120 Rules of Grammar and Exam Strategies

These flashcards cover key grammar terminology, conditional structures, and standardized test strategies derived from Nimisha Bansal's '120 Rules of Grammar' lecture notes.

Adjective

Words used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns.

Pronoun

A word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase.

Each (Individualistic Approach)

Refers to a plural number of people or items but considers each person or item as an individual or dissimilar unit, rather than collectively.

Every (General Approach)

Refers to a multiple number of people or items and considers them as part of a similar collective group.

Type I Condition

A condition possible to fulfill; uses Simple Present in the if-clause and will-future, shall, can, may, or must + $V_1$ in the main clause.

Type II Condition

A condition in theory possible to fulfill; uses Simple Past in the if-clause and would, could, might, or should + $V_1$ in the main clause.

Type III Condition

A condition not possible to fulfill (too late); uses Past Perfect in the if-clause and would, could, might, or should + have + past participle ($V_3$) in the main clause.

Arbitrary Units

Measuring units using terms such as handful, glassful, fistful, spoonful, mouthful, and cupful.

For (Preposition of Time)

Used to talk about a duration or an amount of time or space.

Since (Preposition of Time)

Used to denote a specific point of time or a 'Point of start'.

Gerund

A verb form where $V_1 + \text{ING}$ is used as a noun.

Law of Inversion

Putting the verb before the subject, generally for emphasis or special effect.

Object of a Sentence

The person or thing that receives the action of the verb, answering the question 'whom' or 'what'.

Reflexive Pronoun

Pronouns like 'himself' or 'herself' used as an object when the verb is not otherwise followed by an object.

Subordinating Conjunction

A conjunction like 'although' that introduces a subordinate clause which requires a main clause to be complete.

Antecedent

The noun or pronoun that comes just before a relative pronoun.

Question Tag

A small question added at the end of a statement; it is negative for positive statements and positive for negative statements.

Superfluous

A grammatical error where more words than required are used in a sentence (e.g., 'return back').

Pseudo Subject

A subject used in a sentence, like 'it', to talk about something unrelated to the main subject, fulfilling syntax but not semantics.

Optative Sentence

A sentence expressing a prayer, keen wish, or curse, generally starting with 'may' or 'wish'.

Gist

The summary or essential part of a reading comprehension passage.

Vocabulary

Knowledge of the meanings of words.

Central Idea Questions

Reading comprehension questions that test understanding of the theme, purpose, or main argument of a passage.

Inference Questions

Indirect questions requiring a candidate to make sustainable conclusions based on facts given in a passage.

Cloze Test

An exercise consisting of a passage with numbered blanks where the candidate must select the word that fits correctly based on grammar and vocabulary.