45 Important Grammar Rules

For SSC MTS 2025

Rule No. 1 – Subject-Verb Agreement & Tenses
(With SSC Exam Questions)

1. Simple Tense Rules (with Structure & Example)

Simple Present – Habitual Action / General Truth
Structure: Subject + Verb (Base Form)
Use “s” or “es” with He/She/It or Singular Noun

• I eat breakfast every day

• He reads the newspaper in the morning

Simple Past – Completed Action in Past

Structure: Subject + Verb (2nd form)

• I ate breakfast yesterday

• He did not play cricket yesterday

Simple Future – Future Action

Structure: Subject + will + Verb (base form)

• I will eat breakfast tomorrow

2. Continuous Tense Rules

Present Continuous – Ongoing Action
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + Verb (-ing)

• I am eating breakfast
• She is cooking food

Past Continuous – Past Action in Progress

Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb (-ing)

• I was eating breakfast

• They were playing football

Future Continuous – Future Ongoing

Structure: Subject + will be + Verb (-ing)

• I will be eating breakfast

3. Perfect Tense Rules

 Present Perfect – Completed Action with Present
Relevance
Structure: Subject + has/have + Verb (3rd
form)

• I have eaten breakfast

Past Perfect – Action completed before another past

action
Structure: Subject + had + Verb (3rd form)

• I had eaten before I went to school

Future Perfect – Completed before specific future time

Structure: Subject + will have + Verb (3rd
form)

• I will have eaten by 8 AM

4. Perfect Continuous Tenses

Present Perfect Continuous
Structure: Subject + has/have been + Verb (-
ing)
 • I have been eating breakfast for a week
Use "For" = Duration / "Since" = Point in time

Past Perfect Continuous

Structure: Subject + had been + Verb (-ing)

• I had been eating breakfast when you called

Future Perfect Continuous

Structure: Subject + will have been + Verb (-
ing)

• I will have been eating for an hour by the time you

arrive

SSC EXAM QUESTIONS – Error Spotting &

Correction
1. Alex ______ (study) two programming languages.
Options: has studied / have study / had studied /
study
Correct: Has studied (Alex = singular subject)

2. The gold watch / look really expensive / and is not

affordable / for common people.
 Error: look
Correction: The gold watch looks really expensive...

3. Sarah will / singing at the / concert on Saturday.

Error: will singing
Correction: Sarah will sing at the concert...

4. I left / my coat in the / hospital when / I had visit Alex.

Error: had visit
Correction: I had visited Alex.

5. He will be / waiting for me when / I reaches his home.

Error: reaches
Correction: I reach his home

6. Manish has being applying / for colleges / ever since he

passed / his entrance test.
Error: has being
Correction: has been applying

7. Sam and Teena / had wondering / what to do this

weekend.
Error: had wondering
Correction: had been wondering
8. They ______ (play) football every day.
Correct: Play (habitual – simple present)

9. Most probably / he come / to office / next Thursday.

Error: he come
Correction: he will come

10. My sister Mona / never drinks coffee / She prefer

tea.
Error: prefer
Correction: She prefers tea.

11. The branch of the tree is very long.

Correct Sentence (No Error)

12. The happy and cheerful girls / is always running / to

the ice cream cart...
Error: is
Correction: girls are always running

13. Reduced price / of cooking gas brought / happy to

the face...
 Error: happy
Correction: brought happiness

14. The recommendations of the committee / regarding

changes... / was not accept.
Errors: was and accept
Correction: were accepted

15. How long / have you / been learn / English now?

Error: learn
Correction: been learning

16. By this time next year / I will had graduated / and

starting my job...
Errors: will had, starting
Correction: will have graduated and start

17. By the end of this month / he will been working / for

five years.
Error: will been
Correction: will have been working

18. I are dancing / with my husband / at my sister's

wedding.
 Error: are
Correction: I am dancing

19. Solar and wind power / will replaced fossil fuels /

and help reduce carbon emission.
Error: replaced
Correction: will replace

20. Mr. Surya / have no interior motive / in offering

support.
Error: have
Correction: Mr. Surya has no ulterior motive

21. He and his friends / does not / want to attend the

meeting.
Error: does not
Correction: do not

22. The time scale of prokaryotic evolution / have been

difficult to reconstruct...
Error: have
Correction: has been difficult
 23. There is no big deal / if she did not came to the
party.
Error: came
Correction: did not come

24. Mountains... they eventually becomes / too heavy.

Error: becomes
Correction: they become

25. All these things happen / because she do not / pay

heed.
Error: do
Correction: she does not pay heed

Tip for Exams:

Always match the subject with the correct verb form,
especially in error spotting. Look for:
• Singular/Plural mismatches
• Helping verb usage (has/have, is/are, was/were)
• Correct tense and structure for each sentence.

Rule No. 2 – Tense Time Line (Basic Sense)

Understanding Time + Action = Choosing the Right Tense
Exam Questions – MTS/CGL
1. I am cleaning the sofa when she called me.
Correct: I was cleaning the sofa when she called me.
(Past Continuous + Simple Past)
2. Raghav, who studies tourism at present, is planning to go
abroad after graduation.
Choose the correct form:
a) will study b) study c) studied d) is studying
3. Since next Friday, the team of three members has been
tracking the animal.
Correct: Since next Friday → Future reference,
should be:
From next Friday, the team will be tracking…
4. The farm cattle is grazing in the field when the tiger
attacked.
Correct: The farm cattle were grazing… (Past
Continuous + Simple Past)
5. While she was watched the movie, her phone rang.
Correct: While she was watching the movie, her
phone rang.
6. After the concert was over, they go to a restaurant…
Correct: After the concert was over, they went to a
restaurant…
7. The day are warm, so the students ate their lunch
outside.
Correct: The days were warm…

Rule No. 3 – Positive Degree

Describes quality without comparison.
Structure: as + Positive Degree + as | Used with
too, relatively, comparatively
Key Pointers:
• Use base adjective/adverb: tall, strong, smart, happy
• “Relatively / Comparatively” → Use positive, not
comparative
e.g. The bus is relatively fast. Not: faster

Exam Questions – MTS

1. She is as more intelligent as her brothers.

Correct: She is as intelligent as her brothers.
2. This almirah is made up of heavier metal.
Correct: ...is made up of heavy metal.
3. The sky appeared to be greyest after the storm.
Correct: ...appeared to be grey...
4. They needed a ______ answer for every question.
Correct option: a) Precise
5. Jack probably strained his back as the box was too
heavier.
Correct: ...the box was too heavy.

Rule No. 4 – Comparative Degree

Used to compare two things.
Structure:
• Adjective + -er + than → taller than, bigger than
• Or: More/Less + adjective + than → more intelligent than
Avoid Common Errors:

• Double Comparative: More better, More smarter

• Wrong usage of “than” with superior, junior, senior,
prefer, prior
Exam Questions – MTS/CGL

1. The new almirah is big than this one.

Correct: …is bigger than…
2. Bilingual children are so intelligent than…
Correct: …are more intelligent than…
3. The new smartphone is absolutely best than the latest
model.
Correct: …absolutely better…
4. Chetan’s room is clean than Ram’s room.
Correct: …is cleaner than…
5. Ajit got to work earliest than everyone…
Correct: …earlier than…
6. My dog barks very louder at night.
Correct: …barks very loudly…
7. Maheshwari is three years junior than me.
Correct: …junior to me.
8. I always prefer a cottage than a high rise.
Correct: …prefer a cottage to…
9. He is smarter than handsome. (Correct - comparing
two qualities of same person)
 Rule No. 5 – Superlative Degree
Used to compare 3 or more – shows highest or lowest level.
Structure:
• The + adjective + -est → the tallest, the fastest
• The most/least + adjective → the most beautiful
Avoid These:

• “Most unique”, “Most perfect”

• Double Superlatives: Most beautifulest, best smallest

Exam Questions – MTS/CGL

1. Out of all the flowers, the rose is the more beautiful.

Correct: …is the most beautiful.
2. Prem is an excellent chess player. He is the _____
student.
Correct option: c) most intelligent
3. I want to buy the less expensive bike… (Correct
usage: less – superlative contrast)
4. He is the healthy person I have ever met.
Correct: …the healthiest person…
5. Osmium is the heavy metal…
Correct: …the heaviest metal…
6. Rose painted the most beautifulest picture ever.
Correct: …the most beautiful picture…
 7. He received the best employee award because he was the
more hardworking.
Correct: …he was the most hardworking…
8. Ahuja is a cleverest lawyer.
Correct: …the cleverest lawyer.
9. This is the most unique thing…
Correct: …This is a unique thing…
10. …ensures you’ll have the most smoothest skin.
Correct: …have the smoothest skin…

Rule No. 6 – ADVERB

Definition:
An adverb modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another
adverb.

Types of Adverbs (with Examples)

Type Usage Example
Adverb of How something is She solved the
Manner done problem quickly.
When something We will meet
Adverb of Time
happens tomorrow.
Where something
Adverb of Place The park is nearby.
happens
Adverb of How often something
I rarely eat breakfast.
Frequency happens
 Type Usage Example
Adverb of He is extremely
Extent or intensity
Degree intelligent.

Common Adverb Formation:

Adjective + ly
• Quick → Quickly
• Careful → Carefully
Exceptions – Use with care:
• Good → Well
• Fast → Fast (not fastly)
• Hard → Hard (not hardly – which means “barely”)

Common Errors from MTS & CGL Exams

Incorrect: The students were diligently studying for their

exams for weeks before you arrived.
Correct – Adverb “diligently” is used to modify the verb
"studying".

They ultimate achieved their goal…

Correct: They ultimately achieved their goal.

Use adverb form (“ultimately”) to modify verb “achieved”.
The committee has careful considered…

Correct: The committee has carefully considered…

Verb "considered" needs adverb, not adjective.

Rahul speaks fluently English…

Correct: Rahul speaks English fluently.

Adverb of manner comes after the object.

Maria… terribly performed…

Correct: Maria performed terribly…

Adverb must follow the verb directly.

She sings the song beautifully in the party.

Correct: She sang the song beautifully at the party.

Use proper preposition: "at the party".

The dancer performed weird…

Correct: The dancer performed weirdly.

Use correct adverb form.
The athletes trained tirelessness…

Correct: …trained tirelessly.

Avoid noun – use adverb form.

Sushil… worked hardly…

Correct: …worked hard.

“Hardly” = barely. Use “hard” for effort.

The rabbit runs fastly.

Correct: The rabbit runs fast.

“Fast” is already an adverb. Never add -ly.

…they ran fastly to catch it.

Correct: …they ran fast.

The windows violent banged…

Correct: The windows banged violently.

He was bad injured…

Correct: He was badly injured.

He ran quick to catch the bus.

Correct: He ran quickly…

This boy performed extremely good…

Correct: …performed extremely well.

She sings good.

Correct: She sings well.

…has been increasing noticeable.

Correct: …has been increasing noticeably.

Draw the human heart so powerful…

Correct: …draw the human heart so powerfully.

Fill in the blank

I strained ______ to catch his options.
a) Hardly b) Hard c) Hardest d) Hardness

Allergies can indirect cause you…

Correct: Allergies can indirectly cause…

Remember These Tricky Adverbs:

Word Wrong Correct
Fast Fastly Fast
Hard Hardly (≠ effort) Hard
Good Good (as adverb) Well
Quick Quick Quickly
Careful Careful Carefully
Ultimate Ultimate (adj.) Ultimately

Rule No. 7 – ADJECTIVES

Definition: An adjective describes or modifies a noun or
pronoun.
Type Example
Descriptive The sunny day made everyone happy.
Quantitative I have three books to read.
Demonstrative This book is mine.
Possessive My car is red.
 Type Example
Comparative She is more intelligent than him.
Superlative He is the smartest student.

Adjectives + Adverbs:
The very difficult exam required careful preparation.

Adjective Order (OSASCOM):

Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin →
Material
Example: A smart, tall, young Indian astronaut

MTS 2024 MCQ

She was a ______, ______, ______ astronaut.
Correct: smart, tall, Indian (OSASCOM rule)

Errors in Exams:

• The lions became violently

The lions became violent (Adjective needed)
• She is the most succeeded
She is the most successful
• He started a newly job
He started a new job

Rule No. 8 – ARTICLE "A"

Use with singular countable nouns beginning with a
consonant sound.
Don’t use with:
 • Uncountable nouns (e.g., information, furniture)
• Words starting with vowel sounds despite consonant
letters
a university, a European trip

Exam Errors:

• She went to an university

a university
• An European gymnast
a European gymnast

Rule No. 9 – ARTICLE "AN"

Use with singular countable nouns starting with a vowel
sound.
an honest man, an M.A. graduate

Errors:

• She received an award in a engineering field

an engineering field
• a M.A from Delhi
an M.A

Rule No. 10 – ARTICLE "THE"

Use “the”:
• Before superlatives: the best, the tallest
 • To specify a noun
• With ordinals: the first, the second
• For unique objects: the sun, the moon
• With specific groups: the rich, the poor
• Before **Republic/United/Plural Country Names_:_ the
USA, the Netherlands_
Common Errors:

• Lunch he gave us
the lunch he gave us
• a university in United Kingdom
a university in the United Kingdom
• to become the engineer
to become an engineer

Rule No. 11 – EACH / EVERY

Word Use When Noun/Verb Example
Each student was
Each 2 or more Singular/Singular
present.
More than Every house has a
Every Singular/Singular
two garden.

Errors:

• Each of the participants were

Each of the participants was
• Every students
Every student
 Rule No. 12 – EITHER / NEITHER
Word Meaning Verb Example
Either of the students has
Either One of two Singular
submitted...
None of the Neither of the students has
Neither Singular
two submitted...

Either of the students have...

Either of the students has...

Rule No. 13 – ANY / NONE

Word Meaning Verb Example
One from Any of the students is
Any Singular
many eligible
None of the students
None Not one Singular/Plural
is/are...

Rule No. 14 – ONE OF

Structure: One of + Plural Subject + Singular Verb

One of my favorite book

One of my favorite books

one of the most vicious attack

one of the most vicious attacks
 Rule No. 15 – CONDITIONAL TENSES
Type Structure Example
Zero If you heat water, it
If + Present, Present
Conditional boils
First If + Present, will + If it rains, I will carry
Conditional base verb an umbrella
Second If + Past, would + If I won, I would
Conditional base verb donate money
Third If + Past Perfect, If I had studied, I
Conditional would have + V3 would have passed

If I had money, I would have help

If I had money, I would help

Rule No. 16 – SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

Hypothetical Wishes → Use “were” for all subjects

If I was a king
If I were a king

If Tom was here

If Tom were here

Rule No. 17 – MODAL VERBS

Always use base form of verb with modals
Modal Example
Can She can speak French
Should You should go for higher studies
Used to They used to play football

Errors:

• You should went

You should go
• Used to encouraged
Used to encourage

Rule No. 18 – CAN & MAY

Never say:

• She can able to…

• He can ability…
• It can possibly rain…

Correct:
• She can speak three languages.
• It may rain today.

Rule 19: Singular Verb with Indefinite

Pronouns
Pronouns:
Everybody, Everyone, Everything, Nobody, Nothing,
Somebody, Something, Anybody, Anything
Always take a singular verb and singular possession

Everybody has his/her own book.

Everybody have their own book.

Everything in the store has its price tag.

Everything have their price tag.

Rule 20: Plural Verb with Plural Pronouns

Pronouns:
Both, Few, Many, Several
Always take plural verbs and plural possession

Few birds build their nests in winter. (MTS 2023)

Many birds sing their songs loudly.

Both — used only in positive sentences

Both is always followed by “and”, never “or” or “as well
as”
Both the students as well as the teacher after the meeting
— Incorrect usage

Rule 21: Either–Or / Neither–Nor (Rule of

Proximity)
 Verb agrees with the nearest subject

Neither I nor my friends are going. (MTS 2022)

Either Avika or Nikunj is going to win. (MTS 2023)

Neither the colour or the size suits me. — Use “nor”

Neither Amit nor Raju are staying with his parents. —

Mismatch in verb and possession

Rule 22: Not Only---- But Also

Use not only with but also

The company provides not only financial support but

also mentorship. (MTS 2024)
Not only was she a teacher, but also a mentor.

Rule 23: Its vs It’s

• Its = Possessive (Belongs to "it")
• It’s = It is / It has
The dog is licking its paw.
It’s been a long day.
The dog is eating it’s food. (MTS 2022)

Rule 24: Affect vs Effect

 • Affect = Verb (to influence)
• Effect = Noun (result)
The rain will affect the parade.
The effect of the policy was positive.

She was deeply effected by the news. (MTS 2024)

The Affect of the cold weather was devastating. (MTS
2022)

Rule 25: Much vs Many

• Much = Uncountable
• Many = Countable
How much autographs would you like? (MTS 2022)
How many autographs would you like?

Rule 26: There vs Their

• There = Place or existence
• Their = Possessive
The teacher let the students choose there topics. (MTS
2022)
The teacher let the students choose their topics.

Rule 27: Beside vs Besides

• Beside = Next to
 • Besides = In addition to
She sat beside me.
Besides her job, she also studies.
Beside myself, the only English people… (MTS 2022)

Rule 28: Among vs Between

• Among = More than two
• Between = Exactly two
The new employee was welcomed between the team
members. (MTS 2023)
The new employee was welcomed among the team
members.

Rule 29: Late vs Lately

• Late = Delayed
• Lately = Recently
He woke up unpardonably lately. (MTS 2024)
He woke up unpardonably late.

Have you watched any movies lately?

Rule 30: Infinitives

Structure:
• Simple: to + V1 (I want to go)
• Perfect: to have + V3 (She seems to have gone)
• Continuous: to be + V-ing (They appear to be working)
I want to eat.
I always try to brought chocolates. (MTS 2022)
I always try to bring chocolates.

Exception:
• Looking forward to + V-ing
• With a view to + V-ing
I’m looking forward to meet you. (MTS 2022)
I’m looking forward to meeting you.

Rule 31: Hardly & No Sooner

• Hardly → when
• No sooner → than
No sooner had I slept than I woke up.
No sooner had I arrived when it rained. (MTS 2022)

Rule 32: Use of “And”

Connects same degree adjectives:

The speech was sillier and irrelevant. (MTS 2024)

The speech was silly and irrelevant.
Post + Post
The chairman and secretary is attending. (One person)

The chairman and the secretary are attending. (Two

people)
As well as – Verb agrees with first subject

The manager as well as the team is attending.

The team as well as the manager is attending.

Rule 33: Let / It is / It was

“Let” takes objective case

Let we attend the meeting. (MTS 2022)

Let us attend the meeting.

“It is/was” takes subjective case

It was him who helped me.

It was he who helped me. (MTS 2022)

Rule 34: Narration (Direct to Indirect)

Tense Changes:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Simple Present → Simple Past
 Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Present Continuous → Past Continuous
Present Perfect → Past Perfect
Simple Past → Past Perfect
Can / May / Will → Could / Might / Would

He said, “I will sung a song.” (MTS 2024)

He said he would sing a song.
:

Rule 35: Voice (Active & Passive)

MTS Focus → Always use the 3rd form (V3) of the verb
in Passive Voice
Structure:
Passive = be (is/am/are/was/were/been/being/can be/etc.) + V3
The sky is covering with dark clouds... (MTS 2024)
The sky is covered with dark clouds...

Chocolates can be make without milk. (MTS 2024)

Chocolates can be made without milk.

Lal was appointing the secretary... (MTS 2022)

Lal was appointed the secretary...

Each passenger is allows one piece... (MTS 2022)

Each passenger is allowed one piece...
 Rule 36: It’s time / It’s high time / It’s about
time
These are followed by Simple Past tense (to suggest
something should happen now)
It’s time he goes to school. (MTS 2022)
It’s time he went to school.

Rule 37: Apostrophe ’s vs Plural -s

Apostrophe ’s → Possession

John’s car, The dog’s leash, Earth’s temperature

Without the greenhouse effect, Earths temperature...

(MTS 2022)
...Earth’s temperature...

-s (No apostrophe) → Plural

Cats, Books, Tables, Apples

The cats are sleeping.

Rule 38: Few / A few / The few (Countable

Nouns)
Word Meaning Tone Example
Few people attended
Few Hardly any
Negative the meeting.
Some (positive She has a few good
A few
quantity) Positive ideas.
The Specific, limited The few friends she
few known quantity Specific had were loyal.

I ate a few brown rice... (MTS 2022)

I ate a little brown rice... (Brown rice = uncountable)

Rule 39: Little / A little / The little

(Uncountable Nouns)
Word Meaning Tone Example
She has little interest
Little Insufficient
Negative in politics.
I have a little sugar
A little Some (enough)
Positive left.
The All that is The little water we
little available (specific) Specific had was just enough.

I have a little money, so I can’t help... (MTS 2022)

I have little money, so I can’t help...

Rule 40: Verb + Preposition Collocations

 Correct Correct
Verb Wrong Usage
Preposition Usage
prevent the
prevent the
sanitizer of
Prevent from sanitizer from
drying... (MTS
drying...
2022)
scratching of whole scratching off
Scratch off
areas... (MTS 2023) whole areas...
put of until
put off until
Put off tomorrow... (MTS
tomorrow...
2022)
despite of
despite / in spite
In spite of innovations... (MTS
of
2022)
fend of the loud
fend off the loud
Fend off clamour... (MTS
clamour...
2022)
acquitted to a cyber acquitted of a
Acquitted of
crime (MTS 2024) cyber crime
acquiesce with the
acquiesce to the
Acquiesce to orders... (MTS
orders...
2024)

Never Use These Redundant Combinations

Wrong Correct
Return back Return
Discuss about Discuss
Attack on Attack
 Wrong Correct
Awaiting for Awaiting
Order for Order

Rule 41: Important Uncountable Nouns

(Always Singular)
Scenery, Furniture, Luggage, Advice, Information

The sceneries in Darjeeling are... (MTS 2024)

The scenery in Darjeeling is...

No informations were received. (CGL 2024)

No information was received.

My luggage is packed. (CGL 2024)

Rule 42: Prepositions + Noun / Pronoun /

Gerund
Preposition is always followed by a Noun, Pronoun, or
Gerund (V+ing)
The book is on the table.
They are tired of waiting.

At vs In
Usage Example
At Specific point/location — at the gate
In Enclosed spaces — in the room, in India

Preposition MCQs (MTS 2024)

1. The teacher emphasized the importance of ______
correct grammar...
using (Gerund)
2. Jack visited his aunt living at America.
at America
in America

Rule 43: Counting Words (Hundred /

Thousand / Million / Dozen)
Use singular form when preceded by a number

Five hundred people attended.

Three thousands dollars is... (MTS 2023)
Three thousand dollars is...

Millions people live here. (CGL 2022)

Millions of people live here.

Rule 44: Noun + Preposition + Noun

Both nouns stay singular and take singular verb
 Day by day, door to door, face to face
The situation is improving day by day.

They walked hands in hands... (MTS 2022)

They walked hand in hand...

Rule 45: Subject-Verb Agreement

Verb should match the main subject, not the one closest
to it
The team of researchers have been working... (MTS
2024)
The team of researchers has been working...

The list of items are on the table. (MTS 2022)

The list of items is on the table.

The company, along with its partners, were involved...

(CGL 2022)
The company, along with its partners, was involved...