Rules Of Grammar | Part - 7 | Study Notes

1. Use of ‘when’ and ‘while’: Proper attention must be paid to these words. ‘when’ indicates a general sense and ‘while’ implies a time during the process of doing a work.

Ex-
When learning to swim, one of the most important things is to relax. (incorrect)

While learning to swim, one of the most important things is to relax. (correct)

2. Sometimes the error lies in the use of words. Proper attention must therefore, be given to appropriateness of words.

Ex -
Prakash was leading a happy and leisurely life after his retirement form his service. (Incorrect)

Prakash was living a happy and leisurely life after his retirement form his service. (Correct)

3. If in a sentence an apposition has been used, the verb will follow not the apposition but the noun or pronoun preceding it.

Ex -
You, my son, is a good boy. (Incorrect)
You, my son, are a good boy. (Correct)

4. Proper, abstract and material nouns have no plural except when they are used as common nouns.

Ex -
The house is built of bricks. (Incorrect)
The house is built of bricks. (Correct)

5. Clauses in sentences beginning with a relative pronoun (who, which, that) take a verb according to the noun or pronoun preceding the relative pronoun.

Ex -
It is I who has done it. (Incorrect)
It is I who have done it. (Correct)

6. The relative pronoun should be near as possible to its antecedent so that no ambiguity arises.

Ex -
The boy is my cousin who stood first in the mile race.(incorrect)
The boy, who stood first in the mile race, is my cousin. (Correct)

7. When two singular nouns joined by ‘and’ are preceded by ‘each’ or ‘every’ the pronoun used for them is singular.

Ex -
Each man and each boy is responsible for their action. (Incorrect)
Each man and each boy is responsible for his action. (Correct)

8. Sometimes a pronoun is used w here it is not required at all.

Ex - 
He being an M.A., he is qualified for the post. (Incorrect)
He, being an M.A., is qualified for the post. (Correct)

9. If a pronoun comes after a preposition it should be used in the objective case.

Ex -
Between you and I neither of us is correct. (Incorrect)
Between you and me neither of us is correct. (Correct)

10. When a pronoun come after ‘like and unlike’ it takes objective case.

Ex -
A man like I will not do it. (Incorrect)
A man like me will not do it. (Correct)

11. A pronoun takes an objective case after ‘let’.

Ex -
Let I do it. (Incorrect)
Let me do it. (Correct)

12. Pronoun joined by ‘and’ remain in the same case.

Ex -
He had her brother and sister. (Incorrect)
He and she are brother and sister. (Correct)

He and me are friends. (Incorrect)
He and I are friends. (Correct)

13. When pronouns of second person and third person are used as subjects, the pronoun following them will be according to the second person pronoun.

Ex -
You and he must bring his books. (Incorrect)
You and he must bring your books. (Correct)

14. When pronouns of second person and first person are used as subjects, the pronoun following them will be first person plural form.

Ex -
You and I must finish your work in time. (Incorrect)
You and I must finish our work in time. (Correct)

15. ‘But’ is also used as a relative pronoun. When a sentence has a negative noun or pronoun, ‘but’ can be used with it. In this case ‘but’ means: who not; that not.

Ex -
Here was none but laughed to see the joker.
Here the meaning of ‘but laughed’ is ‘who did not laugh’.

There is no bird but flies.
‘But files’ means ‘that does not fly’.