DEECET - 2014
English
ARTICLES
'A/An' is an indefinite article and 'The' is a definite article. Let us see a few tips pertaining to the usage of articles:
1. 'A' is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. 'A' is used before words like university, useful, unicorn, union, European and one, etc., because these words begin with a consonant sound.
E.g. I saw an one-eyed man. (Incorrect)
I saw a one-eyed man. (Correct)
2. 'An' is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. The words, honest, heir, honour etc. take 'an' before them as they begin with a vowel sound.
E.g. It is a honour to him. (Incorrect)
It is an honour to him. (Correct)
3. 'The' is used:
1. Before the names of rivers, seas, holy books, group of islands, deserts, newspapers and oceans.
E.g. My uncle lives in United States of America. (Incorrect)
My uncle lives in the United States of America. (Correct)
2. As an adverb before compa- ratives.
E.g. The higher you climb colder it gets. (Incorrect)
The higher you climb the colder it gets. (Correct)
3. Before superlatives.
E.g. She is cleverest girl in the class. (Incorrect)
She is the cleverest girl in the class. (Correct)
4. When the object is unique.
E.g. the earth, the sky, the sun
5. Before a proper noun, when it is qualified by an adjective.
E.g. The immortal Kalidas.
6. With a class of things.
E.g. The dog is a faithful animal.
7. Before musical instruments.
E.g. I know how to play the Saxophone.
8. Before an adjective, when the noun is hidden.
E.g. The rich should be kind and helpful.
4. Omission of article:
1. Before names of materials.
E.g. Platinum is an expensive metal.
2. Before a common noun used in its widest sense.
E.g. Man is mortal.
3. Usually before proper names.
E.g. Delhi is the capital of India.
4. Before abstract nouns used in general sense.
E.g. Wisdom is preferable to riches.
5. Before languages.
E.g. English is an international language.
6. Before names of relations.
E.g. Father is very happy today.
7. Before predicative nouns denoting a unique position that is normally held at one time by one person only.
E.g. He was elected secretary of the Board.
8. Before places visited for their primary purpose.
E.g. She goes to the college. (Incorrect)
She goes to college. (Correct)
SEQUENCE OF TENSES
We have studied the agreement of subject and verb in one of our previous session. Yet another area which needs to be carefully studied is the sequence of tenses. Let us see the tips regarding this.
1. If the verb in the main clause is in the present tense, the verb in the sub-ordinate clause can be in any tense.
E.g. He thinks that she works hard.
The boy says that he will do his homework.
2. If the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause must be in any of the past tense forms only.
E.g. She replied that she had no money with her.
They found that he was dishonest.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
While changing a sentence from direct speech to reported speech the following rules should be borne in mind:
1. The reported words are not placed within inverted commas.
2. No comma is placed after said.
3. The reported speech is introduced by the conjunction that.
4. The tense of the verb is changed from the Present to the Past.
5. Words showing nearness are changed into words showing distance.
6. The Introductory Verb in questions is changed to ask, inquire, demand, or some other word having a similar meaning.
7. The Introductory Verb in reporting a Command or a Request is changed to request, order, command, beseech, advise, or some other word having a similar sense.
8. In reporting an Exclamation or a Wish the Introductory Verb is changed to wish, exclaim, pray, cry, bless, or some other similar verb.
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
A verb is in the active voice when the person or thing denoted by the subject is the doer of the action. A verb is in the passive voice when the person or thing denoted by the subject is the receiver of the action.
Rules for changing a sentence from active to passive:
1. Identify the subject, the verb and the object: SVO
2. Change the object into subject
3. Put the suitable helping verb or auxiliary verb. In case helping verb is given, use the same. But note that the helping verb given agrees with the object.
4. Change the verb into past participle of the verb.
5. Add the preposition "by"
6. Change the subject into object.
QUESTION TAGS
Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the appropriate subject.
1. A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag. (Auxiliary+n't+pronoun?)
2. A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag. (Auxiliary +pronoun?)
3. The question tag uses the same verb as the main part of the sentence. If there is an auxiliary verb ('have', 'be') then the question tag is made with the auxiliary verb.
4. If the main part of the sentence doesn't have an auxiliary verb, the question tag uses an appropriate form of 'do'.
5. When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with do / does.
6. If the verb is in the past simple we use did.
7. If there is a modal verb in the main part of the sentence the question tag uses the same modal verb.
Note: Be careful with question tags in sentences that start with
'I am'. The question tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?
