Each of the two boys will get a prize

In the last session we have seen a few tips. Let us study a few more basics in this session to become more adept in answering the questions pertaining to various sections.

• The relative pronoun 'who' is used for persons only.
  Ex: The man who is honest succeeds in his life.
  
• 'Which', is used for animals and for things without life.
  Ex: The horse which Sujith bought last year is white.
  The moment which is lost is lost forever.
  
• 'That', is used for persons, animals and things.
  Ex: This is the house that Jane built.
  The man that you are looking for has come.
  This is the horse that carried me here.
  
• 'What' refers to things only. Its antecedent is always hidden.
  Ex: This is what I want.
  
• The word 'as' is used as a relative pronoun after such and sometimes after the same.
  Ex: This is not such a good book as I expected.
  My answer is the same as yours.
  
• The word 'but' after a negative is equivalent to who not or which not, but it is used only in nominative.
  Ex: There was no one present but shed tears
  
• Gerund if preceded by a pronoun that Pronoun must be in Possessive case.
  Ex: He emphasized me going there. (Incorrect)
  He emphasized my going there. (Correct)
  
• A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.
  Ex: They were punished for come late. (Incorrect)
  They were punished for coming late. (Correct)
  
• When the subordinate clause comes after 'lest', the auxiliary Verb 'should' must be used, whatever be the tense of the verb in the main clause.
  Ex: We start early lest we shall miss the bus. (Incorrect)
  We start early lest we should miss the bus. (Correct)
  
• An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between 'to' and verbal part of the infinitive.
  Ex: I hoped to immediately reply to your letter. (Incorrect)
  I hoped to reply immediately to your letter. (Correct)
  
• Adjectives of quantity show how much of a thing is meant. Adjectives of quantity (some; much, little, enough, all, no, any, great, half, sufficient, whole) are used for Uncountable Nouns only.
  Ex: I ate a few rice. (Incorrect)
  I ate some rice. (Correct)
  
• Numeral Adjectives are used for Countable Nouns only and they show how many persons or things are meant or in what order a person or thing stands.
  Ex: I have taught you little things. (Incorrect)
  I have taught you a few things. (Correct)
  
• When cardinal and ordinal are used together ordinal precedes the cardinal.
  Ex: The five first girls will be given the chance. (Incorrect)
  The first five girls will be given the chance. (Correct)
  
• Later, latest refer to time, latter and last refer to position.
  Ex: I reached at 11 am. But he was latter than I expected. (Incorrect)
  I reached at 11 am. But he was later than I expected. (Correct)
  
• Farther means more distant or advanced; further means additional.
  Ex: He insisted on farther improvement. (Incorrect)
  He insisted on further improvement. (Correct)
  
• Each is used in speaking of two or more things, every is used only in speaking of more than two.
  Ex: Every of the two boys will get a prize. (Incorrect)
  Each of the two boys will get a prize. (Correct)
  
• To express quantity or degree some is used in affirmative sentences, any in negative or interrogative sentences.
  Ex: Have you bought some apples? (Incorrect)
  Have you bought any apples? (Correct)
  
• In comparing two things, the Comparative should be used; the Superlative should not be used.
  Ex: Which is the best of the two? (Incorrect)
  Which is the better of the two? (Correct)
  
• When two qualities of the same person or thing are compared, the Comparative in '-er' is not used. 'More' is used for this purpose.
  Ex: He is wiser than brave. (Incorrect)
  He is more wise than brave. (Correct)
  
• When comparison is made by means of a comparative, the thing compared should be excluded from the class of things with which it is compared by using 'other' or some such word.
  Ex: He is cleverer than any boy in the class. (Incorrect)
  He is cleverer than any other boy in the class. (Correct)
  
• When comparison is made by means of a superlative, the thing compared should include the class of things with which it is compared.
  Ex: He is the strongest of all other men. (Incorrect)
  He is the strongest of all men. (Correct)
  
• When two persons or things are compared, it is important that the same parts of things should be compared.
  Ex: The population of Mumbai is greater than Calcutta. (Incorrect)
  The population of Mumbai is greater than that of Calciutta. (Correct)
  
• Double comparatives and superlatives should not be used.
  Ex: He is the most cleverest boy in the class. (Incorrect)
  He is the cleverest boy in the class. (Correct)
  
• The comparative Adjectives superior inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior prefer, etc., should be followed by 'to' instead of 'than'.
  Ex: He is senior than me. (Incorrect)
  He is senior to me. (Correct)
  

Practice test

1. Even though some possess (1)/ the flexibility to change their opinions, (2)/ most people vary (3)/ in his or her willingness to listen to reason.(4)/ No error (5)
2. For the robber trying to decide (1)/ between getaway cars (2)/ every car up for consideration (3)/ pose their own set of problems. (4)/ No error (5)
3. Her and her family members (1)/ like to stay in a hotel room (2)/ and play board games (3)/ whenever they take a trip. (4)/ No error (5)
4. There is usually an atmosphere (1)/ of heated competition surrounding (2)/ Raju and I, especially (3)/ when we compete for the final exams. (4)/ No error (5)
5. When it comes to me (1)/ studying for the IBPS, (2)/ 'concentration' is my (3)/ middle name. (4)/ No error (5)
6. When one first begins to play tennis (1)/ it's important to work (2)/ on your serve (3)/ and wield your racket well. (4)/ No error (5)
7. If we cannot effect these changes (1)/ we shall suffer from the fate (2)/ of the dinosaurs who (3)/ could not live on dry land. (4)/ No error (5)
8. I'm fatter than his, (1)/ which is good, (2)/ because it means that (3)/ I will win this wrestling match. (4)/ No error (5)
9. Jason is a (1)/ better archer (2)/ than (3)/ them. (4)/ No error (5)
10. Even though Jane created a petition (1)/ to protest the election (2)/ of a criminal, (3)/ there is many people who refused to sign. (4)/ No error (5)
11. Atop my ice cream, (1)/ a mass of (2)/ whipped and sprinkles (3)/ sits two cherries. (4)/ No error (5)
12. Neither (1)/ preserved Juice (2)/ nor Salad measure (3)/ up to fresh fruits. (4)/ No error (5)
13. Nobody, (1)/ not even me (2)/ are excited (3)/ about the weekend. (4)/ No error (5)
14. On Saturday afternoon, (1)/ I laid in (2)/ the sun for an hour, (3)/ working on my tan. (4)/ No error (5)
15. At swimming pools (1)/ this summer, (2)/ the heat will have brought (3)/ hundreds of people to bathe in tepid chlorine. (4)/ No error (5)
16. If I was queen,(1)/ I would (2)/ never have to (3)/ study for any test. (4)/ No error (5)
17. Pam never liked (1)/ eating pork, (2)/ drinking wine, or to go (3)/ to a cock tail party. (4)/ No error (5)
18. There was a (1)/ time when people (2)/ described Africa like (3)/ a dark continent. (4)/ No error (5)
19. This paper's (1)/ going pretty good, (2)/ although I am not sure (3)/ I'll be done on time. (4)/ No error (5)
20. No matter (1)/ how careful kites (2)/ are flown, (3)/ they often get tangled in trees. (4)/ No error (5)
21. The fascinating (1)/ TV special shows how (2)/ quick the hungry tiger (3)/ can devour her prey. (4)/ No error (5)
22. Of the (1)/ two cars I drive, (2)/ I like the (3)/ Chevrolet the best. (4)/ No error (5)
23. In my family, (1)/ Scrabble usually causes two or more (2)/ family members to engage in a screaming match, (3)/ thus preventing the game to be completed. (4)/ No error (5)
24. Jane recently(1)/moved to(2)/a brand new (3)/apartment in 10th street.(4)/No error(5)
25. While the principal (1)/ of the college is mild-mannered, (2)/ the vice-principal is often accused (3)/ to be too harsh with the students. (4)/ No error (5)
26. If you supervised it, (1)/ the whole operation (2)/ would have been (3)/ very easy. (4)/ No error. (5)
27. By constant discovery and invention (1)/ man has so far covered up the fact (2)/ that the supply of natural resources (3)/ may soon run down. (4)/ No error. (5)
28. It not matter that he failed (1)/ what does matter is (2)/ that he is worried about (3)/ his failure. (4)/ No error (5)
29. Neither of (1)/ these trees (2)/ have (3)/ green leaves. (4)/ No error (5)
30. Among the daughters (1)/ of Ram (2)/ Kamala is inferior (3)/ than Sita in intelligence. (4)/ No error (5)
31. During the depression (1)/ half the machines (2)/ in the factory (3)/ were lazy.(4)/ No error
32. I am sorry I wasn't at home (1)/ when you come; (2)/ I had gone to congratulate (3)/ for his success in the election. (4)/ No error (5)
33. I am quite certain (1)/ that he (2)/ can be able (3)/ to do the job. (4)/ No error (5)
34. The country is trying (1)/ to achieve (2)/ self-sufficiency on the food-front (3)/ for the past four decades. (4)/ No error (5)
35. Can you tell us (1)/ what do (2)/ you read in your (3)/ spare time? (4)/ No error (5)

ANSWERS:
1) 4; 2) 4; 3) 1; 4) 3; 5) 1;
6) 3; 7) 2; 8) 1; 9) 4; 10) 4;
11) 4; 12) 3; 13) 3; 14) 2; 15) 3;
16) 1; 17) 3; 18) 3; 19) 2; 20) 2;
21) 3; 22) 4; 23) 4; 24) 4; 25) 4;
26) 1; 27) 1; 28) 1; 29) 3; 30) 4;
31) 4; 32) 2; 33) 3; 34) 1; 35) 5.