFT were he, T would not doit ‘86. When the Pronoun is used as the object of a Verb or of a Preposition, it should be in the objective ease. TIncorrect- Let you and Tdo it. 2 Tncorveet- These proseats are for you and I Corrects Let you and me do it. Conrect- These preseats are for you and mie. ‘37. Emphatic Pronouns cannot stand alone as Subjects Incorrect- Himself did it Conect He himself did. ‘8. The Indefinite Pronoun ‘one’ should be used throughout if used at all. Tncorrect- One must not boast of his own success, | Correct- One must not boast of one's own success. {89 Either’ or ‘neither’ is used only in speaking of two persons or things; ‘any’, ‘no one’ and ‘none’ is used in speaking of more than two. 1 Incorreet- Anyone of these two roads leads to the [2 Incorrect Neither of these three boys did his railway station. homework. Correct- Either of these two roads leads to the | Correct. No one ofthese three boys did his homework. railway station, ‘90. "Fach other’ is used in speaking of two persons or things; ‘one an-other’ is used in speaking of more than two. Incorrect: The two brothers loved one another. Correct The two brothers loved each other. 91. A Noun or Pronoun governing a Gerund should be put in the possessive case. Tncorrect- Please excuse me being late. Correct Please exeuse my being late. 92. A Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender. Tncorrect- Each of these boys as done their | Cort Fach ofthese boys has done his homework homework. 98, When two or more Singular Nouns are joined by ‘and’, the Pronoun used for them must be in Plural. Incorrect Both Raju and Ravi have done is | Correct Both Raju and Raviave done ther homework. homework. 94. When two or more Singular Nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, a Pronoun used for ‘them must be in the singular. Tacorrect- The collector and District Magiirate & | Conc The collector and Divrict Magistrate & wot‘not negligent in their duty. ‘pepligent iw his duty. ‘95. When two or more singular nouns joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, ‘either .. or, ‘neither . nor the Pronoun used for them should be in the singular. Incorrect- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done their homework. “Correct” Neither Ravi nor Raju has done his homework, 96. When two or more singular Pronouns of different [persons come together, the Pronoun of second per-son singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the first person singular (1) comes last and the pronoun of the third person singular (he) comes in between. Incorrect I, You and he must work together “Correct” You, he and I must work together. 97. When two or more plural Pro-nouns of different first, then second person plural (you) and last ofall thi ‘persons come together first person plural (we) comes ird person plural (they). Incorrect- You, they and we must work together. “Correct” We, you and they must work together. ‘98. The Relative Pronoun who is in subjective ease, there must be a Finite Verb in the sentence. Or other ‘whereas whom is in objective ease. Therefore, for who -rwise, when whom (Object) is used in the sentence and ‘there is more Finite Verb’s than the number of Subjects in the sentence, then whom should be changed into ‘who (Subject). Incorrect- The doctor whom came here was Ram's brother. ‘Correct The doctor who came here was Rams brother, who. 99. With Superlative Degree Adjective, only, none, all efc., 5 Relative Pronoun we use that and not which or Tacorreet- All which glitters is not gold. ‘Correct All that gliters Wor goUd 100, After let, if Pronoun is used, that Pronoun must ‘be in the Objective Case. Tncorsedt- Let he go there. Correct Let him go there.