Rules of

grammar
1. When two subjects are joined by ‘and’, we use a plural verb and
pronoun.
Sita and Gita (are/is) two sisters.
She and her father (has/have) gone to their village.

Exceptions (a): if two subjects joined by ‘and’ denote the same person or
thing, the verb and the pronoun should be singular.
Rice and dal (is/are) my favourite dish. (both refer to the same dish.)
The actor and singer (has/have) come. (the same man is both actor and
singer)

Exceptions (b): when the subjects joined by ‘and’ express a single idea,
then the verb and the pronoun will be singular.
Slow and steady (win/wins) the race.
Time and tide (wait/waits) for none.
Bread and butter (is/are/has) not easy to earn.

Exceptions (C): when ‘each’ ‘every’ or ‘no’ is put before each noun joined
by ‘and’, then the pronoun and the verb should be singular.
Each man and each woman (get/gets) a chance.
No friend and no relative (visits/visit) the old man.

2. When two subjects are joined by ‘with’ ‘together with’ ‘as well as’,
including with, in addition to, along with- the verb agrees with the
subject preceding these. (এই কথা গুলির পূ র্বর্র্বী subject অনু যায়ী হবর্ )

Ram as well as his friends (is/are) expected.

I, with my brother, (am/is/has) to go to market.
They, with/together with their cousins, (was/were) invited.
The moon as well as the Venus (is/are) visible in the night sky.

3. Singular subjects joined by ‘or’ ‘either-or’ ‘neither-nor’ ‘not only-but

also’, take singular verbs and pronouns.

Ram or shyam (has/have) to go there.

Either he or his brother (is/are) welcome.
Neither Ruchi nor her mother (cook/cooks) well.
Exceptions (a): if one subject is singular and the other is plural, then use
the verb for the subject nearest to the verb.
Either he or they (is/are/have) performing tonight.
Either they girls or he (is/are/has) performing tonight.
Neither the teacher nor the students (is/are/was) coming.
Neither the students nor the teacher (is/are/were) coming.
Not only he but also his brothers (was/are/have) invited.
Not only his brothers but also he (is/are) invited.
Neither the colour nor the size of the clothes (suit/suits) me.

Exceptions (b) : neither of/ either of, followed by plural nouns takes
singular verb.
Neither of them (speaks/speak) a foreign language.
Either of these mangoes (is/are) correct.

4. For uncountable noun, use singular verb.

Money (do/does) not buy happiness.
Honesty (is/has) the best policy.
You hair (looks/look/are looking) beautiful.
The water (are/is) cold.
The air (are/is) is fresh.
The grass (is/are/have) green.

5. When collective number is meant, the noun, though plural in form, has
a singular verb.
Fifty rupees (is/are) good for me.
Three miles (is/are/has) not a long distance.

6. A collective noun takes a singular verb when things or persons are

taken collectively.
The class (are/is) large.
The committee (meet/meets) here.
The crowd (was/were/have been) cheering.
The jury (has/have) decided this.
The team (was/were/have) given a standing ovation.
The team (has/have/were) won the match.
But, a collective noun takes a plural verb when they are taken
separately.
The audience (is/are/have been) requested to take their seats.
The jury (have/has) disagreed in this matter.
The team (agrees/agree) among themselves.
The team (were/was/has) given medals for winning the cup.

7. A singular collective noun followed by ‘of’ and a plural noun is used as

a unit and takes singular verb.
A group of people (was/were) helping.
A bunch of keys (is/are)kept in the drawer.
A crowd of students (wants/want/are wanting) to meet the president.

8. If the sentence starts with ‘there’ or ‘here’ then singular verb for
singular subject and plural for plural subject.
There (is/are) no vacancy in the company.
There (is/are) many students waiting outside.
There (are/are/has) many stars in the sky.

9. The common noun following ‘one of the’ should be in the plural

number.
One of the (boys/boy)
One of the (animal/animals)
One of the (city/cities)

10. ‘one of’ or ‘one preposition’ followed by a plural noun/pronoun, takes

singular verb.
One of the boys is brave.
One of the cities is big. One in ten boys is guilty.
{preposition- Of, in, on, at, by, with, for, from, about, between, above,
below, before, after}

But the subject followed by a preposition decides the verb.

The colours of the rainbow are splendid.
The man in the group (are/is) tall.
The men in the group (is/are) tall.
The rivers of the country (is/are) big.
The river of the country (is/are) big.
11. Relative clause
The antecedent of ‘who’ and ‘that’ decides the verb.

He is the man who (is/are) responsible for the crime.

It is one of the buildings that (are/was) in danger.
I have read those books which (are/is/was) funny.
The pandemic that (have/has/are) started last year…
The man who (lives/live/are living) near my house is my friend.

12. When an infinitive, a Gerund, a clause or phrase is the subject then

the verb is singular.
Reading is my hobby.
To read is my hobby.
The reading of books (are/is) necessary.
That he is ill is known to all.
What he says (are/is) not important.

When they are joined by ‘and’, then use plural verb.

Reading and writing are my strongest skills.
To swim and to run (is/are) great exercises.

13. Position of nouns and pronouns of different singular persons in the

same sentence- 231 (second person, third person, first person)
You, Ram, I have been waiting for the sunrise.
He, you and I are working on this project. (correction)
She, You, and I have finished dinner. (correction)
I, Raju and you are happy. (correction)

But in confessing faults, crimes, the order should be 123

I, you and he are breaking the glass.
I, she and you have stolen the purse. (correction)
You, I and she have done it wrongly. (correction)

Position of nouns and pronouns of different plural persons in the same

sentence- 123 (first person, second person, third person)
We, they and the girls were waiting for the superstar to come.
Our, your and their ancestors have strongly recommended hospitality.
14. Singular Indefinite pronouns take singular verb.
Everybody (is/are/were) excited.
Everyday (is/was) a new day.
Everything (was/were) great.
Nothing (is/are/has been) going on here.

Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.

Both are my brothers.
Few (know/knows) about the accident.
Several (is/are) injured in the accident.

15. Some indefinite pronouns take both singular and plural verbs
depending on their sense.

All is well. (uncountable)

All (has/have) signed on the petition. (countable)
There (is/are) some water in the bottle. (uncountable)
There (is/are) some flowers in the vase. (countable)

16. Half of, heaps of, lots of, a lot of, 2/3 of, ¾ of, most of + some of +
percentage of + singular noun = singular verb/
plural noun = plural verb

Half of our work (is/are) done.

Half of the apples (is/are/was) bad.
One-third of people (is/are) killed.
One third of the city (is/are) smashed.
25% of the house (are/is/have) burnt.

17. Nothing/no one/everything/everyone + but – singular verb

Nothing but the storm has done the destruction.

Nothing but the birds (was/were) flying in the sky.
Nobody but my friends (has/have) surprised me.
Everything but our hard (works/work) matters.
No one but our enemy (know/knows) our weakness.
18. Many/a great many/a good many + plural countable noun = plural
verb
Many + a/an + singular noun = singular verb
Much + uncountable noun = singular verb

Much water is required to water the plants.

Many girls (is/are) working nowadays.
A great many boys (has/have) become efficient in coding.
Many a student (have/has) passed in the exam.

19. A number of/ a large number of + pl. count. noun = plural verb
The number of + pl. count. Noun = singular verb
A great deal of/ a good deal of + uncountable Noun = singular verb

A great deal of money is needed.

A number of students (has/have) joined the academy.
A number of work (have/has) been completed.
The number of crimes (has/were) increased in India.

20. Words like ‘police, cattle, poultry, gentry, folk, infantry, people,
aristocracy, vermin, clergy, nobility, cavalry etc’ + plural verb

The people are gathering in the room.

The police are investigating the case.
Cattle (was/are) grazing in the field.
The old folk (has/have) gone.

21. The nouns such as ‘mathematics, physics, economics, politics,

linguistics, ethics, chess, billiards, snookers, diabetes, measles, rabies, piles,
‘the Arabian Nights’, ‘The Gulliver’s Travels’, Gallows, whereabouts, news +
singular verb

Mathematics (are/is/has) my favourite subject.

Diabetes (are/is/was) a dangerous disease.
The Arabian Nights (are/is) an interesting books
22. Nouns like ‘Advice, poetry, alphabet, luggage, gold, baggage, hair,
furniture, work, happiness, ice, money, food, information, scenery,
expenditure, machinery’ + singular verb

He writes good (poetries/poetry).

The information (is/are) very confidential.
The (scenery/sceneries) of Kashmir (is/are) beautiful.
The expenditure of this month has increased.

23. speed, distance, weight, height, amount when used as a whole –

singular verb/ when used as different units – plural verb

Three miles is a great distance.

Five miles (need/needs) to be covered partly by car and rest by rail.
Five weeks (are/is/were) left for the exam.
Ten thousand rupees (is/are) a handsome salary.
30kmps (have/is) an average speed.

24. Singular noun+ preposition+ singular noun

Door to door , Hour after hour, Page after page
Word for word, Post to post, Day by day
Attempt after attempt

25. Compound words

Governors-general, Passers-by, Fathers-in-law, Mothers-in-law,
Commander-in-chief- ______, on-looker- ______, Runner–up - ______,
Waterfall- ______ /pitfall- _____ / Mouthful - _______,
handful- ________ / Spoonful- _______ / man-hater- _________,
Armchair- _______ /bookcase- ________,
Pickpocket- ________, maid-servant - ______, step-daughter - _____, book
fair - _____, member of parliament - ________, chief-minister - _____,
landlord -______, girl-student - _____, woman athlete - _______, man-
servant - ______, bed-room - _____, book-shelf- _____, man-of-war - ____,
haves and have not - ________, whereabouts, summons- _______
26. Foreign plurals
singular plural
appendix appendices
Analysis analyses
Crisis _______
Basis ________
Oasis- ________ hypothesis- ________
Agendum- agenda medium- ________
Memorandum- ____________ radius- radii
Focus- ________ formula- ________
Vertex- vertices phenomenon- _________
Criterion- _________ stratum- strata, datum- _______
Summons- have and have not-
27. Singular in form, singular in sense
Advice, poetry, alphabet, luggage, gold, baggage, hair, furniture, work,
happiness, ice, money, food, information, scenery, machinery

A piece of information/news (to make it plural)

Two pieces of news
Some furniture
He has sold all the furniture/luggage.
I like those scenery.
The scenery of Kashmir is beautiful.

28. Plural in form, singular in sense

Subject- mathematics, physics, economics, politics, linguistics, ethics
Games- chess, billiards, snookers
Disease- diabetes, measles, rabies, piles
Title of books- the Arabian Nights, The Gulliver’s Travels
Gallows,, whereabouts, news
Mathematics is my favourite subject.
The mathematics (all the concepts) are very complex.
His mathematics (concepts) are good.
Diabetes (is/are) a dangerous disease.
The Arabian Nights (is/are) an interesting books.
29. Plural in sense and in form
Dress- pants, pyjamas, trousers, jeans, shorts, underpants, briefs, boxers
Tools- binoculars, goggles, sunglasses, scissors, shades, glasses, spectacles
alms, amends, deer, ashes, assets, thanks,
A pair of pants (to make it singular)
Two pairs of pants.
He wants to buy (trouser/trousers).
Your goggles (is/are) new.

30. Singular in form, plural in function

Cattle, cavalry, gentry, poultry, people, folk, police, aristocracy, infantry,
vermin
The cattle (is/are) roaming around.
The cavalry are helping their king.
The police (has/have) caught the thief.

31. Nouns which have same form in both singular and plural numbers.
Aircraft, cannon, deer, innings, fish, sheep, jury, counsel, public, species,
salmon.
Hair is singular when used in collective sense but plural when number is
meant
She has beautiful hair. I found two grey hairs on his coat.

32. Hundred, thousand, lac, million, dozen, score এর পবর যখন সংখযা র্বস
র্খন plural হয় না।
One hundred boys. Five hundred men, two dozen eggs. Several hundred
boxes, a few hundred eggs.

লকন্তু এবের সাবথ যখন সংখযা না র্বস some, many র্বস র্া অবনক পলরমাবে বর্াঝায়
র্খন plural হয়.
Many dozens, hundreds of people, dozens of eggs, thousands of ants,
many thousands etc.

33. subject case- subject

Object case can not be the subject of a sentence.

You and I are friends.

It was (he/him) who helped me.
It was (I/me) who arranged for the meeting.
34. subjective case after the be verb (am, is, are, was, were, be, been,
being)
Nobody likes to be (him/he).
Who is there? It is (I/me)
Was it he? Yes, it was (him/he)
It was me/I who saved you.
Was it her/she who did this work?
I thought it was him/he.

35. any pronoun following ‘Between’ must be in objective case.

Between you and me, Between Sunil and me.
Between you and him,

but’ when used as a preposition is followed by a objective case pronoun.

None but (he/him) passed the test.
Nobody was present there but (I/me).
Nobody knows him better than (I/me).

‘let’ is followed by objective case pronoun

Let us go. Let (him and me/he and I) do the work. Let (I/me) say.

36. pronouns following ‘than’ and ‘as’ has to be determined by mentally

supplying the verb.
He is more intelligent than I (am).
He is taller than I (am).
He is not as strong as you. (are)
I don’t have more money than he (has.)
His height is more than mine.

37. if three or more than one plural pronoun are used together in a
sentence then the order will be 123. verb-plural

You, we and they are studying. (correction)

They, we and you have gone to market. (correction)
We, you and they are having lunch.
We, they and you are attending the programme. (correction)
38. possessive case and more than one pronoun
1. ‘I’ – our
2. You, but no ‘I’- your
3. No ‘I’ and ‘You’- their
You, he and I have done (your/our/their) work.
She and you must work on (our/your) project.
She and they should finish (her/their/your) homework.
He and she should attend (their/your/our) class.

39. Certain verbs- (absent, present, enjoy, disguise, hurt, introduce, avail,
reconcile, exert, adjust ) take reflexive pronoun when doer and receiver
is the same.
We enjoy (ourself/ourselves) at the wedding.
We enjoy ourselves at the wedding.
He avails (himself/herself) of the opportunity.
She disguises (himself/herself) as a boy.
I introduced (myself/ourselves) before the board.
The workers exert (themselves/themselves) to complete the project.
She absented (herself/myself) from the meeting.

40. Adjectives expressing shape, materials, time, highest or lowest degree

can not be compared. They are in superlative degree.
Round, square, golden, perfect, extreme, eternal, chief, Almighty, infinite,
complete, supreme, universal, dead, empty, absolute, whole, ideal,
impossible, total, unique, etc.

This is the most unique animal that I have ever seen.

Happiness is the idealest aim of life.

How can divided India become the most supreme power?

41. Adjectives ending with ‘ior’ are followed by ‘to’
Inferior, superior, junior, senior, prior, exterior, posterior, prefer,
preferable
He is inferior to me in strength. She is superior to you.
He is two years more senior to me in college.
Coffee is more preferable to tea.
He reached the Parliament prior to the speaker.

42. The pronoun at the end of a sentence in positive degree must be in

subjective case.
My brother is as naughty as (me/I)
She is as strong as (him/he).

43. When selection is implied, the comparative is preceded by ‘the’ and

followed by ‘of’.
Ram is the taller of the two.
She is the (smarter/smartest/smart) of the two sisters.
Kabita is the (wiser/wise/wisest) of the two girls.

44. When selection is implied, the former, latter, upper, inner, outer,
elder take ‘of’
I want the former of the two.
He got the upper hand.
I am the member of the upper of the two chambers.

45. Comparison must be done in equal objects.

Ram’s house is better than Shyam. (incorrect)
Ram’s house is better than that of Shyam.
Ram’s house is better than Shyam’s house/shyam’s. (understood)

46. Double comparative or superlatives should not be used.

I am more happier than he. (I am happier than he)
I am much better today. (I am better today.)

47. Adjectives of different degrees can not be joined by and.

He is the strongest and very tall boy in the class. (incorrect)
48. If two different qualities of a same person are compared then ‘more +
positive degree’ is used.
He is stronger than brave. (incorrect)
He is more strong than brave.

49. parallel increase/decrease

If two comparisons are used in the same sentence to emphasis on a
certain idea, both of them should be followed by ‘the’.

The higher you go, the cooler it gets.

The better you eat, healthier you get. (incorrect)
The old I get, the happy I am. (incorrect)
The more I study, the less I learn.

Interchange of degrees of comparison

 50. 1st type – Positive degree টা positive sentence হবি, comparative

degree টা negative sentence হবর্।

1. Positive – He is as ferocious as a tiger.

Comparative – A tiger is not more ferocious than he.

2. Positive – Darjeeling is as cold as Shimla.

Comparative –

3. Positive – He is as good as his brother.

Comparative –

 51. 2nd type - Positive degree টা negative sentence হবি, comparative

degree টা positive sentence হবর্।

4. Positive – Raghu is not so tall as Sagar.

Comparative – Sagar is taller than Raghu. Or
Comparative - Raghu is less tall than Sagar.

5. Positive – He cannot run so fast as I.

Comparative – I can run faster than he. Or
Comparative – He can run less fast than I.
6. Positive – Wealth is not as valuable as health.
Comparative-
Comparative-

 52. 3rd type

7. Superlative - He is the best boy in the class.
Positive – No other boy in the class is as good as he.
Comparative – He is better than (any other boy/all other boys) in the
class.

 53. 4th type

8. Superlative - He is one of the best boys in the class.
Positive – Very few boys in the class are as good as he.
Comparative – He is better than most other boys in the class.

9. Superlative – The cow is the most useful animal.

Positive –
Comparative –

10. Superlative – Today is one of the most important days in my life.

Positive –
Comparative –

54. Verbs followed by a gerund

Avoid, admit, can’t help, enjoy, resent, stop, start, postpone, defer, worth,
prefer, consider, practice, finish, risk, pardon, excuse, forgive, propose,
imagine, regret, love, like, hate, dislike, mind, suggest, deny, postpone.

He avoid to talk to me. (talking)

I can’t help to laugh. (laughing)
I enjoy to read. (reading)
I don’t mind to wait. (waiting)
He suggested to go to the party. (going)
One can’t stop to learn new things. (learning)
I don’t practice to speak English. (speaking)
55. Preposition + gerund
Refrain from, prevent from, prohibit from, dissuade from, abstain from,
intent on, keen on, insist on, persist in, succeed in, interested in, fond of,
take pleasure in etc

I am fond of gossiping.
He was prevented to play games on mobile phone. (correction)

The authority prohibited the people to entering the office. (correction)

She is keen on take guitar lessons. (correction)

You should not dissuade your friend to study. (correction)

56. To + gerund
Be used to, accustomed to, addicted to, devoted to, in addition to, look
forward to, given to, prone to etc.

He is addicted to (smoke/smoking) heavily.

I look forward to (see/seeing) you again very soon.

57. The noun/pronoun before a gerund should be in the possessive case,

participle থাকবি objective case হবর্।
I don’t like his wasting time.
My father appreciates (my/mine) working hard.
He saw (we/us) parking the car. (participle)
You should not mind (she/her) coming late.
I saw (he/him/his) leaving the house. (participle)
I insisted him to go there.
I insisted on (his/he/him) going there

58. The words ‘comparatively’ and ‘relatively’ take adjectives of positive

degree.
The weather is comparatively hot.

59. twice, two times + as + positive degree +as

He is twice as tall as his brother.
He is two times as tall as his brother.
He is as smart as his brother.
60. The verb should be according to main subject.
The box of chocolates is/are tempting.
The boys of the school is/are very naughty.
The decoration of the rooms is/are beautiful.

61. Type zero Conditional sentences

The facts that are Generally true
যলে এ রকম হয়, র্াহবি বস রকম হবর্।
If/when + present simple + main clause (simple present)
When you heat ice, it melts.
If you heat ice, it melts.
If you eat too much, you get fat.
If it rains, the grass gets wet.
If you touch a fire, you get burnt.
If you don’t water the plants, they die.
If you freeze the water, it turns into ice.
62. Conditional sentences Type 1
Real and possible condition and its probable result.
যলে এটা হয়/কর র্াহবি এটা হবর্/হবর্ পাবর।
If + simple present + simple future(will/may/might/could+ V1)

If I have enough money, I will buy a car.

If I go to market, I will buy what you want.
If he calls you, you should go.
If it rains, you will get wet.
You will miss the bus if you don’t hurry.
I (will/would) go with you tomorrow if I am not busy.
If you (drop/drops) the glass, it (will/would) break.
If you don’t come to the party, I might not talk to you.
I may finish the work if I (had/have) time.
63. Conditional sentences Type 2
যলে এটা হর্ র্াহবি ওটা হর্।
Hypothetical condition but not impossible to happen. (কাল্পলনক লকন্তু অসম্ভর্
নয়)
If + past simple + would/could (main clause)
If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
If I (was/am/were) an adult, I (will/would) travel alone.
If I (understand/understood/am understanding) what the teacher said, I
(can/could) tell you.
If I (am/was/were) you, I would go home now.
If I (had won/won/win) a lottery, I could (buy/bought) a big house.
We could go to the cinema if you (give/gave) us the tickets.
If you (studied/had studied) hard, you would pass the exam.

64. Conditional sentences Type 3

Hypothetical condition which is not possible at all.
যলে এটা হর্ র্াহবি এটা হবর্ পারর্। (regret, criticism)
If + past perfect + (would have/could have/might have +V3)

If he had (studying/study/studied) well, he (would have passed/would

pass) the exam.
If you (had asked/asked) her, she would have helped you.
If I had known about the delay, I could have (change/changed) my plan.
If you hadn’t lied, you (wouldn’t/couldn’t) have ended up in prison.
If you (had got up/got up/would get up) earlier, you would have caught
the earlier train.
If I had not been ill, I would (have gone/has gone/went) there.
If I had (have/had) money then, I would have helped him.

Type zero Conditional sentences

The facts that are Generally true
If/when + present simple + main clause (simple present)
If it rains, the roads get wet.
Conditional sentences Type 1
Real and possible condition and its probable result.
If + simple present + will/may/might/could+ V1
If you ask for help, I will help you.

Conditional sentences Type 2

Hypothetical condition but not impossible to happen.
If + past simple + would/could (main clause)
If he went to market, he would buy ice-cream.

Conditional sentences Type 3

Hypothetical condition which is not possible at all.
If + past perfect + (would have/could have/might have +V3)
If he had studied well, he would have become a doctor.
 65. Question Tags

Question tags are short phrases added to sentences, statements asking for
agreement or confirmation.
• In affirmative sentence, the question tag will be negative.
Raghu is a good boy, isn’t he?
• In negative sentence, the question tag will be affirmative.
Sonia is not a tall girl, is she?

• The subject of the question tag must be a pronoun. (not noun)

• Question tag is formed by repeating the auxiliary verb.

 If there is no auxiliary, then it is formed by the use of do, does, did,

don’t, doesn’t, didn’t etc
He speaks English well, doesn’t he?
You go to the party, ______?
They went to Bombay, ________ ?
 If there are two auxiliaries, only the first one is used.
You should have done this, shouldn’t you?
The girl has been crying since morning, ______?

 যলে main clause এর subject, Everyone, everybody হয়, র্বর্ question

tag এর subject হবর্ ‘they’.
Everybody was present in the meeting, weren’t they?
Everyone laughed, ______?
Everybody is running, ______?
Everyone doesn’t appreciate this, ______?

 যলে main clause এর subject, everything হয়, র্বর্ question tag এর

subject হবর্ ‘it’.
Everything looked beautiful, didn’t it?
Everything has gone wrong, ______ ?

 The tag for imperative sentences usually start with ‘will’. For positive
request or command, the tag can be either positive or negative. But
for negative request or command, the tag can be positive.
Close the door, will you?
Close the door, won’t you?
Write down your name, _______ ?
Write down your name, ______?
Don’t go there, _______ ?

 Sentence with No (adj), None, no one, nothing, hardly, barely,

scarcely, seldom, nowhere এর বেবে positive tag র্সবর্।
No book is allowed, is it?
Nothing was said, was it?
He hardly smokes, ______?
You met no one there, _______?

 When anybody, anyone, no one, nobody, none, neither র্াবকয subject

লহসাবর্ র্বস র্খন question tag টা ‘they’ হবর্।
Anyone can cross the river, can’t they?
None came to his help, ______ ?
Neither of them appeared, _______ ?

 When ‘Let’ means suggestion, the question tag begins with ‘shall’
Let’s go there, shall we?
When ‘Let’ means permission, the question tag begins with ‘will’
Let them play here, will you?

 যলে Main clause শুরু হয় ‘there’ লেবয়, র্াহবি the question tag এর
subject হবর্ ‘there’
There is some milk in the pot, isn’t there?
There are four girls in the class, aren’t there?

 A যলে Main clause শুরু হয় this লেবয়, র্াহবি the question tag এর
subject হবর্ ‘it’, ‘these/those’ থাকবি ‘they’ হবর্।
This is a big house, isn’t it?
These are toys, aren’t they?
 66. Correlatives
Correlatives are pairs of words that are regularly used together.
শব্দযুগি সর্বো একে র্যর্হৃর্ হয়
Example-
Both-and; either-or; neither-nor;
not only-but also; so-that; as-so; so-as;
such-as; the same-as; no sooner-than; hardly-when;
scarcely-before/when; other-than/besides; else-than/but;
Lest-should; whether-or; though-yet

Both-and (উভয় বর্াঝায়)

1. Both his brother and he are good boys.
2. He is both rich and powerful.
3. I will have both chocolate and pudding.

4. I did this for you. I did this for your brother. (join into a single
sentence)

5. He went to my place. His father went to my place. (join into a single

sentence)

6. He likes to play guitar. He likes to play tabla also. (join into a single
sentence)

Either-or (েুবটার মবযয বযবকান একটা / Neither-nor (েুবটার মবযয বকানটাই নয়)
Singular subjects joined by ‘or’ ‘either-or’ ‘neither-nor’ ‘not only-but also’,
take singular verbs and pronouns.
Either he or his brother (is/are) welcome.
Neither Ruchi nor her mother (cook/cooks) well.
Either you take it or leave it.
One should neither steal nor take anything forcefully.
We can neither watch a movie nor play a game because of power cut.

Exceptions (a): if one subject is singular and the other is plural, then use
the verb for the subject nearest to the verb.
Either he or they (is/are) performing tonight.
Either my friends or my father (has/have) arranged everything for me.
Neither the teacher nor the students (is/are) coming.
Neither the students nor the teacher (is/are) coming.
Not only - but also (েুবটা লিলনস, শুযু এটা নয় …ওটাও )
1. He is not only a good actor but also a good director.
2. Not only his brothers but also he (is/are) invited.
3. He visited not only his parents but also his grannys.
4. He is not only poor but also lazy.
5. My uncle visited the Jantar Mantar. He also visited the Qutub Minar.
My uncle visited not only the Jantar Mantar but also the Qutub Minar.

6. I made a chair and sold it also.

7. He was wealthy. He was also healthy.

Though – yet (লর্পরীর্ যমবী র্থয)

1. He was tired. He went to the market.
Though he was tired yet he went to the market.

2. He is poor. He is honest. (join into a single sentence)

3. she is intelligent. she could not solve the problem. (join into a single
sentence)

So-that (বসই িনয)

1. He is too angry to speak. (make it complex)
He is so angry that he cannot speak.

2. The boy is too small to reach the shelf. (make it complex)

3. The old man was too weak to walk. (make it complex)

No sooner – than (প্রথম ঘটনার লিক পবরই লির্ীয় ঘটনা লট ঘবটবে)

1. No sooner had he reached the station than the train left.
2. No sooner did he reach the station than the train left.
3. No sooner he saw the snake than he jumped out. (correction)

4. No sooner had they reach home than the rain started. (correction)

5. No sooner had the girl booked an Uber when her father called.
(correction)
Hardly-when
Hardly was he gone when the party broke up.
Hardly had he left the house (than/when) it began to rain.
Hardly had he finished eating (than/before/when) he started feeling
asleep.

Scarcely – before /when

1. Scarcely had he left the house when/before it began to rain.
2. He was scarcely gone before/when we reached the place.

Lest-should (অনযথায়)
Get the vaccine lest you should fall sick.
Drink sufficient water lest you (would/should) feel dehydrated.
You study hard lest you (should/should not/would) fail.

60. Past incident with time– simple past tense

Past incident without time – present perfect tense.
He watched the movie yesterday. (simple past tense)
He has watched the movie. (present perfect tense)
I (have taken/took) my lunch.
I (took/have taken) my lunch an hour ago.

61. With expressions such as ‘it’s time’, ‘it’s high time’, ‘it’s about time’
simple past is used .
It’s time he (go/goes/went) to school.
It’s high time the government (takes/took) initiatives.

62. With ‘I wish, as if, as though’ + simple past. (desire, unfulfilled wish)
I wish I were a bird.
If he (was/were) the prime minister of India.
He behaves as if he (knew/had known) everything.

63. pronouns like somebody, someone, something etc are followed by

else’s.
Somebody else’s purse has been stolen.
Nobody else’s book was found out.
64. When there are two or more separate nouns joined by and, (‘s) is
added to the last if joint possession is meant. If separate possession is
meant, (‘s) is added to each noun.
I went to Ram and Sita’s house and found the couple missing.
Dutta’s and Ghose’s firms (two different firms)

65. One and a half hours were passed.

An hour and a half
Two and a half kilometers
Two kilometers and a half.
A year and a half was wasted.

66. Cousin sister/brother হবর্ না।

He is my cousin. She is my cousin.
But, I went to the temple with my cousin sister (correct)

67. Modal verbs + v1

He will buy a new book.
We should be honest.
The conference will (start/started) a celebration.

68. Had better + v1

He had better go to school.

69. make/made, bid/bade, see/saw, hear/heard, let, but, than, except,

would rather, sooner than + bare infinite (without to)
I bade him do the work.
I ordered him to do the work.
But in passive voice, ‘let, bid/bade, make, help, see, feel, watch’ are used
with infinitive.
I was bade to do the work.
I was made to do the work.

Only ‘Let’ takes bare infinitive both in active and passive tense.
She let me go.
I was let go by her.
70. Verbs (feel, hear, listen to, look at, notice, observe, perceive, see,
smell, watch, catch, find, get, imagine, keep, leave, set, have) এর সবে
noun or pronoun এর পবর present participle র্বস।
I can smell something burning.
I saw the old man (to cross/crossing) the road.
Listen to the girl (sing/singing).
They tried to keep the ball (to roll/rolling).
He caught the boy (steal/stealing/to steal) money.
I could feel her pulse (beat/to beat/beating) very fast.

71. appoint, call, choose, elect, entitle, find, leave, make, name, nominate-
এই verb গুবিার পবর একলট direct object র্বস এর্ং র্ার পবর predicative adjunct
(noun/noun clause) র্বস।
They elected him secretary.
They named the building ‘The Shelter’.
He entitled the book ‘Three Mistakes of my Life.’

72. The noun+ and + noun = singular subject = singular verb

The + noun + and + the + noun = plural subject = plural verb
The assistant and manager has worked hard. (same person)
The assistant and the manager have worked hard. (different persons)
The black and white cow (is/are) grazing.
The black and the white cow (is/are) grazing.

73. Two separate prepositions should be used after two different verbs.
1. He has come and will return to Japan. (incorrect)
He has come from and will return to Japan. (correct)

2. They have listen and laugh at the clown. (correction)

74. habit, custom, practice, repeated action, general truth – simple

present tense. The ideas are expressed by ‘often, seldom, usually, never,
occasionally, sometimes, generally, always, daily’
The man (go/went/goes) for a walk in the morning.
He always (spoke/speaks) the truth.
She plays cards every afternoon.
Apples (get/gets/got) ripe in autumn.
75. Stative verbs – see, taste, smell, hear, prefer, think, know, means,
mind, own, have, belong, comprise, contain, believe, like, love, want, wish,
desire, hate, look, seem, appear, resemble, require, stand, face, become –
sometimes take simple present tense instead of present continuous tense.

He owns a car.
Would you mind if I borrow your phone?
The rose smells sweet.
He lives in Kolkata.
I don’t hate him.
I don’t mean this.
The book contains good examples.
It belongs to him.
I have no house to live in.

76. ever, just, recently, already, yet, till, so far, lately, before, after, by the
time- present/past perfect tense
I have just seen him.
I have already had my breakfast.
I had finished the book before he came.

77. অর্ীবর্ ঘবট যাওয়া েুবটা ঘটনার মবযয বয কািটা আবগ ঘবটবে র্ার িনয past
perfect tense এর্ং বয কািটা পবর ঘবটবে র্ার িনয simple past tense র্যর্হার করা
হয়।
The patient had died before the doctor came.
The train had left the station before we reached.
They finished their shopping before the rain had started. (correction)

The thief had stolen the watch before the man had slept. (correction)

78. Perfect tense and perfect continuous tense- ‘for’ is used for a period
of time from the past to present; ‘since’ is used for a particular point of
time.
She has known me (for/since) 2004.
The child has been crying (for/since) two hours.
How long have you been waiting (since/for) the train?
I have been earning my pocket money (for/since) I left school.
79. Misrelated participle
a. Expand the participle into a clause.
b. Bring the proper subject immediately after the participle by changing
voice.
c. Place the proper subject before the participle (only before ‘being’ and
‘having’)

i) Being cloudy, we enjoyed picnic. (incorrect)

It, being cloudy, we enjoyed picnic. (correct)
As it was cloudy, we enjoyed picnic. (correct)

ii) Having taken food, my father sent me to market. (incorrect)

iii) Walking along the road, a car knocked him down. (incorrect)

80. A single auxiliary may serve two principal verbs.

I have lost him but got you. (have got)
Some were saved and some killed. (were killed)

Two auxiliary verbs are used when one subject is singular and the other
is plural.
Ten people were killed and one was badly injured in this accident.
One was appointed and three were rejected.

Two auxiliaries may be used with one principal verb.

I never have, nor ever will hurt anybody.
I did not, and will not, go there.

I never have, nor ever will go there. (incorrect)

I have never gone there nor will ever go. (correct)

they have and will help the poor. (incorrect)

She was and will sing for the rest of the evening. (incorrect)
81. Each other – two persons/things
One another – for more than two
The two girls were fighting with (each other/one another).
All the students were talking to (each other/one another).
He was so petrified that his teeth started to grind with (one other/one
another).
he was so afraid that his knees knocked against (each another/each
other).

82. Who – subjective case (I, we, he, she, they-বয )

Whom – objective case (me, us, him, her, them – যাবক)
Rabindranath Tagore (who/whom) is a great poet, won the Nobel prize.
I met the person (who/whom) was your brother.
The man (who/whom) lives in Kolkata, has seen Victoria Memorial Hall.
The person to (who/whom) I met was my old friend. (objective case after
preposition)
By (who/whom) was the work done?
The person (who/whom) I met yesterday is my friend.
This is the girl (who/whom) he will marry.
I have a daughter who/whom I love very much.
He is the person (who/whom) everyone thought, has stolen the purse.
He met a girl (who/whom) he thought to be his future life partner.
I helped the man (who/whom) I thought to be a magician.
I know the boy (who/whom) they say is perfect for the role.
Who + verb (he is the man who helped me)
Whom + clause (he is the man whom I met)

83. which/that
Which is used for non-living things and animals (non-domestic)
That is used for people, animals and things.
The smartphone which has made our life easier has now become a part
and parcel of our life.
The cat that my friend bought is very shy.

All, any, the only, the same, none, much, no, the little, something,
anything, nothing and superlative degrees are followed by ‘THAT’ only.
This is the best which I can do for you. (incorrect)

You are not the same person whom I loved once. (incorrect)
I like Anything which gives me happiness. (incorrect)

84. Possessive adjectives

He has done (his/him) homework.
Everyone should take care of (his/one’s) health.
He will do his laundry (him/himself).
One must keep (his/one’s) promise. (one is pronoun. It means everybody)
The children as well as their parents did (his/their) work.
He was one of the boys who finished (his/their) project on time.
Either Nayan or his friends submitted (his/their) projects.
The assistant and manager showed (his/their) presentation.
The assistant and the manager showed (his/their) presentation.
One of the students did not submit (his/their) project.
All should maintain (his/their) responsibility.
Nobody was willing to give (his/their) support.
One should do (one’s/their/his) duties (himself/oneself/themselves).
One of the students did not submit (his/her/one’s) project. (one is
adjective. It means a number)

85. Use of ENOUGH

Adjective এর পবর র্সবর্। enough এখাবন adverb.
He is intelligent enough to solve the problem.

Noun এর আবগ র্সবর্। enough এখাবন adjective

He has enough money to buy a new car.

Enough এর সবে adjective এর positive degree র্সবর্।

Sudha is enough better as a dancer. (incorrect)
Sudha is good enough as a dancer. (correct)

86. Position of adverbs

1) Adverb of frequency (always, often, never, rarely, scarcely, seldom,
early, already, frequently, tomorrow, now, then, ever etc)- main verb এর
আবগ র্বস / auxiliary and main verb এর মাবঝ র্বস।
He does this rarely. (incorrect)

He visits often to his grandparents. (incorrect)

The boy always is working on his project. (incorrect)

The mother rebukes never her children. (incorrect)

She goes to college hardly.

2) Adverb of manner-adverb of place-adverb of time পর পর র্সবর্।

My friends came to my house last night.
The boy played the music yesterday at the concert excellently. (incorrect)

The girl laughed loudly today during the exam. (incorrect)

87. Inversion
When the verb comes before the subject.
Usually interrogative sentences have inversion.

Inversion of Conjunction (if the sentence start with either-or, neither-nor,

not only-but also, no sooner-than, hardly/scarcely- when)
No sooner had he reached the station than the train left.
Hardly had he reached the station when the train left.
Not only did he attend the meeting but also delivered a speech.

Inversion of adverb (if the sentence start with never, hardly, scarcely,
little, so, too, not, seldom, rarely)
Never I have ever lied in my life. (incorrect)

Seldom he visits his parents. (incorrect)

Never he asked for any help from anyone. (incorrect)

She Hardly attends the meeting. (incorrect)

Not a word he uttered. (incorrect)

He never listens to his parents. Neither his brother does. (incorrect)

88. Else + but

Other/otherwise + than
It is nothing else than complete madness. (incorrect)
The child had no other option but stay with his parents. (incorrect)

89. ‘as’ should be used with regard, describe, define, treat, view, know etc
‘As’ should not be used with- name, elect, think, consider, call, appoint,
make, choose etc.

I regard him my elder brother. (incorrect)

She is considered as the best dancer in the world. (incorrect)

The principal appointed him as his secretary. (incorrect)

she was elected as the President of India.

90. Fast, straight, outright, direct, hard, hardly, late, high, safe, quiet etc
used both as an adjective and adverb
A fast train (adjective)
He runs fast. (adverb)

He an so fastly that he reached the destination in no time. (incorrect)

He came to class lastly. (incorrect)

91. Double negatives- deny, prevent, prohibit, forbid, hardly, rarely,

scarcely, unless, until, both- so these verbs do not take ‘not’ with them.
My teacher forbade me not to be late. (incorrect)

He denied that he had not broken the glass. (incorrect)

Unless you do not study diligently, you will never scored good marks.
(incorrect)

My mother had prohibited me from not playing on phones. (incorrect)

92. Article
each/every (প্রলর্ বেবে বর্াঝাবর্)/preposition লহসাবর্ র্যর্হৃর্ হয়
He comes here once a week.
My father earns twenty thousands a month.
Rice sells at 40 Rs a kilo. He went a hunting.

Before certain unit or counting expressions (লকেু সংখযার আবগ)

A dozen, a hundred, a thousand, half an hour, half a mile, one and a half,
A thousand men, a dozen eggs, a million followers

Common noun বক proper noun এ পলরের্ করবর্

He is a Rabindranth.
He thinks he writes like a Sarat Chandra.
You are a Sourav Ganguly.

Uncountable noun বক countable noun এ পলরের্ করবর্

Give me a glass. A cup of coffee. A piece of cake. A piece of news

Before certain phrases

I have a headache. He is in a hurry. What a pity!
On an average. In a word. To make a noise. A pair of, a group of etc.

Superlatives
He is the best boy in the class.
Kolkata is the oldest city in India.

Comparatives
The more the merrier. (adverb)
The earlier the better. (adverb)
He is the cleverer of the two boys. (েুবটা লিলনবসর মবযয সীমার্দ্ধ)

Proper/material/abstract nouns বক common noun পলরের্ করবর্

Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.
Lata Mangeshkar is the Nightingale of India.
The water of the Ganga is holy. (particular)
she is the beauty of the locality.
Please pass the salt. (particular)
Before the parts of the body.
He struck me on the head.
He was shot in the leg.
লকন্তু যলে শরীবরর অংশ গুবিা বক গুনবর্ র্াহবি a/an র্সবর্।
A dog has a mouth, a nose and a tail.
The peacock has a beautiful tail.

Adjectives and common noun to express an abstract idea

You have to wake the tiger in him.
Do not leap in the dark.
The future is unknown to us.
Check the beast in you.
The mother in her could not bear the pain of the baby.

Adjectives + plural যলে সমগ্র বক বর্াঝায়

The poor are not always unfortunate.
The rich are not always happy.
It is a school for the blind in the city.

93. Omission of articles

Uncountable noun এর আবগ র্সবর্ না।
we drink water. I love my hair. Many people gathered there.

man, woman, nature, life, death, hell, heaven, father, mother, baby,
society, humanity, parliament, fever, days, months, holidays, seasons,
man, woman সাযারন অবথব র্যর্হৃর্ হয় র্াহবি article র্বস না।
Man is mortal.
Go to hell.
Sunday is a holiday.
Winter is my favourite season.
It is a danger to society.
Christmas comes in December.

Prepositional phrases
At home, at sunrise, at noon, at sunset, at night, by day, by water, by
bus, by name, on foot, under ground, to set foot on, to take notice, to
leave home, to send word, to set sail, to take offence, in danger, in
demand, on fire, in problem, by mistake, in detail, in conclusion, in
difficulty, by train, in debt, in anger, in my opinion, in confusion
The house is on the fire. (incorrect)
The boy is in a danger. (incorrect)
The old man is in the confusion. (incorrect)

No article is used before the names of languages.

She knows how to speak in the English. (incorrect)

French speak very well in the French. (incorrect)

The French speak very well in French.

Home, school, college, university, market, hospital, church, prison, bed,

temple, mosque, এর আবগ the র্সবর্ না যলে সাযারন কাি গুবিা করা হয়। অনয
বকান কাি হবি র্খন ‘the’ র্সবর্।
I go to school daily. (to learn)
I go to the school (not to learn, but to see the place)
The patient was admitted to hospital.
They have gone to market.

94. Repetition of article

অবনকগুবিা adjective যখন একটা noun বক বর্াঝায়, র্খন article শুযু প্রথম
adjective এর আবগ র্বস।
He has a black and white dog. (1 cat)

অবনকগুবিা adjective যখন আিাো আিাো noun বক বর্াঝায়, র্খন article প্রলর্লট
adjective এর আবগ র্বস।
He has a black and a white dog (2 cats)

‘and’ িারা যুক্ত একালযক ‘noun’ যলে একই র্যলক্ত র্া র্স্তু বক বর্াঝায়, র্াহবি প্রথমলটর
আবগ ‘the’ র্বস। লকন্তু যলে লর্লভন্ন মানু ষ র্া র্স্তুবক বর্াঝায় র্াহবি প্রবর্যকলটর আবগ ‘the’
র্সবর্।
The secretary and the treasurer have done this. (2 persons)
The secretary and treasurer has done this. (the same person)

A র্ুিনার বেবে, একালযক ‘noun’ যলে একই র্যলক্ত র্া র্স্তু বক বর্াঝায়, র্াহবি প্রথমলটর
আবগ article র্বস। লকন্তু যলে লর্লভন্ন মানু ষ র্া র্স্তুবক বর্াঝায় র্াহবি প্রবর্যকলটর আবগ
‘article’ র্সবর্।
He is a better poet than speaker. (same person)
He is a better person than a speaker. (different persons)