English Grammar Mind Map: Parts of Speech, Tenses, Voice, Narration, Agreement and Vocabulary in One Page for SSC

This English grammar mind map for SSC gives the whole English syllabus on one page: the grammar topics with their key rules, and the vocabulary areas. Use it for the last-week revision and to find your weak topics, then go back to the detailed notes for the topic that needs work.

The Mind Map

• Parts of Speech (8)
  • Noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection
  • Noun types: proper, common, collective, material, abstract
  • Adjective degrees: positive, comparative, superlative
  • Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs
• Tenses (12)
  • Present, past and future; each simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous
  • Since for a point of time and for a period
  • Do not use the continuous form with the state verbs (know, like, want)
  • After when, if and before, use the present tense for the future
• Articles and Determiners
  • A before a consonant sound; an before a vowel sound
  • The for a particular or unique noun
  • Some, any, much, many, few, little
  • Each, every, either, neither
• Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Singular subject takes a singular verb
  • Either…or and neither…nor: the nearer subject decides
  • As well as and with: the first subject decides
  • Each, every and one of the take a singular verb
  • News, mathematics and physics are singular
• Voice and Narration
  • Active to passive: object becomes the subject; verb becomes be + V3
  • Passive of questions and imperatives
  • Narration: tense shifts back; pronouns, time and place words change
  • Questions use if or whether; commands use to + verb
• Modals and Verbs
  • Can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to
  • Transitive and intransitive verbs
  • Phrasal verbs and their meanings
  • Infinitive, gerund and participle
• Prepositions and Conjunctions
  • In, on, at for time and place
  • Between two; among many
  • Coordinating: and, but, or, so
  • Subordinating: although, because, if, unless, while
• Sentences and Clauses
  • Simple, compound and complex sentences
  • Phrase versus clause; noun, adjective and adverb clauses
  • Interrogative, assertive, imperative and exclamatory sentences
  • Direct and indirect questions
• Vocabulary
  • Synonyms and antonyms
  • Idioms and phrases; one word substitution
  • Commonly confused words (affect/effect, principal/principle)
  • Spelling and homophones
• Error Spotting and Sentence Improvement
  • Check the subject-verb agreement first, then the tense
  • Check the pronoun case and the preposition
  • Check the articles and the comparison (more and most)
  • Fill in the blanks and cloze test: read the whole sentence
• Comprehension and Para Jumbles
  • Read the questions first, then the passage
  • Find the opening and closing sentence in para jumbles
  • Use the connectors and the pronouns as clues
  • Tone and the main idea questions

Top 10 Rules to Remember

1. Singular subject, singular verb; plural subject, plural verb.
2. Use the simple present for universal truths and habits.
3. Use the present perfect for the action with a result in the present; do not use it with a definite past time.
4. “Each of” and “one of the” are followed by a singular verb.
5. A comparative is followed by “than”; a superlative has “the”.
6. Use “fewer” for the countable nouns and “less” for the uncountable ones.
7. After a preposition, use a noun, a pronoun or a gerund (-ing).
8. Do not use two negatives together.
9. Do not use “will” in a clause that begins with if or when for the future.
10. The article “an” is used by the vowel sound (an hour, a university).

How to Use This Mind Map

1. Mark each branch as strong, medium or weak.
2. Revise the weak branches from the detailed notes.
3. Take a timed test on the weak topics.
4. Revise this page on the day before the exam.

Quick Tips

• Mark the weak branches and revise them first.
• Revise the ten rules daily.
• Check the agreement and the tense in every error spotting question.
• Practise the vocabulary daily.

Quick Revision Points

• There are 8 parts of speech and 12 tenses.
• Each, every and one of take singular verbs.
• Narration shifts the tense back.
• Use fewer for countable nouns.
• Vowel sound decides a or an.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. How many parts of speech are there?
   Answer: 8
2. How many tenses are there?
   Answer: 12
3. Which article is used before a vowel sound?
   Answer: An
4. Is news singular or plural?
   Answer: Singular
5. What do we use with since?
   Answer: A point of time
6. Which word is used for the uncountable nouns: fewer or less?
   Answer: Less
7. What follows a comparative?
   Answer: Than
8. What is the passive form of the verb?
   Answer: Be + past participle (V3)
9. Which conjunction shows contrast?
   Answer: But or although
10. Which type of clause begins with if?
    Answer: Conditional (adverb) clause

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the MindMaps notes page, read the previous topic Medieval Indian History Mind Map and the next topic Reasoning Topics Mind Map.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a grammar mind map?

A one-page summary of the grammar topics and their key rules.

How many parts of speech are there?

Eight.

How many tenses are there?

Twelve.

What is the rule of subject-verb agreement?

The verb agrees with its subject in number.

What is the difference between active and passive voice?

In the active voice the subject does the action; in the passive voice the subject receives it.

What is direct and indirect speech?

The exact words of the speaker and their report without quotation marks.

What are modals?

Helping verbs that show ability, permission, duty or possibility.

What is an idiom?

A group of words with a figurative meaning.

How do I attempt error spotting questions?

Check the subject-verb agreement, the tense, the pronoun and the preposition.

Is this topic asked in SSC?

Yes. English grammar is asked in all the SSC exams.

What is a clause?

A group of words with a subject and a verb.

How can I use this mind map best?

Mark the weak branches and revise them from the detailed notes.