English Grammer Rules for Error Detection and Sentence Improvement
A. SUBJECT - VERB
AGREEMENT
1 .
Two or more Singular Subjects connected by and usually take a Verb in
the
Plural.
For
example,
Incorrect- Hari and Ram is here.
Correct- Hari and Ram are here.
2.
If two Singular Nouns refer to the same person or thing, the Verb must be
Singular.
Incorrect- The Secretary and Principal are coming.
Correct- The Secretary and Principal is coming.
(Here
the same person is .Secretary as well as Principal)
3.
If the Singular Subjects are preceded by each or every, the Verb is usually
Singular.
For
example,
Incorrect- Every boy and girl were ready.
Correct- Every boy and girl was ready.
4.
Two or more Singular Subjects connected by or, nor, either ..... or,
neither....
nor take a Verb in the Singular.
For
example,
Incorrect- Neither he nor I were there.
Correct- Neither he nor I was there.
5.
When the Subjects joined by 'or/nor are of different numbers, the Verb must
be
Plural, and the Plural Subject must be placed next to the Verb.
For
example,
lncorrect- Neither the Assistant Masters nor the Headmaster was
present.
Correct- Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were present.
'
6.
When the Subjects joined by or, nor are of different persons, the Verb
agrees
in person with the one nearest to it.
For
example,
Incorrect- Either he or I is mistaken.
Correct- Either he or I, am mistaken.
7.
A Collective Noun takes a Singular Verb when the collection is thought of
as
a whole, a Plural Verb when the individuals of which it is composed are
thought
of.
For
example,
Correct- The Council has chosen the President.
Correct- The military were called out.
8.
Some Nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning, take a Plural
Verb.
For
example,
Incorrect- Mathematics are a branch of study in every school.
Correct- Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.
9.
Words joined to a Singular Subject by with, together with, in addition to, or,
as
well as, etc. are parenthetical, and therefore do not affect the number of
the
Verb.
For
example,
Incorrect- The Chief, with all his men, were massacred .
Correct-The chief, with all his men, was massacred.
10.
When the Subject of the Verb is a Relative Pronoun care should be taken
to
see that the Verb agrees in Number and Person with the Antecedent of the
relative.
For
example,
Incorrect- I, who is your friend, . will guard you,r interests.
Correct- I, who am your friend will guard your interests.
B. USES OF VERBS
11
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,
Incorrect- Three- killed and one were injured.
Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.
12.
A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form
of
Verb is same for both the subjects.
For
example,
Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.
13.
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,
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong
measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong
measures.
14.
When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be
correctly
associated with the both.
For example,
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.
Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.
15.
A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in
the
subordinate clause.
For
example,
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.
Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.
16.
A Past Tense in main clause may be followed by a Present Tense in the
subordinate
clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.
For
example,
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.
17.
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,
Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.
Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.
18.
An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between 'to' and
verbal
part of,the infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
For
example,
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter:
Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.
19.
An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents' an action
prior
to that of the governing Verb.
For
example,
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.
Correct- I should have liked to go there.
20.
Gerund if preceded by a Pronoun, that Pronoun must be
in
Possessive case.
For
example,
Incorrect - He emphasised me going there.
Correct- He emphasised my going there.
21
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began in
the
past time and still. going at the time of speaking~ It is used with,
Adverbials
of time introduced by 'since', 'for' and 'how long
For
example,
Incorrect- How long are you working in this office?
Correct- How long have
you been working in this office?
22.
A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.
For
example,
Incorrect- They were punished for come late.
Correct- They were punished for, coming late.
23.
The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and
condition.
Here the Present Indefinite Tense is used.
For
Example,
Incorrect- I shall wait for you till you will finish your work.
Correct- I shall wait for you, till you finish your work.
24.
The Present Perfect Tense is not used with the Adverbs of past time like
yesterday,
in 1990 etc. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used.
For
example,
Incorrect~ I have bought a cycle yesterday.
Correct-I bought a cycle yesterday.
The
Past Perfect Tense is used to represent the earlier of the two past
actions.
For
example,
Incorrect- When I reached the station, the train already left.
Correct- When I reached the station, the train had already left.
25.
Modal Auxiliaries are not used together. But two Auxiliaries can be
connected
by a Conjunction.
For
example,
Incorrect-He should must do it.
Correct- He should and must do it.
26.
When need or dare is followed by not, it turns into modal auxiliary. In
that
situation it takes Bare Infinitive 'and we cannot use needs not or dares
not.
For
example,
Incorrect- He needs not do it.
Correct- He need not do it.
C. USES
OF PARTICIPLES AND INFINITIVES
27.
Ask, advise, allow, command, force, forbid, invite, encourage, compel,
beg,
order•, imagine, instruct, permit, persuade, tell, require, remind, teach,
etc.
are followed by Object + To +V2
For
example,
Incorrect- He advised to do it by me.
Correct- He advised me to do it.
But if these are used in Passive Voice, then they
are followed by To +V,.
For
example,
Correct- She was permitted to go with him.
28.
Know is followed by how/ where/when/why and Infinitive.
For
example,
Incorrect- I know to write a letter.
Correct- I know how to write a letter.
29.
After let, bid, behold, watch, see, feel, make etc. we use Bare-Infinitive
and
not To-infinitive.
For
example,
Incorrect- I heard him to speak on several subjects.
Correct- I heard him speak on several subjects.
30.
Bare Infinitive is used after Modal Auxiliaries (can, could, may, might,
shall,
should, will, would, must, dare not, need not).
For
example,
Incorrect- You need not to work hard.
Correct- You need not work hard.
31.
Had better, had rather,had as soon ... as ... , had sooner etc. are fol-
lowed
by Bare Infinitive.
For
example,
Incorrect- He had better to go now.
Correct- He had better go now.
32
Conjunction than is also followed by Bare Infinitive.
For
example,
Incorrect-
He had better read than to write.
Correct- He had better read than write.
33.
When but is used as a Preposition and preceded by any form of the Verb
do,
then but is followed with Bare Infinitive.
For
example,
Incorrect- He did nothing but to wander.
Correct- He did nothing but wander.
34.
Every Participile must have a Subject of Reference.
For
example,
Incorrect- Being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.
Correct- It being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.
35.
For completed action Having + Va is used in Active Voice, whereas
Having
+ been + Va or Being + Va is used in Passive Voice. After should not
be
used in such a sentence.
For
example,
Incorrect- After the leader having been killed, the followers
ran away.
Correct- The leader having been killed, the followers ran away.
36.
Participles like considering, judging, referring, concerning, regarding,
viewing,
broadly speaking etc. do not take any Subject of Reference.
For
example,
Correct - Considering the case, I took the decision.
Here
I is not a Subject of Reference of considering. So, there is no Subject of
Reference
for 'considering, still the sentence is correct.
D. USES OF ADJECTIVES
37.
Adjectives of quantity show how much of a thing is meant. Adjectives of
quantity
(some; much, little, enough, all, no, any, great, half, sufficient, whole)
are
used for Uncountable Nuns only.
For
example,
Incorrect-I ate a few rice.
Correct- I ate some rice.
38.
Numeral Adjectives are used for Countable Noun only and they show how
many
persons or things are meant or in what order a person or thing stands,
For
example,
Incorrect- I have taught you little things.
Correct- I have taught you a few things.
39.
When cardinal and ordinal are used together ordinal preceds the cardinal.
For
example,
Incorrect- The four first boys will be given the chance.
Correct- The first four boys will be given the chance.
40.
Later, latest refer to time, latter and last refer to position.
For
example,
Incorrect- I reached at 10 am. But he was latter than I
expected.
Correct- I reached at 10 am. But he was later than I expected,
41.
Farther means more distant or advanced; further means additional.
For
example,
Incorrect- He insisted on farther improvement.
Correct- He insisted on further improvement.
42.
Each is used in speaking of two or more things, every is used only in
speaking
of more than two.
For
example,
Incorrect- Every of the two boys will get a prize.
Correct- Each of the two boys will get a prize.
43.
To express quantity or degree some is used in affirmative sentences, any
in
negative or interrogative sentences.
For
example,.
Incorrect- Have you bought some mangoes?
Correct- Have you bought any mangoes?
44.
In comparing two things, the Comparative should be used,
The
Superlativ should not be used.
For
example.
Incorrect- Which is the best of the two?
Correct- Which is the better of the two?
45.
When two qualities of the same person or thing
are
compared,the Comparative in-er is not used. 'More' is used for this
purpose.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is wiser than brave.
Correct- He is more wise than brave.
46.
When comparison is made by means of a comparative, the thing
compared
should be excluded from the class of things with which it is
compared
by using 'other' or some such word.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is cleverer than any boy in the class.
Correct- He is cleverer than any other boy in the class.
47.
When comparison is made by means of a superlative, the thing com-
pared
should include the class of things with which it is compared.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is the strongest of all other men.
Correct- He is the strongest of all men
48.
When two persons or things are compared, it is important that the same
parts
of things should be compared.
For
example,
Incorrect- The population of Bombay is greater than Delhi.
Correct- The population of Bombay is greater than that of Delhi.
49.
Double comparatives and superlatives should not be used.
For
example,
1.
Incorrect- He is the most cleverest boy in the
class.
Correct- He is the
cleverest boy in the class.
2.
Incorrect- He is more wiser than his brother.
Correct- He 'is
wiser than his brother.
50.
The comparative Adjectives superior inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior,
posterior
prefer, etc., should be followed by 'to' instead of 'than'.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is senior than me.
Correct- He is senior to me.
51. Adjectives like 'unique', ideal, perfect, complete,
universal, entire, extreme, chief,
full square and round, which do not admit different degrees of comparison
should not be compared.
For example,
Incorrect- It is the most unique thing.
Correct- It is a unique thing.
52.
All the Adjectives which refer to the same Noun should be in the same
degree
of comparison.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is the wisest and honest worker in the office.
Correct- He is the wisest and most honest worker in the office.
53.
'Elder' and 'eldest' should be used for persons only, strictly speaking, they
are
used for the members of the same family only. 'Older' and 'oldest' are
used
for both persons and things.
For
example
Incorrect- He is my older brother.
Correct- He is my elder brother.
E. USES OF ADVERBS
54.
To modify a Verb, an Adjective or another Adverb, we use an Adverb.
For
example,
Incorrect- She writes very careful.
Correct- She writes very carefully.
Carefully
is an Adjective which cannot modify the Adverb very, therefore
carefully
(Adverb) must be used in place of Adjective careful.
55.
Too means more than required and it is used with Unpleasant Adjective.
So,
we cannot use too glad, too happy, too pleasant, too healthy.
For
example,
Incorrect- I am too glad to meet you.
Correct- I am very glad to meet you.
56.
A sentence which is based on ''Too . To" format, we cannot replace to
with
so that. If we replace to with so that, too also must be replaced with
cannot.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is too weak so that he cannot walk.
Correct- He is too weak to walk. Correct- He is so weak that he
cannot walk.
57.
Much too is followed by Unpleasant Adjective, whereas too much is
followed
by Noun.
Much
too + Unpleasant Adjective.
Too
much + Noun.
For
example,
Incorrect- His failure is too much painful for me.
Correct- His failure is much too painful for me.
Incorrect- His wife's rude behavior gives him much too pain.
Correct- His wife's rude behavior gives him too much pain.
58.
Quite and all are not used together.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is quite all right.
Correct- He is quite right. or He is all right-
59.
A/An + Fairly + Adjective + Noun or Rather + A + Adjective For example,
(i)
a fairly good book
(ii)
rather a difficult problem.
But
we cannot use Pleasant Adjective with rather and Unpleasant Adjective
with
fairly.
For
example,
Incorrect- It was a rather good book.
Correct- It was a fairly good book.
60.
Enough, when used as an Adverb, is preceded by a positive degree
Adjective
or Adverb.
For
example,
Incorrect- He is greater enough to pardon you.
Correct- He is great enough to pardon you. '
61.
Two negatives cancel each other. Hence two negatives should not be
used
in the same sentence unless we make an affirmation.
For
example,
Incorrect-I have not got none.
Correct- I.have not got any.
62.
'At present' means 'at the present time', 'presently' means 'shortly'. These
should
not be confused.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- Nothing more can be done presently.
Correct- Nothing more can be done at present.
2. Incorrect- He will come back at present.
Correct- He will come back presently.
63.
'Hard' means 'diligently', strenuously', 'Hardly' means 'scarcely at all'.
These
two Adverbial forms of 'hard' must not be confused.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- He tried hardly to win the race.
Correct- He tried hard to win the race.
2. Incorrect- She has eaten hard anything today.
Correct- She has eaten hardly anything today.
64.
'Much' is used before past participles and Adjectives or Adverbs of
comparative
degree. 'Very' is used before the present participles and
Adjectives
and Adverbs of positive degree.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- The news is much surprising.
Correct- The news is
very surprising.
2. Incorrect-I was very surprised at hearing the news.
Correct- I was much surprised at hearing the news.
65.
Hardly is an Adverb which means rarely. Whereas hard is an Adjective
which
means tough, rigid.
For
example,
Incorrect- It is a hardly job.
Correct- It is a hard job.
66.
Ago is always used with Past Indefinite Tense. So, if ago is used in a
sentence,
that sentence must be in the Past Indefinite Tense.
For
example,
Incorrect- He has come a month ago.
Correct- He came a month ago.
67. At present means at this moment and it is used with
•Present Tense, whereas presently and
shortly are used for future' action and generally' used with Future Indefinite
Tense.
For
example,
Incorrect- Presently he is in the room.
Correct- At present he is in the room.
68.
Early means "just after the beginning of anything" and soon means
just
after
a point of time.
For
example,
Roses blossomed early this spring.
69.
The sentence which starts with seldom, never. hardly. rarely or scarcely
takes
an inverse structure, Le., Verb + Subject - Structure.
For example,
Incorrect- Seldom I had seen such a beautiful sight.
Correct- Seldom had I seen such a beautiful sight.
70.
Inversion is also used in a sentence which starts with here/there/
away/out/up/indoor
or outdoor and Main Verb, or Aux + Main Verb is used
before
the Subject.
For
example,
Incorrect- Away Sita went
Correct- Away went Sita.
F. USES OF PREPOSITION
71.
Objective case (of Noun or• Pronoun) is used after Preposition.
For
example,
Incorrect- I do not depend on he.
Correct- I do not depend on him.
72
The Prepositions used after two words must be made clear if these two
words
are connected by and or or.
For
example,
Incorrect- She is conscious and engaged in her work.
Correct- She is conscious of and engaged in her work.
73.
If a Principal Verb is used after about, after, at, before. for, from, in, on.
to,
that
Verb must be in ing (V4) form.
For
example,
Incorrect- You prevented me from do it.
Correct- You prevented me from doing it. .
74.
On, in, at, are not used before today, tomorrow, yesterday, the following
day,
the next day etc.
For
example,
Incorrect- He will go there on to-morrow.
Correct- He will go there tomorrow.
75.
No Preposition is used before the word home. At home is a phrase which
bears
a different meaning.
For
example,
Incorrect- Bring a T.V. set at home.
Correct- Bring a T.V. se$ home.
76. After Transitive Verbs, like dis¬cuss, describe, reach,
order, tell, demand, attack, resemble, ridicule, etc. we directly use the
object and no Preposition
is used after the Verb.
For
example:
Incorrect- The poet describes about the beauty of naturel in
this poem.
Correct- The poet describes the beauty of nature in this poem.
77.
Say/suggest/propose/speak/reply/explain/talk/listen/write is followed by to-
Preposition
if there is a person in the form of object.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- He did not reply me.
Correct- He did not reply to me.
2. Incorrect- He did not
write to a letter.
Correct- He did not write a letter.
G. USES OF CONJUNCTIONS
78.
Two Conjunctions should not be used in the same sentence.
For
example,
Incorrect- Although she was tired, but she still went on
working.
Correct- Although she was tired, she still went on working.
79.
'Both' should be followed by 'and'. It should be used in the positive sense.
In
the negative sense, 'neither' ..... .'nor• should be used in place of 'both'.
For
example,
incorrect- Both Ravi as well as Raja were present there.
Correct- Both Ravi and Raja were present there.
80.
'Either ... or', 'neither .... nor: 'both and', 'not only but also' should be
followed by the same parts of speech.
For
example,
Incorrect- He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
Correct- He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage.
81.
'Neither' should be followed , by 'nor', 'either' should be followed by 'or'.
Both
these should not be con¬fused.
For
example,
Incorrect- He washed neither his hands or his face.
Correct- He washed neither his hands nor his face.
82.
'No sooner' should be fol¬lowed by 'than', not by 'but' or 'then'.
For
example
Incorrect- No sooner do I finish this book then I shall begin
another.
Correct- No sooner do I finish the book, than I shall begin
another.
83.
'Hardly' and 'scarcely' should be followed by 'when' or 'before', but not
by
'than' or 'that'.
For
example,
Incorrect- Hardly did I reach the station, than the train left
it.
Correct- Hardly did I reach the station when the train left it.
84.
'That' should not be used before a sentence in Direct Speech and before
Interrogative
Adverbs and Pronouns in the Indirect Speech.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- He said that, "I shall go there."
Correct- He said, "I shall go there".
2. Incorrect- He asked me that who I was.
Correct- He asked me who was.
H. USES OF PRONOUNS
85.
When a Pronoun is used as the complement of the Verb 'to be', it should
be
in the nominative case.
For
example,
Incorrect- If I were him, I would not do it.
Correct- If I were he, I would not do it.
86.
When the Pronoun is used as the object of a Verb or of a Preposition, it
should
be in the objective case.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- Let you and I do it.
Correct- Let you and me do it.
2. Incorrect- These presents are for you and I.
Correct- These presents are for you and me.
87.
Emphatic Pronouns can not stand alone as Subjects~
For
example,
Incorrect- Himself did
it.
Correct- He himself did it.
88.
The Indefinite Pronoun 'one' should be used throughout if used at all.
For
example,
Incorrect- One must not boast of his own success.
Correct- One must not boast of one's own success.
89.
'Either' or 'neither' is used only in speaking of two persons or things; 'any',
'no
one' and 'none' is used in speaking of more than two.
For
example,
1. Incorrect- Anyone of these two roads leads to the railway
station.
Correct- Either of these two roads leads to the railway station.
2. Incorrect- Neither of these three boys did his homework.
Correct- No one of these three boys did his homework.
90.
'Each other' is used in speaking of two persons or things; 'one an¬other' is
used
in speaking of more than two.
For
example,
Incorrect- The two brothers loved one another.
Correct- The two brothers loved each other.
91.
A Noun or Pronoun governing a Gerund should be put in the possessive
case.
For
example,
Incorrect- Please excuse me being late.
Correct- Please excuse my being late.
92.
A Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
For
example,
Incorrect- Each of these boys has done their homework.
Correct- Each of these boys has done his homework.
93.
When two or more Singular Nouns are joined by 'and', the Pronoun used
for
them must be in Plural.
For
example
Incorrect- Both Raju and Ravi have done his homework.
Correct- Both Raju and Ravi have done their homework.
94.
When two or more Singular Nouns joined by 'and' refer to the same
person
or thing, a Pronoun used for them must be in the singular.
For
example,
Incorrect- The collector and District Magistrate is not
negligent in their duty.
Correct- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent
in his duty.
95.
When two or more singular nouns joined by 'or' or 'nor', 'either ... or',
'neither
.. nor', the Pronoun used for them should be in the singular.
For
example,
Incorrect- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done their homework.
Correct- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done his homework.
96.
When two or more singular Pronouns of different persons come together,
the
Pronoun of second per¬son singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the
first
person singular (I) comes last and the pronoun of the third person
singular
(he) comes in between.
For
example,
Incorrect- I, You and he must work together ..
Correct- You, he and I must work together.
97.
When two or more plural Pro-nouns of different persons come together
first
person plural (we) comes first, then second person plural (you) and last of
all
third person plural (they).
For
example,
Incorrect- You, they and we must work together ..
Correct- We, you and they must work together.
98. The
Relative Pronoun who is in subjective case, whereas whom is
in
objective case. Therefore, for who there must be a Finite Verb in the
sentence.
Or otherwise, when whom (Object) is used in the sentence and
there
is more Finite Verb's than the number of Subjects in the sentence, then
whom
should be changed into who (Subject).
For
example,
Incorrect- The doctor whom came here was Ram's brother.
Correct- The doctor who came here was Ram's brother.
99.
With Superlative Degree Adjective, only, none, all etc., as Relative
Pronoun
we use that and not which or who.
For
example,
Incorrect- All which glitters is not gold.
Correct- All that glitters is not gold.
100.
After let, if a Pronoun is used, that Pronoun must be in the Objective
Case.
For
example,
Incorrect- Let he go there.
Correct- Let him go there.
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