Free preview · Lesson 1
Grammar Essentials
Subject–verb agreement
- Each, every, either, neither, everyone take a singular verb: "Each of the students has submitted."
- With either…or / neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject: "Neither the manager nor his assistants were present."
- Uncountable nouns are singular: information, furniture, advice, luggage, news. "The news is good."
- "One of my friends is…" – the noun after "one of" is plural, the verb is singular.
Tenses that are commonly tested
- Past perfect for the earlier of two past actions: "By the time we reached, the train had left."
- Since with a point of time, for with a period: since 2019, for five years.
- After "did/does/do", use the base verb: "He did not know."
Conditionals
- Hypothetical present: "If I were you, I would accept the offer."
- Past unreal: "If she had applied, she would have got the job."
Articles
- Use an before a vowel *sound*: an honest officer, an MBA, but a university, a one-time offer.
- Use the for something specific or unique: the Ernakulam collectorate, the Sun.
Prepositions and fixed expressions
- senior to, junior to, superior to, prefer X to Y (not "than")
- insist on, interested in, good at, comply with
- "Hardly/Scarcely had … when", "No sooner had … than"
Quick check: read the sentence aloud in your head, find the subject, then check the verb, tense and preposition in that order.