Comprehension :
*It is the act of Understanding.
*Reading without Understanding is a complete waste of Time.
*Read Question(but not Options) before reading Passage.
*Examine the attitude of Writer.
Close Test/Rapid Fillers :
*Read the Passage once before you start filling up the blanks.
*Fill up the blanks whereever you find it easy.
==================================
Common Errors :
Verb :
Rule 1
In a compound sentence, a single verb can fit in with two subjects, provided the form of the verb agrees with the subject.
For Example:
His mouth was open, his nose twitching.
But the following sentence is incorrect:
A His mouth was open, his eyes staring.
A It should be written as:
A His mouth was open, his eyes were staring.
A Note the difference in the verb form.
Rule 2
Two auxiliary verbs can be used with one principal verb, provided the form of the principal verb suits both the auxiliaries.
For Example:
I never can or will hurt a fly.
But the following sentence is incorrect:
He never has and never will refuse a bribe.
It should be written as:
He never has refused and never will refuse a bribe.
Note the difference in the verb form.
Rule 3
One auxiliary verb can be used with two principal verbs, provided its form suits both principal verbs.
For Example:
Several victims have been killed and several buried.A
But the following sentence is incorrect:
A new secretary has been elected and the old resigned.
It should be written as:
A new secretary has been elected and the old has resigned.
Again note the difference in the verb form.
Rule 4
The verb lay and lie are often incorrectly used. The verb lay always takes an object and the three forms of the verb are: lay, laid, laid.
The verb lie (recline) does not take an object and the three forms of the verb are lie, lay and lain.
For Example:
Lay the table.
The table was laid by the servant.
Let the child lie.
The child lay on the bed.
The body has lain for two hours.
Note:Another meaning of the verb lie is "to tell a falsehood". The three forms of this verb are lie, lied, lied. This should not be confused with the lie mentioned above.
For Example:
She is fond of telling lies.
Does she lie often?
Rule 5
The verb rise and raise are also often incorrectly used.
The verb rise means 'to ascend', 'to go up.'
The three forms of the verb are: rise, rose, risen. It does not take an object.A
For Example:
The plane rose very quickly.
The mountains rise above the land.
My uncle has risen in life.
The verb raise means 'to lift up', 'to increase.
The three forms of the verb are : raise, raised and raised.
For Example:
He raised his leg.
I requested the manager to give me a raise.
Do not raise your voice.
Rule 6
Note carefully the use of the following verbs: Ring, sing, sink, begin, show, flow, hang, awake and fly
The past tense and the past participle of these verbs are often mixed up.
The three forms of these verbs are:
Ring, Rang, Rung.
Sing, Sang, Sung.
Sink, Sank, Sunk.
Begin, Began, Begun.
Show, Showed, Showed/Shown.
Flow, Flowed, Flowed.
Hang, Hung, Hung (a picture)
Hang, Hanged, Hanged (a criminal)
Fly, Flew, Flown.
For Example:
The visitor rang (not rung) the bell.
The ship sank (not sunk) without a trace.
The show has begun (not began).
The river has overflowed (not over flown) its banks
The criminal was hanged (not hung)
The picture was hung (not hanged).
Rule 7
The use of shall and will. Many of the precise distinctions concerning the use of shall and will have passed out of informal speaking and writing. But formal writing still prohibits the arbitrary use of these two forms of the verb.
Shall is used in the first person and will in the second and third person to express simple futurity.
For Example:
I shallA We shall
You willA They will
However, in order to express determination, compulsion, threat, willingness, command or promise, reverse the order of shall and will. Use will in the first person and shall in the second and third person.
For Example:
I will go tomorrow, come what may.
You shall do this work.
I will try and improve my performance.
They shall go by this afternoon.
Note:(I) Will or shall should not be used twice in the same sentence if both actions refer to the future.
For Example:
Incorrect: I shall reach the office if the bus will come in time.
Correct: I shall reach the office if the bus comes in time.
Note:A (II) In asking questions, will is not used in the first person.
For Example:
Shall I go?
Shall we go?
Rule 8
The use of should and would. Should is the past tense of shall and generally follows the same rules that apply to shall. Would is the past tense of will and generally follows the same rules that apply to will.
A Both should and would have special uses too. Should is used in all three persons to express obligation. Both ought and should are used interchangeably to express obligation.
For Example:
I should go if I were you.
You should do a good deed everyday.
You ought to be courteous.
Would is used in all three persons to express habitual action, determination and willingness.
For Example:
We would go for a walk every evening.
I would not run away from responsibility.
He would try to do his best.
Rule 9
Use of ought Ought is usually followed by to.
For Example:
You ought to go home now.
Ought is used to express:
(a) duty or moral obligation:The rich ought to help the poor.
(b) probability:He ought to have come back home by now.
(c) desirability:You ought to pray before every meal.
Rule 10
May and Might. As a principal verb, may expresses possibility or permission.
For Example:
Let's go, he may be home now.
May I leave now.
As an auxiliary verb, may expresses a wish or purpose.
For Example:
May you succeed in life.
We take medicine so that we may be cured.
Might is the past tense of may
For Example:
He asked if he might leave.
It is also used to express a weak possibility or a polite suggestion .
For Example:
You might find the purse with the peon, but I doubt it.
You might make a suggestion if you want.
Rule 11
Can and Could
(i) Can expresses ability or capacity
For Example:
I can walk ten miles.
Can you solve this problem
(ii) Can also expresses permission.
For Example:
You can go
In this sentence can has the same meaning as may. The difference is that may is used to express possibility in affirmative sentences.
Can is used in interrogative or negative sentences.
For Example:
It may be true.
Can this be true?
It cannot be true.
Could is the past tense of can. It also acts as a principal verb when it expresses its own meaning.
For Example:
Inspite of his illness, he could do well in the examination.
Could here relates to ability.
==================================
Agreement:
A verb must agree with its subject in number and person. The problem arises when the verb is wrongly matched with the noun near it instead of with its proper subject.
Rule 1
When two subjects are joined by as well as or with, the verb should be matched with the first subject.
For Example:
Incorrect: The teacher with his students are busy
Correct:A The teacher with his students is busy
Incorrect: He as well as I am in the wrong
Correct: He as well as I is in the wrong
Rule 2
When two subjects are joined by Neither - nor or Either - or, the verb should be matched with the second subject.
For Example:
Incorrect: Neither he nor I is in the wrong.
Correct: Neither he nor I am in the wrong
Incorrect: Either you or he are guilty
Correct: Either you or he is guilty
Note:When one of the subjects joined by Either - or or Neither - nor is in the plural, the verb should be in the plural, and the plural subject should be placed near the verb.
Incorrect: Neither the teacher nor the students is busy
Correct: Neither the teacher not the students are busy
Incorrect: Either Ram or his friends is guilty
Correct: Either Ram or his friends are guilty.
Rule 3
When two subject are joined by and, the verb should be in the plural.
For Example:
Incorrect: He and I is good friends
Correct: He and I are good friends
A Note: However, if two nouns constitute one idea or are used as one phrase, the verb should be in the singular.
Incorrect: Bread and butter are his favourite food
Correct: Bread and butter is his favourite food
Incorrect: The teacher and guide are dead
Correct: The teacher and guide is dead
A Note: Sometimes, the use of the article in such sentences also determines the verb
For Example:
Incorrect: The teacher and the guide is dead
correct: The teacher and the guide are dead
Rule 4
Either, Neither, Each, Everyone, Many a take singular verb.
For Example:
Incorrect: Either of the students are guilty
Correct: Either of the students is guilty
Incorrect: Each of the students have been well provided
Correct: Each of the students has been well provided
Incorrect: May a politician have been found to be corrupt
Correct: Many a politician has been found to be corrupt
Incorrect: Everyone of the politicians are guilty
Correct: Everyone of the politicians is guilty
Rule 5
Nouns qualified by each or every even when joined by and take a singular verb
For Example:
Incorrect: Each boy and girl were given separate seat
Correct: Each boy and girl was given a separate seat
Incorrect: Every boy and girl were offered hospitality
Correct: Every boy and girl was offered hospitality
Rule 6
Collective nouns like Jury, Army, Committee, Assembly etc. take a singular verb when they subscribe to one view. If they expressdivergent views, the verb should be used in the plural.
For Example:
Incorrect: The Jury are unanimous in their judgment
Correct: The Jury is unanimous in its judgment
Incorrect: The jury is divided in its judgment
Correct: The jury are divided in their judgment
Incorrect: The assembly has disagreed on the question of discipline
Correct: The assembly have disagreed on the question of discipline
Rule 7
Some nouns like mathematics, politics, news, innings, wages, summons, advice, scenery, furniture, machinery, poetry, information, vacation etc take a singular verb.
For Example:
Incorrect: Mathematics are a difficult subject.
Correct: Mathematics is a difficult subject.
Incorrect: Politics are his bread and butter.
Correct: Politics is his bread and butter.
Incorrect: New machinery for the factory have arrived.
Correct: New machinery for the factory has arrived.
Incorrect: We have just returned after long vacations.
Correct: We have just returned after a long vacation.
Rule 8
Some nouns like scissors, trousers, measles, spectacles, tongs, riches etc take a plural verb.
For Example:
Incorrect: The scissors is blunt.
Correct: The scissors are blunt.
Incorrect: My spectacles has been stolen.
Correct: My spectacles have been stolen.
Incorrect: Your trousers is torn.
Correct: Your trousers are torn.
Rule 9
Some collective nouns like cattle, poultry, gentry, vermin take a plural verb.
For Example:
Incorrect: The cattle is grazing.
Correct: The cattle are grazing.
Incorrect: The gentry is absent.
Correct: The gentry are absent.
Note People can be used both as singular and plural For example
(I) The Indians are supposed to be emotional people
(II) Peoples of different races and religions live in India.
Rule 10
Some nouns like sheep, deer, salmon, swine etc retain the same form in the singular and the plural.
For Example:
The sheep is grazing (singular)
The sheep are grazing (plural)
Rule 11
When a plural noun refers to a specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, it generally takes a singular verb, dozen, score, hundred (when preceded by numerals): a five rupee note.
For Example:
Incorrect: Five hundred miles are a long distance.
Correct: Five hundred miles is a long distance.
Incorrect: I purchased two dozens mangoes.
Correct: I purchased two dozen mangoes.
Rule 12
When a plural noun is a proper noun referring to a single entity, it takes a singular verb.
For Example:
Incorrect: The United States of America act like a bully.
Correct: The United States of America acts like a bully.
Incorrect: 'The three Musketeers' were written by A. Dumas.
Correct: 'The Three Musketeers' was
Tense:
Rule 1
If the principal clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause should also be in the past tense.
For Example:
Incorrect: I went and tour the country.
Correct: I went and toured the country.
However, the subordinate clause can be in the present tense if it denotes a universal truth.
For Example:
Incorrect:A The teacher told us that the sun rose in the east.
Correct:A The teacher told us that the sun rises in the east.
Any tense can be used in the subordinate clause if it contains a comparison by using thanA
For Example:
He desired you more than I desire you.
Rule 2
With conjunctions like if, when, until, unless, as soon as, the present indefinite tense is used.A
For Example:
Incorrect:A If you will not practice, you will not learn.A
Correct:A If you do not practice, you will not learn.
Incorrect: When my friend will come, I shall leave for home.
Correct:A When my friend comes, I shall leave for home.
Incorrect: As soon as the plane will land, I will rush to meet my father.A
Correct:A As soon as the plane lands, I will rush to meet my father.
Incorrect: Unless my brother will come, I will not go.
Correct:A Unless my brother comes, I will not go.
Rule 3
The past perfect tense shows an action completed in the past before another action began.
For Example:
I had gone to Mumbai before I left for Kolkata.
Mistakes are committed when the past perfect is used instead of simple past.
For Example:
Incorrect:A I had gone to see a film.
Correct:A I went to see a film.
Incorrect: I had gone to Bombay.
Correct:A I went to Bombay.
Things to remember:
(i) the past perfect tense denotes two actions.
(ii) the past perfect tense should be used with the earlier of the two actions.
For Example:
Incorrect:A I reached the station before the train had left.
Correct:A I had reached the station before the train left.
Rule 4
The verbs want, desire, wish, like, hate, seem, signify, hear & smell and forgive should not be used in the continuous form.
For Example:
Incorrect:A I am wanting to die.
Correct:A I want to die.
Incorrect: I am wishing for a windfall.
Correct:A I wish for a windfall.
Incorrect: I am smelling something fishy.
Correct:A I smell something fishy.
Incorrect: You should be forgiving him.
Correct:A You should forgive him.
Rule 5
With as if and as though, were is used in the present tense and had been in the past tense.
For Example:
Incorrect:A He boasts as if he is the king.
Correct:A He boasts as if he were the king.
Incorrect: He performed as though he were possessed.
Correct:A He performed as though he had been possessed.
Pronoun:
Rule 1
A Pronoun should agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
For Example:
Every father must bring up his children properly.
All students should show their home work.
One must do one's duty.
Each girl should contribute her share.
Rule 2
Each, every, either, neither, many a, any, anybody, everybody, everyone, take a singular pronoun.
For Example:
Incorrect: Everybody in the bus were injured.
Correct: Everybody in the bus was injured.
Incorrect: Each boy paid their own share.
Correct: Each boy paid his own share.
Incorrect: Everyone are happy with their effort.
Correct: Everyone is happy with his effort.
Rule 3
Anyone, everyone, each, everybody etc. take a pronoun which agrees with the antecedent gender. However, when gender is not mentioned, then masculine pronoun is used.
For Example:
Incorrect: Every student must show their homework.
Correct: Every student must show his home work.
Incorrect: Anyone can ask for their turn.
Correct: Anyone can ask for his turn.
Note:A One and everyone take different pronouns. One is used throughout.
For Example:
Incorrect: One should do his duty.
Correct: One should do one's duty.
Incorrect: Everyone should do one's duty.
Correct: Everyone should do his duty.
Rule 4
When the verb form to be (is, am, are, was, were) is to be complemented by a pronoun, it should be in the nominative form, i.e. I, you, he, she.
For Example:
Incorrect: It was him who came in the morning.
Correct: It was he who came in the morning.
Incorrect: I am taller than her.
Correct: I am taller thanA she.
Incorrect: Is it me you are looking for?
Correct: Is it I you are looking for?
Incorrect: You are smarter than him.
Correct: You are smarter than he.
Rule 5
A pronoun in its objective form (him, her, me) should be used as an object of a verb or a preposition.
For Example:
Incorrect: He has helped I and my father.
Correct: He has helped me and my father.
Incorrect: She, who appeared so considerate, turned out to be cruel.
Correct: Her, who appeared so considerate, turned out to be cruel.
Incorrect: Between you and I, you are a crook.
Correct: Between you and me, you are a crook.
Incorrect: Except he all were present.
Correct: Except him all were present.
Rule 6
If three persons are used in a sentence, the order should be Second person, Third person and First person.
For Example:
Incorrect: I, you and he can leave at 5 p.m.
Correct: You, he and I can leave at 5 p.m.
Incorrect: If Ram and you are going, I and Sham shall accompany you.
Correct: If you and Ram are going, Sham and I shall accompany you.
Rule 7
Each other should be used for referring to two persons or things, one another for referring to more than two.
For Example:
Incorrect: Husband and wife exchanged vows with one another.
Correct: Husband and wife exchanged vows with each other.
Incorrect:A People should love each other.
Correct: People should love one another.
Rule 8
Yours is usually used before words ending in -ly, otherwise your is used
For Example:
Incorrect: I am, your obediently.
Correct: I am, Yours obediently.
Incorrect: I remain, Yours affectionate husband.
Correct: I remain, your affectionate husband.
Rule 9
Who and Whom are often used incorrectly.
Who is to be used in Nominature (subjective) case.
Whom is to be used in objective case.
For Example:
Incorrect: There are some whom I think are very smart.
Correct: There are some who I think are very smart.
Incorrect: Whom do you think was there?
Correct: Who do you think was there?
Incorrect:A Who do you wish to address?
Correct: Whom do you wish to address?
Incorrect: Who the gods love die young.
Correct: Whom the gods love die young.
Rule 10
A Reflexive pronoun (addition of self) is used as an object of a verb, and refers back to the same subject.
For Example:
The culprit hanged himself.
If we write "the culprit hanged him", 'him' would refer to somebody else and not to the culprit himself. The meaning thus would change.
When you wrong me, you actually wrong yourself.
Some people always talk about themselves.
I plan to go myself.
We ourselves are to be blamed.
length: Metre. instrument: Lactometer,hydrometer.
Than : for comparison , then : at that time(tabb)
Participle and Infinitives:
*know is followed by how/where/when/why and infinitive.
I know how to write a letter.
*(let,bid,behold, watch,see,feel,make),(modal auxilary such as can,could,may,might,must,shall,should,will,would,dare not,need not),(had better,had rather,had as soon as,had sooner) are followed by Bare infinitive ie without to.You need not work hard.
*Conjuction than is also followed by Bare Infinitive.
*every participle must have a subject of reference.
It being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.
*For completed action Having V3 is used in active voice,whereas having been V3 or been V3 is used in Passive voice. After should not be used in such a sentence.
The leader having been killed ,the followers ran away.
*Participle like 'consdiring,judging,referring,concerning,regarding,viewing,broadly speaking' do not take any subject of reference