Grammar

Sometimes we are required to expand a given statement into a paragraph. A sentence or a proverb or a saying is given, and we are required to enlarge it into a paragraph by the “fuller and more elaborate expression of its meaning,” or by adding suitable illustrations, examples, or details bearing upon the main theme. Such exercise practically amounts to the writing of a short essay on the subject of the original statement. No hard and fast rule can be laid down for the length of the expansion. It must be neither too short nor too long; about a hundred words will do. SOME IMPORTANT HINTS Bear the following hints in mind Read carefully the original statement until its meaning becomes quite clear to you. If a proverb is given for expansion, explain its full meaning in your own words. Now try to enlarge it by adding illustrations, examples, proofs, details, etc., until your expansion takes the form of a suitable paragraph. Add only such details as are relevant to the subject. Do not add anything that does not bear exactly upon the main theme. In an eaexpansion there is no place for either superfluous matter or irrelevant details. Your …

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The principle in accordance with which the Tense of the Verb in the Subordinate Clause follows the Tense of the Verb in the Principal Clause is known as the Sequence of Tenses. There are two main rules governing the Sequence of Tenses Rule 1. If there is a Past Tense in the Principal Clause, it must be followed by a Past Tense in the Subordinate Clause. Examples: Principal Clause                                  Subordinate Clause I knew                                                  that he wanted to go home, He succeeded                                      because he worked hard, He was contented                               although he was poor, He never understood                          how this came about, She was telling us                            …

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The right arrangement of words in a sentence is very important, for the whole meaning of a sentence may suffer if the words composing it are not arranged properly. Study the following groups of words sing the tried crow to foolish bad tools quarrels workman with his a Now these groups of words do not make any sense. Why? Because the words are not placed in their right order. Now put the same words in the right order. The foolish crow tried to sing. A bad workman quarrels with his tools. Now these groups of words make sense. Each is a sentence, because in each the words are placed in the right order. The following is the usual order of words in a sentence : The Subject usually comes before the Verb; as, The blind beggar cheated us. The people loudly cheered the Prime Minister. Exceptions : (i) When a sentence is introduced by there, the Subject generally comes after the Verb; as, There has been a fall in prices. There will be a holiday tomorrow. (ii) When a sentence is introduced by it, the real Subject comes after the Verb; as, It is good to be helpful to others. …

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Compare the following : John says Smith is a fool. 2. ‘John’, says Smith, ‘is a fool.’ From these sentences it is clear that stop may alter the sense of a sentence. Punctuation means the right use of such stops. The principal stops are: 1. Full stop (•) 2. Comma (,) 3. Semicolon (;) 4. Colon (“”) 5. Note of Interrogation (?) 6. Note of Exclamation (!) 7. Inverted Commas (‘ ‘) (” “) The Full Stop The Full Stop or Period represents the longest pause. It is used : To mark the end of an Assertive or imperative Sentences; as, Honesty is the best policy. Shut the door. In place of parenthesis after a letter or number denoting a series; as, a. Bread well baked. b. Meat cooked rare. To Separate integers from decimals in a single expression; as, 49.2 per cent, 3.96 metres. The Comma The Comma marks the shortest pause. It is used— To mark off words in apposition; as, Alexander, the conqueror of the world, began to weep. To mark off the nominative of address’, as, O King I am thy humblle servant. I tell you Madam, I have read it, To separate two or more …

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Study carefully how Verbs are formed from Nouns and Adjectives and how Nouns are formed from Verbs and Adjectives. The following tables will help you to build up your vocabulary also. FORMATION OF VERBS FROM NOUNS Nouns Verbs Nouns Verbs Advice Advise Horror Horrify Bath Bathe Idol Idolise Belief Believe Justice Justify Breath Breathe Joy Enjoy Camp Encamp Knee Kneel Circle Encircle Mass Amass Class Classify Memory Memorise Cloth Clothe Nation Nationalise Company Accompany Office Officiate Courage Encourage Patron Partonise Criticism Criticise Peace Pacify Custom Accustom Population Populate Danger Endanger Practice Practise Food Feed Prison Imprison Force Enforce Sale Sell Friend Befriend Slave Enslave Fright Frighten Speech Speak Glory Glorify Success Succeed Gold Gild Sympathy Sympathise Grass Graze Tale Tell Habit Habituate Terror Terrify Half Halve Throne Enthrone Hand Handle Title Entitle Haste Hasten Utility Utilise Health Heal Vacancy Vacate Height Heighten Vapour Evaporate Heir Inherit Web Weave Fertile Fertility Perfect Perfection Few Fewness Pious Piety Financial Finance Poor Poverty Foolish Foolishness Popular Popularity Frank Frankness Quick Quickness Free Freedom Rare Rarity Gallant Gallantry Real Reality Gay Gaiety Red Redness Generous Generosity Rich Riches Grand Grandeur Rigid Rigidity Great Greatness Rival Rivalry Happy Happiness Round Roundness Hard Hardship Royal Royalty …

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Words which are used as names of persons, animals, places, or things are called All naming-words are Nouns, e.g., Tom, girl, army, iron, health, etc. A Proper Noun is the special name of a particular person or place. For instance, Smith is a Proper Noun, for it is the name of one particular In the same way Madras is a Proper Noun, because it is the name of a. particular city. NOTE: A Proper Noun always begins with a Capital Letter. The name boy can be given to any and every boy—to Aftab, Harry, Raman, John, etc. It does not point out any particular boy. It is a name common to all boys. It is, therefore, called a Common Noun. In the same way, the name city is called a Common Noun, because it does not point out any particular city, such as Delhi, Madras, Patna, but is used for any and every city in any part of the world. A Noun which does not point out any particular person, place or thing, but is comnion to all persons, places or things of the same class or kind is called a Common Noun. When a Noun stands for a collection …

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What is a Verb ? A Verb is a word which says something about a Subject; as, The boys play football. KINDS OF VERBS Read these sentences : The man killed a snake. The boy opened the window. Alice made a doll. In these sentences, the Verbs alone (printed in thick type) do not make complete sense. Something must be added to each to complete the sense. – What did the man kill ? —A snake. What did the boy open ?—The window. What did Alice make ?—A doll. The words snake, window, and doll are called the Objects of the Verbs killed, opened, and made. A Verb which requires an Object after it to complete its sense is called a Transitive Verb. Read these sentences : The man died. The girl smiled. The sun shines. In these sentences, the Verbs, by themselves, make good sense, and do not require Objects after them to make complete sense. A Verb which does not require an Object to complete its sense, but makes good sense by itself, is called an Intransitive Verb. There are some Verbs which can be used both transitively and intransitively : TRANSITIVE INTRANSITIVE The boys fly kites. He …

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An Adverb is a word which adds to the meaning of a Verb, and tells us how a thing is done, when it is done, or where it is done ; e.g Mary sings sweetly. Ashok came yesterday. The sun shines everywhere. KINDS OF ADVERBS Study the Adverbs used in the following sentences : Peter acted wisely. The boys rowed well. She ran fast. The old man walked slowly. The soldier fought bravely. 6. Sita writes badly. She spent all her wealth foolishly. The Adverbs wisely, foolishly, well, fast, slowly, bravely, badly, show how (or the manner in which) an action is done. Such Adverbs are called Adverbs of Manner. Adverbs of Manner answer the question—‘How ?’ Study the Adverbs used in the following sentences : The boys are waiting outside. We looked for her everywhere. He lives here. The train stops there. Hither and thither the children ran. My brother has gone out. The boys ran forward. The Adverbs outside, everywhere, here, there, hither, thither, out, forward, show where an action is done. Such Adverbs are called Adverbs of Place. Adverbs of Place answer the question—‘Where ? Study the Adverbs used in the following sentences : He will come …

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Examine the groups of words in italics in the following sentences : The sun sets in the west. I must start in a short time. I shot an arrow into the air. It lies beneath my window. These groups of words make sense, but not complete sense. They have no Subject or Predicate of their own. Such groups of words are called Phrases. A group of words that makes sense, but not complete sense, is called a Phrase. Examine the group of words in italics in the following sentences : God helps those who help themselves. This is the beggar whom we saw yesterday. I know what she wants. Here who help themselves is a sentence, because it has a Subject (who) and a Predicate (help themselves). Similarly, whom we saw yesterday is a sentence, having a Subject (we) and a Predicate (saw yesterday). What she wants is also a sentence, because it has a Subject (she) and a Predicate (wants). Such groups of words are called Clauses. A group of words which forms part of a larger sentence, and contains a Subject and a Predicate, is called a Clause. Exercise: Say whether the groups of words in italics in …

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