Category: Grammar

Correct or Incorrect?

Which of the following sentences is incorrect?

1. I know how to ride.

2. He made a speech.

3. He denied to repay the loan.

4. I have received no information.

5. The sceneries of  Ghats are charming.

6. John asked if he could go home.

7. They have sold all their furnitures.

8. Mary had to leave her rights.

9. She asked had we taken our food.

10. I always keep the stamps in this box.

 

 

 

Check answers: The incorrect sentences are- No. 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

Correct Sentences:

3. He refused to repay the loan.

5. The scenery of the Ghats is charming.

7. They have sold all their furniture.

8. Mary had to abandon (or relinquish) her right.

9. She asked if/whether we had taken our food.

Multiple-Choice Questions – Synonyms-Antonyms

1. Which of the following is not a synonym of the word ‘abandon‘:

a. renounce

b. disclaim

c. desert

d. keep

 

2. Which of the following is a synonym of the word ‘abbreviate‘:

a. lengthen

b. truncate

c. expand

d. elongate

 

3. Which of the following is not a synonym of the word ‘abrupt‘:

a. swift

b. curt

c. gradual

d. sudden

 

4. Which of the following is not a synonym of the word ‘abstemious‘:

a. strict

b. spartan

c. intemperate

d. austere

 

5. Which of the following is a synonym of ‘adore‘:

a. hate

b. revere

c. loathe

d. detest

 

 

Check Answers: 1.(d); 2.(b); 3.(c); 4.(c); 5.(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple-choice Questions – Direct and Indirect Speech

Choose the correct indirect narration of the following sentences:

1.       Atul said to Rohan, “I may go to the science museum tomorrow.”

 

  1. Atul told Rohan that I may go to the science museum tomorrow.
  2. Atul said to Rohan that he will be going to the science museum the next day.
  3. Atul informed Rohan that he intends to go to the science museum the next day.
  4. Atul told Rohan that he might go to the science museum the next day.

2.       The Principal said to the teacher, “The school buses have arrived late today.”

 

  1. The Principal told the teacher that the school buses have arrived late today.
  2. The Principal told the teacher that the school buses had arrived late that day.
  3. The Principal said to the teacher that the school buses had arrived late to school on the day.
  4. The Principal told the teacher that the buses arrived late to school that day.

3.       Tina said to Vicky, “Where do you live?”

 

  1. Tina interrogated Vicky and asked him where he lives.
  2. Tina asked to Vicky where do you live.
  3. Tina asked Vicky where he lived.
  4. Tina asked Vicky where he is living.

4.       She said to Sid, “Please carry my packet.”

 

  1. She asked Sid to carry her packet.
  2. She requested Sid to carry her packet.
  3. She told Sid to please carry her packet.
  4.  She ordered Sid to carry her packet.

5.       Sam said to the teacher, “I have collected the diaries of all the students.”

 

  1. Sam told the teacher that he has collected the diaries of all the students.
  2. Sam told the teacher that he is collecting the diaries of all the students.
  3. Sam said to the teacher that he collected all the diaries of the students.
  4. Sam informed the teacher that he had collected the diaries of all the students.

 

 

 

Check Answers: 1.( 4); 2.(2); 3.(3); 4.(2); 5.(4)

Compound Sentence – Coordinating Conjunctions

A Compound Sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses. The clauses of a Compound Sentence can be  connected by means of the following Coordinating Conjunctions-

  • Cumulative or Copulative Conjunctions
  1. And – Work hard and you will succeed.
  2. As well as – The cuckoo as well as the nightingale is a singing bird. (Note: Such a sentence is sometimes regarded as a complex sentence also. But it need not be so taken. The sentence, ‘He can write as well as you.’ is definitely a complex sentence, where ‘as well as you can (write) is an adverb clause of comparison.
  3. Both…and – He was both beaten and kicked. (i.e. was kicked)
  4. No less than – You no less than your brother are a rogue.
  5. Not only…but also – He was not only arrested but also hand-cuffed.
  • Adversative Conjunction 
  1. But – He is thin but (he is) healthy.
  2. However – He has broken the rules of discipline; however let him go this time.
  3. Nevertheless – Everything went against his plans nevertheless he stuck to his resolve.
  4. Only – You are free to go wherever you like; only see that you do not endanger yourself.
  5. Still/Yet – He is very poor; still (or yet) he is not dishonest.
  6. Whereas – You say one thing, whereas your brother says something else.
  7. While – His wife spends freely while he is a miser.
  • Illative Conjunctions
  1. For – I cannot die in peace for I am a sinner.
  2. So/So then/then – Truth prevails in the end so (or so then or then) let us be always truthful.
  3. Therefore – It is getting late; let us start therefore.

Analysis of Sentences

Analysis of Sentences

By ‘Analysis of Sentences’ is meant the breaking up of a sentence into its component parts and bringing out the relation which the different parts bear to one another.

Sentences are of three kinds:

  1. Simple
  2. Compound
  3. Complex

1.Simple Sentences- A Simple Sentence is one which contains only one finite verb, expressed or understood: e.g. The train arrives.

2. Compound Sentence- A Compound Sentence is one which is made up of two or more co-ordinate (i.e. independent clauses merely connected by co-ordinating conjunctions), e.g. The Director dissolved the meeting and the members dispersed.

The cuckoo as well as the nightingale is a singing bird.

3. Complex Sentence- A Complex Sentence is one which consists of one principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses are of three kinds: The Noun clause, the Adjective clause and the Adverb clause.

That honesty is the best policy is acknowledged by all. (Noun clause)

These are the boys who played the mischief. ( Adjective clause)

Strike the iron while it is hot. (Adverb clause)

Metaphor

Metaphor is a figure of speech where there is an implied comparison betwen two objects, persons or situations. Metaphor does not state, like a simile, that one thing is or acts like another thing. Metaphor states that the two things are one and in a manner identical. Metaphor  is a figure of of identification, e.g. Her eyes are like pearls. (The comparison is implied. Eyes are identified with pearls. Unlike a simile there is no use of ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Metaphor is usually expressed in the following forms:

1. Explicit identification:

  • The camel is the ship of the desert.
  • Procrastination is the thief of time.
  • Old age is the sunset of life.
  • Idleness is the nursery of sinful thoughts.

2. By the use of ‘of’:

  • He was faced by a sea of troubles.
  • Let us fight with the weapon of truth.
  • Hold fast to the anchor of faith, hope and charity. (Anchor in the form of faith etc. ‘Anchor’ is identified with “faith’ etc.)
  • The tree of liberty only grows when watered by the blood of tyrants. (‘Tree’ in the form of ‘liberty’; ‘water’ in the form of  ‘blood’.) 

3. Expressed through a verb:

  • The ship ploughs the sea.
  • Remorse gnawed at his heart.
  • Do not ape the manners of the rich.
  • Our country is being drained of its resources.

4.A whole sentence: Sometimes a whole sentence is metaphricallyy used to fit in a particular situation. If a man, for example , goes on changing his jobs, we merely tell him, “Well, sir, A rolling stone gathers no moss“.

Similarly:

  • He is sowing wild oats.
  • The cat was out of the bag.
  • He hit the nail on the head.
  •  Make hay while the sun shines.

These are all examples of Metaphor.

5.Expressed in a phrase ( where the objects of identity are not clearly expressed):

Through nouns:

  • At last there is a ray of hope.
  • He laid down the reigns of his office.
  • They spread the light of knowledge.
  • There is not a shade of doubt in it.

Through adjectives:

  • He had a fiery temper.
  • There was a stormy discussion in the meeting.
  • She has a rosy complexion.
  • He has a stony heart.

 

Possessive Determiners

Possessive Determiner

A determiner used in front of a noun to express possession or belonging, e.g. my book, his coat, our house, your car, its colour, their culture.

The possessive determiners in English are my, your, his, her, its, our and their.

Possessive Determiners are sometimes called Possessive Adjectives or Possessive Pronouns.

They are called Possessive Adjectives as they are used with nouns and do the work of adjectives, e.g.

This is my pen.

 Those are your pens.

That is his pen.

In the following sentences the words in italics are Possessive Pronouns:-

This notebook is mine.

Those notebooks are yours.

That notebook is hers.

That plan of yours is wonderful.

Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative Determiners are used to indicate things or people in relationship to the speaker or writer in space or time.

This, that, these, those are the Demonstrative Determiners in English. 

This and these indicate nearness to the speaker, as in –

This is a beautiful drawing.

These chocolates are for you.

That and those indicate distance from the speaker, as in –

That girl is very smart.

Those flowers, over there, are beautiful.

This and that are used before singular countable and uncountable nouns, e.g.

This pen is expensive. (Countable noun)

This water is dirty. (Uncountable noun)

That boy is handsome. (Countable noun)

That rice is good. (Uncountable noun)

These is plural of this.

Those is plural of that.

 

Articles

Articles: Indefinite and Definite: a, an, the

A, an (before vowels), and the, are the commonest words in the English language and are a form of adjectives.

 A /an is a weak form of one and is used before a singular countable noun which is not proper, nor definite. Its function is not to define but to generalize. Example: a book, an orange etc.

 The is a weak form of that and is used before singular and plural, countable and uncountable nouns, provided they are identified or definite. It is generally not used before proper nouns.

a/an is indefinite, any, one of many, not one particular thing.

the points out a particular thing.

The choice between a and an is decided by the sound of the word which is used after them. When it is a vowel sound, an is used and if it is a consonant sound, a is used, e.g. an hour, an umbrella, an apple, an elephant, a table, a horse, a door, a goat. Remember it is the sound of the initial letter that matters and not the spelling. Thus a is used before vowels beginning with a u when they are pronounced with a y /j/ sound  as though it were a consonant, as a unit, a unicorn, a university, a useful animal. Similarly, an is used , for example before words beginning with the letter h where this is not pronounced, as in an hour, an heir, an honest officer, an honourable man.

The is spoken as /thi: /, when it is followed by a word beginning with a vowel sound and as /the /, when it is followed by a word beginning with a consonant sound.

The is used to refer back to a person that has already been mentioned, as in –

  • I met a young man in the college yesterday. The man was very smart and efficient.
  • We’ve bought a new car. The car is very luxurious.

The can be used to make a general statement about all things of a particular type, as in –

  • The industries are responsible for environmental pollution.
  • The television and the computer have reduced our physical activity.

The can be used to refer to a whole class or group, as in ‘the Indians’, ‘the French’, ‘the Smiths’, ‘the dog’, ‘the rich’, ‘the poor’ etc.

The indicates a person or thing to be the only one, as in the sun, the moon, the sky, the earth, the Bible, the Gita, the Prime Minister, the President, the Speaker etc.

The can also be used to refer to services or systems, as in –

  • The Browns are not on the phone.
  •  I prefer to travel by the train.

The is used in front of superlative adjectives, as in ‘the tallest boy’, ‘the longest river’, ‘the most beautiful woman’ etc.

The can be used instead of a possessive determiner to refer to parts of the body, as in –

  • He caught her by the hair.
  • The dog bit him on the leg.