CSS English Precis and Composition Grammar and Usage Syllabus

When subjects are joined by 'or'/'nor', which subject governs the verb?

The verb agrees with the subject nearer to it, e.g., 'Neither the teacher nor the students are present.'

What verb form do indefinite pronouns like 'each', 'everyone', 'either', 'neither' take?

They are singular and take a singular verb, e.g., 'Each of the boys was present.'

In 'Subject-Verb Agreement', do collective nouns take singular or plural verbs?

Usually singular when acting as a unit ('The team is winning'); plural when members act individually ('The team are arguing').

What verb form follows phrases like 'The number of' versus 'A number of'?

'The number of' takes a singular verb; 'A number of' takes a plural verb, e.g., 'A number of students were absent.'

What are the three articles in English, and how are they classified?

'A' and 'an' are indefinite articles; 'the' is the definite article.

What is the rule for choosing between 'a' and 'an'?

Use 'a' before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound, judged by sound not spelling, e.g., 'an hour', 'a university.'

When is the definite article 'the' used?

For specific or previously mentioned nouns, unique things, superlatives, and well-known entities, e.g., 'the sun', 'the best student.'

Give an example where an article must be omitted (zero article).

Before general plural/uncountable nouns, proper names, languages, and most countries, e.g., 'Honesty is the best policy', 'I speak English.'

What part of speech is a preposition, and what does it show?

A preposition links a noun/pronoun to other words and shows relationships of time, place, direction, or manner, e.g., 'in', 'on', 'at', 'by'.

What is the difference in usage between 'in', 'on', and 'at' for time?

'In' for months/years/long periods ('in May'), 'on' for days/dates ('on Monday'), 'at' for precise times ('at 5 o'clock').

What is the difference between 'between' and 'among'?

'Between' is used for two persons/things; 'among' for more than two, e.g., 'between you and me', 'among the students.'

Which preposition correctly follows 'different'? Give the correct form.

'Different from' is standard, e.g., 'Her view is different from mine.' (Avoid 'different than/to' in formal usage.)

Correct the preposition error: 'He is married with a doctor.'

Correct: 'He is married to a doctor.' ('Married to', not 'married with'.)

What is a conjunction, and what are its two main types?

A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. Types: coordinating (join equals) and subordinating (join a dependent clause to a main clause).

List the coordinating conjunctions remembered by the acronym FANBOYS.

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

What are correlative conjunctions? Give two examples.

Conjunctions used in pairs to join equal elements, e.g., 'either...or', 'neither...nor', 'not only...but also', 'both...and.'

Give three examples of subordinating conjunctions and their function.

'Because', 'although', 'unless', 'while', 'since' introduce dependent clauses showing cause, contrast, condition, or time.

What is the difference between conjunctions and connectors (conjunctive adverbs)?

Conjunctions join clauses grammatically; connectors like 'however', 'therefore', 'moreover' link ideas across sentences and usually take a semicolon or full stop.

What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement?

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person, e.g., 'Each student must bring his or her book.'

What pronoun agrees with indefinite pronouns such as 'everyone' or 'somebody' in formal grammar?

A singular pronoun, e.g., 'Everyone should do his or her best.' (Singular 'they' is now also accepted in modern usage.)

Correct the pronoun error: 'Each of the girls forgot their bag.'

Formally: 'Each of the girls forgot her bag.' ('Each' is singular, so the pronoun is singular.)

What is the difference between subjective and objective case pronouns?

Subjective (I, he, she, we, they) act as subjects; objective (me, him, her, us, them) act as objects, e.g., 'She gave it to me.'

What is a phrasal verb?

A verb combined with a preposition or adverb (particle) that creates a meaning different from the original verb, e.g., 'give up' = surrender.

What does the phrasal verb 'put off' mean? Use it in a sentence.

'Put off' means to postpone, e.g., 'They put off the meeting until Friday.'

What does the phrasal verb 'look after' mean?

To take care of someone or something, e.g., 'She looks after her younger brother.'

What does the phrasal verb 'bring up' mean? Give its two common senses.

(1) To raise/rear a child ('She brought up three sons'); (2) to introduce a topic ('He brought up the issue in the meeting').

What does the phrasal verb 'carry out' mean?

To perform or complete a task, plan, or order, e.g., 'The team carried out the experiment successfully.'

What is the difference between 'turn down' and 'turn up' as phrasal verbs?

'Turn down' = reject/refuse or lower ('He turned down the offer'); 'turn up' = appear/arrive or increase ('She turned up late').

What does the idiomatic phrasal construction 'put up with' mean?

To tolerate or endure something unpleasant, e.g., 'I cannot put up with his rudeness.'

What does the phrasal verb 'run out of' mean? Use it in a sentence.

To exhaust the supply of something, e.g., 'We have run out of sugar.'