Verbs can be either Non-Finites, or Finites

1. The Non-Finites are the Infinitives {present and perfect), the Participles (present and past), and the Gerund (also called the verbal noun). The Non-Finites of the verb be are : (to) be, (to) have been, being and been.
2. The Finites are parts of the verb other than the Non-Finites. The Finites of the Verb be are : am, is, are, was, were.

The term anomalous finite is used for the 24 finites, given below:

The finites of the verb, be {am, is, are, was, were) are auxiliary when used:

1. With a past participle to form the passive voice; as,
   They were told to stay where they were.
   We were informed in time.
2. With a present participle to form the progressive tenses; as,
   She is writing a letter.
   They were playing chess.

The verb be is not an auxiliary verb when it is used :

1. Meaning “to exist”; as
   There are two kinds of camels, the Bacterian camel and the Arabian camel.
2. Meaning “to happen”, “to take place”; as,
   When is the wedding to be?
3. Meaning “to go” or “to visit”; as,
   I have been to Goa.
   Have you ever been to see her?
   NOTE : In this case, the verb be is used only in the Perfect Tenses.
4. To express how or where a person or a thing is; as,
   The cat is under the table.
   How is your sister?
5. With an adjective or a noun; as,
   The box is too small.
   He is a good teacher.

The auxiliary do is not used for the formation of the negative and interrogative. The interrogative-negative may be formed with auxiliary don’t.

Do is used with the Imperative.
Why don’t you be more careful?
Why don’t you be a man and face your troubles boldly?
Why don’t you be (= train in order to become) a mechanic?
Do be quiet! Do be patient! Don’t be so excited!

HAS, HAVE, HAD

The Finites have (have, has, had) are anomalous when they are used as auxiliaries to form the Perfect Tenses; as,

• I have taken my camera.
  He has left. She hasn’t left. Has she left?
  They had left. They hadn’t left. Had they left?
  She will have arrived by now.

Have is used to indicate possession or ownership of material objects; as,

• How many pens have you (have you got)?
  Ashok hasn’t got (hasn’t) a pen.
  Have you got any money?
  Did you have ten rupees yesterday?
  No, I hadn’t ten rupees yesterday.

Have is also used to indicate permanent connections and relationships. Got is used with have and has in colloquial language.

• This car has four doors.
  This jacket has four pockets.
  Has Mira blue eyes or brown eyes?
  He has a very good character.
  You have a brother.
  King Dasaratha had four sons.
  How many pockets has your jacket got?
  Hasn’t she got long hair?
  I’ve got only one brother.
  Have you got many friends in the town?

When the verb have is used to express something that is habitual or occasional (but not permanent), it is conjugated in the negative and interrogative with the auxiliary verb do’, as,

• Does your friend have much money to spend?
  He doesn’t have much time for sports and amusements.
  Did the Roman slaves have the right to own property?

When the verb have means the same as experience, it is conjugated in the negative and interrogative with the auxiliary do’, as,

• Do they have much difficulty in learning Sanskrit?
  Savages do not have the toothache.
  Did you have a good sleep?
  Did he have a pleasant journey?
  Did you have (= experience) any difficulty in finding my house?

Have is also used with such meanings as take, get or receive’, as,

• Do you have (= drink) coffee or milk for breakfast?
  At what time do you have (=take) breakfast?
  I have breakfast at eight.
  They had dinner at twelve.
  We don’t have tea at four.
  Do you have tea at five?
  How often do you have (=take, receive) English lessons?
  At what time do you have a bath?

When we ask or order somebody to do something, when we cause something to be done by somebody, we may use the various tenses of the verb This is called the causative use of the verb have.

• I must have my shoes mended.
  We shall have some visiting cards printed.
  He had his hair cut yesterday.
  He didn’t have his hair cut yesterday.
  Did he have his haircut yesterday?

Have is also used to indicate obligation or

• He has to be (= is obliged to be) there at ten.
  At what time do you have to be in the office every day?
  I have to be (= have got to be) in the office at nine instead of at ten tomorrow.
  We don’t have to go to school on Saturdays.
  They had to work hard for a living.
  She had to travel by air.
  I have to attend her wedding.
  You will have to start at once.
  He would not have to work so hard if he had not fallen ill at the beginning of the academic year.

Instead of saying:

• I must ask the shoemaker to send my shoes.
  He is going to tell the barber to cut his hair.I shall ask the printer to print some visiting cards.

We say:

• I must have my shoes mended.
  He is going to have his haircut.
  I shall have some visiting cards printed.

NOTE : The prepositional object after by is omitted. It is unnecessary to say : by the shoemaker: by the barber; by the printer.

Exercise 1 – Rewrite the following sentences, using the finites of the verb have (see the examples given above) :

1. I must ask the tailor to make a new suit for me.
2. I shall ask the photographer to take my photograph.
3. He asked his dentist to take out a bad tooth last week.
4. He is going to tell the workmen to whitewash the house.
5. I shall ask them to clean these rooms thoroughly.
6. I shall ask the plumber to repair the leaking water-taps.

Instead of saying :

We were obliged to do it.         It was necessary for us to do it.

We were compelled to do it.

We may say :

We had to do it.

Exercise 2 – Rewrite the following sentences, using the verb have (see the examples given above) :

1. It will be necessary for you to start at once.
2. She was obliged to travel by bus.
3. It is necessary for her to leave at once.
4. I hear that you were obliged to go to court.
5. It is not necessary for us to go to school on Sundays.
6. We were obliged to start early.
7. They will be compelled to sign the contract.
8. Is it necessary for him to work so hard?
9. She will be compelled to sell her ornaments.
10. Was it necessary for you to leave so soon?
11. It will be necessary for her to work so hard.
12. They were obliged to leave the town.
13. It was not necessary for us to answer all the ten questions.
14. They were obliged to work hard for their living.
15. They were compelled to agree to her terms.

DO, DOES, DID

As a Principal verb —

• They do [= perform] their work well.
• Do [=act] as I tell you.

As an auxiliary verb —

• Do they work hard? [Here the verb do helps to form a question.)
• They do not work hard. [Here the verb do helps to form a negation.]

To form the emphatic affirmative—

• If I do see her, I’ll give her your message.
• You do play well.
• Do come in, won’t you?
• They do work hard. [Here the verb do helps to emphasise an assertion.]
• She didn’t say much, but what she did say was very important.

The verb do is also used as a substitute for other verbs, except be; as,

He works more than you do (=work).

Did you find it? Yes I did (= found it).

Who broke the chair? Ashok did (= broke the chair).

Who wants to come with me? All of us do (=want to go with you). She didn’t often grumble and when she did (grumbled), no one paid any attention to her.

I hear you failed in the examination. No, I didn’t (=1 did not fail in the examination).

Did you not expect me? Yes, I did. (= expected you.)

She likes mangoes, and so do I. [Here do = like mangoes.]

She went to town yesterday, and so did I. [Here did =went to town.]

• Uses of May and Might
• Uses of Can and Could
• Uses of Must
• Uses of Shall
• Uses of Will
• Uses of Should
• Uses of Would

OUGHT TO

Ought is used to express desirability, moral obligation and duties. Ought is a defective verb. It can indicate present or future time. It takes an Infinitive as Object; as,

We ought to love our neighbours. [= It is our duty to love our neighbours.]

We ought to work hard.

I ought to visit my sister tomorrow.

You ought to get better marks.

You ought to help your poor friends.

He ought to be ashamed of his rude behaviour.

Everybody ought to love his country.

We ought not to walk on the grass.

We ought not to abuse a beggar.

We ought not to make a noise in the class.

Ought we to go there? Yes, I think you ought (to).

I told her that she ought to do it, so she did it.

Ought to have with a Past Participle is used to indicate a past obligation that was not fulfilled or carried out.

You ought to have helped her (but you did not).

He ought to have been more careful. (He was not careful enough.)

She ought to have obeyed her husband. (It was her duty to obey her husband.)

He ought to have worked hard.

I ought to have visited my sister yesterday.

Ought not to have is used to indicate disapproval of something that was done in the past.

You ought not to have laughed at her mistakes.

She ought not to have treated her husband like that.

Exercise 3 – Fill in the blanks with ought, should, have, must or may

1. ________ I Open the Window?
2. ________ We Play in the garden?
3. We ________ not to talk on the grass.
4. I am Working hard so that I ________ pass this year.
5. We ________ to help the poor people.
6. We ________ not spit on the floor.
7. You ________ be punctual.
8. Little children ________ be careful when crossing the road.
9. You ________ take exercise daily.
10. ________ God bless You!
11. He ________ be mad to do this.
12. They ________ to do their homework every day.

Exercise 4 – Fill in the blanks with the correct word out of the following:

Shall, Should; will, would; can, could; may, might; must, ought

1. We ________ go shopping next week, We ________ need a lot of things for the holidays.
2. We ________not waste time in idle gossip.
3. It ________ rain soon. (It is likely to happen.)
4. You ________ see a doctor at once (it is an advice.)
5. ________ You please stop talking?
6. You________ go only when you have finished your work.
7. ________ You rather have tea or coffee?
8. I ________ rather prefer not to give any explanation.
9. one ________ obey one’s parents.
10. ________ You lend me some money?
11. I ________ like you to answer my question properly.
12. ________ God give you courage to face it!
13. ________ You like to have lunch now?
14. ________ You please tell me where the cinema house is?
15. I ________ help you if you deserve it.
16. It ________ rain, it is so sultry.
17. You________ have given him a helping hand. It was your duty.
18. I_________ try to get you a job. I promise.
19. The doctor told me that I_____ not smoke any more.
20. I_________ come even if it rains.
21. If you have a ticket, you_____ go inside.
22. __________ I come in? I’m sorry I am late.
23. You________ to respect your elders.
24. Your mother likes mangoes. You_____ to buy some for her.
25. Your mother is sleeping. You_____ not speak loudly.

NEED

When in need = stand in need of, require, it has Third person singular,

Present tense needs.

I need to work harder.                                                                               .

I need a holiday.

We need many things for our journey.

She needs a little rest.

He doesn’t need new shoes.

Does she need a new frock?

It needs to be done with great care.                                                           ‘

The work needs time and patience.                                                            _;

The blind man needs somebody to help him across the road.

These socks need to be darned (need darning).

Do you need to work so hard?

He doesn’t need to work so hard, does he?

[Here the meaning is ‘be obliged’, ‘be compelled’.]

Anomalous Finite – The anomalous finite need is not used in the affirmative. It is used only in the negative and interrogative. It forms its Third person singular, Present tense, without s, and takes as its Object an infinitive without to; as,

He need not copy out the whole page.

She need not come here tomorrow.

He need not worry at all about us.

She need not write all of them, but she must write the last two.

Need he work so hard?

He needn’t work so hard, need he?

Need she apologise to him?

NOTE : The regular verb can be used in the Past Tense with a to infinitive.

They didn’t need to hurry. [= It was not necessary for them to hurry],

USED TO

Used is anomalous. It has the negative usedn’t (but it not used now) and the interrogative used (we, he, she etc.) In tag-questions and responses, however, did often replaces  used.

The past tense used expresses what was repeatedly seen or done during a period of time in the past.

There used to be a building here before the war.

She used to play chess before her marriage.

People used to think that the sun travelled round the earth.

Life is not so hard as it used to be.

We used to enjoy their pleasant company.

They used to go swimming every morning.

She used to go to the temple every morning.

I used to smoke; I took it up only a year ago.

You used to smoke a pipe, didn’t you?

But didn’t use to is also found; as,

I think I know that man. Didn’t he use to keep a car?

It may also express a permanent state in the past.

There used to be a cinema house here before the war.

When I lived here, many years ago, there used to be a well near the temple.

Used to = be accustomed to; as,

He’s not used to hard manual labour.

I’m not used to a hot climate.

I am not used to this kind of treatment.

I am not used to walking long distances.

They soon got used to drinking tea without any sugar in it.

I am not used to drinking tea without any sugar in it.

Exercise 5 – Rewrite each of these sentences, using ‘used to’ instead of ‘be in the habit of’ as shown:

He was in the habit of drinking too much alcohol.

He used to drink too much alcohol.

1. She was in the habit of visiting the temple on Sundays.
2. They were in the habit of swimming in the lake everyday.
3. The officers were in the habit of arriving late at the office.
4. His mother was in the habit of watching the television every evening.
5. The girls were in the habit of playing tricks upon their teacher.
6. My parents were in the habit of going to the hills every summer.

Exercise 6 – Rewrite each of these sentences, using ‘used to’ instead of ‘be accustomed to’, as shown

The general was accustomed to giving orders.

= The general was used to giving orders.

1. He was not accustomed to obeying orders.
2. As they were not accustomed to a humid climate, they fell ill.
3. If your sister is accustomed to hard work, she shouldn’t be so tired.
4. If you are not accustomed to the noises of the city, it’s difficult to enjoy your stay there.
5. The boy was soon accustomed to the strict rules of the hostel.
6. I am not accustomed to being spoken to in that way.

Exercise 7 – Rewrite each of these sentences, as directed :

1. It is not necessary for you to answer all the questions. (Rewrite, using need.)
2. She was in the habit of visiting us regularly in those days. (Rewrite, using used.)
3. We are not accustomed to that kind of work. (Rewrite, using used.)
4. It is not necessary for you to attend the meeting. (Rewrite, using need.)
5. He was in the habit of taking coffee after meals but now he doesn’t. (Rewrite, using used.)
6. It is not necessary for her to come here tomorrow.(Rewrite, using need.)
7. He was not accustomed to that kind of treatment. (Rewrite, using used.)

HAVE TO

Have to is used to indicate obligation; as,

He has to be (= is obliged to be) there at ten.

At what time do you have to be in the office every day?

I have to be (= have got to be) in the office at nine instead of at ten tomorrow.

We don’t have to go to school on Saturdays.

They had to work hard for a living.

I have to attend her wedding.

DARE

Note the following uses of the verb ‘dare’ :

• Present Tense:

I dare to declare that what she says is not true.

I never dare to say things like that, do I?

I am surprised that he dares to play jokes on the Headmaster. Does not dare to refuse what you ask.

Does she dare to jump of the window?

He doesn’t dare to ring her’up again, does he? No, he doesn’t.

• The verb dare (= venture, have courage) has the form dare for the Third person singular, Present tense, when it is followed by a negative: as, He dare not take such a foolish step.

He dare not oppose us.

He dare not punish the child.

A Senior English Grammar & Composition_________________

He dare not ask her again, dare he? No, he dare not.

She dare not go out alone on a dark night.

3. Past Tense:

They dared not say such things again.

The roads were covered with ice yesterday. They dared not take their car out.

They were afraid of an accident. They dared not go very fast.

4. Interrogative Sentences:

How dare you ride a cycle without brakes?

How dare you speak against your teacher?

How dare you insult your mother like that?

Exercise 8 – Fill in the missing forms of ‘dare’:

1. He did not ________ to wander in the streets at the night.
2. They ________ not sleep in the open in winter, ________ they?
3. ________ Your sister touch a snake?
4. Sometimes he ________ to climb up a tree to get a birds egg, ________he?
5. ________ I ask you to lend me ten rupees?
6. How ________ you ride a cycle without brakes?
7. He ________ not ask you again, ________ he? No, he ________ not.
8. They ________ not drive very fast, ________ they?
9. She ________ not disobey her husband.
10. The dog barked so loudly that we ________ not approach it.

Exercise 9 – (Miscellaneous) Fill in each blank with the correct word, choosing it from those given in brackets:

1. I speak to the Principal for a minute? (may, can, will, must) not drive
2. The breeze is cool and fresh, it_ rain soon. (may, can, will, must)
3. You________ apologise to your mother for your rude behaviour. (can, may, must, will)
4. The rich_______ help the poor, (should, would, must, might)
5. She________ speak French when she was hardly five. (should, would, could, might)
6. Visitors________ take off their shoes before going into the temple. (should, must, can, ought)
7. We________ buy any sugar. There’s enough in the house. (can’t, needn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t)
8. In order to produce good crops we ___ use fertilisers. (may, must, can, shall)
9. we ________ live in a big house when we were children (Should, ought to, used to, had to)
10. My parents ________ feed the poor on my birthday.
11. She ________ say such rude things about me. (date not, must not, need not, ought n’t)
12. How ________ defy the orders of your boss? (need, dare, would, should)
13. He ________ obey you whether he likes it or not (Will, Shall, Should, Would)
14. Sometimes the boys ________ play a trick on their teacher. (Will, Shall, Should, Would).
15. ________ you do me a favor? (Shall, will, may can)
16. You ________ not answer all the questions, but you ________ answer the last four. (must, need, can, will, would, shall, should)
17. _______ you mind waiting here a few minutes? (should, would, can, may)
18. We_________ hear someone singing in the bathroom. (might, could, would, should)
19. He________ have stolen your pen. (would, could, should, might)
20. I’m afraid the news______ be true. (can, may, will, shall)

• Prose Definition
• Prose Styles Include
• Functions of Prose
• Difference Between Prose and Poetry
• Synonyms for Prose
• FAQs on Prose

Prose Definition

Prose refers to a specific kind of writing that is structured in a grammatical way. Words and phrases are organized into sentences and paragraphs. In prose writing, the language flows in a natural pattern and most of the diction is that of everyday speech. Prose pieces are generally straightforward and use a conversational tone.

Here is the Guide to English Grammar Notes & Study Material for grammar ideas that help students of all levels, from beginners to experts, perform well on exams.

Prose Styles Include

Writers make use of different prose styles as per their purpose. The various forms include:

• This type of prose focuses on real-life events and provides factual information or an account of something.
• This type of prose relies on a legend or fable. It is generally meant to be recited and refers to something that has been passed down through tradition.
• Fiction is the most popular form of prose style. used in novels and short stories. It consists of elements such as plot, setting, characters, dialogue, etc.
• Poetic Prose refers to poetry in the form of prose. It creates a literary hybrid and has a rhythm and/or rhyme pattern.

Functions of Prose

The prose is used as a literary device for various reasons. These include:

• It conveys an idea, point, etc. in a straightforward manner.
• Using different prose styles helps the writer to establish his or her voice.
• Since prose is written in a conversational manner, readers easily connect with what you write.

Also read,

• Litotes
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Pun
• Personification

Difference Between Prose and Poetry

Prose and poetry are two distinct literary devices.

Prose, as mentioned earlier, imitates everyday speech and communication. Words and phrases are organized into sentences and paragraphs that run along several pages.

Poetry, on the other hand, usually relies on rhythm and rhyme. Poetry uses elevated, figurative language rather than everyday language. Poems appear in the form of lines.

Synonyms for Prose

Prose has no exact synonyms that can be used interchangeably. Some of the words that have similar meanings are unlyrical, antipoetic, writing, prosaic, unpoetic, factual, literal, and factual.

FAQs on Prose

Q1. What is prose?
Ans: Prose refers to a specific kind of writing that is structured in a grammatical way. Words and phrases are organized into sentences and paragraphs.

Q2. What are the different types of prose?
Ans: The different types of prose forms include: non-fiction, fiction, heroic prose, and poetic prose.

Q3. What are the main functions of prose?
Ans: The use of prose style helps you convey a point in a straightforward manner. The use of prose also helps to establish your own distinct voice.

Conclusion

The prose is one of the most preferred writing styles. Writing in prose helps you to convey your point in a straightforward manner. Prose works are easier to read, so everyone generally prefers to read prose. All of us love stories. We easily follow a story when it’s in prose. So whenever you think of writing something, maybe you can go for the prose style.

The de- prefix is one of the commonly used negative prefixes in English. It is mostly placed before a verb or action word and signifies the meaning of “undoing an action”. However, today the prefix ” de” has grown to signify several meanings. More specifically, it refers to “undoing an action” by removal or separation. It can also refer to something done thoroughly or something that is taken negatively. Additionally, the prefix “de” also suggests disapproval.

• The Roots of “de” Prefix
• Examples of “de” Prefix
• Is “de” Always a Prefix?
• What does “de” mean in Prefix?
• What is the parent language of the prefix “de”?
• Is “de” a prefix or suffix?
• Does the prefix “de” mean to disapprove of an action?

The Roots of “de” Prefix

Before exploring the various examples of words with de- prefixes, first, have a look at how and where this prefix came from. The de- prefix has its origin in French and Latin languages. When translated to English, the prefix implies “down,” “off,” or “away.” It is a common prefix that is continually added to different words to create new ones.

Examples of “de” Prefix

As mentioned previously the prefix “de” can be used to signify various meanings. Given below is a list of meanings of “de” along with examples for each.

Meaning: undoing an action

• declassify
• decolorize
• decontaminate
• deforestation
• deflate
• declutter
• deconstruct
• detoxify
• dehydrate
• deactivate
• defrost
• dehumidify
• decentralize
• demilitarize
• decolonize

Meaning: To go down or make less

• demote
• deject
• depreciate
• deficit
• deplete
• devolve
• decrease
• decline
• decelerate
• degenerate
• devaluate
• descend
• depress
• degrade
• deteriorate

Meaning: to take away or move away

• detach
• deflect
• detract
• depart
• debug
• debark
• defuse
• deport
• deprive
• deduct
• denude
• delete
• debone
• derail
• de-stress

Meaning: to postpone something or hold back

• detain
• desist
• delay
• defer

Meaning: to indicate something negative

• devastate
• deceive
• delude
• detest
• destruct
• defame

Meaning: to disapprove of or inform against an action

• deplore
• denounce
• deprecate
• debate

Read More:

• Affixes
• Root Words

Is “de” Always a Prefix?

Keep note of the fact that de is always not a prefix. For instance, the word “deal” is not “de-al,”. Similarly, the word “dental” is not “de-ntal.” Deal and dental have no prefixes. The de- in each of them cannot be considered as a prefix but rather an innate part of the terms.

You can know if the de- in the word is a prefix if the root word is understandable by itself and without the prefix. Alternatively, you can substitute de- with another prefix, such as en-, re-, a-, and in-. If the word is meaningful then the de- there is used as a prefix.

For Example, take the word “descend”. To check if de is used as a prefix, replace it with an a- prefix. The word “ascend” is formed. “Ascend” has the opposite meaning of “descend”. Hence de- becomes the prefix of the word.

FAQs on “de” Prefix

1. What does “de” mean in Prefix?

The “de” prefix is known as a negative Prefix. It indicates the removal, separation, negation or reversal of action. Some examples include: detains, detest, decrease etc.

2. What is the parent language of the prefix “de”?

The “de” prefix is known as a negative Prefix. The de- prefix has its origin in French and Latin languages. When translated, the prefix means “down,” “off,” or “away.”

3. Is “de” a prefix or suffix?

“De” is a negative prefix that is commonly used in English. It appears in hundreds of vocabulary words. Some examples include: descent, deplore, detain etc

4. Does the prefix “de” mean to disapprove of an action?

Yes, The prefix “de” is a negative prefix that indicates disapproval. Examples of words that imply disapproval include: deplore, debate, denounce etc.

Conclusion

Knowledge of negative prefixes can help you easily change a word’s meaning to its opposite. The prefix “de” is one of the commonly used negative prefixes which is mostly placed before a verb or a word formed from that verb. It reverses the verb’s action, as in words like dehydrate, deactivate, or detoxify. However you must keep in mind that the prefix “de” can have other meanings as in, it means ‘down’ in descent, decrease, and depression.

Hence idioms can be categorized as per its subject. Using our body parts, there can be head idioms, foot idioms, hand idioms, heart idioms, so on and so forth.

Here in this specific article, we are going to discuss about some idioms, the subject of which is the most vital part of our body, the head. The head phrase examples or examples of head idioms can be broadly distributed into five categories, according to the different functions of the brain.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

There are idioms where the Head is seen as the representative of man, in others it can be found as the seat of mental faculty, as the point of emotions, as a sign of power and in some, as a mark of value.

A thorough study and understanding head idioms and phrases, give us an idea of cross-cultural similarities and differences in the way the Head has been conceptualized.

Names of Head Idioms

• Meanings and examples of some commonly used head idioms

List of Head Idioms

• Able to do something standing on one’s head
• Bang your head against a wall
• Beat something into someone’s head
• Bite someone’s head off
• Bring to a head
• Off the top of your head
• Head-to-head
• Bury one’s head in the sand
• Can’t make heads or tails out of something
• Drum something into someone’s head
• Head over heels in love
• From head to toe
• Have your head in the clouds
• Head start
• Get your head above water
• Get someone or something out of one’s head
• Give someone a head’s start
• Go to someone’s head
• Have a good head on your shoulders
• Head someone or something off
• Hit the nail on the head
• In over one’s head
• Lose your head
• Head and shoulders above
• Use your head
• Keep your head down
• Two heads are better than one
• Laugh your head off
• Go over your head
• Rear Its Ugly Head

Meanings and examples of some commonly used head idioms

Able to do something standing on one’s head

Meaning: Capable of completing a task with no difficulty

Example: The topper was able to solve the tough problem standing on his head.

Bang your head against a wall

Meaning: Acting or saying something repeatedly but in vain.

Example: The criminal banged his head against a wall, pleading mercy.

Beat something into someone’s head

Meaning: Spoon feeding or repeatedly trying to teach something to someone, intensely

Example: The coach beat the winning plan into the players’ heads, in order to win the game.

Bite someone’s head off

Meaning: to shout or criticise someone over a simple issue

Example: He is not a person to bite someone’s head off, but his frustration made him do so.

Bring to a head

Meaning: a reason to reach a point of crisis.

Example: The pandemic brought the entire world to a head.

Off the top of your head

Meaning: without thorough analysis

Example: Choosing a title for a book cannot be done off the top of the head.

Head-to-head

Meaning: Confrontation involving two individuals or groups

Example: Cold war was a head-to-head bureaucratic battle between Russia and America.

Bury one’s head in the sand

Meaning: Staying aloof of the bitter truth or reality

Example: His father worked hard to make their ends meet, but Rahul kept his head buried in the sand.

Can’t make heads or tails out of something

Meaning: Puzzling and difficult to understand

Example: I failed to make heads or tails out of the riddle.

Drum something into someone’s head

Meaning: Teach someone by repeated explanation

Example: The tutor drummed the subject material into the student’s head, so that he is able to qualify the competitive examination.

Head over heels

Meaning: Completely in love with someone or something

Example: The way he explained the part, show that he was head over heels with the female character of the play.

From head to toe

Meaning: Spread over the entire body

Examples: The accident left him with bruises from head to toe.

Have your head in the clouds

Meaning: Being ignorant of the problems or issues associated with a situation

Example: After the promotion he had his head in the clouds.

Head start

Meaning: An additional advantage or favour at the beginning of an action

Example: As a penalty, his opponent was given a 2 second head start during the 200 metre race.

Get your head above water

Meaning: Evade giving in to difficulties or failure

Example: Get your head above water, otherwise you will lose everything to gambling.

Get someone or something out of one’s head

Meaning: Try to forget about someone or something

Example: After her death, it was difficult for the man to get his beloved out of his head.

Give someone a head start

Meaning: Having some advantage over other people.

Example: Mariam had quite a head start even before she started to work.

Go to someone’s head

Meaning: Make someone intoxicated or proud

Example: The alcohol made him go to his head.

Have a good head on your shoulders

Meaning: Being someone others can rely on

Example: The team leader had a good head on his shoulders, the team was happy to work under him.

Head someone or something off

Meaning: Divert, deflect or stall on-coming things

Example: The revolution was headed off by giving out a few allowances to the revolutionaries

Hit the nail on the head

Meaning: to say the correct thing

Example: The boss applauded the engineer for hitting the nail on the head, in the machine breakdown issue.

In over one’s head

Meaning: Getting stuck in a complicated situation

Example: On an attempt to complete the work by a short cut, he got in over his head.

Lose your head

Meaning: Losing control over oneself

Example: The unscrupulous behaviour of his colleague during the client meeting, made the boss lose his head.

Head and shoulders above

Meaning: Someone (or something) being better than the others

Example: The partial teacher proclaimed Rahul if being head and shoulders above in the class.

Use your head

Meaning: Thinking and analysing properly to avoid a mistake

Example: Use your head while planning for the future

Keep your head down

Meaning: Be inconspicuous

Example: The spy scout had to keep his head down on the sudden approach of enemy soldiers

Two heads are better than one

Meaning: Having a second opinion is always better

Example: They decided to consult another doctor other than their home physician, as two heads are better than one.

Laugh your head off

Meaning: Uncontrollable laughter

Example: They laughed their heads off at the comedy club.

Go over your head

Meaning: Discussing something with a superior

Example: As the team failed to find a solution, they decided to go over their head

Rear Its Ugly Head

Meaning: Something appearing again and causing trouble just like the last time.

Example: The Wi-Fi network is rearing its ugly head once more.

For better vocabulary and progressive knowledge, one must try to remember the names of various office supplies. Since the list is huge, we have provided you with a hand-picked list of office supplies vocabulary for easy remembrance.

Study the most important English Vocabulary Words identified by our experts and learn the right vocabulary to use in your day to day conversations

List of Office Supplies Vocabulary Words in English

• Name of Office Supplies Vocabulary words
• Description of the Office Supplies Vocabulary words.

Name of Office Supplies Vocabulary words

This office supplies list with pictures is quite handy and useful when one is holding a conversation regarding this topic. It is also pretty beneficial for those people who work in an office because this office supplies list with pictures and examples provide them with a better understanding of their surroundings.

List of Office Supplies words

• Desk
• Swivel chair
• Filing cabinet
• Wastebasket
• Monitor
• Computer
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Mouse pad
• Printer
• Fax machine
• Telephone
• Calculator
• File folder
• Clipboard
• Notebook
• Envelope
• Stapler
• Eraser
• Drawing pin/Thumbtack
• Paper clip
• Bulldog clip
• Hole puncher
• Sticky notes
• Rubber stamp
• Scissors
• Glue
• Fountain pen
• Ballpoint
• Pencil
• Pencil sharpener
• Eraser
• Label
• Tape dispenser
• Marker
• Highlighter

Description of the Classroom Objects Vocabulary words.

Desk

A desk is a piece of functional furniture with four legs and a flattened top. It is reading and writing.

Swivel chair

A swivel chair is a unique type of chair that can be twirled or rotated 360 degrees to the right side or the left. It has a central leg sometimes attached with wheels along with armrests and a gas lift.

Filing cabinet

It is an office furniture item which has drawers for storing documents and other vital files and folders. A filing cabinet is generally made of wood or sheet metal.

Wastebasket

It is a container usually made of plastic or metal and used to throw away the garbage.

Monitor

A monitor is an electronic output device with a visual display for displaying information. Digital Visual Interface, DisplayPort, USB-C, VGA, or other signals and connectors are connected to the computer.

Computer

It is an electronic programming device that is used for carrying out arithmetical and logical operations.

Keyboard

A keyboard is an external input device that is used for typing letters, numbers, and characters. It comprises buttons on which characters, alphabets, and numbers are printed.

Mouse

It is a hand-held, input-output, pointing device used to move the cursor present on the screen of the computer.

Mouse pad

A mouse pad is a plane surface on which the mouse is placed. It improves the use of the mouse by giving a smooth surface that allows the mouse to move more smoothly and accurately.

Printer

A printer is an external electronic device used to produce a copy of a particular text or graphics. The document is usually made on a sheet of paper. There are different types of printers like 3D printers, bar code printers, laser printers, inkjet printers, etc.

Fax machine

A fax machine is used for the telephonic transportation of scanned printed graphics or texts. The material is transported to another telephone number joined with a printer or some other output device.

Telephone

It is a telecommunication device that allows two or more users to hold a chat when they are apart.

A telephone transforms sound into electronic signals and then transmits them through cables.

Calculator

A calculator is a piece of electrical equipment that is used for executing arithmetical calculations. It is generally small in size and is easily portable.

File folder

A file folder is a type of holder or cover that is used for holding sheets of paper. These folders are mainly used in offices, organizations, schools, etc.

Clipboard

It is a solid, flat board that has an attached clip on the top. It is used for holding paper when a surface for writing is unavailable.

Notebook

A notebook is a small and compact book that is used for writing. Generally used by students for taking notes, it can either be blank or have ruled pages.

Envelope

It is a popular packaging item used for enclosing a letter, card, or document. An envelope is made of flat and thin material and has a sealable flap on top.

Stapler

The stapler is a piece of standardized equipment that connects or joins sheets of paper by pushing a thin metal staple into the sheets and then closing the ends of the pin. They are extensively used in offices, businesses, workplaces, government, and schools.

Drawing pin/Thumbtack

A drawing pin or a thumbtack is a small and compact pin used for securing items to a board or a wall. They are made of tin, brass, and iron and are usually inserted into the wall or panel using the thumb.

Paper clip

A paper clip is an item that is used for unitedly securing sheets of paper. It is usually made by twisting and bending a wire of steel and giving it the required shape.

Bulldog clip

It is an item used for holding sheets of paper together for a temporary period. A bulldog clip consists of springy steel that allows the jaws of the hook to open and close when pressure is applied.

Hole puncher

A hole puncher is a device that is used for creating holes in sheets of paper. It is mainly used in offices.

Sticky notes

A sticky note is a tiny piece of paper with a glue strip attached to its back. The glue strip allows the notes to adhere themselves to documents or other surfaces temporarily. They can be removed and again attached easily without any excess trouble.

Sticky notes are usually used for writing important and small letters and are available in various shapes, colors, and sizes.

Rubber stamp

A rubber stamp is a hand-held tool that has a pattern or image engraved on its surface. Ink is applied onto the plain surface of the rubber stamp, and it is then pressed against a stable surface for imprinting the engraved image or pattern.

Rubber stamps have a handle attached to their back for support and require minimum storage space.

Scissors

It is a gadget with two blades laid on top of each other and then connected in the middle. A scissor is generally used for cutting paper, cardboard, cloth, and other materials.

Glue

Glue is an adhesive and thick substance that is used for sticking different objects with each other.

Fountain pen

It is a writing tool that applies water-based ink on paper by using a metal nib. It has internal storage, which stores enough ink by using a dropper or some internal filling mechanism.

While writing, it draws ink from the internal storage and then transfers the ink onto the paper.

Ballpoint

A ballpoint is a kind of pen whose writing point holds a tiny ball. It uses stiff ink and is used for writing.

Pencil

A pencil is a thin and long piece of wood that covers lead or graphite. It is used for writing and drawing and is extremely popular and widespread.

For regular writing, the use of graphite or lead pencils is generally preferred. The pencils made of charcoal are preferred for drawing and sketching.

Pencil sharpener

A pencil sharpener is a helpful tool that is used for sharpening the writing tip of pencils. It is available in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors.

Eraser

It is generally used to remove any errors made by a pencil from a sheet of paper. They have a smooth, soft surface and are made of synthetic soy-based gum, synthetic rubber, plastic, or other gum-based materials.

Label

It is a piece of plastic film, paper, metal, cloth, or other materials fastened to a particular material, container, or suitable. Information regarding the material or container is written or printed on it.

Labels have various uses and are used by offices, schools, government, manufacturers, etc.

Tape dispenser

A tape dispenser is a device that contains a tape roll and allows the user to tear the tape from one end and use it. It is of different types and is mainly based on the kind of tape.

Marker

A marker is an ink pen whose tip is usually made of felt. It consists of an absorbent material that serves as the ink carrier.

They can be waterproof or permanent.

Highlighter

A highlighter is a type of marker pen that is used for highlighting texts. The ink of a highlight pen is bright and translucent, and it is available in different color.

Because these are some of the most prevalent idioms connected to sleep, you’ve probably previously heard expressions like “to hit the hay” or “to hit the sack” when someone wants to say, “I am going to sleep now”.

This article will go through new English sleep phrases, which are often funny ways to say you’re going to sleep. You will be amazed to know that I’ll sleep ahead meaning is nothing but “I’m going to bed”. Hence, we have penned down this article containing more than 70 phrases, statements, and expressions that you can use in your regular conversations.

Going To Bed

• Alternative Ways to Say “I’m going to bed” in English
• Conversations Using Alternative Ways of Saying “I’m going to bed”
• The Takeaway from the Article

Alternative Ways to Say “I’m going to bed” in English

1. About to retire
2. Bag down
3. Bag the z’s
4. Beat
5. Bed
6. Bedtime
7. Blackout
8. Blow some z’s
9. Bunk for the night
10. Call it quits
11. Cash in
12. Cash in my chips
13. Catch me a nod
14. Catch some shut-eye
15. Catch some z’s
16. Catch up on my beauty sleep
17. Catch up on some sleep
18. Cop a few z’s
19. Cop some z’s
20. Cork off
21. Count sheep
22. Crash
23. Crawl in the straw
24. Crawl into the sack
25. Dreamland
26. Drop-in on the hay
27. Fab down
28. Fall into bed
29. Falling in
30. Feed my nightmares
31. Flatten the mattress
32. Fly up
33. Fly up for the night
34. Get forty winks
35. Get in the feathers
36. Get in the hay
37. Get in the sack
38. Get my beauty sleep
39. Get some shut
40. Get some sleep-eye

1. Going to the feather ball
2. Going to the rack
3. Going to the roost
4. Get to sleep
5. Going to turn in for the night
6. Going up the golden stairs
7. Going up the wooden hill
8. Hit the hay sack
9. Hit the shucks
10. I can hardly keep my eyes open.
11. I need to get forty winks.
12. I think I’ll retire for the night.
13. I think I’ll say good night now.
14. I think I’ll turn in.
15. I’m going to bed.
16. I’m going to catch some Z’s.
17. I’m going to crash.
18. I’m going to get some Z’s.
19. I’m going to hit the hay.
20. I’m going to hit the sack.
21. I’m going to take a nap.
22. I’m going to turn in. I’m off to bed.
23. It’s bedtime.
24. It’s past my bedtime.
25. Rack down
26. Rip and tear
27. Shut-eye
28. Stretch out
29. Take a snooze
30. To call it a day
31. To turn in
32. Turning in

Conversations Using Alternative Ways of Saying “I’m going to bed”

1. A: It’s 11 p.m. already. I’m going to catch some Z’s

B: I’m going to turn in as well; it’s too late now.

2. A: It’s quite late now, and you have an early flight to catch tomorrow.

B: You are right. I think I’ll retire for the night.

3. A: Why don’t you try counting sheep?

B: I’ve tried that before, but it really doesn’t work unless it’s past my bedtime.

4. A: Keeping that aside, you still need to catch some Z’s.

B: I promise I’ll cork off soon.

5. A: I had a long day; I’m going to turn in now.

B: I’m going to bed too. I can hardly keep my eyes open.

6. A: If I let you drink coffee now, then you’re just going to be up all night.

B: I promise I’ll hit the shucks soon.

7. A: I’m going to get forty winks.

B: See you in the morning.

8. A: Shouldn’t you already fall into bed?

B: I can’t sleep. I’m still feeling hungry.

9. A: You need to get some rest, or else you cannot get up early in the morning.

B: Yes, I need to catch up on my beauty sleep.

10. A: Just close your eyes and try to blackout.

B: That really is not of any use for me.

11. A: How about I tire myself out and then fall asleep when I’m tired?

B: It doesn’t matter; you need to call it quits now.

12. A: Then you’re not going to cop some z’s.

B: Don’t worry, I’ll make sure I bag down in a little while.

13. A: I want you to get in the sack right now, so sweet dreams.

B: Fine. You, too, get to sleep.

14. A: I am not sleepy.

B: Isn’t it past your bedtime already?

15. A: It’s 2 a.m. already, and you have to wake up early tomorrow.

B: I think we both should get in the hay now.

16. A: Try listening to some soft music to fall into bed.

B: I am too exhausted today; I don’t think I would need that to crash.

17. A: What if I stay up and do something until I get tired?

B: I really don’t care. I am just going to turn in for the night.

The Takeaway from the Article

It can get monotonous repeating the same sentence over and again in English when you want to say, “I’m going to bed” However, by using one of the several variants for this sentence, this issue may be avoided. This will not only help you become more fluent and natural sounding in English, but it will also help you expand your vocabulary. Hence, the phrases discussed in this article will help you make your English more fluent and your conversations interesting!

Two or more Simple Sentences can be combined into one Simple Sentence.

BY USING A PARTICIPLE

1. He was tired of walking. He sat down to rest.
   Tired (or being tired) of walking, he sat down to rest.
2. He failed in the examination. He gave up his studies.
   Having failed in the examination, he gave up his studies.
3. I wished to see Mohan, I sent for him.
   Wishing to see Mohan. I sent for him.
4. The policeman ran after the thief. The policeman caught him.
   Running after the thief, the policeman caught him.
5. He selected a site. He began to build a house.
   Having selected a site, he began to build a house.

Exercise 1: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence by using a Participle.

1. He finished his dinner. He went out for a walk.
2. He was tired. He sat down to rest.
3. He felt sleepy. He went to bed.
4. He raised his gun. He took aim.
5. The magician took pity on the mouse. He turned it into a cat.
6. A fox saw some grapes. They were hanging from a vine.
7. The child found himself alone. He began to weep.
8. He had his dinner. He began to do his homework.
9. She received a telegram. She became very sad.
10. She had a good rest. She felt much better.
11. He is very ill. He cannot attend the meeting.
12. He received no answer. He knocked a second time.
13. He went to Delhi. He wished to consult a heart specialist.
14. I have given you all the facts. I have nothing more to say.
15. He earned the displeasure of his boss. He was dismissed from ser­vice.

BY USING AN ABSOLUTE PHRASE

1. The police arrived. The mob dispersed.
   The police having arrived, the mob dispersed.
2. The weather was fine. We went for a walk.
   The weather being fine, we went for a walk.
3. The sun rose. The fog disappeared.
   The sun having risen, the fog disappeared
4. The siege was over. The enemy withdrew.
   The siege being over, the enemy withdrew.
5. The bank was closed. I could not withdrew any money.
   The bank being closed, I could not withdraw any money.

Exercise 2: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence by using an Absolute Phrase.

1. It was very late. I did not go out for a walk.
2. The rain ceased. We began to play cricket again.
3. The wind was favourable. The ship set sail.
4. It was very hot. We could not sleep inside.
5. The sun rose. The fog disappeared.
6. The holidays are at an end. The boys are returning to school.
7. Tf ; police arrived. The mob dispersed.
8. It was a bank holiday. I could not withdraw any money.
9. It was very late. They went to bed at once.
10. Rain was plentiful this year. There was a rich crop.
11. There was no money left. We had to borrow from our friends.
12. It was extremely hot. We could not do any work.
13. The lecture was over. The people streamed out of the hall.
14. The master was away on business. The boys were in a merry mood. They made a noise.
15. Our side was weak. The other side was strong. Our team lost the match by one goal.

BY USING A PREPOSITION WITH A NOUN OR A GERUND

1. He has failed many times. He still hopes to succeed.
   In spite of many failures, he hopes to succeed.
2. She amused the party. She told them many funny stories.
   She amused the party by telling them many funny stories.
3. She gave us his advice. He helped us with money.
   Besides giving us his advice he helped us with money.
4. He did not succeed. He had made every effort.
   With all his efforts he did not succeed.
5. His mother died. He heard the news. He left at once.
   On hearing the news of his mother’s death he left at once.

Exercise 3: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple sentence by using a Preposition with a Noun or a Gerund :—

1. The sun set. Their journey was not ended.
2. You helped us. Otherwise we would not have succeeded.
3. He checked all the accounts. He found many serious errors in them.
4. He failed in the examination. He heard the news. He began to weep.
5. Her husband died suddenly. This gave her a rude shock. She never fully recovered from it.
6. She has failed many times. She still hopes to succeed.
7. He used to amuse us. He told us funny stories.
8. He heard the news. He rode away at once.
9. The boy realised his mistake. He grew very nervous.
10. She found the ring at once. She did not search for it.

BY USING AN INFINITIVE

1. I speak the truth. I am not afraid of it.
   I am not afraid to speak the truth.
2. He has five children. He must provide for them.
   He has five children to provide for.
3. Health is very important. It must not be neglected.
   Health is too important to be neglected.
4. He is going to Pune. He will start business there.
   He is going to Pune to start business there.
5. Your sister had not enough industry. She could not therefore win a prize.
   Your sister had not enough industry to win a prize.

Exercise 4: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence by using an Infinitive.

1. He is very honourable. He will not tell lies.
2. He had no money with him. He could not afford such luxuries.
3. I heard of her success. I was glad of that.
4. He cannot afford a radio set. He is very poor.
5. He is very intelligent. He cannot commit such mistakes.
6. He works very hard. He wants to pass the examination.
7. He has ten children. He must support them.
8. He has some bills. He must pay them.
9. He cannot afford a television set. He is too poor.
10. Your parents will hear of your marriage. They will be delighted.

BY USING A NOUN OR A PHRASE IN APPOSITION

1. Brown is my teacher. He lives at Rishikesh.
   Mr. Brown, my teacher, lives at Rishikesh.
2. This is my younger sister. She is a great painter.
   This is my younger sister, a great painter.
3. He slew all the prisoners. This was a very horrible act.
   He slew all the prisoners—a very horrible act.
4. Milton was a blind poet. He wrote Paradise Lost. It is one of the finest epics in the English language.
   Milton, a blind poet, wrote Paradise Lost—one of the finest epics English language.

Exercise 5: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence by using a Noun or a Phrase in Apposition

1. Wellington won many battles. He was a great soldier.
2. This speech was delivered by Abraham Lincoln. He was the President of the United States of America.
3. The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan. It is the finest mausoleum in the world.
4. Gitanjaliwas written by Rabindranath Tagore. He was a great Indian poet.
5. Smith is my friend. He is a great industrialist.
6. Ranjeet is a good batsman. He made a hundred yesterday.
7. My brother is a great painter. He has painted this picture.
8. Mahatma Gandhi never told a lie. He is called ‘The Father of the Nation.”
9. The pilgrims reached Hardwar. It is a sacred place of the Hindus.
10. He jumped into the swollen river to save the child. It was a very brave act.

BY USING AN ADVERBS OR AN ADVERBIAL PHRASE

1. The train is very crowded. That is usual.
   The train is usually very crowded.
2. Beware of false friends. This is of first importance.
   Above all things, beware of false friends.
3. The sun had set. He had not reached his home.
   He had not reached his home by sunset.
4. He possesses a head for business. This is certain.
   He certainly possesses a head for business.

Exercise 6: Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence by using an Adverb or an Adverbial Phrase.

1. He failed. It was unexpected.
2. He neglected his studies. This was foolish.
3. He forgot to bring the keys. That was unfortunate.
4. He escaped unhurt. It was lucky.
5. The sun set. The travellers had not returned.
6. He is the best teacher. There is no doubt about it. (Use )
7. The train is very late. That is usual.
8. He is an undesirable fellow. This is certain.
9. He persevered. He was not deterred by setbacks.
10. He kicked the poor beggar. It was his intention to do so.

Several of the methods described above may be combined in the same sentence.

1. I saw a woman. She was about thirty years of age. She stood at the Palace Gate for hours. She did not speak. She did not move. I saw a woman, about thirty years of age, standing at the Palace Gate for hours, without speaking or moving.
2. The King was ill. The people heard the news. They crowded to the palace. They wished to inquire about his health. Having heard the news of the King’s illness, the people crowded to the palace to inquire about his health.
3. He went to Delhi. Delhi is the capital of India. He went there during the Xmas holidays. His purpose was to see the historical buildings there.

During the Xmas holidays, he went to Delhi, the capital of India, to see the historical buildings there.

Exercise 7: Combine each of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence.

1. The people saw the flames. They ran towards the burning house.
2. The information cannot be of any use to us. It has come too late.
3. The old woman was carrying a basket. It was filled with mangoes.
4. He amused us very much. He told us a funny story.
5. A crow was very thirsty. She flew to a pitcher. She hoped to find some water in it.
6. The fakirheld a begging bowl. It was made of wood. He appealed to the charity of the passers, by.
7. The doors were bolted. The windows were barred. The thieves failed to break into the house.
8. My friend is going to Europe. He has got two years leave. He wishes to become a barrister.
9. One day the Pope saw some children. His name was Gregory. The children were very fair. They were being sold as slaves in the market. He was very pained to see this.
10. I must cut my story short. He squandered all his wealth. He had ac­quired it dishonestly. He died in poverty.
11. The farmer heard the boy’s shouts. The boy was drowning. He at once plunged into the river. He risked his own life.
12. I saw a woman. She was very beautiful. She was standing near the shrine. There were tears in her eyes.
13. I was terrified to see a man. He was at a distance of about twenty metres from me. He was followed by blood-hounds. They were half a dozen in number. They looked like fierce lions.
14. The sun set. The King wandered long in search of a deer. He lost his way in the jungle. At last he came upon a hut. It belonged to a poor farmer.
15. He has read the He read it in Sanskrit. He read it at the age of fourteen. He himself told me this.

1. summer,
2. Rain fall,
3. spring and
4. winter.

Usually, all of us refer to them as proper nouns instead of common nouns.

There are two types of nouns:

1. Proper nouns and
2. Common nouns.

Common nouns generally refer to generic things, whereas proper nouns refer to specific things.

It is also very easy to identify proper nouns and common nouns. Proper nouns always start with a capital letter. On the other hand, common nouns have both singular and plural forms.

Example: India is the seventh-largest country in the world.

In this statement, India is a proper noun, whereas world and country are common nouns.

But it’s important to note that proper nouns are the nouns given to a specific name, place or thing, whereas common nouns are generally referred to with name, place or person with no distinction.

The summer, fall, spring and winter are common nouns, so the first letter of these seasons does not require any capitalisation. The days and months of the week do not function like the seasons; this is why they are seen as proper nouns and come under proper nouns.

Seasons also fall under periods, and in the English language, periods do not merit any capitalisation. The capitalisation of seasons can only occur if the seasons occur at the first word of the sentence. Also, the capitalisation can occur if the word is the part of any proper nouns, a book with a title; Eternal Winter, now here it is simply visible how the word ‘winter’ is capitalised because it is the name of a specific book.

A season can also be treated as a proper noun only if it is personified. In literature and poetry, capitalisation can only be done if you treat the season as a humanoid character.

Here are some of the examples which show how seasons are used as common nouns and proper nouns.

• Common Nouns
• Proper Nouns
• Personification of Seasons
• Summary of Rules

Common Nouns

When we talk about common nouns, it is easy to say that they should not be capitalised and used in a lowercase format only.

Now here are some examples that show how seasons are used as common nouns in a sentence :

• I enjoyed the summer season most.
• It is cold in London during the winter season.
• I will visit the Mughal Garden during the spring.

Proper Nouns

When we talk about proper nouns, the first indication is the word capitalisation when it comes to referring to a specific thing.

Now here are some examples of proper nouns :

• He named his dog Winter.
• Fall is my favourite season.
• Summer and Tom quickly ran into the house.

Personification of Seasons

Personification is a figure of speech where the attributes of a person are transferred to abstract ideas or inanimate objects; the ideas are qualities that are spoken as if they were people or human beings themselves. Personifying of the season can turn the first letter of seasons capitalised.

Here are some examples where seasons are personified :

• I cried as Spring’s tears burst forth.
• I hated how Summer’s breath waltzed down the beaten path.
• In Winter’s hold, I could not escape.

Summary of Rules

When it comes to seasons, we do not capitalise on them generally. On the other hand, weeks and months are always capitalised.

According to the rules of English, the seasons fall under the category of periods that are not under proper nouns hence does not require capitalisation. Seasons can only be capitalised if they refer to a specific thing and make it a proper noun, or they can be personified in a sentence to make it capitalised. Otherwise, they will always remain a common noun and will be used without capitalisation in a lowercase format.

the hill went up and Jack Jill

Does this group of words make sense? No, it does not. Now arrange these words in their proper order and write :

Jack and Jill went up the hill.

This makes complete sense. A group of words that makes complete sense is called a Sentence.

An aeroplane flies in the air.

KINDS OF SENTENCES

Sentences can do four kinds of things. A sentence can —

• Make a statement’, as,
  The sun rises in the east.
  (Affirmative)
  The sun does not move round the earth.
  (Negative)
  A sentence that states or declares something is called an Assertive or Declarative Sentence.
• Ask a question; as,
  Does the sun rise in the east? Who does not love his country?
  A sentence that asks a question is called an Interrogam e Sentence.
• Express some command, request, entreaty or wish; as,
  Shut the door. (Command)             Lend me your pen, please. {Request)
  Help me, O God. {Entreaty) God save the Queen. {Wish)
  A sentence that expresses a command, a request, an entreaty or a desire is called an Imperative Sentence.
• Express some strong or sudden feeling; as,
  How hot it is!        What a foolish boy you are!
  A sentence that expresses some strong or sudden feeling is called an Exclamatory Sentence.

NOTE: From the above, it is clear that —

1. Every sentence begins with a capital letter.
2. A Full Stop (.) is placed at the end of every Declarative or Imperative
3. A Question Mark (?) is placed at the end of every Interrogative
4. An Exclamation Mark (!) is placed at the end of every Exclamatory

Exercise 1: Write out the following sentences so that they make sense:

1. Elephant, an the, animal, largest is
2. a, noise, make, do, not
3. and, milk, butter, cheese, are, made, tools
4. sweet, how, rose, this, smells
5. a, year, months, how, many, are, in, there
6. girl, what, are, you, a, clever
7. flower, from, to flower, fly, bees
8. blames, a, workman, bad, his, from
9. wife, children, and, he, his, care, takes, of
10. his, country, love, does, who, not

Exercise 2: Say whether each of the following sentences is assertive imperative, interrogative or exclamatory,

1. Keep off the grass.
2. What nonsense you talk!
3. God save our Queen.
4. Let us keep our promise.
5. Have you lost your book?
6. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
7. What a piece of work is man!
8. Honesty is the best policy.
9. Do not depend too much on the help of others.
10. The earth goes around the sun.
11. Mind your own business.
12. How old is your elder sister?
13. What a beautiful night it is!
14. May God bless you with health.
15. What is the time by your watch?
16. Lend me your pen, please.
17. What a fool you are!
18. Animals do not laugh.
19. You must never lie or cheat.
20. No news is good news.

But sometimes people often don’t find the right words to ask how you are today to someone going through a hard time. There are different ways to ask how are you feeling or how are you in the English language. Sometimes using the same language over and over again can become boring.

For some people, it might boost their confidence and make them smarter, but it becomes dull and mundane for some. In this article, more than 20 ways to ask how are you has been discussed. Let us all put our best efforts and make someone feel important by asking them about their life.

Ways to Say “How are you?”

• What is how are you?
• Ways of asking how are you?
• How to answer when someone asks how are you?
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is how are you?

How are you refers to a phrase that one uses when they interact with someone they know. The use of this phrase is generally for asking information about someone’s health. Sometimes, it is also casually seen as a friendly greeting where the speaker asks about the mood about the other person.

It is an perfect greeting that fits all perspective and people use this for years. Let us take a look into a few different ways in which one can ask how are you?

• How is everything going?
• Are things coming along the way you wanted?
• Is there anything new in your life?
• How have you been?

Ways of asking how are you?

1. Are you alright?
2. Are you taking proper care of yourself?
3. How is life?
4. It has really been such a long time
5. Ah! It feels so good to see you after so long.
6. How have you been all these years?
7. It has been so long since we last met, are you doing fine?
8. Fill me in regarding every little detail of your life
9. Did anything out of the ordinary or exciting occurred in your life?
10. Fill me in about the latest buzz
11. Going with the flow, huh?
12. What’s with that look?
13. Hey, you look miserable. Wanna share?
14. I heard what happened. How are you coping?
15. Anything spicy in your life?
16. Hey, you good?
17. Hey man, what’s the latest news?
18. I really missed you, tell me everything that happened. Do not miss out a single detail.
19. I’m all ears. Go ahead and inform me about your day.

How to answer when someone asks how are you?

There are different ways of responding when someone asks how are you. Not all how are you’s mean the same thing and therefore each how are you needs to be responded by something that suits the situation.

The most typical respond to this question is “I am fine, thank-you”. While most of the time it works, sometimes people may think it is too robotic and you’re not interested to talk to them. To avoid that, and sound more realistic and natural, you can say

1. I’m actually pretty good.
2. I am awesome. What about you?
3. Hey! thanks for asking. I am pretty fine.
4. Bright and happy.
5. Sunshine and rainbows.
6. I am totally fine.

If you’re not feeling very lively and up-beat, then you might not want to use the above responses. Instead, you can use these

1. I’m not dead, I guess?
2. I am doing OK.
3. Same old.
5. Last week was really tough.
6. Better now that I know someone is here to listen.
7. Nothing much.
8. I’m hanging in there.

These are some of the common ways of responding to the question. You may add your little twists and come up with a sentence of your own. Always going with the same, old answers may get boring for you and also for the person asking the question.

Mixing things up a little and exploring the language English. You’ll find a ton of ways to not only ask the question but also respond to it.

Conclusion

To conclude, there are various ways to ask someone about how they are. One always doesn’t need to use the clichéd term, “how are you?”. They can try out new and alternative ways of asking that question. Once can even come up with quirky answers.

Asking someone how they are can help individuals feel that they matter and someone is there to listen to them talk about themselves. This makes people feel happy and soothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a cute way to ask how are you?

Answer: Asking how are you to someone you like or adore can be a bit boring. Instead you can ask things like:

2. Hey, what made you smile to brightly?
3. You look very sunshine-y. What’s the secret?
4. Someone’s bright and shiny. May I know what’s the reason behind it?
5. How to show that you’re interested in someone by asking how they are?

Answer: Just by posing the question how they are, one may not express the true meaning behind asking it. For a clearer perspective, ask something in a more straight way to show them that you are interested in them. For example,

1. Hey, what is the latest song you’ve been hooked on to?
2. I read the entire book that you were so excited about. Wanna talk?
3. What is the most exciting thing you have experienced recently?
4. Why is it important to ask how are you?

Many people think that questions are asked only when you are unaware about something. But that is absolutely not true. You can simply ask questions like how are you to make someone feel better or just as a formality. In the US, “how are you” is not considered as a question but simply a greeting. The answer to the greeting depends on the relationship shared by the two people.

Asking this simple question or greeting may not be a big thing for most of the people, but for some it might actually matter a lot. You never know what people are going through everyday and asking this question in an alternative way may just make their day. It is also important to get your greetings correctly when you’re meeting someone.