THE INVISIBLE MAN

BY

H.G. WELLS

PPT for - Class XII 

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Spiritualizing the whole life: Swami Sarvapriyananda

Swami Sarvapriyananda

Spiritualizing the Whole Life

Who am I? 

May be the all this and the first question  that the first, that the first philosopher must have asked himself or herself and today I am going to take you to Vedanta philosophy, the philosophy of our Upanishads and an attempt to answer that question Swami Vivekananda said that each, each soul is potentially divine. That we are divine. The Upanishad say that you are non-other than God. But then what does this mean? what does it mean to say we are divine even, even me? So I am going to take you through one of the methods of the many methods you find in Vedanta to at least intellectually appreciate what Swami Vivekanand and all the teachers of Vedanta have been talking about. In what sense are we divine? Now what I’ll ask you to do is to work with me, metaphorically. I will guide you through a series of steps. You have to think with me, trying to understand what I am saying and feel it. Most important of all, feel it. So let’s go. What are we going to do? Answer the question who am I at the deepest possible level.

There is an ancient text called ‘Drigdrishya Veveka’ written some 700 or 800 years ago and I am going to take you through the very first verse of that text. What it does is; it tries to find out who we are and uses very simple technique. The technique is this. This is something that you will keep in mind while we will move deeper and deeper into the very deepest layers of our being. The technique is, the principle is, this operating principle is, the knower and the known are different. That which you see must be different from that which sees. The verse starts with very simple way, very innocuous, very innocent way; like any good teacher takes you from known to the unknown, from what is near to what is far. The verse starts with “ Roopam Drishyam Lochanam Drig”. The world, the world of forms and colours are the seen and the eyes are the seer, fair not, eyes are the seer and what I see in front are the seen and what is the principle. The seer and the seen must be different. They are different entities. So I can see you all in front of me. The eyes see you all, ……. the lights are so bright and that is possible because you are actually different from my eyes. You can see the hand in front of you because the eyes and the hand are different. In fact, the only thing that the eyes cannot see are the eyes themselves. Somebody said that. The limit of the vision, the limit of our vision is not out there but actually here. The eyes you can say, I can see a picture of my eyes or a reflection of my eyes but those are pictures or reflections. Though eyes do not directly see themselves. So it is quite fairly obvious that the seen and the seer, the seer and the seen must be different.

Second point to keep in mind is that the seen are many in number but the seer is just one. I don’t mean I have one eye but it is just one organ of vision. So here is the organ of vision and there are many things. The same pair of eyes, it sees may things. The seer being one, the seen are many. The third point I am pointing out the obvious; the third point is, the seer remaining unchanging, the seen keeps changing. Forms change, colours change. The world is continuously changing before my eyes and the eyes relatively unchanging, see this changing panorama. So three things we have got; the seer and the seen are different. The seer is one the seen are many, and the seer remaining unchanged, the seen, the objects in the world, they keep changing. Fair enough, very obvious I am just stating about the very common fact of life. Let’s go deeper.  The next stage of the verse says “Digdrishyam Drigtumanasam”. The eyes become the scene or the known the knower is the mind. In what scene? My eyes are open. My eyes are closed. I can’t keep my eyes open. This guy is boring me so much but who knows that. The mind knows it. The mind knows that my eyes are open, or eyes are closed. I can see fairly well with my eyes, I can’t see well. I need specs. All the conditions of the eyes are known by our mind. So the mind is the knower and the eyes are the known. Mind becomes Drista in Skt. Eyes become the Drishyam. the known. And as we said the knower and the known are different and obviously, the mind is different from the eyes, not only the eyes, all the sense organs. And the second thing is the mind remaining the same, sees the, sees the eyes, understands the eyes, the ears, all the other sense organs. Many sense inputs understood by the same, same mind. And the third thing, the seer or the knower remaining unchanging relatively, the eyes, the various conditions, the changing conditions of the eyes are understood by the same, unchanging, relatively unchanging knower. Three things; the knower and the known are different. The knower is one, the known are many. The knower is relatively unchanging the known is changing. 

Also obvious, let’s go deeper. And now the magic begins. The third quarter of the verse says Drishyathi Vrityah Sakshi: all that is happening in my mind, all that is happening in our minds, we know it that I am happy. Obviously, I know it, who else doesn’t know it, that I am unhappy, I know it. That you are interested or bored.  Who knows it? You know it, you feel it, there is something within us, which knows, which watches, which recognizes or which illumines the mind and for want of a better word, they simply use the word ‘Sakshi which any Indian knows means witness. Any Indian knows that it means witness, the ‘Sakshi’. Now, now let’s, let’s use that that principle. The knower and the known are different. This is a very interesting principle to apply right now. The Sakshi must be apart from your mind right now. You the Sakshi, the knower right now inside you must be apart from your mind because the knower and the known are different. This is a tremendous fact. There is an interesting story about this. A person, unhappy, goes to a Mahatma in the Himalyas as Indians are habituated to do and the Mahatma lives very high up because apparently the higher up you live the more wise you are. So this Mahatma lives fairly high up in the Himalyas. This man goes to the Mahatma and says Mahatma ji “I am miserable” and the Mahatma says, “Do you know your misery? Do you experience your misery?” This person says, “of course I experience my misery. I am unhappy and that’s why I have come to you. I am miserable I experience my misery and now you can sort of guess what the Mahatma told him. If you experience your misery, if you know the misery in mind, then you are the knower of your misery. You are the experiencer of your misery. Then the misery is in the mind and if you are the experiencer and the misery is experienced in your mind then you must be the experiencer and the experiencer and the experienced must be apart. The experiencer and the experienced, the knower and the known, the Dhrista and the Drishya they are apart from each other. So you are the experiencer of the misery in your mind. You are not miserable. You are not miserable. You are apart from the misery in your mind and that man he thought about it and you know what happens, the punch line comes next. You know what happens, when you think like this. I have tried it and anyone who tries it will feel it. Immediately when you feel it the mind gets a sort of peace. The moment you dissociate yourself from the tensions, the worries, anxieties of your mind you get a sort of peace. The mind calms down and this person came and told the Mahatma, “O Mahatma Ji, you are right. I am very peaceful now.” Immediately the Mahatma told him “you are not peaceful you are the knower of the peace in your mind and, and that is so important you know because the moment this person goes back to his city and back to his business and family as the nature of the mind is, it will become disturbed again. There will be problems again and what will you think when I was high up in the Himalayas with the Mahatma. I was so happy. I was peaceful. Now I am disturbed again.

So you are the knower of the peace in your mind. You are the knower of the anxiety in your mind. You are apart from the peaceful mind. You are apart from the anxious mind and that is real peace. This thing is called Sakshi. It is what you are right now. This is pure consciousness why do I call it pure consciousness because it illumines the mind. You are aware of whatever is happening in the mind right now. You are aware of it because of this Sakshi. Because of this pure consciousness. Vedanta says this Sakshi. Vedanta says this pure consciousness is what you are. If you have followed me so far I have told you that you are pure consciousness. If illumine the mind directly. Through the mind you know the body, through the mind and the body you know the entire universe. You experience the entire universe. But you are that pure consciousness.

If you have followed me so far two questions will come to your mind. The first question is. There are 400 people here in this very audience then from 6 to 7 billion people in the world and so many animals and other living creatures. How many Sakshis, how many witnesses are there? In each body and mind, behind each body and behind each mind is there a separate witness, a separate pure consciousness? or is it one and second you are the man of religion and talking of Vedanta. When do we get to get God. Where is God in all this? The answer comes in a most dramatic line in the Bhagvat Geeta where Krishna tells Arjuna in 13 chapter 2^nd verse. Krishna tells Arjuna, “ O Arjuna, in all these bodies and minds the consciousness, the witness in all these bodies and mind is one and I am that.” God says, “I am the consciousness shining through all these bodies and minds and this, one consciousness is where we are all one.” This is what Swami Vivekananda taught. This is the core of his teaching your all divine. Each soul is potentially divine.

The second thing he taught was the oneness of existence. The divinity of all human beings, all living beings and the oneness of existence. We are all one in that divinity in that pure consciousness. Where, when are you one. When we become a monk and realise it in meditation no, right now, I remember I was in Gangotri sitting at the feet of very old Swami. He was teaching me to this Vedanta and then he looked at us and he said ‘ye badi ulti Darshan hai Mahatma ji, Tum Jaano ya na jaano, Maano ya na Maano, Tum hi Ram ho’ I will translate for you, “ this is a very strange philosophy O Swami whether you realize it or not, whether you accept it or not, whether you know it or not. You are the Ramum. You are the divine.”  This is the core teaching of Vedanta. You have all heard of Shankara Charya singing, “ Mano buddhi ahankari chittaninah  roopah Shivoaham Shivoaham.” Many of you must have heard that. Now you understand what it means. I am not the mind, I am not the sense organs, I am not the intellect, I am not even the eye, why? because you can feel the eye, you can actually experience the eye right now ego. So I am not all this I am pure consciousness and bliss, “Chidanand .roopahShivoaham Shivoaham”, when the Upanishads tell you, “Taatwamun see you are that. When the Upanishads tell you Aham Brahmashmi. I am the Braham and the vast spiritual reality. This is exactly what they mean. The pure consciousness within each of us now which unites all of us. The pure consciousness is apart from the body and mind. It is unchanging while bodies come and go. It is unchanging while thoughts and ideas and emotions and flow and that unchanging, untouched pure consciousness which is neither born nor does it die. That is what is known as God in Vedanta. And we are actually identical with that.

Now, what is interesting in the little time remaining to me. I will tell what Swami Vivekanand did with this magnificent philosophy. What he did with this was beyond conformity. Tremendous, what he did, was, you know, a sort of revolutionary. All these years this philosophy had been here. Vedanta was with us for thousands of years. And Monks, Sanyaases they are expected to teach religion and go from door to door and beg for their food and they would go around teaching religion. That’s all that was expected of monks. What Swami Vivekanand said was “Shivagyane Jivseva” worship God in all living beings through service. After all what God are you seeking? The God which is within of all human beings. The totality of human souls is the only God I know Swami Vivekanand says. And how do you worship that God? You can worship God in temples, in Churches and Mosques but you can also best worship God, he says, through the poor with economic aid, to the sick with medical aid and help and care and the ignorant with education. It is not social service. It is spiritual practice you are literally in a most fundamental sense you are actually worshipping God. God has appeared to you in the form of the needy person, in the form of a sick person, in the form of the ignorant person and so he said monks should practise this kind of spiritual practice. See the tremendous change that has come. When the first Ramakrishna matth started a hospital in Haridwar, other monks used to call them Bhangi Saadhus, sweepers, why? because these people go and clean the dirt of patients and they wipe the urine and the stool and clean the blood and pus and treat the patient. “ye to bhangi saadhu hai, kya hai.” And today anyone of you everywhere in India, wherever come across an ashram, any kind of religious institution not just Ramakrishna mission (these people do for the society) in on a totality, what you say, what don’t you ask,  isn’t that a question in your mind? It is in everybody’s mind. See the change in mind set that has come. Spirituality is deeply connected with the service.

Another great change which Swami Vivekananda brought about. According to him there is no difference between the spiritual and the secular. No difference henceforth between the spiritual and the secular said sister Nivedita, one of the greatest disciples of Swami Vivekananda. And what it meant says, it is the same consciousness that is manifesting through all of us why should we say that one set of activities in a temple or a church or a mosque is religious. What about the school?What about the factory? What about the house hold? the workplace: all of them can be places for spiritual practice and you can have spirituality through art, through music, through science. In fact it will be interesting to know that last year the highest science award given by the government of India, The Bhatnagar, Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar award, was awarded to a monk, a mathematician of the Ramakrishna mission, Vivekananda university. And he is a pure mathematician. He got this Bhatnagar award from the government of India for his work in pure mathematics and topology. When the Times of India asked him. He is very shy. He is running around and the reporters started chasing him, you know. I said you give an interview, they will stop chasing you and they asked him how do you reconcile the two being a monk and being a mathematician?  And he said it is not contradictory for me, “being a monk- mathematics is my spiritual practice. So the sacred and secular are not different. We can all spiritualize our life. The implication is spirituality is for everybody not for just for monks or Sadhkass. It’s for all. You convert your daily life into spiritual practice and worship the living God in front of you. That’s what swami Vivekananda taught. 

Thank you. 

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Swami Sukhbodhananda's Speech 69 & 70

Art of Transformation

The whole quintessence of the Bhagwat Geeta is to convert vishada into yoga. Vishada means despondency, vishada means breakdown. In the language of management, vishada is breakdown. How to transform a breakdown into a breakthrough. That’s why the first chapter of the Bhagwat Geeta is called Vishada Yoga. Vishada means despondency, a breakdown. How you can convert into a break through. I am not going to go into the whole background of the Geeta since I am sure this audience is already updated there. I am just continuing further when Arjuna had to face a certain challenge that he had to fight with his own brothers. When he gets up, looks at the whole army of his brothers, there is a break down in   Arjuna,  सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति (Shreemadbhagwatgeeta, Shankarbhashay, 20, Ch.1, 29)

There is a breakdown, clear description of a breakdown. Relevant to today’s context because a lot of people when they have to face a challenge; right there is a breakdown. Just in the flight this morning from Bangalore, I was coming to Delhi and I was seeing, I think it is India Today magazine there showing the rate of suicide among the youngsters in India is rising leaps and bounds. The rate of suicide and different pressures there, the examination pressure, peer pressure, whatever be the pressure. Even at that point of time Arjuna had a pressure, fighting against his own masters, गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावा (Shreemadbhagwatgeeta, Shankarbhashay, 23, Ch.2, 5)

Every one of us faces a unique challenge in life. Arjuna faced a unique challenge in his life that he has to fight against his own brothers, fight against his own masters Bhisma, Drona etc. and therefore Arjuna felt that his problem is extremely unique. Nobody else has this problem and I am sure if we audit our life, everybody feels Swamiji my problem is unique problem swamiji. They do my workshop and say swamiji you don’t understand my problem. Swami ji You get married to my wife then you will know what’s my problem. So, therefore they are they come to my workshops convincing me that I should be miserable like them because my problem is unique and you have no experience. Arjuna also felt like this.

 So, I am saying everybody faces challenge and while facing challenges the greatest message of the Geeta is you should know the neck, the arc, the acumen, the acuity to convert a breakdown into a breakthrough. Transform worry into wisdom. How you convert frustration into fascinations. That skill one has to really learn. Handling the situation in life please understand. When you face the situations in life what faces the situation is your mind, your intellect facing the situation and if your mind and intellect is not harmonized or is not properly calibrated or in the language of Geeta not done necessary purification “antakaran shudhi” was not done there then what happened. There we tend to amplify a situation. My years of experience have seen just as now I am talking, when I am talking my voice through the microphone is amplifying and therefore this audience here, can hear. Alright, so, this voice through the microphone and through the amplifier is amplifying and the audience can hear. Right same thing what happens in brain, in our mind there are amplifiers and when there are amplifiers right a small problem or a problem gets amplified. I have seen so many youngsters coming to me to my Ashram and my Ashram is in Kormangla. The hub of all youngsters, right. If you go around Kormangla it is all youmgesters and I have many people coming and telling me Swamiji I have a pimple on my cheek, is there a mantra for the pimple to disappear? I have grey hair now will meditation help me in handling this grey hair? So what I am trying to say, a simple pimple on the cheek for them is amplifier as sothing catastrophic has happened and unless we learn the art of deamplifying, our mind will not be able to face the challenges because everybody Lord Krishna says in the Geeta so long you all living right मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुः खदाः (Shreemadbhagwatgeeta, Shankarbhashay, 34, Ch.2, 14)

So long you are living you are bound to face problems in life. How many of you are married? Raise your hands. They have problems or not. Yes. How many of you are not married? They have problems or not. Yes, say not, yes or not. How many of you have one wife raise your hand? You have problems or not. Yes. Many wives; variety of problems. I tell you so long you are living, you are a monk you have your problem. You are ascetic you have a problem. You are in India you have a problem. You are abroad you have a problem. So long you are living Lord Krishna says, मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुः खदाः (Shreemadbhagwatgeeta, Shankarbhashay, 34, Ch.2, 14)

O, Arjuna so long the sense organs meets the sense object you are bound to face problem in life. So problem is inevitable but suffering is optional. Problems are inevitable but suffering is optional. You suffer because when your mind deals with the problem you have not purified your mind you have not calibrated your mind you have not fine-tuned your mind. Then you make a mountain out of a mole hill. You tend to amplify a problem and when you start amplifying then please understand disproportionately you will see. I was there in some hotel one person came on screaming, screaming. I thought the building is on fire and there was a small cockroach passing and supposed he scream cockroach, cockroach, cockroach. I said actually, logically the cockroach should be afraid of us, because we take the slipper and kill the cockroach. The cockroach doesn’t take the slipper and kill us. So therefore, but this man is screaming.

You amplify so much I am only trying to highlight and in my life workshops very much. I work on this how you deamplify you amplification, and therefore when you start amplifying, your whole issue becomes very-very different. The whole Bhagwat Geeta gives you techniques, methods, clarity, how to deamplify. So you will see a problem, factually, you will not see a problem in an interpretive mode. If you are able to see a problem factually, then a rose is a rose, is a rose, is a rise. But if you don’t see the problem factually and if there is amplification, exaggeration, you will make a mountain of the mole hill. We suffer there not with the problem we suffer with our amplifications.

 Arjuna was suffering with this amplification and what lord Krishna did, he only helped him through Karma Yoda, through Bhakti Yoga, through Gayan Yoga, through dhyan yoga, through Hath Yoga which he mentions. All through this how do you de amplify and when you de amplify you will be like a surf rider in the ocean waves are going to come. Nobody can avoid the waves. Waves are like the problem of life. Waves are like the problems of life. Wares going to come in the ocean of life there but if you are a surf rider. You will know how to negotiate, navigate with those waves. Waves are not going to stop come down, because you have learnt meditation, because you have become spiritual, waves are not going to come down. Problems are not going to come down. But you know the art of how to negotiate with the waves and therefore if a surf rider bigger the wave more fun to handle it. This skill of learning Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna at the end of the whole Geeta, Arjuna Krishana, Arjuna says, नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लबद्धा (Shreemadbhagwatgeeta, Shankarbhashay, 479, Ch.18, 73)

My “moha” is gone, my delusion is gone. I gain back my memory, of how to be a wise person not an otherwise person. Right, he says at the end there and therefore the 17^th chapter of the Geeta first on the whole there are 18 chapters. The first chapter is the breakdown of the Arjuna, the teaching starts with the 2^nd chapter how it is up to the 17, 18 chapters. The Lord goes on taking the problem in different-different-different angles. So, that the deamplification can really happen through Karmayoga, through Bhagti yoga, through Gayan Yoga, through Dhyan Yoga. If you are watching me on a T.V. channel I verse by verse I have been and unfolding wherever I have I did my last Geeta talks in Banglore and I’ll be containing from there by giving a small back up before we enter into this. Please understand I will just give you a vision.

 It seems there was a king before we entered into the verses a little came of synopsis how to get into that it seems there was a king and king wanted to be a very good Prime Minister. His Prime Minister passed away and king wanted to be a very good Prime Minister to rule a system in ruling the kingdom so therefore he had developed a device to arrive as the best Prime Minister and he selected three people and to all the three people he said there is going to be a Mathematical lock, a mathematical lock and the next day morning early morning when I open the room you have to go to the mathematical lock unlock the mathematical lock and then you can enter and whoever is the first enters into for opening the mathematical lock entering into this he will be the Prime Minister. He will be the Prime Minister. Right, so, therefore these three people were arrived at it so therefore they were in the room, all three in the room. Two of them had brought huge arithmetic books, mathematical book. Whole night they have been reading and reading because the last is the lock there 5 o’ clock in the morning they have to open the lock. The whole night they are referring all combinations like a college student, a kid going for school, kid goes on studying examination, goes on all things and there was a third person; he was very relax, very relax, he did the necessary study after relaxing. The other two people laughing at him idiot, right you are not preparing right now the law can come; there are chances of becoming the Prime Minister and you are not preparing. The person says that I have done the necessary not let me relax. He was relaxing. He sums the next day 5 0’ clock. These two people really weary, tired, exhausted, right the door open it seems, they all rush to the lock look at the lock then refer to the books, look at the lock refer to the books and they were both of them had drowned in looking at the lock. The third person who was relaxed went there, made sure what the lock is. Pulled it and found that the lock was not locked rather the lock not locked. So he just opened it and went inside and the other two were shocked how he could solve the problem so they asked how to, what is the secret of the problem. He says before you solve a problem, find out is there a problem? Before you solve a problem, find out is there a real problem? For me this is a very mystical story.

POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS

Present Simple/Indefinite Tense Exercise

Present Indefinite & Present Continuous Tense Exercise

Present Indefinite & Past Indefinite Tense Exercise

Past Indefinite Tense Exercise

Present Perfect & Past Indefinite Tense Exercise

PPT on Determiners

PPT on Global Warming


Science Quiz VI to VIII

Scholastic & Co-Scholastic Aspect of C.C.E .

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100 Golden Rules of Grammar

Spotting error is an integral part of almost all the important examinations that have an objective English test on their syllabi. A basic understanding and knowledge is desired for these examination, e.g. parts of speech, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, genders, infinitives, participles, subject – verb accord, form of tense, use of articles and many more.

So a candidate must brush up his knowledge of grammar and revise it continuously. The practice test must be done carefully and repeatedly to ensure full competence confidence.

RULES AND EXAMPLES

1.      Some nouns are always used in singular form so always take a singular verb.

Scenery, advice, information, machinery, stationery, furniture, abuse, fuel, rice, gram, issue, bedding, repair, news, mischief, poetry, business, economics, physics, mathematics, classic, ethics, athletics, innings, gallows.

(A) The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting. (Incorrect)

(B) The scenery of Kashmir is enchanting. (Correct)

(A) He has given advices. (Incorrect)

(B) He has given advice. (Correct)

(A) The Indian team defeated the English by innings. (Incorrect)

(B) The Indian team defeated the English by an innings. (Correct)

(A) Mathematics are a difficult subject. (Incorrect)

(B) Mathematics is a good / difficult subject. (Correct)

Note if you have to indicate that the number of news, advice, information or furniture is more than one, the examples listed below can be followed:

(A) I have a lot of news to tell you. (Incorrect)

(B) He has sold many pieces of his furniture. (Correct)

2.      Some nouns are singular in form, but they are used as plural nouns and always take a plural verb:- Cattle, gentry, vermin, peasantry, artillery, people, clergy, company, police.

(A) The cattle is grazing in the ground. (Incorrect)

(B) The cattle are grazing in the ground. (Correct)

(A) The clergy is in the church. (Incorrect)

(B) The clergy are in the church. (Correct)

3.      Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.

Trousers, scissors, spectacles, stockings, shorts, measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks, tidings, annals, chattels, etc.

(A) Where is my trousers? Incorrect

(B) Where are my trousers? Correct

(A) Spectacles is now a costly item. Incorrect

(B) Spectacles are now a costly item. Correct

4.      There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money, weight or number. When they are preceded by a numeral, they remain unchanged in form.

Foot, meter, pair, score, dozen, head, year, hundred, thousand, million.

(A) It is a three – years degree course. Incorrect

(B) It is a three – year degree course. Correct

(A) I have ten dozens of shoes. Incorrect

(B) I have ten dozen of shoes. Correct

5.      Collective nouns such a jury, public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, etc. are used both as singular; otherwise the verb will be plural

(A) The jury was divided in this case. Incorrect

(B) The jury were divided in this case. Correct

(A) The team have not come as yet. Incorrect

(B) The team has not come as yet. Correct

6.      Some nouns have one meaning in the singular and another in the plural:

Advice            =          counsel            advices            =          information

Air                   =          atmosphere      airs                   =          proud

Authority        =          command,       authorities       =          persons in power

Good               =          wise                 goods              =          property

Iron                 =          metal               irons                =          fetters, chains

Force               =          strength           forces              =          army

Content           =          satisfaction      contents           =          things contained

Physic              =          medicine          physics            =          physical sciences,

Respect           =          regards            respects           =          compliments

Work               =          job                   works              =          compositions, factories,.

Earning            =          income             earnings           =          sowings

Quarter            =          one – fourth    quarters           =          houses

Examples

(A) Air is necessary for human life.

(B) It is bad to put on airs.

(A) I have eaten one quarter of the cake.

(B) I live in the government quarters.

7.      People are often confused or they commit mistakes in the use of certain nouns.

(A) Lecturership is wrong: lectureship is correct.

(a) There are twenty candidates for lecturership. Incorrect

(b) There are twenty candidates for lectureship. Correct

(B) Freeship is wrong; free – studentship is correct.

(a) Ramesh has applied for freeship. Incorrect

(b) Ramesh has applied for free – studentship. Correct

(C) Boarding is wrong; boarding house is correct.

(a) Mohan lives in a boarding. Incorrect

(b) Mohan lives in a boarding house. Correct

(D) Family members is wrong; members of the family is correct.

(a) Vivek and Ramesh are my family members. Incorrect

(b) Vivek and Ramesh are the members of my family. Correct

(E) English teacher is wrong; the teacher of English is correct.

(a) Dr. Raina is our English teacher. Incorrect

(b) Dr. Raina is our teacher of English. Correct

(F) Cousin – brother or sister is wrong; only cousin is correct.

(a) Geeta is my cousin sister. Incorrect

(b) Geeta is my cousin. Correct

(G) Room in a compartment or a bench means unoccupied set.

(a) There is no room on this bench. Correct

(H) Our, yours, hers, theirs are correct.

(a) This house is our’s. Incorrect

(b) This house is ours. Correct

Note: The same principle applies to ‘yours ‘, ‘hers’ and ‘theirs’.

(I) Wages means punishments when used in singular.

(a) The wages of sin is death.

(J) It also means charges for the labour when used in plural sense.

(b) The wages of daily workers have been raised.

8.      Also remember the subtle difference in the usage of these pairs of nouns

(A)  The noun ‘habit’ applies only to an individual whereas ‘custom’ applies to a society or country.

(a) Poor children often become a victim of bad habits.

(b) Tribal in India have many interesting customs.

(B)   ‘Cause’ product a result, while ‘reason’ explains or justifies a cause.

(a) Scientists try to find out the cause of a phenomenon.

(b) You have a good reason to be pleased with your students.

(C)   ‘Man’ is used in ordinary sense while ‘gentleman’ is a man of character.

(a) Man is mortal.

(b) He is a gentleman at large.

(D)  ‘Men’ - plural of man: ‘people’ is used for persons.

(a) There are five men in the room.

(b) The people of Bihar are simple.

(E)   ‘Shade’ – a place sheltered from the sun; ‘shadow’ – the shade of a distinct form or object.

(a) The villagers sat under the shade of trees.

(b) He is even afraid of his own shadow.

(F)    ‘Cost’ – amount paid by the shopkeeper; ‘price’ – amount paid by the customer.

(a) The cost of production of automobile items has gone up.

(b) Sometimes the buyers have to pay higher price for necessary items.

(G)  ‘House’ – a building to live in: ‘Home’ – one’s native place.

(a) Quarters area houses allotted to us for a definite period.

(b) My home town is Muzaffapur.

(H)  ‘House’ – a building to live in; ‘Home’ - one’s native place.

(a) The shopkeepers welcome customer with smiles.

(b) The lawyer discusses the cases of his clients.

9.      A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.

For example:

Every man must bring his luggage.

All students must do their home work.

Each of the girls must carry her own bag.

Each students must bring their books.

Each student must bring his books.

10.  White using ‘everybody’ ‘everyone’, ‘anybody’, and ‘each’ the pronoun of the masculine or the feminine gender is used according to the content.

I shall be happy to help each of the boys in this practice.

But when the sex is not mentioned, we use the pronoun of the masculine gender.

Anyone can do this job if he tries.

Each of the six boys in the class has finished their tasks.       Incorrect

Each of the six boys in the class has finished his task.           Correct

11.  The pronoun ‘one’ must be followed by ‘one’s’.

One must finish his task in time. Incorrect

One must finish one’s task in time. Correct

12.  Enjoy, apply, resign, acquit, drive, exert, avail, pride, absent, etc., when used as transitive verbs, always take a reflexive pronoun after them. When ‘self’ is added to ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘him’, ‘her’, and ‘it’, and ‘selves’ to our and them – they are known as reflexive pronouns.

He absented from the class.

He absented himself form the class.

13.  ‘Who’ denotes the subject and ‘whom’ is used for the object?

Whom do you think won the award? Incorrect

Who do you think won the award? Correct

Who area you talking to? Incorrect

Whom are your talking to? Correct

14.  When two or more singular nouns are joined together by ‘either or’; ‘neither nor’, ; and ‘or’, the pronoun is singular.

Either Ram or Shyam will give their book. Incorrect

Either Ram or shyam will give his book. Correct

15.  When a singular and a plural noun are joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, the pronoun must be plural.

Either the engineer or his mechanics failed in his duty. Incorrect

Either the engineer or his mechanics failed in their duty. Correct

16.  ‘Whose’ is used for living persons and ‘which’ for lifeless objects.

Which book did you select? Incorrect

Whose photograph is lying there? Correct

What book do you read? Incorrect

Which book do you read? Correct

17.  ‘Each other’ is used when there are two subjects or objects and ‘one another’ when there are more than two.

Rameo and Juliet loved each other

Those five friends, who are sitting there, love one another.

All the students of the class are friendly; they love each other. Incorrect

All the students of the class are friendly. Correct

18.  When a pronoun stands for a collective noun, it must be in the singular number and in the neuter gender if the collective noun is viewed as a whole.

The jury gave ‘its’ verdict.

Here the ‘jury’ gives the idea of one whole.

If the collective noun conveys the idea of separate individuals comprising the whole, the pronoun standing for it must be plural.

The jury were divided in their opinions.

Here, the ‘jury’ gives the idea of several individuals.

The team are divided in this opinion about playing on Sunday. Incorrect

The team are divided in their opinion about playing on Sunday. Correct

19.  If pronouns of different persons are to be used together in a sentence, the serial order of persons should be as follows; second person + third + first person in a good normal sentence. But in fault is to be confessed, the order will be; first person + second person + third person.

You, he and I have finished the work. Normal sentences

I, you and he are to blame. Confession

Ram, I and you have finished our studies. Incorrect

You, Ram and I have finished our studies. Correct

20.  ‘Some’ is used in affirmative sentences to express quantity or degree. ‘Any’ is uses in negative or interrogative sentences.

I shall buy some apples.

I shall not buy any apples.

Have you bought any apples?

But ‘some’ may be correctly used in interrogative sentences which are, in fact, requests.

Will you please give me some milk?

I shall read any book. Incorrect

I shall read some book. Correct

Have you bought some apples? Incorrect

Have you bought any apples? Correct

21.  The use of ‘few’, ‘a few’’ and ‘the few’ should be used with care. They denote ‘number’.

‘Few’ means ‘not many’. It is the opposite of many. A ‘few’ is positive and means ‘some at least’. It is the opposite of none. ‘The few’ means ‘whatever there is’.

A few men are free from fault. Incorrect

Few men are free from fault. Correct

Here the sense is negative and thus ‘a few’ is wrong.

Few boys will pass in the examination. Incorrect

A few boys will pass in the examination. Correct

Here the sense is positive and thus ‘few’ is incorrect.

I have already read a few books that are on the bookshelf. Incorrect

I have already read t he few books that are on the bookshelf. Correct

Here the sense is ‘whatever there is’.

22.  Use of ‘less’ and ‘fewer’

‘Less’ denote quantity and ‘fewer’ denote number.

No less than fifty persons were killed. Incorrect

No fewer than fifty persons were killed. Correct

There are no fewer than five litres of water in the jug. Incorrect

There are no less than five litres of water in the jug. Correct

23.  Use of little, a little, the little.

‘Little’ means ‘hardly any’

There is a little hope of his recovery. Incorrect

There is a little hope of his recovery correct

‘A little’ means ‘some’, though not much.

Little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Incorrect

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Correct

‘The little means ‘not much but all there is’.

The little milk that is in the pot may be used for the patient. Incorrect

The little milk that is in the pot may be used for the patient. Correct

24.  Use of elder, older.

‘Older’ refers to persons as well as things and is followed by ‘than’.

Ram is elder than all other boys of this area. Incorrect

Ram is older than all other boys of this area. Correct

‘Elder’ is used for members of the family.

Suresh is my older brother. Incorrect

Suresh is my elder brother. Correct

25.  normally ‘than’ is used in the comparative degree, but with words like superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior and prefer ‘to’ is used.

Shelley is junior than Wordsworth. Incorrect

Shelley is junior to Wordsworth. Correct

I prefer reading than sleeping. Incorrect

I prefer reading to sleeping. Correct

26.  when a comparison is made by using a comparative followed by ‘than’, the word ‘other’ must be exclude the thing compared form the class of things with which it is compared.

He is stronger than any man. Incorrect

He is stronger than any other man. Correct

‘Any man’ includes the man himself and thus the sentences will be absurd.

27.  In some cases, the comparison is subtle and must be given proper attention.

The climate of Ranchi is better then Gaya. Incorrect

Here the comparison should be between the climate of Ranchi and the climate of Gaya.

The climate of Ranchi is better than the climate of Gaya. Correct

Or

The climate of Ranchi is better than that of Gaya. Correct

‘That of’ means ‘the climate of’

If the traits are in the plural, it will be ‘those of’.

The clothes of DCM are better than those of Mafatalal.

The scenery of Kashmir is better than Shimla. Incorrect

The scenery of Kashmir is better than that of shimla. Correct

28.  ‘many a’ is always followed by the singular verb.

Many a man were followed by the singular verb. Incorrect

Many a man was drowned in the area. Correct

29.  If the subject is ‘the number of’ the singular verb is used.

The number of students are very small. Incorrect

The number of students is very small. Correct

30.  When ‘as well as’, ‘along with’, together with’, ‘no less than’, ‘in addition to’ and ‘not’ and ‘with’ join two subjects, the verb will be according to the first subject.

Ram, as well as his ten friends, are going. Incorrect

Ram, as well as his ten friends, is going. Correct

The teacher, along with the students, were going. Incorrect

The teacher, along with the students, was going. Correct

31.  ‘A great many’ is always followed by a plural noun and a plural verb.

A great many student has been declared successful. Incorrect

A great many students have been declared successful. Correct

32.  If two subjects are joined by ‘either or’, ‘neither nor’, the verb agrees with the subject that is near.

Either Ramesh or I are to do this work. Incorrect

Either Ramesh or I am to do this work. Correct

Neither he nor his friends is reading. Incorrect

Neither he nor his friends are reading correct

33.  When two singular nouns joined by ‘and’ point out the same thing or person, the verb will be singular.

Bread and butter make a good breakfast. Incorrect

Bread and butter makes a good breakfast. Correct

The collector and the District Magistrate are on leave. Incorrect

The collector and District Magistrate is on leave. Correct

34.  ‘One of’ always takes a plural noun after it.

It is one of the important day in my life. Incorrect

It is one of the important days in my life. Correct

35.  Use of ‘not only’ and ‘but also; examine the sentences given below:

He not only comes for swimming but also for coaching the learners. Incorrect

He comes not only for swimming but also for coaching the learners. Correct

36.  ‘Scarcely’ and ‘hardly’ are followed by ‘when’ and not by ‘than’.

I had scarcely entered the room than the phone rang. Incorrect

I had scarcely entered the room when the phone rang. Correct

37.  ‘Though’ is followed by ‘yet’ and not by ‘but’.

Though he is poor but he is honest. Incorrect

Thought he is poor, yet he is honest. Correct

38.  ‘No sooner’ is followed by ‘than’.

No sooner had I entered the class when the student stood up. Incorrect

No sooner had I entered the class than the students stood up. Correct

39.  ‘Lest’ must be followed by ‘should’.

Read regularly lest you will fail. Incorrect

Read regularly least you should fail. Correct

40.  ‘Such’ is followed by ‘as’.

He is such a writer that everybody should read his books. Incorrect

He is such a wrier as everybody should read his books. Correct

41.  ‘So’ is followed by ‘that’.

Sarita was popular with her classmate that she always had some people coming to her for advice. Incorrect

Sarita was so popular with her classmate that she always had some people coming to her for advice. Correct

42.  ‘Unless’ express a condition. It is always used in the negative sense. Thus ‘not’ is never used with ‘unless’.

Unless you do not labour hard, you will not pass. Incorrect

Unless you labour hard, you will not pass. Correct

43.  until expresses time. It has a negative sense and thus ‘not’ should never be used with it.

Wait here until I do not return. Incorrect

Wait here until I return. Correct

44.  ‘Since’ indicates a point of time and ‘for’ stands for the length of time.

He has been reading the book since two hours. Incorrect

He has been reading the book for two hours. Correct

Two hours is a length of time and thus ‘for’ is correct.

It has been raining for Monday last. Incorrect

It has been raining since Monday last. Correct

45.  ‘as if’ used to convey the sense of pretension. When ‘as if’ is used in this sense, ‘were’ is used in all cases, even with third person singular.

He behaves as if he was a king. Incorrect

He behaves as if he were a king. Correct

The sense of time and tense is also very important. Certain important rules are listed below.

46.  A past tense in the principal clause is followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.

He saw that the clock has stopped. Incorrect

He saw that the clock had stopped. Correct

There are, however, two exceptions to this rule:

(1)   A past tense in the principal clause may be followed by a present tense in the subordinate clause, when it expresses a universal truth.

The teacher observed that the Earth moved round the sun. Incorrect

The teacher observed that the Earth moves round the sun. Correct

(2)   When the subordinate clause is introduced by ‘than’, even if there is past tense in the principal clause, it may be followed by any tense required by the sense in the subordinate clause.

He helped him more than he helped his own children. Incorrect

He helped him more than he helps his own children. Correct

47.  If two actions in a sentence are shown happing in the past, one after the other; the tense of the action happening first should be past perfect and that of the second should be past indefinite.

The patient died before the doctor arrived. Incorrect

The patient had died before the doctor arrived. Correct

48.  Two actions in the past, one depending on the other, should have the sequence as follows:

Past perfect + future perfect

Had + past participle + would + have + past participle

If you had worked hard, you would have succeeded in the examination.

Or

Had you worked hard, you would have succeeded in the examination.

If you would had practiced regularly, you would won the match. Incorrect

If you had practiced regularly, you would have won the match. Correct

49.  If, in a sentence, two actions are indicated and both are to take place in future, the sequence of tense will be as follows:

The principal clause in present indefinite; and the subordinate clause in future indefinite.

If I go to Delhi, I shall attend the seminar.

‘If I go to Delhi’ is the principal clause and ‘I shall attend the seminar’ is the subordinate clause.

If it will rain, I shall not attend the meeting. Incorrect

If it rains, I shall not attend the meeting. Correct

50.  When an action has taken place in two clauses of a sentence, it is used in both the clauses according to the requirement.

My brother has and is still doing excellent work for his organization. Incorrect

My brother has done and is still doing excellent work for his organization. Correct

51.  When there is a sense of continuity, that is, when a thing has taken place in the past and still continue in the present, the prefect continues tense form of t he verb should be used.

Indian is independent for the last forty – six years. Incorrect

Indian has been independent for the last forty – six years. Correct

The use of article is also an important matter and one must be careful about it.

52.  Before a consonant ‘a’ is used.

A boy, a horse, a woman.

But ‘a’ is also used before words like university, useful, unicorn, union, European, and one, etc., because these words began with a consonant sound.

Here is an university. Incorrect

Here is a university. Correct

An European lives in my area. Incorrect

A European lives in my area. Correct

It is a one - rupees note. Incorrect

It is a one – rupee note. Correct

53.  Similarly, words like ‘hour’, ‘honest’, ‘heir’, etc., take ‘an’ before them as they begin with a vowel sound.

I have been waiting for him for a hour. Incorrect

I have been waiting for him for an hour. Correct

54.  Some important points to remember regarding the omission of a/an/the:

1.      Before a common noun used in its widest sense, e.g.

Man us mortal.

2.      Before names of materials.

Bronze is a useful metal.

3.      Usually before proper names.

Patina is the capital of Bihar.

4.      Before abstract nouns used in a general sense.

Beauty fascinates people.

5.      Before language.

English is a very popular language in the Delhi University.

6.      Before ‘school’ ‘college’, ‘church’, ‘bed’, ‘table’, ‘hospital’, ‘market’, and ‘prison’, when these places are visited or used for their common purpose.

My Christian friends go to church every Sunday.

But ‘the’ is used with these words when we refer to them as a definite place, building or object rather than to the normal activity that goes on there.

I met my friend at the church.

7.      Before names of relations, like ‘father’, ‘mother’, ‘aunt’, ‘uncle’, ‘cook’ and ‘nurse’.

The father is very happy today.

8.      Before predicative nouns denoting a unique position that is normally held at one time by one person only.

He was elected chairman of the Board.

55.  Uses of ‘the’

1.      When the object is unique.

The earth, the sky, the equator.

2.      Before superlatives

The best, the finest, the most

3.      With proper nouns like ‘seas’, ‘rivers’, ‘group of island’, ‘chains of mountains’, ‘deserts’, ‘newspaper’, ‘buildings’, ‘religious books’, ‘gulfs’,.

The Arabian sea, The Ganges, The Taj Mahal,

4.      Before a proper noun, when it is qualified by an adjective.

The immortal Kalidas.

5.      Before an adjective, when the noun is hidden.

The rich should be kind and helping.

6.      Before musical instruments.

I know how to play the harmonium.

7.      With a class of things.

The crow is a clever bird.

8.      ‘The’ should be used before both comparative degrees when they are used in a sentence for proportion.

Higher we go, cooler we feel. Incorrect

The higher we go, the cooler we feel. Correct

56.  ‘What to speak of’ is incorrect; the correct expression is ‘not to speak of’.

What to speak of running, he cannot even walk. Incorrect

Not to speak of running, he cannot even walk. Correct

57.  When there is the sense of dislike, hesitation, risk, etc., in a sentence, we should use a gerund instead of a verb. A gerund is that form of the verb which ends in ‘ing’ and can be used in the place of a noun.

I dislike to see a film late in the night.

I dislike to seeing a film late in the night.

Young girls hesitate to talk to strangers.

Young girls hesitate talking to strangers.

58.  ‘Cent per cent’ and ‘word by word’ are wrong. ‘Hundred per cent’ and ‘word for word’ are correct expressions.

You are never cent percent sure of your success in a competitive examinations. Incorrect

You are never hundred percent sure of your success in a competitive examination.

Correct

I can reproduce this lesson word by word. Incorrect

I can reproduce this lesson word for word. Correct

59.  ‘Since’, ‘because’, ‘as’, ‘for’, - all means ‘because’, but there is a different in their degree. ‘Since’ and ‘because’ are used for stronger cases and ‘as’ and ‘for’ for weak cases.

I respect him as he is my teacher. Incorrect

I respect him because he is my teacher. Correct

60.  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.

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

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

Prakash was leading a happy and leisurely life after his retirement from his service. Incorrect

Prakash was living a happy and leisurely life after his retirement from his service. Correct

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

You, my son, is a good boy. Incorrect

You, my son, are a good boy. Correct

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

The house is built of bricks. Incorrect

The house is built of bricks. Correct

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

It is I who has done it. Incorrect

It is I who have done it. Correct

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

The boy is my cousin who stood first in the mile race.

The boy, who stood first in the mile race, is my cousin.

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

Each man and each boy is responsible for their action. Incorrect

Each man and each boy is responsible for his action. Correct

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

He being an M.A., he is qualified for the post. Incorrect

He, being an M.A., is qualified for the post. Correct

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

Between you and I neither of us is correct. Incorrect

Between you and me neither of us is correct. Correct

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

A man like I will not do it. Incorrect

A man like me will not do it. Correct

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

Let I do it. Incorrect

Let me do it. Correct

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

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

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

You and he must bring his books. Incorrect

You and he must bring your books. Correct

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

You and I must finish your work in time. Incorrect

You and I must finish our work in time. Correct

74.  ‘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.

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’.

75.  The relative pronoun ‘that’ is used in preference to ‘who’ or ‘which’ after adjectives in the superlative degree.

The wisest man who ever lived made mistakes. Incorrect

The wisest man that ever lived made mistakes. Correct

This is the best which we can do. Incorrect

This is the best that we can do. Correct

76.  The relative pronoun ‘that’ is also used in preference to ‘who’ and ‘which’ after the words ‘all’, ‘same’, ‘none’, ‘nothing’ and (the) ‘only’.

He is the same man who he has seen. Incorrect

He is the same man that he has seen. Correct

Man is the only animal who can talk. Incorrect

Man is the only animal that can talk. Correct

77.  The same rule applies after the interrogative pronoun ‘who’ and ‘what’.

What is there which I do not know? Incorrect

What is there that I do not know? Correct

78.  When there are two antecedents, a man and an animal or two things before the r elative pronoun, we should use ‘that’.

The man and his dog which passed through this road were killed. Incorrect

The man and his dog passed through this road were killed. Correct

79.  The case of the noun or pronoun preceding or succeeding the verb ‘to be’ should be the same.

It is him who came to see us. Incorrect

It is he who came to see us. Correct

It is me who caught the thief. Incorrect

It is I who caught the thief. Correct

80.  when two qualities of a person or thing compared ‘ more’ or ‘less’ is used before the adjective and the adjective following them take positive degree.

Suman is better than brave. Incorrect

Suman is more good than brave. Correct

81.  When two or more adjectives are used to show the qualities of the same man or thing, al the adjectives must be in the same degree.

Sita is more intelligent and wise than Rita. Incorrect

Sita is more intelligent and wiser than Rita. Correct

82.  ‘Very’ is used with adjectives in the positive degree and with present participles.

He is much stronger man. Incorrect

He is a very strong man. Correct

It is a man interesting book. Incorrect

It is very interesting book. Correct

‘Much’ is used with adjectives in the comparative degree and with past participles.

He is very stronger than I am. Incorrect

He is much stronger than I am. Correct

I am very obliged to my friend. Incorrect

I am much obliged to my friend. Correct

83.  To show equality ‘as’ is used before and after the adjective.

I can run as fast, if not faster, than you. Incorrect

I can run as fast as, if not faster, than you. Correct

84.  Certain adjectives do not admit comparison and thus they always remain in the ‘positive degree’.

‘Absolute’, ‘annual’, ‘chief’, ‘circular’, ‘complete’, ‘entire’, ‘extreme’, ‘excellent’, ‘full’, ‘impossible’ ‘perfect’, ‘right’, ‘round’, ‘unique’, ‘universal’, ‘whole’, etc.

85.  ‘More than one’ indicates a plural sense, but it is treated as a sort of compound of one. Thus, it agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb.

More than one employees were killed in the accident. Incorrect

More than one employees was killed in the accident. Correct

86.  A verb must agree with its subject and not with the complement.

Our only guide at night were the stars. Incorrect

Our only guide at night w as the s tars. Correct

87.  If the plural subject denotes a definite amount or quantity taken as a whole, the verb is singular.

Forty miles are a good distance. Incorrect

Forty miles is a good distance. Correct

Two – thirds of the book were rubbish. Incorrect

Two – third of the book was rubbish. Correct

88.  The plural ‘heaps and ‘lots’ used colloquially for a great amount take a singular verb unless a plural noun with ‘of’ is added.

There are lots of book. Incorrect

There is lots of book. Correct

There is lots of books to read. Incorrect

There are lots of books to read. Correct

89.  When qualified by ‘each’ or ‘every’ two singular subjects, if even connected by ‘and’, take a singular, if even connected by ‘and’, take a singular verb.

Each boy and every girl were given rewards. Incorrect

Each boy and every girl was given rewards correct

90.  The following Vern are always followed by an infinitive:

‘decide’, ‘plans’, ‘expect’, ‘fail’, ‘hope’, ‘intend’, ‘learn’, ‘promise’, ‘refuse’, ‘want’, ‘agree’, ‘consent’, ‘try’, ‘love’, etc.

I refuse meeting him. Incorrect

I refuse to meet him. Correct

91.  the following verbs and phrases should be followed by gerund which is a verbal noun: ‘enjoy’, ‘admit’, ‘deny’, ‘appreciate’, ‘regret’, ‘avoid’, ‘consider’, ‘stop’, ‘looking forward to’, ‘accustomed to’, ‘is used to’, ‘do not mind’, ‘object to’, etc.

I am looking forward to receive your replay. Incorrect

I am looking forward to receiving your replay. Correct

He is used to work hard. Incorrect

He is used to working hard. Correct

92.  The word ‘to’ is frequently used with the infinitive, but is not an essential part of it. For example, after certain verb (‘bid’ ‘let’, ‘make’, ‘need’, ‘dare’, ‘see’, ‘hear’,) we use the infinitive without ‘to’.

Bid him to go there. Incorrect

Bid him go t here. Correct

Make him to stand. Incorrect

Make him stand. Correct

I saw him to cry. Incorrect

I saw him cry. Correct

93.  The infinitive is used without ‘to’ after ‘had better’, ‘had rather’, ‘would rather’, ‘sooner than’, and ‘rather than’,

You had better to ask permission form him. Incorrect

You had better ask permission from him. Correct

94.  ‘Than’ should be used after ‘no other’.

I met on other man but Mr. Roy. Incorrect

I met no other than Mr., Roy. Correct

Ram has no other claim except his degrees. Incorrect

Ram has other claim than his degrees. Correct

95.  After the word ‘know’, ‘how’ or ‘when’ should be used before using an infinitive.

I know to write French. Incorrect

I know to write French. Correct

96.  A verb may take an infinitive or a gerund according to its implication. If the verb indicates a purpose, an infinitive should be used and if the verb indicates a cause, a gerund should be used.

He went to school for seeing the principal. Incorrect

He went to school for see the principal. Correct

He was turned out to copy answers. Incorrect

He was turned out for copying answers. Correct

97.  adverb ‘as’ is not used with verbs like ‘appointed’, ‘elected’, ‘considered’, ‘called’, but it is used with ‘regard’,

He was elected as President of our society. Incorrect

He was elected President of our society. Correct

I regard Ramesh my friend. Incorrect

I regard Ramesh as my friend. Correct

98.  After the verb ‘doubt’ ‘that’ should not be used. ‘if’ or ‘whether’ should be used in its place.

I doubt that Ravi will come. Incorrect

I doubt if Ravi will come. Correct

99.  Often a mistake is committed in the use of adjectives and adverbs. An adjective is correctly used with the verb when some quality of the subject, rather than of the action of the verb, is to be expressed.

The flowers smelt sweetly. Incorrect

The flowers smelt sweet. Correct

100.          It is a common practice is conversation to make a statement and ask for confirmation; as, ‘It’s very hot, isn’t it? Two points are to be kept in mind. If the statement positive, the pattern will be

Auxiliary + n’t + subject.

Examples:

It is raining, is it? Incorrect

It is raining, isn’t it? Correct

Your are not busy, aren’t you? Incorrect

You are not busy, are you? Correct

The point to note here is that the question tag will always have the same verb from which we have in the main statement:

I have finished my work, didn’t I? Incorrect

I have finished my work, have n’t? Correct

101.          There are certain common errors which should be avoided.

(a)    ‘The two first’ is a meaningless expression for it implies that two things may be first. We should say ‘the first two’.

The two first chapters of the novel are dull.

The first two chapters of the novel are dull.

(b)   ‘Only’ should be placed immediately before the word it qualifies.

He only lost his ticket in the stampede. Incorrect

Only he lost his ticket in the stampede. Correct

(c)    An infinitive verb should not be spit.

I request you to kindly to help me. Incorrect

I request you kindly to help me. Correct

(d)   Care should be taken in the use of verbs.

The doctor saw the pulse of the patient. Incorrect

The doctor felt the pulse of the patient. Correct

He told the truth. Incorrect

He spoke the truth. Correct

Do not speak a lie. Incorrect

Do not tell a lie. Correct

Our team made a goal. Incorrect

Our team scored a goal. Correct

He is taking a bath. Incorrect

He is having a bath. Correct

I tell my prayers in the morning. Incorrect

I say my prayers in the morning. Correct