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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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Had better, had rather,had as soon … as … , had sooner etc. are followed by Bare Infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- He had better to go now.
Correct- He had better go now.
16. 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.
17. When but is used as a Preposition and preceded by any form of the Verb
do, then but is followed with Bare Infinitive.
Incorrect- He did nothing but to wander.
Correct- He did nothing but wander.
18. 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.
1 9. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form
of Verb is same for both the subjects.
Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.
23. Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the form of
the principal Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries. ‘
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.
24. When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be
correctly associated with the both.
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.
Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.
25. A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in
the subordinate clause.
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.
Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.
26. 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.
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.
27. 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.
Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.
Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.
28. An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between ‘to’ and
verbal part of,the infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter:
Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.
29. An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents’ an action
prior to that of the governing Verb.
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.
Correct- I should have liked to go there.
30. Gerund if preceded by a Pr-o-noun, that Pronoun must be
in Possessive case.
Incorrect – He emphasised me going there.
Correct- He emphasised my going there.
31. 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~.
Incorrect- How long are you working i~ this office?
. Correct- How long have you been working in this office?
32. A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.
Incorrect- They were punished for come late.
Correct- They were punished for, coming late.
33. The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and
condition. Here the Present In¬definite Tense is used.
Incorrect- I shall wait for you till you will finish your work.
Correct- I shall wait for you, till you finish your work.
34. The Present Perfect Tense is not used with the Adverbs of past time like
yesterday, in 1990 etc. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used.
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.
Incorrect- When I reached the station, the train already left.
Correct- When I reached the station, the train had already left.
35. 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.
36. 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.
Rules of English Grammar For SSC CGL and Bank PO
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.
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.
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.
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 compared should include the class of things with which it is compared.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rules of English Grammar For SSC CGL and Bank PO
71. Two Conjunctions should not be used in the same sentence.
Incorrect- Although she was tired, but she still went on working.
Correct- Although she was tired, she still went on working.
72. ‘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’.
incorrect- Both Ravi as well as Raja were present there.
Correct- Both Ravi and Raja were present there.
73. ‘Either … or’, ‘neither …. nor:
‘both and’, ‘not only but also’
should be followed by the same parts of speech.
Incorrect- He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
Correct- He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage.
74. ‘Neither’ should be followed , by ‘nor’, ‘either’ should be followed by ‘or’.
Both these should not be con¬fused.
Incorrect- He washed neither his hands or his face.
Correct- He washed neither his hands nor his face.
75. ‘No sooner’ should be fol¬lowed by ‘than’, not by ‘but’ or ‘then’.
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.
76. ‘Hardly’ and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’ or ‘before’, but not
by ‘than’ or ‘that’.
Incorrect- Hardly did I reach the station, than the train left it.
Correct- Hardly did I reach the station when the train left it.
77. ‘That’ should not be used before a sentence in Direct Speech and before
Interrogative Adverbs and Pronouns in the Indirect Speech.
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.
78. 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.
79. 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.
80. 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. .
81. 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.
82. 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.
83. After Transitive Verbs, like discuss,
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.
84. Say/suggest/propose/speak/reply/explain/talk/listen/write is followed by toPreposition 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.
85. When a Pronoun is used as the complement of the Verb ‘to be’, it should
be in the nominative case.
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.
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 Incorrect- Himself did it. Correct- He himself did it.
88. The Indefinite Pronoun ‘one’ should be used throughout if used at all.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 person 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.
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).
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.
100 Golden rules of English Grammar for Error detection and Sentence Improvement
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In this post we are sharing some important Prepositional phrases along with example sentences which is easy to understand. Click on the Picture for Clear View
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Prepositional Phrases (for)
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A preposition denotes the position that one person or thing occupies in relation to the other. It is pre (before) because it is put before the noun or noun equivalent which is its subject.
e.g. The book is on the table.
On in the above sentence is a preposition. It shows the relation of book to the table.
Consider the sentences :
1. There is a cow in the field.
2. He is fond of tea.
3. The cat jumped off the chair.
In sentence 1, the preposition in joins a noun to another noun.
In sentence 2, the preposition of joins a noun to Adjective.
In sentence 3, the preposition off joins a noun to verb.
The noun or pronoun which is used with a preposition is called its object. It is in the accusative case and is said to be governed by the preposition.
• A preposition may have two or more objects. e.g. The road runs over hill and plain.
• A preposition is usually placed before its object but sometimes it follows the same.
1. Here is the watch that you asked for.
2. That is the boy I was speaking of.
3. What are you looking at?
4. What are you thinking of?
5. Which of .these chairs did you sit on?
Note :
(i) When the object is the relative pronoun that, as in sentence 1, the preposition is always placed at the end.
The preposition is often placed at the end when the object is an interrogative pronoun (as in sentence 3, 4 and 5) or a relative pronoun understood (as in sentence 2).
ii) Sometimes the object is placed first for the sake of emphasis.
e.g. This I insist on.
He is known all the world over.
The preposition for, from, in, on are often omitted before noun of place or time.
e.g. We did it last week
At, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, out, through, till, to, up, with.
They are generally formed by prefixing a preposition to a noun, an adjective or an adverb. About, above, across, along, amidst, among, amongst, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath, within, without.
Group of words used with the force of a single preposition.
in accordance with in addition to
in (on) behalf of in case of
for the sake of conformably to
by way of by reason of
by means of by virtue of
by dint of in course of
in favour of etc.
e.g. He succeeded by dint of preserverce.
In case of need, phone to No
By virtue of the power vested in me, I hereby order.
In course of time he saw his mistake.
He died fighting on behalf of his country.
By way of introduction, he made some pertinent remarks.
He acted according to my instructions.
Barring, concerning, considering, during, not withstanding, pending, regarding, respecting, touching, and a few similar words which are present participles of verbs, are used absolutely without any noun or pronoun being attached to them. For all practical purposes, they have become prepositions and are sometimes distinguished as participal preposition,
e.g. Barring accident, the mail will arrive tomorrow.
Concerning yesterday’s fire, there are many rumours in the bazar.
Considering the quality, the price is not high.
Pending further orders, Mr. Jha will act as head-master.
5. Several words are used sometimes as adverb and sometimes as preposition.
A word is a preposition when it governs a noun or pronoun; it is an adverb when it does not.
Adverb Preposition
Go, and run about. Don’t loiter about the street.
I could not come before I came the day before yesterday.
Has he come in? Is he in his room?
This book lies on the table.
I have not slept since yesterday.
6. We have seen that the object to a preposition is a noun or pronoun.
Sometimes, the object to a preposition is an adverb of time or place, e.g. I will be done by then (= that time).
Come away from there (= that place).
How far is it from here (=this place)?
7. Sometimes the object to a preposition is an adverbial phrase.
e.g. The noise comes from across the river.
I sold my car for under its half cost.
He did not see her till a few days ago.
He swore from dawn till far into the night.
8. A clause can also be the object to a preposition.
e.g. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say.
There is no meaning in what you say.
9. The object to a preposition, when it is a relative pronoun, is sometimes omitted.
e.g. He is the man I am looking for. These are the good rules to live by.
1. Place
went about the world ran across the road leaned against a wall fell among thieves quarrelled among themselves at death’s door stood before the door stood before the curtain lies below the surface sat beside me stand by me
rain comes from the clouds in the sky fell into a ditch four round the world came to the end of the road put pen to paper lay under the table climbed up the ladder within the house.
2. Time
After his death at an early date arrived before me behind time during the whole day for many years in the afternoon lived under the Moghuls on Monday pending his return since yesterday throughout the year ten minutes to twelve towards evening until his arrival rise with the sun within a month.
3.Agency, Instrumentality
Sell good at auction
send the parcel by post
was destroyed by fire
heard this through a friend
cut it with a knife.
4. Manner
Dying by inches fought with courage worked with earnestness won with ease.
5. Cause, reason, purpose
Laboured for the good of humanity
died of fever
the very place for a picnic
did it for our good
suffers from gout
died from fatigue
concealed it through shame
shivers with fever
took medicine for cold.
6. Possession
There was no money by him
the mosque of omar
a man of means t
he boy with red hair.
7. Measure, standard, rate, value
e.g. He charges interest at nine percent.
Stories like these must be taken at what they are worth.
Cloth is sold by the yard It was one by the tower clock.
8. Contrast, concession
e.g After (in spite of, not withstanding) over effort, one may fail.
For one enemy, he has a hundred friends.
With all his faults, I admire him.
9. Inference, motive, source, or origin
e.g. From what I know of him, I hesitate to trust him.
The knights were brave from gallantry of spirit.
He did it from gratitude from labour health.
1. In is used with names of countries and large towns, at is more often used when speaking of small towns and villages
e.g. He is in America.
2. In and at are used in speaking of things at rest, to and into are used in speaking of things in motion.
e.g. He is in bed. .
3. On is often used in speaking of things at rest, and upon the things in motion.
e.g. He sat on a chair.
4. Till is used of time and to is used of place. e.g. He slept till nine o’clock.
5. With often denotes the instrument and by the agent.
e.g. He killed two birds with one shot.
6. Since is used before a noun or phrase denoting some point of time, and is preceded by verb in the perfect tenses.
e.g. I have eaten nothing since yesterday.
7. In before a noun denoting a period of time, means at the end of; within means before the end of.
e.g. I shall return in an hour.
8. Beside means at (or by) the side of, while besides means in addition to.
e.g. Beside the ungathered rice he lay.
1. Than
This word is usually a conjunction, but is sometimes used as a preposition.
e.g. I cannot accept less than fifty rupees for this article.
2.But
As a rule but is a conjunction when used as a preposition. But means except, with the exception of.
e.g. What can he do but die. ‘
3. A
In the following sentences the a is a weakened form of the preposition on.
eg. His wages are sixty paise a day.
Fill in the blanks with these words: against, at, by, for, from, in, like, near, of, on, to, up, with.
1. She is doing a degree course _____ a university.
2. His trousers were washed _____ the washing machine.
3. We had to climb slowly _____ the hill.
4. His house looks_____a temple.
5. How many _____ the members will join the trip?
6. Don’t lean that ladder _____ the wall.
7. I don’t usually feel tired _____ the morning.
8. Have you heard anything_____ him yet?
9. My house is quite _____ to your school.
10. Put this_____ your drawer and do not let anyone see it.
Answer
1.at 2.by 3.up 4.like 5.of 6.against 7.in 8.from 9.near 10.in
Tense shows the time of an action, its degree of completeness.
Consider the following sentences :
1. I write this letter to please you.
2.I wrote the letter in his very presence.
3.I shall write another letter tomorrow.
In sentence 1, the verb writes refers to present time.
In sentence 2, the verb wrote refers to past time.
In sentence 3, the verb shall write refers to future time.
Thus a verb may refer
(i) to present time
(ii) to past time
(iii) to future time
A verb that refers to present time is said to be in the present tense.
e.g. I write.
I love.
Singular Number Plural Number
1st person I love We love
2nd person Thou lovest You love
3rd person He loves They love
Forms of present tense
1. I love {simple present)
2. I am loving {present continuous)
3. I have loved {present perfect)
4. I have been loving (present perfect continuous)
The verbs in all of these sentences refer to the present time and are therefore said to be in the present tense.
In sentence 1, the verb shows that the action is mentioned simply, without anything being said about the completeness or incompleteness of the action.
In sentence 2, the verb shows that the action is mentioned as incomplete or continuous, that is still going on.
In sentence 3, the verb shows that the action is mentioned as finished, complete, or perfect, at the time of speaking.
The tense of the verb in the sentence 4 is said to be present perfect continuous, because the verb shows that the action is going on continuously and not completed at this present moment.
Thus we see that the tense of a verb shows not only the time of an action or event, but also the state-of an action referred to.
A verb that refers to past time is said to be in the past tense.
e.g. I wrote.
Singular Number Plural Number
1st person I loved We loved
2nd person Thou lovedst You loved
3rd person He loved They loved
FORMS OF PAST TENSE
Just as the present tense has four forms, the past tense also has the following four forms :
1. I loved {simple past)
2. I was loving {past continuous)
3. I has loved {past perfect)
4. I had been loving {past perfect continuous)
A verb that refers to future time is said to be in the future tense.
e.g. I shall write.
I shall love.
Singular Number Plural Number
1st person I shall love We shall love
2nd person. Thou will love You will love
3rd person. He will love They will love
* These forms are now used only in poetry.
Forms of Future Tense
1. I shall love {simple future)
2. I shall be loving {future continuous)
3. I shall have loved (future perfect)
4. I shall have been loving {future perfect continuous)
Structure:sub+v1+o/c
The simple present tense is used :
(i) To express a habitual action.
e.g. He takes milk every morning.
I get up every day at five o’ clock.
(ii) To express general truth.
e.g. The sun rises in the east.
Honey is sweet.
(iii) In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present:
e.g. Here comes the bus
There she goes !
(iv) In vivid narrative, a substitute for the simple past.
e.g. Soharb now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Rustum.
(v) To indicate a future event that is part of a plan or arrangement.
e.g. We go to Mumbai next week.
When does the college reopen.
Structure:sub+is/am/are+v1+o/c
The present continuous is used :
(i) For an action going on at the time of speaking.
e.g. She is singing.
The boys are playing cricket.
(ii) For a temporary action which may not be actually happening at the time of speaking.
e.g. I am reading ‘The Firm ’ (but I am not reading at this moment)
(iii) For an action that is planned or arranged to take place in the near future.
e.g. I am going to the cinema tonight. – My uncle is arriving tomorrow.
Structure:sub+has/have+v3+o/c
The present perfect is used
(i) To indicate completed activities in the immediate past.
e.g. He has just gone out.
It has just struck eleven.
(ii) To express past actions whose time is not given and not definite.
e.g. Have you read ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.
I have never known him to be angry.
(iii) To describe past events when we think more of their effect in the present than of the action itself.
e.g. Himanshu has eaten all the biscuits.
I have cut my finger.
(iv) To denote an action beginning at some time in the past and continuing upto the present moment.
e.g. I have known him for a long time.
He has been ill since last week.
(v) The following adverbs can be used with the present perfect:
just, often, never, ever, so far, till now, yet, already, since-phrases, for-phrases, today, this week, this month etc.
Structure:sub+has/have+been+v1+ing+o/c
(i) The present perfect continuous is used for an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing.
e.g. He has been sleeping for five hours. They have been building the bridge for several months.
(ii) This tense is sometimes used for an action already finished. In such case the continuity of the activity is emphasized as an explanation of something.
e.g. Why are your clothes so wet ?
Structure:sub+v2+o/c
(i) The simple past tense is used to indicate an action completed in the past. It often occurs with adverbs or adverb phrases of past time.
e.g. The steamer sailed yesterday.
I received his letter a week ago.
(ii) Sometimes this tense is used with an adverb of times. In such cases the time may be either implied or indicated by the context.
e.g. I learnt Hindi inAraria.
I didn’t sleep well.
(iii) The simple past is also used for past habits.
e.g. He studied many hours every day.
She always carried an umbrella.
Structure:sub+was/were+v1+o/c
(i) The past continuous is used to denote an action going on at some time in the past. The time of the action may or may not be indicated.
e.g. We were listening to the radio all evening.
It was getting darker.
The light went out while I was reading.
(ii) This tense is also used, with always, continually etc., for persistent habits in the past.
e.g: He was always grumbling.
Structure:sub+had+v3+o/c
(i) The past perfect describes an action completed before a certain moment in the past.
e.g. I met him in New Delhi in 1992.
(ii) If two actions happened in the past, it may be neccessary to show which action happened earlier than the other. The past perfect is mainly used in such situations. The simple past is used in one clause and the past perfect in the other.
e.g. I had done my exercise when Rahul came to see me.
I had written the letter before he arrived.
Structure:sub+had+been+v1+ing+o/c
The past perfect continuous is used for an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to that time.
e.g At that time he had been writing a novel for two months.
Structure:sub+will+v1+o/c
The simple future tense is used for an action that has still to take place.
e.g. I shall seen him tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be Sunday.
Note : The simple future tense generally expresses pure or colourless future. When the future is coloured with intention, the going to +ve infinitive construction is perferred.
e.g. He is going to build a new house.
Structure:sub+will+v1+ing+o/c
(i) The future continuous represents an action as going on at some time in future time.
e.g. I shall be reading the paper then.
When I get home, my children will be playing.
(ii) This tense is also used for future events that are planned.
e.g. I will be staying here till Sunday.
He will be meeting us next week.
Structure:sub+will+have+v3+o/c
The future perfect tense is used to indicate the completion of an action by a certain future time.
e.g. I shall have written my exercise by that time.
Before you go to see him, he will have left the place.
Structure:sub+will+have+been+v1+ing+o/c
The future perfect continuous indicates an action represented as being in progress over a period of time that will end in the future.
e.g. By next july we shall have been living here for four years.
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