STUDY CIRCLE
KHAMMAM
SYNONYMS
Abolish= annul, cancel, ban prohibit
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Fugitive= refugee, runaway, deserter
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ANTONYMS
Antonyms are the negative connotation of a particular word. So, it is a word or phrase that is
opposite in meaning to a particular word or a phrase in the same language.
We must remember the following hints to be quite alert while choosing an antonym to the
given word.
We should bear in mind that an antonym must be in the same part of speech in which
the given word is.
We should note that the answer should be in the same tense form in which the given
word is.
We must pay due attention to the fact that generally the question paper setters include
a synonym in the alternative choices, given for the answer of the key word.
Often the alternative answers are in Active as well as in Passive Voice. The correct
answer is that which is similar in voice to the key word.
An antonym is a word opposite in meaning to another word but similar to it in most other
respects. For example, tall and short are opposite in meaning but both are the same parts of
speech (adjectives) and would take the same position in a sentence (before the noun they
modify).
Antonyms tend to be adjectives, adverbs and verbs, with relatively few nouns
qualifying as true antonyms. For example high (an adjective), slowly (an adverb) and to fast
(a verb) all have antonyms, while table (a noun) does not.
COMMIT TO MEMORY
Antonyms can be formed in three ways:
1. By adding a prefix like un, non, dis, mis, anti, de, il, im, in, ir, mal
2. By adding a suffix like less, ful,
3. By using a new word
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IDIOMS AND PHRASES
Idioms and phrases are recognized through experience. Sometimes ordinary words fail to
embody the experience on catch the spirit of the special situation. Idioms and phrases are meant
for such situation; they enrich a language. For example, the expression blue blood does not
mean that blood is blue, but it means to belong to a royal family. Similarly, the apple of
somebodys eye does not imply any real apple; it means a person of thing that is loved more
than any other or Pandoras box means a cause of several problems and does not imply any
real box through it has an association with the box of Pandora.
EXAMPLES
Let us study the patterns and few examples. The test is usually set in two forms; either in direct
multiple choice or in a sentence form.
B. In sentence form
Choose the substitute of the underlined phrase/idiom.
4. For the first week, the apprentice felt like fish out of water. Ans: D
A) Frustrated B) Homeless C) Disappointed D) Uncomfortable
5. The company has been handed over to the new masters lock, stock and barrel. Ans: A
A) Completely B) Financially C) administratively D) Partially
One should try to understand the real implication of idioms and phrases and should learn it by
constantly using them in their writing and speech and through continuous practical exercises.
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STOCK OF PHRASES
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38. To give someone a piece of mind : to scold.
39. To kick up a row : To make great noise and fuss.
40. To bury the hatchet : To make peace.
41. To set the Thames on fire : To do some remarkable or surprising
things.
42. High and dry : Isolated, stranded.
43. To be at the end of ones tether : To have no resources left.
44. Odds and ends : Various articles.
45. A hot line : Direct telephone line between heads of
states.
46. To shoot a line : to exaggerate about ones success.
47. To read between the lines : to understand more than the actual words.
48. To feather ones nest : to provide money even dishonestly.
49. To black ball : prevent from doing something.
50. To be in the black (of ones Money) : to be in the credit
51. A blue book : A government report.
52. To paint the town red : to celebrate noisily in public places.
53. To make no bones about something : to do or say a thing openly if it is unpleasant.
54. Pull the wool over somebodys eyes : to deceive
55. To have several iron in the fire : to have many tasks or many pieces of work.
56. To keep ones fingers crossed : to remain anxious, wishing good for somebody
57. To keep one wolf away from the door : to keep off poverty form oneself
58. A red letter day : an important day.
59. To work like a dog : to work very hard.
60. To foot the bill : to make payment
61. Bone of contention : cause of quarrel.
62. To beggar description : beyond description
63. To play a second fiddle : to act as a subordinate to do the secondary role.
64. Cut no ice : to make no effect.
65. Under a cloud : to be in bad book
66. Once and for all : forever
67. Oily tongue : one who flatters
68. Hand in glove : close friendship
69. Hole and corner policy : improper policy
70. Far and wide : all around.
71. Far and away : certainly.
72. Fair weather friends : friends only in good days.
73. In deed : really
74. Face value : superficially
75. Fancy price : high price.
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76. Stick ones neck out : to take risk.
77. To put a spoke in ones wheel : to disturb.
78. To brown study : in receive
79. Moot point : controversial point
80. To plough a lonely furrow : to do without anybodys help
81. Bring home : to emphasise
82. Make hay while the sun shines : to make best use of the favourable opportunities
83. Rank and file : common man.
84. Talk through ones hat : talk nonsense.
85. To lead one by the nose : to cause to follow blindly
86. To explore every avenue : to try every method
87. At the drop of a hat : for no reason at all.
88. To kick ones heels : to waste time
89. To smell something fishy : to feel that there is something wrong.
90. To get away with : to escape
91. All agog : in a state of excitement.
92. Adams ale : ordinary water.
93. Ones cup of tea : what one likes and can do well.
94. In a flutter : in a state of nervous excitement
95. A chip of the old block : characteristics of ones ancestors.
96. A close shave : a lucky escape.
97. Blow hot and cold : to be inconsistent
98. A bull in the china shop : an awkward, tactless or clumsy person.
99. To have the floor : to make a speech
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IDIOMS
The IDIOM means language peculiar to a people for community or a class. It is the
syntactical, grammatical or structural form peculiar to a language. It is an expression in the
usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically or in having a meaning that
cant be derived from the conjoined meaning of its laments. The command of idiomatic
expression is a must for proper comprehension. You need to work on this element vigorously
because you cannot guess or derive Meaning from the given words.
Phrasal verbs or idioms may consist with prepositions, pairs of adverbs, pairs of verbs/
nouns/ adjectives and many more. It is nearly impossible to deal with them without constant
practice and extensive reading. Given below are some most important idioms indispensable for
any competitive examination. In fact, Idioms are not a separate part of the language, which one
can choose either to use or to omit but them Form an essential part of the vocabulary of English.
EXAMPLE: Let me have a glass of Adams ale --- Adams ale means water
List of Idioms:
1. The bare bones of something : the basic facts of something
Ex: The bare bones of the air cash have not yet come into light.
2. Bare your soul to somebody: to tell somebody your deepest and most private feelings.
Ex: An Ideal husband shouldnt bare his soul especially to his wife.
4 Albatross around or round your neck: something that keeps causing your problems and
stops you from being successful
Ex: The air line that he founded is now an albross around his neck making losses of seven
hundreds of Thousands a year.
5. Have an axe to grind: To have a personal: often selfish, reason for being involved in
something
Ex: I have no axe to grind. I just want to help you.
6. Bark up the wrong tree: to attempt to do the wrong thing in the wrong way form the
wrong direction
Ex: He didnt know that he was barking up the wrong tree when he tried to influence the
judge for bail
7. Full of beans: full of energy and very cheerful
Ex; She has been ill but she is full of beans.
8. At someones beck and call: always ready to carry out someones order or wishes.
Ex: He has always plenty of men at his beck and call (Beck is another form of Backon)
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Ex: The path to success is never a bed of roses.
10. Better off: happier, improved, more successful (goes with with or without)
Ex: He would be better off starting with something simpler.
11. Have a bee in ones bonnet: to have an idea which has become too fixed in ones mind
Ex: He has a bee in his bonnet about going to America.
12. A little bird told me something: to say that you know something but you will not say
how you found out.
Ex: A little told me that you have got engaged.
14. What the doctor ordered: the very thing that is needed. To be exactly what is wanted or
needed.
Ex: At this moment, a cup of tea is just what the doctor ordered.
15. Be like a dog with a bone: to refuse to stop thinking about or talking about a subject
Ex: On the subject of belt shops, the liquor king is like a dog with a bone
17. A doubting Thomas: a person who refuses to believe something without having in
convetorverible proof; a skeptic.
Ex: Being the president of a party, he shouldnt always be a doubting Thomas.
18. Dogs dinner or breakfast: something that has been done very badly. A poor piece of
work
Ex: To attend a function, I went to a saloon a day before to get my hair cut. The barber made
a real Dogs breakfast (of my hair)
20. Put (or set) your hand to the plough: embark on a task.
Ex: Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit
for the kingdom of God
21. Whats your poison: used to ask someone what alcoholic they would like to drink
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Ex: Its my rounded. Whats your poison?
23. Go postal: to become very angry or to suddenly behave in a violent and angry Way,
especially where you work. (This is a very new idiom which started when a post office
worker in
America shot several of the people he with)
Ex: My dad will go postal, if I get home late.
24. Pass the buck: to pass on responsibility to someone else or to blame someone for a
problem that you should deal yourself (often with to)
Ex: Parents often try to pass the buck to teachers when children misbehave in the school.
25. Cross the bring when you come to it: to worry about a problem when it actually
happens and
Not before.
Ex: The power cut problem is really horrible. The government crosses the bridges only when
it comes to it.
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WORDS OFTEN CONFUSED
Happening Now
SENTENCE FILLERS
Stem filling or sentence filler is sentence completion with a variance. In a simple sentence
completion, you fill the blank with one of the words given as choices. In this one of the words
given as choices. In this format. Part of sentence is given which needs to be completed with one
of the various chunks provided as alternatives. The major difference is that now we have a
group of words in place of a single word. This requires an understanding of the spirit of the stem
of the sentence and the filler part is to be matched with it both in terms of structure and
meaning.
We can find a structural clue or a semantic clue or both in the stem part and match the
stem with the alternatives one after another. Only one choice will match, let us see the SFM
Technique.
EXAMPLE 1
The doctor warns him that unless he gives up smoking___________________
a) Will he be able to recover
b) He will not suffer
c) His health will soon be recovered d) he will not recover
Unless here demands a not in the filler part. Thus A) and C) are wrong. B) and D) are
structurally correct, but according to smoking the expression not suffer is wrong, but not
cover is right. Thus D) is the right answer.
EXAMPLE 2
The more we looked at the piece of modern art, __________.
a) It looked better b)The more we like it c) we liked it less
d) The less we liked it e) better we liked it.
In the stem part we have structural clue the more and it is a past tense from. The structural
demand is that the filler part also must have an expression like the more Taking this clue, we
can eliminate alternatives a),c) and e). Now alternative b) has the more and the alternative d)
has the less. These two are correct, but b) is the correct answer because it is in the past tense
form.
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SPELLINGS
Committee Biscuit Aquarium Recommend Alliance
Accommodation Accelerator Concurrent Satellite Privilege
Admission Competition Pessimism Weapon Accident
Chocolate Condemn Millennium Pleasant Achievements
Omelette Guarantee Petition Archaeology Annual
Kerchief Programme Acquaintance Circumstance Aero plane
Pneumonia Independence Dissertation Excursion Eligible
Lieutenant Cylinder Exhibition Guidance Guarantee
Restaurant Councilor Decision Renaissance Nuisance
Vacuum Column Excellent Spontaneous Quarrel
Separate Omission Occasion Comprehension Sovereignty
Repetition Millionaire Procedure Deceive Fascination
Impossible Athletics Religion Expression Pleasure
Correspondence Bachelor Appreciation Moustache Dimension
Dialogue Calendar Atmosphere Profession Volunteer
Maintenance Ceiling Discipline Pronunciation Miniature
Nuisance Commercial Machinery Suggestion Dialogue
Attendance Cigarette Museum Colleague Noticeable
Brilliant Convenient Submission Compassion Hypocrisy
Catalogue Kerosene Phenomenon Arithmetic Livelihood
Grammar Adolescence Accountancy Concession Immense
Beggar Privilege Colloquial Hypocrisy Military
College Refrigerator Compulsory Thermometer Literature
Champion Abbreviation Immediately Intelligence Permanent
Ambassador Scissors Leisure Permanent Compulsion
Anaemia Accompany Procession Commitment Consciousness
Apostrophe Acquaintance Agreement Accelerate Dictionary
Brilliance Lieutenant Alignment Aggression Allusion
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List of Prepositions
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From a period From Monday
It is used to indicate the source of He has inherited it from his grand
something father
I bought it from a super market
This is a beautiful gift from our
From colleagues
It is used to indicate something which They were prevented from
is being prevented or forbidden entering the factory
We stopped her from leaving the
office
The beginning of a period of time The classes are from 9 a.m. To 5
p.m.
She will be in Japan from July to
January
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PREPOSITIONS FOLLOWED BY NOUNS, VERBS AND ADVERBS
(PHRASAL VERBS)
Prepositions are followed by nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs generally.
When prepositions are with verbs and adverbs they become phrasal verbs.
WITH
Abound with Familiar with Blessed with Agree with
Acquainted with Fight with Reward with Meet with
Affected with Furnish with Satisfied with Happy with
Sympathize with Struggle with Reconciled with Cope with
Unite with Disagree with Worked with Patience with
Coincide with Quarrel with Fill with Interfere with
Busy with Popular with Pleased with Disgusted with
FROM
Recover from Refrain from Defend form Preserve from
Derive from Differ from Different from Prepared from
Freedom from Hid from Keep from Save from
Absent from Far from Separate from Safe from
FOR
Account for Beg for Blame for Call for
Care for Feel for Fight for Fit for
Good for Hope for Labour for Mourn for
Leave for Live for Valid for Qualified for
Ready for Responsible for Search for Wait for
Thankful for Useful for Pray for Hope for
Long for Ready for Desire for Gratitude for
Affection for Liking for Fit for Qualified for
Responsible for Prepared for Sorry for Suitable for
Useful for Eligible for Eager for Send for
OF
Desirous of Despair of Different of Dispose of
Fond of Full of Bold of Greedy of
Accuse of Acquitted of Afraid of Ashamed of
Beg of Boast of Born of Capable of
Beware of Confident of Think of Sense of
Victim of View of Capable of Afraid of
Envious of Conscious of Independent of Proud of
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Full of Fond of Innocent of Sick of
AT
Aim at Amazed at Arrive at Astonished at
Grief at Hint at Horrified at Jeer at
Jest at Laugh at Look at Jump at
Smile at Stare at Wonder at Good at
Amused at Astonished at Surprised at Amazed at
TO
Accede to Adjacent to Abdicated to Agree to
Duty to Equal to Explain to Heir to
Applicable to Accustomed to Condemned to Adhere to
Consent to Contribute to Introduce to Listen to
Married to Yield to Loyal to Limit to
Obedience to Opposition to Contrary to Inferior to
Faithful to Superior to Junior to Prior to
Related to Prefer to Known to Prefer to
IN
Abound in Backward in Believe in Dressed in
Arrive in Blind in Confidence in Deal in
Involve in Indulge in Look in Believe in
Delight in Increase in Succeed in Excel in
Absorb in Confidence in
ON
Aveng on Bestow on Call on Claim on
Confer on Congratulate on Feed on Go on
Decide on Depend on Reflect on Rely on
Spend on Based on Bestow on Congratulate on
Comment on Influence on
OFF
Break off Come off Drop off Fall off
Let off Put off Set off Switch off
Take off Throw off Ward off
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SOME OTHER PREPOSITIONS (COMPOUND AND COMPLEX)
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it
To indicate relationship, There is a good friendship between the
interaction, involving two brothers
people, groups or things There is the agreement between the staff
and management
Around In a circular way We are sitting around the campfire
Close to Near Our house is close to the supermarket
Down From high to low He came down the hill
From The place where it starts Do you come from Tokyo?
The part that is in the direction Our house is in front of the supermarket
In front of it faces
In spite of It is used to indicate something In spite of heavy rains, the attendance was
which makes the situation or good
event we are mentioning seem She stood first, in spite of her illness
surprising
Inside Opposite to outside You should stay inside the castle
Into Entering something You should not go into the castle
Near Close to Our house is near the supermarket
Next to Beside Our house is next to the supermarket
Off Away from something The cat jumped off the roof
Onto Moving to a place The cat jumped onto the roof
Opposite On the other side Our house is opposite the supermarket
Out of Leaving something The cat jumped out of the window
Outside Opposite of inside Can you wait outside?
Over Above something/somebody The cat jumped over the wall
Round In a circle We are sitting round the campfire
Through Going from one point to the You should not walk through the forest
other point
Towards In the direction of something We ran towards the castle
Under Below something The cat is under the table
Up From low to high He went up the hill
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List of Modal Verbs
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The relationship between subject and subject or object and object or subject and object or
object and other words can be denoted by a preposition. Such relationship can be a position,
movement, direction or time.
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SENTENCE COMPLETION EXERCISES
We have seen in detail the fill in the blanks which are useful to answer the exercises on
sentence completion in our previous session. By recollecting the clues that have been
suggested in the last session let us practice some exercises.
1. The villagers, the death of their leader by keeping all the shops closed
A) Consoled B) Avenged C) Mourned D) Protested
Here the answer is (C); Mourned because the word in use for expressing sorrows over
the death of someone is Mourn. This is matter of usage.
2. While on a routine flight, the aircraft was hit by a missile and into flames
A) Short B) Burst C) Caught D) Blew
Here the answer is (B), Burst because all other words are not in keeping with into thus
they are eliminated at the first stage- structure.
5. No sooner had be entered the room the light went out and everyone started talking loudly
A) But B) than C) if D) and
The answer is (B). Here the rule of grammar operates.
7. He congratulated me my success.
A) On B) for D) at D) in
The answer (A). On. It is a rule of preposition.
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9. The school festival is always of a very high order because the students have a number
Of before any performance
A) Practices B) exercise C) rehearsals D) repartition
Here the answer is (C), rehearsals, Here the point to remember is common usage, for
Preparations done beforehand for performances in dance, drama and theatre the word in
Common usage is rehearsal
10. I read Trojan War because it was by my friend who said it was very exciting
A) Recommended B) exhorted C) motivated D) commended
Here the answer is (A), recommended the word commonly used in such a context is
Recommended.
11. His German was roughly with my English so communication was rather difficult
A) in accordance with B) at par C) in time D) in tune
Here the answer is (B), at par. The correct phrase with the required meaning is at Par
13. A committee has been set up to on the problem of unemployment in this region.]
A) Investigate b) inquire C) research D) report
Here the answer can be either investigate or report since the connecting word is
On, the choice will be report.
15. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were leaders of the same period they were
A) Contemporary B) colleague C) associate D) co-writers
Here the word contemporary stands for the expression of the same period and thus
(A) Is the answer.
16. Ramu has been nominated as the person to settle the dispute between the two warring
Parties he is the
A) Judge B) advocate C) arbitrator D) barrister
Here the answer is (C), arbitrator because this is the substitute word
17. He has been winning the election, by this time his popularity is on the he may not win this
time
A) Rise B) wane C) ascendance D) increasing
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Here the answer is (B), wane as an antonym is required
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WORD FORMATION (CHOOSING APPROPRIATE WORDS)
1. Generally students hesitate to ask questions. Teachers should discourage such ___ Ans: c
a) hesitant b) hesitating c) hesitation
5. We consult the doctor for our ill health. We pay ____ fee. Ans: b
a) consulting b) consultation c) consultant
7. The teacher advised him to buy a dictionary. But he didn't follow his ___ Ans:a
a) advice b) advise c) advisory
8. Forests produce food and wood. We have to increase the forest ____ Ans: b
a) Product b) Productivity c) Production
12. Kalpana tried to amuse her little sister by telling her an ____ story. Ans: b
a) amusement b) amusing c) amuse
13. He led a luxurious life; His ____ landed him in debts. Ans: c
a) luxuriant b) luxuriate c) luxury
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TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
Transformation of form is not possible in all cases. An assertive sentence or statement can not
be turned in an imperative sentence or optative sentence.
For example, Sin leads to ruin
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Where in the world will you find a mountain like Everest?
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3) Affirmatives into negative
He is greater than I
I am not so great as he
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None but Hercules could do this
Only Hercules could do this
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SUBJECT AND VERB AGREEMENT
This has been a very frequently testing block of grammar. It is the fundamental ground for
making an accurate sentence in English.
Every sentence has two essential parts namely a subject and a verb
Subject: It is the part about which the sentence says something. It is either a noun or a noun
equivalent.
Verb: It is the part which says something about the subject. It is the verb that shows the tense
of the sentence and agrees with the subject in number and person.
Examples:
1. I am a writer (I = subject; am = finite verb)
2. You are a reader (You = subject; are = finite verb)
3. She sells vegetables (She = subject; sells = finite verb)
4. They buy vegetables (They = subject; buy = finite verb)
5. The flower has bloomed (Flower = subject; has bloomed = finite verb)
6. The flowers have bloomed (flowers = subject; have bloomed = finite verb)
Rule 1: A singular subject demands a singular verb; Plural subject takes a plural verb.
Note: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is
recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Which one is the singular form? Which word would you use with he? We say, "He talks."
Therefore, talks is singular. We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is plural.
e.g: 1. The bridge opens every hour
Subject Finite Verb
2. The bridges open every hour
Sub Verb
3. The athletes are active
Sub V
4. The athlete is nervous
S V
5. The hawk soars
S V
6. The hawks swoop down
S V
Observe the matching of singular and plural verbs with their subjects.
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Rule 2: Two singular subjects connected by or (or) nor require a singular verb.
e.g. : According to the letter I have received, my aunt or uncle is arriving by train today.
Rule 3: Two singular subjects connected by either/ or or neither/ nor require a singular verb.
e.g. : Neither Yamuna nor her brother is available at the house .
Either Kiran or Karan is helping today with stage decorations.
Rule 4: When I is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it second
and follow it with the singular verb am.
Example: Neither she nor I am going to take up the next project.
Rule 5: When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural
subject last and use a plural verb.
Example: The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.
Rule 6: When singular and plural subjects are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the
plural subject last and use a plural verb.
Example: Neither Janaki nor the others are at the theatre right now
Rule 7: As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected
by and.
Example: A car and a bike are primarily used as means of transportation
Rule 8: When subjects are combined by linkers such as together with, along with, besides,
with, in addition to, as well as, etc the verb agrees with the earlier subject.
(It means if the earlier subject is singular the verb should be singular and if the subject is plural
the verb should be plural)
e.g: 1) The general (sub 1) along with the soldiers (sub 2) was (V) away from the operation.
Here the earlier subject is the general which is singular and so the verb was (singular) is
used.
2) The supervisors (Sub 1) as well as the captain (Sub 2) have taken (V) an important decision.
The supervisors is plural so have taken is the right form of the verb.
Excitement (sub 1), in addition to nervousness (2), is the cause of her shaking.
The politician (sub1), together with the newsmen (2), is expected shortly.
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RULES OF ERRORS
1. Some nouns always take a singular verb. Scenery, advice, information, machinery,
stationery, furniture, abuse, fuel, rice, gram, issuer, bedding, repair, news, mischief,
poetry, business, economics, physics, mathematics, classics, ethics, athletics, innings,
gallows.
A) The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting. (Incorrect)
B) The scenery of Kashmir is enchanting. (Correct)
A) He has given advices. (Incorrect)
B) He has given advice. (Correct)
A) The Indian team defeated the English by innings. (Incorrect)
B) The Indian team defeated the English by an innings. (Correct)
A) Mathematics are a difficult subject (Incorrect)
B) Mathematics is a good subject (Correct)
2. Some nouns are singular in form, but they are used as plural nouns and always take a plural
Verb.
Cattle, gentry, vermin, peasantry, artillery, people, clergy, company, police.
A) The cattle is grazing in the ground (Incorrect)
B) The cattle are grazing in the ground (Correct)
A) The clergy is in the church (Incorrect)
B) The clergy are in the church. (Correct)
3. Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.
Trousers, scissors, spectacles, stockings, shorts, measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks,
tidings, annals, chattels, etc.
A) Where is my trouser? (Incorrect)
B) Where are my trousers? (Correct)
A) Spectacles is now a costly item. (Incorrect)
B) Spectacles are now a costly item. (Correct)
4. There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money, weight of number. When they
are preceded by a numeral, they remain unchanged in form.
Foot, metre, pair, score, dozen, head, head, year, hundred, thousand, million.
A) It is a three-years degree course (Incorrect)
B) It is a three- year degree course. (Correct)
A) I have ten dozens of shoes. (Incorrect)
B) I have ten dozen of shoes. (Correct)
5. Collective nouns such as jury, public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra,
Company, etc. When these words indicate a unit the verb is singular.
A) The team have not come as yet. (Incorrect)
B) The team has not come as yet. (Correct)
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6. Some nouns have one meaning in the singular and another in the plural :
advice = counsel. advices = information.
air = atmosphere. airs = proud.
authority = command. authorities = persons in power.
good = wise. goods = property.
Iron = metal. Irons = fetters, chains
Force = strength. Forces = army.
Content = satisfaction contents = things contained
Physic = medicine. Physics = physical sciences.
Respect = regards. Respects = compliments.
Work = job. Works = compositions, factories.
Earning = income. Earnings = sowings.
Quarter = one-fourth quarters = houses
Examples
A) Air is necessary for human life.
B) It is bad to put on airs.
A) I have eaten one quarter of the cake.
B) I live in the government quarters.
7. People are often confused or they commit mistakes in the use of certain nouns.
A) Lecturer ship is wrong: lectureship is correct.
a) There are twenty candidates for lecturer ship. (Incorrect)
b) There are twenty candidates for lectureship. (Correct)
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G) Room in a comapartment or a bench means unoccupied seat.
a) There is no room on this bench. (Correct)
8. Also remember the subtle differences in the usage of these pairs of nouns.
A) The noun habit applies only to an individual whereas custom applies to a society or
country
a) Poor children often become a victim of bad habits.
b) Tribals in India have many interesting customs.
E) Shade a place sheltered from the sun; shadow the shade of a distinct form or object.
a) The villagers sat under the shade of trees.
b) He is even afraid of this own shadow.
F) Cost amount paid by the shopkeeper; price amount paid by the customer.
a) The cost of production of automobile items has gone up.
b) Sometimes the buyers have to pay higher price for a necessary item.
9. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
For Example:
Every man must bring his luggage.
All students must do their home work,
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Each of the girls must carry her own bag.
Each student must bring their books. (Incorrect)
Each student must bring his books. (Correct)
11. Enjoy, apply, resign, acquit, drive, exert, avail, pride, absent, etc.When used as transitive
verbs, always take a reflective pronoun after them.
He absented from the class. (Incorrect)
He absented himself from the class. (Correct)
12. Who denoted the subject and whom is used for the object.
Whom do you think won the award? (Incorrect)
Who do you think won the award? (Correct)
Who are you talking to? (Incorrect)
Whom are you talking to? (Correct)
13. When two or more singular nouns are joined together by either or, neither nor; and or,
the pronoun is singular.
Either Ram or Shyam will give their book. (Incorrect)
Either Ram or Shyam will give his book. (Correct)
Neither Ramesh nor Rajendra has done their work. (Incorrect)
Neither Ramesh nor Rajendra has done his work. (Correct)
14. Whose is used for living persons and which for lifeless objects.
Which book did you select?
Whose photograph is lying there?
What book do you read? (Incorrect)
Which book do you read? (Correct)
15. Some is used in affirmative sentences to express quantity or degree. Any is used in
negative or interrogative sentences.
I shall buy some apples.
I shall not buy any apples.
Have you bought any apples?
But some may be correctly used in interrogative sentences which are, in fact, requests
Will you please give me milk?
I shall read any book. (Incorrect)
I shall read some book. (Correct)
Have you bought some apples? (Incorrect)
Have you bought any apples? (Correct)
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16. The use of Few, a few and the few should be used with care. They denote number.
Few means not many. It is the opposite of many. A few is positive and means some at
least. It is the opposite of none. The few means whatever there is.
A few men are free from fault. (Incorrect)
Few men are free from fault. (Correct)
17. Normally than is used in the comparative degree, but with words like superior, inferior,
senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior and prefer to is used.
Shelley is junior than Wordsworth. (Incorrect)
Shelley is junior to Wordsworth. (Correct)
I prefer reading than sleeping. (Incorrect)
I prefer reading to sleeping. (Correct)
18. When a comparison is made by using a comparative followed by than, the word other
must be used to exclude the thing compared from the class of things with which it is compared.
He is stronger than any man. (Incorrect)
He is stronger than any other man. (Correct)
Any man includes the man himself and thus the sentence will be absurd.
19. In some cases, the comparison is subtle and must be given proper attention.
The climate of Ranchi is better than Gaya. (Incorrect)
The climate of Ranchi is better than the climate of Gaya. (Correct)
Or
The climate of Ranchi is better than that of Gaya. (Correct)
That of means the climate of.
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21. If the subject is the number of the singular verb is used.
The number of students are very small. (Incorrect)
The number of students is very small. (Correct)
22. When as well as, along with, together with, no less than, in addition to and not and
with join two subjects, the verb will be according to the first subject.
Ram, as well as his en friends, are going. (Incorrect)
Ram, as well as his ten friends, is going. (Correct)
The teacher, along with the students, were going. (Incorrect)
The teacher, along with the students, was going. (Correct)
23. A great many is always followed by a plural noun and plural verb.
A great many students thas been declared successful. (Incorrect)
A great many students have been declared successful. (Correct)
24. If two subjects are joined by Either or, neither nor, the verb agrees with the subject that is
near.
Either Ramesh or I are to do this work. (Incorrect)
Either Ramesh or I am to do this work. (Correct)
Neither he nor his friends is reading. (Incorrect)
Neither he nor his friends are reading. (Correct)
25. When two singular nouns joined by and point out the same thing or person, the verb will
be singular.
Bread and butter make a good breakfast. (Incorrect)
Bread and butter makes a good breakfast. (Correct)
The Collector and the District Magistrate are on leave. (Incorrect)
The Collector and District magistrate is on leave. (Correct)
27. Use of not only and but also : examine the sentences given below.
He not only comes for swimming but also for coaching the learners. (Incorrect)
He comes not only for swimming but also for coaching the learners. (Correct)
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28. Scarcely and hardly are followed by when and not by than.
I had scarcely entered the room thanthe phone rang. (Incorrect)
I had scarcely entered the room when the phone rang. (Correct)
31. Unless and Until express conditions. These are always used in the negative senses. Thus
not is never used with unless and Until.
Unless you do not labour hard, you will not pass. (Incorrect)
Unless you labour hard, you will not pass. (Correct)
32. Since indicates a point of time and for stands for the length of time.
He has been reading the book since two hours. (Incorrect)
He has been reading the book for two hours. (Correct)
Two hours is a length of time and thus for is correct.
It has been raining for Monday last. (Incorrect)
It has been raining since Monday last. (Correct)
33. As if is used to convey the sense of pretension. When as if is used in this sense were is
used in all cases, even with third person singular.
He behaves as if he was a king. (Incorrect)
He behaves as if he were a king. (Correct)
34. If two actions in a sentence are shown happening in the past, one after the other; the tense of
the action happening first should be past perfect and that of the second should be past indefinite.
The patient died before the doctor arrived. (Incorrect)
The patient had died before the doctor arrived. (Correct)
35. What to speak of is incorrect; the correct expression is not to speak of.
What to speak of running, he cannot even walk. (Incorrect)
Not to speak of running, he cannot even walk.
36. Cent per cent and word by word are wrong. Hundred per cent and word for word are
correct expression.
You are never cent per cent sure of your success in the examination. (Incorrect)
You are never hundred per cent sure of your success in the examination (Correct)
I can reproduce this lesson word by word. (Incorrect)
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I can reproduce this lesson word for word. (Correct)
37. Since, because, as and for all mean because, but there is a difference in their
degree. Since and because are used for stronger cases and as and for for weak cases.
I respect him as he is my teacher. (Incorrect)
I respect him because he is my teacher. (Correct)
I could not attend the meeting because it was very hot today. (Incorrect)
I could not attend the meeting as it is very hot today. (Correct)
38. Use of when and while: proper attention must be paid to these words. When indicates a
general sense and while implies a time during the process of doing a work.
When learning to swim, one of the most important things is to relax. (Incorrect)
While learning to swim, one of the most important things is to relax. (Correct)
39. Sometimes the error lies in the use of words, Proper attention must, therefore, be given to
appropriateness of words.
Prakash was leading a happy and leisurely life after his retirement. (Incorrect)
Prakash was living a happy and leisurely life after his retirement. (Correct)
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