English Grammar Tips

1. If a sentence contains a phrase, separated from the subject and the verb by commas on either side, then the verb agrees with the subject only (and not the noun or pronoun in the phrase).

For example:

• The politician, along with his attendants, is receiving presents (not 'are receiving presents)

• The captain, as well as his team, is happy (not 'are happy')

• The king, along with his ministers, is outside (not 'are outside')

2. Some words always are used with singular verbs. These are:

• Everyone

• Someone

• No one

• One of

• Somebody

• Everybody

• Each

• Each one

• Either

• Anybody

• Anyone

• 'Many a'

Some examples:

• Everybody was outside (not 'everybody were outside')

• Each one must do his duty (not 'their duty')

• Someone is outside (not 'someone are outside')

• Everybody was making noise (not 'were making noise')

• No one was capable of this (not 'were capable')

• Either answer is correct (not 'are correct')

• Everybody respects him (not 'respect him')

• Many a game was won by sheer luck (not 'were')

• One of the boys was destined to succeed (not 'were')

• He is one of those who appear correct (not 'appears')

• If anyone calls, take his/ her number (not 'take their number')

However, there is one exception:

The pronoun 'none' can take both singular or plural forms, depending on the particular context.

3. Always singular

Some nouns are always singular. These apply to nouns dealing with currency, subjects etc.

Examples:

• Ten Rupees is kept on the table (not 'are')

• Civics is an interesting subject (not 'are an interesting subject')

• Mathematics is useful (not 'are')

Improving your Grammar

In this article, we shall continue to discuss some rules of Grammar and their applications. Do remember that these rules are not intended for learning by rote/ mugging up-you have to practice these in actual day-to-day speech, writing etc.

1. Collective nouns:

Collective nouns are singular. So whenever words such as 'team', 'Committee', 'group', 'family', 'cabinet', 'cluster of grapes', 'box of apples' etc are used, the verb needs to be singular

Examples:

1. The Committee is meeting tomorrow (not 'are meeting tomorrow')

2. The family is the primary unit (not 'are the primary unit')

3. The family is important (not 'are')

4. The team is in the field (not 'are in the field')

5. A box of apples is on the table (not 'are')

Related to what we said in an earlier point about the usage of phrases in a sentence, separated using commas or brackets:

1. The Committee, along with others, is meeting tomorrow

2. The Chairman, and his team, is coming tomorrow

Exception

However, when there is a division in the group, we use the plural form, to indicate the division.

Examples:

The jury are divided in opinion (not 'is')

2. Universal Truths

For 'Universal Truths' sentences are always in the present tense.

Examples:

1.'He said that the earth is round' (not 'was round')

2.'She said that the sun rises in the east' (not 'rose in the east')

3. Habitual action

For habitual action, the present indefinite tense needs to be used.

Examples:

1.'He always praises you' (not 'he is always praising you')

2.'He always speaks the truth'

4. Use of 'Will and Shall'

'Will' and 'shall' cannot be used twice in the same sentence.

Example:

1.'I shall meet him if he comes' is correct. ('I shall meet him if he shall/ will come' is not)

2.'I shall do this if he agrees' is correct (not 'I shall do this if he will agree')

mproving your Grammar

In this article, we shall examine some more facets of English Grammar.

1. “Two actions both in past”

This is an important type of question that appears in entrance exams. If there are two actions that both occurred in the past, then which tense should you use for both? The answer is that for the one that occurred earlier, the past perfect tense should be used.

For example:

* ‘I reached there before he came’ is wrong. Why? Because for the earlier action (your reaching there), the past perfect tense needs to be used. The correct sentence is therefore ‘I had reached there before he came’.

* ‘The movie had started before I reached’

* The game had commenced before I switched on the TV

2. Plural form for wishes/ desires

Another important type of question/ rule of grammar from the test perspective. While expressing wishes or desires, use the plural form.

Examples:

* ‘I wish I were a king’

* ‘I wish I were a bird’

* ‘He acted as if he were a king’

* ‘He behaves as though he were my boss’

* If he were here.. (not ‘if he was here’)

3. Phrases that go together

There are certain phrases that always go together. These cannot be used in any other form. Some such phrases are:

* ‘else’ is always followed by ‘but’

* ‘no sooner’ is always followed by ‘than’

* ‘too’ is always used with ‘to’

* ‘hardly/ scarcely’ must be followed by ‘when’

* ‘the same’ is always followed by ‘that’

* ‘although’ is always followed by ‘yet’

* ‘I’ is followed by ‘he’ (not ‘him’)

* ‘you’ can be followed by ‘him’ and ‘me’

* It is nothing else but fraud

* No sooner had he come than I met him (not ‘no sooner had he come when I met him’)

* He was too big to fit through the hole (you cannot just say ‘he is too big’ or ‘too good’)

* Hardly had he come when I met him

* This is the same person that came yesterday (not ‘who came yesterday)

* Although he was aging, yet he was a good fielder

* Besides you and me, they are also coming (not ‘besides you and I)