67. Its and it’s 

These two words often cause confusion. 

Its is the possessive form of it. 

• Every country has its traditions. 

 It’s is the contracted form of it is or it has. 

• It’s raining. (= It is raining.)

 • It’s gone. (= It has gone.) 

 66. Inversion of subject and verb 

• Incorrect: Never I have seen such a sight.

 • Correct: Never have I seen such a sight.

 • Incorrect: Hardly I have had any rest for a week.

 • Correct: Hardly have I had any rest for a week. 

When the first word of the sentence is a negative, the main verb comes before the subject, as in a direct question. 

 65. Invent and discover 

• Incorrect: Who invented America?

 • Correct: Who discovered America? 

• Incorrect: Who discovered the telephone? 

• Correct: Who invented the telephone? 

Use invent of something which did not exist until man created it. 

Example: a computer or a telephone. 

Use discover of something which existed without man's knowledge. 

Example: mineral deposits, countries, continents, planets etc. 

 

64. Indirect questions 

The indirect question is really not a question at all. It has no inversion of subject and predicate as in a direct question. It does not use the auxiliary do either.

 Compare: 

• Direct: Where are you going?

 • Indirect: He asked me where I was going. (NOT He asked me where was I going?) 

 • Direct: When does he propose to start? 

• Indirect: I want to know when he proposes to start. (NOT I want to know when does he propose to start?) Note that we do not use a question mark at the end of an indirect question. 

 

 63. Imperative sentences 

• Incorrect: See that you will come for the meeting in time. 

• Correct: See that you come for the meeting in time.

 • Incorrect: Take care that you will not be cheated. 

• Correct: Take care that you are not cheated. 

It is wrong to use future tense in the subordinate clause when the verb in the main clause is in the imperative mood. 

In such clauses, the simple present should be used instead of the simple future. 

 62. If clauses 

• Incorrect: If it rains we would cancel the match. 

• Correct: If it rains we will cancel the match.

 • Incorrect: If you hit the dog, it would bite you. 

• Correct: If you hit the dog, it will bite you. 

 When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple present tense, we use will/shall/ can/may + infinitive in the main clause. 

• Incorrect: If you studied hard, you will get a first class. 

• Correct: If you studied hard, you would get a first class. When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple past tense, we use would/should/ could/might + infinitive in the main clause. Sentences of these types are used to talk about purely imaginary situations.

 • Incorrect: If you had studied hard, you would get a first class.

 • Correct: If you had studied hard, you would have got a first class. When the verb in the main clause is in the past perfect tense, we use would/ should/could/might + have + past participle in the main clause.

 61. I don't mind

 • Incorrect: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'I don't mind.' 

• Correct: 'Will you have some coffee?' 

'Thank you' 

OR 'No, thank you.' 

Say ‘Thanks’ or ‘Thank you’ while accepting an offer. 

Say ‘No, thanks’ or ‘No, thank you’ while declining an offer. 

'I don't mind' is rude. 

It shows indifference: that the person does not care whether he drinks coffee or not. 

'I don't mind' should be used only when it is permissible to indicate no strong preference.