20 SIMPLE GRAMMAR RULES YOU SHOULD KNOW
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1. Use active voice for clarity
- Weak: The report was written by me.
- Better: I wrote the report.
2. Its vs. It’s
- Its = possessive; It’s = it is.
- Example: It’s raining, so grab its cover.
3. Your vs. You’re
- Your = possession; You’re = you are.
- Example: You’re amazing at your job.
4. Fewer vs. Less
- Fewer = countable; Less = uncountable.
- Example: Fewer people, less noise.
5. Who vs. Whom
- Who = subject; Whom = object.
- Example: Who called? / Whom did you call?

6. That vs. Which
- That = essential info; Which = extra info (use commas).
- Example: The book that I bought is great. The book, which was pricey, is great.
7. Me vs. I
- Use I as subject; me as object.
- Example: Sara and I went. They invited Sara and me.
8. Because of vs. Due to
- Because of = reason; due to = after be-verb.
- Example: We stayed in because of the storm. The delay was due to traffic.
9. Use the Oxford comma to avoid confusion
- Example: I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty.
10. Parallel structure in lists
- Wrong: She likes hiking, to swim, and biking.
- Right: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.

11. Avoid double negatives
- Wrong: I don’t need no help.
- Right: I don’t need any help.
12. Since/For with present perfect
- Example: I have lived here since 2019. I’ve worked here for three years.
13. Fewer wordy fillers
- Wordy: Due to the fact that…
- Better: Because…
14. Hyphenate compound adjectives before nouns
- Example: A well-known author; a five-minute break.
15. Use “such as” for examples (not “like”)
- Example: I enjoy activities such as hiking and cycling.

16. “Only” placement changes meaning
- Example: Only I said she could go. I only said she could go.
17. Avoid comma splices
- Wrong: I was tired, I went home.
- Fix: I was tired, so I went home. / I was tired; I went home.
18. Use “fewer than” with numbers; “under” for position
- Example: Fewer than 10 people came; the cat is under the table.
19. Replace “very + adjective” with a stronger word
- Example: very tired → exhausted; very small → tiny.
20. Keep tenses consistent
- Wrong: He enters, looked around, and leaves.
- Right: He enters, looks around, and leaves.

Photo from Shailesh Ramanuj

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English World 3
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Subject Verb Agreement Exercise
===========================
Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.

1.The manager along with his secretary ............................ present in the conference room.
was
were

2. Neither Shailesh nor Mukesh ............................... present at the hearing.
was
were

3. Thousand dollars ............................. not a small sum.
is
are
have

4. Nirali as well as Priya ............................. there.
was
were

5. Neither you nor I ........................... responsible for this.
is
are
am

6. He neither ............................. his money nor ............................. it.
spends, donates
spend, donate
spent, donate
spent, donates

7. Any increase in the price of essential commodities ............................... in inflation.
result
results

8. Our team ............................... likely to win.
is
are

9. My family ............................... of my parents, my husband and my children.
consist
consists

10. The audience .............................. enthralled by the performance.
was
were

11. Young children ............................... their parents.
imitate
imitates

12. The baby ............................. startled by the loud sound.
was
were

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🟢Answers🟢

1.The manager along with his secretary was present in the conference room.
2 Neither Shailesh nor Mukesh was present at the hearing.
3. Thousand dollars is not a small sum.
4. Nirali as well as Priya was there.
5. Neither you nor I am responsible for this.
6. He neither spends his money nor donates it.

7. Any increase in the price of essential commodities results in inflation.
8. Our team is likely to win.
9. My family consists of my parents, my husband and my children.
10. The audience was enthralled by the performance.
11. Young children imitate their parents.
12. The baby was startled by the loud sound.
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