120 Grammar Rules � Part 5: Superfluous Errors, Verb Forms & Comparisons (Rules 97�120)

Rule 97: More Superfluous Sentence Errors

• ? As soon as I complete the work than I will go. ? ? As soon as I complete the work, I will go.
• ? No sooner had I started mowing than it started raining. ("than" goes with "No sooner")
• ? As he was unwell, so he didn't come. ? ? As he was unwell, he didn't come.
• ? Due to the reason that he is not well... ? ? He did not come due to sickness.

Rule 98: "Quantity" � Use "Small" (Not "Little" or "Few")

• ? Little quantity of food was wasted.
• ? Few quantity of food was wasted.
• ? Small quantity of food was wasted.

Rule 99: Confusing Verb Forms

• ? The water overflown from the banks. ? ? The water overflowed.
• ? He has found this organization. ? ? He has founded this organization.
• ? The prisoner was hanged till death.
• ? The clock was hung on the wall.

Rule 100: Three Forms of "Lie"

• ? She lied to her parents about her new car. (told untruth)
• ? She laid the baby on the bed. (put down)
• ? A pen lay on the desk. (was in horizontal position)

Rule 101: "Die of" (Disease) vs "Die from" (Reason)

• ? He died of cancer. (disease)
• ? He died of tuberculosis. (disease)
• ? She died from overwork. (reason)
• ? Trees are dying from acid rain. (reason)

Rule 102: "Beside" (Next to) vs "Besides" (In Addition)

• Beside = preposition = at the side of, next to
• Besides = linking adverb = in addition to, also

• ? Come and sit here beside me. (next to)
• ? Do you play any other sports besides basketball? (in addition to)
• ? Besides being a doctor, he is also an actor.

Rule 103: Words Like "Friendly", "Monthly" � Adjectives Only

Words like friendly, miserly, cowardly, monthly, yearly, weekly, manly, orderly are adjectives. They CANNOT be used as adverbs.

• ? He behaved friendly. (used as adverb � wrong)
• ? He behaved in a friendly manner. (adjective � correct)
• ? There was a weekly dance on Wednesdays. (adjective)

Rules 104 & 105: Position of Adverbs

Rule 104: An adverb can NEVER be placed between the main verb and its object.

• ? He comes often to my house. ? ? He often comes to my house.
• ? He tells always the truth. ? ? He always tells the truth.

Rule 105: Multiple adverbs follow the MPT order: Manner ? Place ? Time

• ? I walked yesterday slowly.
• ? I walked slowly (manner) yesterday (time).
• ? I have to run quickly (M) down the street (P) each morning (T).

Rule 106: "Very" vs "Much"

• "Very" ? with positive degree & present participle
• "Much" ? with comparative degree & past participle

• ? It is very interesting. (positive degree)
• ? He is much weaker than Shyam. (comparative)
• ? He is much interested in the project. (past participle)
• ? The girl is very beautiful.

Rule 107: "Between�And" (Not "Between�To")

• ? He will distribute sweets between 4 pm to 5 pm.
• ? He will distribute sweets between 4 pm and 5 pm.
• ? He will distribute sweets from 4 pm to 5 pm. (alternative)

Rule 108: Uncountable Nouns with "s" � Different Meaning

Some uncountable nouns gain a different meaning when "s/es" is added:

Rule 109: Common Naming Errors

• ? I am an English teacher. ? ? I am a teacher of English.
• ? Family members. ? ? Members of the family.
• ? Mathematics teacher. ? ? Teacher of Mathematics.

Important notes:

• ? "pickpocketer" ? ? "pickpocket"
• ? "cousin brother/sister" ? ? "cousin"
• ? "passing marks" ? ? "pass marks"
• ? "dressing sense" ? ? "dress sense"
• "Innings" is always singular (no "inning")
• "Goodnight" = parting; "Good evening" = meeting salutation

Rule 110: Possessive Adjectives � "One's" vs "His/Her"

Use "one's" when the subject is "One". Use "his/her" when subject is "Every/Each".

• ? Everyone should do one's duty. ? ? Everyone should do his duty.
• ? One should do his duty. ? ? One should do one's duty.
• ? Every girl should do her duty. (gender clear ? her)

Rule 111: "Fewer" (Countable) vs "Less" (Uncountable)

• ? No less than 50 students completed the work.
• ? No fewer than 50 students completed the work. (students = countable)
• ? There is no less than five litres of water in the vessel. (water = uncountable)

Rule 112: "Elder" (Family) vs "Older" (Non-Family)

• Elder ? used for family members
• Older ? used for non-family

• ? My friend is elder than me. ? ? My friend is older than me.
• ? The elder son of King John was nine.

Related Differences:

• Later = time ("call me later") | Latter = second of two ("the latter option")
• Farther = more distant | Further = additional
• Nearest = space/distance | Next = order/position
• Latest = most recent (time) | Last = final (order)
• Less = smaller in size/amount | Lesser = not as great

Rule 113: Comparisons Must Be on Common Grounds

• ? The weather of Delhi is far better than Mumbai. (comparing weather with city!)
• ? The weather of Delhi is far better than that of Mumbai.
• ? The apples of Shimla are tastier than Ooty.
• ? The apples of Shimla are tastier than those of Ooty.

Rule 114: "One of the / Either of / Neither of / Each of" + Plural Noun

• ? One of the student was selected. ? ? One of the students was selected.
• ? Either of the light bulb. ? ? Either of the light bulbs.
• ? Do you go to each of the meetings?

Rule 115: "But/Except/Between" as Preposition ? Objective Case

• ? There is friendship between you and I.
• ? There is friendship between you and me.
• ? All but he are going. ? ? All but him are going.
• ? Let he do the work. ? ? Let him do the work.

Rule 116: Pseudo Subject ? Pronoun in Subjective Case

After pseudo subject "It", use subjective case (I, he, she, we, they) � NOT objective case.

• ? It is him who should be blamed. ? ? It is he who should be blamed.
• ? It is us who have defeated the champion. ? ? It is we who have defeated the champion.
• ? It is me who am guilty. ? ? It is I who am guilty.

Rule 117: "Such�As" (Not "Such�That")

When "such" is a determiner, use "as" as connector. "Else" ? "but". "Other" ? "than".

• ? He is such a person that you mentioned.
• ? He is such a person as you mentioned.
• ? They want nothing else but their honor and dignity.

Rule 118: Apostrophe with Plural Nouns � Avoid Hissing Sound

Don't add 's after plurals ending in "s" � use only apostrophe (') to avoid hissing sound.

• ? Government girls's school.
• ? Government girls' school.
• ? Jesus' sake | For peace' sake
• ? Pythagoras' theorem

Exception: "else's" is correct despite the hissing sound.

Rule 119: No Apostrophe ('s) with Pronouns

Pronouns already show possession � they DON'T need apostrophe.

• ? Your's friendly. ? ? Yours friendly.
• ? The kids are yours and mine.
• ? The ring is hers.
• ? The bag is theirs.
• ? We shall finally have what is rightfully ours.

Rule 120: Words Never Followed by a Noun

These words are NEVER directly followed by a noun: afraid, asleep, due, ready, unable, alike, aware, glad, sorry, well, alone, ill, sure, worth

• ? We were unable to contact him at the time.
• ? The army is said to be ready for action.
• ? I am glad to know the parcel arrived safely.
• ? He likes being alone in the house.
• ? Your painting has come out really well.

?? Congratulations! You've covered all 120 Grammar Rules!

You've now completed the entire 120 Grammar Rules series � all 5 parts. These rules cover the most commonly tested grammar concepts in Bank (IBPS, SBI), SSC, and other competitive exams.

Quick Links to All Parts:

• Part 1: Rules 1�24 � Pronouns, Nouns & Subject-Verb Agreement
• Part 2: Rules 25�48 � Tenses, Narration & Degree of Comparison
• Part 3: Rules 49�72 � Prepositions, Articles & Common Confusions
• Part 4: Rules 73�96 � Question Tags, Parallelism & Advanced Usage
• Part 5: Rules 97�120 � Superfluous Errors, Verb Forms & Comparisons

Practice these rules daily on Ikkish Prep to build speed and accuracy!