Grammar Rules (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions & Subject-Verb Agreement)

Introduction

This final chapter consolidates the eight core grammar building blocks that everything else in this series depends on. Rather than eight separate chapters, they're grouped here since bank exams test them as a connected foundation rather than in isolation.

1. Nouns

Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas. The key exam-relevant distinction is countable vs uncountable: countable nouns (book, chair) take "a/an" and plural forms; uncountable nouns (information, furniture, advice) never take "a/an" and have no plural form.

2. Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns and must agree with their antecedent in number and gender. A frequent bank-exam trap is using "their" for a singular, gender-neutral antecedent like "each employee" — formally, "his or her" (or a rewritten plural subject) is preferred in strict grammar testing.

3. Verbs

Verbs express action or state of being and must agree with their subject in number. Watch for linking verbs (is, seem, become) that connect the subject to a description rather than showing action — these still require correct subject agreement.

4. Tenses

5. Articles

"A/an" are indefinite articles (used for non-specific, first-mention nouns); "the" is the definite article (used for specific, already-known nouns). Use "an" before a vowel sound (an hour, a university — note "university" starts with a consonant sound despite the vowel letter).

6. Prepositions

7. Conjunctions

Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) join equal elements; subordinating conjunctions (because, although, since) join a dependent clause to an independent one. A common error is pairing conjunctions incorrectly, like using both "although" and "but" in the same sentence ("Although he was tired, but he finished the work" — incorrect; drop one).

8. Subject-Verb Agreement

• Collective nouns (team, committee, family) usually take a singular verb when acting as one unit.
• "Each," "every," "either," "neither" are always singular, even before a plural-looking phrase.
• Phrases like "along with," "as well as," "together with" do not make the subject plural.
• "None" can take either a singular or plural verb depending on context, though singular is generally preferred in formal writing.