PART 3 OF IMPORTANT ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES

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C. USES OF VERBS

21. When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the
sameNumber, then we must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are,
am, was, were, have, has) for both of them.
For example,
Incorrect- Three- killed and one were injured.
Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.

22. A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the
formof Verb is same for both the subjects.
Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.
Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.

23. Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the
form ofthe principal Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries. ‘
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.

24. When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it
should becorrectly associated with the both.
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.
Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.

25. A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past
Tense inthe subordinate clause.
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.
Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.

26. A Past Tense in main clause may be followed by a Present Tense in
the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a
universaltruth.
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun

27. When the subordinate clause comes after ‘lest’, the auxiliary Verb
‘should’must be used, whatever be the Tense of the Verb in the main
clause.
Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.
Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.

28. An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between
‘to’ andverbal part of,the infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter:
Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.

29. An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents’ an
actionprior to that of the governing Verb.
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.
Correct- I should have liked to go there.

30. Gerund if preceded by a Pronoun, that Pronoun must
bein Possessive case.
Incorrect – He emphasized me going there.
Correct- He emphasized my going there.