SOME IMPORTANT RULES

NOUNS
Shortcut Rule 1 :The following words are uncountable
and are normally used in the singular form only. The
indefinite article "A or An" Should not be used with
them. They have no plural forms. 'A/An' not used
before them.
Ex : Luggage / Baggage / Breakage / Advice / Furniture /
Information / Scenery / Poetry / Work / Soap / Food /
Bread / Fish / Paper / Machinery etc.
The Sceneries of Kashmir is very beautiful. ☓
The Scenery of Kashmir is very beautiful. ✔
I know that he has many informations. ☓
I know that he has much information / a lot of information.
✔
They gave me a good advice. ☓
The gave me a piece of good advice. ✔
I want a Soap/Bread. ☓
I want a piece of Soap/Bread. ✔
Shortcut Rule 2 :The words such as "News / Maths /
Ethics / Politics / Phonetics / Economics / Statistics
/ Measles / Mumps / Rickets / Billiards / Innings"
look like plural nouns but give singular meaning. So,
they take singular form of verbs.
Mathematics is a difficult subject. ✔
But say "His Mathematics are very weak". ✔
Rule : When Preceded by a possessive adjective, the noun
takes a plural verb
Billiards are an interesting game. ☓
Billiards is an interesting game. ✔
The news are not reliable. ☓
The news is not reliable. ✔
Shortcut Rule 3 : Some Nouns have the same form whether
singular or plural.
Ex : Sheep / Deer / Service / Series / Species /Fish /
Apparatus.
He saw two sheeps in the zoo. ☓
He saw two sheep in the zoo ✔
A series of lectures are to be delivered tomorrow. ☓
A series of lectures is to be delivered tomorrow. ✔
Shortcut Rule 4 : The following nouns are always used in
the plural form only.
Cattle / People / Police / Electorate / Poultry / Trousers /
Scissors / Spectacles / Binoculars / Crackers / Swine /
Gentry /Clergy. All these are used with plural form of verbs.
The police is coming towards us now. ☓
The police are coming towards us now. ✔
The scissor is very sharp. ☓
The scissors are very sharp. ✔
Shortcut Rule 5 : Add 'S' to the main word in compound
noun to make it plural.
Sister-in-Law, the plural form is Sisters-in-Law, not Sister-
in-Laws
Brother-in- Law, the plural form is Brothers-in-law, not
Brothers-in- Laws
Shortcut Rule 6 : The possessive case of a compound noun
is formed by adding 'S' to the last word.
Father-in-Law, Father-in-Law's property.
Shortcut Rule 7 : After the phrases One of / Some of/ Each
of / Either of /Neither of / Any of / None of, a plural form of
a noun is used.
One of my best friends (not One of my best friend)
One of the biggest cities (not One of the biggest city)
Each of the boys is (not Each of the boys are)
Either of the teachers is (not Either of the teachers are)
Shortcut Rule 8 : Nouns indicating numerals should be used
in singular form "A Dozen eggs / Two Dozen Oranges". But
say Hundreds of eggs / Houses / A hundred rupees / Two
hundred rupees.
Shortcut Rule 9 : After collective nouns either a singular or
plural form of verb is used.
The team is strong (here, we are treating the TEAM as a
UNIT) ✔
The team are fighting among themselves (Here, we are
saying about the players of the team) ✔
Shortcut Rule 10 : An "Apostrophe" and 'S' should be used
with living beings only to show possesion.
The table's legs were broken. ☓
(This is wrong, because the table is a non living thing)
We can say "The legs of the table were broken" ✔
Shortcut Rule 11 : Say, "A five rupee note", " A two mile
walk"
Shortcut Rule 12 : Don't say "family members / cousin
brother or cousin sister" but say "The members of the
family / he or she is my cousin".
Shortcut Rule 13 : When two nouns are connected by
"and", and are closely related, add an apostrophe and S to
the last noun.
Kareena's and Saif's house ☓ (if you think they are wife
and husband then this sentence is wrong)
Kareena and Saif's house (as they live in a SINGLE house)
✔
But you can say "India's and Pakistan's population" ✔
Pronouns
Shortcut Rule 1 : We should use the personal pronouns in
the order of 231 for good results ( I mean, Second Person,
Third Person, First Person). Have a look at the following
Examples.
I, He and You are to finish it. ☓
You, He and I are to finish it. ✔
The order 123 (First Person, Second Person and Third
Person) is also possible when we admit guilt.
I, You and He have committed the Sin. ✔
Shortcut Rule 2 : A Pronoun in the nominative form should
be compared with the same form of the pronoun.
He is better than I (am) (Two Nominatives are compared)
✔
I respect you more than him (Two objectives are
compared) ✔
Shortcut Rule 3 : A Pronoun in the objective case is used
after "Let / Between / Any Preposition"
Let you and me play (You and me are objects) ✔
There is no dispute between you and me. ✔
Shortcut Rule 4 : When a pronoun stands for a collective
noun, it should be used in the singular form.
The army has left its Head Quarters (As a Whole) ✔
The committee were divided in their opinion (Separate
Individuals) ✔
Shortcut Rule 5 : When two singular nouns are joined by
"and", refer to the same person, the pronoun used in their
place should be singular in form.
The Collector and Magistrate has done his best. ✔
But the collector and the Magistrate have done their best.
✔
Shortcut Rule 6 : A singular pronoun should be used when
two singular nouns are joined by either or / neither nor
Either Ravi or Gopal should do his duty ✔
Shortcut Rule 7 : A pronoun in the plural form should be
used when two nouns of different members are joined by
"or" or "nor".
Either the Principal or his teachers have attended their
duty. ✔
Shortcut Rule 8 : The distributive pronouns "Either /
Neither / None / Any / No one" are used with singular
verbs.
Either / Neither ....................Used for two Person / Things
None / No one / Any .......... Used for more than two
person / things.
Any ...................Used for more than two persons / things.
Have a look at some examples.
Either of the two girls is diligent. ✔
Neither of the brothers is quarrelsome. ✔
None of the four sisters is intelligent. ✔
Any of the four men can do it. ✔
Shortcut Rule 9 : The Reciprocal pronouns "Each other /
One another"
Each other - For two persons
One another - For more than two persons.
The two sister hate each other.
The five brother love one another.
Shortcut Rule 10 : The indefinite pronoun "One" should be
used as "One's" for its possessive case.
One should love one's country. ✔
Shortcut Rule 11 : The verbs such as "Hurt / Cheat /
Prostrate / Introduce / Present / Absent / Satisfy / Prepare
/ Enjoy / Avail of" are followed by either "an" object or "a"
reflexive pronoun. (Myself / Ourselves / Yourself /
Yourselves) (Himself / Herself / Itself / Themselves)
I introduced her to the Principal (Her.........object) ✔
I introduced myself to the Principal (Myself.........Reflexive
pronoun) ✔
He enjoyed the party (Party............Object) ✔
He enjoyed himself at the Party
(Himself.................Reflexive Pronoun) ✔
Shortcut Rule 12 : The use of Relative Pronouns :
Who................. for Persons
This is the boy who is diligent.
Which .................for Things.
The book which is in the shelf is mine.
That .................is used both for persons and things.
One boy who stole my purse was a student ✔
The boy that stole my purse was a student. ✔
As a relative pronoun "That" is used with superlative
Adjective / Only / Any / Nothing / Some / All / None"
All that glitters is not gold
This is the best thing that I can do.
Shortcut Rule 13 : The word "Who" as a relative pronoun is
used in the nominative case, takes a verb.
The Principal who came here was Raju's Brother.
The word "Whom"as a relative pronoun is used in the
objective case (takes no verb)
The doctor whom I metyesterday was Krishna's Father
Shortcut Rule 14 : Agreement of the verb with its
antecedent in number and person
I who is your brother must trust you ☓
I who am your brother must trust you. ✔
You who is my friend ☓
You who are my friend ✔
Shortcut Rule 15 : If a pronoun is to be placed after "to
be", the pronoun in the subjective case is used.
It is Him ☓
It is He ✔
Verbs
Shortcut Rule 1 : If the subject is of the third person,
singular number (He, She, It) add 'S' or 'es / ies' to the first
form of the verb to make it singular number.
She plays the violin every day.
He loves his parents
The dog barks at the people.
The bird flies in the Sky.
He does his duty.
Shortcut Rule 2 : The following verbs are not usually used
in the continuous form. See / Smell / Feel / Hear / Notice /
Recognize / See / Think / Agree / Believe / Consider /
Remember / Hope / Understand / Mind / Suppose / Hate /
Love / Know / Have / Want / Forgive / Keep / Prevent etc.
But they may be used in continuous forms in a particular
cases.
He is having a telephone connection. ☓
He has a telephone connection ✔
The flower is smelling sweet ☓
The flower smells sweet (you can say I am smelling this
flower) ✔
The manager is seeing your application (Seeing -
Examining) ✔ (in particular situation)
Shortcut Rule 3 : The present perfect tense should not be
used with adverbs indicating past time. Instead the simple
past tense should be used.
I have seen a film last night ☓
I saw a film last night. ✔
He has left for Hyderabad last week. ☓
He left for Hyderabad last week. ✔
Shortcut Rule 4 : The present perfect tense with "For or
Since" is used to express an action began at some time in
the past and is still continuing upto the time of speaking or
just finished.
For ..............................period of time (for 2 days / for 10
days / for a long time)
Since ..............................point of time. (Since 1996, Since
morning, since yesterday, since last week)
I know him since 1986 ☓
I have know him since 1986 ✔
Our teacher is sick for the last two days ☓
Our teacher has been sick for the last two days. ✔
Shortcut Rule 5 :The present perfect continuous Tense" is
also used for actions began in the past and are still
continuing.
I am reading this novel since morning. ☓
I have been reading this novel since morning. ✔
They are going to English classes for the last one month. ☓
They have been going to English classes for the last one
month. ✔
Shortcut Rule 6 : When the first action led to the second
action immediately The simple Past Tense + Simple Past
Tense are used.
When he opened the gate, they came in. ✔
Shortcut Rule 7 : When the first action completed before
the second one started, the Past Perfect Tense for the first finished action and the Simple Past
Tense for the Second
are used.
The patient had died before the doctor arrived. ✔
Shortcut Rule 8 : After negative sentences, the question tag
used should be in an ordinary interrogative form.
She didn't like that book, didn't she? ☓
She did not like that book, did she? ✔
They have not told him the news, Haven't they? ☓
They have not told him the news, Have they? ✔
Shortcut Rule 9 : After Positive Statements, we use the
negative interrogative.
I am a student, Am I? ☓
I am a student, Aren't I? ✔
Let's play for some Time, Shall We? ✔
He works hard, Does He? ☓
Shortcut Rule 10 : When the verb in the principal clause is
in a past tense, the verbs in the subordinate clauses are
normally in the Past Tense.
He said that He will pass the examination. ☓
He said that he would pass the examination. ✔
They told me that they have paid the fees. ☓
They told me that they had paid the fees. ✔
Shortcut Rule 11 : When the subordinate clause expresses
a universal truth the past tense in the main clause may be
followed by a Present Tense.
He said that the sun rose in the East. ☓
He said that the sun rises in the East. ✔
Shortcut Rule 12 : The Past Tense in the main clause may
be followed by any tense after the conjunction "Than" in
the subordinate clause.
He worked faster than we do / did. ✔
Shortcut Rule 13 : In Conditional Sentences, to express
improbability in the Present, the Simple Past Tense in the if
clause and the Present Conditional Tense in the main
clause are used.
If I am the Principal, I would Punish Him. ☓
If I were the Principal, I would Punish Him. ✔
If he is rich, he would buy a car. ☓
If he were rich, He would buy a car. ✔
Shortcut Rule 14 : To express unfulfilled condition in the
Past, we should express with "Past Perfect Tense" in the if
clause and Perfect Conditional Tense in the Main Clause.
If you worked hard, you would have passed in the
examination. ☓
If you had worked hard, you would have passed in the
examination. ✔
Shortcut Rule 15 : For the interrogative sentences that
begin with auxiliary verbs, "if or whether as a connective
word in indirect speech.
He said to me, "Are you going there?" ☓
He asked me if I was going there. ✔
He asked me that I was going there ✔
"Are they ready or not?" she said to me. ☓
She asked me whether they were ready. ✔
She asked me that they were ready or not. ✔
Shortcut Rule 16 : No other conjunction should be used as
a connective word, in indirect speech when the question
indirect speech begins with "Why (or) How" question
words.
He asked me that who my best friend was. ☓
He asked me who my best friend was. ✔
He asked me that How I got time to write all posts in my
Blog. ☓
He asked me how I got time to write all posts in my Blog. ✔
Shortcut Rule 17 : No preposition is used after the verb
"told"
He told me that he passed the examination. ☓
He told me that he had passed the examination. ✔
Shortcut Rule 18 : The question forms in direct speech
should be changed to affirmative sentences in indirect
speech.
The receptionist asked me who do I want to meet in the
office. ☓
The receptionist asked me whom I wanted to meet in the
office. ✔
Shortcut Rule 19 : The verb "Suggest" purpose in indirect
speech should be followed by "that clause" with the
auxiliary verb "should"
He suggested me to go for a walk every morning. ☓
He suggested to me that I should go for a walk every
morning. ✔
Shortcut Rule 20 : In the absence of an indirect object after
"suggest" a gerund form is used.
He suggested going for a walk every morning. ✔
Shortcut Rule 21 : The verb "Tell" should be used with an
object.
He told that he had passed in the test. ☓
He said that he had passed in the test (OR) ✔
He told me that he had passed in the Test. ✔
Adjectives
Basic Definition of Adjective : Simply we can say that
Adjectives are describing words. Adjectives are words that
describe or modify nouns.
Examples :
Sizes : big, small, large, thin, thick
Shapes : triangular, round, square, circular
Colors : black, blue, white, green, red
Personality : happy, sad, angry, depressed
Time : Yearly , monthly, annually
Ages : new, young, old, brand-new, second-hand
Sounds : Loud, noisy, quiet, silent
Tastes : juicy, sweet
Qualities : good, bad, mediocre
nowlets have a look at the Rules on Adjectives :
Shortcut Rule 1 : In a comparison, the conjunction 'than'
should be followed by 'any other' If a person / thing is
compared with any other person / thing among some /
many.
Mumbai is greater than any city in India. ☓
Mumbai is greater than any other city in India. ✔
Shortcut Rule 2 : In comparisons, the monosyllable words
like "hot / easy / tall / small" should not be used with more
/ most.
This question is more easier than that. ✔
This question is easier than that. ✔
He is more taller than Kumar. ☓
He is taller than Kumar. ✔
Shortcut Rule 3 :
Elder / Eldest should be used with the members of the
same family.
Older/ Oldest these comparative adjective denote the age
of person / thing.
Ex :
He is elder to me. (He and me belong to one family).
Ronald Reagan was the oldest person elected to the
Presidency in US history (Not specifying a family)
This is the eldest tree in the garden ☓
This is the oldest tree in the garden. ✔
Shortcut Rule 4 : While comparing the objects, we should
see that a noun is compared with another but not with
some other word.
The population of Hyderabad is greater than Nagpur ☓
The population of Hyderabad is greater than that of Nagpur
(OR) ✔
The population of Hyderabad is greater than the population
of Nagpur. ✔
The climate of Ooty is better than Chennai. ☓
The climate of Ooty is better than that of Chennai. ✔
Shortcut Rule 5 :
One, Two, Three etc. are called Cardinal Numbers.
First, Second, Third etc are called Ordinal Numbers.
In usage the Ordinal number is used in the First Place.
Trick: CO
Exm:
The five first chapters of this book are very interesting.☓
The first five chapters of this book are very interesting. ✔
Shortcut Rule 6 : The following comparative adjectives
should be used 'to' in comparison but not 'than'. (More /
Most should not be used).
Interior / Superior / Junior / Senior / Anterior / Posterior
etc.
They are senior than me ☓
They are senior to me. ✔
She is more senior to me ☓
She is senior to me ✔
Shortcut Rule 7 : After 'comparatively / relatively' an
adjective under positive degree should be used.
The weather is comparatively hotter today ☓
The weather is comparatively hot today. ✔
Shortcut Rule 8 : After 'prefer / preferable' instead of than,
'to' should be used.
She prefers milk than coffee ☓
She prefers milk to coffee ✔
Winter is preferable than summer ☓
Winter is preferable to summer ✔
Shortcut Rule 9 : More / Most should not be used with
'excellent / unique / perfect / major / complete / round /
golden etc.
It is more excellent ☓
It is excellent ✔
Shortcut Rule 10 : When we compare two qualities in the
same person, we should say
'Shivani is more wise than strong'
Shortcut Rule 11 : When two adjectives in different degrees
of comparisons are used in the same sentence, each should
be complete in itself.
He is as good if not better than his brother ☓
He is as good as if not better than his brother ✔
Articles
Shortcut Rule1 : The indefinite article 'A' should be used
before the word 'Half' when it follows a whole number.
I stayed in Madras for one and half years. ☓
I stayed in Madras for one and a half years. ✔
He spent one and half a half rupee. ☓
He spent one and a half rupees. ✔
Shortcut Rule2 : The definite article 'THE' should be used
with a comparative adjective if the phrase 'of the two' is
used.
She is better of the two sisters. ☓
She is the better of the two sisters. ✔
This is the best of the two books. ☓
This is the better of the two books. ✔
Shortcut Rule3 : With the names of meals such as Break
fast / Lunch / Dinner / Supper, no article should be used in
a general way except in particular causes.
I have the breakfast at 8 hrs in the morning ☓
I have breakfast at 8 hrs in the morning ✔
Shortcut Rule4 : The + Positive Adjective represent the
whole class, and take a plural verb.
The rich is responsible for the lawlessness in the country.☓
The rich are responsible for the lawlessness in the country.
✔
Say 'The poor are / The young are / The old are' etc....
Shortcut Rule5 : After Di- Transitive Verbs like Elect / Make
/ Appoint, articles should not be used except when they are
used as Mono transitive verbs.
We appointed him a chairman.☓
We appointed him chairman ✔
We made him a leader ☓
We made him leader. ✔
The Govt. has appointed a Committee (mono transitive)
(As a mono transitive verb)
Shortcut Rule6 : After type of / kind of / sort of / post of /
title of / rank of / articles are not used.
He is not that sort of a man. ☓
He is not that soft of man. ✔
He was promoted to the rank of a General manager. ☓
He was promoted to the rank of General manager. ✔
Adverbs
What are Adverbs?
An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb. It
"qualifies" or "modifies" a verb. Lets try to understand this
with a small example.
Adverb Example:
Sunaina walks gracefully (The word 'gracefully' is an
adverb. It modifies the verb 'to walk'.)
Shortcut Rule1 :The adverbs 'too much' is used with
nouns and 'much too' is used with adjectives.
Too much pain / Too much insincerity (Nouns)
Much too painful / much too careless (Adjectives)
Examples :
His failure is too much painful for me ☓
His failure is much too painful for me ✔
His wife's rude behavior gives him much too pain ☓
His wife's rude behavior gives him too much pain ✔
Shortcut Rule 2 :Before the word 'Enough' an
adjective under positive form should be used.
He is more intelligent enough to follow you. ☓
He is intelligent enough to follow you. ✔
She is enough lucky to get the job. ☓
She lucky enough to get the job.✔
Shortcut Rule3: The adverb quite ('quite means
perfectly/ completely) should not be used with the
adjective 'Handsome'.
He is quite handsome. ☓
He is very handsome. ✔
Shortcut Rule4: Late / Lately. The adverb 'late'
indicates time and lately means recently.
He was punished for coming lately. ☓
He was punished for coming late. ✔
Shortcut Rule5 :When we begin a sentence with
'seldom / never / hardly / rarely / scarcely / barely
/ neither / never, the rule of inversion should be
applied (i.e.,) an auxiliary verb is used before the
subject.
Hardly he goes to school. ☓
Hardly does he go to school. ✔
Seldom I got to films. ☓
Seldom do I got to films. ✔
No sooner the school bell rings than all the boys go to their
class rooms. ☓