One must finish one's task in time
 
 Be it a competitive examination for the sake of acquiring a job or an examination for the sake of getting an admission in a course, the role of English cannot be ignored. English plays a key role in the process of getting through the examination. Competence in English has almost become a key to success. Depending on the type of exam that one is taking the preparation should be done, as different exams have different parts and patterns.
 
 It is very much essential to first get familiarized with the syllabus prescribed for the exam that one has to take and start their preparation. A planned approach is essential in order to answer the questions in the English section. A good grammar book will be of great guidance in order to make one understand the rules pertaining to the grammar. The general English questions for the DEECET exam are based on the topics such as:
  
  1.    Spotting the Errors
  2.    Grammar
  3.    Vocabulary
  4.    Synonyms/Antonyms
  5.    Comprehension passage
  6.    Sentence completion
  7.    Filling in the blanks
  8.    Use of prepositions, idioms/ phrases
  9.    Test of spellings
  10.    Re-arranging jumbled sentences, etc.
  
  Spotting Errors
  Spotting errors is a common test and forms a part of almost all important examinations that have Objective English test on their syllabi. It requires an awareness of the basic rules of grammar - parts of speech, genders, infinitives, participles, subject - verb accord, form of tenses, use of articles and certain exceptional usages. Let us study a few of these topics to know the guidelines pertaining to various sections.
  
  Rules for usage of Nouns:
  1.    Some nouns are singular in form, but they are used as plural nouns and always take a plural verb. Cattle, gentry, vermin, peasantry, artillery, people, clergy, company, police, etc.
      Example: The police is controlling the mob. (Incorrect)
      The police are controlling the mob. (Correct)
  
  2.    Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a pl-ural verb. Trousers, scissors, sp-ectacles, stockings, shorts, measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks, tidings, annals, chattels, etc.
      Example: Where is my scissors? (Incorrect)
      Where are my scissors? (Correct)
  
  3.    There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money, weight or number. When they are preceded by a numeral, they remain unchanged in form. Foot, metre, pair, score, dozen, head, year, hundred, thousand, million
      Example: It is a five - years integrated course (Incorrect)
      It is a five - year integrated course (Correct)
  
  4.    Collective nouns such as jury, public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, etc. are used both as singular and plural depending on the meaning. When these words indicate a unit, the verb is singular; otherwise the verb will be plural.
      Example: The jury was divided in this case. (Incorrect)
      The jury were divided in this case. (Correct)
  
  5.    'One of' always takes a plural noun after it.
      Example: It is one of the important event in my life. (Incorrect)
      It is one of the important events in my life. (Correct)
  
  Errors in use of Pronouns:
  1.    A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
      Example: Every man must bring his luggage.
       All students must do their home work.
       Each of the girls must carry her own bag.
 
  2.    The pronoun 'one' must be followed by 'one's'.
      Example: One must finish his task in time. (Incorrect)
      One must finish one's task in time. (Correct)
 
  3.    'Whose' is used for living persons and 'which' for lifeless objects.
      Example: Which photograph is lying here? (Incorrect)
      Whose photograph is lying there? (Correct)
 
  4.    When a pronoun comes after 'like' and 'unlike' it takes an objective case.
      Example: A man like I will not do it. (Incorrect)
       A man like me will not do it. (Correct)
  
  5.    A pronoun takes an objective case after 'let'.
      Example: Let I do it. (Incorrect)
       Let me do it. (Correct)
  
  6.    Pronouns joined by 'and' remain in the same case.
      Example: He and her are brother and sister. (Incorrect)
      He and she are brother and sister. (Correct)
      He and me are friends.(Incorrect)
      He and I are friends. (Correct)
  
  7.    When pronouns of second person and third person are used as subjects, the pronoun following them will be according to the second person pronoun.
      Example: You and he must bring his books (Incorrect)
      You and he must bring your books. (Correct)
  
  8.    When pronouns of second person and first person are used as subjects, the pronoun following them will be first person plural form.
      Example: You and I must finish your work in time. (Incorrect)
      You and I must finish our work in time. (Correct)
  
  9.    The relative pronoun 'that' is used in preference to 'who' or 'which' after adjectives in the superlative degree.
      Example: The wisest man who ever lived made mistakes. (Incorrect)
      The wisest man that ever lived made mistakes (Correct)
      This is the best which we can do (Incorrect)
      This is the best that we can do. (Correct)
  
  10.    When there are two antecedents, a man and an animal or two things before the relative pronoun, we should use 'that'.
      Example: The man and his dog which passed through this road were killed. (Incorrect)
      The man and his dog that passed through this road were killed. (Correct)
  
  11.    The case of the noun or pronoun preceding or succeeding the verb 'to be' should be the same.
      Example: It is him who came to see us. (Incorrect)
      It is he who came to see us. (Correct)
      It is me who caught the thief. (Incorrect)
      It is I who caught the thief. (Correct)
  
  Agreement of the subject and the verb:
  The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
  
  1.    'More than one' indicates a plural sense, but it is treated as a sort of compound of one. Thus it agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb.
      Example: More than one employees were killed in the accident. (Incorrect)
  
      More than one employee was killed in the accident. (Correct)
  2.    Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.
      Example:Ram or Prem are arriving by flight today. (Incorrect)
      Ram or Prem is arriving by flight today. (Correct)
  
  3.    Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor takes a singular verb.
      Example: Neither Sasi nor Raasi are available. (Incorrect)
      Neither Sasi nor Raasi is available. (Correct)
  
  4.    When I is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it second and follow it with the singular verb am.
      Example: Neither she nor I are going to the hostel. (Incorrect)
      Neither she nor I am going to the hostel. (Correct)
  
  5.    When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
      Example: The serving bowl or the plates goes on that shelf. (Incorrect)
      The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf. (Correct)
  
  6.    When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
      Example:Neither Shyam nor the others is available. (Incorrect)
      Neither Shyam nor the others are available. (Correct)
  
  7.    As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.
      Example: A car and a bike is my means of transportation. (Incorrect)
      A car and a bike are my means of transportation. (Correct)
  
  8.    Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besi-des, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.
      Example: The politician, along with the newsmen, are expected shortly. (Incorrect)
  
      The politician along with the newsmen, is expected shortly. (Correct)
  9.    The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.
      Example: Each of the girls dance well. (Incorrect)
      Each of the girls dances well. (Correct)
  
  10.    With words that indicate portions-percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, and so forth -look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
 Example: One-third of the city are unemployed. (Incorrect)
 One-third of the city is unemployed. (Correct)
  
  11.    The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while the expression a number is followed by a plural verb.
      Example: The number of people we need to hire are thirteen. (Incorrect)
      The number of people we need to hire is thirteen. (Correct)
      A number of people has written in about this subject. (Incorrect)
      A number of people have written in about this subject. (Correct)
  
  12.    When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.
      Example: Neither of them are available to speak right now. (Incorrect)
      Neither of them is available to speak right now. (Correct)
      Either of us are capable of doing the job. (Incorrect)
      Either of us is capable of doing the job. (Correct)
  
  13.    The words here and there have generally been labeled as adverbs even though they indicate place. In sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb.
      Example: There are four hurdles to jump.