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Phrasal verbs with take exerciseOctober 3, 2013

Each sentence given below contains an incomplete phrasal verb. Complete the expression by supplying a suitable preposition or adverb particle. Choose your answer from the options given in the brackets.

1. She takes ……………………….. her grandmother. (after / off / in)

2. They assaulted the watchmen and took many precious paintings ………………………. (down / away / back)

3. These shoes don’t fit. I am going to take them ……………………….. to the store. (back / away / off)

4. Don’t take him ………………….. an idiot. (for / in / off)

5. The dress was loose for me so I took it to the tailor and got it taken …………………… (in / off / down)

6. Please take your shoes ……………………….. before entering the temple. (down / off / away)

7. How are you going to meet the deadlines if you take ………………………. too many projects? (on / in / over)

8. If you love Susie why don’t you take her ………………………. on a date? (out / up / off)

9. He took ………………… farming after retirement. (up / in / on)

10. We will take this issue ………………………. when we meet next week. (up / on / over)

Answers

1. She takes after her grandmother. (= She resembles her grandmother.)

2. They assaulted the watchmen and took many precious paintings away. (To take something away is to seize it by force.)

3. These shoes don’t fit. I am going to take them back to the store.

4. Don’t take him for an idiot. (To take somebody for an idiot is to assume that he/she is an idiot.)

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5. The dress was loose for me so I took it to the tailor and got it taken in. (To take a dress in is to make it smaller when sewing.)

6. Please take your shoes off before entering the temple.

7. How are you going to meet the deadlines if you take on too many projects? (To take on is to accept responsibilities/work etc.)

8. If you love Susie why don’t you take her out on a date?

9. He took up farming after retirement. (To take up is to begin as a hobby.)

10. We will take this issue up when we meet next week.(To take up an issue is to discuss it.)

Conditional sentences: grammar exercise

October 2, 2013

1. If you had taken the necessary precautions, none of this ………………………………..

a) would happen

b) would have happened

c) had happened

d) will happen

2. If I were you, I ………………………….. that mole examined.

a) would get

b) will get

c) would have got

c) would be getting

3. If I …………………………. a lottery, I would spend all my time traveling.

a) win

b) won

c) have won

d) had won

4. Had I realized what you intended, I ………………………………. my permission.

a) would not give

b) would not have given

c) will not give

d) had not given

5. If it …………………………………….. for your help, I don’t know what I would have done.

a) wasn’t

b) hadn’t been

c) weren’t

d) hasn’t been

6. Were she my daughter, I …………………………… her to go out in that mini-frock.

a) wouldn’t have allowed

b) would not allow

c) will not allow

d) hadn’t allowed

Answers

1. If you had taken the necessary precautions, none of this would have happened. (In a type 3 conditional sentence, we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the result clause.)

2. If I were you, I would get that mole examined. (In a type 2 conditional sentence, we use a past simple tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the result clause.)

3. If I won a lottery, I would spend all my time traveling. (When we use would + infinitive in the main clause, the verb in the if-clause should be in the past simple tense.)

4. Had I realized what you intended, I would not have given my permission. (‘Had I realized’ means the same as ‘If I had realized’. If I had realized what you intended, I wouldn’t have given my permission.)

5. If it hadn’t been for your help, I don’t know what I would have done. (We use a past perfect tense in the if-clause when would have + past participle is used in the main clause.)

6. Were she my daughter, I would not allow her to go out in that mini-frock. (In a type 2 conditional sentence we use a past simple tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause. The clause ‘were she my daughter’ is actually a shortened form of the clause ‘if she were my daughter’.)

Active and passive voice worksheet

September 29, 2013

Test your knowledge of active and passive voice with this grammar exercise. Each sentence given below is in the active voice. Change it into passive voice.

1. He sings a song.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. The boy killed the spider.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Help him.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Farmers sow maize in the rainy season.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. Are you writing a letter?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. The workers were digging a canal.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. I will finish the job by the end of this week.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. Have you finished your job?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. They have informed him of his mother’s death.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

10. They took all the necessary precautions.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Answers

1. A song is sung by him. (Active verb – sings; passive verb – is sung)

2. The spider was killed by the boy. (Active verb – killed; passive verb – was killed)

3. Let him be helped. (Imperative sentences in the passive voice begin with let.)

4. Maize is sown in the rainy season. (Active verb – sow; passive verb – is/are sown)

5. Is a letter being written by you? (Active verb – is/are writing; passive verb – is/are being written)

6. A canal was being dug by the workers. (Active verb – was/were digging; passive verb – was/were being dug)

7. The job will be finished (by me) by the end of this week. (Active verb – will finish; passive verb –will be finished)

8. Has your job been finished by you? (Active verb – has/have finished; passive verb – has/have been finished)

9. He has been informed of his mother’s death. (Active verb – has/have informed; passive verb – has/have been informed)

10. All the necessary precautions were taken by them. (Active verb – took; passive verb – was/were taken)

If or unless?

September 28, 2013

Hints

Unless has a similar meaning to if not. Study the examples given below.

Unless she works hard she will not pass.

If she does not work hard, she will not pass.

Complete the following sentences using if or unless.

1. I will take the job ………………………… the pay is too low.

2. She will not buy the house ………………………….. you lower the price.

3. They will not come ………………………… you invite them.

4. You will not lose that belly fat …………………………… you do not exercise.

5. Let’s go for a walk – …………………………… you are too tired.

6. ……………………………. you stop smoking, you will get cancer.

7. I wouldn’t be able to do it, ……………………………. she didn’t help me.

8. She will be very upset ……………………….. I don’t wish her on her birthday.

9. ……………………….. you give me the keys, I will kill you.

10. ……………………… you don’t leave this place at once, I will call the police.

Answers

1. I will take the job unless the pay is too low.

2. She will not buy the house unless you lower the price.

3. They will not come unless you invite them.

4. You will not lose that belly fat if you do not exercise.

5. Let’s go for a walk – unless you are too tired.

6. Unless you stop smoking, you will get cancer.

7. I wouldn’t be able to do it, if she didn’t help me.

8. She will be very upset if I don’t wish her on her birthday.

9. Unless you give me the keys, I will kill you.

10. If you don’t leave this place at once, I will call the police.

Much, many, a lot of, lots of etcSeptember 27, 2013

We can use numbers with countable nouns. For example, we can say two girls and six eggs.

Many and much

Sometimes it is not possible or necessary to give an exact number like this. Then we use a quantifier like many.

There were many children in the park. (We don’t know the exact number of children.) There are many mangoes on the tree. She has many friends.

We cannot use numbers with uncountable nouns. For example, we can’t say two water or three honey.

However, we can give an idea of amount or quantity by using the word much with uncountable nouns. Note that much is mainly used in questions and negative sentences.

How much money do you have? There isn’t much food left. There isn’t much space in this room.

Some


Some can be used with countable and uncountable nouns.

I have bought some eggs. (Here we use some with the countable noun eggs.) There is some water in the bottle. (Here we use some with the uncountable noun water.)

Some is mainly used in affirmative sentences. In negative sentences, we use any.

Is there any water in the bottle?

A lot of / lots of

A lot of / lots of can also be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Note that there is hardly any difference between a lot of and lots of. A lot of and lots of are mainly used in affirmative sentences. In questions and negatives we express the same idea using much and many.

I have watched lots of English films. I haven’t watched many English films. (More natural than ‘I haven’t watched lots of

English films.’) She has been giving me a lot of trouble. (Here we use a lot of with the uncountable noun

trouble.)

Concession and contrast: grammar worksheetSeptember 26, 2013

Rewrite the following sentences beginning them with the given words:

1. He worked hard, but he couldn’t pass the test.

In spite of …………………………………………………………………….

2. It was late, but we decided to go out.

Although …………………………………………………………………….

3. She is rich, but she is not happy.

Despite …………………………………………………………………….

4. She had a bad teacher. Still, she passed her exams.


In spite of …………………………………………………………………….

5. She lives next door but we rarely see each other.

Although …………………………………………………………………….

6. He faced many setbacks, but he didn’t lose hope.

In spite of …………………………………………………………………….

7. Although she is a foreigner, she speaks English remarkably well.

In spite of …………………………………………………………………….

8. In spite of earning a good salary, she finds it difficult to make both ends meet.

Although …………………………………………………………………….

9. She lives close to her office; however, she is always late for work.

In spite of …………………………………………………………………….

10. Although she works three jobs in a day, she makes it a point to spend quality time with her kids.

In spite of …………………………………………………………………….

Answers

1. In spite of working hard, he couldn’t pass the test.

2. Although it was late, we decided to go out.

3. Despite being rich, she is not happy.

4. In spite of having a bad teacher, she passed her test.

5. Although she lives next door, we rarely see each other.

6. In spite of facing many setbacks, he didn’t lose hope.

7. In spite of being a foreigner, she speaks English remarkably well.

8. Although she earns a good salary, she finds it difficult to make both ends meet.

9. In spite of living close to her office, she is always late for work.

10. In spite of working three jobs in a day, she makes it a point to spend quality time with her kids.

Adverbs worksheetSeptember 24, 2013

Adverbs are words used to modify verbs. Adverbs can also be used to modify adjectives and other adverbs.

Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box. Write the kind of adverb against each sentence. The same adverb can be used more than once.

Occasionally Sometimes Usually Rarely OnceVery Never Mostly Often always

1. I …………………….. go to bed at 10 o’clock. (…………………………………)

2. I have …………………. been to the USA. (…………………………………)

3. I have been to Australia just ………………….. (…………………………………)

4. I ………………….. take a bath before I go to bed. (…………………………………)

5. My grandparents live in Kerala. I visit them …………………… (…………………………………)

6. My friends are ………………… non-smokers. (…………………………………)

7. I was …………………… impressed with her performance. (…………………………………)

8. I ………………….. go for a walk in the park. (…………………………………)

9. I watch English films …………………. (…………………………………)

10. They …………………. go out. (…………………………………)

Answers

1. I usually go to bed at 10 o’clock. (adverb of frequency)

2. I have never been to the USA. (frequency adverb)


3. I have been to Australia just once. (frequency)

4. I always take a bath before I go to bed. (frequency)

5. My grandparents live in Kerala. I visit them often. (frequency)

6. My friends are mostly non-smokers. (focusing adverb)

7. I was very impressed with her performance. (degree adverb)

8. I sometimes go for a walk in the park. (frequency adverb)

9. I watch English films occasionally. (frequency adverb)

10. They rarely go out. (frequency adverb)

Exercise 2

Complete the following with suitable adverbs. Choose from the given box.

Almost Very There Ever SoSometimes Clearly Perhaps Seldom Certainly

1. I have ………………….. finished.

2. He is ………………… clever.

3. There is …………………. something wrong.

4. ……………….. I think I should take a long break.

5. ………………… her train is late.

6. He is ……………….. late for work.

7. She is ……………….. the right person for the job.

8. Have you ………………. wanted to run away?

9. You can see lots of flowers ……………….

10. They are ………………… beautiful.

Answers

1. I have almost finished.

2. He is very clever.

3. There is clearly something wrong.

4. I sometimes think I should take a long break.

5. Perhaps her train is late.

6. He is seldom late for work.

7. She is certainly the right person for the job.

8. Have you ever wanted to run away?

9. You can see lots of flowers there.

10. They are very beautiful.

Have had and had hadSeptember 22, 2013

Have is one of those auxiliary verbs that can also be used as an ordinary (main) verb. When have is used as an auxiliary verb, it helps us to form the perfect and perfect continuous tenses.

Study the examples given below.

I have finished the report.

Here the auxiliary verb have forms the present perfect tense with the past participle finished.

I have been working on that report.

Here the auxiliary have helps in the formation of the present perfect continuous tense.

Have can also be used as a main verb. In this case it is followed by an object. As a main verb, have is used to talk about our possessions, relations, experiences etc.

I have a sister. She has a car. He has a nice job. I have breakfast at 8.30. I have a shower before I go to bed. I have a nap in the afternoon.


When have is used as an ordinary verb, it has past and past participle forms.

I usually have bread and butter for breakfast, but yesterday I had pasta. I had a heavy breakfast in the morning, now I don’t feel like eating anything.

The present perfect form of have is have had.

‘Have you had your breakfast?’ ‘I have had a cup of coffee, but I haven’t had anything to eat yet.’

I haven’t had any rest since morning.

The past perfect form of have is had had (had + past participle form of have).

The past perfect tense is used when we are talking about the past and want to refer back to an earlier past time.

She felt marvelous after she had had a good night’s sleep. They dismissed him before he had had a chance to apologize.

Transformation of degrees of comparisonSeptember 20, 2013

We can express the same idea using different degrees of comparison. Study the sentences given below.

John is as tall as Mike.

Tall is an adjective in the positive degree. Here we are comparing the height of two people with a positive adjective. If John and Mike are of the same height, Mike is not taller than John.

See how the same idea is expressed using both positive and comparative adjectives.

John is as tall as Mike. = Mike is not taller than John.

Another example is given below

Very few countries in the world are as large as China. (Positive) China is larger than most other countries in the world. (Comparative) China is one of the largest countries in the world. (Superlative)

No other man was as strong as Hercules. (Positive) Hercules was stronger than any other man. (Comparative) Hercules was the strongest man in the world. (Superlative)


No other boy in the class is as intelligent as James. (Positive) James is more intelligent than any other boy in the class. (Comparative) James is the most intelligent boy in the class. (Superlative)

Very few Indian saints were as popular as Vivekananda. (Positive) Vivekananda was more popular than most other Indian saints. (Comparative) Vivekananda was one of the most popular Indian saints. (Superlative)

Maria is not as intelligent as Sonia. (Positive) Sonia is more intelligent than Maria. (Comparative)

When a comparison is made between two individuals we do not normally use the superlative.

Alice is the prettier of the two sisters. (More natural than ‘Alice is the prettiest of the two sisters.’)

Verbs – mood and tenseSeptember 19, 2013

Read the following sentences.

Alice likes English movies.

When are you going to Chicago?

Shut that door.

If I were you, I would not let him go.

You notice that sentence 1 merely states a fact. Sentence 2 asks question. Sentence 3 is a command. Sentence 4 makes a supposition – an impossible supposition at that, because I can never be you.

Thus we find that verbs can be used in different ways – to state facts, to give commands, to ask questions and so on. The manner in which a verb is used is called its mood.

There are three moods in English – Indicative, Imperative and Subjunctive.

Indicative mood

Read the sentences given below.

The sun rises in the east.


My sister lives in Paris.

She works for an insurance company.

Bernard Shaw was a great writer.

As you can see, these are all simple statements of fact.

Now look at these sentences.

What are you doing there?

When does the train leave for Manchester?

What is the price of this radio?

As you can see, these are all plain questions.

When a verb is used to state a fact or to ask a question, it is said to be in the indicative mood.

Imperative mood

A sentence which contains a command, a piece of advice or a request is said to be in the imperative mood. Sentences beginning with let are also in the imperative mood.

Examples are given below.

Shut the door. (Order)Keep quiet. (Order)Please take this file with you. (Request)Let him go.

Note that the subject is not usually mentioned when the sentence is in the imperative mood.

Subjunctive mood

The subjunctive mood is not very common in modern English. It is a kind of present simple tense. It doesn’t take the marker –s in the third person singular.

It is important that every child get an opportunity to learn.

Showing possibility using should

September 18, 2013

We can use should to say that something is probable because it is logical or normal.

I am stronger than him, so I should be able to beat him. (It is a logical possibility.)

She has been working on that project for well over two weeks. She should be able to finish in time.

If the sky is clear, you should be able to see Mount Everest from Tiger Hill.

Aparna should be here before 7.30 – she left office at 6 o’clock.

‘I am spending the weekend with my parents.’ ‘That should be nice.’

He has worked hard. He should be able to pass the test.

Should have + past participle

This structure is used to talk about past events that did not happen.

I should have finished that report yesterday. (It was necessary for me to finish that report yesterday, but I couldn’t.)

You should have asked my permission before using my computer. (= It was necessary for you to ask my permission, but you didn’t do that.)

Should have + past participle is also used to talk about past events which may or may not have happened.

9 am. Alice should have left for office. (We don’t know whether this particular event took place, but it is a possibility.)

Should not have + past participle

The structure should not have + past participle is used to talk about unwanted things that happened.

You shouldn’t have shouted at her. It really upset her.

Should not have + past participle is also used to talk about negative possibilities.

It is only 4.30. She shouldn’t have left her office now.


Phrasal verbs exerciseSeptember 17, 2013

Each sentence given below contains an incomplete phrasal verb. Complete the phrasal verb and the sentence by supplying an appropriate particle or preposition.

1. I have promised to take my kids on a vacation, but I don’t know if I will be able to save ………… enough money.

2. My dad said that he was going to see …………… sending me abroad for higher studies.

3. I am going to the airport to see …………………… my sister.

4. I will see ……………….. it that she does not get the promotion.

5. Few girls manage to see their studies ………………… after they get married and have children.

6. I don’t think that he took the money. Somebody set him ……………………

7. He likes to show ……………….. his cars and gadgets.

8. Should someone shut him ……………….?

Answers

1. I have promised to take my kids on a vacation, but I don’t know if I will be able to save up enough money.

2. My dad said that he was going to see about sending me abroad for higher studies.

3. I am going to the airport to see off my sister.

4. I will see to it that she does not get the promotion.

5. Few girls manage to see their studies through after they get married and have children.

6. I don’t think that he took the money. Somebody set him up.

7. He likes to show off his cars and gadgets.

8. Should someone shut him up?


Explanations

To save up is to accumulate money.

To see about something is to consider it.

To see off somebody is to bid them goodbye at the beginning of their trip.

To see to something is to make sure that it happens.

To see through something is to finish it.

To set somebody up is to incriminate them falsely.

To show off something is to show it to everybody with a lot of pride.

To shut somebody up is to make them quiet.

Infinitives after auxiliariesSeptember 16, 2013

The infinitive is always used without to after the auxiliaries can, could, may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, do, does and did.

She can swim. (NOT She can to swim.) (NOT She can swimming.) He must obey me. (NOT He must to obey me.) (NOT He must obeying me.) She should understand. (NOT She should to understand.) (NOT She should

understanding.)

The modal auxiliary ought is an exception to this rule. It is followed by an infinitive with to.

She ought to behave. (NOT She ought behave.) (NOT She ought behaving.)

The primary auxiliaries be (is, am, are, was and were) and have (has, have and had) can be followed by an infinitive with to.

She is to retire next year. (NOT She is retire next year.) He has to pay the fine. (NOT He has pay the fine.)

The modal auxiliaries need and dare can be followed by an infinitive with or without to. The grammar is different.


In questions and negatives need is usually followed by an infinitive without to. In affirmative sentences, need is usually followed by an infinitive with to.

Need I wait any longer? Need I consult a specialist? You need not wait any longer. You need not consult a specialist. You need to wait for an hour or two. (More natural than ‘You need wait for an hour or

two.’) You need to consult a specialist.

When need is followed by an infinitive with to, we make questions and negatives with do.

You need to sign these papers. Do I need to sign these papers? OR Need I sign these papers? (NOT Need I to sign these

papers?) You don’t need to sign these papers. OR You need not sign these papers. (NOT You

need not to sign these papers.)

Phrasal verbs beginning with putSeptember 15, 2013

The word put is used in a large number of phrasal verbs.

Put across

To put something across is to make it understood.

He failed to put his message across. (= He failed to convey his idea.)

People working in sales and marketing should be able to put themselves across well.

Put aside

To put something aside is to set it aside.

He was feeling sleepy, so he put his books aside and went to bed.

Put away

a) To put something away is to keep them in their proper place.

You must put away those toys when you have finished playing with them.


b) To put something away is to save them for later use.

She makes it a point to put away a few dollars each week.

c. To put something away is to discard it.

It is high time you put away those false notions.

d. Put away can also mean eat or drink a large quantity of food or beverages.

If he is really hungry he needs just two minutes to put away a full meal.

e) To put somebody away is to send them to jail.

They put him away for killing his neighbor.

f) To put an animal away is to subject them to mercy killing.

The dog was so badly wounded that the doctor had to put him away.

Put down

a) To put something down is to write it down.

b) To put somebody down is to suppress them.

The government called the military to put down the rebellion.

c) To put something down to something else is to attribute the former to the latter.

He put the mistakes down to carelessness.

c) To put somebody down is to regard or categorize them as..

He was put down as a chronic nuisance.

d) To put somebody down is to belittle them.

I hate men who put their wives down in front of visitors.

Absolute phraseSeptember 14, 2013


When a participle and the noun that comes before it together forms an independent phrase, the structure is often called an absolute phrase.

Examples of absolute phrases are given below.

Weather permitting we shall meet in the evening.

Here the phrase ‘weather permitting’ is an example of an absolute phrase.

God willing we shall meet again.

Here the phrase ‘God willing’ is an example of an absolute phrase.

More examples of absolute phrases are given below.

The weather being fine, we went out for a picnic.

The sun having risen, we set out on our journey.

Absolute phrases are used to combine two clauses that have different subjects.


The visitors left. We went to bed.

Here the two sentences have different subjects. Still, we can combine them using a participle.

The visitors having left, we went to bed.

Another example is given below.

It was a stormy day. We stayed inside the house.

It being a stormy day, we stayed inside the house.

We can change an absolute phrase into a subordinate adverb clause of time, condition, cause or concession.

Weather permitting can be changed into ‘If weather permits…’

If weather permits, we shall meet in the meeting.

If God wills, we shall meet again.

As the weather was fine, we went out for a picnic.

After the sun had risen, we set out on our journey.

After the visitors had left, we went to bed.

An overview of participlesSeptember 12, 2013

This lesson provides a detailed overview of participles. Participles are non-finite verbs used as adjectives. Participles usually end in –ing or –ed. Since participles are formed from verbs, they express action or a state of being.

When used as adjectives, participles modify nouns or pronouns. They also help in the formation of continuous and perfect tense forms.

There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles. Present participles always end in –ing. Past participles most often end in –ed. Other possible endings are: -en (e.g. written, broken), -d (e.g. sold, paid), -t (e.g. dealt, met, sent), -n (e.g. seen, spun) or –ne (e.g. gone, done)

It is no fun nursing a broken heart. I like to listen to the noise of falling rain. Deserted by his family, he killed himself. Stricken with grief, she threw herself on the body. Crying, she walked out of the room. Smiling, she hugged the child.

Participial phrase

A participial phrase is a group words consisting of a participle. The participial phrase may have its own object. This is usually a noun or pronoun.

Taking his coat, James walked away.

Here the noun phrase ‘his coat’ acts as the object of the participle taking.

The participial phrase ‘taking his coat’ acts as an adjective modifying the noun James.

The man saw the girl lighting a lamp.

Here the participial phrase ‘lighting a lamp’ modifies the noun girl.

Children interested in reading acquire knowledge faster.


Here the participial phrase ‘interested in reading’ functions as an adjective modifying the noun children.

Position

In order to avoid confusion, a participial phrase must be placed as close to the noun as possible.

Sitting on a branch, the monkey gibbered.

Here the participial phrase ‘sitting on a branch’ modifies the noun gibbered.


Walking down the street, I saw a strange sight.

Here the participial phrase ‘walking down the street’ modifies the pronoun I.

Difference between conjunctions, relative pronouns and relative adverbsSeptember 10, 2013

Conjunctions, relative pronouns and relative adverbs can be used to connect two clauses. The grammar is different. Prepositions do not connect two clauses. They merely show the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word in the sentence.

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns are different from conjunctions. Relative pronouns are important connecting devices. They not only connect two clauses but also act as the subject or object of the verb in the relative clause. This is the main difference between conjunctions and relative pronouns. Conjunctions merely connect two clauses. They do not serve any other purpose.

Study the sentences given below.

This is the letter. My mother sent me this letter.

We can connect these two clauses.

This is the letter that my mother sent me.


Here the relative pronoun that replaces the phrase this letter and acts as the object of the verb sent. It is easy to decide whether a relative pronoun is the subject or the object. When it is the object it will be immediately followed by another noun which acts as the subject. In this case, the relative pronoun ‘that’ is followed by the noun ‘my mother’ which acts as the subject.


This is the boy. He won the first prize.

This is the boy who won the first prize.

Here the relative pronoun who replaces the pronoun he. It acts as the subject of the relative clause.

Relative adverb

The relative adverb not only modifies a verb, but also joins the two clauses in a sentence. Note that a relative adverb does not act as the subject or object in the relative clause. It merely replaces an adverb.

This is the house. John lives here.

This is the house where John lives.

Here the relative adverb where replaces the place adverb here.


I first met Susie on that day. I will never forget that day.

I will never forget the day when I first met Susie.

Most and most of: grammar exerciseSeptember 8, 2013

We use most before a noun without a determiner. We use most of before a pronoun and a noun with a determiner (e.g. articles, demonstratives and possessives). Most of is also used before personal or geographical names.

Complete the following sentences.

1. ………………… cheese is made from milk.


a) most

b) most of

c) either could be used here

2. ………………….. England was under water.

a) most

b) most of


3. …………………… people like movies.

a) most

b) most of


4. …………………… people in Switzerland can speak French.

a) most

b) most of


5. She has eaten ……………………. that cake.

a) most

b) most of


6. She wasn’t as intelligent as her sisters, but she was ……………………. beautiful.

a) most

b) most of

c) the most

7. ……………………. my friends are non-smokers.

a) most

b) most of


8. ………………………. us were impressed with the plan.

a) most

b) most of


9. Which country produces the …………………… milk?

a) most

b) most of


10. ……………………. them were uneducated.

a) most

b) most of


Answers

1. Most cheese is made from milk.

2. Most of England was under water.

3. Most people like movies.

4. Most people in Switzerland can speak French.

5. She has eaten most of that cake.

6. She wasn’t as intelligent as her sisters, but she was the most beautiful.

7. Most of my friends are non-smokers.

8. Most of us were impressed with the plan.

9. Which country produces the most milk?

10. Most of them were uneducated.

Have and have got: differencesSeptember 7, 2013

Have and have got are usually possible with little or no difference of meaning. Both forms can be used to express ideas such as possession and relationships. For example, the two sentences given below express the same idea.

I have a sister. = I have got a sister.

Got forms of have are informal, and are most common in the present. Do is not used in questions and negatives with got.

I have got a car. (Informal)

I have a car. (More formal)

Have you got a car? / Do you have a car? (NOT Do you have got a car?)

Have got cannot be used to talk about actions. Only have is possible in this case.

I usually have dinner at 8 o’clock. (NOT I usually have got dinner at 8 o’clock.)

Note that have and have not are only used in the present simple. In the past tense, only had is used. Had not is not possible.

I had a strange experience yesterday. (NOT I had got a strange experience yesterday.)

Got forms of have are not normally used to indicate repetition and habit.

I have a meeting on Monday. OR I have got a meeting on Monday.

I often have meetings on Mondays. (BUT NOT I often have got meetings on Mondays.)

Note that have is a state verb. It is not normally used in the continuous form.


She has a sister. (NOT She is having a sister.)

However, having is used in a few fixed expressions. Examples are: having dinner, having a bath etc.

Noun clausesSeptember 5, 2013

A noun clause serves the same purpose as a noun. It can be the subject or object of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition. Noun clauses are usually introduced by the subordinating conjunctions that, if and whether. Question words like what, how, when etc., can also be used to introduce noun clauses.

Read the examples given below.

That he is a diligent boy is known to everybody.

Can you identify the subject?

What is known to everybody?

The answer to this question is the subject of the sentence

- that he is a diligent boy.

Since this clause serves as the subject of the verb ‘is known’, it is considered as a noun clause.

Note that when the subject is a noun clause we are more likely to write the sentence with a preparatory it.

That he is a diligent boy is known to everybody. à It is known to everybody that he is a diligent boy.


Picasso was a great artist. Nobody can challenge this fact.

What cannot be challenged? The fact that Picasso was a great artist

Replace the question word with the that-clause and we will get the following complex sentence:

The fact that Picasso was a great artist cannot be challenged.


More examples of noun clauses are given below.

He is an honest boy. Everybody knows it.

Everybody knows that he is an honest boy.

Here the noun clause ‘that he is an honest boy’ is the object of the verb knows.

Why he is late? Ask him.

Ask him why he is late.

Here the noun clause ‘why he is late’ is the direct object of the verb ask.

Noun clauses are important devices because they help us to combine two or more simple sentences into a single complex sentence.

Simple present or present continuous?September 3, 2013

The simple present and the present continuous tenses can both be used to talk about the future. The simple present tense is used to talk about events which are part of a timetable. It is also used with a future meaning in subordinate clauses.

The present continuous tense is used to talk about pre-planned future events. In other cases, we are more likely to use a simple future tense.

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.

1. The summer term …………………….. on April 18th.

a) is starting

b) starts

2. My plane ………………. at 3.30.

a) leaves

b) is leaving

3. When ……………………. in Bangkok?


a) is the train arriving

b) does the train arrive

4. I will pay you back when I …………………….. a job.

a) will get

b) get

c) am getting

5. I ………………… to the US next week.

a) go

b) am going

6. She ………………….. for a new job.

a) looks

b) is looking

7. Granny’s train ………………….. at 5.30.

a) arrives

b) is arriving

8. I will tell you if I ………………….. her name.

a) will know

b) know

9. ‘What ………………… there?’ ‘I …………………. a cake.’

a) do you do; make

b) are you doing; am making

10. I ………………….. Lucia on Tuesday.

a) see

b) am seeing

Answers

1. The summer term starts on April 18th.

2. My plane leaves at 3.30.

3. When does the train arrive in Bangkok?

4. I will pay you back when I get a job.

5. I am going to the US next week.

6. She is looking for a new job.

7. Granny’s train arrives at 5.30.

8. I will tell you if I know her name.

9. ‘What are you doing there?’ ‘I am making a cake.’

10. I am seeing Lucia on Tuesday.

Past simple or present perfect tense?September 2, 2013

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate past simple or present perfect verb form.

1. When ………………………. from work?

a) did she returned

b) did she return

c) has she returned

d) has she return

2. …………………………… to the US?

a) Have you ever been


b) Did you ever go

c) Did you ever been

d) Were you ever been

3. She is the most beautiful woman …………………….

a) I had ever seen

b) I have ever seen

c) I have ever saw

d) I ever seen

4. That is the best movie …………………………..

a) I have ever watched

b) I had ever watched

c) I did watch

d) I have ever watch

5. That is the most difficult problem ……………………..

a) I have ever had to deal with

b) I never dealt with

c) I had to deal with

d) I am dealt with

6. When ……………………. I was working in the garden.

a) you phoned

b) you have phoned

c) you had phoned

d) you were phoning

7. I ……………………… with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

a) worked

b) have worked

c) have been working

d) I had worked

8. I …………………. all my childhood in France.

a) spent

b) have spent

c) have spend

d) was spending

9. Who ……………………… that necklace?

a) gave you

b) has given you

c) gives you

c) had given you

10. There ……………………. a plane crash near Bristol last night.

a) was

b) had been

c) have been

d) is

Answers

1. When did she return from work?

2. Have you ever been to the US?

3. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

4. This is the best movie I have ever watched.

5. This is the most difficult problem I have ever had to deal with.

6. When you phoned I was working in the garden.

7. I have worked with children before so I know what to expect in my new job.

8. I spent all my childhood in France.

9. Who gave you that necklace?

10. There was a plane crash near Bristol last night.

Reduced adverb clauses – Part IAugust 30, 2013

An adverb clause can be shortened to an adverb phrase. This can be particularly helpful when you want to express your ideas in a more concise manner. Before you reduce an adverb clause into an adverbial phrase, make sure that the adverb clause (subordinate clause) and the main clause have the same subject.


I slept for ten hours. I felt marvelous.

The two sentences given above express a cause and effect relationship and hence can be combined into one using the conjunction as / since.

As I had slept for ten hours, I felt marvelous.

Both clauses have the same subject and hence we can reduce the adverb clause into a phrase.

Having slept for ten hours, I felt marvelous.


He worked hard. He passed the test.

Because he worked hard, he passed the test.

This can be reduced to:


Having worked hard, he passed the test.

There are many different kinds of adverb clauses and it is not possible to reduce all of them. Generally speaking, the adverb clauses of time, cause and contrast can be reduced.

Reduced Adverb Clauses of Time

After he did military service, he became a monk.

The sentence given above can be reduced to:

After doing military service, he became a monk.

He wrote his first book after he recovered from a major illness.


He wrote his first book after recovering from a major illness.

He feeds the cats before he goes to work.

Can be reduced to

He feeds the cats before going to work.

Reduced Adverb Clauses of Cause

Because she was late, she didn’t get tickets for the show.


Being late, she didn’t get tickets for the show.

Because I worked fast, I finished early.


Having worked fast, I finished early.

Because I was feeling a bit tired, I didn’t go to work.


Feeling a bit tired, I didn’t go to work.

Reduced adverb clauses – Part IIAugust 31, 2013

Reduced Adverb Clauses of Contrast

An adverb clause of contrast can be reduced to an adverbial phrase expressing the same idea.

Though she was beautiful, she wasn’t very popular.


Despite being beautiful, she wasn’t very popular. OR In spite of being beautiful, she wasn’t very popular.

Though she was rich, she was not happy.


Despite being rich, she was not happy.

Here is how to reduce an adverb clause.

Reducing Adverb Clauses of Time

Adverb clauses of time are usually introduced by the conjunctions before, after, since, when etc. In order to reduce an adverb clause of time introduced by one of these conjunctions, you have to keep the time word, remove the subject and then change the verb into and –ing form or a noun.


After he finished the work, he took some rest.


After finishing the work, he took some rest.

Note that we retained the time word, removed the subject and changed the verb into an –ing form.



Don’t forget to signal when you are turning left.


Don’t forget to signal when turning left.

You can’t go home before you finish the work.

This can be reduced to.

You can’t go home before finishing the work.

As

The conjunction as can be used to talk about two actions or situations that go on at the same time.

Read the example given below.

As I was walking down the street, I saw Peter driving a Lamborghini.

This can be reduced to

Walking down the street, I saw Peter driving a Lamborghini.

While reducing an as-clause into a phrase, we usually remove ‘as’ and the subject + be.

Enough: grammar exerciseAugust 29, 2013

The word enough can be used as an adjective and as an adverb. When it is used as an adverb, it modifies an adjective or another adverb. Note that enough goes after the adjective/adverb it modifies. This can cause confusion because when enough is used as an adjective, it goes before the noun it modifies.

Do you know how to use enough correctly? Test your knowledge with this grammar exercise.

1. I didn’t run ………………….. to catch the bus.

a) fast enough

b) enough fast


2. She is ………………….. to know better.

a) old enough

b) enough old

3. We have bought …………………..

a) enough milk

b) milk enough

4. She was ………………… to lock the car.

a) prudent enough

b) enough prudent

5. He was …………………… to trust her.

a) stupid enough

b) enough stupid

6. Is it ………………… for you?

a) enough warm

b) warm enough

7. Have we got …………………… for buying the tickets?

a) enough money

b) money enough

8. Many tablet computers are …………………….. to put in your pocket.

a) small enough

b) enough small

9. We haven’t got …………………….

a) enough chairs

b) chairs enough

10. We haven’t got ……………………. paint.

a) blue enough

b) enough blue

Answers

1. I didn’t run fast enough to catch the bus.

2. She is old enough to know better.

3. We have bought enough milk.

4. She was prudent enough to lock the car.

5. He was stupid enough to trust her.

6. Is it warm enough for you?

7. Have we got enough money for buying the tickets?

8. Many tablet computers are small enough to fit in your pocket.

9. We haven’t got enough chairs.

10. We haven’t got enough blue paint.

The relative pronouns which, whose and whatAugust 28, 2013

The relative pronoun which is used to refer to objects and animals. It cannot be used to refer to people. Which has the same form for the nominative (subject) and the accusative (object) case.

Which has no possessive form. But if we really need to express that idea, we can use a structure with of which. In a less formal style, we can express the same idea using whose + noun.

Note that whose can refer back to people or things. It can replace the pronouns its, their, hers and his.


He has a beautiful sister. I have forgotten her name.

He has a beautiful sister whose name I have forgotten.

The structure with which is not possible here because it cannot refer back to people.

It was a meeting. I did not comprehend its importance.

It was a meeting whose importance I did not comprehend.

OR

It was a meeting the importance of which I did not understand.

The umbrella the handle of which is broken was bought only last week.

OR

The umbrella whose handle was broken was bought only last week.

What

What has the same form in the nominative and in the accusative cases and is used only in the singular. What means ‘that which’ or ‘the things which’.

What cannot be cured must be endured. (= That which cannot be cured must be endured.)

I have got what I wanted. (= I have got the things which I wanted.)

Note that clauses beginning with what act as the subject or object of the verb in the main clause. For example, in the sentence given above, the clause ‘what I wanted’ is the object of the verb got.

Adjective phraseAugust 27, 2013

A word group that has an adjective as its head is called an adjective phrase. Note that the adjective in this phrase may be accompanied by other words such as determiners, modifiers etc.

Adjective phrases can go before a noun (attributive position). They can also go after a linking verb like be (predicative position).


He was wearing a dark brown suit. (Here the adjective phrase ‘a dark brown’ modifies the noun suit.)

The fish tasted awfully funny. (Here the adjective phrase ‘awfully funny’ says something about the fish. It goes after the copular or linking verb tasted.

A copular verb does not take an object and it cannot be modified by an adverb. The word or phrase that follows a copular verb typically says something about the subject of the sentence.

The fish tasted awful. (NOT The fish tasted awfully.)

Here the adjective awful says something about the fish. It doesn’t modify the verb tasted.

Note that the adjective in an adjective phrase may be modified by an adverb. When it is modified by an adverb, the adverb goes before the adjective. The adjective may also be modified by other determiners like articles, possessives and demonstratives.

Consider the phrase ‘my cute little daughter’

Here the adjective phrase ‘my cute little’ consists of a possessive (my) and two adjectives (cute and little).

Sometimes the idea expressed by an adjective can also be expressed using a noun phrase. Consider the examples given below.

Brutus is an honorable man. (Here the adjective honorable modifies the noun man.)

The same idea can be expressed using the phrase: a man of honor

Brutus is a man of honor.


Churchill was an eminent man. (Here the adjective eminent modifies the noun man.) Churchill was a man of eminence. (Here the noun phrase ‘a man of eminence’ means the

same as the phrase ‘an eminent man’.)

Copular or linking verbsAugust 26, 2013

We have already learned that intransitive verbs do not take objects.

Examples are: sleep, sit, rest, weep, laugh, cry etc.


She is weeping.

The child sleeps.

The boy was laughing.

There is yet another variety of verbs which do not normally take objects. These are called copular verbs or linking verbs. While intransitive verbs make complete sense on their own, copular verbs require a word or phrase to make their meaning complete.

Consider the example given below.

She is….

As you can see this sentence does not make complete sense. To make it complete we need to supply a word or a phrase. The word or phrase thus added at the end of a sentence to make its meaning complete is called a complement. And the verb which joins a subject with its complement is called a copular or linking verb.

When this word/phrase refers to the subject, it is called a subject complement. When it refers to the object, it is called an object complement. The linking verb is also called a verb of incomplete predication.

The most common copular verbs are: act, be, become, feel, appear, grow, taste, sound etc.

Copular verbs do not normally take an object. But sometimes these verbs may be used transitively.


She acted well. (Copular use)

She acted her part well. (Transitive use)

I am feeling unwell. (Copular use)

The doctor felt the patient’s pulse. (Transitive use)

The proposal sounds interesting. (Copular verb)

The general sounded the bugle. (Transitive verb)

The boy has grown taller. (Copular verb)

The farmers grow vegetables.. (Transitive verb)

State verbs and action verbsAugust 25, 2013

There are mainly two types of verbs: action verbs and state verbs.

Action verbs refer to an action. Examples are: write, work, break, kick, cook, take etc. State verbs or stative verbs refer to a state. The most common state verbs are be and have. They are both primary auxiliaries. The other primary auxiliary – do – is an action verb.

Other common verbs referring to states are: know, believe, like, love, hate, remember, suppose, understand, want, wish etc.

There is an important difference between action verbs and state verbs. Action verbs can have both simple and continuous forms. State verbs, on the other hand, do not normally have continuous forms. This is probably because continuous forms are mainly used to talk about temporary situations. States, on the other hand, tend to be permanent or long lasting.


Honesty is the best policy. My sister is an architect. I have a sister.

These are permanent situations that are unlikely to change in a long time.

More examples are given below.

I know your hometown. (NOT I am knowing your home town.) She likes her grandmother. (NOT She is liking her grandmother.)

Your knowledge of something is permanent. You either know something or you don’t.

However, some verbs can have an action meaning as well as a state meaning. An example is the verb think.

When think means ‘have an opinion’ it is not normally used in the continuous form.

What do you think of her new boyfriend? (= What is your opinion about her new boyfriend?) (NOT What are you thinking of her new boyfriend?)

Think can have a continuous form when it is used with other meanings.

What are you thinking about?


I am thinking about starting a business.

That instead of when and whereAugust 24, 2013

After common nouns referring to time, we often replace when with that. In some cases, the relative pronoun/adverb is dropped.

You may come any time when you are free. OR You may come any time that you are free.

I will never forget the day when I first met Jane. OR I will never forget the day that I first met Jane.

In a very informal style, the relative pronoun can be dropped.

I will never forget the day I first met Jane.

You may come any time you are free.

The same thing happens with where after somewhere, anywhere, everywhere, nowhere and place.

I need a place where I can spend the night. OR I need a place that I can spend the night.

Note that that is not possible in this case after other words.

For example, we can’t say: We need a room that we can spend the night. (Only where is possible in this case.)

The prepositional phrase ‘in which’ can be replaced by that after way.

I don’t like the way in which she treats her servants. OR I don’t like the way that she treats her servants. OR I don’t like the way she treats her servants.

In the same way, why can be replaced by that after reason.

Do you know the reason why she is angry with me? OR Do you know the reason that she is angry with me?

Reduced relative clauses


August 24, 2013

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause introduced by a relative pronoun.

What is the name of that boy who just walked in?

Here the clause ‘who just walked in’ is an example of a relative clause. It modifies the noun boy. Relative clauses are also called adjective clauses.

Relative clauses are sometimes shortened.

How to reduce a relative clause?

A participle can often be used instead of a relative pronoun and full verb.

Read the sentence given below.

The girl who sits next to Peter is my neighbor’s daughter.

Now when we shorten the relative clause ‘who sits next to Peter’, we get:

The girl sitting next to Peter is my neighbor’s daughter.


Who is the girl who is sitting next to your brother?

Now when we reduce the relative clause, we get:

Who is the girl sitting next to your brother?


A girl who works at a pub has won a lottery.A girl working at a pub has won a lottery.

The lady who lives next door throws numerous parties.The lady living next door throws numerous parties.

Yesterday I read a book which was written by Hemingway.Yesterday I read a book written by Hemingway.

Most people who were invited to the party didn’t turn up.Most people invited to the party didn’t turn up.


Anyone who enters the garden without permission will be punished.Anyone entering the garden without permission will be punished.

Reduced structures can also be used with the adjectives available and possible.

Please book all the tickets available. (= Please book all the tickets that are available.)

Common prepositional phrasesAugust 23, 2013

Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition. Here is a list of some common prepositional phrases. Note that this is not a comprehensive list.

At

At first

At least

At most

At times

At any rate

At last

At the latest

At once

At an advantage / disadvantage

At a profit / loss

At the cinema / at the theatre / at a party / at university

By

By accident

By far

By all means


By heart

By chance

By mistake

By the way

By the time

By no means

By name

By sight

By now

By car / bus / train / boat / plane / land / sea / air

For

For instance

For example

For sale

For a while

For the moment

For ages

For a change

For better or worse

In

In the end

In a skirt / shirt / coat / hat etc

In time

On

On time

On the radio

On page

On the phone

On TV

Under

Under no circumstances

Under the influence of

Under consideration

Under discussion

Under suspicion

Exercise

Identify the prepositional phrases in the sentences given below.

1. The cat was sleeping under the warm blanket.

2. The old man sat under a tree.

3. She accused me of poisoning her dog.

4. I don’t agree with their sales policy.

5. Do you believe in life after death?

6. I belong to a local athletics club.

7. Peter walked along the busy highway.

Answers

1. Under the warm blanket; 2. Of poisoning her dog; 3. With their sales policy; 4. In life after death; 5. To a local athletics club; 6. Along the busy highway

What are prepositional phrases?August 23, 2013

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition. Examples are: at a loss, in the corner, by the way and on the roof. A prepositional phrase may end with a noun, pronoun, gerund or clause which acts as the object of the preposition.

For example, in the prepositional phrase at home, the noun home acts as the object of the preposition at. In the phrase from Rahul, the noun Rahul acts as the object of the preposition from.

The noun which acts as the object of the preposition may be modified by an adjective or another determiner. Consider the prepositional phrase given below.

From your dearest son

Here the object son is modified by the adjective dearest and the possessive determiner your.

Function of a prepositional phrase

Although a prepositional phrase begins with a preposition, it does not serve the same purpose as a preposition.

Prepositional phrases usually function as adjectives or adverbs.

When a prepositional phrase is used as an adjective, it answers the question ‘Which one?’

The students in my class ask numerous questions.

Which students? The ones in my class

The letter from Maya confessed that she had lied about her affair with Ravi.

Which letter? The one from Maya

The apples on the tree are ripe.

Which apples? The ones on the tree

When used as an adverb, the prepositional phrase answers questions such as ‘How?’, ‘When?’ or ‘Where?’


The children were playing in the garden.

Where were the children playing? In the garden

His father died in 1995.

When did his father die? In 1995

She put the books on the table.

Where did she put the books? On the table

He fought with all his might.

How did he fight? With all his might

The students learned the poem by heart.

How did they learn the poem? By heart

Note that a prepositional phrase cannot function as the subject of a sentence.

Prepositions before that-clausesAugust 22, 2013

Prepositions cannot normally be followed by conjunctions. Of course, this is possible in a few cases, but prepositions are normally dropped before that-clauses. This usually happens after words referring to saying, writing, thinking etc.

Compare:

I knew about his illness. (Here the preposition about is followed by a noun.) I knew that he was ill. (NOT I knew about that he was ill.) I heard about his problems. I heard that he was facing some problems. I had no idea of his state of mind. I had no idea that he was depressed. I was not aware of his presence in the room. (Here the preposition of is followed by the

noun his presence.) I was not aware that he was present in the room. (NOT I was not aware of that he …)

In cases where the preposition cannot be dropped before that, we add the phrase ‘the fact’.

I managed to arrive in time for the meeting in spite of the fact that the train was late.


(NOT I managed to arrive in time for the meeting in spite of that …) (NOT I managed to arrive in time in spite that …)

She paid no attention to the fact that I had the necessary qualifications. (NOT She paid no attention that I had the necessary qualifications.)

They went out despite the fact that it was raining. (NOT They went out despite that it was raining.)

Adverbs with two formsAugust 22, 2013

Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. In some cases, the adverb may have two forms, one like the adjective and the other with –ly. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate form of the adverb.

1. Sorry I didn’t turn up – I ……………….. forgot. (clean / cleanly)

2. At least ten children were ……………….. injured in the accident. (deadly / fatally)

3. The comedy show was …………………….. amusing. (high / highly)

4. The protestors demanded that the culprits should be …………………. punished. (justly / just)

5. I haven’t been to the theater much …………………. (late / lately)

6. Isn’t she dressed …………………? (pretty / prettily)

7. I will be there at six o’clock ……………….. (sharp / sharply)

8. Their door was ………………… open but nobody was inside. (wide / widely)

9. I ……………….. believed that she loved me. (wrong / wrongly)

10. I hate arriving ………………… (late / lately)

Answers

1. Sorry I didn’t turn up – I clean forgot. (Clean can mean ‘completely’ before forget.)

2. At least ten children were fatally injured in the accident.

3. The comedy show was highly amusing.

4. The protestors demanded that the culprits should be justly punished.


5. I haven’t been to the theater much lately. (Lately means recently.)

6. Isn’t she dressed prettily?

7. I will be there at six o’clock sharp. (As an adverb sharp means ‘punctually’.)

8. Their door was wide open but nobody was inside.

9. I wrongly believed that she loved me.

10. I hate arriving late.

Prepositions before question wordsAugust 22, 2013

Prepositions are dropped before common question words. This usually happens after common verbs like tell, ask, depend, sure, idea and look. This is especially common in indirect questions.

Tell me about your plans. (Here we use the preposition about before the noun ‘your plans’.)

Tell me what you intend to do. (More natural than ‘Tell me about what you intend to do’.) (Here the preposition is dropped before the question word what.)

I asked her about her relationship status. I asked her whether she was in a relationship. (NOT I asked her about whether she was

in a relationship.) She may win the prize – it depends on her performance. She may win the prize – it depends (on) how well she performs. Look at this. Look (at) what I have brought for you.

The prepositions cannot normally be left out after other verbs.

I am worried about her health. I am worried about how she is going to cope. (NOT I am worried how she is going to

cope.)

Compare:

The teacher asked me what I had done. (More natural than ‘The teacher asked me about what I had done’.)

The police questioned me about what I had seen. (NOT The police questioned me what I had seen.)


Your chances of getting a good job can vary according to whether you live in a city or in a village.

Note that we cannot put if after a preposition. We use whether instead.

I am worried about whether she is happy. (NOT I am worried about if she is happy.)

Adverbs with two formsAugust 22, 2013

Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. In some cases, the adverb may have two forms, one like the adjective and the other with –ly. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate form of the adverb.

1. Sorry I didn’t turn up – I ……………….. forgot. (clean / cleanly)

2. At least ten children were ……………….. injured in the accident. (deadly / fatally)

3. The comedy show was …………………….. amusing. (high / highly)

4. The protestors demanded that the culprits should be …………………. punished. (justly / just)

5. I haven’t been to the theater much …………………. (late / lately)

6. Isn’t she dressed …………………? (pretty / prettily)

7. I will be there at six o’clock ……………….. (sharp / sharply)

8. Their door was ………………… open but nobody was inside. (wide / widely)

9. I ……………….. believed that she loved me. (wrong / wrongly)

10. I hate arriving ………………… (late / lately)

Answers

1. Sorry I didn’t turn up – I clean forgot. (Clean can mean ‘completely’ before forget.)

2. At least ten children were fatally injured in the accident.

3. The comedy show was highly amusing.

4. The protestors demanded that the culprits should be justly punished.


5. I haven’t been to the theater much lately. (Lately means recently.)

6. Isn’t she dressed prettily?

7. I will be there at six o’clock sharp. (As an adverb sharp means ‘punctually’.)

8. Their door was wide open but nobody was inside.

9. I wrongly believed that she loved me.

10. I hate arriving late.

Prepositions before question wordsAugust 22, 2013

Prepositions are dropped before common question words. This usually happens after common verbs like tell, ask, depend, sure, idea and look. This is especially common in indirect questions.

Tell me about your plans. (Here we use the preposition about before the noun ‘your plans’.)

Tell me what you intend to do. (More natural than ‘Tell me about what you intend to do’.) (Here the preposition is dropped before the question word what.)

I asked her about her relationship status. I asked her whether she was in a relationship. (NOT I asked her about whether she was

in a relationship.) She may win the prize – it depends on her performance. She may win the prize – it depends (on) how well she performs. Look at this. Look (at) what I have brought for you.

The prepositions cannot normally be left out after other verbs.

I am worried about her health. I am worried about how she is going to cope. (NOT I am worried how she is going to

cope.)

Compare:

The teacher asked me what I had done. (More natural than ‘The teacher asked me about what I had done’.)

The police questioned me about what I had seen. (NOT The police questioned me what I had seen.)


Your chances of getting a good job can vary according to whether you live in a city or in a village.

Note that we cannot put if after a preposition. We use whether instead.

I am worried about whether she is happy. (NOT I am worried about if she is happy.)

Active and passive voice exerciseAugust 21, 2013

Complete the following sentences using appropriate active or passive verb forms. Choose your answers from the given options.

1. The problem …………………. to the children. (explained / was explained)

2. Those pyramids ……………………. around 400 AD. (built / were built)

3. All the trouble ……………………….. by your mother. (has caused / was caused)

4. The visitors ……………………. (were shown / have shown) a collection of old manuscripts.

5. I …………………. him ten thousand pounds last year. (lend / lent / was lent)

6. She …………………… of spiders. (frightened / is frightened)

7. That picture …………………. by my grandmother. (painted / was painted)

8. I ………………….. by his attitude. (shocked / have shocked / was shocked)

9. Excuse the mess. The house ………………… (is painting / is being painted / has painted)

10. I knew why I …………………. (had chosen / had been chosen)

Answers

1. The problem was explained to the children.

2. Those pyramids were built around 400 AD.

3. All the trouble was caused by your mother.

4. The visitors were shown a collection of old manuscripts.

5. I lent him ten thousand pounds last year.


6. She is frightened of spiders.

7. That picture was painted by my grandmother.

8. I was shocked by his attitude.

9. Excuse the mess. The house is being painted.

10. I knew why I had been chosen.

Simple present / Present continuous: Grammar exerciseAugust 21, 2013

The simple present tense is used to talk about your daily activities and routines. The present continuous tense is used to talk about things that are happening at the moment of speaking. The continuous tense is also used to talk about pre-planned future events.

Complete the following sentences using the simple present or present continuous tense form of the verb given in the brackets.

1. Every morning, my dad (go)…………….. for a walk in the park.

2. I (visit) …………………. some old friends this week.

3. Don’t make a noise. The baby (sleep) …………………….

4. The kettle (boil) …………………. Shall I make tea?

5. I (like) …………………. this wine very much.

6. Don’t forget to take your umbrella. It (rain)………………….

7. She doesn’t like to be disturbed if she (work) ……………………..

8. My brother (work) ………………. in Paris at the moment.

9. He (visit) ……………………. his grandparents about twice a year.

10. I (not believe) ………………….. what he says.

Answers


1. Every morning, my father goes for a walk in the park.

2. I am visiting some old friends this week.

3. Don’t make a noise. The baby is sleeping.

4. The kettle is boiling. Shall I make tea?

5. I like this wine very much.

6. Don’t forget to take your umbrella. It is raining.

7. She doesn’t like to be disturbed if she is working.

8. My brother is working in Paris at the moment.

9. He visits his grandparents about twice a year.

10. I don’t believe what he says.

Subject and object questionAugust 20, 2013

In the simple present and simple past tense, we make questions and negatives with do, does and did. But there are some exceptions to this rule.

In subject questions where we want to find information about the subject, we do not use the auxiliary verb do/does/did.

In object questions where we want to find information about the object, we use the auxiliary verb do/does/did.

Study the sentence given below.

John broke a window.

This sentence has a subject (John), a verb (broke) and an object (window).

Now when we make questions to find this information, there are two possibilities.

If we want to make a question where the answer is ‘window’, the question would be: What did John break? John broke a window.


Now if we want to make a question where the answer is ‘John’, the question would be ‘Who broke the window?’ ‘John broke the window.’

When we make a question where the answer is the object, we use the auxiliary do/did. In subject questions, the auxiliary do is not used.


Jack likes ice-cream. (Subject – Jack, verb – likes, object – ice-cream)

Subject question

Who likes ice-cream? Jack likes ice-cream. (NOT Who does like ice-cream?)

Object question

What does Jack like? Jack likes ice-cream. (NOT What Jack likes?)

My sister writes short stories.

Subject question

Who writes short stories? My sister writes short stories.

Object question

What does my sister write? My sister writes short stories.

Mary keeps a pig in the yard.

Subject question

Who keeps a pig in the yard? Mary

Object question

What does Mary keep in the yard? A pig

No sooner … than, Hardly…whenAugust 20, 2013

If the second event occurs immediately after the first, we can express that idea using the structure no sooner … than.


Note that in this structure no sooner introduces the event that occurred first.

No sooner had I arrived at the station than the train came. (= I came first and the train arrived right after me.)

No sooner had we heard the noise than we rushed to the spot. No sooner had she finished one project than she started working on the next. No sooner had I closed my eyes than I fell asleep.

Note that did is also possible in this structure.

No sooner did I arrive at the station than the train came. No sooner did we hear the noise than we rushed to the spot.

Notes

When we begin a sentence with a negative word, we put the auxiliary verb before the subject.

No sooner had she read the letter than she started crying. (NOT No sooner she read the letter than she started crying.)

Note that when and before are not possible in this structure.

Hardly and scarcely

It is possible to express the same idea using hardly/scarcely…when.

Hardly had I reached the station when the train came. Scarcely had I reached the station when the train arrived.

As soon as

This structure is also used with the same meaning.

As soon as I arrived at the station, the train came. As soon as she finished one project, she started working on the next.

So, such, very, too: grammar exerciseAugust 19, 2013


1. It was …………………. hot that we didn’t go out.


a) so

b) too

c) very

2. She is ……………….. old to work.

a) too

b) so

c) very

3. The tea was ……………………. hot.

a) too

b) very


4. The milk was …………………. good that we couldn’t stop drinking it.

a) so

b) very

c) too

5. It’s …………………… terrible weather.

a) such

b) so


6. She is looking ………………….. older.

a) so

b) so much


7. It was ………………….. warm when we were in Vienna.

a) very

b) so


8. He spoke …………………… fast that nobody could understand.

a) so

b) very

c) too

9. Would you be ………………….. kind as to tell me the time?

a) so

b) very

c) too

10. He is a ………………….. intelligent child.

a) so

b) very

c) too

Answers

1. It was so hot that we didn’t go out.

2. She is too old to work.

3. The tea was too / very hot. (Too can be used to talk about a negative extreme. Very is also possible here.)

4. The milk was so good that we couldn’t stop drinking it.

5. It is such terrible weather.

6. She is looking so much older. (Before a comparative form we use so much, not so.)

7. It was very warm when we were in Vienna. (To simply give information, we use very.)

8. He spoke so fast that nobody could understand.

9. Would you be so kind as to tell me the time?

10. He is a very intelligent child.

Adjectives or present participlesAugust 19, 2013

Present participles are verb forms ending in –ing. Examples are: crying, learning, singing, interesting etc. Some –ing forms can also be used as adjectives.

State whether the –ing forms used in the following sentences are adjectives or present participles.

1. Interesting though it was, we didn’t enjoy the concert much.

a) Interesting is an adjective

b) Interesting is a present participle

2. It was raining when I got home.

a) Raining is an adjective

b) Raining is a present participle

3. I love the noise of falling rain.

a) Falling is an adjective

b) Falling is a present participle

4. It is a pressing problem.

a) Pressing is an adjective

b) Pressing is a present participle

5. She was writing a letter.


a) Writing is an adjective.

b) Writing is a present participle

6. The lecture was very interesting.

a) Interesting is an adjective.

b) Interesting is a present participle

7. She is an interesting writer.

a) Interesting is an adjective.

b) Interesting is a present participle.

8. The woodcutter was felling trees.

a) Felling is an adjective

b) Felling is a present participle.

9. The news was exciting.

a) Exciting is an adjective.

b) Exciting is a present participle

10. I was working on that report when she called.

a) Working is an adjective.

b) Working is a present participle

Answers

1. Interesting is an adjective. It modifies the noun concert.

2. Raining is a present participle. It forms the continuous verb with be.

3. Falling is an adjective. It modifies the noun rain.

4. Pressing is an adjective. It modifies the noun problem.

5. Writing is a present participle. It forms the continuous verb form with be.

6. Interesting is an adjective. It modifies the noun lecture.

7. Interesting is an adjective. It modifies the noun writer.

8. Felling is a present participle. It forms the past continuous verb form with be.

9. Exciting is an adjective.

10. Working is a present participle. It forms the past continuous verb form with be.

Verbs: Some common mistakesAugust 18, 2013

The verb write can take two objects. Sometimes this causes problems.

Incorrect: He wrote me. Correct: He wrote to me.

Notes

We write something. (He wrote a letter.)

We write something to someone. (He wrote a letter to his mother.) (NOT He wrote a letter his mother.)

We write someone something. (He wrote his mother a letter.) (NOT He wrote to his mother a letter.)

We write to someone. (He wrote to me.) (NOT He wrote me.)

Explain

The verb explain can be followed by two objects – a direct object and an indirect object.

Note that we explain something to someone. (NOT We explain someone something.)

Incorrect: I shall explain them this. Correct: I shall explain this to them.

The verb suggest

We suggest something to somebody. We cannot suggest somebody something.


Incorrect: He suggested me this. Correct: He suggested this to me.

Oblige

The verb oblige takes the preposition to. When you are obliged to do something, you are forced to do it because it is a law, a rule or a duty.

I felt obliged to help him. I am obliged to you for this good turn. (NOT I am obliged of you for this good turn.)

The verb invite

The verb invite can be followed by to or for.

We invite someone to/for something:

I have invited my uncle and aunt to dinner. He invited me for a drink but I politely refused.

The verb tell

The verb tell does not take a preposition.

Incorrect: He told to me to go. Correct: He told me to go.

The verb ask

When ask is followed by two objects, the indirect object (the person) normally comes first, without a preposition.

Incorrect: She did not ask any question to him. Correct: She did not ask him any question. Incorrect: I will ask the time to that man. Correct: I will ask that man the time.

Prepositions: some common mistakesAugust 18, 2013


Prepositions are words used to describe a relationship between other words in a sentence. They are small words; still, they cause a great deal of confusion. In this lesson we will take a look at some of the most common mistakes in the use of prepositions.

Since and for

These prepositions are often confused. Since is used to reckon from a particular date. For is used for a period.

Incorrect: I am ill since three months. Correct: I have been ill for three months. Correct: I have been ill since May.

When since / for indicates time, the verb in the main clause should be in the present perfect or past perfect tense.

Incorrect: This is my first time to play tennis since a long time. Correct: I have not played tennis for a long time. / This is my first game of tennis for a

long time.

The adjectives inferior, superior, prior etc

The adjectives inferior, superior, senior, junior, prior etc. take the preposition to, not than.

Incorrect: She always felt inferior than her younger sister. Correct: She always felt inferior to her younger sister. Incorrect: This material is superior than that. Correct: This material is superior to that.

The verbs resemble, enter, discuss, marry etc.

The verbs resemble, enter, discuss, lack, approach and marry are followed by direct objects without prepositions.

Incorrect: This resembles to that. Correct: This resembles that. Incorrect: Your mother lacks of tact. Correct: Your mother lacks tact. Incorrect: We are now approaching to Victoria Terminus. Correct: We are now approaching Victoria Terminus. Incorrect: He reached to Singapore. Correct: He reached Singapore. Incorrect: She married to/with her boss. Correct: She married her boss.

Using forAugust 17, 2013

The word for can be used as a preposition and a conjunction. As a preposition, it is followed by a noun.

Let’s buy some flowers for mummy. I waited for hours, but she didn’t come.

As a conjunction, for is used to connect two clauses. A for-clause usually shows cause/reason.

I asked him to turn the music down, for I wanted to sleep.

Notes

A for-clause is not very common in this context and it sounds too formal. In an informal style, we are more likely to express the same idea with because.

I asked him to turn the music down because I wanted to sleep.

A for-clause may also express an inference.

She must have gone to bed for there is no light in her room.

As a preposition for is used to express several ideas. For example, it can be used to indicate purpose, destination, duration etc. It may also be used to express your liking, suitability or skill for something.

I have bought a gift for you. What can I do for you? The college provides vocational training for young boys and girls. Thousands of people have sacrificed their lives for the country.

For can indicate duration.

It has been raining for hours. I have been waiting for 20 minutes.

For cannot be used with a verb to indicate purpose. The infinitive alone is used to express a person’s purpose.

I went to the college to see Professor Charles. (NOT I went to the college for seeing Professor Charles.)


However, for can be used with an –ing form to indicate the purpose of a thing.

A thermometer is used for measuring temperature.

When the clause has a person as subject, we are more likely to use an infinitive.

We use a thermometer to measure temperature.

Using sinceAugust 17, 2013

Since can be used as an adverb, a conjunction and a preposition.

Since as a preposition

As a preposition, since is followed by a noun/noun equivalent which acts as its object.

She has changed a lot since her marriage. Everything has changed so much since our last meeting.

As an adverb

When since is used as an adverb, it is not followed by a noun.

The boy went missing on Tuesday and hasn’t been seen since.

As a conjunction

Since can also be used as a conjunction. As a conjunction, since is used to connect two clauses. Clauses introduced by since typically show one of the two associations: time or cause/reason

Since he had not studied hard, he failed his exam. Since I had no money, I couldn’t buy anything to eat. Since she was tired, she took some rest.

A since-clause introducing reason usually comes at the beginning of the sentence. A since-clause indicating time can come either before or after the main clause.

She has written many books since she left college. / Since she left college, she has written many books.

Notes


When since is used to talk about time, the verb in the main clause is usually in the present perfect or past perfect (simple or continuous) tense.

She had been acting in films since she was four. I have been working on this project since the end of June. It has been raining since morning.

Sometimes the simple present or simple past tense is also used.

Since means ‘starting at a particular point in the past and continuing until now’.

I have known him since he was born. India has been an independent country since 1947. It has been several decades since India won a gold medal in Olympic Hockey. It has been several centuries since Vasco da Gama landed in India.

Ever since

She started teaching at twenty and has been doing it ever since. Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to become a writer.

Subject verb agreement: some problem pointsAugust 16, 2013

Collective nouns

Collective nouns are usually treated as singular and take singular verbs. However, they may take a plural verb when we are talking about the individual members within the group.

An unruly mob was gathering outside. The mob were (i.e., members) scattered in all directions.

A number of

The phrase a number of should be followed by a plural noun and a plural verb.

A number of objections were raised against the proposal. A number of issues still need to be resolved.

When the sentence begins with ‘The number of’, the verb should be singular.


The number of available jobs is shrinking rapidly. (Here the subject is ‘number’, not ‘jobs’.)

A half of, a part of

Fractional expressions such as a half of, a part of and a majority of can be followed by a singular or a plural verb. It depends on the meaning.

A large percentage of the population is angry with the ruling party. Nearly 60 percent of the members are in favor of the new policy.

The expression ‘more than one’ takes a singular verb.

More than one student has tried to cheat on the exam. More than one person has been diagnosed with swine flu.

A positive and a negative subject together

When you put a positive and a negative subject together, the verb must agree with the positive subject.

The members, but not the chairman, have decided to vote against the proposal. (Here the plural verb have agrees with the positive subject ‘the members’.)

It is his attitude, not his ideas, that invites criticism.

A plural noun that names a single subject

When a group of words containing a plural noun represents a single object, you must use a singular verb.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was enjoyed by us all. Gulliver’s Travels was written by Jonathan Swift. Thrice-told Tales is an interesting book.

None

None should be used with a singular verb. A plural verb is also possible in a less careful style.

None of his friends was there to help him. (Formal) None of his friends were there to help him. (Less formal)

Subject-verb agreement: either, neither, nor, orAugust 16, 2013

Or and nor

Two singular nouns connected by or or nor take a singular verb.

Neither Charles nor Benjamin was present there. Neither he nor his dad is good at driving.

When one of the nouns connected by or or nor is plural, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to the verb.

Neither Peter nor his parents were aware of this. (More natural than ‘Neither his parents nor Peter was aware of this.)

When the subjects connected by or or nor are of different persons, the verb agrees with the noun that comes closer to it.

Neither you nor he is responsible for this. (Here the verb is agrees with the third person pronoun he.)

Either he or you are to clean up the mess. (Here the verb are agrees with the second person pronoun you.)

Either you or John has to pay for the drinks.

The determiners each, every, anybody, every one etc.

The determiners each, every, every one, anybody, either, neither, no one, nobody and many a should be followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.

Many a man has lost his life at sea. (Here the expression many a is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.)

Neither candidate is fit for the job. (NOT Neither candidates are fit for the job.)

Notes

We cannot put a noun immediately after every one. Instead we use the structure every one of. Every one of should be followed by a plural noun and a singular subject.


Every one of the boys seems to be excited about the picnic. (NOT Every one of the boy seems…) (NOT Every one of the boys seem…)

Agreement of the verb with the subjectAugust 15, 2013

A finite verb must agree with its subject in number and person. Read the examples given below.

I am wrong. She is wrong. They are mistaken. That is his car. She looks upset. I know him well.

As you can see, the exact form of the verb used in a sentence is determined by the number and person of the subject.

Error of proximity

When the subject is a phrase consisting of more than one noun, students sometimes choose a verb that agrees with the noun that stands near it. This can cause error.


The state of affairs are sure to cause him anxiety.

Here the student used a verb that agrees with the plural noun affairs. This leads to an error because the real subject is the singular noun state (of affairs).

The state of affairs is sure to cause him anxiety. The introduction of reforms was not liked by the aristocracy. (NOT The introduction of

reforms were…)

Here the real subject is the introduction (of reforms), and not reforms.

The conjunction and

Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by and require a plural verb. But if two nouns joined by and refer to the same person or thing or suggest one idea to the mind, the verb is singular.



Disraeli, the statesman and novelist, is dead. (Here the two nouns statesman and novelist refer to the same person.)

The horse and carriage is ready. (NOT The horse and carriage are ready.) Slow and steady wins the race. Bread and butter is wholesome.

As well as, together with etc

Two singular nouns joined by the words/phrases with, as well as, besides, together with, no less than and similar expressions require a singular verb.

Silver as well as gold is a precious metal. No one, besides Jack, knows it. Mark, and not you, has won the prize. John together with his friends was present at the venue.

Expressing concession and contrastAugust 14, 2013

The same sentence showing concession or contrast can be expressed in several different ways.


She is pretty. She is not popular with men.

The two sentences given above express contrasting ideas. We can connect them in several different ways.

Using though and although

Both though and although have the same meaning. They can both be used to connect these two clauses.

Although she is pretty, she is not popular with men. Though she is pretty, she is not popular with men.

As and though

As and though can be used in a special structure after an adjective or adverb. In this case, they can both mean ‘although’, and suggest an emphatic contrast.


Pretty though she is, she is not popular with men. Pretty as she is, she is not popular with men.

Using all the same and at the same time

These are discourse markers used to suggest that the second statement contrasts with the first. Note that a discourse marker does not connect two clauses. They merely show how the ideas are related. In writing, we separate the two clauses with a semicolon. A full stop is also possible.

She is pretty; all the same, she is not popular with men. She is pretty; at the same time, she is not popular with men.

Using nonetheless, however and nevertheless

These are also discourse markers and cannot connect two clauses.

She is pretty; nonetheless, she is not popular with men. She is pretty; however, she is not popular with men.

Using in spite of and despite

In spite of and despite are prepositions.

She is not popular with men in spite of being pretty. She is not popular with men despite being pretty.

Note that after in spite of and despite we use a noun or an –ing form.

The subjunctiveAugust 12, 2013

The subjunctive is becoming much less common in modern English. However, in the past, this structure was used to express ideas such as desirability and possibility. In modern English, we are more likely to express the same ideas using modal auxiliary verbs like would, should or must.

That said, subjunctive is still used in certain situations.


I recommend that he consult a doctor immediately. The judge ordered that she be sent to prison.


I feel that you write to him as soon as possible. It is important that Martin be present when we sign the papers.

Now here are the important points to note.

The subjunctive has no –s in the third person singular.

He insisted that he get his due. (NOT He insisted that he gets his due.)

In modern English, we are more likely to express the same idea using should + infinitive.

I recommend that he should consult a doctor immediately. The judge ordered that she should be sent to prison. I feel that you should write to him as soon as possible, He insisted that he should get his due.

Note that the forms I were, he/she/it were used after if is also a form of the subjunctive.

I wish I were prettier. If I were you I wouldn’t let this happen. I wish it were Sunday.

Verb terminologyAugust 11, 2013

While learning about verbs, you will come across grammatical terms like infinitives and gerunds. Below are explanations of these frequently used grammar terms.

Infinitives

The infinitive is the base form of the verb. It is sometimes preceded by the marker to and then it is called the to-infinitive. Remember that that ‘to’ is a not a part of the infinitive and the infinitive can also be used without to.


She wants to go. (Here the phrase ‘to go’ is an example of a to-infinitive.) She made me cry. (Here the infinitive ‘cry’ is used without the marker to.)

The infinitive is a non-finite verb. In other words, it does not change its form when the number or person of the subject changes.

She wants to leave.


I want to leave. They want to leave. John wants to leave.

As you can see the infinitive ‘to leave’ remains the same regardless of the change in the number and the person of the subject. Non-finite verbs cannot act as principal verbs.

The gerunds

A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing. Gerunds are non-finite verbs. A gerund can be the subject or object of a verb. It can also act as the object of a preposition.

Smoking can cause cancer. (Here the gerund smoking acts as the subject of the verb.) We don’t allow smoking in the kitchen. (Here the gerund smoking acts as the object of

the verb allow.)

A gerund can also act as the object of a preposition.

I am thinking of taking a break. (Here the gerund taking is the object of the preposition of.)

Remember that only –ing forms can be used after a preposition. Infinitives are not possible.

She is confident of winning. (NOT She is confident of to win.) (NOT She is confident to win.)

Common mistakes with conjunctionsAugust 10, 2013

One conjunction for two clauses

In English, we use just one conjunction to connect two clauses.

Incorrect: Because he is intelligent so he gets good marks.

Correct: Because he is intelligent he gets good marks. OR He is intelligent so he gets good marks.

Because is a conjunction and English does not require a second conjunction.

Incorrect: Since he was angry therefore I said nothing.


Correct: Since he was angry I said nothing. OR He was angry; therefore, I said nothing.

Since is a conjunction and it is enough to join the two clauses: He was angry and I said nothing.

Therefore is not a conjunction. It cannot connect two clauses. It is a transitional adverb. A transitional adverb should be separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

Incorrect: He did not come to work. Because he was ill.

Correct: He did not come to work because he was ill.

A subordinate clause cannot stand alone. It must be attached to an independent clause.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. In natural spoken English, because clauses can stand alone.

‘Why are you laughing?’ ‘Because you look funny.’ (More natural than ‘I am laughing because you look funny’.)

Sentences beginning with a negative word

Incorrect: Neither he comes nor he writes.

Correct: Neither does he come nor does he write. (Formal)

Correct: He neither comes nor writes. (Informal)

When a negative word (e.g. neither, hardly, seldom, never, scarcely etc.) comes at the beginning of a sentence, the main verb must be inverted, as in a direct question. As you know, the verb comes before the subject in direct questions.

If there is no auxiliary verb, we use a form of do.


Incorrect: Neither he smokes nor he drinks.

Correct: Neither does he smoke nor does he drink.

Correct: He neither smokes nor drinks.

Conjunctive adverbs exerciseAugust 9, 2013


Complete the following sentences using an appropriate transitional adverb (conjunctive adverb).

1. Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and antioxidants and ……………… eating vegetables is essential for good health.

2. ‘The last bus has gone.’ ‘………………….., we are going to have to walk.’

3. …………………… the starter, I thought the meal was nice.

4. I bought that car. It looked good and, …………………….., it was reasonably priced.

5. Studies seem to suggest that bright blue and bright yellow are the most visible and …………………….. the safest colors for vehicles.

6. You had better mend your ways; ………………….., you will land in serious trouble.

7. She didn’t leave her husband …………………….. the fact that he had cheated on her.

8. ………………….. each individual is unique in many ways, members of the same species share many common characteristics.

9. They have recruited more people and ……………………. the service has improved

10. I was not confident of winning. ……………………, I decided to give it a try.

Answers

1. Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and antioxidants and hence eating vegetables is essential for good health.

2. ‘The last bus has gone.’ ‘Then, we are going to have to walk.’

3. Apart from the starter, I thought the meal was nice.

4. I bought that car. It looked good and, moreover, it was reasonably priced.

5. Studies seem to suggest that bright blue and bright yellow are the most visible and therefore the safest colors for vehicles.

6. You had better mend your ways; otherwise, you will land in serious trouble.

7. She didn’t leave her husband despite the fact that he had cheated on her.

8. Although each individual is unique in many ways, members of the same species share many common characteristics.

9. They have recruited more people and consequently the service has improved

10. I was not confident of winning. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try.

On the other hand, while and whereasAugust 7, 2013

These words or phrases have similar uses, but the grammar is not quite the same. On the other hand is a conjunctive adverb. It is used to compare two situations or two people and to show that there is an important difference between them.

In many Middle Eastern countries, it is quite common for parents to find suitable brides and grooms for their children. On the other hand, arranged marriages are unusual in the West.

I like living in the city. My wife, on the other hand, prefers the countryside.

The same idea can be expressions using the conjunctions while and whereas.

While arranged marriages are quite unusual in the West, they are quite common in many Middle Eastern countries.

I like living in the city, while / whereas my wife prefers the countryside. While / whereas English has just five vowel sounds, some languages have 30 or more. There are just five vowel sounds in English. On the other hand, some languages have 30

or more.

As you can see, there is an important difference between these three sentence connectors. While and whereas are conjunctions. They connect two clauses. On the other hand is not a conjunction. It goes at the beginning of the second clause and is usually separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

It can also go in the middle of the sentence. In that case we use two commas to set it off.

In many western countries, the elderly live in retirement homes run by health professionals. In India, on the other hand, they live with their children and grandchildren.

Other conjunctive adverbs that can be used to express same or similar ideas are: nevertheless, however and in contrast.

Sentence connectors exercise


August 5, 2013

Complete following sentences using an appropriate connecting word.

1. Alice seems to be quite intelligent; ………………………, she often gets poor grades. (whereas / otherwise / nonetheless)

2. This restaurant has some of the best chefs in the town. ……………………………. their service is excellent. (in addition to / moreover / beside)

3. I’ve never been to the US …………………………. having friends and relatives there. (in spite of / although / besides)

4. He is a reckless driver; …………………….., he hasn’t had any accidents. (even so / although / even as)

5. My sister works three jobs in a day; ………………………., she doesn’t earn much money. (however / moreover / even as)

6. We went out ……………………….. the cold weather. (despite / although / besides)

7. I tried to look happy ………………………… feeling miserable. (in spite of / although / however)

Answers

1. Alice seems quite intelligent; nonetheless, she often gets poor grades. (Nonetheless is used to connect two contrasting ideas.)

2. This restaurant has some of the best chefs in the town. Moreover, their service is excellent.

3. I’ve never been to the US in spite of having friends and relatives there.

4. He is a reckless driver; even so, he hasn’t had any accidents.

5. My sister works three jobs in a day; however, she doesn’t earn much money.

6. We went out despite the cold weather.

7. I tried to look happy in spite of feeling miserable.

Notes

Many connectors having similar meanings are followed by different structures. For example, despite and in spite of are followed by a noun phrase or an –ing form.


I went to work in spite of feeling ill. (in spite of + -ing) I went out despite the heavy rains. (despite + noun)

In spite of and despite are prepositions. They cannot be directly followed by a clause. Hence we use the phrase ‘the fact that’ before a clause.

I went to work in spite of the fact that I was feeling ill.

Connecting words exerciseAugust 4, 2013

In English we use several different kinds of words to connect clauses and words together. For example, conjunctions can be used to connect two clauses or words. Prepositions can be used to connect a noun with another word in the sentence. There is yet another group of connecting words. These are called conjunctive adverbs. They don’t connect two clauses in the strict sense of the term. They merely show how the ideas expressed by the two sentences are related.

Test your understanding of the linking words in English with this grammar exercise. Complete the following sentences using appropriate connecting words. There may be more than one solution to each question.

1. ……………………… she lacked experience, she got the job.

2. My brother’s hand-writing is quite legible, …………………………. mine is a total mess.

3. You had better wear a helmet while riding your motorbike. …………………………. you could hurt yourself.

4. The essay contained too many mistakes. ………………………, it was too short.

5. Alcohol affects your cognitive skills; ……………………….., you should never drink and drive.

6. Our ministers have already proved that they are incapable of handling the situation. …………………… they are quite irresponsible too.

7. He was not good at math, so he decided to learn literature …………………………..

Answers

1. Although / though she lacked experience, she got the job. Strictly speaking, even though is also possible in this sentence.


2. My brother’s hand-writing is quite legible, whereas mine is a total mess.

3. You had better wear a helmet while riding your motorbike. Otherwise, you could hurt yourself.

4. The essay contained too many mistakes. Furthermore / Moreover / What’s more, it was too short.

5. Alcohol affects your cognitive skills; hence / therefore, you should never drink and drive.

6. Our ministers have already proved that they are incapable of handling the situation. Moreover / What’s more, they are quite irresponsible too.

7. He was not good at math, so he decided to learn literature instead.

Using moreAugust 3, 2013

More is a modifier. It is used in a variety of situations.

In comparatives

Adjectives of more one syllable form their comparative forms with more. Examples are: more beautiful, more intelligent and more careful. Note that longer adjectives ending in –y tend to have comparative forms ending in –er. Example: happy -> happier; merry -> merrier

More is used to express the idea that there is more of a particular quality.

Tokyo is more populous than Beijing.She is more beautiful than her sister.

Less is the opposite of more. It is used to indicate that there is less of a particular quality.

Cricket is more popular than tennis in India. Tennis is less popular than cricket in India.

More as a determiner

As a determiner more serves the same purpose as an adjective: it is used before a noun.

We need more time to finish the job. My wife earns more money than I do.


Could I have some more potatoes?

Note that before a pronoun or a noun with a determiner (e.g. articles, possessives and demonstratives) we use more of.

She is more of a genius than I thought. Five more of the missing pilgrims have been found. He is more of a nuisance that you might think.

After more, we use a plural noun.

More people now access information on the internet. It is important to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

More can also be followed by singular uncountable nouns.

Could I have some more rice?

More without a noun

More can be used alone without a following noun if the meaning is clear. For example, you are having dinner. The hostess might ask if you need more referring to rice, soup, fish, water etc. If the meaning is clear from the context, the noun can be dropped in this case.

Would you like some more, please?

Note the structure number + more + noun + infinitive.

I have three more semesters to go. She requires six more credits to graduate. We will need two more weeks to finish the job.

Modals in conditional sentencesAugust 1, 2013

In first conditional sentences, we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and will + infinitive in the main clause. This is the standard form. Alternate forms with other auxiliaries are also possible. Note that first conditional forms with modals express ideas such as permission, advice, future possibilities etc.


If you finish your homework, you can watch TV. If you have a few hours to spare, you may visit the museum.


If I have time, I might make a cake. If I arrive early, I might take a stroll around the park. If you don’t feel well, you should consult a doctor.

If and Adjectives

In a formal style, subject + be is sometimes left out after if.

If in doubt, ask for help. (= If you are in doubt, ask for help.) If interested, please let me know. (= If you are interested, please let me know.)

Provided (that), As long as

Many words and expressions can be used with a similar meaning to if. Common examples are: imagine (that), suppose (that), supposing (that), providing (that), provided (that), as long as, on condition that etc.

The words imagine, suppose and supposing are used to talk about what might happen.

Supposing you lost your job, what would you do? Imagine you won a jackpot!

Provided that, as long as and on condition that are used to make conditions.

You may take two days off on condition that you work on the weekend. You can stay with us as long as you share the expenses.

First conditional alternate formsJuly 31, 2013

In first conditional sentences, we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and will + infinitive in the main clause. There are several alternate forms, too. Here is an overview.

Going to

Sometimes we use going to instead of will in the main clause. This is done to emphasize a certain result.


If she works hard, she is going to win. (= If she works hard, she will win.) If you drink too much alcohol, you are going to land in hospital with liver problems. If he drives too fast, he is going to have an accident soon.


Going to can also be used in the if-clause. In this case it means ‘intend’.

If she is going to skip her classes, she will certainly fail her exams. (= If she intends to skip her classes, she will certainly fail her exams.)

Present Perfect

The present perfect tense is sometimes used in the if-clause to put the focus on the completion of an action.

We will go grab something to eat if you have finished your work. We will wait for her if she has not arrived yet.

Should

Should can be used in the if-clause to suggest that something is unlikely.

If he should be late, we will have to start without him. (He is unlikely to be late but if HE IS we will have to start without him.)

If Peter should arrive in time, we will take him along to the party.

Note that would is not possible in this case. For example, we can’t say: If he would arrive on time, we will take him along.

If I should run into Alice, I will give her the books.

Note that the first conditional forms with should indicate greater probability than the second conditional forms.

Conditional sentences overviewJuly 30, 2013

Most students are familiar with the standard conditional forms in English. There are several alternate forms, too. Before we take a look at alternate conditional forms, let’s revise the regular forms.

There are mainly three types of conditional sentences in English.

First conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about real situations. It refers to the present or the future. Here we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and will + infinitive (simple future) in the main clause.


If you eat too much food, you will fall ill. If you skip breakfast, your grades will suffer. If you work hard, you will succeed.

Second conditional

The second conditional, too, is used to refer to the present or the future. However, it suggests that the situation is less probable, improbable or imaginary. Here we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause.

If you ate too much food, you would fall ill.

Here, although the reference is to the present or the future, the situation is imaginary.

If you skipped breakfast, your grades would suffer.

The third conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about past situations that did not happen. Here we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.

If she hadn’t skipped her breakfast, her grades would have improved. (She skipped her breakfast and consequently her grades failed.)

If he hadn’t called me names, I wouldn’t have broken his neck. (He called me names, so I broke his neck.)

Notes

Could and might can also be used in the main clauses.

Exercise


1. If she ……………………. a little longer, she could meet them. (waited / will wait / had waited)

2. If she recognized us, why ……………………….. she say Hi? (doesn’t / didn’t / hadn’t)

3. If you heat ice, it ……………………. (will melt / would melt / would have melted)

4. If they all had voted for me, I …………………………… (will win / would win / would have won)

Answers

1. waited; 2. didn’t; 3. will melt; 4. would have won

Who and whomJuly 29, 2013

Whom is the object form of the relative pronoun who. Both who and whom are only used to refer to people.

Students are often confused about whom. If you don’t know how exactly is whom used, don’t worry. In modern English, whom is considered rather formal and old-fashioned. You might still come across this word in academic and official writing. Nonetheless, it is something that you can totally eliminate from your writing.

‘Who’ is the modern equivalent that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

For example consider the sentences given below.

You were speaking to a woman. She is my boss.

Here the noun woman is the object of the preposition to. We can combine these two clauses using whom.

The woman to whom you were speaking is my boss.

Good to know

When a relative pronoun is used as the object of the verb, it will be immediately followed by another noun.

In the above example, the noun you follows the relative pronoun whom.

In a less formal style, we can also write:

The woman who you were speaking to is my boss.

Note that the preposition now goes at the end of the clause ‘who you were speaking to’.

In an informal style, the relative pronoun who can be dropped and the sentence will still make sense.

The woman you were speaking to is my boss.


General English ExerciseJuly 28, 2013

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word or phrase. Each question is followed by four suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one.

1. He ……………………….. the charge of trespassing into the compound.

a) denied

b) decried

c) declined

d) refused

2. The scheme ……………………….. for want of sufficient support from the members.

a) fell out

b) fell through

c) fell off

d) fell behind

3. We feared that it would rain any time since the sky was …………………………..

a) overclouded

b) overcast

c) overlaid

d) overcoated

4. His speech was so interesting that I was all ………………………….

a) up

b) ears

c) listening


d) tense

5. There are forty teachers ………………………….. the staff roll.

a) from

b) on

c) at

d) in

6. I was glad to hear of his recovery …………………………. a critical illness.

a) of

b) from

c) in

d) to

7. Modern science grew …………………………. the influence of scientists such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton.

a) by

b) under

c) from

d) with

8. He was ………………………… the influence of alcohol.

a) under

b) on

c) in

d) behind

9. A servant is expected to ………………………. the orders of his master.

a) carry on

b) carry out

c) carry for

d) get carried

10. There ………………………….. a war over it, but in the end reason prevailed.

a) could be

b) could have been

c) should be

d) should have been

Answers

1. He denied the charge of trespassing into the compound.

2. The scheme fell through (= failed) for want of sufficient support from the members.

3. We feared that it would rain anytime because the sky was overcast.

4. His speech was so interesting that I was all ears.

5. There are forty teachers on the staff roll.

6. I was glad to hear of his recovery from a critical illness.

7. Modern science grew under the influence of scientists such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton.

8. He was under the influence of alcohol.

9. A servant is expected to carry out the orders of his master.

10. There could have been a war over it, but in the end reason prevailed.

Obligation and freedom to actJuly 27, 2013


We use modal auxiliary verbs to express various aspects of obligation and freedom. These uses of modal verbs are very important in the polite expression of requests, invitations and instructions.

Strong obligation

We can express strong obligation using must and need. In orders, we sometimes use will to express strong obligation.

You must send your application on or before the 18th of this month. They must pay the dues. We must learn to cooperate. You need a visa to visit foreign countries. He needs to improve his communication skills. She needs to work harder. All students will hand in their assignments by Friday. (This is actually an order.) She will clean the floors whether she likes it or not.

Prohibition

To prohibit we can use the auxiliaries must not, may not and cannot.

Students must not use the staff car park. You may not smoke in the kitchen. Books may not be taken out of the library. You can’t wear that dress to work. She can’t do it.

Weak obligation; recommendation

These ideas are expressed using the auxiliary verbs should, ought, had better, might and shall.

You should stop smoking. He ought to sort things out. You had better get that mole checked. She really ought to mend her ways. You might ask his opinion. What shall we do now?

Grammar and phrasal verbs exerciseJuly 26, 2013


This exercise tests your understanding of grammar and phrasal verbs. Each question is followed by four suggested answers. Choose the one that will appropriately fill in the blanks.

1. Oh! That loud noise frightened me ………………………………………

a) out of wits

b) out of my wits

c) at my wits end

d) out at my wits

2. Having had ………………………………………… crops for the last two years, the government is falling short of storing space.

a) bloated

b) bumper

c) booming

d) blooming

3. Having been set ……………………………, he is now free to go wherever he likes.

a) at liberty b) freedom c) at freedom d) liberty

4. If he did not come to my rescue, I …………………………….. killed by the wolves.

a) would be b) would have been c) will be d) would have

5. His approach to work is so …………………………. that his colleagues do not take him seriously.

a) uninteresting b) casual c) low d) common

6. Neither the players nor the trainer was in the locker room when the thief …………………………..

a) broke in b) broke up c) broke out d) broke down

7. Charles asked ………………………………….. like to go to the movies with him.

a) would I b) if I would c) if would I d) if I will

8. The book must be old for its cover …………………………….

a) has torn b) is torn c) is tore d) had torn

Answers

1. That loud noise frightened me out of my wits.

2. Having had bumper crops for the last two years, the government is falling short of storing space.

3. Having been set at liberty, he is now free to go wherever he likes.

4. If he did not come to my rescue, I would be killed by the wolves.

5. His approach to work is so casual that his colleagues do not take him seriously.

6. Neither the players nor the trainer was in the locker room when the thief broke in.

7. Charles asked if I would like to go to the movies with him.

8. The book must be old for its cover is torn.

Do or would?July 25, 2013

Do and would have different uses. Nonetheless, many ESL students are confused about them.

Do

Do and does are primary auxiliary verbs used in the simple present tense. We have already learned that the simple present tense is used to talk about general truths, facts, habits and routines. Since this tense form is made without an auxiliary verb, we use do and does to form questions and negatives.

He knows the answer. He doesn’t know the answer. Does he know the answer? He makes delicious cookies. He doesn’t make delicious cookies. Does he make cookies? He has a car. He doesn’t have a car.


As you can see, these are all simple statements of fact.

Would

Would is a modal auxiliary verb. It is the past tense of will in reported speech.

‘I will come with you.’ she said. She said that she would come with me.

Would can also be used to talk about imaginary situations. Note that when we use would to talk about an imaginary situation, we usually use it with have + past participle.

There was no point asking him, he wouldn’t have known the answer.

Would is used to indicate less possibility in Type 2 Conditional Sentences.

If you asked her more politely, she would help.

Here we are not talking about an imaginary situation. Here the situation is real and possible but the chances of it happening are pretty low.

If you believe that something is likely to happen, you will use will, not would.

If you ask her more politely, she will help.

Maybe, perhaps and possiblyJuly 24, 2013

All three words mean more or less the same idea. They all show that something is possible, or might be true. There is another difference, though. Maybe is the most informal of the three. You are more likely to use it while talking with your friends or family. Perhaps is neutral. You can use it in all situations and you will still sound polite. Possibly is mainly used in formal situations.

Maybe

Maybe is mainly used in informal contexts.

Maybe we’ll go to the theater in the evening. Maybe I’ll drop out this year. Maybe we’ll take a vacation next month. ‘Are you going to try that steak in the cafeteria?’ ‘Hmmm…maybe.’


Perhaps

Perhaps is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Perhaps we will make another attempt. There were 200, perhaps 250, students in the auditorium. Her latest movie is perhaps her best.

Possibly

Possibly is mainly used in formal contexts.

‘Do you think she will marry him?’ ‘Hmm. Possibly not.’ I may possibly accept that job.

‘Do you have enough money to buy a drink?’ ‘Possibly’. (=I think so; I am not exactly sure.)

Quite possibly / very possibly

These expressions are used to indicate a greater possibility of something happening.

She is quite possibly the most deserving candidate. How can anyone possibly spend 30 years in prison? We have done everything we could possibly do.

Possibly can be used in very polite requests.

Could you possibly help me in the kitchen?

It’s high time…July 23, 2013

In English, there are several different ways to say the same thing. The exact form we use depends upon the situation. For example, certain structures commonly used in informal situations are not considered appropriate in a formal style.

The phrases ‘It’s high time…’ and ‘Let’s…’ can both be used to make suggestions.

Let’s is the short form for Let us. It is followed by an infinitive without to.

Let’s go home.


Let’s eat out tonight. Let’s buy some flowers for Mary. Let’s start now.

This structure is mainly used in informal contexts. If it is a suggestion, it is often followed by the tag, ‘shall we?’

Let’s go to the park, shall we? Let’s buy something to eat, shall we?

As you can see, this is not an order. It is merely a polite way of suggesting that you and the people you are talking to should do something.

Let’s… becomes a polite instruction or order when it is used without shall we? Parents often use this form while talking with their kids.

Come on, let’s go. It is already late.

It’s high time…

Now if you feel that it is already late for something to happen, you can use the expression ‘It’s high time…’ This structure might look unusual, because it uses a past tense form to talk about the present or future. In fact, past tenses are used to talk about the present / future in many phrases with time.

It’s high time you got that car repaired. It’s time you got that car repaired. (This pattern shows a little less urgency.) It’s about time you got that car repaired. It’s high time we bought a new car. It’s time we bought a new car. It’s about time we bought a new car.

Note that these expressions are mainly used in formal contexts. In less formal situations, we are more likely to use a form with let.

Below, under and beneathJuly 22, 2013

These words have very similar meanings and are often confused. Both below and under can be used to mean ‘in a lower position than something’. Although they are both possible in some cases, sometimes we use them in different circumstances.

To talk about something being covered by something else, we use under.


The cat was sleeping under the blanket. (NOT The cat was sleeping below the jacket.) I felt that he was hiding something under his jacket. (NOT He was hiding something

below his jacket.) The whole village was under water.

Below is mainly used in cases where an object is not directly under another.

We could find something below the surface of the water. Millions of people still live below the poverty line. (Somewhere below that hypothetical

line separating the poor from the rich)

Below is also used in measurements where we think of a vertical scale.

This part of the country is below sea level.

Under can also mean ‘younger than’ or ‘less than’.

Children under the age of twelve are not supposed to watch this film.

There are quite a few fixed expressions using the word under. Common examples are: under construction, under fire, under attack, under arrest, under pressure, under these conditions etc. Below cannot be used in these expressions.

You are under arrest. The bridge is still under construction. Her actions have always been under constant media scrutiny.

Beneath is mainly used in a literal or formal style.

Coral reefs that lie beneath the waters were a beautiful sight. They sat beneath a huge mango tree.

As you can see below and under are also possible in these cases.

Sentence fragmentsJuly 21, 2013

A complete sentence must have at least one subject and one finite-verb. Finite verbs are forms like write, work, broke, was writing and would come. Their form changes with a change in the subject or tense. For example, the finite verb was writing will become is / am writing in the present tense and will be writing in the future tense. The exact form depends upon the number and person of the subject.


A sentence must contain at least one finite verb. Note that participles, infinitives and gerunds are non-finite verbs. They cannot make a sentence.

How many finite-verbs?

You can’t have more than one finite-verb in a clause. Note that you can have any number of finite verbs in a sentence, but their total number must equal the number of clauses in that sentence. If there are three clauses, there should be three subjects and three finite verbs.

Even if the verb is finite, it cannot be independent when it follows a conjunction. In other words, you can’t begin a sentence with a conjunction. There are quite a few exceptions to this rule and now beginning sentences with and and but have become sort of acceptable. Nonetheless, this is not something you should try while writing an important exam.

Clauses beginning with a conjunction

Any clause that begins with a conjunction must be attached to an independent clause. The following clauses cannot be sentences because they begin with conjunctions.

Because he hadn’t made the payment. That smoking can cause cancer. For it will create jobs and revive the economy.

Sentence fragments are a common mistake found in ESL writing. Students often begin sentences with conjunctions without even bothering to check whether they can be attached to the previous sentence.

Incorrect: His subscription was not renewed. Because he hadn’t made the payment. Correct: His subscription was not renewed because he hadn’t made the payment. Incorrect: I agree with the opinion. That smoking can cause cancer. Correct: I agree with the opinion that smoking can cause cancer

How to make your writing more formal?July 20, 2013

While communicating with business people, the language you use must be consistently appropriate in style and tone.

The following are the basic features of formal writing.

Write all verbs in full. Do not use contracted forms like don’t or can’t.

Do not use abbreviations such as info (for information) and asap (for as soon as possible).


Limit the use of passive voice. However, there are some situations where passive verb forms are preferred to active forms. For example, active verb forms used with the first person singular are not considered appropriate in formal or academic writing. Write ‘A copy of the document will be mailed to you as soon as possible’ instead of ‘I will mail you a copy of the document asap’.

Watch your vocabulary. Certain words are considered informal. Examples are: fix, begin, start, OK, thanks etc. Avoid them in formal writing. Instead use words like repair (for fix), commence (for start / begin), in order / all right (for OK) and thank you (for thanks).

Avoid informal intensifiers like really and so. Instead use more sophisticated ones such as extremely, highly, entirely etc.

Limit the use of phrasal verbs. As far as possible avoid using them, but if that is not possible limit their use. It is usually possible to express the same idea using standard verb forms.

Certain discourse markers are considered informal. Avoid using them. For example, write incidentally instead of by the way.

Do not leave out words. Ellipsis is not acceptable in formal writing. Write ‘I hope to see you soon’ instead of ‘Hope to see you soon.’

Parts of speech exerciseJuly 20, 2013

What part of speech are the underlined words?

1. She thought of a wise plan.

2. I want to go now.

3. Where are you going?

4. That was a lovely evening.

5. My father works in a factory.

6. She must be a stupid.

7. Selena is my best friend.

8. The dress was expensive; still I bought it.

9. It is my doll.


10. The sun gives us heat and light.

11. Do it quickly.

12. She went to the market to buy some vegetables.

13. I helped him because I liked him.

14. Jasmines are white in color.

15. The cat is under the bed.

Answers

1. Thought – verb (Thought is the past simple form of the verb think. It also has an –ing form: thinking. The word is a verb when it has present, past and participle forms. )

2. Now – adverb (Most words indicating time, place, manner, reason etc. are adverbs. Of course, this is not a good definition and some time expressions are prepositions, not adverbs. If you don’t know whether a particular word is a preposition or an adverb, try this simple test. Is that word followed by a noun? If it is, then it is a preposition. Adverbs are not followed by nouns.)

3. You – personal pronoun (There are very few personal pronouns and they are: he, she, it, they, I, me, we and you. Memorize this list if you still have trouble recognizing pronouns.)

4. Lovely – adjective (A word that goes before a noun is usually an adjective. Adjectives also have comparative and superlative forms: Lovely, lovelier, loveliest)

5. Factory – noun (Nouns are the names of people, things, places etc.)

6. Stupid – noun

7. Best – adjective

8. Bought – verb

9. It – personal pronoun

10. Gives – verb

11. Quickly – adverb (Most words ending in –ly are adverbs.)

12. To – preposition

13. Because – conjunction (A conjunction is a word used to join two clauses. There are only a limited number of conjunctions in English. Common examples are: because, as, since, when, after, before, and, but, or, yet etc.)

14. White – adjectives (The names of colors are always adjectives.)

15. Under – preposition

Figures of speech overviewJuly 19, 2013

Here is an overview of the different figures of speech.

Simile

In simile we make a comparison between two distinctly different objects which have at least one common trait. The simile is usually introduced by words such as like, so or as.

My Love is like a red, red rose.

A comparison made between two objects of the same kind is not a simile.

A large number of similes are used in everyday speech. Common examples are given below:

As proud of a peacock As old as the hills As cold as ice As good as gold

Metaphor

A metaphor is different from a simile. Here we suggest a likeness between two objects of distinctly different nature. Note that a metaphor does not state that one thing is like another. It boldly claims that the two objects are one and the same.

Examples are:

Life is a dream. (Here the speaker establishes a likeness between life and dream by saying that they are one and the same.)

Note that we can convert a metaphor into a simile by using the words like or as. In the same way, a simile can be converted into a metaphor.


She is like a red rose. (Simile) She is a red rose. (Metaphor)

Personification

In personification, inanimate objects and abstract ideas are spoken of as if they were endowed with life and intelligence.

Example

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Apostrophe

An apostrophe is a direct address either to an absent person or to a nonhuman entity.

Figures of speechJuly 19, 2013

Identify the figure of speech used in the following sentences.

1. The camel is the ship of the desert.

a) Metaphor b) Simile c) Oxymoron d) Epigram

2. Death lays its icy hands on Kings.

a) Epigram b) Antithesis c) Metaphor d) Personification

3. O Hamlet! Thou has cleft my heart in twain.

a) Metaphor b) Hyperbole c) Oxymoron d) Apostrophe

4. O death! Where is thy sting? O grave! Where is thy victory?

a) Oxymoron b) Hyperbole c) Metaphor d) Apostrophe

5. Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale.

a) Simile b) Metaphor c) Hyperbole d) Apostrophe

6. Variety is the spice of life.


a) Metaphor b) Simile c) Hyperbole d) Antithesis

7. Pride goeth forth on horseback, grand and gay

a) Personification b) Hyperbole c) Apostrophe d) Metaphor

8. O Solitude! Where are the charms that sages have seen in thy face?

a) Personification b) Apostrophe c) Hyperbole d) Antithesis

9. Here is the smell of blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

a) Hyperbole b) Antithesis c) Personification d) Metaphor

10. Many are called, few are chosen

a) Oxymoron b) Antithesis c) Hyperbole d) Personification

Answers

1. Metaphor 2. Personification 3. Apostrophe 4. Apostrophe 5. Simile 6. Metaphor

7. Personification 8. Apostrophe 9. Hyperbole 10. Antithesis

Copular verbs and action verbsJuly 17, 2013

In English, there are mainly two types of verbs: copular verbs and action verbs.

Copular verbs are also called linking verbs because they link the subject with a following adjective or noun. The most common copular verb is be. It has several forms. Examples are: is, am, are, was, were, being, been etc. As you can see, being and been are the present and past participle forms of be.

Copular verbs refer to states, rather than actions. Therefore, they are also called stative verbs.

Although copular verbs are different from action verbs, they are still considered finite verbs. And therefore, each clause can have just one copular verb. Note that infinitives, participles and gerunds are not finite verbs.

Action verbs, on the other hand, actually describe accomplishments, achievements or activity.

Copular verbs do not state what the subject does. Instead, they show what or who the subject is.


She is an architect. That seems impossible. She turned pale. The night grew dark. The milk turned sour.

As you can see, in all of the sentences given above, the copular verb shows a certain state of the subject.

We use adjectives to modify copular verbs. Action verbs, on the other hand, are modified by adverbs.

Compare:

She drove carefully through the streets. (Here the adverb carefully modifies the action verb drove.)

She was careful as she drove through the streets. (Here the adjective careful modifies the copular verb was.)

Verbs worksheetJuly 16, 2013

There are several blank spaces in the passage given below. You have to fill in those blanks using one of the alternatives given in the brackets. In some cases, you will need to use the correct form of the verb given in the brackets.

Hints

Use the simple present tense to talk about general habits, routines and things that happen all the time.

Use the present continuous tense to talk about situations that are going on at the moment of speaking.

I ………………1……………… (think / thought / am thinking) the railway station is a very interesting place. I ………………….. (go / am going / went) there very often. I ……………2………. (like / liked / am liking) to …………3………….. (observe / observing) people. A railway station ……………4……………. (be) the best place for this.

You ……………5……………. (will find / are finding / would find) all kinds of people in a railway station. There ……………6………… (be) passengers, their friends, relatives, porters and even hawkers. Babies and children …………7………….. (who / which / whom) travel with their parents ……………8…………… (be) often the ones who enjoy the experience the most because they aren’t ……………9…………….. (worry / worried / worrying) about the tickets,


seats or luggage. Some travelers ………………10…………..(have) a lot of luggage. Others simply ……………11………….. (carry / carries / are carrying) a backpack or a bag. The hawkers are a common sight in many of our railway stations. You can see them ……………12………….. (push / pushing / will push) their handcarts all over the platform.

Solution

1. Think (When think means ‘have an opinion’ it is only used in the simple tenses.)

2. Go (We use the simple present tense to talk about things that happen all the time or very frequently)

3. Like 4. Is 5. Will find 6. Are 7. Who 8. Are 9. Worried 10. Have 11. Carry 12. Pushing

Being imprecise in EnglishJuly 15, 2013

Sometimes, we don’t give the exact number. In English, we can use several words and expressions to talk about an indefinite quantity or number.

Using around and about

Both around and about can be used to show that you are guessing at a number.

There were around twenty people in the hall. (The exact number of people may be slightly more or less.)

Damage was estimated at around $5 million. (It could be more or less $5 million.)

It is about 3 o’clock. (Not exactly 3 o’clock.)

The hospital is about 2 km from here.

The ribbon is about 3 meters long.

About 40 people died in the explosion.

She must be about 40.

Approximately

The adverb approximately is also used for showing that an amount or number is not exact.


Approximately 50,000 people filled the stadium.

We have approximately 500 people on our payroll.

A large number of

A large number of people are interested in pursuing a career in advertising. A large number of people want to buy cars.

The verb following a large number of can be singular or plural in number.

Kind of / sort of / type of

These expressions are used when you are talking about someone or something in a general way without being very exact or definite.

I kind of feel like we are not doing the right thing. She was kind of strange, but I liked her. I am sort of worried about his health.

Present and past participlesJuly 14, 2013

When –ing forms are used to make continuous tense forms, they are called present participles. Note that present participles are often confused with gerunds. Although both gerunds and present participles look alike, they have totally different grammatical properties.

Gerunds serve the same purpose as nouns. They can be the subject or object of a verb or preposition.

Smoking is injurious to health. (Here the gerund smoking acts as the subject of the verb is.)

Singing is his hobby. (Here the gerund singing acts as the subject of the verb is.)

Present participles, on the other hand, are mainly used to form continuous tense forms. They can also act as adjectives.

They are waiting for us. (Here the present participle waiting goes after the verb be and forms the present continuous verb are waiting.)

It has been raining since morning. (Here the present participle raining helps in the formation of the present perfect continuous tense.)


Past participles are forms like wanted, broken, started, begun etc. Some verbs have the same past simple and past participle forms. Examples are:

Want / wanted / wanted

Cry / cried / cried

Start / started / started

In the case of some other verbs, the past participle form is different from the past simple form.

Break / broke / broken

Begin / began / begun

The past participle forms are used to form perfect tenses and passive verb forms.

They have left.

Someone has broken the window.

You are fired.

Active and passive meanings of participles

When –ing forms are used like adjectives or adverbs, they have similar meanings to active verbs.

Falling leaves (= leaves that fall)

A fish-eating animal is an animal that eats fish.

When participles are used like adjectives and adverbs, they have passive meanings.

A burnt child is a child that has been burnt.

A broken heart is a heart that has been broken.

Grammar exerciseJuly 13, 2013

Complete the given passage using appropriate words or phrases. This exercise tests your understanding of grammar fundamentals.


Freud’s revelation that dreams might contain useful information came ………1…………. (in / on / at) 1895, …………2……… (then / when / during) he dreamed about a patient ………………3………….. (of / with / for) his …………4……………. (who / whose / which) treatment had not yielded …………5……………. (it’s / its) expected results. By carefully making conscious associations ……………6………….. (with / of / by) the ……………7………….. (imagery / imageries) in his dream, Freud was able to interpret the dream as representing an attempt by his mind to protect ……………8…………….. (himself / itself / themselves) from the disappointment generated by his inability to heal the patient. ……………9……….. (with / from / of) this experience, Freud concluded …………10………….. (that / as / like) parts of the human mind worked outside of our consciousness and that dreams had meaning. Freud believed that, at the core, dreams represented a disguised fulfillment of suppressed ……………11…………… (or, yet, but) repressed wishes.

Answers

1. In (We use in with years and months. On is used with specific days and at is used with clock times.)

2. When

3. Of (The complete sequence is: a patient of his. We cannot put an article and a possessive together. For example, we can’t say: a his patient. To express that idea we use a structure with of.)

4. Whose (Whose is the possessive form of who.)

5. Its (Its is a possessive form. It’s is the contracted from of it is or it has.)

6. With

7. Imagery (The word imagery does not have a plural form.)

8. Itself (Here the reflexive pronoun itself refers back to the noun mind.)

9. From 10. That 11. Or

Spotting the errorJuly 11, 2013

Read each of the following sentences to find out if there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e). Ignore errors of punctuation if any.


1. Sigmund Freud had published (a) / his groundbreaking book, The Interpretation of Dreams, (b) / in 1899, after years (c) / of studying the brain as a neurologist (d). / No error (e)

2. I would ask him (a) / to leave our house (b) / immediately (c) if my father should not have been at home. (d) / No error (e)

3. While has was walking (a) / along the road (b) /, a speeding car (c) / knocked down to him (d). / No error (e)

4. Though none of his well-wishers (a) / forwarded to help him (b) / I helped him (c) / by lending him $100 dollars (d). / No error (e)

5. Your over-dependent on (a) / others even for (b) / trivial matters may (c) / prove disadvantageous. (d) / No error (e)

Answers

1. (a). It should be: Sigmund Freud published. (We do not use the past perfect tense to simply state that something happened some time ago. That idea is expressed using the simple past tense.)

2. (d). It should be: if my father were not at home. This is an example of the type 2 conditional sentence. Here we use would + infinitive in the main clause and simple past in the if-clause.

3. (d). It should be: knocked him down.

4. (b). It should be: came forward to help him

5. (a). It should be: Your over-dependence on

Countable and uncountable nouns exerciseJuly 10, 2013

Countable nouns refer to objects that we can count. Examples are: books, flowers, pen, children, apple etc. Countable nouns have singular and plural forms. Singular countable nouns are always used with an article or another determiner.

Uncountable nouns refer to objects that we cannot count. Examples are: wheat, rice, sand, oil, ghee etc.

Usually it is easy to see whether a noun is countable or uncountable. But sometimes things are not so clear. Many nouns that are countable in other languages are uncountable in English. In the same way, some nouns that are uncountable in other languages are countable in English.


Test your knowledge of countable and uncountable nouns with this grammar exercise.

1. The college provides ……………………. for students. (accommodation / accommodations)

2. I need some ……………………….. about the new management program. (information / informations)

3. Have you got ……………………….. (many luggages / a lot of luggage)?

4. Switzerland is known for its enchanting ……………………….. (scenery / sceneries)

5. She has got enough ………………………. (experience / experiences) for the job.

6. I have bought two …………………….. (breads / loaves of bread).

7. He is looking for ………………….. (work / a work).

8. The journal has published a …………………… (research / piece of research) on this subject.

9. A …………………. (luck / bit of luck) is absolutely essential for success in the show business.

10. We are having …………………… (a terrible weather / terrible weather)

Answers

1. The collage provides accommodation for students.

2. I need some information about the new management program.

3. Have you got a lot of luggage?

4. Switzerland is known for its enchanting scenery.

5. She has got enough experience for the job.

6. I have bought two loaves of bread.

7. He is looking for work.

8. The journal has published a piece of research on this subject.

9. A bit of luck is absolutely essential for success in the show business.

10. We are having terrible weather.

Sentence improvement exerciseJuly 9, 2013

In each of the following questions, four sentences expressing nearly the same idea are given. Decide which sentence is the most effective when it comes to grammar and syntax.

Question 1

a) We would have won the match if only we would have concentrated.

b) We had won the match if only we would have concentrated.

c) We would have won the match if we had concentrated.

d) We would win the match if only we had concentrated.

Question 2

a) Since he wasn’t rich by any means, he never turned away anyone who needed help.

b) He wasn’t rich my any means, but he never turned away anyone who needed help.

c) He wasn’t rich by any means, although he never turned down anyone who needed help.

d) Since he lacked money, he never turned down anyone who needed help.

Question 3

a) Since the committee lacked power it could not deliver expected results.

b) The committee was useless because there was no power to it.

c) Since the committee did not have the power it has not deliver useful results.

d) Since the committee lacked power it would not have deliver expected results.

Question 4

a) By June next year, Sajan will be twenty years working in this office.

b) Till June next year, Sajan will work in this office for twenty years.

c) By June next year, Sajan will have been working in this office for twenty years.


d) Having completed twenty years, Sajan will be working in this office till next year.

Answers

1. c) We would have won the match if we had concentrated.

2. b) He wasn’t rich my any means, but he never turned away anyone who needed help.

3. a) Since the committee lacked power it could not deliver expected results.

4. c) By June next year, Sajan will have been working in this office for twenty years.

Using enough to combine two clausesJuly 8, 2013

Enough can be used as an adjective or adverb. As an adjective, enough is used to modify a noun.

I have bought enough eggs.

As an adverb, enough is used to modify an adjective or another adverb.

She is old enough to know better.

We can combine two sentences into one using enough + infinitive.

Before combining two clauses using enough, make sure that they are both affirmative or negative.

Compare:

My grandfather is very fit. He can run four miles at a stretch.

Here both sentences are affirmative.

My grandfather is fit enough to run four miles at a stretch.

Note that the adverb enough goes after the adjective or adverb it modifies.

My neighbor is very rich. He can buy whatever he wants. My neighbor is rich enough to buy whatever he wants. The room was very spacious. It could easily accommodate 50 people. The room was spacious enough to easily accommodate 50 people.


We can use enough to join two clauses even if they have different subjects.


The orator spoke very loudly. I could hear him. The orator spoke loudly enough for me to hear him. (Note the use of the structure for

me.) There is plenty of time. We can play one more game. There is enough of time for us to play one more game. The mangoes are ripe. You can eat them. The mangoes are ripe enough for you to eat. The oranges are cheap enough. You can buy them. The oranges are cheap enough for you to buy.

Enough exerciseJuly 7, 2013

Fill in the blanks

1. My aunt is rich enough …………………… buy a Ferrari.

a) for her to

b) to

c) for

d) that she can

2. We haven’t got …………………….. to go on holiday.

a) money enough

b) enough money

c) too much money

d) so much money

3. He can’t run very fast. He is not …………………….

a) fit enough

b) too fit


c) enough fit

d) fit though

4. The meat is good enough …………………. buy.

a) to

b) for us to

c) for we

d) and

Sentence correction

Find the part that contains the error.

5. She is not (a) / enough old (b) / to be a grandmother (c). No error (d)

6. The day was (a) / warm enough (b) / that we could go out (c). No error (d)

7. Choose the correct sentence.

a) The problem was easy enough for me to solve.

b) The problem was enough easy for me to solve.

c) The problem was easy enough for I to solve.

d) The problem was easy enough to solve.

Combine the following pairs of sentences.

8. They are very rich. They can buy a luxury car.

a) They are rich enough to buy a luxury car.

b) They are rich enough for them to buy a luxury car.

c) They are enough rich to buy a luxury car.

d) They are too rich enough to buy a luxury car.

9. William plays very cleverly. So his team will win the game.

a) William plays cleverly enough to win the game.

b) William plays cleverly enough for his team to win.

c) William plays enough clever for his team to win.

d) William plays so clever enough for his team to win.

Answers

1. My aunt is rich enough to buy a Ferrari.

2. We haven’t got enough money to go on holiday.

3. He is not fit enough.

4. The meat is good enough for us to buy.

5. Part (b): It should be ‘old enough’

6. Part (c): It should be ‘for us to go out’

7. The problem was easy enough for me to solve.

8. They are rich enough to buy a luxury car.

9. William plays cleverly enough for his team to win.

English grammar and vocabulary testJuly 5, 2013


1. She has eaten ………………… anything today.

a) Hardly

b) Rarely

c) Hard

d) Fairly


2. Sam speaks English, ………………………..?

a) Did he?

b) Does he?

c) Didn’t he?

d) Doesn’t he?

3. Wealth is not so important as health. Change into comparative degree.

a) Health is most important than wealth.

b) Health is more important than wealth.

c) Health is important than wealth.

d) Health is the most important than wealth.

4. ……………………. the signal, we stopped.

a) Saw

b) Seem

c) Seeing

d) Had seen

5. I suppose, I am right, ……………………..? Add question tag.

a) Am I?

b) Aren’t I?

c) Are I?

d) Amn’t I?

6. Speak loudly. Otherwise you will not be heard. Combine using so that.

a) Speak loudly so that you will not be heard.

b) Speak loudly so that you will be heard.

c) Speak so loud that you may be heard.

d) You speak loudly so that you will be heard.

7. Rabindranath Tagore was a great poet. He was also a great painter. Combine using not only…but also…

a) Rabindranath Tagore not only was a great poet but also a great painter.

b) Rabindranath Tagore was not only a great poet but also a great painter.

c) Rabindranath Tagore was not only but also a great poet and orator.

d) Rabindranath Tagore was a great poet and orator.

8. Shiela is the ………………………. girl in the group.

a) Old

b) Older

c) Oldest

d) More old

9. He lost his wealth. He lost his family. Combine using both…and.

a) He lost both his wealth and family.

b) He both lost his wealth and family.

c) Both he lost his wealth and family.

d) He lost his wealth both and his family.

10. A quiver of ……………………..

a) Flowers

b) Bows

c) Stars

d) Arrows

Answers

1. Hardly 2. Doesn’t he? 3. Health is more important than wealth.

4. Seeing 5. Aren’t I? 6. Speak loudly so that you will be heard.

7. Rabindranath Tagore was not only a great poet but also a great painter.

8. Oldest 9. He lost both his wealth and family. 10. Arrows

Common mistakes in the use of some conjunctionsJuly 3, 2013

Scarcely and hardly

These words are followed by when or before, not than.

Hardly had I entered the room when a strange creature ran out. OR Scarcely had I entered the room when a strange creature ran out. (NOT Hardly had I entered the room, than …)

No sooner is followed by than, not when

No sooner did she complete one project than she started working on the next.

As you can see, the adverbs hardly, scarcely and no sooner are all negative expressions. When a negative expression comes at the beginning of a sentence, we use inverted word order. That means the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.

These adverbs can also go in mid-position. In that case, we use normal word order.

I had hardly entered the room when a strange creature ran out. I had scarcely solved one problem before another cropped up.

Not only…but also

This correlative conjunction is often confused. When using not only… but also, you must make sure that both parts of this conjunction go before words of the same parts of speech.

The controversy not only damages our image but also decreases investor confidence.


Here not only and but also go before two verbs.

She was not only arrogant but also rude.

Here not only and but also go before two adjectives.

Lest

The conjunction lest is not very common in modern English. This word has a negative meaning. Therefore, it should not be used with not. The only auxiliary verb that can follow lest is should.

Work hard lest you should fail. OR Work hard lest you fail. (NOT Work hard lest you should not fail.)

The same idea can be expressed using the expression or else.

Work hard, or else you will fail. Leave on time, or else you will miss the train.

Common mistakes in the use of nouns and adjectivesJuly 2, 2013

Each sentence given below contains one or more grammatical mistakes. Find out the mistake and rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. I heard these news in the morning.

2. One of my friend wants to go to France.

3. Each of these children know the answer by-heart.

4. He is most intelligent boy in our class.

5. She is junior than me.

6. This fabric is superior than that fabric.

7. I went to the store to buy some stationeries.

8. Measles are infectious.

9. This poem is full of vivid imageries.


10. He didn’t want to listen to my advices.

Answers

1. I heard this news in the morning.

2. One of my friends wants to go to France.

3. Each of these children knows the answer by-heart. (The determiners each, every, either and neither take a singular verb.)

4. He is the most intelligent boy in our class. (Superlative adjectives take the article the.)

5. She is junior to me. (The adjectives junior and senior take the preposition to, not than.)

6. This fabric is superior to that fabric. (The adjectives superior and inferior take the preposition to, not than.)

7. I went to the store to buy some stationery. (Stationery does not have a plural form.)

8. Measles is infectious. (The names of most illnesses, including those ending in –s, are singular in English.)

9. This poem is full of vivid imagery. (Imagery is uncountable in English and therefore it does not have a plural form.)

10. He didn’t want to listen to my advice. (Advice is an uncountable noun and therefore it does not have a plural form. Advice cannot be used with the article an. To show the singular aspect of the noun, use the phrase a piece of advice. To show the plural aspect, use the phrase some advice.)

Passive voice exerciseJuly 1, 2013

Change the following sentences into passive voice. Choose the correct answer.

1. They took her to hospital yesterday.

a) She was being taken to hospital yesterday.

b) She had been taken to hospital yesterday.

c) She was taken to hospital yesterday.


d) She had taken to hospital yesterday.

2. Did the noise frighten you?

a) Were you being frightened by the noise?

b) Were you frightened by the noise?

c) Had you been frightened by the noise?

d) Was you frightened by the noise?

3. Someone will show you the path.

a) You will show the path to someone.

b) You will be shown the path by someone.

c) You will have been shown the path by someone.

d) Someone will have been shown the path by you.

4. Let him attend the call.

a) Let the call be attended by him.

b) Let the call been attended by him.

c) Let the call be attended.

d) None of these

5. Thousands visit the shrine every year.

a) The shrine was visited by thousands every year.

b) The shrine is visited by thousands every year.

c) The shrine has been visited by thousands every year.

d) The shrine was being visited by thousands every year.

Answers

1. She was taken to hospital yesterday.

2. Were you frightened by the noise?

3. You will be shown the path by someone.

4. Let the call be attended by him.

5. The shrine is visited by thousands every year

English grammar exerciseJuly 1, 2013

Choose the grammatically correct sentence in each case.

Question 1

a) She is not the right candidate for the job, is she?

b) She is not the right candidate for the job, isn’t she?

c) She is not the right candidate for the job, isn’t it?

d) She is not the right candidate for the job, was she?

Question 2

a) I have had a phone call ten minutes ago.

b) I had a phone call ten minutes ago.

c) I have a phone call ten minutes ago.

d) I have had a phone call ten minutes back.

Question 3

a) He gave me an advice.

b) He gave me a piece of advice.

c) He gave me pieces of advices.

d) He gave me some advices.


Question 4

a) He asked to loan him one thousand dollars.

b) He asked me to lend him one thousand dollars.

c) He asked to me to lend him one thousand dollars.

d) He asked me to give him one thousand dollars.

Question 5

a) Violence perpetrated against women must be condemned.

b) Violence perpetrated against women be condemned.

c) Violence perpetrated against women must condemned.

d) Violence perpetuated against women must be condemned.

Answers

1. She is not the right candidate for the job, is she?

2. I had a phone call ten minutes ago. (I have had means I have received. The present perfect tense cannot be used with past time adverbs like ago.)

3. He gave me a piece of advice. (Advice is an uncountable noun. It does not have a plural form and cannot be used with the article an.)

4. He asked me to lend him one thousand dollars.

5. Violence perpetrated against women must be condemned

Eliminate incomplete sentences from your writingJune 30, 2013

We have already learned that a sentence must have a subject and a finite-verb of its own. An independent clause can make a sentence because it has a subject and a verb. Phrases, on the other hand, cannot be sentences.


A phrase is a group of words that does not have a subject or a verb. A phrase can consist of any number of words; however, most phrases are not all that long.

Students sometimes mistake phrases for sentences. Examples are given below.

I think that the new shopping mall will bring many benefits. For example, more jobs and economic development.

Here the group of words ‘for example, more jobs and economic development’ is a phrase. It cannot make a sentence.

It should, therefore, be attached to the previous sentence.

I think that the new shopping mall will bring many benefits, for example, more jobs and economic development.

We can convert a phrase into a clause by supplying a suitable subject and verb.

Consider the example given below.

I think that the new shopping mall will bring many benefits. For example, it will create more jobs and economic development.


I support the decision to build a new theater. To improve the economy and entertain people.

Consider the group of words ‘to improve the economy and entertain people’. Although it contains the verb ‘to improve’, it cannot be a clause because infinitives are non-finite verbs.

Therefore, the sentence should be rewritten as:

To improve the economy and entertain people I support the decision to build a new theater.

Passive voice exerciseJune 29, 2013

From the given options choose the correct passive form of the active sentence.

1. Alice resembles a Greek goddess.

a) A Greek goddess is resembled by Alice.


b) A Greek goddess is being resembled by Alice.

c) Alice is resembled by a Greek goddess.

d) None of the above

2. Everybody agreed with me.

a) I was agreed with by everybody.

b) Everybody was agreed with by me.

c) I was agreed by everybody.

d) None of these

3. This coat doesn’t fit me.

a) I am not fitted by this coat.

b) I do not fit this coat.

c) This coat is not fitted by me.

d) None of these

4. Mathews made a major error is the estimate.

a) A major error was made in the estimate by Mathews.

b) A major estimate was made in the error by Mathews.

c) A major error was being made in the estimate by Mathews.

d) A major error was estimated by Mathews.

5. They say that his company is in trouble.

a) It is said that his company is in trouble.

b) That his company is in trouble is said by them.

c) His company is being said to be in trouble.

d) None of these

Answers

1. None of these. (Verbs which refer to states do not have passive forms. Examples of such verbs are: fit, have, lack, resemble and suit.)

2. None of these. (Prepositional verbs like agree with and walk into are not normally used in the passive.)

3. None of these

4. A major error was made in the estimate by Mathews.

5. It is said that his company is in trouble.

oining two simple sentences into another simple sentenceJune 27, 2013

Sentence synthesis means combining two or more simple sentences into one new sentence. The new sentence may be a simple sentence, a complex sentence or a compound sentence. In this lesson we will learn the different techniques used to combine two simple sentences into another simple sentence.

By using infinitives


I have to support my family. I want to find a job.

We can combine these two sentences into one using a to-infinitive.

I want to find a job to support my family.


She works hard. She wants to pass the test. She works hard to pass the test. I put on my best clothes. I wanted to impress her. I put on my best clothes to impress her.

By using a noun or phrase in apposition



This is my sister. Her name is Mira.

We can combine these two sentences into one.

This is my sister, Mira. Winston Churchill was a great politician and statesman. He also won the Nobel Prize for

literature. Winston Churchill, a great politician and statesman, also won the Nobel Prize for

literature.

By using a participle

We can combine two simple sentences into one by using a present or past participle.

He was frustrated with life. He tried to commit suicide. Frustrated with life, he tried to commit suicide. I saw the fox. It was chasing a rabbit. I saw the fox chasing a rabbit. The workers finished their work. They left for home. Having finished their work, the workers left for home. He was betrayed by his partner. He suffered huge losses. Betrayed by his partner, he suffered huge losses.

Passive verb forms exerciseJune 26, 2013

Complete the following sentences using appropriate passive verb forms. Choose your answers from the given options.

1. The work ……………………………. by my brother.

a) completed

b) has completed

c) was completed

d) had completed

2. The match …………………………… by our team.


a) may won

b) may be won

c) has won

d) had won

3. Let the weak not ……………………………..

a) insulted

b) was insulted

c) be insulted

d) is insulted

4. The patient ………………………… by the nurse.

a) is being looked after

b) is looking after

c) has been looking after

d) has looked after

5. The sparrows …………………………. by the boy.

a) were feeding

b) were being fed

c) has fed

d) had fed

6. The enemy troupes …………………………….. by our army.

a) has been defeated

b) have been defeated

c) was defeating

d) has defeated

7. I ……………………… a chair by the officer.

a) offered

b) was offered

c) have offered

d) had offered

8. You ………………………. to disclose your sources of income.

a) have requested

b) are requesting

c) are requested

d) have been requesting

9. Let the door …………………..

a) open

b) be opening

c) be opened

d) is opened

10. Let this rubbish ………………………….. away.

a) is thrown

b) be thrown

c) has thrown

d) has been thrown

Answers

1. The work was completed by my brother.

2. The match may be won by our team.

3. Let the weak not be insulted.

4. The patient is being looked after by the nurse.

5. The sparrows were being fed by the boy.

6. The enemy troupes have been defeated by our army.

7. I was offered a chair by the officer.

8. You are requested to disclose your sources of income.

9. Let the door be opened.

10. Let this rubbish be thrown away.

Adverb clause of timeJune 25, 2013

An adverb clause of time shows when something happens. It is usually introduced by time adverbs. Examples are: before, after, as, when, while, until, as soon as, since, no sooner than, as long as etc. Note that all adverb clauses are subordinate clauses. They cannot stand on their own and must be attached to an independent clause.


I always take a bath before I go to bed. Will you wait here until I am ready? I was not at home when he came to see me. Do not disturb me when I am busy with my work. As soon as she finished that project, she started working on the next. After I have finished my work, I will accompany you to the park.

Notes

An adverb clause of time can come before or after the main clause. When it comes before the main clause, we usually separate it with a comma. Commas are not necessary when the adverb clause goes after the main clause.

Whenever I think of her, my eyes get misty. My eyes get misty whenever I think of her.


Tense

If you are talking about something that is yet to happen in the future, use a present tense in the adverb clause and a future tense in the main clause.

I will start when I am ready. (NOT I will start when I will be ready.) I will not go until I get my money back. (NOT I will not go until I will get my money

back.)

Combining two sentences using so…that…June 23, 2013

So…that… is a subordinating conjunction. Using so…that… we can combine clauses that show a cause and effect relationship.

Exercise

Combine the following sentences using so… that…

1. The box is very heavy. I cannot lift it.

2. My brother worked hard. He passed the test.

3. He is very ill. The doctors don’t expect him to survive.

4. My grandfather is very weak. He cannot walk.

5. She is very short. She cannot touch the ceiling.

6. William played cleverly. John couldn’t beat him.

7. The necklace was very expensive. I couldn’t buy it.

8. The famine was very severe. Several people perished.

9. The milk was very good. We couldn’t help drinking it.

10. He is very proud. He will not ask for help.

Answers

1. The box is so heavy that I cannot lift it.

2. My brother worked so hard that he passed the test.


3. He is so ill that the doctors don’t expect him to survive.

4. My grandfather is so weak that he cannot survive.

5. She is so short that she cannot touch the ceiling.

6. William played so cleverly that John couldn’t beat him.

7. The necklace was so expensive that I couldn’t buy it.

8. The famine was so severe that several people perished.

9. The milk was so good that we couldn’t help drinking it.

10. He is so proud that he will not ask for help.

Conditional forms exerciseJune 22, 2013

This exercise tests your understanding of tenses and conditional forms.

1. If I had a penny, I …………………………… some peanuts.

a) can buy

b) could buy

c) could have bought

2. If I …………………………… her address, I could have a written to her.

a) knew

b) know

c) had known

3. He …………………………….. if he had been more careful.

a) might not fall

b) may not fall


c) might not have fallen

4. I …………………………. you if I had enough money.

a) will help

b) would help

c) would have helped

5. If I were in your position, I ……………………………….. such a disgraceful act.

a) will not commit

b) would not commit

c) would not have committed

6. What would you do if you …………………………….. the first prize in a bumper draw?

a) get

b) got

c) would have got

7. There might have been a great flood, if the rains ……………………………..

a) had not stopped

b) would not stop

c) did not stop

8. Had the driver been alert, the accident ……………………………

a) could have been averted

b) could be averted

c) can be averted

9. I would not accept the offer, if I ………………………… you.

a) am

b) were

c) had been

10. If you were a little more careful, you …………………………………

a) would not be cheated

b) would not have been cheated

c) will not be cheated

Answers

1. If I had a penny, I could buy some peanuts.

2. If I had known her address, I could have written to her.

3. He might not have fallen if he had been more careful.

4. I would help you if I had enough money.

5. If I were in your position, I would not commit such a disgraceful act.

6. What would you do if you got the first prize in a draw?

7. There might have been a great flood if the rains had not stopped.

8. Had the driver been alert, the accident could have been averted.

9. I would not accept the offer if I were you.

10. If you were a little more careful you would not be cheated

Indirect speech exerciseJune 19, 2013

Test your understanding of direct and indirect speech with this grammar exercise.

1. ‘Do you like tea?’ he said. Change into indirect speech.

a) He said to me if I liked tea.


b) He asked me if I liked tea.

c) He asked me if I like tea.

d) He told me if I liked tea.

2. The teacher said, ‘What are you looking for?’

a) The teacher asked me what are you looking for.

b) The teacher asked me what I am looking for.

c) The teacher asked me what I was looking for.

d) The teacher asked me what was I looking for.

3. ‘Have you bought enough nails?’ mother said. Change into indirect speech.

a) Mother asked me have I bought enough nails.

b) Mother asked me if I have bought enough nails.

c) Mother asked me if I had bought enough nails.

d) Mother wanted to know if I had bought enough nails.

4. He asked his daughter ……………………………. she had finished her homework.

a) that b) whether c) as d) but

5. I asked him whether he would keep quiet. This is the reported speech of:

a) I asked him ‘Will you keep quiet?’

b) I asked him ‘Whether he would keep quiet?’

c) I asked him, ‘Would you keep quiet?’

d) I asked him, Whether he will keep quiet?’

6. The teacher asked the students ………………………… they had seen the exhibition.

a) if b) but c) that d) weather

Answers

1. He asked me if I liked tea.

2. The teacher asked me what I was looking for.

3. Mother asked me if I had bought enough nails.

4. He asked his daughter whether she had finished her homework.

5. I asked him ‘Will you keep quiet?’

6. The teacher asked the students if they had seen the exhibition.

Identifying and non-identifying relative clausesJune 18, 2013

The relative pronoun that can refer to both people and things. In other words, it can replace both who and which. However, this is not always possible. That cannot be used in non-identifying relative clauses. Note that a non-identifying relative clause can be easily removed from the sentence. An identifying relative clause, on the other hand, cannot be removed that easily. If it is removed from the sentence, the meaning will change.

They opposed the motion that / which was proposed by the rival group.

Now remove the relative clause ‘that / which was proposed by the rival group’ and you will get the simple sentence ‘They opposed the motion’.

As you can see, this sentence does not mean the same as the original sentence because it doesn’t identify the motion under discussion.

Now consider another sentence.

My sister, who lives in New York, is a classical dancer. (NOT My sister, that lives in New York,…)

Here the relative clause who lives in New York is non-identifying. It merely provides additional information. Even if you remove it from the sentence the meaning doesn’t change.

My sister is a classical dancer.

As you can see, this sentence means the same as the original sentence; it just doesn’t give as much information.


In writing, non-identifying relative clauses are separated by commas.

Exercise

State whether the relative clauses in the following sentences are identifying or non-identifying and rewrite them using appropriate punctuation marks.

1. I have got a book which is really interesting to read.

2. I met a girl who sells flowers.

3. Maya who sells flowers in the street is a pretty girl.

4. This is Jane who works with my sister.

Answers

1. Identifying (No commas are required.)

2. Identifying (No commas are required)

3. Non-identifying (Maya, who sells flowers in the street, is a pretty girl.)

3. Non-identifying (This is Jane, who works with my sister.)

The relative pronoun thatJune 17, 2013

The relative pronoun who is only used to refer to people. Which is only used to refer to animals or objects. That can be used to refer to both people and objects. In some cases, that is preferred to which.

Cases where only that is possible

That should be used after superlative adjectives and other determiners like all, same, any, none, nothing, only, everything little, much and no.

He is the same guy that picked my pocket yesterday. (More natural than ‘He is the same guy who picked my pocket yesterday.’)

This is the best book that was ever written about World War II. (NOT This is the best book which was ever written about World War II.)


None that participated in the contest won the prize. (More natural than ‘None who participated in the contest won the prize.’)

After all, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody and those, both that and who can be used.

Everyone who / that participated in the competition performed well. All the candidates who / that wrote the exam made it to the rank list.

That should be used after the interrogative pronouns what, which and who.

What is the problem that worries you the most? (NOT What is the problem which worries you the most?)

Which is the phone that you would like to buy? Who is the writer that you like the most?

Who and whom

Whom should be used after a preposition.

The girl to whom you spoke is my cousin. (NOT The girl to who you spoke is my cousin.)

The girl from whom you collected the books has called me.

Types of sentencesJune 16, 2013

Generally speaking, English sentences are of three types: simple sentence, complex sentence and compound sentence. A simple sentence consists of just one clause. A complex sentence is made up of one main (independent) clause and one or more subordinate clauses. A compound sentence is made up of two or more main clauses. There is yet another variety called compound-complex, but this kind of sentence is relatively rare.

Identify the kind of sentences.

1. Their front door was open but nobody was inside.

a) Simple sentence b) Complex sentence c) Compound sentence

2. The coffee machine that I bought for my wife was not expensive.


3. She is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.



4. I am tired of listening to advice.


5. She was punished for lying.

a) Simple sentence b) Complex sentence d) Compound sentence

6. John’s mother asked me if I knew where he was.


7. I was pleasantly surprised when she told me that she was my fan.


8. My mother has wealth, fame, rank and power.


9. She was not very beautiful yet she was the most popular girl in my class.


10. My husband was working, so I went shopping.


Answers

1. Compound sentence 2. Complex sentence 3. Complex sentence 4. Simple sentence

5. Simple sentence 6. Complex sentence 7. Complex sentence 8. Simple sentence

9. Compound sentence 10. Compound sentence

General English ExerciseJune 15, 2013

Test your understanding of English grammar rules with this exercise.

1. Besides his parents, he …………………………. present at the function.


a) was b) were c) has d) have

2. The storm was accompanied …………………………. heavy rains.

a) with b) by c) from d) through

3. Choose the word that is misspelt.

a) embarassing b) diarrhea c) entrepreneur d) accustomed

4. ‘Sine die’ means

a) die while in service b) after the date c) indefinitely d) countersign

5. Choose the antonym of the word ‘Embellish’

a) Sacrifice b) decorate c) disfigure d) indict

6. A person who lacks experience can be called a ……………………….

a) veteran b) senior c) novice d) rustic

7. I have bought a bag of ……………………………

a) floor b) flour c) flower d) flaur

8. You will never win, ……………………….. hard you may try.

a) as well as b) however c) whenever d) as though

9. Barking dogs …………………………… bite.

a) seldom b) hardly c) rarely d) never

10. Which of the following words has nearly the same meaning as the phrase ‘make out’?

a) read b) build c) bring about d) understand

Answers

1. Besides his parents, he was present at the function.

2. The storm was accompanied by heavy rains. 3. Embarrassing 4. Indefinitely

5. Disfigure 6. Novice 7. I have bought a bag of flour.

8. You will never win, however hard you may try.

9. Barking dogs seldom bite. 10. Understand

Grammar ExerciseJune 14, 2013

Test your understanding of tenses with this grammar exercise. Complete the following sentences.

1. I understand that he ………………………….. absent yesterday.

a) is b) was c) had been d) has

2. Wood always ………………………….. on water.

a) floats b) will float c) floated d) float

3. It …………………………… heavily for a week and the rivers are overflowing.

a) rained b) has been raining c) is raining d) had been raining

4. There are some birds that …………………………. every year.

a) migrated b) migrate c) have migrated d) would migrate

5. I ……………………. to Singapore once.

a) have gone b) have been c) had gone d) had been

6. We ……………………….. dinner an hour ago.

a) had b) have c) had had d) would have

7. We ……………………….. nothing to eat since yesterday.

a) had b) have had c) will have d) had had

8. Her health has improved since she ………………………… to her native village.

a) has returned b) returned c) had returned d) has returned


9. I will catch the first bus that ……………………..

a) come b) comes c) will come d) shall come

10. See that the patient …………………………. complete rest.

a) get b) gets c) will get d) would get

Answers

1. I understand that she was absent yesterday.

2. Wood always floats on water.

3. It has been raining heavily for a week and the rivers are overflowing.

4. There are some birds that migrate every year.

5. I have been to Singapore once.

6. We had dinner an hour ago.

7. We have had nothing to eat since yesterday.

8. Her health has improved since she returned to her native village.

9. I will catch the first bus that comes.

10. See that the patient gets complete rest.

Reported speech exerciseJune 13, 2013

Change the following into reported speech. Choose the correct answer from the given options.

1. He said, ‘Hello! Where are you going?’

a) He told me where I was going.

b) He greeted me and asked where I was going.

c) He wanted to know where I was going.

d) He greeted me and said where I was going.


2. ‘Do you know when she will return?’ he asked.

a) He asked when she would return.

a) He asked me if I knew when she will return.

c) He said if I knew when she would return.

d) He asked me if I knew when she would return.

3. He said, ‘Let’s go for a drive.’

a) He said that we / they should go for a drive.

b) He suggested to go for a drive

c) He suggested that we / they should go for a drive.

d) He asked us / them to go for a drive.

4. ‘Hurrah! We have won!’ said the boys.

a) The boys said that they had won.

b) The boys said that they have won.

c) The boys exclaimed that they had won.

d) The boys sighed and said that they had won.

5. ‘Do what I say,’ said the old man to his sons.

a) The old man asked his sons to do what he said.

b) The old man asked his sons that they should do what he said.

c) The old man said to his sons that they should do what he said.

d) The old man asked his son to do what he says.

Answers

1. He greeted me and asked what I was doing.

2. He asked me if I knew when she would return.

3. He suggested that we should go for a drive.

4. The boys exclaimed that they had won.

5. The old man asked his sons to do what he said.


Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word or phrase. Each question is followed by four suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one.

1. I shall …………………….. him if he ………………………….. to me for his misconduct.

a) pardon, commits b) forgive, apologizes c) reprimand, commands d) forgives, apologize

2. It is natural ……………………… a man to make mistakes.

a) of b) for c) with d) in

3. Lions roar, elephants ……………………..

a) bellow b) bleat c) trumpet d) grunt

4. If a candidate wants …………………….. as President, he / she must win the majority of votes.

a) elected b) to be elected c) having elected d) electing

5. Which of the following words has the same meaning as the word ‘Conversant’?

a) familiar b) pleasant c) ignorant d) intelligent

6. The plane took …………………….. an hour ……………………… its arrival.

a) after, of b) off, after c) of, off d) of, to

7. I was tired because I ……………………….. the whole day.

a) was working b) had been working c) am working d) have been working

8. Give the plural form of sheep

a) sheep b) sheeps c) sheepz d) sheepes


9. Maiden speech means ………………………

a) speech given by a maiden b) one’s first speech c) one’s last speech d) an important speech

10. Though she refused first, she …………………….. in the end.

a) came out b) came around c) came off d) came up

Answers

1. I shall forgive him if he apologizes to me for his misconduct.

2. It is natural for a man to make mistakes.

3. Trumpet

4. If a candidate wants to be elected as President, he/she must win the majority of votes.

5. Familiar

6. The plane took off an hour after its arrival.

7. I was tired because I had been working the whole day.

8. Sheep

9. One’s first speech

10. Though she refused first, she came around in the end.

enses and the time adverbs used with themJune 11, 2013

The present perfect continuous tense

The present perfect continuous tense is commonly used with the time expressions since and for.

It has been raining since yesterday. I have been working in this company for 3 years. My sister has been preparing for the civil services exam for six months.

Simple past tense


The simple past tense is commonly used with time expressions referring to the past. Examples are: yesterday, last year, ago, in 2006 etc.

My father came here yesterday. I saw him last week. His father died two years ago.

The adverbs never, always, seldom, often, frequently, occasionally, once, twice, thrice etc., can also be used with the simple past tense.

He never invited me to his parties. I met him once. She seldom stepped out of her home. She frequently changed jobs.

Past continuous tense

The past continuous tense is used to talk about actions and situations that were in progress at a particular point of time in the past. When we use the past continuous tense we usually also state when that particular activity was in progress. For this purpose, we use a time expression or a time clause.

The children were doing their homework when their dad returned home from work. The light went off when I was reading.

The past perfect tense

The past perfect tense is not normally used alone. It is used to denote the earlier of two past actions. We use the simple past tense for the latter action.

He had finished his studies before he joined the army. They had signed the agreement before I knew about it.

Time adverbs used with the present tenseJune 10, 2013

In many exams you will be asked to complete sentences using appropriate tense forms. If you find these exercises difficult, the following hints will be helpful. Note the tense of a sentence is usually determined by the time adverbs present in it.

Time adverbs used with the simple present tense

The simple present tense is commonly used with the adverbs always, usually, seldom, never, sometimes, often, frequently, generally, habitually, occasionally, once, twice, thrice etc.



I drink a cup of coffee every morning. (NOT I am drinking a cup of coffee every morning.)

My father never tells lies. I usually spend my evenings with my children. My watch never keeps right time.

Time adverbs used with the present continuous tense

The present continuous tense is used to talk about actions and situations that are in progress at the moment of speaking. The following time expressions are commonly used with the present continuous tense: today, at present, at the moment, still, now etc.

I am working on a new project now. My father is working in his office at the moment. I am seeing John tomorrow. We are still waiting for their reply. He is working for a foreign company at present.

Time adverbs used with the present perfect tense

The present perfect tense is commonly used with the time expressions just, yet, already, since, for and so far.

We have not yet received the payment. He has already paid for the drinks. I have just returned from work.

Note that the adverbs yesterday, last week, in 2005 etc., cannot be used with the present perfect tense. If these time expressions appear in a sentence, you have to use the simple past tense instead of the present perfect tense.

Sentence correction exerciseJune 9, 2013

Each sentence given below contains one mistake. Find the mistake and rewrite the sentence.

1. To hit a person when he is down is a contemptuous thing to be done.

2. In 1665, a great epidemic had caused the death of 63000 people in London.


3. Because his lack of interest in the affairs of the society, the members decided to depose him.

4. The boy collected thousands of foreign stamps since 2008.

5. We watched the airplane until it disappeared by the clouds.

6. According to activists, action must be taken long ago to preserve forests.

7. When Sophia said that she was coming to see me I wondered what was the problem.

8. The doctor suggested that I would walk on and try to get help while he stayed with the injured person.

9. Jack told his sister that he wants her help in solving the problem.

10. The judge paid no attention that the boy was unhappy at home.

Answers

1. To hit a person when he is down is a contemptuous thing to do.

2. In 1665, a great epidemic caused the death of 63,000 people in London.

3. Because of his lack of interest in the affairs of the society, the members decided to depose him.

4. The boy has collected thousands of foreign stamps since 2008.

5. We watched the airplane until it disappeared in the clouds.

6. According to activists, action must have been taken long ago to preserve forests.

7. When Sophia said that she was coming to see me I wondered what the problem was.

8. The doctor suggested that I should walk on and try to get help while he stayed with the injured person.

9. Jack told his sister that he wanted her help in solving the problem.

10. The judge paid no attention to the fact that the boy was unhappy at home




1. A general pardon of political offenders is …………………………..

a) generosity b) clemency c) forgiveness d) amnesty

2. What does the term ‘meet one’s waterloo’ mean?

a) die an ignoble death b) fight with a formidable opponent c) die fighting d) meet one’s final defeat

3. The meeting …………………………. with a vote of thanks.

a) finished b) ended c) declared d) concluded

4. You must …………………….. your expenditure if you don’t want to fall into the debt trap.

a) cut off c) cut down c) cut out d) cut under

5. A person who rules without consulting the opinion of others is a/an……………………….

a) bureaucrat b) democrat c) autocrat d) socialist

6. Find the synonym of the word Ubiquitous

a) wrong b) clear c) every where d) incredible

7. Select the word which can be used both as an adjective and a verb.

a) obey b) leave c) lame d) long

8. I am not late, ………………………..? Add question tag.

a) aren’t I? b) am I? c) am n’t I? d) shall I?

9. She has ……………………………….. the picture on the wall.

a) hang b) hanged c) hung d) hunged

10. Which of the following term is used to refer to the act of killing one’s own brother?

a) regicide b) fratricide c) genocide d) matricide

11. The engagement was called …………………………

a) off b) on c) in d) before

12. All the characters in this movie are ‘fictitious’. Choose the term which is closest in meaning to ‘fictitious’.

a) incredible b) infamous c) imaginary d) unreliable

Answers

1. Amnesty 2. Meet one’s final defeat 3. Concluded 4. Cut down 5. Autocrat 6. Everywhere

7. Long 8. Am I? 9. Hung 10. Fratricide 11. Off 12. Imaginary

Rules for the use and omission of articlesJune 7, 2013

Articles are often misused. The overuse and misuse of articles will cause ungrammatically. Nonetheless, most article errors are not serious. Even if you omit all the articles, you will still be able to convey the meaning. Still, students should learn the correct use of articles. Article errors can lower your scores in tests like TOEFL and IELTS in addition to making your writing look unprofessional.

If you don’t know how to use articles, you should consult a good grammar book. My attempt to make these rules as simple for ESL students as possible runs as follows:

Is it a proper or a common noun? A proper noun does not take an article. Examples are: John, Paris and English. A singular common noun always needs an article or another determiner with it. We can say a boy, this boy or my boy. But we cannot say just boy.

Remember that a noun can be proper in one sentence and common in another sentence; so, it is useless to label a particular noun ‘proper’ or ‘common’.

If the common noun is not the name of one particular person or thing, it requires the indefinite article ‘a’ when the noun is singular. When the noun is plural, ‘a’ is never used and usually no article is required.

There are several phrases, most of them prepositional, in which nouns, usually common, must be used without articles. Examples are: in view of (NOT in the view of), on condition that (NOT on the condition that) etc.

Grammar exerciseJune 6, 2013




1. She is under the …………………….. that she is a genius.

a) allusion b) illusion c) delusion d) solution

2) You had better ……………………… your ways.

a) mend b) to mend c) mending d) mended

3. His mother said, ‘He has gone to the market.’ It is the direct form of:

a) His mother asked me that he has gone to the market.

b) His mother told me that he has gone to the market.

c) His mother told me that he had gone to the market.

d) His mother told me that he went to the market.

4. Teacher asked me whether I enjoyed the vacation. This is the indirect form of:

a) Teacher said me, ‘Do you enjoy the vacation?’

b) Teacher asked, ‘Did you enjoy the vacation?’

c) Teacher said to me, ‘Did you enjoy the vacation?’

d) Teacher asked me, ‘Do you enjoy the vacation?’

5. It was ………………….. unanimous decision.

a) a b) an c) the d) one of

6. Discretion is the ……………………. part of valour.

a) best b) better c) good d) well

7. I …………………….. the Taj Mahal last year.

a) had seen b) saw c) was seeing d) have seen

8. The boys behaved rudely. Ask question to get the underlined word as answer.

a) Who behaved rudely? b) How did the boys behave? c) How do the boys behave? d) Who did behave rudely?

9. Although he is old, ……………………….. Complete the following sentence.

a) he is quite healthy b) but he is quite healthy c) yet he is quite healthy d) still he is healthy

10. God helps those who help ……………………

a) themselves b) themselves c) oneself d) himself

Answers

1. She is under the illusion that she is a genius.

2. You had better mend your ways.

3. His mother told me that he had gone to the market.

4. Teacher asked, ‘Did you enjoy the vacation?’

5. It was a unanimous decision.

6. Discretion is the better part of valor.

7. I saw the Taj Mahal last year.

8. How did the boys behave?

9. Although he is old, he is quite healthy.

10. God helps those who help themselves.

Color related idiomsJune 5, 2013

Color-related idioms and expressions are very common in English. Meanings of colors change across cultures. We will discuss some of these expressions here.

In the black

If a business is in the black, it is making money.

Like a red flag to a bull

If a statement or an action is like a red flag to a bull, it makes someone very angry. As you probably know, bulls get angry when you wave a red flag in front of them.


Catch someone red-handed

To catch someone red-handed is to catch them while they are doing something wrong or illegal.

Grey matter

Grey matter refers to your brain cells or intelligence. You will need to use your grey matter to solve tricky problems.

A red carpet treatment

You give somebody a red carpet treatment, when you consider them important.

In black and white

If something is in black and white, it is official or in writing or printing.

During daily conversations, we frequently use terms like green signals, green belt and white collar job. If someone gives you the green signal, they give you the permission to proceed. The term green zone refers to the farmlands surrounding a city or town. White collar jobs are office jobs.

Colors are also used to express your state of mind. When you are green with envy, you are jealous. When you look or feel blue, you look depressed or unhappy.

There are also some other color idioms.

A black sheep is the bad member of a group.

Red tape means bureaucratic delay in getting things done.

A white lie is a harmless lie.

Blue collar is a term used to refer to manual workers.

Special uses of the simple present tenseJune 4, 2013

We have already learned that the simple present tense is used to talk about habits and long lasting situations. In a few cases, this tense form is also used to talk about the future. For example, the simple present tense can be used to talk about scheduled future events.

Dad’s train arrives at 3.30.


The next semester begins in June.

Simple preset tense in subordinate clauses

The simple present tense is used to talk about the future in subordinate time clauses introduced by conjunctions such as when, before, after, as soon as etc.

I will give you a call when I am ready. (NOT I will give you a call when I will be ready.) You will have to finish that report before you leave. (NOT You will have to finish that

report before you will leave.) We will dispatch the material as soon as we receive the payment. (NOT We will dispatch

the material as soon as we will receive the payment.)

Note that this construction has the same structure as the First Conditional. In the First Conditional, too, we use a future tense (usually simple future) in the main clause and a simple present tense in the subordinate clause introduced by if.

I will make a cake if I have time. (NOT I will make a cake if I will have time.)

Simple present tense in timelines

In timelines the simple present tense is often used to talk about events that took place in the past.

1847 Edison is born in Milan on February 11.

1854 His family moves to Port Huron, Michigan.

1859 Edison gets a job as a train boy on the Grand Trunk Railroad where he sells newspapers and candy. He sets up a chemistry lab and a printing press on the train.

Note that the simple present tense is used in this timeline even though the events took place more than 150 years ago.

Common grammar exceptionsJune 3, 2013

Almost every grammar rule in English has some exceptions to it. In this lesson, we will take a look at these grammar exceptions that often frustrate ESL students.

Use of auxiliary verbs in the simple present and simple past tense


You have already learned that the simple present tense is used to talk about general truths and habits. Read the sentences given below.

My sister lives in New York. (Affirmative) My sister does not live in New York. (Negative) Does my sister live in New York? (Interrogative) I agree with you. (Affirmative) I do not agree with you. (Negative) Do I agree with you? (Interrogative)

As you can see, affirmative sentences in the simple present tense do not have an auxiliary verb.

However, this rule has an exception. And this exception adds extra emphasis to the sentence.

I do agree with you. (More emphatic than I agree with you.) This sentence means that I really agree with you.

She does want to come with us. (= She really wants to come with us.) He does want to quit smoking. (= He really wants to quit smoking.) (NOT He does wants

to quit smoking.) She does want to go on a vacation. I do respect him.

Note that after do and its forms, the infinitive is used without the marker –s.

Exception 2

Simple present tense to talk about future

The simple present tense can be used to talk about scheduled future events. Common verbs that can be used with the simple present tense in this way are: arrive, depart, leave, start, begin, open, end etc.

The school reopens on Monday. The train arrives at 4.30.

General English Exercise 2June 1, 2013

Complete the following sentences using a word or phrase. Choose your answers from the given options.

1. You don’t know what has happened, ………………………

a) did you b) don’t you c) do you? d) didn’t you?


2.While passing ……………………….. the small door, I hurt my head.

a) between b) through c) by d) along

3. The thief was caught ……………………………

a) green handed b) red handed c) blue handed d) yellow handed

4. If something is ‘All Greek and Latin to you’, you …………………………

a) understand it b) don’t understand it c) are amused by it d) none of these

5. I would like to ask ………………………….. more questions.

a) few b) some c) little d) any

6. The player announced that he ………………………… from the game.

a) is retiring b) was retiring c) will retire d) retires

7. Though they were badly outnumbered, the soldiers decided to make a …………………….. effort to conquer the city.

a) last hole b) last ditch c) last cannon d) last train

8. The students ………………………… when the teacher walked into the room.

a) stand up b) stood up c) have stood up d) are standing up

9. They won’t accept this proposal, ……………………………?

a) won’t they b) will they c) wouldn’t they d) would they

10. Will you wait ……………………… I return?

a) till b) when c) as d) while

Answers

1. You don’t know what has happened, do you?

2. While passing through the small door, I hurt my head.

3. The thief was caught red-handed.

4. You don’t understand it.

5. I would like to ask some more questions.

6. The player announced that he was retiring from the game.

7. Last ditch

8. The students stood up when the teacher walked into the room.

9. They won’t accept this proposal, will they?

10. Will you wait till I return?

General English Exercise 1May 31, 2013

Complete the following sentences

1. He distributed the sweets ……………………….. the children.

a) between b) among c) into d) with

2. Which of the following words means the opposite of the word ‘generous’?

a) foolish b) lavish c) dull d) economical

3. Neither of them …………………………….. fit for the job.

a) is b) are c) could d) can

4. ‘This building is very old,’ the postmaster said. ‘I have to find an ………………………. building for the post office.’

a) alternative b) alternant c) alternate d) alterant

5. When I met her, she ……………………….. as a lecturer in a college.

a) was working b) has been working c) must have been working d) is working

6. The sentence ‘Had I worked harder, I would have won’ means

a) I worked harder and won b) I worked harder, yet I didn’t win

c) I did not work harder, yet I won d) I didn’t work harder, and I didn’t win


7. If I had not opened the door, the cat …………………………….

a) would not jump out b) would not have jumped out c) would have jumped out d) would not have been jumped out

8. I ………………………. the newspaper, when the doorbell ………………………

a) am reading, rang b) was reading, rang c) had read, rings d) read, is ringing

9. The opposite of the word sympathy is

a) apathy b) pride b) anger d) pity

10. I am going to ………………………. library.

a) a b) the c) an d) school

Answers

1. He distributed the sweets among the children.

2. Economical

3. Neither of them is fit for the job.

4. I have to find an alternative building for the post office.

5. When I met her she was working as a lecturer in a college.

6. I didn’t work harder and I didn’t win.

7. The cat would not have jumped out.

8. I was reading the newspaper, when the doorbell rang.

9. Apathy 10. I am going to the library.

Words used to connect clausesMay 29, 2013

In English, we use two types of words to connect clauses. These are conjunctions and relative pronouns. Conjunctions are of two types: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.


Subordinate clause

A subordinate clause is a type of clause that cannot stand alone. Subordinate clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions. Examples are: as, because, since, when, while, if, whether, unless, that etc.

I will give you a call when I am ready. As she was not ready, we went without her. Since they have apologized, we will not take any further actions against them.

A subordinate clause can come either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. When subordinate clauses come at the beginning of a sentence, we usually separate them with a comma.

Main clause

A main clause is a type of clause that can stand alone. Main clauses are also called coordinate clauses. Main clauses are introduced by coordinating conjunctions like and, but, or, yet, so, for and nor.

She is my friend and I like her. She was tired but she was cheerful. He is one of the best cricketers in the city, yet his favorite game is soccer. I like him so I helped him.

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns are words like who, whom, whose, that and which. They are used to introduce relative clauses. Note that relative clauses are also called adjective clauses.

Relative pronouns connect two clauses. They also act as the subject or object of the verb in the relative clause.

This is the girl who won the first prize. This is the problem whose solution has baffled everybody.

Relative adverbs

Relative adverbs are words like when, where and why. Like relative pronouns, relative adverbs are also used to connect two clauses.

Do you know a place where I can buy used cameras? Do you know the reason why she hates me? I will never remember the day when I first met her.

Some useful spelling rulesMay 23, 2013

When the word ends in a consonant

If the accent falls on the last syllable, the consonant is doubled to form the past tense.

So we have

Occur –> occurred

Transfer –> transferred

When the word ends in a short vowel + consonant, the final consonant is not usually doubled to form the past tense.

Therefore

Offer –> offered (NOT Offerred)

Budget –> budgeted

Short monosyllabic words always double their final consonant.

Examples are:

Shop –> shopping

Let –> letting

Cut –> cutting

‘ie’ and ‘ei’

The general rule is ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’

Examples are:

Siege, believe, friends

But

Receive, deceive, ceiling (after ‘c’, we use ‘e’ before ‘I’)


There are however several exceptions to this rule. Examples are: reign, heir, seize, weird. As you can see, in all of these words, the letter ‘e’ goes before the letter ‘i’.

Dis and mis

Never double the ‘s’ of these prefixes. In some words, you may notice a second ‘s’, but remember that it is the first letter of the next syllable.

So we have

Dismiss (NOT Dissmiss)

Misplace

Misunderstand

Dispel

Se and Ce

Se and sy are usually verb endings and ce and cy are usually noun endings. So the following words are verbs: license, practise, advise, prophesy

And the following words are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice

The word promise is an exception to this rule. Although it ends in –se, it is a noun.

Note that this rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike.

Us and ous

Nouns end in ‘us’. Adjectives end in ‘ous’.

So we have:

Nouns: census, phosphorus, genius

Adjectives: jealous, unanimous, tremendous

Phrasal verbs exerciseMay 22, 2013


Each sentence given below contains an incomplete phrasal verb. Complete the expression by supplying a suitable adverb particle of preposition.

1. The escaped prisoner gave himself ……………………….. when he was cornered.

2. He left a letter …………………………. when he spelt his name.

3. Never put ………………………….. till tomorrow what you can do today.

4. We must learn to put ……………………………. with the rising prices.

5. He carried ……………………………. the death wishes of his father.

6. The fog passed ………………………… when the sun rose.

7. We must provide …………………………… the education of our children.

8. I am counting …………………………… his help and support. I just hope that he wouldn’t prove me wrong.

9. One must learn to cope …………………………… failure and disappointments.

10. They are looking ………………………….. a bride for their son.

Answers

1. The escaped prisoner gave himself up when he was cornered. (To give up is to surrender)

2. He left a letter out when he spelt his name. (To leave out is to omit.)

3. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. (To put off is to postpone.)

4. We must learn to put up with the rising prices. (To put up with something is to endure without opposition.)

5. He carried out the death wishes of his father. (To carry out is to accomplish or obey.)

6. The fog passed off when the sun rose. (To pass off is to disappear.)

7. We must provide for the education of our children. (To provide for someone is to supply their needs.)

8. I am counting on his help and support.

9. One must learn to cope with failure and disappointments. (Cope with = manage)

10. They are looking for a bride for their son. (Look for = search for)

The future perfect tenseMay 20, 2013

The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will have been completed at a certain point of time in the future. Consider this situation. You are working on a project and you will finish it in two months. Then at the end of two months, you will have completed that project. Note the form of the verb in used in this tense: will / shall + have + past participle form of the verb.

The future perfect tense is commonly used with a future time expression like by next week, by the end of this year etc.

The train will have left by the time you reach the station. (Here the phrase by the time you reach identifies a certain point of time in the future.)

I will have moved into my new office by the end of this month. I will have eaten every chocolate in that box before my mom returns from work. Susan will have finished her studies before she gets married.

Negative forms are made by putting not after will / shall.

I will not have learned my lessons before dad arrives. We will not have repaired the roof before monsoon sets in.

The question forms are made by putting will / shall before the subject.

Will you have gone to bed before I arrive? Will they have returned the money before the end of this week?

An overview of the future tenses

The future perfect tense is one of the four future tenses. Here is an overview of the other three future tense forms.

Simple future

Form: will / shall + infinitive.

She will come. I shall help you.

Future continuous


Form: will / shall + be + -ing form of the verb.

She will be working on that report now. They will be having dinner.

Future perfect continuous tense

Form: will / shall + have + been + -ing form of the verb

She will have been writing an essay.

Note that this tense form is very rarely used.

Use the past simple with a past time referenceMay 19, 2013

Students often misuse the simple past tense. Use simple past only when you say when something happened in the past. You can, for example, use a time expression (e.g. last week, last year), a date (on the 18th of last month), a prepositional phrase (e.g. in high school) or a clause (e.g. when I was young) to say when something happened.

I met him last week. They got married on the 18th of last month. His father died last year. He was very popular in high school. I had a strange experience when I was young.

Note that the simple past tense is not normally used when there is no time reference.

For example, we do not normally say:

I met him. OR His father died.

In such cases, we use the present perfect tense.

I have met him. (Here the speaker doesn’t state exactly when that happened.) His father has died.

Once you have specified a time period, you can continue to use the past simple in a paragraph. Read the paragraph given below.


Mark was strolling through the woods one sunny morning when he noticed a bird stumbling awkwardly. It was dragging the feathers of one wing over the ground, while it flapped the other wing. Mark wanted to help the bird, which appeared to be hurt. He hurried after it.

Here the first sentence of the paragraph indicates that the action took place sometime in the past. Therefore, we continue to use the past simple in the remaining sentences.

Object of a prepositionMay 18, 2013

Prepositions are followed by a noun or pronoun which acts as their object. When the object of a preposition is a pronoun, the pronoun should be in the object form. Examples of object pronouns are: me, him, them, us, her, you etc.

Can you send this letter to her tomorrow? (NOT Can you send this letter to she tomorrow?)

Here the pronoun her is the object of the preposition to and hence it should be in its objective case.

She sat among them. (NOT She sat among they.) Would you like to come with us? (NOT Would you like to come with we?)

Here the pronoun us is the object of the preposition with.

Who and Whom

These words are often confused. Whom is the objective case of who. When who is used as the object of a preposition, it changes its form to whom.

Mary saw the men, at least one of whom was wearing a mask, walking through the woods. (NOT Mary saw the men, at least one of who was wearing a helmet…)

Here whom is the object of the preposition of.

Many people don’t know when to use who and whom. Here is a simple tip. Always use whom after a preposition.

The boys were punished by the teacher. By whom were the boys punished? (NOT By who were the boys punished?)

Here whom acts as the object of the preposition by.


If and whether

Both if and whether can be used to introduce an yes / no question.

I don’t know if she will come. OR I don’t know whether she will come.

After a preposition, only whether is possible.

A decision about whether betting should be legalized is pending. (NOT A decision about if betting should be …)

Phrasal verbs exerciseMay 16, 2013

Each sentence given below contains an incomplete phrasal verb. Complete the phrasal verb by supplying the missing adverb or preposition.

1. There is no point in arguing with her. She will never back ………………………….

2. Are you sure that she will not back ………………………. at the last moment?

3. While writing an essay, you must back ……………………….. your arguments with valid examples.

4. The injured man had to bear ……………………………… the leather strap while the doctors were stitching up his wounds.

5. The government should bear ……………………………. on money launderers and drug traffickers.

6. Though she was under tremendous pressure, she bore ………………………….. really well.

7. The minister was hoping that the scandal would blow ………………………….. in a couple of weeks.

8. The terrorists blew the bridge ……………………………….

9. When she found out that he had been cheating on her, she blew …………………………

10. The police said that the burglars broke ……………………….. shortly after midnight.

Answers


1. She will never back down. (back down = stop defending your opinion in a debate)

2. Are you sure that she will not back out at the last moment? (back out = not keep a promise etc.)

3. While writing an essay, you must back up your arguments with valid examples. (back up = support)

4. The injured man had to bear down on the leather strap while the doctors were stitching up his wounds. (bear down on = bite)

5. The government should bear down on money launderers and drug traffickers. (bear down on = take strong measures against)

6. Though she was under tremendous pressure, she bore up really well. (bear up = withstand)

7. The minister was hoping that the scandal would blow over in a couple of weeks. (blow over = pass without creating a problem)

8. The terrorists blew the bridge up. (blow up = explode, destroy)

9. When she found out that he had been cheating on her, she blew up. (blow up = suddenly become very angry)

10. The police said that the burglars broke in shortly after midnight. (break in = enter a place unlawfully)

Four ways to join clausesMay 14, 2013

We have already learned that clauses can be joined in several ways. In this lesson, we will closely examine some of these techniques.


She returned home safely. Everyone was happy.

We can join these two clauses in four different ways.

Using a semicolon

A semicolon doesn’t separate two clauses like a full stop but it indicates a stronger pause than a comma.


She returned home safely; everyone was happy.

Using a coordinating conjunction

We use coordinating conjunctions to connect two independent clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, yet, for, so and or.

She returned home safely and everyone was happy.

Using a subordinating conjunction

Clauses introduced by a subordinating conjunction cannot stand on their own. They need to be attached to an independent or main clause. Subordinate clauses are usually introduced by conjunctions like when, as, because, while, since, if etc.

When she returned home safely, everyone was happy.

A subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause. When a sentence begins with a subordinate clause, we usually separate it with a comma. Commas can be omitted when the subordinate clause goes after the main clause.

Everyone was happy when she returned home safely.


He opened the window. The cat jumped in.

We can join these pairs of clauses using the models given above.

He opened the window; the cat jumped in. When he opened the window, the cat jumped in. The cat jumped in when he opened the window.

Another pair of sentences is given below.

The maid lit the fire. The room became warmer and brighter. The maid lit the fire; the room became warmer and brighter. When the maid lit the fire, the room became warmer and brighter. The room became warmer and brighter when the maid lit the fire.

Gerund or infinitive exerciseMay 5, 2013


Complete the following sentences using an appropriate non-finite verb form.

1. I would like …………………….. you something. (to tell / telling / either could be used here)

2. I don’t like to get up on Sundays. I prefer ……………………….. in bed. (staying / to stay / either could be used here.)

3. ‘Would you like to watch a movie?’ ‘No thanks. I would prefer …………………. (to read / reading / either could be used here)

4. I am not accustomed to …………………….. under pressure. (work / working / either could be used here)

5. He doesn’t drive fast because he is afraid ……………………… (of crashing / to crash / either could be used here)

6. He is afraid …………………….. (of telling / to tell) her what he really thinks about her.

Answers

1. I would like to tell you something. (After would like, would hate, would prefer and would love, we use infinitives, not gerunds.)

2. I prefer staying / to stay in bed. (After prefer, both infinitives and gerunds (-ing forms) can be used with the same meaning.)

3. I would prefer to read. (After would prefer, we use infinitives.)

4. I am not accustomed to working / work under pressure. (Accustomed to can be followed by an –ing form or an infinitive.)

5. He doesn’t drive fast because he is afraid of crashing. (Afraid of is followed by an –ing form when we are talking about the fear of something happening by accident. In other cases, both infinitives and –ing forms are possible after afraid of.)

6 He is afraid of telling / to tell her what he really thinks about her.

Not so common reporting verbsMay 7, 2013

In informal spoken reports, say, think and ask are the most common reporting verbs. These verbs can go before sentences or between clauses.


She asked me what I was doing there. He said that he wouldn’t go. I thought that it was funny.

A much wider variety of reporting verbs are also available in English. If you repeat the reporting verbs say and think, your writing and speech will become boring after a while.

The reporting verbs given in this lesson are not very common, but they are quite useful.

To say something suddenly

Use a reporting verb like blurt, exclaim or snap to suggest that somebody said something suddenly.

Blurt

To blurt something out is to say something suddenly without thinking about the consequences.

She blurted out his name.

To snap is to speak to someone in a sudden, angry way.

‘Who do you think you are?’ he snapped angrily.

Exclaim

To exclaim is to say something suddenly and loudly, especially because you are surprised, impressed, upset, angry etc

‘Hurrah!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘We’ve won!’

Giving advice, opinion etc.

Some common reporting verbs used to give advice or express your opinion are: advise, argue, caution, note, observe, warn etc.

The mother cautioned the child to be careful while crossing the road. The teacher warned the students to be extra careful while handling harmful chemicals.

Say loudly

The following reporting verbs can be used to suggest that somebody said something loudly: exclaim, bellow, call, cry, scream, shout, yell

Bellow

To bellow is to shout something loudly.

‘I won’t go!’ he bellowed.

Scream

To scream is to make a loud cry because you are frightened or hurt.

When he saw a dark figure moving towards him, the boy screamed in horror.

Yell

To yell is to say something in a loud voice.

Why are you yelling at me?

Shout

To shout is to say something loudly.

He shouted that he was busy.

Defining and non-defining relative clausesMay 2, 2013

Generally, there are two types of relative clauses: restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses. Restrictive relative clauses are also called defining relative clauses. Non-restrictive relative clauses are also called non-defining relative clauses.

In both restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses, the relative pronoun can act as the subject or object. It can also act as a possessive pronoun (e.g. whose).

Relative pronouns in restrictive relative clauses

Relative pronouns used to introduce restrictive relative clauses are not separated from the main clause by a comma. A restrictive relative clause adds essential information which is crucial for understanding the meaning of the sentence. If the relative clause is removed from the sentence, it will have a different meaning.

Examples of restrictive relative clauses are given below.

I like people who are honest about their intentions.


Here the relative clause ‘who are honest about their intentions’ adds essential information.

Consider removing the relative clause from the sentence. Now we will have the simple sentence I like people.

Although this sentence still makes complete sense its meaning is different from that of the original sentence.

He who works hard will succeed.

Here again the relative clause adds essential information.

He will succeed does not mean the same He who works hard will succeed.

More examples of restrictive relative clauses are given below.

This is the house that my grandfather built. This is the boy who won the first prize. The boy who broke the window was punished. The girl whose brother serves in the army is my classmate. The dish washer that I bought for my wife was really expensive. The woman whom you met on the train is my colleague.

Simple past or present perfect tenseApril 25, 2013

The simple past tense is used to say that something happened some time ago. When we use this tense form, we usually also specify when that particular activity occurred. The present perfect tense is also used to talk about completed past actions and states. There is an important difference, though. We do not normally use finished time expressions with the present perfect tense.

Test your knowledge of simple past and present perfect tenses with this grammar exercise.

1. She ………………….. English for the last 20 years.

a) taught b) has taught c) is teaching

2. She …………………… English at university before she became a fulltime writer.

a) taught b) has taught c) teaches

3. I ………………… every book written by Jane Austen.


a) read b) have read c) am reading

4. Who ……………………. ‘Pride and Prejudice’?

a) has written b) wrote c) had written

5. Peter ………………………….. a window last night.

a) broke b) has broken c) had broken

6. She …………………… all her childhood in Mexico.

a) has spent b) spend c) spent

7. I can’t walk because I ……………………….. my leg.

a) broke b) have broken c) had broken

8. Regularly every summer, Andrew ………………………. in love.

a) fell b) has fallen c) was falling

9. Who …………………….. you those marbles?

a) give b) gave c) has given

10. I’m sure we …………………….. before.

a) met b) have met c) had met

Answers

1. She has taught English for the last 20 years.

2. She taught English at university before she became a fulltime writer.

3. I have read every book written by Jane Austen.

4. Who wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’?

5. Peter broke a window last night.

6. She spent all her childhood in Mexico.

7. I can’t walk because I have broken my leg.

8. Regularly every summer, Andrew fell in love.

9. Who gave you those marbles?

10. I am sure we have met before.

The need to combine sentences and some common methods of sentence synthesisApril 26, 2013

If all of your sentences were brief and of equal length, you will have a tough time keeping the reader engaged. By combining short sentences into larger ones, you can add a bit of variety and keep the text alive and the reader awake.

Writers employ several different techniques to combine sentences. In this lesson, we will explore some of these methods.

Compounding Sentences

A compound sentence consists of two or more main or independent clauses. The clauses of a compound sentence are sometimes separated by a semicolon.

I was hungry; therefore, I decided to eat something. They were tired; nonetheless, they continued their journey.

Although a semicolon can be used to separate the clauses of a compound sentence, most writers prefer connecting them with a coordinating conjunction. The most common coordinating conjunctions in English are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Remember FANBOYS.

Winston Churchill is famous as a politician and statesman, but few people know of his contributions to English literature.

Note that the clauses of a compound sentence are usually separated by a comma. The comma is not required if the clauses are short.

She was thin but she wasn’t weak. (OR She was thin, but she wasn’t weak.) He hadn’t received any formal training in mechanics, yet he invented many useful

machines. He was well trained by famous inventors, and went on to invent many useful machines. She hasn’t got many friends, yet everybody seems to like her. She must be asleep, for there is no light in her room.


The conjunction yet is sometimes combined with the conjunctions and and but. This usage is now considered acceptable.

She hasn’t got many friends, and yet everybody seems to like her.

Even, even if, even though and even asApril 22, 2013

Even can be used as an adjective or an adverb. In this lesson we look at the adverb side of it, when it’s mainly used for emphasis. It can emphasize a word, a phrase or a clause beginning with a word like if, as or though.

Position of even

Even goes in mid position with the verb. If there is no auxiliary verb, it goes before the main verb.

She even called me names. (NOT She called even me names.)

If there is an auxiliary verb, even goes after it.

I don’t even know his name. (NOT I even don’t know his name.)

If the main verb is a form of be (is, am, are, was, were), even goes after it.

China is even larger than India. (NOT China even is larger than India.) She is even taller than her husband.

Even now

Even now is used for saying that it is surprising that something still continues.

Even now the practice of dowry exists in many parts of Asia.

Even then

This phrase is used for saying that something is surprising because it was supposed to be different.

Even as

This phrase is used to talk about two actions or events that are happening at the same time.


Even as they discussed the merits and demerits of the project, people were protesting in the streets.

Even if

This phrase is used for emphasizing that a particular situation will remain the same no matter what happens.

I’m determined to prove my innocence even if that means going to the highest court in the land.

I’ll go even if you forbid me to.

The structure even though means exactly the same.

I’ll go even though you forbid me to.

Even so

Even so means in spite of that. This expression is used for introducing a statement that might seem surprising after what you have said before.

The tickets were expensive, but, even so, the match was worth watching.Different uses of thatApril 21, 2013

That is one of the commonest words in English. It is used in the following ways.

As a demonstrative adjective

As a demonstrative adjective, that is used to point out people or things. It is followed by singular noun.

Who is that boy? Give me that book. What was that noise?

As a demonstrative pronoun

That serves as a demonstrative pronoun, when used without a following noun.

Who gave you that? Who said that?


As a conjunction

That is a subordinating conjunction. It can be used to introduce noun clauses, adjective clauses or adverb clauses.

She told me that she was not coming. (Here that introduces the noun clause ‘she was not coming’.)

The museum that we visited yesterday was very good. (Here that introduces the adjective (relative) clause ‘we visited yesterday’.)

We eat that we might live. (Here that introduces the subordinating adverb clause of purpose ‘we might live’.)

Usage note

The relative pronoun that is often left out when it is the object of the verb in the relative clause. That is not left out in a more formal style.


Did you receive the parcel? I sent it yesterday. Did you receive the parcel that I sent yesterday? (Formal) Did you receive the parcel I sent yesterday? (Informal)

Here the relative pronoun that is the object of the verb sent.

That is often left out of expressions like so that and such that.

I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. (OR I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep.)

That is also used in questions and negatives. In this case, it has a similar meaning to very.

It wasn’t that bad. (= It was not very bad.) There is no need to worry. Her condition isn’t that serious.

Like as a preposition and conjunctionApril 18, 2013

The word like exhibits several different grammatical properties. It can be used as a preposition, a conjunction, an adjective or an adverb.

Like as a preposition


When used as a preposition, like is followed by a noun.

She looks like her mother. He walks like his dad.

Like as a conjunction

In informal English, like is sometimes used as a conjunction instead of as. This is very common in American English.

Nobody understands her like I do. (Informal) Nobody understands her as I do. (Formal)

Like

If you are like somebody you are similar to him or her.

She is like her mother. It was a small bird like a sparrow. (= The bird was similar to a sparrow.) She was like her brother. They were both excellent writers. No one can play the piano like he does.

Like can be used with the modifiers just and very.

My neighbour has bought a new car just like mine. He is very like his brother in many ways.

We can use like after the copular verbs seem, look, sound, smell, taste and feel. As is not usually possible in this case.

She seems like a good candidate for the job. (NOT She seems as a good candidate for the job.)

He looks like his brother. (NOT He looks as his brother.)

Feel like

Feel can be followed by like or as if / though.

She felt like she was in a dream. (= She felt as if she was in a dream.)

Feel like can also mean ‘want’ or ‘would like’.

I feel like singing. (= I want to sing.)

Like new

If something is like new, it looks like it is new.

They just applied a coat of paint and the house was like new.

Using exceptApril 17, 2013

The word except means ‘not including’. It can be used as a preposition or a conjunction. When used as a preposition, except is followed by a noun.

I haven’t invited anybody except Peter. (= Peter is the only person I have invited.)

Here the noun Peter acts as the object of the preposition except.

Except can also be used as a conjunction. As a conjunction, except is followed by a clause or an adverbial phrase.

I would like to bail him out, except I don’t have any money.

Except can also be used before a conjunction like that, when or if.

She knows nothing about him except that he is young and handsome. (= She knows nothing about him apart from the fact that he is young and handsome.)

He looks handsome except when he sleeps.

Except for

That was a good report except for a few spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Both except and except for can be used after words like all, every, no, anybody, nowhere, whole etc. In other cases, we use except for.

She ate everything on her plate except for the pickles. OR She ate everything on her plate except the pickles. (= She didn’t eat the pickles, but she ate everything else.)

Both except and except for are possible after everything.

I haven’t told anybody except / except for Mary. (Both except and except for are possible after anybody.)

Except for Mary, I haven’t invited anybody. (NOT Except Mary, I haven’t invited anybody.)


Conversion of a compound sentence into a complex sentenceApril 16, 2013

A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. You can find out the number of independent clauses in a sentence by counting the number of coordinating conjunctions in it. If a sentence has two independent clauses, it will usually have one coordinating conjunction. If it has three independent clauses, it will usually have two conjunctions. Remember that in English, we use just one conjunction to join two clauses.

The most important coordinating conjunctions in English are: and, but, or, for, nor, so and yet.

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent (subordinate) clauses. You won’t find the coordinating conjunctions in a complex sentence, but you will see one or more subordinating conjunctions. Common subordinating conjunctions are: because, as, since, while, when, before, after, that, so…that, if, whether, unless etc.

If a compound sentence contains just two independent clauses, you can convert it into a complex sentence by changing one of these independent clauses into a dependent clause. If the compound sentence contains three independent clauses, you will have to change two of them into dependent clauses.

Study the example sentences given below.

Compound: Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.

As you can see, this sentence contains two independent clauses connected by the coordinating conjunction and.

If you look closer, you can see that this sentence implies a condition. We can express the same idea using the subordinating conjunction if.

Complex: If you take care of the pence, the pounds will take care of themselves.


Compound: Speak the truth, or I will kill you.

This sentence contains two coordinate (independent) clauses connected by the conjunction or.


We can change this into a complex sentence by converting one of these clauses into a dependent clause.

Complex: I will kill you if you don’t speak the truth.

Easily confused wordsApril 15, 2013

The words breath, breathe, aid, aide etc. are often confused by English learners. In this lesson we will take a look at some of these easily confused words.

Breath and breathe

Breath is a noun. It rhymes with death. Breath denotes the air inhaled or exhaled during the process of breathing. Breath is a countable noun. It can be used with the article a.

Take a deep breath. (NOT Take a deep breathe.) The brave warriors fought until their last breath.

Breathe is a verb. To breathe is to inhale and exhale air.

Fish breathe through their gills. (NOT Fish breath through their gills.) He breathed a sigh of relief. (OR He heaved a sigh of relief.)

Aid and aide

Aid can be a verb or a noun. As a noun it means help or assistance. To aid (verb) is to help or assist.

The poor woman cried aloud but nobody came to her aid. Rich nations must aid the poor. (= Rich nations must help the poor.)

An aide is a helper or an assistant.

The minister visited the flood affected region with his aides.

Confident, confidant and confidante

The word confident is an adjective. If you are confident you are not shy and believe in your own abilities.

She is confident of her success.


A confidant is a person with whom you can discuss your private or personal matters. Of course, you wouldn’t do it with someone who doesn’t enjoy your trust.

If you have trust issues, you may not be able to find a confidant.

Confidante means the same, but is only used to refer to a female confidant

Transformation of sentencesApril 14, 2013

In English, there are mainly three types of sentences.

Simple sentence Compound sentence Complex sentence

A simple sentence has just one clause. A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. A compound sentence has more than one main clause.

We can change a simple sentence into a compound sentence or a complex sentence. This is usually done by expanding a word or phrase into a clause. In the same way, we can change a complex or compound sentence into a simple sentence. This is done by reducing a clause into a word or phrase.


It is too late to start a new lesson.

As you can see this sentence has just one clause and therefore it is a simple sentence. The number of clauses in a sentence is equal to the number of finite verbs in it. Note that to-infinitives and –ing forms are not finite verbs.

The structure too…to can be replaced by the structure so…that.

It is so late that we cannot start a new lesson.

As you can see this sentence has two clauses: one main clause (It is so late) and one subordinate clause (That we cannot start a new lesson.) We have already learned that a sentence containing one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses is called a complex sentence.


He worked hard that he might pass the examination.


The above sentence is an example of a complex sentence. It has one main clause (He worked hard) and one subordinate clause of purpose (That he might pass the examination). Subordinate clauses of purpose can be reduced to to-infinitives.

He worked hard to pass the examination. (Simple sentence)

One more example is given below.

He ordered that the traitor be jailed. (Complex sentence)

This sentence, too, can be converted into a simple sentence with the help of a to-infinitive.

He ordered them to jail the traitor

Using alongApril 13, 2013

Along can be used as a preposition and an adverb. When used as a preposition, it is followed by a noun. When used as an adverb, it is not followed by a noun.

The boys walked along the corridor. (Here the noun the corridor acts as the object of the preposition along.)

You can bring your kids along.

Along is used to talk about movement on or beside a line.

She walked along the footpath. I saw a dark figure moving along the road.

Along can also show position on a line.

There are quite a few shops along the street. There was a thick line of trees along the river bank.

Along can be used to talk about coming or going to a place where someone is waiting or something is happening.

Although we waited for hours, no cabs came along so we decided to walk all the way home.

We are going to the theatre. Would you like to come along?

To take someone or something along is to take them with you when you go somewhere.

Don’t forget to take these papers along when you go to the bank.


Note that the preposition along is not used to talk about periods or activities. Instead we use through.

She was silent all through the journey. (NOT She was silent all along the journey.) She kept talking right through the meal.

Mistakes in the use of prepositionsMarch 4, 2013

In this lesson we will take a look at some of the most common mistakes in the use of prepositions.

Incorrect: The ball rolled slowly in the goal. Correct: The ball rolled slowly into the goal. Incorrect: She ran in the room crying. Correct: She ran into the room crying.

The prepositions in and on are used to show position. To say where things are going, we use into and onto.

Incorrect: The train will arrive within five minutes. Correct: The train will arrive in five minutes.

We use in to say how soon something will happen. Within means ‘inside’ or ‘not beyond’.

Incorrect: If you don’t live by your income, you will incur huge debts. Correct: If you don’t live within your income, you will incur huge debts. Incorrect: The ball went to the window ad fell on the ground. Correct: The ball went through the window and fell on the ground.

Through is used for movement in a three dimensional space.

Incorrect: He wrote the book in a month’s time. Correct: He wrote the book in a month.

The expressions in a week’s / month’s time is used to say how something will happen. It is not used to say how long something takes.

Incorrect: We usually go and see Granny on Sunday. Correct: We usually go and see Granny on Sundays. Incorrect: I don’t care for your opinion. Correct: I don’t care about your opinion.


Care for means ‘like’ or ‘be fond of’. If you care about something, you feel that it is important or interesting.

Using no sooner than….March 6, 2013

The structure no sooner is used to talk about something that happens immediately after something else.

No sooner had I stepped out, than it started raining.

This sentence means that I stepped out and immediately after that it started raining. These two activities take place almost simultaneously. There is no real time difference between them.

When no sooner comes at the beginning of a sentence, we use inverted word order. That means the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.

No sooner had I received her call, than I left for her place. (NOT No sooner I had received her call, …)

No sooner had she finished one project, than she started the next. (= As soon as she finished one project, she started the next.)

No sooner had I eaten the fish, than I started feeling sick. (= As soon as I ate the fish, I started feeling sick.)

No sooner had they completed the work, than they demanded the wages. (= As soon as they completed the work, they demanded the wages.)

No sooner had I gotten my bags unpacked than I realized that my camera was missing. No sooner had he graduated, than he was on his way to America.

The structure no sooner than is quite literary. It is not normally used in speaking. In a less formal style, we are more likely to say something like this:

They demanded wages soon after they completed the work.

I started feeling sick immediately after I ate the fish.

Identify the tense formMarch 8, 2013

Read the sentences given below and identify the tense form used in each of them.



1. They had been waiting for the train.

a) past perfect tense active

b) past perfect continuous active

c) present perfect tense active

d) present perfect tense passive

2. India has not won many Olympic gold medals.

a) present perfect active

b) present perfect passive

c) simple present active

d) simple past passive

3. The film was not interesting.

a) past continuous tense active

b) present continuous tense passive

c) simple past active

d) past perfect continuous tense active

4. The boy was punished for lying.

a) simple present active

b) simple past passive

c) past continuous tense active

d) past continuous tense passive

5. Your order has been shipped.

a) present perfect tense active

b) present perfect tense passive

c) past perfect tense active

d) present perfect continuous tense active

6. The house is being built by masons.

a) present perfect tense active b) present continuous tense passive c) present continuous tense active

d) past continuous tense active

7. Who are you waiting for?

a) present continuous tense active b) present continuous tense passivec) simple present tense active

c) present perfect tense active

8. We have been living in this street for well over ten years.

a) present perfect tense active b) present continuous tense active c) present perfect continuous tense active

d) present perfect continuous tense passive

9. Trains will be running late.

a) simple future tense active b) future continuous tense active c) future continuous tense passive

d) future perfect tense active

10. The news is too good to be true.

a) simple present tense active b) present continuous tense active c) present perfect tense active

d) simple past tense active

Answers

1. past perfect continuous tense active

2. present perfect active

3. simple past tense active

4. simple past passive

5. present perfect tense passive

6. present continuous tense passive

7. present continuous tense active

8. present perfect continuous tense active

9. future continuous tense active

10. simple present tense active

As and like: grammar exerciseFebruary 25, 2013

Both as and like can be used to say that things are similar. Note that like is a preposition. It is followed by a noun or pronoun which acts as its object.

She looks like her mother. He is a teetotaler like his father. He fought like a lion.

As is a conjunction. It is used to introduce a clause. As can also be followed by a prepositional phrase.

He fought as a lion does. Nobody loves her as I do.

In American English, like is also used as a conjunction.

Complete the following sentences using like or as.

1. A butterfly starts life ………………………… a pupa.

a) like b) as c) either could be used here

2. She worked …………………………. a teacher for twenty years before turning writer.


3. She looks exactly ………………………….. her mother did when she was younger.



4. She looks a bit …………………….. Sharon Stone.


5. I am sending you the payment, ………………………….. we agreed.


Answers

1. A butterfly starts his life as a pupa.

2. She worked as a teacher for twenty years before turning writer.

3. She looks exactly like / as her mother did when she was younger.

4. She looks a bit like Sharon Stone.

5. I am sending you the payment, as we agreed.

Few, a few, little, a little: grammar exerciseFebruary 24, 2013

Complete the following sentences using little, a little, few or a few.

1. We have got quite ………………………. friends there.

a) few b) a few c) either could be used here

2. Would you like to try …………………………….. wine?

a) little b) a little c) either could be used here

3. His theories are too complex that only ………………………… people understand them.


4. You don’t need to go shopping. We have got ……………………… eggs and some rice.


5. Very …………………………. people can speak a foreign language perfectly.


a) few b) little c) either could be used here

6. …………………………… politicians are really honest.


7. ‘Would you like some more soup?’ ‘Just …………………………, please.’

a) little b) a little c) a few

8. Give the roses ………………………….. water every day, if you don’t want them to die.

a) little b) a little c) a few

9. We have got a ………………………. steak, if you are really hungry.

a) little b) few c) either could be used here

Answers

1. We have got quite a few friends there.

2. Would you like to try a little wine?

3. His theories are too complex that only a few people understand them.

4. You don’t need to go shopping. We have got a few eggs and some rice.

5. Very few people can speak a foreign language perfectly.

6. Few / very few politicians are really honest.

7. ‘Would you like some more soup?’ ‘Just a little, please.’

8. Give the roses a little water every day if you don’t want them to die.

9. We have got a little steak if you are really hungry.

Go, get, grow and turn: exerciseFebruary 23, 2013

Complete the following sentences using appropriate words indicating change.

1. I go to work by car and my neighbour goes by bus. I usually ………………….. there first.


a) go b) get c) either could be used

2. Can you tell me how to …………………………. to the railway station?

a) go b) get c) reach

3. Leaves ……………………. brown in autumn.

a) go b) get c) either could be used here

4. He ………………………… bald in his early twenties.

a) got b) went c) either could be used here

5. Without noticing it, he …………………………… old.

a) went b) grew c) either could be used here

6. When they ………………………… rich, they began to ignore their old friends.

a) turned b) grew c) went

7. Everything that King Midas touched, ………………………… into gold.

a) got b) turned c) either could be used

8. He taught in a college for twenty years before ……………………….. writer.

a) turning b) going c) getting

Answers

1. I usually go to office by car and my neighbour goes by bus. I usually get there first.

2. Can you tell me how to get to the railway station?

3. Leaves go brown in autumn.

4. He went bald in his early twenties.

5. Without noticing it, he grew old.

6. When they grew rich, they began to ignore their old friends.

7. Everything that King Midas touched turned into gold.

8. He taught in a college for twenty years before turning writer.

Only, alone, lonelyFebruary 7, 2013

Complete the following sentences using appropriate words.

1. ‘Have you got any brothers or sisters?’ ‘No, I am an ……………………. child.’

a) only b) alone c) lonely

2. Since splitting from her boyfriend, she has been living …………………….


3. I don’t like to be …………………….. for long periods.

a) alone b) lonely c) only

4. It is true that I like to be alone for short periods, but after a few days I start getting …………………….

a) lonely b) alone c) only

5. After her husband’s death she was all ………………………..


6. The …………………………. reason that prompted him to kill his brother was greed.


7. I just watched a horror movie and now I am afraid of being …………………………


Answers

1. No, I am an only child.

2. Since splitting from her boyfriend, she has been living alone.

3. I don’t like to be alone for long periods.


4. It is true that I like to be alone for short periods, but after a few days I start getting lonely.

5. After her husband’s death she was all alone.

6. The only reason that prompted him to kill his brother was greed.

7. I just watched a horror movie and now I’m afraid of being alone.

Will or going to: grammar exerciseFebruary 4, 2013

Complete the following sentences using appropriate future forms.

In English, we use several different forms to talk about future events. The forms with ‘will’ are mainly used to talk about your promises and willingness to do something. They are also used to make simple predictions and show your reactions to something that was just said.

Use going to to talk about planned future events or events that you see is about to happen. In some cases, either could be used.

Complete the following sentences with will or going to.

1. I can’t lift this box. OK. I ………………………. help you. (will / am going to)

2. I don’t think that she ………………………….. recognize me. (will / is going to)

3. Careful! You ……………………….. fall. (will / are going to)

4. She …………………………….. graduate next year. (will / is going to)

5. The flight ………………………….. at 9 pm. (departs / will depart)

6. I ……………………………. meet your dad tomorrow afternoon. (will / am going to)

7. He is very hard-working. I think he ……………………………….. be very successful. (will / is going to)

8. ………………………….. marry me? (Will you / Are you going to)

9. Who do you think ……………………………….. win the championship? (will / is going to)

10. I …………………………… to America next month. (am flying / will fly)

Answers


1. OK. I will help you. (We use will to show our reactions to something we were just told.)

2. I don’t think that she will recognize me. (To make simple predictions about the future, we use will.)

3. Careful! You are going to fall. (If there is external evidence we use ‘going to’ to make future predictions.)

4. She is going to / will graduate next year.

5. The flight departs at 9 pm. (To talk about time-tabled future events, we use simple present tense.)

6. I’m going to meet your dad tomorrow afternoon.

7. He is very hard-working. I think he will be very successful.

8. Will you marry me?

9. Who do you think will win the championship?

10. I’m flying to America next month.

Structures with whyJanuary 31, 2013

This structure is used to suggest something for other people’s consideration and acceptance. It is a more direct way of making a suggestion.

Why not buy now and pay later? Why not suspend that guy? Why not punish that boy? Why not hire a more competent person? Why not ask him? Why not consult a specialist? Why not throw a party in his honour? Why not buy a new car? Why not change jobs? Why not file a police complaint against him?

Note that in this structure we cannot use a pronoun after why not?

Why not get that car serviced? (NOT Why not we get that car serviced?)


The same idea can be expressed using the structure ‘why don’t we?’

Why don’t you suspend that guy? Why don’t you hire a more competent person? Why don’t you ask him? Why don’t you consult a specialist? Why don’t you buy a new car? Why don’t you find another job? Why don’t you start dieting? Why don’t we make another attempt? Why don’t we ask him?

Why in replies

In short replies to negative statements, we usually use ‘Why not?’ In replies to affirmative statements, we usually use ‘Why?’

‘She has decided to call off her wedding to Peter.’ ‘Why?’ ‘She isn’t coming with us?’ ‘Why not?’ ‘We can’t depend on him.’ ‘Why not?’

The structure ‘Why should’ can be used to suggest surprise or anger.

I don’t understand why she should hate me. I don’t see why I should pay for your drinks.

Since and forJanuary 28, 2013

ESL students often find it difficult to use these words correctly.

Since is used with the present perfect tense to say when something began.

It has been raining since morning. I have been waiting for his call since yesterday. She has been waiting for the parcel since last week. The child has been sleeping since 2 pm. I have been living in Mumbai since 2002. I have been running a website since 2006.

For

For is used with a present perfect tense to refer to a period of time up to now.


It has been raining for four hours. (NOT … since four hours.) I have been running a website for six years. I have been living in Mumbai for 12 years. She has been waiting for the parcel for three days.

Exercise

Complete the following sentences using since or for.

1. They have known each other ………………………………. childhood.

2. She has been teaching music at the academy ……………………………… fifteen years.

3. They have been playing …………………………….. morning.

4. I haven’t seen him ……………………………… last week.

5. He has been working with us ………………………………. three years now.

Answers

1. They have known each other since childhood.

2. She has been teaching music at the academy for fifteen years.

3. They have been playing since morning.

4. I haven’t seen him since last week.

5. He has been working with us for three years now.

A few and the fewOctober 2, 2012

Few is used with plural nouns. It indicates a small number of something.

There were few children in the class.

I could answer only a few questions.

A few means some. It has a positive meaning. The few means not many, but all of those. Test your understanding of few with this grammar exercise.

Complete the following sentences using a few or the few.


Question 1

He wants to spend ……………………………………. days that are left to him in solitude and meditation.

a) the few b) a few c) either could be used here

Question 2

I have got ……………………………….. questions to ask.

a) a few b) the few c) either could be used here

Question 3

………………………………….. public gardens that we have are not properly maintained.

a) the few b) a few c) either could be used here

Question 4

I can’t express my gratitude in …………………………….. words.


Question 5

…………………………………. remarks that he made were very poignant.


Question 6

When I met him ………………………………………. weeks ago, he looked happy.


Answers

1. He wants to spend the few days that are left to him in solitude and meditation.

2. I have got a few questions to ask.

3. The few public gardens that we have are not maintained properly.

4. I can’t express my gratitude in a few words.

5. The few remarks that he made were very poignant.

6. When I met him a few weeks ago, he looked happy.

Rather as an adverb of degreeOctober 1, 2012

Rather can be used as an adverb of degree. This use of rather is common in British English. As an adverb of degree, rather has a similar meaning to ‘quite’ or ‘fairly’. However, it is more emphatic.

In American English, rather is not normally used as an adverb of degree.

With adjectives and adverbs

When used with adjectives and adverbs, rather suggests ideas such as ‘more than was expected’ or ‘more than was usual’. Unlike too, which is also used to express similar ideas, rather does not have a negative meaning.

‘How is your new job?’ ‘Rather good.’ (Here rather is used with an adjective.) ‘She speaks English rather well – people often think that she is a native speaker.’ (Here

rather is used with an adverb.)

With nouns

Rather can modify noun phrases. If there is no adjective with the noun, rather goes before articles. If there is an adjective, rather can go either before or after the article.

He is rather a criminal. (NOT He is a rather criminal.) That was rather a good idea. OR That was a rather good idea.

We do not normally use rather to modify a plural noun used without an adjective.

Rather can also modify verbs.

She rather enjoys playing with her kids. I rather think she is making a mistake.

With comparatives and too

Rather can be used to modify comparative adjectives and adverbs. It can also be used to modify too.


It was rather too much. It was rather better than I expected.

Infinitives and -ing forms exerciseSeptember 30, 2012

Some nouns and adjectives can be followed by -ing forms. There are also some nouns and adjectives that can be followed by either an -ing form or an infinitive.

Test your knowledge of infinitives and -ing forms with this grammar test. There are 10 questions in this test. Each question is followed by three suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one.

Infinitives and Gerunds Exercise

1. I hate the idea ……………………………………. old.

a) of getting b) to get c) Either answer is correct

2. The thought ………………………………….. never entered his head.

a) of failing b) to fail c) Either answer is correct

3. She is very good …………………………………. problems.

a) to solve b) at solving c) Either answer is correct

4. I am tired ……………………………………. to advice.

a) to listen b) of listening c) Either answer is correct

5. A strimmer is a machine …………………………………….. grass and weeds.

a) to cut b) for cutting c) Either answer is correct

6. I must find something …………………………………. that fly.

a) to kill b) for killing c) Either answer is correct

7. I am proud ……………………………………… won.

a) of having b) to have c) Either answer is correct


8. You can’t make an omelette without ……………………………….. eggs.

a) breaking b) to break c) Either answer is correct

9. I look forward to ………………………………………… from you.

a) hearing b) hear c) Either answer is correct

10. I am not used to ………………………………………. in London.

a) drive b) driving c) Either answer is correct

Answers

1. I hate the idea of getting old.

2. The thought of failing never entered his head.

3. She is very good at solving problems.

4. I am tired of listening to advice.

5. A strimmer is a machine for cutting grass and weeds.

6. I must find something to kill that fly.

7. I am proud of having won. / I am proud to have won.

8. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

9. I look forward to hearing from you.

10. I am not used to driving in London.

Using either…or and neither…norAugust 29, 2012

Either…or and neither…nor are correlative conjunctions. They are used to introduce alternatives.

Study the following pairs of sentences given below.

He cooks dinner. Or she cooks dinner. Either he or she cooks dinner.


She can have tea. Or she can have coffee. She can have either tea or coffee. He washes the clothes himself. Or he asks her to wash them. He either washes the clothes himself or asks her to wash them.

Combine the following pairs of sentences using either…or or neither…nor.

1. I don’t like Stephen. I don’t like Peter.

2. He keeps the keys himself. Or he leaves them with his wife.

3. He did not come. He did not call.

4. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. He wasn’t wearing a coat.

5. He will not come here. He will not send a representative.

6. He may attend the function. Or his wife may attend the function.

7. Give me freedom. Or give me death.

8. He must have done this. Or his brother must have done this.

Answers

1. I don’t like either Stephen or Peter. OR I like neither Stephen nor Peter.

2. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife.

3. He neither came nor called.

4. He wasn’t wearing either a shirt or a coat.

5. He will neither come here nor send a representative.

6. Either he or his wife may attend the function.

7. Give me either freedom or death.

8. Either he or his brother must have done this.

To, with and by: grammar exercise

1. Be patient with children.

2. I parted with her after many years of courtship.

3. Oil does not mix with water.

4. Are you with me or against me in this matter?

5. Let me know by tomorrow.

6. Somebody has just gone by the window.

7. It is two o’clock by my watch.

8. Our team won the match by six goals to three.

9. We stayed to the end of the play.

10. I prefer walking to climbing.

Difference between bring, take and fetchJuly 22, 2012

Certain verbs have very similar meanings that students sometimes find it difficult to use them correctly. For example, the verbs bring, take and fetch are often confused.

Differences Between Bring, Take and Fetch

Bring is used to talk about movement to the place where the speaker is at the moment of speaking.

Can you bring me that file? Please bring that file to my table. You will have to bring your own sandwiches. Have you brought your ticket along?

Use take to talk about movements to all other places.

I take my cellphone wherever I go. I always take an umbrella when I go out. I don’t know what to take with me when I go to London.

Fetch

To fetch something is to go to the place where it is and then bring it back to the current location.


Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Go and fetch that ball. Can you fetch me a glass of water?

Fetch can also be used to talk about selling something for a price.

How much would my watch fetch?

Exercise


1. Don’t forget to ……………………………. these documents when you go to the bank.

2. I’m ………………………………. you to the doctor.

3. Can you …………………………………… me some onions from the market?

4. It’s your turn to ………………………………….. the kids to the park.

5. The villagers often have to walk miles to …………………………………. water.

Answers

1. Don’t forget to take these documents when you go to the bank.

2. I’m taking you to the doctor.

3. Can you fetch me some onions from the market?

4. It is your turn to take the kids to the park.

5. The villagers often have to walk miles to fetch water.

As, than and that exercise

1. She is taller than her sisters.

2. My hands were as cold as ice.

3. The baby’s eyes are the same colour as yours.

4. Their relationship was as stormy as had been expected.

5. He smokes more than is good for him.

6. Don’t forget to take your ticket as I did last year.

7. Susie is going to join us, as was agreed last week.

8. They sent more food than I had ordered.

Notes

Than is used after comparative adjectives and adverbs. As and that are not used after comparatives.

Clauses that have no subject or object pronoun can be introduced by as and than.

Using asMay 25, 2012

This word has many uses including the following.

In comparisons

As is used in making comparisons. It is used to say that people or things are equal or similar in some way.

I am as tall as you. I can run as fast as him. This box is twice as heavy as that one.

Note that after as, we usually use object pronouns (e.g. him, her, them). Subject pronouns are used in a formal style and they are usually followed by verbs.

I am as tall as she is. I can run as fast as he can.

As can mean when or while.

I saw him as I was going out. (= I saw him when I was going out.) Just as I opened my eyes, I saw a strange sight. (= Just when I opened my eyes, I saw a

strange sight.) I saw him as he was falling.

Because


As can also mean because.

As he was not there, I left a message with his mother. (= Because he was not there, I left a message with his mother.)

As you won’t come with me, I will go alone.

As can mean in the same way.

Do as I do. While in Rome, do as Romans do.

As much

As much can mean so.

I thought as much. (= I thought so.)

As long as = provided that

I will come as long as I don’t have to do any work.

Note that in clauses introduced by as long as, we use a present tense to refer to the past.

Other, another and others: exercise1. Can I have another piece of cake?

2. She has bought another car.

3. Have you got any other ice creams?

4. She never thinks about other people.

5. They love each other very much.

6. Where are the other boys?

7. He never thinks of others.

8. We will be staying for another few weeks.

9. They sat for hours looking into one another’s eyes.

10. They talk to each other a lot.

Errors in the use of relative pronounsMay 12, 2012

Correct the following sentences

1. Jack, that is my friend, is a good boy.

2. Last year we visited Shimla that is perhaps the best hill station in India.

3. This is the house whom I purchased from Peter.

4. We bought some grapes from whose we extracted the juice.

5. He lent me a mattress on whose I slept soundly.

6. I have a friend who mother works at a bank.

7. With what were you exchanging pleasantries?

8. We met a traveler who’s bag was stolen.

9. Air, that is present everywhere, is essential for life.

10. Please try to understand that I say.

Answers

1. Jack, who is my friend, is a good boy. (That cannot be used in non-identifying relative clauses.)

2. Last year we visited Shimla which is perhaps the best hill station in India. (That is not used in non-identifying relative clauses.)

3. This is the house which I purchased from Peter. (We use which for things; who/whom for people.)

4. We bought some grapes from which we extracted juice.

5. He lent me a mattress on which I slept soundly.

6. I have a friend whose mother works at a bank.

7. With whom were you exchanging pleasantries?


8. We met a traveler whose bag was stolen. (Whose is the possessive form of who; who’s means who is or who has.)

9. Air, which is present everywhere, is essential for the existence of life.

10. Please try to understand what I say.

Errors in the use of articlesMay 11, 2012

Correct the following sentences.

1. The Beijing is the capital of China.

2. I first met your Dad at the Walmart.

3. He has failed in the English.

4. She died of the malaria.

5. She is best singer I have heard.

6. Rose is sweetest of all flowers.

7. A man is mortal.

8. You are in a trouble.

9. You are making a rapid progress.

10. There is a vast scope for improvement.

11. Your words are not worth penny.

12. Don’t make noise.

Answers

1. Beijing is the capital of China.

2. I first met your Dad at Walmart.

3. He has failed in English.


4. She died of malaria.

5. She is the best singer I have heard.

6. The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.

7. Man is mortal.

8. You are in trouble.

9. You are making rapid progress.

10. There is vast scope for improvement.

11. Your words are not worth a penny.

12. Don’t make a noise.

Explanation

Questions 1 – 4

Proper nouns are the names of particular persons, countries, rivers etc. We do not use articles with proper nouns.

Question 5

We use the with superlative adjectives.

Question 6, 7

In generalizations we usually use singular countable nouns with the article the. The nouns man and woman are exceptions to this rule. They can be used in a general sense without articles.

Questions 8 – 12

Some uncountable nouns cannot be used with articles. Examples are: progress, trouble and scope. Some can be used with articles in some cases.

Errors in the use of adverbsApril 27, 2012


Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a sentence. The usage is sometimes very different, too. ESL students often find it difficult to use adverbs correctly. Here are some common mistakes in the use of adverbs.

Incorrect: He plays tennis good.

Correct: He plays tennis well.

Good is an adjective. The adverb for this meaning is well.

Incorrect: I am very much sorry.

Correct: I am very sorry.

Very is used without much before adjectives and adverbs in the positive degree.

Incorrect: I am much tired.

Correct: I am very tired.

Much does not mean the same as very.

Incorrect: She is so poor to pay the dues.

Correct: She is too poor to pay the dues.

Incorrect: It is very hot to go out.

Correct: It is too hot to go out.

Note the structure too…to.

Incorrect: She carefully drove.

Correct: She drove carefully.

Incorrect: She angrily spoke.

Correct: She spoke angrily.

Adverbs of manner usually go in the end-position.

Incorrect: The room is enough spacious for us.

Correct: The room is spacious enough for us.

The adverb enough goes after the adjective or adverb it modifies.

Incorrect: I know to swim.

Correct: I know how to swim.

Know cannot be directly followed by an infinitive. Instead we use the structure know how to.

Incorrect: He is not clever to solve the problem.

Correct: He is not clever enough to solve the problem.

Incorrect: He is now too strong to walk.

Correct: He is now strong enough to walk.

Some and some ofApril 9, 2012

Before a noun with a determiner (articles, demonstratives and possessive pronouns), we use some of. If there is no determiner we use some.

Some of my friends live abroad. (NOT Some my friends live abroad.)

I have bought some apples. (NOT I have bought some of apples.)

Some people want a new system. (NOT Some of people want a new system.)

Some of is also used before a pronoun.

Some of us want a new system. (NOT Some us want a new system.)

Nouns can be dropped after some, if the meaning is clear.

I have bought too many chocolates. You can have some. (OR You can have some of them.)

Some with singular countable noun

With a singular countable noun, some can refer to an unknown person or thing.

Some idiot has let the cat in.


There must be some job for me.

She is living in some city in Japan.

Some can mean ‘quite a’ in informal American English.

It was some evening! (= It was quite an evening.)

Some can also be used to suggest that we do not think much of somebody or something.

I don’t want to waste the rest of my life doing some boring jobs.

She is going to marry some farmer in Kenya.

Some can be used with a number to suggest that the number is an impressive one.

We have already sold some twenty thousand copies of this book.

Still, already and yetMay 5, 2011

All three words can be used to talk about actions or situations that are going on or expected around the present.

Still

Still is used to talk about situations that are still not finished.

It is still raining. Is she still working? I have been waiting for hours, but I still haven’t heard anything from them. You are still seeing him, right?

YetNot yet is used to say that something which is expected to happen is in the future – it hasn’t happened yet.

She has not yet arrived. I have not yet received that letter.

In questions yet can be used to ask whether an expected activity has happened or not.

Has the postman come yet?


Are you ready yet?

Occasionally yet is used in affirmative sentences with a similar meaning to still.

We have yet to hear from them. (= We are still waiting to hear from them.)

Already

Already is used to talk about a situation that has already happened.

The visitors have already arrived. We have already finished. ‘You must go to Venice.’ ‘I have already been.’

Grammar notesIn British English, perfect tenses are common with already and yet. Americans often use past tenses with these words.

Have you called them yet? (GB) Did you call them yet? (US) She has already arrived. (GB) She already arrived. (US)

The question words who, which and whatNovember 8, 2010

Which and what

There is little difference of meaning between which and what. They are often both possible.

Which is your favorite song? OR What is your favorite song? Which writer / what writer has influenced you most in your life?

We prefer which when the number of choices is limited.

We have got small or large eggs. Which will you have? (More natural than ‘What will you have?’)

What is preferred when the number of choices is unlimited.

What is your phone number? (More natural than ‘Which is your phone number?’) What is your name? (NOT Which is your name?)


With Determiners

What and which are usually used to ask about things.

What would you like for breakfast? Do what you think is right.

Before nouns, which and what can be used to ask questions about both things and people.

What books have you read on this subject? What time is it? What authors do you like best? Which teacher do you like best? Which way shall we go? Tell me which books on my shelf you would like to borrow.

Before a noun with a determiner (e.g. the, my, this etc.), we use which of. Who and what are not normally used with of.

Which of your teachers do you like best? (NOT Who of / what of your teachers do you like best?)

Who, what and which as pronouns

When these words are used as pronouns, without nouns immediately after them, we generally use who for people.

Who won – John or Peter? (NOT Which won – John or Peter?) Who is she going out with?

Notes

Which can be used in questions about people’s identity and what can be used in questions about people’s jobs and functions.

‘Which is your boy?’ ‘The one in blue shirt.’ ‘What is your husband?’ ‘He is a doctor.’

Words ending in ‘ar’, ‘er’, ‘or’, ‘our’, ‘re’, ‘ure’, ‘ur’November 5, 2010


The pronunciation of these different terminations is often very similar. In fact, it is not easy to decide when to use one or another.

The lists given below give some common words ending in each of these terminations and these should be learned by heart. Note that this is not an exhaustive list.

Words ending in -ar

Pillar, scholar, calendar, vicar, particular, pedlar, beggar, solar, grammar, circular, similar, altar

Words ending in -er

Miner, traveller, saddler, conjurer (or conjuror)

Robber, summer, alter, clever, character, prisoner

Leather, manner, messenger, villager, farmer, meter, tiger, interpreter

Words ending in -or

Minor, impostor, inventor, traitor, debtor, surveyor, actor, tailor

Doctor, ancestor, governor, emperor, sailor, author

Professor, visitor, liquor, director

Words ending in -our

‘-Our’ is the common termination of abstract nouns.

Endeavour, humour, hour, vigour, rigour, valour

Colour, ardour, candour, demeanour

Words ending in -re

Centre, massacre, theatre, sombre, calibre, metre

Sceptre, manoeuvre

Words ending in -ure

Leisure, signature, manufacture, agriculture

Literature, imposture, nature, venture, enclosure, miniature

Words ending in -ur

Murmur, sulphur, augur

Words ending in ceed and cede

Common words ending in these terminations are given below and students should add to this list as they come across fresh examples.

-ceed

Proceed, exceed, succeed

-cede

Accede, precede, concede, intercede, secede

Note the spelling of ‘supersede’

Notes

A number of words end in -or in American English and -our in British English. Examples are: color and humor (US).

Similarly some words end in -er in American and -re in British English. Examples are: center and meter (US)

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