Correction of Sentences

Rule No 1
Two subjects (Proper Nouns or Pronouns) joined by and = Plural Verb
1. He and I is/are good friends.
2. Ali and Umar has/have paid the debt.
Rule No 2
Two subjects joined by “and” referring to the same thing = Singular Verb
1. Time and tide waits/wait for none.
2. Bread and butter is/are what I need for my kids.
3. Slow and steady win/wins the race.
4. The rise and fall of the Roman empire was/were pathetic.
Rule No:3 Common Nouns
The + Singular Subject and a/an/the + Singular Subject = Plural verb
The + Singular Subject and Singular Subject = Singular verb
1. The captain and the coach = 2 different persons
2. The captain and coach = 1 person having two posts
3. The manager and accountant has/have not turned up yet.
Rule No: 4 First-subject Connectors
Two subjects joined by along with, together with, as well as, accompanied by and with, the verb is
always in accordance with the first subject.
1. He as well as I am/is worried about the new policy.
Rule No:5 Second-subject Connectors 18L
Two subjects joined by
neither-----nor,
either-------or
not only-----but also
the verb is always in accordance with the second subject.
1. Either the students or the teacher are/is interested in the deal.
Rule No:6 Verbs + Present Participle
The following expressions are followed by present participle. (Verb+ing)
Cannot help, could not help
Feel like
With a view to
Look forward to
Be used to
1. He cannot help going/go there.
2. She could not help eat/eating the zinger.
3. I feel like going/go to cinema.
4. With a view to making/make you happy, he came back.
5. I look forward to visiting/visit the museum in future.
6. He is used to getting/get up early.
Rule No: 7 (Causatives)
The English verbs let, make, have, get and help are called causative verbs because they
cause something else to happen.
Causatives with agents
S + CV + Agent + Verb + Object
Have Base Form
Make Base Form
Let Base Form
 Get Infinitive
Causatives without agents
S + CV + Object + Verb
Get III
Have VIII
He made me write/to write the sum on a slip and sign my name in a book.
He got his son’s tonsils remove/to remove/removed.
My mother never lets me go/to go/gone out without security.
The teacher got the naughty students to go/go/gone through the trial.
Rule No:8 Verbs + Bare-infinitive
The following expressions are followed by bare-infinitive (Verb I without to)
Dare*, need*, had better, would better, would rather
Make, have, let (as Causative verb)
May, Might, Shall, Should, Will, Would, Can, Could, Must, Ought to (MODALS)
1. Let him go/to go.
2. He would sign/to sign the contract. 3. You had better to inform/inform them.
Rule No:9 Unreal Suppositions
The following expressions are followed by were or Past Perfect
I wish, if only, would that, as if, as though, if I* were he*
1. I wish he was/were there.
2. If only I stay/had stayed with my pals.
3. Would that she tells/had told them the reality.
4. If I was/were you, I would/could forgive them.
5. I wish I (take) a closer look at the ship when had the chance.
6. If I was/were a co-operative store, I would have obliged you.
Rule No: 10
Present to Past= Single Past
Past to further past= Double Past
Single Past Double Past
Was\were Had been
Ago Before
Verb II Had Verb III
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

He told me that he was/had been at the party two days before.

She had gone to school.
She went to school.
They already informed me about the incident.
The had already informed me about the incident.
Rule No: 11
Independent Clause Dependent Clause
Future Present
Would have VerbIII Past Perfect
They would have reached the village if they leave/had left earlier.
If she had contributed to the funds, we collect/collected/would have collected a heavy amount.
If you taste the soup, you like/will like it.
As soon as she is/will be there, we shall/do not visit them.

Rule No: 12
Verbs With No Preposition
We don’t use preposition after the following verbs:
Like, resemble, reach, request, love, marry, enter, order, dislike, attack, regret, pass,
1. He resembles with his father.
He resembles his father.
Rule No:13
One of/each of/any of/either of/ neither of/ none of + Plural Noun + Singular Verb
One of the roads leads/lead to the Mall.
Neither of the two girls has/have finished her job.
Rule No: 14
Many a + Singular noun + Singular Verb
Many a candidate/candidates has/have tried it a number of times.
Rule No: 15
Means (Wealth) = Plural Verb
Means (Method) = Singular Verb
This/these means of communication is/are getting popular nowadays.
His means was/were not enough to support a large family.
Rule No: 16
Wages (Payment) = Plural Verb
Wages (Reward) = Singular Verb
The wages of sin is/are nothing but humiliation.
The low wages does/do not likely to meet basic expenditures.
Rule No: 17
Collective Nouns
If the members of the collective noun are acting as a unit----- everyone doing the same thing at the same
time---------- the collective noun is singular and requires a singular verb and singular pronoun.
1. The team is/are coming to Pakistan. 2. The crowd was/were appreciating the performance.
3. The team are/is changing the clothes. 4. The crowd has/have been dispersed after the match.
5. The jury has/have decided the matter unanimously.
Rule No: 18
Lest---------- Should
Lest should be followed by Should. Since it is a negative word, we don’t use not after it.
Work hard lest you (may not) fail.
Do not go out lest you should not get drenched in rain.
Rule No: 19 (Hardly/scarcely)
Hardly/Scarcely + had/did + Subject + VerbIII/VerbI + When/Before + Subject + VerbII
Hardly we had come on the road than it began to rain.
Hardly had we come on the road when it began to rain.
Rule No: 20
No Sooner + had/did + S+ Verb III/Verb I + than + S + VerbII
No sooner the players entered the stadium when the crowd began to shout.
No sooner did the players enter the stadium than the crowd began to shout.
Rule No: 21
Who (as a relative pronouns) is followed by the verb in accordance with the subject it refers to
It is I who is/am to blame.
She is one of those employees who never get/gets late for the office.
God helps those who help/helps themselves.
Rule No: 22 Measuring Units of amount, distance, time, money, etc.
When the amount or quantity is considered a unit, we use singular verb.
Where is/are that five pounds I lent you.
Twenty miles is/are a long way to walk.
 Three quarters of a ton is/are too much.
Two hours was/were a long time to wait.
Rule No: 23 Past + Past
If the first clause is in past tense, the second will also be in the same.
The officer replied that he will/would get back.
The manager did not know where I hide/hid his personal documents.
Nouns
Rule No: 1
Uncountable nouns are followed by Singular Verbs
His hair are/is curly.
The equipment is/are for sale.
Rule No: 2
There is no plural form of uncountable nouns.
The furnitures/furniture are/is for sale.
The college is closed for summer vacation/vacations.
Rule No: 3
Singular and Plural Forms Alike
Cod Fish Trout Perch
Deer Sheep offspring Swine (meaning pig)
Issue (Meaning children)
I hunted two deers/deer yesterday.
I want to buy all the sheeps/sheep.
Rule No: 4 Plural Verbs
Nouns followed by Plural Verb
Police Cattle Vermin
Gentry Poultry People
b) The + Class Adjectives = Plural Nouns
The rich, the poor, The honest, the brave, the injured, the deaf, the dumb etc.
c) The + Nationals (ending with sh, ch, se, s)
The English, the Welsh, the Spanish, the French, the Dutch, the Chinese, the Portuguese, the Swiss, the
Burmese, the Japanese, the Danish, etc
The police is/are looking into the case.
This/these cattle has/have been mine.
The cunning is/are despised everywhere.
Englishes are/is more responsible than Frenches.
The English are more responsible than the French.
Rule No: 5
Plural-like Nouns followed by Singular Verb
1) Names of Subjects
Mathematics, physics, statistics, electronics, economics etc.
2) Names of Games
Billiards, snookers, darts, etc.
3) Common Diseases
Mumps, aids, measles, etc.
4) Sundry Items
News, gallows, summons, innings, etc
The news is/are not true.
The gallows has/have been erected in the jail.
Rule No: 6
Numeric Digits + Nouns
Following nouns do not take S after them if preceded by a number.
Score (20)
Dozen (12)
Gross (144)
Hundred, Thousand, million, billion, trillion, etc.
We have come over sixty millions/million miles.
I’ll sell you that metal for five hundreds/hundred dollars.
Thousands/thousand, even millions/million, will die of starvation
Rule No: 7
Irregular Plurals
Foot feet tooth teeth
Man men woman women
Child children goose geese
Louse lice mouse mice
Ox oxen
I need anti-louse shampoo.
I need anti-lice shampoo.
Rule No: 8
The following nouns are plurals and should be followed by plural verb
Names of Instruments
Scissors, shears, tongs, pliers, glasses, binoculars, spectacles, tweezers etc.
Names of Some Articles of Dress
Trousers, knickers, jeans, pants, socks, etc.
Sundry Items
Goods assets thanks
Riches alms means(wealth)
Ashes
The scissor is blunt.
The scissors are blunt.
I need a scissor.
I need a pair of scissors.
Two trousers was/were bought yesterday.
Two pairs of trousers were bought yesterday.
A scissor is/are for sale.
A pair of scissors is for sale.
Rule # 9 (Many, Much)
Many = Countable Nouns
Much = Uncountable Nouns
You need to make many/much effort.
We have got many/much problems to face.
Rule # 10 (Little, Few)
Little = Uncountable Nouns
Few = Countable Nouns
Put a few/a little sugar in the tea.
I still have a little/few memories of many children.
Rule # 11
Adjective-like Nouns
The following words are nouns not adjectives. Care should be taken in their use.

Cheat, miser, coward, outcast, etc.

He is a cheat person. He is a cheat.
She is a coward girl. She is a coward. OR she is a cowardly girl.
She is a miser lady. She is a miser. She is a miserly lady.
Pronouns
Rule No: 1
Order of the Personal Pronouns
Positive/Neutral Activity
2nd + 3rd + 1st
Negative Activity
1st + 3rd + 2nd
I, you and he have performed wonderfully.
He, you and I told the news.
The project failed because of his, your and my negligence.
Rule No: 2
Subjective Case of Personal Pronouns
Than, As, It be*, If I* were he*
She is more efficient than him/he. He is as active as her/she.
It is I/me who can save the victims. If I were she/her, I would spare them.
Rule No: 3
Objective Case of Personal Pronouns
Let, but, between, except, any preposition*
Let he/him do the job. Nobody resists but me/I.
Between you and me/I, he is a spy. Like me/I, he is also not interested.
Rule No: 4
Reflexive Pronouns
Adapt oneself to Avail oneself of Avenge oneself on
Revenge oneself on Absent oneself from Enjoy oneself
Pride oneself on
He absented from the college. He absented himself from the college.
She availed the opportunity. She availed herself of the opportunity.
Rule No: 5
Who/Which/That
Who = for living beings
Which = for non-living beings + animal world That = for both type of things
He is the one who/which is very upright in his dealings.
The book who/which you sent me is quite informative.
He hit the camel who/which was feeding off the leaves.
Rule No: 6
If a sentence begins with Indefinite Pronouns “One” we should use the same pronoun throughout the
sentence.
One should be loyal to his/one’s country. One should behave what one/he likes most.
Rule No: 7 Who vs Whom
We should deal the following Relative Pronouns carefully.
Who = Subjective Case
Whose = Possessive Case
Whom = Objective Case
Who/whom can bring them back? Who/Whom do you wish to see?
The person who/whom the police arrested has killed many innocents.
It is the Principal who/whom should be informed of the incident.
He is the one whom/who I believe can do it
Rule No: 8 Illogical Comparison
That, those or Possessive Pronouns are used to avoid the repetition of a preceding nouns.
1. The population of Karachi is larger than Lahore. (Wrong)
The population of Karachi is larger than that of Lahore. (Correct)
2. The buildings in Lahore are more historical than Sialkot.
The buildings in Lahore are more historical than those of Sialkot.
3. My watch is like you.
My watch is like yours.
His new shirt is as good as Salim.
4. The teachers at XYZ are more comfortable than ABC College.
The teachers at XYZ are more comfortable than those of ABC College.
Rule No: 9
Each Every
Each other One another
Neither None
Either Any
Between Among
There are trees on each/every side of the road.
Distribute the money between/among all the brothers.
Articles
Articles are of two types
Definite Articles (The)
Indefinite Articles (A/An)
Indefinite Articles (Use of A)
We use A before a singular countable noun.
1. We need a bread to eat. 2. He is a brave. We have a chairs.
We need bread to eat. He is brave. We have chairs.
Use of An
We use ‘An’ before a word that begins with a vowel sound,
In simple way we use’ An’ before a word that begins with the sound of ‘Alif’ in Urdu language.
An inkpot ‫انک پاٹ‬ An egg ‫ایگ‬
An heir ‫ائیر‬ An hour ‫اور‬
An honest boy ‫اونسٹ‬ An honour ‫اونر‬
An SHO ‫ایس‬ An SDO ‫ایس ڈی او‬
An MA ‫ایم اے‬ An FA ‫ایف اے‬
An X-ray ‫ایکس رے‬ An L-shaped building
Note
A European A university
A union A utopia
Use of The
We talk about things in one of the two ways
General way = We don’t use “The” when we talk in a general way.
Particular Way = We use “The” when we talk about in a particular way.
Children are naughty. (meaning children all over the world are naughty)
The children are naughty. (meaning that only a certain group of children is naughty)
Rule No: 1 (Unique Things)
We use the before the names of unique things.
Sun, moon, earth, stars, sky, north pole, south pole, equator, etc.
1. Moon shines in sky.
The moon shines in the sky.
Rule No: 2 (Superlative Degree of Adjectives)
We use the before superlative degree of adjectives.
1. He is most powerful wrestler of the town.
He is the most powerful wrestler of the town.
2. She is ablest student of the college.
She is the ablest student of the college.
Rule No: 3 Comparative Adverbs
When a sentence consists of two clauses and each clause begins with a comparative adverb, we use the
before each comparative adverb.
1. Higher you go, cooler it is.
The higher you go, the cooler it is.
2. More you get, more you want.
The more you get, the more you want.
Rule No: 4 Comparative Adjectives
When we use comparative adjective for making or asking for a choice selection, we use the before that
comparative adjectives.
1. Which shirt is better of the two?
Which shirt is the better of the two?
2. He is more competent of the two candidates.
He is the more competent of the two candidates.
Rule No: 5 Representing the Whole Class (Animals and Gadgets)
We use the before a singular countable noun when it represents its whole class.
1. Lion is the king of forest.
The lion is the king of forest.
2. Telephone is a wonderful invention.
The telephone is a wonderful invention.
3. Tiger is the fastest of all animals.
The tiger is the fastest of all animals.
Rule No: 6 Class Adjectives = (Plural Nouns)
We use the before class adjectives. This use of the converts the class adjectives into plural nouns. Hence
plural verb is used after this combination when required.
The poor, the rich, the old, the young, the deaf, the dumb, the brave, the honest, the cunning
The brave/braves is/are honoured everywhere.
Rule No: 7 The + Nationals (ending with ch, sh, s,)
The Chinese, the Japanese, the Irish, the Scottish, the French, the Dutch, etc.
The French is/are braver than the English.
Rule No: 8 We use the before the names of:
a) Rivers: = the Ravi, the Indus, the Nile, the Sakarya, etc.
b) Oceans & Seas = the Pacific Ocean, the Arabian Sea, the Mediterranean, etc.
c) Newspapers = the Frontier Post, the Nation, the News, etc.
d) Religious Books = the Quran, the Bible, the Vedas, etc.
e) Religious Groups = the Muslims, the Hindus, the Sikhs, etc.
f) Mountain Ranges = the Himalayas, the Alps, the Aravalli, the Alleghenies, etc.
g) Musical Instruments (when one plays it otherwise we don’t use the before them)
h) Ships = the Titanic, the HMS Dreadnought, etc.
 Adverbs
An adverb is a word that adds to the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
It is raining heavily. (adverb modifying a verb)

My brother is very/quite/extremely/greatly brave. (how much brave)

She is a very competent teacher. (adverb modifying an adjective)
He always does his job quite honestly. (adverb modifying an adverb)

He is writing an essay.
He is writing an essay very quickly. (How writing)
I regularly go there for a walk in the evening.
Adverb _____ Verb (How)
Adverb --------- Adjective OR Adverb (How much)
I daily visit them. (How often ----- Frequency)
Sit down. (Where ---- Place)
Do it now. (When ------- Time)
I visit them happily. (How ----- Manner)
I visit them daily to learn new jokes. (Why ------ Purpose)

Rule No: 1 (Verb + Adverb)

He ran quick/quickly to the stadium.

They fought brave/bravely to save the innocent children.
Rule No: 2 Adjective-like adverbs
The following words are adverbs not adjectives. Care should be taken in their use.
Adjective Adverbs Adverbs
Fast Fast
Hard Hard (with great effort) Hardly (almost not)
High High (height vise) Highly (extremely)
Direct Direct Directly
Close Close Closely
Loud Aloud Loudly

1. They finished the race quite fastly/fast.

2. She is high/highly respected among all the teachers.
3. Ronaldo kicked the football high/highly.
4. He really worked hard/hardly to win the scholarship.
Rule No: 3 Use of ‘enough’
Enough, an adverb, is used differently. It follows the adjective it modifies. But when ‘enough’ is used as
an adjective, it comes before a noun.

Adverb ------ Adjective (intensely hot, very brave, extremely tired, quite honest, )
Enough is also an adjective. When it is used as an adjective, it behaves normally.

1. You are enough old to understand what I am saying.

You are old enough to understand what I am saying.
 2. It was enough good for the watch.
It was good enough for the watch.
But
3. We have time enough to finish the assignment. (Incorrect)
We have enough time to finish the assignment.
You have enough stamina to study late at night.
Rule No: 4 Order of Adverbs

MPFTP {manners, place, frequency, time, purpose}

I have to run each morning after breakfast down the street to catch the bus quickly.
I have to run quickly down the street each morning after breakfast to catch the bus.
He came last night late to me.
He came late to me last night.
They shouted to celebrate the victory warmly twice last night.
They shouted warmly twice last night to celebrate the victory.
Rule No: 5 (Very, Too)
“Too” means “more than enough”. It has negative meaning, and should never be confused with “very”.
He is very/too tired to go anywhere.
I am very/too confused today.
Mother was very/too pleased to see her lost child.
The tea is very/too hot to drink.

Adjectives
Rule No: 1
Use of Adjectives
An adjective can be used in two ways: attributively or predicatively
An adjective is said to be used attributively if it is followed by a noun. (Adj + Nouns)
An adjective is said to be used predicatively if it is preceded by a noun. (Noun + Adj)
He is an able doctor. (Able is used attributively)
The doctor is able. (Able is used predicatively)
Attributive Adjectives
The following adjectives can only be used attributively.
Chief, principal, main, above-mentioned, etc
Follow the rules above-mentioned. This is the reason principal for his failure.
Follow the above-mentioned rules. This is the principal reason for his failure.
Predicative Adjectives
Afraid, awake, alive, ashamed, asleep, ill, worth, obtained, etc.
This is a worth-seeing building. What are your obtained marks?
This is a building worth-seeing. What are your marks obtained?
Rule No: 2
Adverb-like Adjectives
The following adjectives look like adverbs but they are adjectives. Care should be taken while dealing
with them.
Friendly, lively, lovely, ugly, miserly, cowardly, lonely, deadly, elderly, manly, womanly etc.
He treated me friendly. (Wrong)
He treated me in a friendly manner/way/fashion. (Correct)
Rule No: 3
Formation of Adjectives
One or two-syllabic Adjectives
Simple Adjective Comparative Adjective Superlative Adjective
er/r/ier est/st/iest
Great Greater Greatest
Lazy Lazier Laziest
Brave Braver Bravest
Adjectives having more than two syllables
Simple Adjective Comparative Adjective Superlative Adjective
More Most
Intelligent More intelligent Most intelligent
Wonderful More wonderful Most wonderful
Irregular Adjectives
Simple Adjective Comparative Adjective Superlative Adjective
Good better best
Well (healthy) better best
Bad worse worst
Little less least
Much/many more most
Far farther farthest
Far further furthest
Note
We form the degrees of the following adjectives in either of the above-mentioned two ways.
Clever, simple, likely,
Simple Adjectives Comparative Adjectives Superlative Adjectives
Clever cleverer/more clever cleverest/most cleverest
Simple simpler/ more simple simplest/ most simple
Likely likelier/more likely likeliest/ most likely
Note
All adjectives ending in full, ing, or ed form their Comparative with More and Superlative with Most
Simple Adjectives Comparative Adjectives Superlative Adjectives
Useful More useful Most useful
Pleased More pleased Most pleased
Glaring More glaring Most glaring
Honest More honest Most honest
Rule No: 4
Use of Comparative Adjectives (CA)
We use Comparative Adjectives when we make a comparison between two persons or two things (or sets
of things). But the former should not be included in the latter. And this we can do by making the
following changes in the sentence.
 Any ---------------into----------- any other
 All --------------- into ------------all other
 Whole ------------into ------------the rest of the
He is stronger than any man in the village.
He is stronger than any other man in the village.
She is more active than the whole team.
She is more active than the rest of the team.
Rule No: 5
Use of Comparative Adjectives
CA + than + Subjective Case of Pronouns
He is taller of her. She is more sensible to her brother.
He is taller than she. She is more sensible than her brother.
Rule No: 6
Use of Superlative Adjectives
We only use superlative adjectives when we compare one person or thing with the rest of the others. But
the latter term should include the former.
This we can do by making the following changes.
 Any other ---------------into----------- any
 All other --------------- into ------------all
 The rest of the --- -----------into ------------whole
The crocodile is the largest of all other reptiles.
The crocodile is the largest of all reptiles.
She was the wisest of any other women of her time.
She was the wisest of any women of her time.
Rule No: 7
Double Comparative or Superlative
Avoid using double Comparative or Superlative
He is more abler than she.
He is abler than she.
You are the most smartest student of the alma meter.
You are the smartest student of the alma meter.
Rule No: 8
Verbs Followed by Adjectives
Normally the verbs are followed by the adverbs but the following verbs are followed by the adjectives
not adverbs.
 Linking verbs, be, become, get, turn, seem, appear, remain, stay, etc.
 (Sense Verbs) Smell, look, taste, feel, etc.
The soup tastes bitter/bitterly. He looks confusedly/confused.
The egg smells sweet/sweetly. She got angry/angrily to see the poor performance.
Rule No: 9
Latin Comparatives
Latin Comparatives + to + Objective Case of Personal Pronouns
The following adjectives have no positive or superlative degree of them. They can only be used as
Comparatives. Unlike Comparatives, they are not followed by “Than” rather they are followed by “to”.
Inferior, superior, junior, senior, prior, anterior, posterior
He is junior than I. Her death was prior than my resignation.
He is junior to me. Her death was prior to my resignation.
Note
Some of these can be used as Positive Adjectives
Interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor, etc.
Rule No: 10
Little = Not much or hardly any
A little = Not so much
The little = Not much but all whatever is there
He does not like tea without little/a little/the little sugar.
Little/a little/the little hope is essential to recover from the shock.
Little/a little/ the little hope infused by my mother worked wonders.
Where is little/a little/ the little sugar I gave you.
Rule No: 11
Few = Not many
A few = Not so many
The few = Not many but all whatever is there
A few/few/the few people reach the age of one hundred years.
Since he is highly sociable, he is likely to have a few/a few/the few friends.
I still remember a few/few/the few days we spent together at Murree.
Rule No: 12 Some vs Any
Some = affirmative sentence
Any = negative & interrogative sentences + never, hardly, without, little
He does not have some/any issue with his new boss.
I need to have some/any new ideas.
Rule No: 13 Very & Much
Very = Simple degree of Adjective + Past Participle used as an adjective
Much = Comparative Adjective + Past Participle used as a verb
It is a very/much hot day today.
He is very/much better today.
I saw very/much frightened children in the streets of Syria.
She was very/much frightened by the scary movie.
She is very/much admired by her colleagues.
She is a very/much admired novelist.