Mastering Grammar: Essential Rules for CAT, CUET & Other Entrance Exams

Grammar plays a crucial role in entrance exams like CAT, CUET, and other competitive tests. A good command of grammar not only enhances your writing skills but also helps you ace the verbal ability section. Let’s explore some must-know grammar rules that can make or break your performance.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

One of the most common grammatical errors in competitive exams is the mismatch between the subject and the verb. The subject and verb must agree in number and person. For example:

· Correct: He runs fast.

· Incorrect: He run fast.

When the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and when the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. Watch out for tricky sentences where the subject and verb are separated by words like “along with,” “as well as,” or “in addition to.” For example:

· Correct: The teacher, along with her students, is attending the seminar.

2. Tense Consistency

Maintaining the same tense throughout a sentence is essential. Shifting tenses can confuse the reader and make the sentence awkward. For example:

· Correct: She was studying when her friend called her.

· Incorrect: She was studying when her friend calls her.

Ensure that the events in a sentence follow a logical time sequence. This is particularly important in comprehension and sentence correction questions.

3. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person. For example:

· Correct: Every student must bring his or her notebook.

· Incorrect: Every student must bring their notebook.

In modern usage, however, singular “they” is becoming acceptable in informal contexts. In exams, stick to traditional rules to avoid errors.

4. Modifiers and Their Placement

Modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, phrases, or clauses) must be placed near the words they describe. Misplaced modifiers can create confusion. For example:

· Correct: She almost finished all the questions.

· Incorrect: She finished almost all the questions.

Modifiers, when misplaced, can change the entire meaning of a sentence, leading to incorrect answers in sentence correction sections.

5. Parallel Structure

Parallelism ensures balance in a sentence by maintaining the same grammatical structure for related ideas. For example:

· Correct: She likes dancing, singing, and reading.

· Incorrect: She likes dancing, singing, and to read.

Maintaining parallel structure is essential, especially in lists or comparisons. It makes sentences clearer and more persuasive.

6. Usage of Articles

Articles (“a,” “an,” and “the”) are small but powerful words that can change the meaning of a sentence. Remember:

· Use “a” before words beginning with consonant sounds (a cat, a university).

· Use “an” before words beginning with vowel sounds (an apple, an honour).

· Use “the” when referring to something specific or already mentioned (the book on the table).

Misuse of articles is a common error, so pay close attention during reading comprehension and cloze test questions.

7. Common Confusing Words

Certain words are commonly confused due to similar sounds or spellings. For example:

· Accept (to receive) vs. Except (excluding)

· Affect (verb – to influence) vs. Effect (noun – result)

Building a strong vocabulary and understanding word usage is essential for the verbal ability section. Practice with mock tests to master these nuances.

Conclusion

Mastering grammar rules is essential for success in entrance exams like CAT, CUET, and others. By focusing on subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, pronoun usage, modifier placement, parallelism, articles, and confusing words, you can significantly improve your performance. Practice regularly, take mock tests, and review grammar rules to boost your confidence and score high.

Start practicing today and let grammar be your strong suit in the upcoming exams!