Essential Grammar Rules for SSC CGL & CHSL
Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement with Prepositional Phrases
When two subjects are joined by as well as, along with, together with, with, in addition to, accompanied by, like, unlike, the verb agrees with the FIRST subject.
- Example: The teacher, along with all the students, is attending the seminar.
Rule 2: Either / Or & Neither / Nor
When two subjects are connected by either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, the verb agrees with the NEAREST subject.
- Example: Neither the captain nor the players were present at the press conference.
Rule 3: Scarcely / Hardly & No Sooner
- Hardly / Scarcely is followed by WHEN. (Hardly had I reached the station when the train left).
- No sooner is followed by THAN. (No sooner did the bell ring than the students ran out).