Applied Grammer and Usage

Subject-Verb Agreement

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

In English, the verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, third). This means:

A singular subject takes a singular verb.
A plural subject takes a plural verb.

Singular and Plural Verb Forms:

For most verbs in the present tense:

Singular verbs often have an "s" or "es" added to the base form of the verb.
Examples:
- Runs, Watches, Flies, Barks & Studies
Plural verbs do not have this "s" or "es."
Examples:
- Run, Watch, Fly, Bark & Study.
Has and Have as verbs:
"Has" is used with singular subjects, and "Have" is used with plural subjects and the pronouns I and you.

Examples:
- Has: "She has a new book."
- Have: "They have new books."
- Have: "I have a meeting today."
- Have: "You have completed the assignment."
Is and Are as verbs:
Both "is" and "are" are forms of the verb "to be" and are used for subject-verb agreement based on the subject's number (singular or plural).

Examples:
- Is: "The dog is barking."
- Are: "The dogs are barking."
- Is: "She is reading a book."
- Are: "They are reading books."
- Is: "It is raining outside."
- Are: "We are learning English."

Basic Rules of SVA:

Singular subject → Singular verb: If the subject is singular (one person or thing), the verb must be singular.
Examples:
- "The cat sleeps on the couch." (The subject "cat" is singular, so the verb "sleeps" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The cat sleep on the couch." (The verb "sleep" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
- "The teacher explains the lesson." (The subject "teacher" is singular, so the verb "explains" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The teacher explain the lesson." (The verb "explain" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
- "A child cries for candy." (The subject "child" is singular, so the verb "cries" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "A child cry for candy." (The verb "cry" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
- "The bird sings in the morning." (The subject "bird" is singular, so the verb "sings" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The bird sing in the morning." (The verb "sing" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
- "An artist paints beautiful pictures." (The subject "artist" is singular, so the verb "paints" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "An artist paint beautiful pictures." (The verb "paint" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
- "The sun shines brightly." (The subject "sun" is singular, so the verb "shines" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The sun shine brightly." (The verb "shine" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
Plural subject → Plural verb: If the subject is plural (more than one person or thing), the verb must be plural.
Examples:
- "The cats sleep on the couch." (The subject "cats" is plural, so the verb "sleep" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The cats sleeps on the couch." (The verb "sleeps" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "The teachers explain the lesson." (The subject "teachers" is plural, so the verb "explain" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The teachers explains the lesson." (The verb "explains" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "The children play in the garden." (The subject "children" is plural, so the verb "play" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The children plays in the garden." (The verb "plays" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "The birds sing in the trees." (The subject "birds" is plural, so the verb "sing" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The birds sings in the trees." (The verb "sings" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "The artists paint beautiful pictures." (The subject "artists" is plural, so the verb "paint" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The artists paints beautiful pictures." (The verb "paints" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "The stars shine brightly." (The subject "stars" is plural, so the verb "shine" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The stars shines brightly." (The verb "shines" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)

Special Cases in SVA:

Compound subjects (joined by "and") → Plural verb: When two subjects are joined by "and," the verb is usually plural.
When subjects are joined with "and", the rule is that the verb will always be plural, regardless of whether the individual subjects are singular or plural. This is because "and" combines the two subjects into a compound subject, which is treated as plural.
Example:
- "Tom and Jerry are friends." (The subjects "Tom" and "Jerry" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "Tom and Jerry is friends." (The verb "is" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "The cat and the dog are playing together." (The subjects "cat" and "dog" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The cat and the dog is playing together." (The verb "is" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject.)
- "My brother and sister are coming to the party." (The subjects "brother" and "sister" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The teacher and the student are discussing the lesson." (The subjects "teacher" and "student" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The manager and the employee are working on the project." (The subjects "manager" and "employee" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The cake and the ice cream are ready to serve." (The subjects "cake" and "ice cream" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "John and I are planning a trip." (The subjects "John" and "I" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "You and your friends are invited to the event." (The subjects "you" and "friends" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The teacher and the principal are organizing the event." (The subjects "teacher" and "principal" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The dog and the cat are eating together." (The subjects "dog" and "cat" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The pen and the pencil are on the table." (The subjects "pen" and "pencil" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "The teacher and the student are discussing the book." (The subjects "teacher" and "student" are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
- The cats and the dog are playing in the yard.
Subjects connected by "or" or "nor":
- If both subjects are singular, use a singular verb.
  - Example: "Neither the teacher nor the student is here." (The subjects "teacher" and "student" are singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the teacher nor the student are here." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject.)
  - Example: "Neither the artist nor the critic is interested in the new exhibition." (Both "artist" and "critic" are singular, so the verb "is" is correct.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the artist nor the critic are interested in the new exhibition." (The verb "are" incorrectly assumes a plural subject.)
  - Example: "Neither the chef nor the waiter is available right now." (Singular subjects require the singular verb "is.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the chef nor the waiter are available right now." (Using "are" is incorrect as both subjects are singular.)
  - Example: "Neither the scientist nor the engineer is responsible for the mistake." (The singular subjects "scientist" and "engineer" require the singular verb "is.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the scientist nor the engineer are responsible for the mistake." (The plural verb "are" is incorrect.)
  - Example: "Neither the doctor nor the nurse is in the room." (Singular subjects "doctor" and "nurse" use the singular verb "is.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the doctor nor the nurse are in the room." ("Are" is incorrect here.)
  - Example: "Neither the author nor the editor is satisfied with the draft." ("Author" and "editor" are singular, so "is" is correct.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the author nor the editor are satisfied with the draft." ("Are" is incorrect for singular subjects.)
  - Example: "Neither the pilot nor the co-pilot is ready for takeoff." (Both "pilot" and "co-pilot" are singular, requiring "is.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the pilot nor the co-pilot are ready for takeoff." ("Are" is incorrect.)
  - Example: "Neither the cat nor the dog is in the yard." (Singular subjects use the singular verb "is.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the cat nor the dog are in the yard." (The plural verb "are" is incorrect.)
  - Example: "Neither the manager nor the assistant is responsible for the error." (The singular subjects "manager" and "assistant" take the singular verb "is.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the manager nor the assistant are responsible for the error." ("Are" incorrectly assumes a plural subject.)
  - Example: "Neither the buyer nor the seller is available to finalize the deal." (The singular verb "is" matches the singular subjects "buyer" and "seller.")
  - Incorrect: "Neither the buyer nor the seller are available to finalize the deal." ("Are" is incorrect for singular subjects.)
- If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the closest subject.
  - Example: "Either the cats or the dog is making noise." (The nearest subject "dog" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
  - Incorrect: "Either the cats or the dog are making noise." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular subject "dog.")
  - Example: "Either the dog or the cats are making noise." (The nearest subject "cats" is plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Either the dog or the cats is making noise." (The verb "is" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subject "cats.")
  - Example: "Neither the players nor the coach is happy with the result." (The nearest subject "coach" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the players nor the coach are happy with the result." ("Are" is incorrect as the nearest subject is singular.)
  - Example: "Neither the coach nor the players are happy with the result." (The nearest subject "players" is plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the coach nor the players is happy with the result." ("Is" is incorrect as the nearest subject is plural.)
  - Example: "Either the books or the pen is on the table." (The nearest subject "pen" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
  - Incorrect: "Either the books or the pen are on the table." ("Are" is incorrect as the nearest subject is singular.)
  - Example: "Either the pen or the books are on the table." (The nearest subject "books" is plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Either the pen or the books is on the table." ("Is" is incorrect as the nearest subject is plural.)
  - Example: "Neither the children nor their mother is ready for the trip." (The nearest subject "mother" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the children nor their mother are ready for the trip." ("Are" is incorrect as the nearest subject is singular.)
  - Example: "Neither the mother nor the children are ready for the trip." (The nearest subject "children" is plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the mother nor the children is ready for the trip." ("Is" is incorrect as the nearest subject is plural.)
  - Example: "Either the managers or the assistant is responsible for the report." (The nearest subject "assistant" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
  - Incorrect: "Either the managers or the assistant are responsible for the report." ("Are" is incorrect as the nearest subject is singular.)
  - Example: "Either the assistant or the managers are responsible for the report." (The nearest subject "managers" is plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Either the assistant or the managers is responsible for the report." ("Is" is incorrect as the nearest subject is plural.)
- If both subjects are plural, use a plural verb.
  - Example: "Neither the dogs nor the cats are hungry." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the dogs nor the cats is hungry." (The verb "is" is singular and doesn’t match the plural subjects.)
  - Example: "Both the teachers and the students are participating in the event." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Both the teachers and the students is participating in the event." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Neither the birds nor the squirrels are in the garden today." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the birds nor the squirrels is in the garden today." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Both the managers and the employees are attending the meeting." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Both the managers and the employees is attending the meeting." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Neither the books nor the pens are on the shelf." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the books nor the pens is on the shelf." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Both the parents and the children are enjoying the park." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Both the parents and the children is enjoying the park." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Neither the chairs nor the tables are clean." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the chairs nor the tables is clean." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Both the jackets and the scarves are on sale." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Both the jackets and the scarves is on sale." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Neither the windows nor the doors are locked." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Neither the windows nor the doors is locked." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
  - Example: "Both the shoes and the socks are in the closet." (Both subjects are plural, so the verb "are" is plural.)
  - Incorrect: "Both the shoes and the socks is in the closet." ("Is" is incorrect as both subjects are plural.)
Collective nouns (group, team, family) → Singular verb: Collective nouns, which refer to a group but are singular in form, usually take a singular verb.
Example:
- "The team wins the game." (The collective noun "team" is singular, so the verb "wins" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The team win the game." (The verb "win" is plural and doesn’t match the singular collective noun "team.")
- "The family lives in that house." (The collective noun "family" is singular, so the verb "lives" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The family live in that house." (The verb "live" is plural and doesn’t match the singular collective noun "family.")
- However, in some cases (especially British English), a plural verb can be used when emphasizing the individuals in the group.
  - Example: "The team are arguing among themselves." (Here, the plural verb "are" is used to emphasize the individual members of the team.)
  - Incorrect: "The team is arguing among themselves." (The verb "is" is singular, which doesn’t match the plural usage for individual emphasis.)
- Example: "The class is ready for the test." (The collective noun "class" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The class are ready for the test." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular collective noun "class.")
- Example: "The jury has reached a verdict." (The collective noun "jury" is singular, so the verb "has" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The jury have reached a verdict." (The verb "have" is plural and doesn’t match the singular collective noun "jury.")
- Example: "The government is implementing new policies." (The collective noun "government" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "The government are implementing new policies." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular collective noun "government.")
Indefinite pronouns → Singular verb: Pronouns like anyone, everyone, someone, nobody, each, and every are singular and take singular verbs.
Example:
- "Everyone loves a good book." (The indefinite pronoun "everyone" is singular, so the verb "loves" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Everyone love a good book." (The verb "love" is plural and doesn’t match the singular pronoun "everyone.")
- "Each of the players is ready." (The indefinite pronoun "each" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Each of the players are ready." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular pronoun "each.")
- "Nobody knows the answer." (The indefinite pronoun "nobody" is singular, so the verb "knows" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Nobody know the answer." (The verb "know" is plural and doesn’t match the singular pronoun "nobody.")
- "Someone is calling you." (The indefinite pronoun "someone" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Someone are calling you." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular pronoun "someone.")
- "Each student has a textbook." (The indefinite pronoun "each" is singular, so the verb "has" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Each student have a textbook." (The verb "have" is plural and doesn’t match the singular pronoun "each.")
- "Everybody is invited to the party." (The indefinite pronoun "everybody" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Everybody are invited to the party." (The verb "are" is plural and doesn’t match the singular pronoun "everybody.")
- "Anyone can solve this puzzle." (The indefinite pronoun "anyone" is singular, so the verb "can" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Anyone could solve this puzzle." (The verb "could" is not in the correct form to match "anyone" in this case.)
Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural: Pronouns like some, all, none, most, any depend on the context.
Example:
- "Some of the water is spilled." (Uncountable noun "water," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Some of the water are spilled." (The verb "are" is plural, but "water" is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb.)
- "Some of the cookies are missing." (Countable noun "cookies," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "Some of the cookies is missing." (The verb "is" is singular, but "cookies" is countable and plural, so it requires a plural verb.)
- "All of the cake has been eaten." (Uncountable noun "cake," so the verb "has" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "All of the cake have been eaten." (The verb "have" is plural, but "cake" is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb.)
- "All of the books have been read." (Countable noun "books," so the verb "have" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "All of the books has been read." (The verb "has" is singular, but "books" is countable and plural, so it requires a plural verb.)
- "None of the milk is left." (Uncountable noun "milk," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "None of the milk are left." (The verb "are" is plural, but "milk" is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb.)
- "None of the people are coming." (Countable noun "people," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "None of the people is coming." (The verb "is" is singular, but "people" is countable and plural, so it requires a plural verb.)
- "Most of the homework has been completed." (Uncountable noun "homework," so the verb "has" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Most of the homework have been completed." (The verb "have" is plural, but "homework" is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb.)
- "Most of the students are absent." (Countable noun "students," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "Most of the students is absent." (The verb "is" is singular, but "students" is countable and plural, so it requires a plural verb.)
- "Any of the food is fine." (Uncountable noun "food," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Any of the food are fine." (The verb "are" is plural, but "food" is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb.)
- "Any of the chairs are broken." (Countable noun "chairs," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "Any of the chairs is broken." (The verb "is" is singular, but "chairs" is countable and plural, so it requires a plural verb.)
Subjects with "each" or "every" → Singular verb: When "each" or "every" precedes the subject, use a singular verb.
Example:
- "Each student has a notebook." (The subject "student" is singular, so the verb "has" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Each student have a notebook." (The verb "have" is plural, but "each" requires a singular verb.)
- "Every boy and girl is invited." (The subject "boy and girl" is treated as singular because "every" precedes it, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Every boy and girl are invited." (The verb "are" is plural, but "every" requires a singular verb.)
- "Each child receives a gift." (The subject "child" is singular, so the verb "receives" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Each child receive a gift." (The verb "receive" is plural, but "each" requires a singular verb.)
- "Every person deserves a second chance." (The subject "person" is singular, so the verb "deserves" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Every person deserve a second chance." (The verb "deserve" is plural, but "every" requires a singular verb.)
- "Each book is on the shelf." (The subject "book" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Each book are on the shelf." (The verb "are" is plural, but "each" requires a singular verb.)
- "Every student enjoys the class." (The subject "student" is singular, so the verb "enjoys" is singular.)
- Incorrect: "Every student enjoy the class." (The verb "enjoy" is plural, but "every" requires a singular verb.)
- "Each of the cars is parked outside." (The subject "each" makes the verb singular even though "cars" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "Each of the cars are parked outside." (The verb "are" is plural, but "each" requires a singular verb.)
The verb "to be": The verb "to be" has different forms depending on the subject:
- I am
- He/She/It is
- We/You/They are
- Example sentences:
- Incorrect examples:
Explanation: The verb "to be" has three forms in the present tense:
- "am" is used with the subject "I."
- "is" is used with singular subjects like "he," "she," or "it."
- "are" is used with plural subjects like "we," "you," or "they."
In sentences, the verb "to be" must agree with the subject's number and person:
- "I am happy." (Correct use of "am" with the subject "I.")
- "He is tired." (Correct use of "is" with the singular subject "he.")
- "They are excited." (Correct use of "are" with the plural subject "they.")
Incorrect forms occur when the wrong version of the verb "to be" is used:
- "I is happy." (Incorrect, should be "am.")
- "He am tired." (Incorrect, should be "is.")
- "They is excited." (Incorrect, should be "are.")
Titles, names, and singular entities → Singular verb: Titles of books, movies, or organizations, even if they sound plural, are singular.
Example:
- "The United Nations is meeting today." (Although "United Nations" refers to a group, it is treated as a singular entity, so the verb "is" is used.)
- Incorrect: "The United Nations are meeting today." ("Are" is plural and doesn't match the singular subject "United Nations.")
- "Harry Potter is a popular book." (The title "Harry Potter" is singular, so the verb "is" is used.)
- Incorrect: "Harry Potter are a popular book." ("Are" is plural and doesn't match the singular title "Harry Potter.")
- "The Avengers is an exciting movie." (Despite "Avengers" sounding plural, it is considered a singular entity in this case, so "is" is used.)
- Incorrect: "The Avengers are an exciting movie." (Even though "Avengers" sounds plural, the title is treated as a singular noun.)
- "The Lord of the Rings is a classic trilogy." (The title "The Lord of the Rings" refers to a singular work, so the verb "is" is used.)
- Incorrect: "The Lord of the Rings are a classic trilogy." (The title is singular, so "are" does not match.)
- "National Geographic is a popular magazine." (The name of the magazine is singular, so the verb "is" is used.)
- "The Mona Lisa is famous." (The title of the painting is treated as singular, so "is" is used.)

Common Errors in SVA:

When the subject and verb are separated: The verb should still agree with the main subject.
Example:
- "The bouquet of flowers is beautiful." (The subject "bouquet" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular, even though "flowers" is plural and separated from the subject.)
- Incorrect: "The bouquet of flowers are beautiful." ("Bouquet" is singular, so the verb must be singular, despite the plural noun "flowers.")
- "The team of players is winning the match." (The subject "team" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular, even though "players" is plural and appears closer to the verb.)
- Incorrect: "The team of players are winning the match." ("Team" is singular, so the verb "are" is incorrect in this context.)
- "The teacher with the students is at the door." (The subject "teacher" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular, even though "students" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The teacher with the students are at the door." ("Teacher" is singular, so the verb should be singular.)
- "The box of chocolates is on the table." (The subject "box" is singular, so the verb "is" is singular, even though "chocolates" is plural.)
- Incorrect: "The box of chocolates are on the table." ("Box" is singular, so the verb must be singular.)
With "there is" and "there are": The verb agrees with the noun that follows.
Example:
- "There is a book on the table." (Singular noun "book," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "There are books on the table." (Plural noun "books," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "There is a cat under the chair." (Singular noun "cat," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "There are many cars in the parking lot." (Plural noun "cars," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "There is a person waiting outside." (Singular noun "person," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "There are several people in the room." (Plural noun "people," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "There is an issue with the system." (Singular noun "issue," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "There are two issues to resolve." (Plural noun "issues," so the verb "are" is plural.)
- "There is a bird on the roof." (Singular noun "bird," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "There are some birds on the roof." (Plural noun "birds," so the verb "are" is plural.)
Using plural verbs for uncountable nouns: Uncountable nouns take singular verbs.
Example:
- "The information is correct." (Uncountable noun "information," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The water is cold." (Uncountable noun "water," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The furniture is new." (Uncountable noun "furniture," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The air is fresh." (Uncountable noun "air," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The advice is valuable." (Uncountable noun "advice," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The equipment is broken." (Uncountable noun "equipment," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The news is surprising." (Uncountable noun "news," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The traffic is heavy." (Uncountable noun "traffic," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The homework is due tomorrow." (Uncountable noun "homework," so the verb "is" is singular.)
- "The music is loud." (Uncountable noun "music," so the verb "is" is singular.)

Examples for Practice:

Sentence: "The cat chases the mouse."
Status: Correct
Subject: The cat (singular), Verb: chases (singular)
Sentence: "The students study for the exam."
Status: Correct
Subject: The students (plural), Verb: study (plural)
Sentence: "The team is winning the match."
Status: Correct
Subject: The team (singular), Verb: is (singular)
Sentence: "Each of the boys have a bicycle."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: Each of the boys (singular), Verb: have (plural)

Correction: "Each of the boys has a bicycle."
Sentence: "There are many problems to solve."
Status: Correct
Subject: There (plural), Verb: are (plural)
Sentence: "Neither the teacher nor the students is present."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: Neither the teacher nor the students (plural), Verb: is (singular)

Correction: "Neither the teacher nor the students are present."
Sentence: "Some of the sugar are spilled on the floor."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: Some of the sugar (uncountable), Verb: are (plural)

Correction: "Some of the sugar is spilled on the floor."
Sentence: "The United States are a big country."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: The United States (singular), Verb: are (plural)

Correction: "The United States is a big country."
Sentence: "The news are surprising."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: The news (uncountable), Verb: are (plural)

Correction: "The news is surprising."
Sentence: "Either John or his friends is coming to the party."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: Either John or his friends (plural), Verb: is (singular)

Correction: "Either John or his friends are coming to the party."
Sentence: "The dog bark loudly."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: The dog (singular), Verb: bark (plural)

Correction: "The dog barks loudly."
Sentence: "The children plays in the park."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: The children (plural), Verb: plays (singular)

Correction: "The children play in the park."
Sentence: "Both of the teachers are present."
Status: Correct
Subject: Both of the teachers (plural), Verb: are (plural)
Sentence: "There is three books on the shelf."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: There (plural), Verb: is (singular)

Correction: "There are three books on the shelf."
Sentence: "Neither the boy nor the girls are ready."
Status: Correct
Subject: Neither the boy nor the girls (plural), Verb: are (plural)

Explanation: In the sentence, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ("girls," which is plural), so "are" is correct.
Sentence: "Everyone are invited to the party."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: Everyone (singular), Verb: are (plural)

Correction: "Everyone is invited to the party."
Sentence: "A pair of shoes are on the floor."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: A pair of shoes (singular), Verb: are (plural)

Correction: "A pair of shoes is on the floor."
Sentence: "Some of the milk have spilled."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: Some of the milk (uncountable), Verb: have (plural)

Correction: "Some of the milk has spilled."
Sentence: "The company are launching a new product."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: The company (singular), Verb: are (plural)

Correction: "The company is launching a new product."
Sentence: "The books on the table belongs to Sarah."
Status: Incorrect
Subject: The books (plural), Verb: belongs (singular)

Correction: "The books on the table belong to Sarah."

Tenses

Tenses are used to show the time of an action or event. There are three main types of tenses:

Present Tense (happening now)
Past Tense (happened before)
Future Tense (will happen later)

Each type is further divided into four subcategories: Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.

1. Present Tense

a) Simple Present

Describes general facts, habits, or routines. It is also used for truths, repeated actions, and fixed events.
Structure: Subject + Base Verb (+ s/es for singular subjects)
Examples:
- I play football.
- She plays the piano.
- The sun rises in the east.
- They study English every day.
- We work from Monday to Friday.
- He drives to work every morning.
- Water boils at 100°C.
- The train leaves at 6 PM.
Time expressions: Often used with adverbs or time expressions like every day, always, usually, often, sometimes, never, on Mondays, etc.
Use for habits and routines: The Simple Present is used to describe regular, habitual actions (e.g., She drinks coffee every morning, I go to the gym on weekends).
Use for general truths: It is used to state facts or truths that are generally accepted or scientific facts (e.g., Water freezes at 0°C, The Earth orbits the Sun).
Use for scheduled events: It can describe scheduled or fixed events in the future (e.g., The flight departs at 9 AM tomorrow, My school starts in September).
Negative form: Subject + do/does not (don't/doesn't) + base verb (e.g., I don't like coffee, She doesn't go to school on Sundays).
Interrogative form: Do/Does + subject + base verb (e.g., Do you play football? Does he work in the office?).
Spelling rules for third-person singular: When the subject is third-person singular (he, she, it), the verb usually takes an "-s" or "-es" ending:
- For verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -x, -o, or -ss, add -es (e.g., She watches TV, He goes to work).
- For verbs ending in consonant + y, change the "y" to "ies" (e.g., He flies to London every week).
- For most other verbs, simply add -s (e.g., She plays the guitar, He reads books).
Use for instructions or directions: The Simple Present can be used to give instructions or directions (e.g., First, you boil the water, Then you add the rice).

b) Present Continuous

Describes actions that are happening right now or around the present time. It can also indicate future plans or temporary actions.
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + Verb(-ing)
Examples:
- I am studying for my exams.
- They are playing cricket in the park.
- She is cooking dinner right now.
- We are watching a movie at the moment.
- He is talking to his friend on the phone.
- She is reading a book while waiting for the bus.
- They are working on a new project this week.
- I am meeting her later this evening.
Time expressions: Often used with time expressions like now, at the moment, right now, currently, today, this week, etc.
Use for actions happening right now: Used to describe actions happening at the exact moment of speaking (e.g., I am talking to you, She is writing a letter).
Use for temporary actions: Can describe actions that are temporary or in progress (e.g., I am living in Paris for a few months, He is studying law this semester).
Use for future arrangements or plans: Often used to talk about fixed future plans or arrangements (e.g., I am meeting her tomorrow, We are leaving for the airport in an hour).
Negative form: Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb(-ing) (e.g., I am not studying, They are not playing football).
Interrogative form: Am/Is/Are + subject + Verb(-ing)? (e.g., Are you coming to the party? Is she working today?).
Spelling rules for -ing:
- If a verb ends in -e, drop the -e and add -ing (e.g., make → making, dance → dancing).
- If a verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, double the final consonant before adding -ing (e.g., run → running, sit → sitting).
- If a verb ends in -ie, change it to -y and add -ing (e.g., die → dying, lie → lying).
Use for irritation or repeated actions: It can also describe actions that are happening repeatedly and often in an irritating way (e.g., He is always complaining about his work).

c) Present Perfect

Describes actions that happened at an unspecified time before now, actions that just finished, or experiences that have an impact on the present moment.
Structure: Subject + has/have + Past Participle (Verb-3)
Examples:
- I have completed my homework.
- She has visited the park.
- They have played the match.
- We have traveled to many countries.
- He has just finished his lunch.
- They have seen that movie before.
- She has lived in Paris for five years.
- I have never been to Italy.
Time expressions: Commonly used with time expressions such as already, yet, just, ever, never, recently, so far, for, and since.
Use for actions that have happened at an unspecified time: The exact time of the action is not important or is unknown (e.g., I have visited the museum, They have traveled to Japan).
Use for actions that started in the past and continue to the present: Often used with "since" (to indicate when the action began) or "for" (to indicate the duration) (e.g., I have worked here since 2015, She has known him for ten years).
Use for actions that were recently completed: It is used for actions that have just finished and are relevant to the present moment (e.g., She has just left the office, I have just eaten lunch).
Negative form: Subject + has/have + not + Past Participle (e.g., I have not finished the book, She has not seen that movie).
Interrogative form: Has/Have + subject + Past Participle? (e.g., Have you done your homework? Has he visited the new restaurant?).
Common mistakes:
- Don’t use the exact time of the action (e.g., Incorrect: I have visited the park yesterday. Correct: I visited the park yesterday - simple past).
- Be careful with "ever" and "never" - "ever" is used in questions, while "never" is used in negative sentences (e.g., Have you ever been to London? I have never been to London).

d) Present Perfect Continuous

Describes actions that started in the past and are still happening, or actions that were recently completed but have an ongoing effect.
Structure: Subject + has/have been + Verb(-ing)
Examples:
- I have been reading for two hours.
- She has been practicing yoga since morning.
- They have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.
- We have been working all day on the project.
- He has been studying for the test for the last few weeks.
- She has been running every day to stay fit.
- They have been arguing about the issue all afternoon.
- I have been trying to solve this problem for hours.
Time expressions: Often used with time expressions like for, since, all day/week/month/year, recently, lately, etc.
Use for actions that started in the past and continue to the present: This tense emphasizes the duration of an action that started in the past and is still ongoing (e.g., She has been working at the company for 10 years, I have been learning English for five years).
Use for actions with present relevance: Describes actions that have been happening up to the present and are relevant now (e.g., I have been reading that book, I am tired because I have been running for an hour).
Negative form: Subject + has/have not been + Verb(-ing) (e.g., I have not been sleeping well lately, They have not been studying for the exam).
Interrogative form: Has/Have + subject + been + Verb(-ing)? (e.g., Have you been working out? Has she been practicing her speech?).
Difference from Present Perfect: The Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the duration or ongoing nature of the action, while the Present Perfect typically emphasizes the completion of the action (e.g., I have worked there vs. I have been working there).
Common mistakes:
- Don't confuse Present Perfect Continuous with Present Continuous. The Present Continuous is used for actions happening right now, while the Present Perfect Continuous focuses on actions that started in the past and are still ongoing (e.g., Incorrect: I am working here for five years. Correct: I have been working here for five years).
- Be careful not to use stative verbs (e.g., know, love, believe) in the Present Perfect Continuous (e.g., Incorrect: I have been knowing him for a long time. Correct: I have known him for a long time).

2. Past Tense

a) Simple Past

Describes actions that happened and were completed in the past at a specific time.
Structure: Subject + Past Verb (Verb-2)
Examples:
- I watched a movie yesterday.
- She went to school last week.
- They played football on Saturday.
- He finished his homework before dinner.
- We visited the museum last summer.
- My father worked in London for five years.
- By the time I arrived, they had already left the party.
- They attended a conference on technology last month.
Time expressions: Often used with time expressions like yesterday, last year, in 1990, two days ago, last week, etc.
Regular and Irregular Verbs:
- Regular verbs: Add -ed to the base form (e.g., watch → watched, play → played).
- Irregular verbs: Change form in an unpredictable way (e.g., go → went, eat → ate, have → had).
Negative form: Subject + did not (didn't) + base verb (e.g., I didn’t go to the party).
Interrogative form: Did + subject + base verb (e.g., Did you see the movie?).
Use for completed actions: Used when an action is finished at a definite time in the past. This tense is often used when the exact time of the action is not important but is usually implied or specified (e.g., I called her yesterday, We met last week).
Used in storytelling: Often used to narrate events in the past (e.g., Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled the kingdom.).
Past habitual actions: Used to describe past habits or routines, often with "used to" or "would" (e.g., I used to play football every weekend when I was younger, He would visit his grandmother every summer).
Past states: Can be used to talk about past situations or states that are no longer true (e.g., She lived in Paris when she was a child).

b) Past Continuous

Describes actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past or actions that were in progress when another event occurred.
Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb(-ing)
Examples:
- I was reading a book at 8 p.m.
- She was cooking dinner when I arrived.
- They were playing cricket when it started raining.
- He was watching TV when the phone rang.
- We were having lunch at that time yesterday.
- She was working on her project all afternoon.
- They were studying when their friends came over.
- I was thinking about you when I saw the message.
Time expressions: Commonly used with time expressions like at that moment, at 8 p.m., when, while, yesterday at, etc.
Use for actions happening at a specific moment in the past: The Past Continuous emphasizes that an action was in progress at a particular time in the past (e.g., I was studying at 5 p.m. yesterday).
Use for interrupted actions in the past: It is often used when one action was interrupted by another action. The ongoing action is in the Past Continuous, while the interrupting action is in the Simple Past (e.g., She was cooking when I arrived).
Negative form: Subject + was/were + not + Verb(-ing) (e.g., I was not sleeping when you called, They were not playing football yesterday).
Interrogative form: Was/Were + subject + Verb(-ing)? (e.g., Were you working at 9 p.m.? Was she studying when you called?).
Common mistakes:
- Don’t use the Past Continuous for actions that are habitual or repeated (e.g., Incorrect: I was going to the gym every day. Correct: I went to the gym every day).
- Don’t confuse the Past Continuous with the Simple Past. Use the Past Continuous to focus on the duration or ongoing nature of an action at a specific time in the past (e.g., Incorrect: I was read a book. Correct: I was reading a book).

c) Past Perfect

Describes actions that were completed before another action in the past. It emphasizes the fact that one event occurred before another event in the past.
Structure: Subject + had + Past Participle (Verb-3)
Examples:
- I had finished my homework before the movie started.
- She had already left when I called her.
- They had played the match before it rained.
- By the time I arrived, they had already eaten lunch.
- He had studied French before he moved to Paris.
- We had met each other earlier in the day.
- The train had left by the time we reached the station.
- She had completed the report before the deadline.
Time expressions: Often used with time expressions like before, after, by the time, already, just, never, etc.
Use for actions completed before another event in the past: The Past Perfect emphasizes the completion of one action before another past event. For example, "I had finished my homework before the movie started" emphasizes that the homework was completed first.
Use with Past Simple to show sequence of events: The Past Perfect is often used together with the Simple Past to show the order of events. The Past Perfect shows the action that happened first, and the Simple Past shows the action that happened later (e.g., She had finished her meal when I arrived).
Negative form: Subject + had not + Past Participle (e.g., I had not seen that movie before, They had not played the game).
Interrogative form: Had + subject + Past Participle? (e.g., Had you eaten before you left? Had she finished the task by the time you called?).
Common mistakes:
- Don’t confuse the Past Perfect with the Simple Past. The Past Perfect is used to show that an action was completed before another past event, while the Simple Past describes a completed action with no reference to a specific time (e.g., Incorrect: I finished my homework before the movie started. Correct: I had finished my homework before the movie started).
- Be careful when using the Past Perfect with time expressions. For example, "before" and "after" can sometimes lead to confusion, as the Past Perfect action happens before another past action (e.g., Incorrect: I had never visited the park last year. Correct: I had never visited the park before last year).

d) Past Perfect Continuous

Describes actions that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. It emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of the action.
Structure: Subject + had been + Verb(-ing)
Examples:
- I had been studying for two hours before dinner.
- She had been practicing yoga when her friend arrived.
- They had been waiting for the bus for an hour when it finally arrived.
- He had been working at the company for ten years when he decided to leave.
- We had been walking for an hour when it started raining.
- They had been arguing for hours before they made a decision.
- She had been reading the book for a long time before finishing it.
- I had been waiting in line all morning before the shop opened.
Time expressions: Commonly used with time expressions like for, since, all day, all week, before, when, etc.
Use for actions in progress before another action in the past: The Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action that was happening before another action took place in the past. For example, "I had been studying for two hours before dinner" highlights that the studying continued for a certain duration before dinner.
Use to emphasize the duration of an action: The Past Perfect Continuous often emphasizes how long something had been happening before something else occurred (e.g., "They had been waiting for the bus for an hour when it finally arrived").
Negative form: Subject + had not been + Verb(-ing) (e.g., I had not been sleeping when you called, She had not been working all day).
Interrogative form: Had + subject + been + Verb(-ing)? (e.g., Had you been studying before you went to the party? Had she been working all day?).
Common mistakes:
- Don't confuse the Past Perfect Continuous with the Past Continuous. The Past Perfect Continuous is used to emphasize the duration of an action that was happening before another event in the past, while the Past Continuous focuses on actions happening at a specific time in the past (e.g., Incorrect: I was studying for two hours before dinner. Correct: I had been studying for two hours before dinner).
- Be cautious with time expressions like "for" and "since" — "for" indicates a period of time (e.g., "I had been waiting for an hour"), while "since" indicates a specific starting point (e.g., "I had been waiting since 3 p.m.").

3. Future Tense

a) Simple Future

Describes actions that will happen in the future, often as plans, predictions, or promises.
Structure: Subject + will/shall + Base Verb
Examples:
- I will watch a movie tomorrow.
- She will go to school.
- They will play football.
- We will visit the museum next week.
- He will arrive soon.
- They will start the project next month.
- I shall return before 6 p.m. (Note: 'shall' is more formal or traditionally used with 'I' and 'we').
- It will rain tomorrow.
Use cases:
- Promises and decisions made at the moment of speaking: "I will help you with your homework." (You decide to help at the moment of speaking.)
- Future plans or intentions: "We will travel to Paris next summer." (A planned event in the future.)
- Predictions about the future: "He will be successful in his career." (A statement about what will likely happen in the future.)
- Offers and suggestions: "I will give you a ride." (An offer to help or assist.)
Negative form: Subject + will not (won't) + Base Verb (e.g., "I will not go to the party," "She won't finish the task tonight.")
Interrogative form: Will + subject + Base Verb? (e.g., "Will you attend the meeting?", "Will they play the game tomorrow?")
Common mistakes:
- Using "will" with a time expression that indicates the past. ("I will went to the store" should be "I will go to the store.")
- Confusing "will" with "going to" when talking about future plans. "Going to" is used for things that are already planned or intended, while "will" is more spontaneous (e.g., "I will go to the store" vs. "I am going to the store.").
Time expressions commonly used with Simple Future:
- Tomorrow
- Next week/month/year
- In the future
- Soon
- Later

b) Future Continuous

Describes actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future, often indicating a future ongoing event or activity.
Structure: Subject + will be + Verb(-ing)
Examples:
- I will be reading a book at 8 p.m.
- She will be cooking dinner when you arrive.
- They will be playing cricket at 5 o'clock tomorrow.
- We will be traveling to Paris this time next year.
- He will be attending the meeting at 10 a.m.
- By the time you arrive, they will be watching the movie.
Use cases:
- Actions happening at a specific time in the future: "I will be working at 9 a.m. tomorrow." (The action will be in progress at that particular time.)
- Plans or events that are expected to happen at a certain time: "She will be studying at 7 p.m. tonight." (The action is already scheduled and will be in progress.)
- Actions that are interrupted by another event in the future: "I will be walking to work when it starts to rain." (The action of walking will be ongoing when the rain starts.)
- Future polite or tentative requests: "Will you be attending the meeting tomorrow?" (Used to inquire about future plans or actions politely.)
Negative form: Subject + will not be (won't be) + Verb(-ing) (e.g., "I will not be working at 10 a.m." or "She won’t be attending the party.")
Interrogative form: Will + subject + be + Verb(-ing)? (e.g., "Will they be playing at 4 p.m.?", "Will you be working on Sunday?")
Time expressions commonly used with Future Continuous:
- At 5 o'clock
- This time tomorrow
- Next week/month/year
- When
- In the future
Common mistakes:
- Using the Future Continuous tense to describe an action that will happen in the future, but not necessarily at a specific time (use Simple Future instead). Example: "I will work tomorrow" is better than "I will be working tomorrow" unless you emphasize the ongoing nature of the activity at a specific time.

Why Only Simple Future and Future Continuous?

In English, the future tense primarily focuses on two forms because they cover the most practical and commonly used scenarios:

Simple Future: Used for decisions, promises, or events that will take place.
Example: "I will call you tomorrow."
Future Continuous: Emphasizes ongoing actions at a specific time in the future.
Example: "I will be traveling at this time next week."

Other future forms, like "Future Perfect" or "Future Perfect Continuous," are less frequently used in daily communication and are often replaced by simpler alternatives or contextual expressions.

Conditionals:

Definition: A conditional is a statement that can be used to check a condition and execute certain code based on whether the condition is true or false.

Zero Conditional

The Zero Conditional is used to talk about general truths, facts, or situations that are always true when something happens. It describes cause and effect, where the result is always true if the condition is met. This conditional is used to express scientific facts, rules, laws of nature, and everyday truths.

Structure: If + Present Simple, Present Simple
Examples:
- If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
- If it rains, the ground gets wet.
- If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
- If you add salt to water, it dissolves.
- If you touch a flame, it burns.
- If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
- If you put a spoon in a hot drink, it becomes warm.
- If you press the switch, the light turns on.
Use cases:
- General truths or facts: "If you drop an object, it falls to the ground." (This is always true, regardless of time.)
- Scientific facts: "If you add sugar to tea, it becomes sweet." (A predictable result of an action.)
- Instructions or rules: "If you press this button, the light turns on." (The result is always the same when the action is performed.)
Common time expressions used with Zero Conditional:
- When
- Whenever
- If
- As soon as
Common mistakes:
- Using different tenses: Remember, the Zero Conditional always uses the Present Simple tense in both clauses (e.g., "If you heat water, it will boil" is incorrect). The correct version is "If you heat water, it boils."
- Using modals: The Zero Conditional is about certainty, so avoid using modals like "can," "may," or "might" in this structure (e.g., "If you press the button, it can turn on" is incorrect). Instead, use "it turns on."

First Conditional

The First Conditional is used to talk about possible future situations that are likely to happen if a certain condition is met. It expresses a real or possible situation, where the condition is possible and can realistically happen in the future. The result is also possible, depending on the fulfillment of the condition.

Structure: If + Present Simple, will + Base Verb
Examples:
- If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home.
- If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
- If I finish work early, I will go for a walk.
- If you hurry, you will catch the bus.
- If they call me, I will answer the phone.
- If you don't eat lunch, you will be hungry later.
- If she invites me, I will attend the party.
- If I see him, I will tell him to call you.
Use cases:
- Real or possible future situations: "If it rains, I will stay home." (It's a possible condition that can happen in the future.)
- Warnings or advice: "If you don't study, you will fail the test." (You are giving a possible result based on an action.)
- Promises or offers: "If you come to the party, I will give you a gift." (You promise something if the condition happens.)
Common time expressions used with First Conditional:
- Tomorrow
- Next week/month/year
- In the future
- When
- If
Common mistakes:
- Using the future tense in the condition clause: The condition clause should always use the Present Simple tense (e.g., "If it will rain, I will stay at home" is incorrect; the correct form is "If it rains, I will stay at home").
- Using modals or different tenses in the result clause: The result clause must use "will" (e.g., "If you study, you can pass the exam" is incorrect; the correct form is "If you study, you will pass the exam").

Second Conditional

The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future. It expresses a situation that is unlikely, impossible, or purely imaginary, often used for giving advice or imagining different outcomes.

Structure: If + Past Simple, would + Base Verb
Examples:
- If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
- If I were you, I would study harder.
- If he had more free time, he would play football every day.
- If we lived in a bigger house, we would have more space.
- If she spoke Spanish, she would work in Spain.
- If they had a car, they would drive to the beach.
- If I were rich, I would buy a mansion.
Use cases:
- Hypothetical or imaginary situations: "If I were a bird, I would fly." (This is not possible, but it's an imaginary thought.)
- Giving advice: "If I were you, I would take a break." (This suggests an advice for an imagined scenario.)
- Expressing wishes or regrets: "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam." (This is a regret about an unreal past situation.)
Common time expressions used with Second Conditional:
- Now
- Today
- In the present
- In the future
Common mistakes:
- Using the present tense in the condition clause: The condition clause should always use the **Past Simple** tense (e.g., "If I win the lottery, I would travel" is incorrect; the correct form is "If I won the lottery, I would travel").
- Using "will" in the result clause: The result clause should always use **would**, not **will** (e.g., "If I were rich, I will buy a mansion" is incorrect; the correct form is "If I were rich, I would buy a mansion").

Third Conditional

The Third Conditional is used to talk about unreal situations in the past—things that did not happen. It is used to express regrets, hindsight, or how things could have been different if circumstances had been different in the past.

Structure: If + Past Perfect, would have + Past Participle
Examples:
- If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
- If they had known about the meeting, they would have attended.
- If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train.
- If I had saved more money, I would have bought a car.
- If he had not missed the bus, he would have been on time for work.
- If we had taken the right turn, we would have reached the destination earlier.
- If I had told you about the problem, you would have helped me.
Use cases:
- Expressing regret or things that didn't happen in the past: "If I had gone to bed earlier, I wouldn’t have been late for work." (This expresses regret for a past action that didn't happen.)
- Imagining different past outcomes: "If we had taken the bus, we would have avoided the traffic." (This imagines an alternate past scenario that didn't occur.)
Common time expressions used with Third Conditional:
- In the past
- Last week
- Before
- Earlier
Common mistakes:
- Using the present perfect instead of the past perfect: The condition clause should always use the **Past Perfect** tense (e.g., "If I had known" is correct, but "If I have known" is incorrect).
- Using "will have" instead of "would have": The result clause should always use **would have**, not **will have** (e.g., "If I had seen him, I will have told him" is incorrect; the correct form is "If I had seen him, I would have told him").

Active & Passive Voice:

Definition:

In English, sentences can be written in two voices: the active voice and the passive voice.

Active Voice:

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. The focus is on the doer of the action, which is the subject. This is the most common form of sentence structure in English.

Form: Subject + verb + object

Examples of active voice sentences:

The cat chased the mouse.
- In this sentence, the subject is "the cat" and the action performed is "chased", which is directed at the object "the mouse".
The teacher explained the lesson.
- The subject is "the teacher", the verb is "explained", and the object is "the lesson". The teacher is performing the action of explaining.
The children played in the park.
- Here, the subject is "the children", and they perform the action of "played". The object of the action is implied to be "games" or "activities".
The chef prepared dinner.
- The subject "the chef" is performing the action of "prepared". The object receiving the action is "dinner".
She writes poems.
- Here, "she" is the subject, performing the action of "writes", directed at the object "poems".

Key Points to Remember:

The subject of the sentence performs the action.
The verb expresses the action performed by the subject.
The object receives the action (if there is one). Not all active sentences have an object.

Passive Voice:

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb. The focus is shifted from the doer (subject) to the receiver (object) of the action.

Form: Subject + auxiliary verb (be) + past participle of verb + (by + agent)

Examples of passive voice sentences:

The mouse was chased by the cat.
- Here, "the mouse" is the subject, but it is not performing the action. Instead, it is receiving the action "was chased", which is done by "the cat".
The lesson was explained by the teacher.
- In this sentence, "the lesson" becomes the subject. The verb "was explained" indicates that the lesson is receiving the action, which is performed by "the teacher".
Dinner was prepared by the chef.
- Here, "dinner" is the subject and receives the action "was prepared". The agent "the chef" who performed the action is mentioned after "by".
Poems are written by her.
- In this example, "poems" is the subject and receives the action "are written". The doer of the action, "her", is introduced with "by".
The park is cleaned by volunteers.
- Here, "the park" is the subject that receives the action "is cleaned", performed by "volunteers".

Key Points to Remember:

The subject in a passive sentence receives the action of the verb.
The auxiliary verb "be" (e.g., is, was, were) is always used along with the past participle of the main verb.
The agent (doer) is optional and introduced with "by". If the agent is obvious or unimportant, it can be omitted.
Passive voice is often used when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus is on the action itself.

Active to Passive Conversion:

To convert an active sentence into a passive one, follow these steps:

Move the object of the active sentence to the subject position.
Use an appropriate form of the verb "to be" based on the tense of the active verb.
Change the main verb into its past participle form.
Optionally, add the doer (agent) using "by."

Examples of Active to Passive Conversion:

Active: "The teacher explains the lesson."
- Passive: "The lesson is explained by the teacher."
- Explanation: The object "the lesson" in the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence. The verb "explains" changes to "is explained" (present tense with "to be" + past participle). The agent "the teacher" is optional but added with "by".
Active: "The dog bit the man."
- Passive: "The man was bitten by the dog."
- Explanation: The object "the man" becomes the subject in the passive form. The verb "bit" changes to "was bitten" (past tense with "to be" + past participle). The agent "the dog" is included using "by".
Active: "The chef prepares dinner every night."
- Passive: "Dinner is prepared by the chef every night."
- Explanation: The object "dinner" in the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive. The verb "prepares" changes to "is prepared" (present tense with "to be" + past participle). The time phrase "every night" remains unchanged.
Active: "She will complete the project."
- Passive: "The project will be completed by her."
- Explanation: The object "the project" becomes the subject. The verb "will complete" changes to "will be completed" (future tense with "to be" + past participle). The agent "her" is introduced with "by".
Active: "They are painting the house."
- Passive: "The house is being painted by them."
- Explanation: The object "the house" becomes the subject. The verb "are painting" changes to "is being painted" (present continuous tense with "to be" + past participle). The agent "them" is added with "by".

When to Use Active and Passive Voice:

The active voice is generally preferred in writing because it is clearer and more direct. The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Active voice is preferred in most situations:
- Example: "The dog bit the man."
Passive voice is used when the action or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer:
- Example: "The man was bitten by the dog."
Use passive voice when the agent (doer) is unknown:
- Example: "The cake was eaten."
Use passive voice for formal or scientific writing:
- Example: "The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis."
Use passive voice to emphasize results or outcomes:
- Example: "Several errors were found during the audit."

Common Mistakes:

Some common mistakes when using passive voice:

Incorrect: "The letter is wrote by him."
- Explanation: The verb "wrote" is the past form, not the past participle. In passive voice, the main verb must be in its past participle form.
- Correct: "The letter is written by him."
Incorrect: "The book is reading by them."
- Explanation: The verb "reading" is in the present participle form, which is incorrect in passive voice. The past participle "read" should be used instead.
- Correct: "The book is read by them."
Incorrect: "The homework was complete by the student."
- Explanation: The verb "complete" is in the base form. In passive voice, the past participle "completed" should be used.
- Correct: "The homework was completed by the student."
Incorrect: "The movie was being watched by we."
- Explanation: The pronoun "we" is incorrectly used in the object form. The correct object pronoun is "us."
- Correct: "The movie was being watched by us."
Incorrect: "Mistakes were make in the report."
- Explanation: The verb "make" is in the base form. In passive voice, the past participle "made" should be used.
- Correct: "Mistakes were made in the report."

Tricks to Identify Active and Passive Voice:

Use these simple tricks to quickly determine whether a sentence is in active or passive voice:

Trick 1: Look for the subject performing the action.
- If the subject is performing the action, the sentence is in the active voice.
- Example:
  - Active: "The dog chased the ball."
    - The subject "dog" performs the action "chased." Hence, it is active.
  - Passive: "The ball was chased by the dog."
    - The subject "ball" receives the action "was chased." Hence, it is passive.
Trick 2: Look for the auxiliary verb "to be."
- Passive sentences often use a form of the verb "to be" (e.g., is, are, was, were) along with the past participle of the main verb.
- Example:
  - Passive: "The cake is baked by the chef."
    - The verb "is baked" indicates passive voice because "is" is a form of "to be."
  - Active: "The chef bakes the cake."
    - No auxiliary "to be" verb is present. Hence, it is active.
Trick 3: Check for the phrase "by + agent."
- Passive sentences often include the phrase "by + agent" to show who is performing the action.
- Example:
  - Passive: "The house was painted by the workers."
    - The phrase "by the workers" indicates passive voice.
  - Active: "The workers painted the house."
    - No "by" phrase is used. Hence, it is active.
Trick 4: Replace the verb with a simple form like "eat."
- If "eat" fits into the sentence structure as "is eaten," it's likely passive.
- Example:
  - Active: "The chef cooked the meal."
    - Replace "cooked" with "eat": "The chef eat the meal" (sounds correct, so it's active).
  - Passive: "The meal was cooked by the chef."
    - Replace "was cooked" with "is eaten": "The meal is eaten by the chef" (fits well, so it's passive).
Trick 5: Focus on the object.
- In passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
- Example:
  - Active: "The teacher gave the student a book."
    - The object "a book" remains an object, so it's active.
  - Passive: "A book was given to the student by the teacher."
    - The object "a book" is now the subject. Hence, it is passive.

Indianism: Commonly Used Words and Phrases to Be Avoided in Formal Language

Indianism refers to words, phrases, or sentence structures influenced by regional languages in India that deviate from standard formal English usage. These are common in casual conversations but should be avoided in professional or academic contexts.

Common Examples of Indianisms:

Here are some phrases or usages that are often considered incorrect or informal:

Use of "revert back"
- Incorrect: Please revert back to me.
- Correct: Please revert to me.
- Explanation: "Revert" already means "to respond," so "back" is redundant.
Use of "prepone"
- Incorrect: Let's prepone the meeting.
- Correct: Let's move the meeting earlier/forward.
- Explanation: "Prepone" is not standard English. You should say "move the meeting earlier" or "reschedule."
Use of "passing out"
- Incorrect: He passed out from college last year.
- Correct: He graduated from college last year.
- Explanation: In English, "pass out" means to faint, while "graduate" refers to completing a course of study.
Use of "only" for emphasis
- Incorrect: I will do it like this only.
- Correct: I will do it like this.
- Explanation: Adding "only" in this context is unnecessary and incorrect.
Use of "out of station"
- Incorrect: I am out of station for a week.
- Correct: I am out of town for a week.
- Explanation: "Out of station" is a literal translation from Indian languages; "out of town" is the proper English phrase.
"Discuss about"
- Incorrect: Let’s discuss about the project.
- Correct: Let’s discuss the project.
- Explanation: "Discuss" already means to talk about something, so "about" is redundant.
"Do the needful"
- Incorrect: Please do the needful.
- Correct: Please take the necessary action.
- Explanation: "Do the needful" is an outdated phrase; it's clearer to say "take the necessary action" or "please address this."
Using "redundant" expressions like "with regards to"
- Incorrect: With regards to your email.
- Correct: Regarding your email.
- Explanation: "Regarding" is more concise and correct.
Use of "pass out" for alcohol consumption
- Incorrect: He passed out after drinking too much alcohol.
- Correct: He blacked out after drinking too much alcohol.
- Explanation: "Passed out" usually means fainting or losing consciousness, but when referring to the effects of alcohol, "blacked out" is more accurate.
Use of "kindly" excessively
- Incorrect: Kindly let me know if you are available.
- Correct: Please let me know if you are available.
- Explanation: "Kindly" can sound overly formal or old-fashioned. "Please" is more commonly used in modern English.
Use of "backside" for location
- Incorrect: The park is at the backside of the house.
- Correct: The park is behind the house.
- Explanation: "Backside" refers to a person's rear. For location, use "behind."
Using "order for" instead of "order"
- Incorrect: I would like to order for a coffee.
- Correct: I would like to order a coffee.
- Explanation: "Order" doesn’t need "for"; it’s already implied.
Use of "today morning" or "yesterday night"
- Incorrect: I saw him today morning.
- Correct: I saw him this morning.
- Explanation: "This morning" is the correct phrase. Similarly, it should be "last night," not "yesterday night."
Use of "cousin brother" or "cousin sister"
- Incorrect: My cousin brother lives in Delhi.
- Correct: My cousin lives in Delhi.
- Explanation: In English, "cousin" already implies a relative, so adding "brother" or "sister" is unnecessary.
Use of "off the light"
- Incorrect: Please off the light.
- Correct: Please turn off the light.
- Explanation: "Off" isn’t a verb. You should use "turn off" when referring to lights or appliances.
Use of "years back"
- Incorrect: He moved here 5 years back.
- Correct: He moved here 5 years ago.
- Explanation: "Ago" is the correct word for expressing past time, not "back."
Use of "order for a meal"
- Incorrect: I’ll order for a meal online.
- Correct: I’ll order a meal online.
- Explanation: The phrase "for" is redundant here.
Use of "myself" as the subject
- Incorrect: Myself John, and I’m calling from ABC company.
- Correct: I am John, and I’m calling from ABC company.
- Explanation: "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun and should not be used as the subject of a sentence. Use "I am" or just "I."
Use of "one of my friend"
- Incorrect: One of my friend is coming tomorrow.
- Correct: One of my friends is coming tomorrow.
- Explanation: After "one of," use the plural form of the noun (friends) because you’re referring to one person from a group.
Saying "What's your good name?"
- Incorrect: What is your good name?
- Correct: What is your name?
- Explanation: "Good name" is an Indianism. In English, you simply ask for someone's name.
Using "too much" instead of "very"
- Incorrect: She is too much beautiful.
- Correct: She is very beautiful.
- Explanation: "Too much" implies excess in a negative sense, while "very" is used for emphasis in a positive sense.
Using "by-hearted" instead of "memorized"
- Incorrect: I by-hearted the poem.
- Correct: I memorized the poem.
- Explanation: "By-hearted" is not correct English. "Memorized" is the right term when you learn something by memory.
Using "as per your wish" instead of "as you wish"
- Incorrect: I’ll do it as per your wish.
- Correct: I’ll do it as you wish.
- Explanation: "As you wish" is the proper idiomatic expression. "As per your wish" is overly formal and awkward.
Using "put a mail" instead of "send an email"
- Incorrect: I’ll put a mail to him.
- Correct: I’ll send him an email.
- Explanation: You "send" emails, not "put" them.
Using "reply back" instead of "reply"
- Incorrect: Please reply back to me soon.
- Correct: Please reply to me soon.
- Explanation: "Reply" already means to respond, so "back" is unnecessary.
Using "open the TV" instead of "turn on the TV"
- Incorrect: Can you open the TV?
- Correct: Can you turn on the TV?
- Explanation: You "turn on" electronic devices, not "open" them.
Using "I am having" for possession
- Incorrect: I am having a car.
- Correct: I have a car.
- Explanation: "Having" is used for ongoing actions, while "have" is used to show possession.
Using "do mistake" instead of "make a mistake"
- Incorrect: He did a mistake in the test.
- Correct: He made a mistake in the test.
- Explanation: You "make" a mistake, not "do" one.
Using "big big" or "small small" for emphasis
- Incorrect: I saw big big houses there.
- Correct: I saw very big houses there.
- Explanation: Repeating adjectives like "big big" is an Indianism. Instead, use "very" or another qualifier.
Using "donate blood" when offering help
- Incorrect: I will donate blood.
- Correct: I will give blood.
- Explanation: "Donate" is used when you give something permanently, while "give" is the correct verb in this medical context.
Using "keep the phone" instead of "hang up the phone"
- Incorrect: Please keep the phone after talking.
- Correct: Please hang up the phone after talking.
- Explanation: "Hang up" is the proper term for ending a phone call.
Using "out of syllabus" instead of "not in the syllabus"
- Incorrect: This question is out of syllabus.
- Correct: This question is not in the syllabus.
- Explanation: The correct expression is "not in the syllabus" or "outside the syllabus."
Using "time pass" instead of "passing time"
- Incorrect: We are doing time pass.
- Correct: We are just passing time.
- Explanation: "Time pass" is an Indianism; the correct phrase in English is "passing time" or "killing time."
Using "cent percent" instead of "100 percent"
- Incorrect: He scored cent percent on the test.
- Correct: He scored 100 percent on the test.
- Explanation: "Cent percent" is an Indianism, while "100 percent" is the correct form.
Using "upgradation" instead of "upgrade"
- Incorrect: We are working on the upgradation of the system.
- Correct: We are working on the upgrade of the system.
- Explanation: "Upgradation" is not standard English. Use "upgrade" instead.
Using "good self" instead of "you"
- Incorrect: How is your good self?
- Correct: How are you?
- Explanation: "Good self" is an overly formal expression and unnecessary. Simply use "you."
Using "today itself" for emphasis
- Incorrect: I’ll send the document today itself.
- Correct: I’ll send the document today.
- Explanation: Adding "itself" for emphasis is unnecessary and incorrect in English.
Using "close the fan" instead of "turn off the fan"
- Incorrect: Please close the fan.
- Correct: Please turn off the fan.
- Explanation: You "turn off" appliances like fans, not "close" them.
Using "same to you" as a greeting reply
- Incorrect: Happy birthday! Same to you!
- Correct: Happy birthday! (No need to say "same to you" unless the greeting applies to both people.)
- Explanation: "Same to you" is only used when the same greeting or wish applies to both people (e.g., "Happy New Year"). For unique situations, just acknowledge the greeting.
Using "loose" instead of "lose"
- Incorrect: Don’t loose your keys.
- Correct: Don’t lose your keys.
- Explanation: "Loose" means not tight, while "lose" refers to misplacing something.
Using "furnitures" instead of "furniture"
- Incorrect: I bought new furnitures for the house.
- Correct: I bought new furniture for the house.
- Explanation: "Furniture" is an uncountable noun, so it doesn't take a plural form.
Using "passed away" for inanimate objects
- Incorrect: My phone passed away yesterday.
- Correct: My phone stopped working yesterday.
- Explanation: "Passed away" is used only for people or animals who die. For objects, say "stopped working" or "broke."
Using "years completed" instead of "years old"
- Incorrect: He is 5 years completed.
- Correct: He is 5 years old.
- Explanation: "Years old" is the correct term for age, not "years completed."
Using "shifted" instead of "moved"
- Incorrect: We shifted to a new house last week.
- Correct: We moved to a new house last week.
- Explanation: "Shifted" refers to changing position or adjusting something, while "moved" is the correct verb for relocating to a new place.
Using "on tomorrow" instead of "tomorrow"
- Incorrect: I will meet you on tomorrow.
- Correct: I will meet you tomorrow.
- Explanation: "Tomorrow" doesn't require the preposition "on." It stands alone.
Using "each and every" together
- Incorrect: I checked each and every item.
- Correct: I checked every item.
- Explanation: "Each" and "every" both imply completeness, so using them together is redundant. Choose one or the other.

Why Avoid Indianisms?

Using Indianisms can lead to miscommunication and may come across as unprofessional or non-standard in global interactions. Avoiding these ensures clarity and adherence to formal English norms.

Tips to Avoid Indianisms:

Learn standard English equivalents of common phrases.
Practice formal writing and speaking with native or global English references.
Read professional content, such as newspapers or articles written in standard English.