Important English Grammar Tips

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Important English Grammar Tips Part-II
CONTENTS
S.No
GrammarTopics
1.
Adjectives
2.
Verbs
3.
Finite Verbs
4.
Noun
Page No.
About Adjectives
01
Common Error in Use of Adjectives
01
Common Error in Use of Verbs
04
Subject-Verb Agreement
06
About Finite Verbs
08
Exercise on Finite Verbs with Explanations
09
Types of Noun
10
Exercise on Noun with Explanations
11
Usage of Collective Noun
15
Common Errors in Use of Noun
16
Pronoun
17
Exercise on Pronoun with Explanations
18
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Adjectives
About Adjectives:
An adjective is a describing word. It qualifies a noun and adds to the meaning of it.
Adjectives are used before nouns to qualify them directly or used after linking verbs
to qualify them indirectly. Some adjectives can be used only attributively or only
predicatively.
Adjectives of quality refer to certain qualities: brave, rich, poor, polite, intelligent.
Adjectives of size, weight & shape refer to the size, weight & shape, ex: tall, heavy,
flat.
Adjectives of color; ex: black, blue, green, yellow.
Classifying adjectives or Proper adjectives are made from proper nouns.
ERRORS IN USE OF ADJECTIVES

1). When there are two objects of comparison, then to avoid repetition of noun,
that is used for singular noun
those is used for plural noun
For example,
The climate of Mumbai is better than Delhi. (Incorrect)
The climate of Mumbai is better than that of Delhi. (Correct)
2). Compound adjective formed by adding worth is placed after the noun
For example,
This is a worth seeing sight. (Incorrect)
This is a sight worth seeing. (Correct)
3). When two adjectives with differing degrees of comparison are used they should be
completed in themselves
For example,
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She is as wise, if not wiser than her brother. (Incorrect)
She is as wise as, if not wiser than her brother. (Correct)
4). Some adjectives like unique, ideal, perfect, extreme, complete, universal, infinite,
perpetual, chief, entire, round, impossible are not compared
For example,
It is the most unique book. (Incorrect)
It is an unique book. (Correct)
5). When two adjectives in superlative or comparative degree are used together, the one
formed by adding more or most must follow the other adjective
For example,
He is more intelligent and wiser than his brother. (Incorrect)
He is wiser and more intelligent than his brother. (Correct)
6). When we compare two qualities in the same person or thing, then the comparative ending
with er is not used alone
For example,
You are wiser than old. (Incorrect)
You are more wiser than old. (Correct)
7). When comparative degree is used in superlative sense, it is followed by any other
For example,
Ajith is better than any bowler. (Incorrect)
Ajith is better than any other bowler. (Correct)
8). Adjective less refers to quantity
For example,
He takes no fewer than a liter of milk. (Incorrect)
He takes no less than a liter of milk. (Correct)
9). Adjective fewer refers to number
For example,
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They have less books than I have. (Incorrect)
They have fewer books than I have. (Correct)
10). Each is used for one of two or more things
For example,
Every of the two boys was wrong. (Incorrect)
Each of the two boys was wrong. (Correct)
11). Every is used for more than two things taken as a group
For example,
He read each book I gave him. (Incorrect)
He read every book I gave him. (Incorrect)
____________________________________________________________________________________
Verbs
ERRORS IN USE OF VERBS:
1.) If two actions in a sentence are shown happening in the past, one after the other, the first
act should be in past perfect and the second in simple past.
For example,
He left before I reached the venue.(Incorrect)
He had left before I reached the venue.(Correct)
2.) A single verb should be made to serve two subjects, only when the form of verb is same for
both the subjects.
For example,
I am hungry and my sister sleepy. (Incorrect)
I am hungry and my sister is sleepy. (Correct)
3.) A verb when preceded by a preposition must be the gerund.
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For example,
They were warned for come late. (Incorrect)
They were warned for coming late. (Correct)
4.) When there are two subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same number, then we
must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are, am, was, were, have, has) for both of them.
For example,
One-killed and two were injured. (Incorrect)
One was killed and two were injured. (Correct)
5.) Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal verb, only when the form of the principal
verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries.
For example,
He never has and never will take such long leave. (Incorrect)
He never has taken and never will take such long leave. (Correct)
6.) When there is only one auxiliary to two principal verbs it should be correctly associated with
the both, if not two auxiliary verbs must be used.
For example,
Ten students have passed one failed. (Incorrect)
Ten students have passed, one has failed. (Correct)
7.) When the subordinate clause comes after lest, the auxiliary verb should must be used,
whatever be the tense of the verb in the main clause.
For example,
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We start early lest we shall miss the train. (Incorrect)
We start early lest we should miss the train. (Correct)
8.) To modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb, we use an Adverb.
For example,
She speaks very intelligent. (Incorrect)
She speaks very intelligently. (Correct)
9.) Modal Auxiliaries are not used together. But two auxiliaries can be connected by a
conjunction.
For example,
He should must say it. (Incorrect)
He should and must say it. (Correct)
10.) When need or dare is followed by not, it turns into modal auxiliary. In that situation it takes
infinitive and we cannot use needs not or dares not
For example,
He dares not do it. (Incorrect)
He dare not do it. (Correct)
COMMON ERRORS IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1). Else is always followed by but and never by than
For example,
It is nothing else than poverty that makes them nave. (Incorrect)
It is nothing else but poverty that makes them nave. (Correct)
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2). As if is always followed by were even with the third person singular, when it shows
pretension
For example,
He speaks as if he was a good man. (Incorrect)
He speaks as if he were a good man. (Correct)
3). Not is never used with until
For example,
I will talk until you do not speak. (Incorrect)
I will talk until you speak. (Correct)
4). No sooner should always be followed by then and not by but or than
For example,
No sooner I finish this work, than I shall begin another. (Incorrect)
No sooner I finish this work, then I shall begin another. (Correct)
5). Hardly and scarcely should be followed by when or before and not by than or that
For example,
Hardly did I reach the venue, than the event started. (Incorrect)
Hardly did I reach the venue, when the event started. (Correct)
6). That should not be used before a sentence in Direct speech
For example,
She said that, He will go there. (Incorrect)
She said, He will go there. (Correct)
7). That should not be used before interrogative adverbs and pronouns in the indirect speech.
For example,
She asked me that where I was. (Incorrect)
She asked me where I was. (Correct)
8). If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing then the verb must be singular.
For example,
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Secretary and principal are coming. (Incorrect)
Secretary and principal is coming. (Correct)
9). Two or more singular subjects are connected by and then the verb will be plural.
For example,
Arvind and Ashwin is coming. (Incorrect)
Arvind and Ashwin are coming. (Correct)
10). Two subjects joined by and will always take a plural verb, but when considered as a
single unit then the verb will be singular.
For example,
Bread and jam was bought separately. (Incorrect)
Bread and jam were bought separately. (Correct)
(In the above example, bread and jam are two separate subjects joined by and)
Bread and jam are my breakfast. (Incorrect)
Bread and jam is my breakfast. (Correct)
(In this example, bread and jam is considered as a single unit verb i.e., as breakfast in whole.)
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finite verbs
The word Finite means limited. A verb that undergoes changes in accordance with the
tense, person and number of the subject is called a Finite Verb. A Finite verb includes all the
verbs with auxiliary verb or modal auxiliary verbs with a subject.
Examples:
1. I speak French
2. You speak French
3. He speaks French
4. They speak French.
5. I shall speak French
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6. They could speak French
7. We spoke French
8. They had spoken French
Note: The verb speak undergoes changes as speaks, spoke, had spoken, shall speak, could
speak etc. All these are finite verbs.
Exercise- Find the finite verbs from these sentences:

1.) Nisha dances well.
Explanation: Here the finite verb is dances. Because, the word dances contains the
auxiliary verb.
Answer: Nisha dances well.
2.) We are enjoying the movie.
Explanation: Here the finite verb is are enjoying. As it is limited form of the subject.
Answer: We are enjoying the movie.
3.) They have completed the work.
Explanation: Here the finite verb is have completed. Here the verb says about the
number of subject that is changed.
Answer: They have completed the work.
4.) I shall try to get it.
Explanation: Here, the finite verb is shall try. As it is limited verb.
Answer: I shall try to get it.
5.) We may start our journey to night.
Explanation: Here, the finite verb is may start. As it is limited verb.
Answer: We may start our journey to night.
6.) I saw him playing cricket.
Explanation: Here, the finite verb is saw. As it is reflects about the person with modal
auxiliary.
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Answer: I saw him playing cricket.
7.) She has accepted my suggestion.
Explanation: Here, has accepted is the finite verb. As it is auxiliary verb.
Answer: She has accepted my suggestion.
8.) Who cares the poor?
Explanation: Here, the finite verb is cares. As it are auxiliary verbs.
Answer: Who cares the poor?
9.) Does he promise to help you?
Explanation: Here, the finite verbs are does and promise. As these are two auxiliary
verbs.
Answer: Does he promise to help you?
10.) She likes cooking.
Explanation: Here, the finite verb is likes. As it is an auxiliary verb.
Answer: She likes cooking.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Nouns
A noun is a naming word. It can be the name of a person, place, animal, thing or event.
Kinds of Nouns:
Common Noun
Proper Noun
Collective Noun
Abstract Noun
Material Noun
1.) Common Noun:

A common noun names general things. It is the name that is common to the same kind of
persons, place or things
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Ex. soldiers, spoons, girls, pens, birds etc
2.) Proper Noun:
A proper noun name specific things. It is the name of a particular person, place, thing or
event. It begins with a capital letter.
Ex: Kolkata, Kabir Khan, Hogghly, Sophia Girls School, etc.
3.) Collective Noun:
A collective noun is the name given to a group of people or things. A collective noun is
treated as a singular noun. Collective nouns take everything under one group.
4.) Abstract Noun:
An abstract noun names qualities in persons, animals or things. It is usually the
name of a quality, actions or state which we normally cannot see or touch, though we
can feel them or think of them.
5.) Material Noun:
A material noun names something we can see and touch, a substance, a material,
something used for making things. It can also be an article of food or drink.
These are the raw elements or objects existing in nature.
Exercise- Underline the noun and name its kind common (Com), proper (Pro), collective
(Coll), abstract (Abs), material (Mat).
1.) The Sun Temple depicting mythological conception of the Sun God riding twenty four
wheeled chariots driven by seven horses carved in stone is at Konark, Orrisa.
Answer: The Sun Temple (pro) depicting mythological conception of the Sun God (pro) riding
twenty four (com)wheeled chariots driven by seven horses (pro) carved in stone (mat) is at
Konark, Orrisa. (pro)
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Explanation: Here, Sun Temple, Sun God, is proper noun, as it is mentioned specific thing and
also mentioned about a particular place, and Konark, Orrisa, as it mention about the place.
And seven horses mentions about the numbers so it is common noun. Next, stone is material
noun as we can see the touch and we can also touch the stone.
2.) Abraham Lincoln was the man responsible for abolishing slavery and injustice in the United
States of America.
Answer: Abraham Lincoln (pro) was the man (com) responsible for abolishing slavery (abs)
and injustice in the United States of America. (pro)
Explanation: Abraham Lincoln as it mentions the particular name and United States of America
is also mentions about the particular place so they both are proper nouns. Man, as it means
about the person so it is common noun. Slavery, as it mentions about the quality of the person,
so it is abstract noun.
3.) Rajasthan is a land of kings and is famous for its royal grandeur.
Answer: Rajasthan (pro) is a land of kings (com) and is famous for its royal grandeur (pro).
Explanation: Rajasthan, mentions about the particular place and Royal grandeur is an event,
so they both are considered to be proper nouns. Kings is specifically mentions about the
person, so this is common noun.
4.) A plague of locusts destroyed the entire crop of grains.
Answer: A plague of locusts (com) destroyed the entire crop (pro) of grains. (pro)
Explanation: A plague of locusts is a form of a group of things, and this is a collective noun.
Crops and grains are mentions about the particular things. So this is proper noun.
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5.) Tourism is the backbone of San Franciscos economy.
Answer: Tourism is the backbone of San Franciscos (pro) economy.
Explanation: San Francisco is a particular and specific place so this is proper noun.
6.) Los Angeles is a city brimming with energy and creativity.
Answer: Los Angeles (pro) is a city (com) brimming with energy and creativity.
Explanation: Los Angeles is a particular place, so this is a proper noun. City is a general city,
so this is a common noun.
7.) Camel riding, a traditional sport, is extremely popular in the Emirates.
Answer: Camel (pro) riding, a traditional sport, is extremely popular in the Emirates. (com)
Explanation: Camel is a particular animal, so this is a proper noun. Emirates are the general
place, so this is a common noun.
8.) I was surprised to see a brood of chicks and a litter of puppies playing together.
Answer: I was surprised to see a brood of chicks (coll) and a litter of puppies (coll) playing
together.
Explanation: Brood of chicks and litter of puppies are group of animals, so this is a collective
noun.
9.) A.R.Rahman is the first Indian music composer, who won the Oscar award in the year
2009.
Answer: A.R.Rehman (pro) is the first Indian music composer, (com) who won the Oscar
award (pro) in the year 2009.
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Explanation: A.R.Rehman is a particular person and Oscar award is a particular award, so they
both are proper nouns.
Music composer is a general instrument so this is a common noun.
10.) Renowned both for its beauty and as source of hydro electric power, the Niagara Falls is a
massive waterfall on the Niagara river.
Answer: Renowned both for its beauty (com) and as source of hydro electric power, the
Niagara Falls (pro) is a massive waterfall on the Niagara river (pro)
Explanation: Beauty is a general and common thing, so this is a common thing. Niagara Falls
and Niagara River are mentioned about particular place so this is a proper noun.
1.) Nouns which are used in singular form:(i)
Scenery, information, furniture, advice, machinery, stationery, news, poetry,

business, mischief, fuel, issue, repair, bedding.
The scenery of this place is worth seeing.
He has received no information so far.
(ii)
Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Classics, Ethics, Athletics, innings, gallows.

Example: Economics is a very interesting subject.
The Indian team defeated the Australian by an innings.
(iii)
Brick, bread, fruit, word (as promise)

Example: Let me buy some fruit.
He is true to his word.
(iv)
Words like dozen, score, hundred, thousand, million when preceded by a

numeral.
Example: He bought ten dozen oranges.
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I have four pair of shoes.
(v)
Expressions as a ten-rupee note, a two-hour journey, a four-mile walk, a Fiveyear plan, a six-man committee etc.
Example: A ten-rupee note is lying there.
2.) Nouns used only in plural form

(i)
Cattle, police, poultry, people, gentry, peasantry, artillery.

Example: The police have caught the thief.
Cattle are grazing in the field.
(ii)
Scissors, trousers, stockings, spectacles, shorts, alms, remains, riches, good,

measles.
Example: My scissors are very sharp.
My Spectacles are missing.
3.) Noun used both as singular and plural in the same form.
(i)
Deer, sheep, fish, apparatus, wages.

Example: The wages of sin is death.
The wages of the workers have been raised.
I saw a sheep grazing in the field.
Sheep are sold cheaper than goat.
(ii)
Collective nouns as jury, public, team, audience, committee, government,

audience, congregation, orchestra.
Example: The team are looking quite fit.
The team has not turned up yet.
4.) Use of collective Nouns

Crowd of people
Mob of angry people
Herd of cattle/cows
Fleet of ships/cruisers
Team of players
Pack of wolves
Flight of birds
Pack of cards
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Bouquet of flowers
Loaf of bread
Shoal/school of fish
Heap of corn
Bundle of sticks
Stock of grain
Army of soldiers
Class of pupils
Flock of sheep
Bunch of grapes
Crew of sailors
Herd of lions
Swarm of bees
Pile of books
Garland of beads
Hoarde of nomads
Gang of thieves
Block of flats
Library of books
File of papers
5.) One of or any of is followed by plural words.

Example: I want one of the books kept on the table.
Any of these tools may serve the purpose.
6.) Plural nouns are used with fractions and decimal over 1.
Example: It took us one and a half hours.
COMMON ERRORS IN NOUNS
1). The noun following none of, some of, one of must be plural but the verb agrees in
number with the subject of the sentence
For example,
Some of my friend are coming to dinner. (Incorrect)
Some of my friends are coming to dinner. (Correct)
2). Some nouns are singular in form but they are used as plural nouns(scissors, spectacles,
people, company, police, etc.) and always take a plural verb
For example,
The police has arrested the thief. (Incorrect)
The police have arrested the thief. (Correct)
The spectacles is on the table. (Incorrect)
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The spectacles are on the table. (Correct)
3). When nouns indicating length, money, weight, or number are used after numbers they
retain the same form in the plural
For example,
He has bought three dozen banana. (Incorrect)
He has bought three dozen bananas. (Correct)
4). Collective nouns like public, team, committee, team, government, etc. can be used both as
singular and plural noun depending on the meaning, that is, when they indicate a unit it is
singular and when it refers to its members it is plural
For example,
A team were appointed to interview the candidate. (Incorrect)
A team was appointed to interview the candidate. (Correct)
The committees was divided on the basis of their qualification. (Incorrect)
The committees were divided on the basis of their qualification. (Correct)
5). Some nouns are used only in singular form and they always take a singular verb
For example,
The sceneries of this place is worth watching. (Incorrect)
The scenery of this place is worth watching. (Correct).
____________________________________________________________________________________
Pronouns
A word that is used place of noun is called a pronoun. Pronouns are words used in the
place of nouns; they are singular and plural. There are indefinite pronouns, interrogative
pronouns, demonstrative pronouns and relative pronouns.
The following is the table of personal pronouns in English with their functions:
Subject
Object
Adjective
Possessive
Reflexive
Pronouns
Pronoun
Pronoun
Pronoun
Pronoun
Me
My
Mine
Myself
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We
Us
Our
Ours
Ourselves
You
You
Your
Yours
Yourself
You
You
Your
Yours
Yourselves
He
Him
His
His
Himself
She
Her
Her
Hers
Herself
It
It
Its
Itself
They
Them
Their
Theirs
Themselves
Subject pronouns function as subjects; object pronouns as object pronouns as objects;

adjective pronouns (or possessive adjectives) as adjectives. Possessive pronouns function as
complements Ex. Instead of This is my book we say This book is mine; reflexive pronouns
(or self pronouns) intensify the meaning.
Exercise- Use appropriate pronouns in the blanks in the following passage.

Abdullah studies in Althorah School. ______is a big school but _____ is far away from
_______ house. So, _______ goes to school by bus. ______brothers also study in the same
school. All of _______ go to school by the same bus. The driver is an old man. _______ is
known to _____ father and _____ is kind to the boys. Abdullahs mother wakes up early, cooks
for _______ and packs ______ breakfast before _______ leaves for school. _______ is a kind
mother and helps _______ sons to study well. Abdullah helps _______ father in the shop in the
evenings. _______ is a small house. _______ is also old but comfortable. ______ live happily
there for a long time.
Answers with Explanations:
Abdullah studies in Althorah School.
It
(Here, it represents the school, as it is a subject
pronouns, so the answer is it) is a big school but
it
(same here also, represents the
school, so It will be the suitable pronoun) is far away from his
(Here, the name Abdullah
is to be mentioned, so here his will be the suitable pronoun ) house. So, he

(here
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subjective pronoun should be added, so he will be the correct pronoun) goes to school by
bus. His
(Here, to mention Abdullahs brother, in short we say his) brothers also study in
the same school. All of them (Here, the word brothers says that there will be more than one
person, so this is to be objective pronoun, so them will be correct pronoun) go to school by

the same bus. The driver is an old man. He (Here, the sentence is mentioned about the
driver, so Subjective pronoun so, he will be correct and suitable pronoun ) is known to his
(this sentence says about his father, so his will be suitable answer) father and he
(the driver is kind to the boys, so to mention about the driver we say he ) is kind to the boys.
Abdullahs mother wakes up early, cooks for them (it says more than one people, so it is
objective pronoun, them will be correct pronoun) and packs their
(Here, his mother packs
lunch, of the boys, so the suitable pronoun will be their) breakfast before they (here, it
indicates the boys, here they will be the suitable pronoun) leaves for school. She (here this is
about Abdullahs mother, so she will be the correct pronoun ) is a kind mother and helps her
(here, mother helps her sons in studies, so to mention about her her will be suitable pronoun)
sons to study well. Abdullah helps his (here, it says about Abdullah, so his will be the
correct pronoun) father in the shop in the evenings. Theirs
(this says about the whole family
of Abdullah, so adjective pronouns so, theirs will be the correct pronoun) is a small house. It
(this says about the house, so it will be the correct pronoun ) is also old but comfortable. They
(this says about the family of Abdullah, so they will be the suitable pronoun) live happily there
for a long time.
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Common Error in Use of Adjectives

Common Error in Use of Verbs

About Finite Verbs

Exercise on Finite Verbs with Explanations

Exercise on Noun with Explanations

Usage of Collective Noun

Common Errors in Use of Noun

Exercise on Pronoun with Explanations

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Adjectives of color; ex: black, blue, green, yellow.

Classifying adjectives or Proper adjectives are made from proper nouns.

ERRORS IN USE OF ADJECTIVES

that is used for singular noun

those is used for plural noun

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Exercise- Find the finite verbs from these sentences:

1.) Common Noun:

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1.) Nouns which are used in singular form:(i)

Scenery, information, furniture, advice, machinery, stationery, news, poetry,

Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Classics, Ethics, Athletics, innings, gallows.

Brick, bread, fruit, word (as promise)

Words like dozen, score, hundred, thousand, million when preceded by a

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2.) Nouns used only in plural form

Cattle, police, poultry, people, gentry, peasantry, artillery.

Scissors, trousers, stockings, spectacles, shorts, alms, remains, riches, good,

Deer, sheep, fish, apparatus, wages.

Collective nouns as jury, public, team, audience, committee, government,

4.) Use of collective Nouns

Mob of angry people

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5.) One of or any of is followed by plural words.

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Subject pronouns function as subjects; object pronouns as object pronouns as objects;

Exercise- Use appropriate pronouns in the blanks in the following passage.

(Here, it represents the school, as it is a subject

pronouns, so the answer is it) is a big school but

(same here also, represents the

school, so It will be the suitable pronoun) is far away from his

(Here, the name Abdullah

is to be mentioned, so here his will be the suitable pronoun ) house. So, he

person, so this is to be objective pronoun, so them will be correct pronoun) go to school by

objective pronoun, them will be correct pronoun) and packs their

(Here, his mother packs

correct pronoun) father in the shop in the evenings. Theirs

(this says about the whole family

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