Tips

Verb-Subject Agreement
Error of Proximity
Two subjects joined by and plural
If both point to the same thing (one thing) singular
Parenthetical words joined to a singular subject singular (e.g. with, as well as)
Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor singular
When one of them is plural plural (and nearer to it)
When subjects of different person joined by or. nor verb is of person nearer to it
Either, neither, each, everyone, many a singular
Each X and every Y singular
Pains, means singular or plural (depends)
Nouns which are plural in meaning plural (e.g. dozen needs a plural verb)
None plural, but singular also in some cases
Collective noun singular (but if individuals are thought of plural; e.g. the team is united.
The jury are divided in their decisionbecause it no more is collective in a sense)
Plural noun is a proper name singular (e.g. Arabian Nights)
Plural noun denote some specific quantity or amount as a whole singular (e.g. fifteen minutes
is..)
When each or every follows a subject, it has no bearing on the verb form.
Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs.
Thence = from there; Whence = from where (use of from with these is wrong; from thence is
wrong usage)
Only Adverb of Manner, Degree & Time admit of comparison
Order of Adverbs Manner, place, time
Manner, place are placed after the verb (or object)
Frequency, Degree are normally placed between the subject & the verb (if the verb has more
than one word, then placed after the first)
If the verb is :
am/are/is/was --> after
Before <-- be (do) Before <-- have to, used to
If adjective (adverb) -- then before the adjective (adverb)
But enough is always placed after
Only is placed immediately after the word it modifies
Ever, never, scarcely are often misplaced (e.g. scarcely anyone believesright; no one
scarcely believeswrong)
Seldom or neverright
Seldom if everright
Seldom or everwrong
Never for not is wrong. (E.g. He was never born in Indiawrong; He was not born in India
right)
too = more than enough
too != very/much
Of course != certainly, undoubtedly
Of course = natural or inevitable consequence
Nouns & Pronouns
Uncountable nouns do not have plurals. Cannot be used with a/an. (e.g. advice, news,
information, luggage, work, business, weather, traffic, scenery, paper, soap, bread, etc.)
Possessive Case

Living beings, personified objects, space or time (denoting an amount)

Apposition s is added to the latter
Two subjects when different possession is implied, then both of them has s
When joint possession is implied, only the latter has s
Pronoun after than/as nominative form (e.g. taller than I) But if verb is missing then objective
form can be used. (Taller than meis also correct)
Anybody, everybody, everyone, anyone, each singular. Gender is as per context
One should be used throughout
None singular/plural as per context
Anyone used only when there are more than two persons
Each, either, neither singular
For relative pronouns verb must agree with antecedent of the relative pronoun
(e.g. He is one of the cleverest boys that have passed this year. This is only one of the
poems that is worth reading.)
Possessive case pronoun cannot be used as antecedent
Third person pronoun should not be used as antecedent to who/that
(e.g. Mucools room is so messy that his mother calls him a pig. Him is wrong. Needs an
antecedent and there is none. Mucools is possessive case. Him should e replaced by mucool)
Comparisons
LIKE Vs AS
Like -- to comapre people, things (nouns)
As -- to compare clauses (any phrase that involves a verb)
SUCH AS = For Example
such as != like ...'such as' cannot be substituted for 'like'
Comparisons must be logically and structurally parallel.
Two things -- comparative degree
More things -- superlative degree
Different from -- is correct
Different than -- incorrect
Verb Tense, Mood & Voice
Infinitives -- to + the verb
Split Infinitives are wrong
e.g. to + ___ + Verb ...is wrong...nothing should come in between to and the verb.
PRESENT PERFECT -- have/has + past participle
past------(continuing)----->present
PAST PERFECT -- Had + past participle
"To have" = "had"
These are correct forms:
has had
had had
Refer Manhattan
IF...THEN...
If she wins...will give... (present)
If she won...would give...(past)
If she had won...would have given...(future)

COULD/WOULD never appear in the IF clause.

IF vs WHETHER --> Use whether not if, when you have to make a choice.
Subjunctive Mood
If I were...(contrary to reality)
Uncertainity --> Hopes, desires, proposals, requests
Formed using "That"...then plural form to be used for singular subjects.
e.g. It is urgent that she sign...not signs!!
that he be...infinitive form without "to".