Parts of Speech | UPSSSC PET English Grammar

Detailed Brief Overview

Aspect	Key Details
Topic Definition (परिभाषा)	Parts of Speech (शब्द भेद) are categories into which words are classified according to their syntactic and grammatical functions within a sentence.
Scope in UPSSSC PET	Direct testing in General English (सामान्य अंग्रेजी) section: Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the Blanks, and Reading Comprehension context questions.
Core Functional Categories	Contains 8 essential classes: Noun (संज्ञा), Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Verb (क्रिया), Adjective (विशेषण), Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), Preposition (संबंधसूचक अव्यय), Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय), and Interjection (विस्मयादिबोधक).
Fundamental Subject-Verb Formula	Singular Subject → Singular Verb \| Plural Subject → Plural Verb. Rule applies strictly across all tenses and structures.
Modifier Core Rules	Adjectives modify only Nouns/Pronouns. Adverbs modify Verbs, Adjectives, or other Adverbs.
Connector Core Rules	Prepositions show spatial/temporal relationships between nouns. Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses.
Exam Weightage & Importance	Forms 100% of the foundational base for UPSSSC PET English questions (Grammar + Comprehension).
Primary Error Categories Tested	Subject-Verb Agreement, Incorrect Preposition Usage, Misplaced Modifiers, Uncountable Noun Pluralization, and Correlative Conjunction Pairing.

Core Rules & Detailed Explanations

Rule 1: Noun (संज्ञा) & Uncountable Noun Rules with Mnemonic SING-UN

• Uncountable Nouns (e.g., Advice, Furniture, Information, Scenery, Luggage, Equipment, Hair, Work) NEVER take 'a/an' or plural 's/es'.

They ALWAYS take a singular verb.

To express quantity, use phrases like 'a piece of', 'an item of', or 'articles of'.

Mnemonic SING-UN: Scenery, Information, News, Gold = Uncountable & Never plural.

Example 1: Incorrect: The sceneries of Kashmir are breathtaking. | Correct: The scenery of Kashmir is breathtaking.

Example 2: Incorrect: He gave me many advices. | Correct: He gave me many pieces of advice.

Example 3: Incorrect: All the furnitures were sold. | Correct: All the furniture was sold.

Example 4: Incorrect: I have an urgent work today. | Correct: I have a piece of urgent work today.

Example 5: Incorrect: Her hairs are black. | Correct: Her hair is black.

Rule 2: Pronoun (सर्वनाम) Agreement & Relative Cases with Mnemonic WHO-SUB / WHOM-OBJ

• Subject Case vs Object Case: Use nominative pronouns (I, he, she, they, who) as subjects and objective pronouns (me, him, her, them, whom) as objects.

Use 'Who' for Subject position (does the action) and 'Whom' for Object position (receives the action).

When pronouns are connected by 'and/or', test each pronoun separately by dropping the other.

Mnemonic WHO-SUB / WHOM-OBJ: Who = Subject (replaces He/She); Whom = Object (replaces Him/Her).

Example 1: Incorrect: Him and I went to Lucknow. | Correct: He and I went to Lucknow.

Example 2: Incorrect: Between you and I, this plan is secret. | Correct: Between you and me, this plan is secret. (Prepositions take objective case).

Example 3: Incorrect: The boy whom scored top marks was awarded. | Correct: The boy who scored top marks was awarded.

Example 4: Incorrect: Who did you invite to the party? | Correct: Whom did you invite to the party?

Example 5: Incorrect: It was me who called you. | Correct: It was I who called you. (Complement of verb 'to be' takes nominative case).

Rule 3: Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) with Mnemonic NEAR-NOR & ALONG-FIRST

• When subjects are joined by 'Neither...nor', 'Either...or', or 'Not only...but also', the verb agrees with the NEAREST subject.

When subjects are joined by 'along with', 'together with', 'as well as', 'with', or 'besides', the verb agrees strictly with the FIRST subject.

Mnemonic NEAR-NOR: Nor/Or = Verb targets the Nearest noun.

Mnemonic ALONG-FIRST: Along/As well as = Verb targets the First noun.

Example 1: Incorrect: Neither the teacher nor the students was present. | Correct: Neither the teacher nor the students were present.

Example 2: Incorrect: Neither the students nor the teacher were present. | Correct: Neither the students nor the teacher was present.

Example 3: Incorrect: The PM along with his ministers are visiting UP. | Correct: The PM along with his ministers is visiting UP.

Example 4: Incorrect: Ramesh as well as his friends have passed. | Correct: Ramesh as well as his friends has passed.

Example 5: Incorrect: Either you or he are wrong. | Correct: Either you or he is wrong.

Rule 4: Adjectives (विशेषण) & Latin Comparatives Rule with Mnemonic LATIN-TO

• Adjectives ending in '-ior' (Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior, Prior, Anterior, Posterior) and the word 'Preferable' are followed by 'to', NEVER 'than'.

Do NOT use double comparatives (more wiser) or double superlatives (most highest).

Order of Adjectives mnemonic: OSASCOMP (Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose).

Mnemonic LATIN-TO: Words ending in -IOR MUST link with TO, not THAN.

Example 1: Incorrect: He is senior than me in service. | Correct: He is senior to me in service.

Example 2: Incorrect: Milk is more preferable than tea. | Correct: Milk is preferable to tea.

Example 3: Incorrect: She is more wiser than her sister. | Correct: She is wiser than her sister.

Example 4: Incorrect: This is the most cleanest city. | Correct: This is the cleanest city.

Example 5: Incorrect: This task is prior than that one. | Correct: This task is prior to that one.

Rule 5: Prepositions (संबंधसूचक अव्यy) & Confusing Pairs with Mnemonic B2-A3+

• Between is used for 2 people/things. Among is used for more than 2.

Beside means 'by the side of' (पास में). Besides means 'in addition to' (के अलावा).

Direct transitive verbs (discuss, describe, reach, order, attack, resemblance, marry) do NOT take prepositions after them in active voice.

Mnemonic B2-A3+: Between = 2 entities | Among = 3+ entities.

Example 1: Incorrect: Distribute the sweets between the five children. | Correct: Distribute the sweets among the five children.

Example 2: Incorrect: He sat besides me during the class. | Correct: He sat beside me during the class.

Example 3: Incorrect: We discussed about the PET exam syllabus. | Correct: We discussed the PET exam syllabus.

Example 4: Incorrect: She reached at the railway station late. | Correct: She reached the railway station late.

Example 5: Incorrect: Besides English, he speaks French. | Correct: Besides English, he speaks French. (Correct usage: In addition to).

Rule 6: Correlative Conjunctions & Inversion with Mnemonic NO-THAN / HARD-WHEN

• Fixed Pair 1: No sooner...than (NEVER pair with when or then).

Fixed Pair 2: Hardly / Scarcely...when (NEVER pair with than or then).

When a sentence starts with negative adverbs (No sooner, Hardly, Scarcely, Barely), apply Subject-Verb Inversion (Auxiliary Verb comes BEFORE Subject).

Mnemonic NO-THAN & HARD-WHEN: No sooner → THAN | Hardly → WHEN.

Example 1: Incorrect: No sooner had I reached the station when the train left. | Correct: No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.

Example 2: Incorrect: Hardly had she entered the room than the phone rang. | Correct: Hardly had she entered the room when the phone rang.

Example 3: Incorrect: No sooner he saw the police than he ran away. | Correct: No sooner did he see the police than he ran away. (Inversion enforced).

Example 4: Incorrect: Scarcely had we started then it began to rain. | Correct: Scarcely had we started when it began to rain.

Example 5: Incorrect: He not only lost his ticket but also his luggage. | Correct: He lost not only his ticket but also his luggage. (Parallel structure).

Comprehensive Rule & Classification Tables

Category / Part of Speech	Grammatical Condition & Rules	Exam Patterns & Examples
Uncountable Nouns (अगणनीय संज्ञा)	Cannot take plural suffix (-s/-es) or articles 'a/an'. Takes singular verb always.	• Advice, Furniture, Information, Luggage, Equipment, Scenery, Poetry, Knowledge. • Example: His knowledge of English is vast.
Plural in Form, Singular in Meaning	Words ending in '-s' that represent a single subject/disease/game. Takes singular verb.	• Physics, Mathematics, News, Innings, Economics, Rickets, Billiards, Darts. • Example: Mathematics is an interesting subject.
Plural Nouns without '-s'	Nouns representing a collective body in plural. Takes plural verb strictly.	• People, Cattle, Poultry, Gentry, Peasantry, Clergy, Children, Folk. • Example: Cattle are grazing in the field.
Distributive Pronouns (Each / Every / Either / Neither)	Followed by 'of the' + Plural Noun + Singular Verb + Singular Possessive (his/her).	• Each of / Either of / Neither of + Plural Noun + Singular Verb. • Example: Each of the boys has submitted his assignment.
Relative Pronoun Cases (Who vs Whom)	Who = Nominative case (Subject role). Whom = Objective case (Object role).	• Who wrote this book? (Subject) • To whom were you speaking? (Object)
Stative Verbs (No Continuous Tense)	Verbs of perception/emotion cannot be used in Progressive (-ing) tense for states.	• See, Hear, Smell, Taste, Know, Understand, Love, Hate, Remember, Belong. • Incorrect: I am knowing him. → Correct: I know him.
Adjective Order Formula (OSASCOMP)	Order when multiple adjectives describe a noun.	• Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose. • Example: A beautiful small old round red Indian wooden table.
Adverbs of Frequency Placement	Placed BEFORE main verb, but AFTER helping verb (be, is, am, are, was, were).	• Always, Never, Seldom, Often, Usually, Hardly, Rarely. • Example: He always comes late. \| She is always happy.
Fixed Prepositions: Verb + Preposition	Specific verbs require fixed prepositions regardless of Hindi translations.	• Accused of, Abide by, Prevail upon, Refrain from, Congratulate on, Abstain from, Adapt to. • Example: He was accused of theft.
Fixed Prepositions: Adjective + Preposition	Specific adjectives take exact prepositions.	• Interested in, Good at, Senior to, Jealous of, Similar to, Aware of, Fond of. • Example: She is good at English.
Correlative Conjunction Pairs	Conjunctions that must always occur in pairs with parallel structure.	• Either...or, Neither...nor, Both...and, Not only...but also, Whether...or, Though...yet. • Example: Though he worked hard, yet he failed.

Tricks & Shortcuts to Remember

Trick 1: The 'OSASCOMP' Rule for Adjective Order:
Memorize the sequence: Opinion (Only), Size (Smart), Age (And), Shape (Sharp), Color (Cats), Origin (Overcome), Material (Many), Purpose (Problems). Always arrange multiple adjectives in this sequence.
Trick 2: The 'FANBOYS' Coordinating Conjunctions:
Coordinating conjunctions linking independent clauses are remembered by FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. Example: He was tired, yet he kept working.
Trick 3: The 'No Sooner...THAN' vs 'Hardly...WHEN' Shortcut:
Associate No Sooner with comparative ending -er, which ALWAYS matches THAN. Associate Hardly/Scarcely with WHEN. No Sooner = THAN | Hardly = WHEN.
Trick 4: The 'LATIN-TO' Rule:
Any comparative adjective ending in -IOR (Superior, Inferior, Senior, Junior, Prior) along with Preferable strictly takes TO, never than. Example: This coffee is superior to that one.
Trick 5: Noun Suffix Identification Test:
Identify Nouns instantly by checking word endings: -tion (Action), -ment (Management), -ness (Kindness), -ity (Ability), -ance/-ence (Importance/Patience), -ship (Friendship).
Trick 6: Adverb Suffix Identification Test:
Most adverbs of manner are formed by adding -ly to adjectives (Quick → Quickly, Beautiful → Beautifully). Exception: Fast, Hard, Late act as both Adjective and Adverb without changing form.
Trick 7: The Transitive Verb Preposition Elimination Trick:
Do NOT add prepositions after active voice verbs like: Discuss, Describe, Reach, Order, Attack, Resemble, Enter. Say 'Discuss the topic', NOT 'Discuss about the topic'.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Pluralizing Uncountable Nouns:
Candidates write informations, furnitures, or sceneries. Uncountable nouns NEVER take '-s/-es'. Always write: pieces of information, items of furniture, scenery.
Mistake 2: Using 'Than' after Latin Comparatives:
Writing 'Senior than me' or 'Preferable than tea'. Latin comparative adjectives ending in -ior and the word preferable MUST take 'to'.
Mistake 3: Mismatching Correlative Conjunction Pairs:
Pairing No sooner...when or Hardly...than. No sooner MUST pair with than. Hardly/Scarcely MUST pair with when.
Mistake 4: Subject-Verb Mismatch in 'Along with' / 'As well as':
Making the verb agree with the noun nearest to it instead of the real subject. In 'The Captain along with his sailors was saved', verb agrees with Captain (singular).
Mistake 5: Using Double Comparatives or Superlatives:
Using more wiser, more better, or most highest. Use only one comparative/superlative modifier: wiser, better, highest.
Mistake 6: Confusing 'Beside' and 'Besides':
Beside means 'by the side of' (at the side). Besides means 'in addition to'. Example: Sit beside me vs Besides English, I know Hindi.
Mistake 7: Misplacing Adverbs of Frequency:
Placing adverbs like always, never, seldom in the wrong position. Place them BEFORE main verbs (He always works) and AFTER auxiliary verbs (He is always punctual).

Point-wise Detailed Summary

Noun Core:
Nouns name persons, places, things, or concepts. Uncountable nouns take singular verbs and no direct articles ('a/an').
Pronoun Core:
Pronouns replace nouns. Case consistency is vital: Subjective (I, he, she, who) vs Objective (me, him, her, whom).
Distributive Pronoun Rule:
Each of / Every one of / Either of / Neither of takes a Plural Noun followed by a Singular Verb and Singular Possessive Pronoun.
Verb Core:
Verbs express action or state. Verbs must strictly agree with the subject in number and person.
Subject-Verb Agreement (Either/Or):
With Either...or and Neither...nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Subject-Verb Agreement (As well as):
With as well as, along with, together with, with, besides, the verb agrees with the first subject.
Adjective Function:
Adjectives modify nouns/pronouns. Follow OSASCOMP for ordering multiple adjectives.
Latin Adjectives:
Adjectives ending in -ior (Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior) and Preferable take 'to', never 'than'.
Adverb Function:
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverbs of frequency go before main verbs.
Preposition Essentials:
Prepositions show spatial/temporal links. Transitive active verbs (discuss, enter, reach) do NOT take prepositions.
Between vs Among:
Use Between for 2 entities; use Among for more than 2 entities.
Conjunction Inversion:
Sentences starting with No sooner / Hardly / Scarcely require inverted word order (Verb before Subject).
Conjunction Pairings:
Always enforce fixed pairs: No sooner...than, Hardly...when, Scarcely...when, Not only...but also.
Interjections:
Interjections express sudden emotions (Hurrah!, Alas!, Oh!) and are followed by an exclamation mark.

UPSC Notes & InsightsUPSC नोट्स और अंतर्दृष्टि

UPSSSC PET Strategy: In Spotting Error questions, first identify the main verb and trace back to its true grammatical subject to quickly catch Subject-Verb Agreement errors.

Exam Trap: Examiners frequently place long prepositional phrases between the subject and verb (e.g., 'The quality of these mangoes ARE not good'). Don't fall for the plural noun near the verb; the subject is 'quality' (singular), so use 'IS'.

Fast Elimination Trick: If an option uses 'more senior than' or 'senior than', eliminate it instantly. The only correct form is 'senior to'.

Exam Trap: Watch out for 'No sooner...WHEN' or 'No sooner...THEN'. UPSSSC PET intentionally confuses candidates with incorrect conjunction pairings. Always look for 'THAN'.

Bilingual Advantage: Translate 'Beside' as 'पास में' (location) and 'Besides' as 'के अलावा' (addition) to instantly solve prepositions questions without confusion.

Key Takeawaysमुख्य बातें

Uncountable nouns (advice, furniture, information, scenery) are ALWAYS singular and take no 'a/an' or '-s/-es'.
Subject-Verb Agreement: 'Neither...nor' matches the NEAREST subject; 'Along with / As well as' matches the FIRST subject.
Latin comparatives (senior, junior, superior, inferior) and 'preferable' take 'TO', never 'than'.
Correlative Pair Golden Formula: No sooner...THAN | Hardly/Scarcely...WHEN.
Active transitive verbs (discuss, describe, reach, order, resemble) take NO prepositions directly after them.
'Between' is strictly for 2 entities; 'Among' is for 3 or more entities.
'Beside' indicates physical proximity (next to); 'Besides' indicates addition (in addition to).

Parts of Speechशब्द भेद (Parts of Speech)

Detailed Brief Overview

Core Rules & Detailed Explanations

Rule 1: Noun (संज्ञा) & Uncountable Noun Rules with Mnemonic SING-UN

Rule 2: Pronoun (सर्वनाम) Agreement & Relative Cases with Mnemonic WHO-SUB / WHOM-OBJ

Rule 3: Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) with Mnemonic NEAR-NOR & ALONG-FIRST

Rule 4: Adjectives (विशेषण) & Latin Comparatives Rule with Mnemonic LATIN-TO

Rule 5: Prepositions (संबंधसूचक अव्यy) & Confusing Pairs with Mnemonic B2-A3+

Rule 6: Correlative Conjunctions & Inversion with Mnemonic NO-THAN / HARD-WHEN

Comprehensive Rule & Classification Tables

Tricks & Shortcuts to Remember

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Point-wise Detailed Summary

UPSC Notes & InsightsUPSC नोट्स और अंतर्दृष्टि

Key Takeawaysमुख्य बातें