Download - Use of Articles
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Use of Articles -> A , An , the I) Use of articles A , An
Before every vocabulary (word) beginning with vowels- a,e,I,o,u
A - A Aeroplane incorrect
An Aeroplane correct
E- A egg incorrect
An egg correct
I- A ice-cream incorrect
An ice-cream correct
O- A Orange In correct
An Orange ->correct
U- A Umbrella ->incorrect
An Umbrella ->correct
When a vocabulary(word) begins with vowel as above, which doesnt sound as a or aa, but sounds as u, it
takes a instead of an.
Exa- an University ->incorrect
a University ->correct
an European ->incorrect
a European ->correct
an Universe ->incorrect
a Universe ->correct
Other words like Europa, Union, Unitary, Unilateral, Eureka, United, Ukraine, Urine, Eurasia etc. take a instead of
an.
In the like manner , when a vocabulary(word) begins with consonant instead of vowel as above ,but does sound
as a or aa, , it takes an instead of a.
Exa- A honest man incorrect
An honest man correct
A hour incorrect
An hour correct
A MLA/MP incorrect
An MLA/MP correct
Other words like honour ,heir , take an instead of a.
II) Omission of articles:-
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1-Before proper noun
Exa-King Ashok was a popular ruler.-correct
The Ashok was a popular ruler.-incorrect
2-Before a noun used in its widest sense
Exa-Man is mortal. correct
The man is mortal.- incorrect
3-Before proper noun used to denote a class
Exa-Prime Minister Modi is Ashok of the age- correct
Prime Minister Modi is the Ashok of the age-incorrect
4-Before abstract nouns
Exa-My maternal grand mother is suffering from blindness due to her old age- correct
My maternal grand mother is suffering from the blindness due to her old age- incorrect
5-Before names of diseases
Exa-Choleara is a water borne disease-correct
The Choleara is a water borne disease-incorrect
A Choleara is a water borne disease-incorrect
6-Before certain titles indicating relationship
Exa- -correct
7-Before such nouns as are plural in sense but singular in form
Exa-Police are very alert-correct
The Police are very alert-incorrect
8-Before public institutions associated with thought not building
Exa-Parliament is necessary for democracy-correct
The Parliament is necessary for democracy-incorrect
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III) Use of article THE:-
1-when we speak of a particular person or thing, or one already referred to, or known to the
speaker
Exa-The boy you mentioned is my cousin.
The book you have given me yesterday is lost.
2-Before nouns when these happen to be names of buildings, mountains, provinces, rivers,
oceans,gulfs lakes etc.
Exa-The Ganga is holy river.
The Rastrapati Bhawan was constructed by the Britishers.
The Bay of Bengal,The Indian ocean.
3-Before the names of the books.
Exa-The Bhagabat Gita,The Bible,The Quran,The Arthasasthra
4-Before the names of countries which are made of descriptive words
Exa-The United States of America,The United Kingdom,The United Arab Emirates,The
Republic of India,The kingdom of Bhutan.
5-Before Official designation/post
Exa-The Collector,The Prime Minister,The Chief Secretory,The Chief Justice,The Director
6-With an adverb in a comparative form
Exa-The more he eats, the more he demands.
Difference between the and a in respect of selective word.
Exa-Dont tell a lie.
Speak the truth.
use of who And whom
If the preposition comes at the end of the sentence or clause,
then we use who instead of whom
Exa-I am searching for the boy whom I met yesterday.
The boy I am searching for who I met yesterday.
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Nouns used in singular only Scenery,luggage,news,nonsense,progress,rubbish,weather,milk,ink,water,
information,
furniture,bread,mischief,poetry,hair,advice,which are used in singular
only.These nouns are neither preceded by an indefinite article(a or an) nor
plularised.And these nouns never take indefinite articles i.e a or an,but
always take definite article,the.Also these nouns do take quantitative
adjective like some ,any ,many,etc.
Exa-He committed many acts of mischief.
The scenery of Kashmir is very beautiful
He has not a beautiful furniture in his houseincorrect
He has not any beautiful furniture in his housecorrect
Nouns used in plural only The following nouns are always plural in use
Police , cattle , poultry , people , gentry , peasantry ,infantry
,jury,clersey,company,alphabet,army are always used in plural
omission of Apostrophes The apostrophes is omitted In a few words , where too many hissing sounds
come together.
Exa-My class teacher is always for goodness sake correct
My class teacher is always for goodnesss sake- incorrect
Netaji continued his fight till end for justice sake- correct
Netaji continued his fight till end for justices sake- incorrect
When a comparision is introduced by means of a comparative followed by
than,the things compared must always be excluded from the class of things
with which it is compared by using other.
Exa-Kolkata is bigger than any city of india.-- incorrect
Kolkata is bigger than any other city of india.-- correct
Ashok is more popular than any king of India- incorrect
Ashok is more popular than any other king of India- correct
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use of Adverb else When the adverb else is combined with certain indefinite
pronouns(anybody,somebody,nobody,etc).The usual possessive form is as
follows-
Exa-It is anybodys else property--- incorrect
It is anybody elses property--- correct
We should not think that the Railway station is nobodys else property --- incorrect
We should not think that the Railway station is nobody elses property --- correct
The adverb of quantity like scarcely , hardly are followed by when
instead of than
Exa-Scarcely had I completed teaching the lesson ,than the student fell asleep.-incorrect
Scarcely had I completed teaching the lesson ,when the student fell asleep.-correct
Hardly had I completed teaching the lesson ,than the student fell asleep.-incorrect
Hardly had I completed teaching the lesson ,when the student fell asleep.-correct
Hardly it was 6 am than the guest arrived the house.-----incorrect
Hardly it was 6 am when the guest arrived the house.-----correct
use of Adverb seldom Seldom is a negative concept. Hence it should not be followed by not.
However ,it can be followed bynever.
Exa-He seldom does not come to my house.-->incorrect
He seldom comes to my house.-->correct
He seldom or never comes to my house.-->correct
use of pronoun such What is pronoun?
AnsFor noun=pronoun
Pronoun is used in place of noun.
When the pronoun , such is used in the beginning of the sentence, it should
be followed by the conjunction ,that but not ,as.
Exa-Such was his ambition as he got it fulfilled .-->incorrect
Such was his ambition that he got it fulfilled .-->correct
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When the pronoun such is used in the middle of the sentence, it takes the
preposition as
Exa-He is such a boy as is distinguished from the rest of the class.-->correct
He is such a boy as is distinguished from the rest of the class.-->correct
The relative pronoun ,as far as possible ,should be placed nearest to its
anticident.
Exa-I have read Platos writings , who was a philoshoper of Greece .-->incorrect
I have read the writings of Plato , who was a philoshoper of Greece .-->correct
the Adverb enough is AlwAYs plAced After the word
WHICH IT QUALIFIES Exa-He was kind enough to me.
The verb should agree with the antecedent
Exa-The headmaster and his students are going.
use of As well As When two or more subjects are joined by as well as , the verb agrees with the
first subject in number and person.
Exa-The principal as well as the professors were present in the college function. -->incorrect.
The principal as well as the professors was present in the college function. -->correct.
The verb should agree with the precedent subject
Exa-The headmaster as well as his students are going.-->incorrect
The headmaster as well as his students is going.-->correct
When the conjunction and is used in place of as well as ,the verb agrees with
the subjects taken together.
Exa- The principal and the professors was present in the college function.--incorrect
The principal and the professors were present in the college function.--correct
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When two or more subjects are joined by
or,eitheror,neither.or,the verb Agrees with the
nearest subject
Exa-Either Rama or Sita forgot to take her pen--correct
Exa-Either Rama or Sita forgot to take his pen-- incorrect
A reflexive pronoun alone cannot be the subject of a
. verb Exa-Myself have done this workincorrect
I Myself have done this work- correct
He himself,she herself,you yourself,they themselves,etc can be the subject of
a verb
When the complement of a verb is pronoun ,it should be in
subjective form Exa-It is I,who have done the work-- - correct
It is me,who have done it--- incorrect
Use of either or/ neither nor When reference is made to two only .
Exa-Either of the two boys of Rama has come for work.-----correct
none of the two boys of Rama has come for work.-----incorrect
use of eAch other/ one Another When reference is made to speak about two in number , the phrase each
other is used. But when reference is made to speak about more than
two ,the phrase one another is used.
Exa-Two boys are quarreling among each other.
A group of five boys are discussing over the topic among one another.
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Verbs that take REFLEXIVE PRONOUN Certain verbs like avail , acquit ,absent ,enjoy ,apply ,avenge ,resign ,
oversleep ,drink ,revenge ,exert etc.
Exa-He absented himself from that important meeting.
verbs thAt dont take REFLEXIVE PRONOUN Certain verbs like break, keep ,bath , turn, height ,feed etc. dont take
reflexive
Exa-The day broke itself in a cloudless sky.---incorrect
The day broke in a cloudless sky.-correct
The relative pronoun that , in preference to , who or which
a)After adjective in the superlative degree
Exa-It is the best that I can do for you.
b)after the interrogative pronoun
Exa-What is it that troubles you ?
c)After two anticidents-one denoting to a person and the other denoting to an animal or a
thing
Exa-The boy and his dog that had entered the house were turn out.
Such and same are followed by as in preference to that, which or
who
Exa-His answer was such as I expected from him.
No less than is used in reference to quantitative nouns .No fewer than is
used in reference to numbers
Exa-No fewer than one thousand people were killed in the earth quake.
Verbs that take the preposition as
Certain verbs like regard ,describe ,trip ,define etc. are followed by as
Exa-He is regarded as one of our family members.
When, one of the.. is used ,it takes plural nouns but singular auxiliary
verb only.
Exa-one of the boys was found missing from the group.
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the verb comes before its subject when it is introduced
BY AN ADVERB Exa-No sooner did he reach the railway station , the train left ---incorrect
No sooner did he reach the railway station , than the train left ---correct
Exa-Rightly it has been said that virtue brings its own reward.-incorrect
Rightly has it been said that virtue brings its own reward.-correct
the Adjective eAch And everY Are singulAr And hence
FOLLOWED BY SINGULAR VERB
Exa-Everyone of the students of the class were present.----incorrect
Everyone of the students of the class was present.----correct
Eachone of the students of the class were present.----incorrect
Eachone of the students of the class was present.----correct
Nouns in both plural and singular form Certain nouns like deer , sheep , fish , pipe ,fruit ,yoke etc.
Exa-Deer is a herbivorous animal.
Ten deer are grazing grass together.
NOUNS TAKE PLURAL SENSE WHEN REFER TO KIND Certain nouns like fish , fruit , water etc. take plural from when it speaks of
more than one kind.
Exa-My father bought five mango fruit.
My father bought one each of mango and apple fruits.
He purchased ten Rohu fish from the market.
He purchased fishes of both Rohu and Catla from the market.
Kanyakumari is the place where three waters like Bay of Bengal ,Indian Ocean and The Arabian Sea
meet.
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MATERIAL NOUN WHEN USED TO DENOTE A MASS OF MATTER
ARE NOT BE IN PLURAL FORM BUT IN SINGULAR FORM ONLY. When any material noun is used to denote the material as whole,it is to be
used in singular form only
Exa-My house is made up of brick and stone .-correct
-My house is made up of bricks and stones .-incorrect
Nouns plural in form but singular in use Certain nouns like Mathematics , staticstics ,Scissors ,Spectacles
,Tongs , measles ,Trousers , NEWS ,Annals ,Credentials ,Wages
,Innings ,Canteens ,Physics ,Synthesis ,Economics , Alms etc. look
like plural but are always singular in use.
Exa-My favorite subject is Physics-- correct
My favorite subject are Physics --- incorrect
Conjunction like UNLESS And UNTILL Are negAtive
Unless=If + not The sentence in which conjunction unless is used ,it will not be followed
by not.
Exa-Unless you work hard, it is not difficult to get success incorrect
Unless you work hard, it is difficult to get success correct
UNTIL=TIME + NOT
Exa-Until I dont come back, you should not leave the house-incorrect
-Until I come back, you should not leave the house-correct
Conjunction Although is followed bY A comma( , ) or
Yet but not bY but Exa-Although he is poor ,but he is honest--incorrect
Although he is poor , yet he is honest--correct
Although he is poor , he is honest--correct
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the infinitive without to is used After the phrAses hAd
better ,hAd rAther , As soon AsExa- You had better not to stay here. incorrect
You had better not stay here. correct
Exa- He had rather not to reach there. incorrect
He had rather not reach there. correct
Exa-The miscreants started leaving the spot as soon as the policeman started to take action.--
>incorrect
The miscreants started leaving the spot as soon as the policeman started taking action.-->correct
other is followed bY thAn not bY but Exa-How could I hear such words from any other man but him.--> incorrect
How could I hear such words from any other man than him.--> correct
As if is used in pAst tense onlY Exa-He ordered me as if he is my boss.
. As though used in present tense onlY
Preposition
Some hints about use of preposition before noun ,verb or adjective and post position after
noun, verb and adjective .
The verb like angry, please, displease, happy etc. take the preposition with
Exa-My friend is angry with me.
My friend is happy with me.
My friend is pleased with me.
My friend is displeased with me.
The following adjectives ending with ior take the preposition to .
Senior-junior
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Anterior-posterior
Superior-inferior
Exa-I am senior/junior to him. correct
I am senior/junior than him incorrect
I am superior/inferior to him. correct
I am superior/inferior than him. incorrect
The portico is anterior to my house. correct
The toilet is posterior to my house . correct
Difference between agree with and agree to
When the subject relates to the person , the postposition with is used .
Exa-I agree with him .
When the subject relates to the object , the postposition to is used .
Exa- I do not agree to his proposal .
Difference between into and to
When somebody or something looses its existence , into is used.
Exa- The child threw a stone into the river.
Here the stone ,though does not lose its existence ,but the child concerned cannot get it
back.
Exa-The child entered to the river with his father.
Here the child and his father will comeback from the river.
Exa-The child threw the ball to the neighbor's yard.
Here the child will get back the ball from neighbors yard.
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difference between in And At Exa-My elder brother lives in Bangalore.
When the place is large like metro political city or city, in is used
My uncle lives at native village.
When the place is comparatively small, at is used
My friend lives in England
The moon appears at night .
The sun rises in the morning.
I met my friend in the seashore.
I met my friend at the river bank
The use of on , over and across
When something touches the object ,it takes the post position on .
Exa- There is a book on the table.
Here the book touch the table itself.
When something doesnt touch the object ,but is bit high ,it takes over .
Exa-There is a bridge over the river Mahanadi.
When something doesnt touch the object ,but is quite high ,it takes across.
Exa-The aeroplane is flying across the building.
Difference between under and beneath
The cat is under the table.
There is a goldmine beneath the mountain.
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Common error
Difference between fact and true fact
Exa-It is a fact that 2014 General Election verdict was in favour of the BJP correct
It is a true fact that 2014 General Election verdict was in favour of the BJP incorrect
Difference between bag and baggage and with bag and
baggage
Exa-He left the house bag and baggage.
He left with bag and baggage