Transcript File

Grammar Rules(Only for Ghani’s students)
By Abdul Ghani
Rule 1
.
1. AGREEMENT ----------------- SUBJECT WITH ACCOMPANIMENT AND VERB.
Remember that there must be agreement of subject and verb. In all patterns,
avoid using a verb that agrees with a phrase of accompaniment instead of with
the subject itself.
Examples:
1. The guest of honour, along with his wife and two sons, were/was seated at the
first table.
2. The ambassador, with his family and staff, invite/invites you to a reception at
the embassy on Tuesday after-noon at five O' clock.
3. Mary, accompanied by her brother on the piano, were/was very well received at
the talent show.
4. The colour of flowers are/is beautiful.
Avoid using a verb that does not agree with the subject.
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Rule 2
Agreement ----------------- an Indefinite Subject and Verb.
Remember that the following subjects require a singular verb.
anyone
either
Neither
What
Anything
Everyone
no one
whatever
Each
Everything
Nothing
whoever
The following subjects require either a singular or plural verb depending on a
qualifying phrases or other contest from the sentence.
All
any
Some
The Rest
Avoid using plural verbs with singular subjects and singular verbs with plural subjects.
1. Everyone who majors in architecture and fine arts study/studies history of
arts 450.
2. Either of these buses go/goes past the university.
3. The first two problems are very difficult, but the rest (of the problems) are
easy.
4. Is/ are there any stamps?
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Rule 3
Agreement ----------------- a collective Subject and Verb.
Remember that the following collective subjects agree with singular verbs.
audience
family
Group
Staff
faculty
public
series
committee
police
2,3,4,……
2,3,4,…… miles
orchestra
variety
dollars
class
team
band
chorus
majority
Remember that the following subject agree with a plural verb.
PEOPLE
Avoid using plural verb with singular subjects and singular verbs with plural subjects.
Note: In certain cases, to express the separate nature of individuals in a group the
writer may use a plural verb with the collective subjects.
Examples:
1. Twenty dollars are/is the price.
2. Many people is/are coming to the graduation.
3. An Audience as usually do/does not applaud in a church.
4. Four miles are/is the distance of the office.
5. The staff are/is meeting in the conference room.
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Rule 4
Similar Verbs ----------------- Make and Do.
Verb word
Past
do did
done
Participle
make
Verb word
made
Past
Participle
made
Remember that to do and to make have similar meanings, but do is often used before
complements that describe work and chores routine-tedious task esp.: a house hold
one ). To make is often used before complements that are derived from verbs.
Do an Assignment
the dished
a favour
home work
he laundry
a paper
researcher
work
Make an Agreement
an announcement (to announce)
an attempt (to attempt)
a decision (to decide)
a discovery (to discover)
an offer (to offer)
a profit (to profit)
a promise (to promise)
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Examples:
1. I really do not mind making/doing the home work for the class.
2. Did you do/make a mistake?
3. Please make/do me a favour.
4. Are they doing/making progress on the new roads?
5. Have you done/ made any interesting discoveries while you were doing your
research?
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Rule 5
Correlative Conjunction ----------------- Inclusive And --------- As Well As
Remember that both …………… and …………. as well as are correlative conjunction.
They must be used in sequence to include two or three parallel structures (nouns,
adjectives, verbs, adverbs).
e.g.
He enjoys playing basketball as well as football.
Avoid using as well instead of as well as.
Examples:
1. Both Marry, Ellen and Jean are going on the tour. (Incorrect).
Both Marry and Ellen as well as Jean are going on the tour. (Correct)
2. To reach your goal, you must plan and work as well/ as well as dream.
3. We will keep in touch by both writing and calling as well as visiting each other.
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Rule 6
Correlative Conjunction ----------------- Inclusive Both --------- And
Remember that both ……………and are correlative conjunctions. They are used
together to include two parallel structures (two nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs).
Avoid using as well as instead of and with both.
Avoid using both and for more than two nouns or adjectives.
Examples:
1.
She speaks both English as well as Spanish at home. (Incorrect)
She speaks both English and Spanish at home. (Correct)
2.
The weather on Sunday will be both sunny and warmer also. (Incorrect)
The weather on Sunday will be both sunny and warmer. (Correct)
3.
The party will celebrate both our finishing the term as well your getting a
new job. (Incorrect)
The party will celebrate both our finishing the term and your getting a new
job. (Correct)
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Rule 7
PSEUDO COMPARATIVES
Remember that although as high as and as soon as appear to be comparatives,
they are adverbial idioms. As high as introduces a limit of height or cost. It
answers: the question, how high or how much (money)? As soon as introduces a
limit of time. It answers the question, When?
1.
2.
The prices of hair cut runs as high as fifty dollars.
He will go home as soon as he graduates.
Avoid using “to” instead of “as”. Avoid using will and a verb word instead of
a present verb after as soon as.
Examples: 1.I plan to move as soon as I will/ find another apartment.
2.She will call you back as soon as she will/ finishes dinner.
3.Your application will be considered as soon as your file will be/ is complete.
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Rule 8
NEGATIVE EMPHASIS
Remember that negative includes, phrases like not one, not once, not unit,
never, never again, only, rarely and very seldom. Negative answer the
question, how often? They are used at the beginning of a statement to express
emphasis. Auxiliaries must agree with verbs and subjects.
e.g.
Never have I seen so much snow.
-ve a/v S V
Avoid using a subject before the auxiliary in this pattern.
Examples:
Never again they will stay in that hotel. (Incorrect)
Never again will they stay in that hotel. (Correct)
Only rarely an accident has occurred. (Incorrect)
Only rarely has an accident occurred. (Correct)
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Rule 9
Affirmative agreement “So”, “Too” and “Also”.
Remember that so, too, and also have the same meaning, but so is used
before auxiliary verbs, too and also are used after auxiliary verbs.
Subject model verb verb word and so model have Do/Be S
verb
participle “ing”
e.g.My brother will talk to him and so will I.
My brother has talked to him and so did I.
My brother is talking to him and so am I.
Subject model verb verb word and so model have Do/Be S
verb
participle “ing”
e.g.My brother will talk to him and I will too.
My brother has talked about it and I have too.
My brother is talking to him and I am too.
Avoid using also instead of so.
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Examples:
We are going to the concert, and so do they. (Incorrect)
We are going to, the concert, and so are they. (Correct)
or
We are going to concert, and they are too.
or
We are going to concert, and they are also.
I am worried about it, also is he. (Incorrect)
I am worried about it, and so is he. (Correct)
or
I am worried about it, and he is too.
or
I am worried about it, and he is also.
Exercise
Some birds can travel at speeds approaching me hundred an hour and a few land
animals can so.
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Rule 10
When nouns and pronouns having different persons occur together, second
person should be plural first, then third and last of all first person.
Examples:
1.
I, you and he should do it. (Incorrect)
You, he and I should do it. (Correct)
2.
I, you and Majid should work together. (Incorrect)
You, Majid and I should work together. (Correct)
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Rule 11
“That” and “Those” are used for nouns used before.
Examples:
1.
This pen is better than Karim’s. (Incorrect)
This pen is better than that of Karim. (Correct)
2.
The students of this school are better than that
school. (Incorrect)
The students of this school are better than those
of that school. (Correct)
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Rule 12
The subject of a verb is always in the nominative case.
Examples:
1. Bashir is taller than me. (Incorrect)
Bashir is taller than I. (Correct)
2. Rasheed works harder than him. (Incorrect)
Rashhed works harder than he. (Correct)
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Rule 13
* Some nouns have the same form in both numbers.
deer, sheep, dozen, swine, fathom(
)
* Some nouns are singular in form but plural in use.
crowd, people, cattle, poultry, folk, public, mankind, swine, infantry.
Examples:
1. Mankind is never happy. (Incorrect)
Mankind are never happy. (Correct)
2. The people does not trust this officer. (Incorrect)
The people do not trust this office. (Correct)
Some nouns are used only as singular.
1. The sceneries of Kashmir are worth seeing. (Incorrect)
The scenery of Kashmir is worth seeing. (Correct)
2. I purchased some furnitures. (Incorrect)
I purchased some furniture. (Correct)
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Rule 14
Omission of Articles before “man”, “Government”, “Company”.
Examples:
1. He should avoid the evil company. (Incorrect)
He should avoid evil company. (Correct)
2. The man is mortal. (Incorrect)
Man is mortal. (Correct)
3. The seat of the Government is in Islamabad. (Incorrect)
The seat of Government is in Islamabad. (Correct)
Omissions of articles before Abstract, Material and proper names.
1. He always speaks the truth. (Incorrect)
He always speaks truth. (Correct)
2. The gold is a precious metal. (Incorrect)
Gold is a precious metal. (Correct)
3. The Aslam is an intelligent boy. (Incorrect)
Aslam is an intelligent boy. (Correct)
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Rule 15
The following words take no continuous form:
intend, feel, like, love, want, desire, forgive, wish, care, hate, like, hear,
smell, realize, understand, mean, own, belong, hope, signify, seem, etc
Examples:
1. I am intending to go abroad. (Incorrect)
I intend to go abroad. (Correct)
2. I am liking my friend. (Incorrect)
I like my friend. (Correct)
3. I am loving you. (Incorrect)
I love you. (Correct)
* Possessive cases of personal pronouns do not take apostrophe’s.
e.g.
Your’s affectionately. (Incorrect)
Yours affectionately. (Correct)
* Apostrophe’s is used with two or more possessive pronouns.
e.g.
Have you read Ghalib and Faiz’s poetry?. (Incorrect)
Have you read Ghalib’s and Faiz’s poetry? (Correct)
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