English Grammar Shortcuts

 English Grammar Shortcuts - Quick Reference Guide - Pdf Download

Lesson 1 : Usage of Articles

• Basics of Articles (Part 1 - A and An)
• Basics of Articles (Part 2 - The)
• Basics of Articles (Part 3 - Article Omission)

Lesson 2 : Usage of Nouns

• Basics of Nouns (Part 1 - Noun and Number)
• Basics of Nouns (Part 2 - Noun and Case)
• Basics of Nouns (Part 3 - Noun and Verb / Pronoun Agreement)

Lesson 3 : Some Common Errors of English

Lesson 4 : Important Shortcut rules of English for Competitive Exams

• Nouns Shortcut Rules
• Pronouns - Shortcut Rules 
• Verbs - Shortcut Rules 
• Adjectives - Shortcut Rules
• Articles - Shortcut Rules  
• Adverbs - Shortcut Rules  
• Conjunctions - Shortcut rules  (new update)      
• Prepositions - Shortcut Rules  (new update)     
• Parts of Speech - Shortcut Rules

Lesson 5 : Important topics of English Section for Competitive Exams

• Tenses - Explained with Examples (new update)   
• Sentence Re-arrangement / Re ordering Tips   (new update)    
• Correction of Sentences - Short notes
• Correction of Sentences Example Problems - Set 1
• Sentence Correction Example Problems - Set 2
• Key with Explanations for Set 2 Sentence Correction Problems
• Spotting Errors Practice Papers
• Basic English Grammar for Competitive Exams - Pdf Download
• Voice
• Tenses
• Irregular Verbs - Shortcut Rules
• Parallelism - Shortcut Rules
• Conditionals - Shortcut Rules
•  Tenses - Table
• Idioms and Phrases
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Either or / Neither nor Usage
• A Little / A Few / Little / Few Usage
• Too and Enough Usage
• Much and Many Usage
• I wish - If Only Usage
• Used to - Be Used to and Get Used to Usage
• One Word Substitution    
• Verbal Ability Study Material (new update)   
• R. S. Aggrawal's Objective English (Pdf) Download

Lesson 6 : Tips for Correct Spellings

• Tips to Improve English Spellings - Part 1
• Tips to Improve English Spellings - Part 2
• List of Spellings often Misspelled 
• List of Frequently Misused / Confused words (homophones)
  
  

Lesson 7 : Reading Comprehension :

• How to get Good Marks in Reading Comprehension ?

 Lesson 8 : Descriptive Paper :

• Precis Writing Tips

1.  Introduction
2. How to write Good Precis for SBI PO Exams ?
3. Approach to Precis Writing
4. Important Techniques to Compress the given data for Precis Writing  
5. Precis Writing Examples 

• Letter Writing Tips
•  Introduction
•  Personal and Informal Letter Writing
• Examples of Informal Letters
• Essay Writing Tips
• Lesson 1 : Introduction
• Lesson 2 : How to Write Essays for Bank and Other Competitive Exams Here
• Lesson 3 : Preparation of Essay Here
• Lesson 4 : Writing Plan of Essays Here 
• Lesson 5 : Drafting and writing Conclusion Here

Usage of Either / Or and Neither / Nor

Today we shall discuss about the Usage of Either / Or and Neither / Nor. 

Usage of Either / or : 

       We can use either / or in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities

      Ex : We can either study now or after the dinner - it's up to you.

Usage of Neither / Nor : 

        We can use Neither / Nor  in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true.

        Ex : Neither my mother nor my father went to university.

Rules you should keep in mind while using Either / Or (or) Neither / Nor : 

• If both elements are singular, then the verb should also be  singular. Have a look at an example,
• Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. 
• ( Here father and mother are singular; so the verb has is also singular)
• Neither Kareena nor Saif is going to the function. (Kareena and Saif are singular; so the verb is is also singular)
• However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb.
• Either Jasmine or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. 
• (the girls is plural; so the verb are is plural too)
• Neither the lecturer nor the students were in the classroom this morning. 
• (the students is plural; so the verb were is plural too)

Source: http://www.gr8ambitionz.com/

Conjunctions-Shortcut Rules

Friends, in this post we shall discuss some important Rules of Conjunctions.

Rule 1 : The co-relative conjunctions are used in pairs.

1. Not only - but also
2. Either - or
3. Neither - nor
4. Both - and
5. Though - yet
6. Whether - or

Please see that the pair is properly used.

• They will either do the work else return the money. ☓
• They will either do the work or return the money.✔

• Both kumar as well as Ravi must finish it.☓
• Both kumar and Ravi must finish it.✔

• Not only does he read but also writes.✔

• Though he is rich but he is economical. ☓
• Though he is rich yet he is economical.✔

Rule 2 : After the adverbs "Hardly / Scarcely", the conjunction 'when or before' should be used.

• Hardly had he left the place than the Bomb exploded. ☓
• Hardly had he left the place when the Bomb exploded.✔

Rule 3 : After 'Rather / Other, the subordinating conjunction 'Than should be used.

• He has no other object but to get a handsome job. ☓
• He has no other object than to get a handsome job.✔

• I would rather buy a scooter but not a cycle. ☓
• I would rather buy a scooter than a cycle.✔

Rule 4 : After the subordinating conjunction 'lest' the auxiliary 'should' is used.

              Lest - for fear that / If it is not so.

• Work hard lest you fail. ☓
• Work hard lest you should fail.✔

Rule 5 : The connecting word 'that' is used with the adjective phrase 'the same/the only/superlative adjectives/all

• This is the same book which I wanted. ☓
• This is the same book that I wanted.✔

Rule 6 : The conjunction 'or' is used with not / never.

• I have never spoken to him nor written to him. ☓
• I have never spoken to him or written to him.✔

Rule 7 : With the word 'such' the connective 'that' may be used.

• There was such a noise what we could not hear ourselves. ☓
• There was such a noise that we could not hear ourselves.✔

Rule 8 : 

> Until - Denotes Time
> Unless - Denotes Condition

• You will not succeed until you work hard. ☓
• You will not succeed unless you work hard.✔

• I want to stay here unless she speaks the truth. ☓
• I want to stay here until she speaks the truth.✔

• You cannot do well until you prepare yourself. ☓
• You cannot do well unless you prepare yourself.✔

Rule 9 : After the connective 'because' the words ' so / therefore / as' are not used.

• Because he came late so he failed to see her. ☓
• Because he came late, he fail to see her.✔

Rule 10 : The adverb 'Not' should not be used with the connective 'Till/unless/lest/until' in that clause.

• Until he does not solve this problem, I will stay with him. ☓
• Until he solves this problem, I will stay with him.✔

• Unless they do not work sincere, they will not succeed. ☓
• Unless they work sincerely, they will not succeed.✔

Rule 11 : When 'since' is used as a conjunction should be preceded by present perfect tense and followed by a verb in the past tense to denote point of time.

• Many things have happened since I have left the school. ☓
• Many things have happened since I left the school.✔

Rule 12 : With the conjunction 'if' 'then' should not be used.

• If you work for 8 hours a day, then you will get through the examination. ☓
• If you work for 8 hours a day, you will get through the examination.✔

Rule 13 : When two objects are joined by 'as well/besides/along with /together with / in addition to / except / including with, the verb agrees with the first subject in number.

• He as well as his students have gone there. ☓
• He as well as his students has gone there.✔

Some Common Errors in English

All of us know English. We can chat with our friends in English, read English books and ofcourse watch English movies and understands them. But we cant get more marks in English paper of bank exams. Some times we feel disappointed by seeing our English marks lesser than our expectations. Whats the problem ? Well the problem is "we Neglect some basic things!!! we know everything, but we don't mind forgetting them. Lets have a look at some common errors in English. Just read these point twice or thrice so that you can get 5 marks at least for sure :) 

Wrong	Correct
The Titanic drowned in the sea	The Titanic sank in the sea
Higher we go, cooler we feel	The higher we go, the cooler we feel
She quickly did the job.	She did the job quickly.
He is my older Brother	He is my elder Brother
Most unique opportunity	Unique opportunity
It is much hot today	It is very hot today
Rich should be kind to poor	The rich should be kind to the poor
S/He is my Cousin brother/sister	S/He is my Cousin
She quickly did the job	She did the job quickly.
One must do his duty	One must do one’s duty
Do you know to Dance?	Do you know how to Dance?
Have you bought some apples?	Have you bought any apples?
No less than 50 persons Killed	No fewer than 50 persons Killed
The climate of Goa is better than Nagpur	The climate of Goa is better than that of Nagpur
Many a man were here	Many a man was here
My state of health	The state of my health
I don’t know the English alphabets	I don’t know the English alphabet
May I take your leave	May I take leave of you
Excuse me being late	Excuse my being late
He rarely goes out, doesn’t he?	He rarely goes out, does he?
He admitted that he was in wrong	He admitted that he was in the wrong
The number of people are small	The number of people is small
My little sister goes to the school by bus	My little sister goes to school by bus
The series of lectures were boring	The series of lectures was boring
English teacher	Teacher of English
He lives in a boarding	He lives in a boarding house
You are wiser than old	You are more wise than old
A good play of football	A good game of football
He behaves as if he was a king	He behaves as if he were a king
Chennai is further than Delhi	Chennai is farther than Delhi
They were counting on me helping them	They were counting on my helping them
This drawing is more perfect than the other one	This drawing is perfect than the other one
Word by word translation is not necessary	Word for word translation is not necessary
Two third of the book	Two thirds of the book
No space in this compartment	No room in this compartment

Omission of Articles

Till now we have learnt where should we use A , An and where should we use THE. Now we shall learn where shouldn't we use these articles. Following are the conditions where we shouldn't use any article. 

• Before the common nouns man, woman, god, heaven, hell, when used in general sence
• Man is mortal but God is immortal
• Man proposes but god disposes
• Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
• Note : But when particularized 'the' definite article is used.
• The man who is standing at the door is my uncle
• When it means one, the indefinite article is used.
• There is a man at the door
• Before abstract nouns, when generalized 
• Honesty is the best policy
• Beauty should lie in one's heart
• Bravery is the sign of man
• Note : But when these are particularized, THE is used
• The honesty the auto-driver showed was finally rewarded
• Before material nouns when Generalized
• Water is essential for all
• Sugar is sweet
• Wood is used for making furniture
• Gold is a precious metal
• But when particularized, THE definite article is used
• The water in this pond is pure
• The gold used for making this chain was 22 carat
• Before places like Church, Temple, Mosque, School, College, University, Hostel, Library, Class, Hospital, Jail (Prison) etc. When they are visited for their primary purpose
• ☓  He was an atheist, but now a days he is going to the church
• ✔ He was an atheist, but now a days he is going to church
• ☓   You should go to the school regularly in-order to get good marks
• ✔  You should go to school regularly in-order to get good marks
• ✔ I went to the church to meet my friend (here i dint go for the primary purpose(prayer))
• ✔  The man was put in jail for killing a woman
• ✔  The injured were taken to hospital
• ☓   The injured were taken to the hospital
• But when these places are visited for their secondary purpose the definite article should be used.
• He went to the temple to meet the priest
• My father came to the school to talk to my class teacher
• I went to the hospital to see and console a patient
• But when it means one, the indefinite article is used
• There is a school at the end of the street
• Before Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner etc, when used in general sense
• we usually take lunch at 1
• Breakfast is served between 7 and 9
• But when these are particularized, by an adjective, the indefinite article is used.
• We had a delicious lunch yesterday (here the lunch is particularized, so we used an indefinite article "a")
• We are going to have a healthy breakfast
• Before plural nouns, when generalized
• Tigers are ferocious animals
• Cows are domestic animals 
• Children like chocolates
• Note : Here if we represent singular instead of plural, then we should use articles
• The tiger is a ferocious animal
• A tiger is a ferocious animal
• Tigers are ferocious animals
• In expressions like Go to bed, Take heart, Lose heart, Send word, Set fire
• Please switch off all the lights before going to bed (not going to the bed)
• Dont lose heart when you are on the verge of danger (not lose the heart)
• The house was set on fire (not on the fire)