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Chapter 04 of 10

English: Grammar Essentials

Tenses, Voice, Narration, Subject-Verb Agreement โ€” bank exam focused grammar

๐Ÿ“Œ Tenses โ€” Quick Revision

TenseStructureSignal Words
Simple PresentS + V1/V5always, usually, every day
Present ContinuousS + am/is/are + V-ingnow, at present, currently
Present PerfectS + have/has + V3already, just, yet, since, for
Simple PastS + V2yesterday, ago, last, in 2020
Past PerfectS + had + V3before, after, by the time
Simple FutureS + will + V1tomorrow, next, soon
๐Ÿ’ก Bank Exam Most Asked
  • Since vs For: since โ†’ point of time (since 2020), for โ†’ period of time (for 5 years)
  • Stative verbs: know, believe, want, love โ€” NO continuous tense
  • If-clause: No "will" in if-clause โ†’ "If I go" (not "If I will go")

๐Ÿ“Œ Voice Change โ€” Quick Rules

Active TensePassive Structure
Simple Present: S + V1 + OO + am/is/are + V3 + by S
Simple Past: S + V2 + OO + was/were + V3 + by S
Present Perfect: S + have/has + V3 + OO + have/has + been + V3 + by S
Modal: S + modal + V1 + OO + modal + be + V3 + by S

๐Ÿ“Œ Narration Change

๐Ÿ’ก S-O-N Rule for Pronouns
  • S = 1st person โ†’ reporting subject
  • O = 2nd person โ†’ reporting object
  • N = 3rd person โ†’ no change
Direct SpeechIndirect Speech
say / say totell
is/am/arewas/were
willwould
cancould
nowthen
todaythat day
yesterdaythe previous day
tomorrowthe next day
thisthat
herethere

๐Ÿ“Œ Subject-Verb Agreement โ€” Top Rules

  1. Each / Every / Either / Neither โ†’ singular verb
  2. A number of โ†’ plural verb | The number of โ†’ singular verb
  3. Neitherโ€ฆnor / Eitherโ€ฆor โ†’ verb agrees with nearer subject
  4. Collective nouns (committee, team) โ†’ singular when acting as one
  5. Uncountable nouns (news, physics, economics) โ†’ singular verb

๐Ÿ“Œ Common Errors in Bank Exams

Wrong โœ—Correct โœ“
He suggested me to goHe suggested that I go
I am knowing himI know him
One of the boys are absentOne of the boys is absent
He is more betterHe is better
I have wentI have gone
Return back the bookReturn the book
๐Ÿง  Exam Strategy

Bank exams repeat the same error types: SVA โ†’ Tense โ†’ Voice โ†’ Redundancy โ†’ Preposition. Check each in order for every sentence correction question!

โœ… Quick Check
Test your understanding
1. "Each of the students ___ present." โ€” Choose the correct verb:
๐Ÿ’ก "Each" always takes a singular verb โ†’ "was".
2. The passive of "They are building a bridge" is:
๐Ÿ’ก Present Continuous passive = is/are + being + V3 โ†’ "A bridge is being built by them."
3. He said, "I am going." โ€” Indirect speech:
๐Ÿ’ก Tense backshift: "am going" โ†’ "was going". Pronoun: "I" โ†’ "he" (S-rule). Answer: He said that he was going.
4. Which sentence is correct?
๐Ÿ’ก "for" + period of time (five years). Present Perfect Continuous is correct for ongoing actions with duration.
5. "The news ___ shocking." โ€” Fill in:
๐Ÿ’ก "News" is an uncountable noun โ€” always takes a singular verb โ†’ "is".
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