Lesson 31

Aim: Complex sentence-' noun clause JNJl T '6

ii q cmsn

Complex sentence- lT1T C1 f subordinate clause flt

\51MI r
itDI 1* Lesson 14MU5 'tc1115 . 1 AM ArgElk I Lesson-'
noun clauses- J1J1 a tvMct C9fl t Noun-
9f4q e\5 noun clause . J'I 1 lffif '1k 4q
a) Subject
b) Object
c) Prepostional Object
d) Appositive
e) Subject Complement
f) Object Complement

a) Noun clause T verb-44 subject fik'i 5I 1f

'M fk7 ' T: that, what, how ,$ why.

Examples:
1. [That he will accept the job] is certain.
2. [What he said] is ir11portant.
3. [How he died is a mystery.
4. [Why she went there] is unknown.

ITI noun clause. 41 be verb ' subject fkUro

I 't be fft:zRI cl verb qi'i 1I
1t1 analysis 91tTT 1:

That he will accept the job is certain.

Noun clause (as Subject) + Linking Verb + Adjective (Structure 2)

That he will accept the job - Noun clause

That + Sub + Transitive Verb + Object (Structure 5)

F-12


166 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

b) Noun clause 24F1 : transitive verb-4A object

that, when, how, where kT I

Examples:
1. 1 know [that he is innocent.]
2. Nobody knows [when he will come.]
3. The thief confessed [how he had committed the crime.]
4. Hasan knows [where Karim lives.]
5. 1 wonder [if he has missed the train.]

iltWit 4'44 WT noun clause.

transitive verb- object f?Tc11Z I M" t PfM'O analysis

I know that he is innocent.

Subject + Transitive Verb + Noun clause as object (Structure 5)

That he is innocent - Noun clause

That + Subject + L-Verb + Adjective (Structure 2)

C transitive verb 1t that 1 1f14l G3T tTt:

believe fear suggest

demand hope regret

deny imagine think

expect promise wish

Examples:
I believe (that) he is honest.
I hope (that) you will come to my party.

t1 C noun clause transitive verb object fkcyr7 that fIC

that 0 omit T C9fl 11i I C 13

that C 91 CtTCR1J3TC I IITt transitive verb TM 9M.

noun clause - CT that, how, when, where ' why 0 C1

admit hear remember

confess know understand

declare learn say

demonstrate notice see

explain propose suggest



THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 167

Examples:
He explained [that he was delayed by bad weather.]
He explained [how the robbery was committed.]
He explained [why he had committed the crime.]
He expalined [when he had committed the crime.]
He expalined [where he had committed the crime.]

rft transitive verb 'f noun clause-0 that ft

VO M I WO why, where, how '3 1

wonder, ask, enquire, discuss

Examples:
Iwonder [why he is so late.]
I wonder [if he has missed the bus.]
I wonder [where he has gone.]
I wonder [how he lost his money.]

c) Noun clause as objects of preposition.

I know nothing except [what he told me.]

From [what you told me.] I can say that he is honest.

il't 14l except preposition- object.

MtT 1Tt Wk TT °'t from 10 preposition 43 object.

d) Noun clause as appositives:

The fact [that he has become a criminal] distressed his parents.

The news [that a tiger had been seen in the village] terrified the
people.

T1 noun clause. appositive 4 wqft,^

9L* nonun )TXt J it I

e) Noun clause as subject-complements:

The reason for his popularity is [that he is an honest man.]

This is exactly [what he told me.]

Noun clause PM subject complements 1c7c fl1

be verb J4 I


168 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

1) Noun clause as object complements:

He named his house [what I suggested.]
You may call that man [whatever you like.]

0 structure 8 ­4 indirect object 44 9M direct object

f7r c
nouii cQ noun- noun clause

Examples:
He told me [what his name was]
He promised the teacher [that he would he regular in his
attendance.
Mina asked her mother why she was crying.]

0 41Z Y1T noun clause-0i what, that, why, how,

Ct'3 'flt I fll: C verb tT noun

clause 'Ji CttT kfl:

advise promise tell

ask show
inform teach warn

CT T4 noun clause-4 -4 QflM i1 CT1 IM WW

noun clause 5I1 C1 structure 2 44 adjective-complement

modify II that flttl T noun clause-C

adjective-complement Tlffl CT IT

Examples:
It is obvious [that he was wrong.]
It is unfortunate [that he has lost his purse.]
Compound—Complex Sentence

Section 3 id1 Section-4 compound s complex sentence

t1Th1iikl'lc tcG1lil fl it i t?tt TJ 4-4,1

compound '3 complex t1 tT -;I1TC compound -

complex sentence CI I

Examples:
1. When All passed his H.S.C. Exam he decided to go to a
univeristy to study physics, but his sister, who also
passed her E-I.S.0 exam, wanted to be a doctor.

2. The ambulance started as soon as the patient was put in

and the driver was told to get to the hospital as quickly
as possible.


THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 169

O ',zM t vMct but conjunction-s tl complex sentence-(

compound sentence- 11t 1 I iifT analysis CTl1t91 Tl:

When All passed his H.S.C. exam, he decided to go to a university

to study physics— Coordinate clause consisting of an adverbial
clause of time and a main clause his sister, who also passed her
H.S.C. exam, wanted to be a doctor— Second coordinate clause
consisting of a main clause and an adjective clause.

fT1C'4 and 4 conjunction-f complex' simple

sentence-C compound sentence- cic
The ambulance started as soon as the patient was put in -
Complex Co-ordinate clause.
the driver was told to get to the hospital as quickly as possible -
Simple coordinate clause.

Exercises

Make five sentences illustrating each of the following noun clauses:

a) noun clause as subject
b) noun clause as object
c) noun clause as object of preposition
ci) noun clause as subject
e) noun clause as object complement
t) noun clause after an adjective

2. Complete the following sentences:

a) The manager explained that
why............................
how............................
b) The teacher asked why
when.........................
if...............................

3. Illustrate the following structures:

a) Subject + Transitive Verb + Noun Clause
b) Subject + Transitive Verb + Noun + Noun Clause
c) Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective + Noun clause
d) It + Linking Verb + Adjective + Noun clause


Lesson 32

Aim: Direct 'S Indirect Speech- 3tTT T4l Is 1't CSil1

-z-M15 direct speech

tt 141 41 4T report 41
indirect speech tt 1 I Direct Speech-0 i quotation marks (" ") ft
2141P1 11 T I Direct speech l statement 41 question 41 imperative 41
exclamation t1t I statcrnent-44 t viM,1 ('S41

Direct Speech
a) Statement
1 . lie says, "She is Ill."
2. He has said, "1 have eaten too much rice."
3. He says, "He will come at once.'
4. He said to me, "1 am busy now."
5. He said to me, "My father died suddenly.'
6. He said, "The man may come."

q verb- (1 reporting verb 41 ) comma

42 direct speech quotation marks 41fl
1' capital letter 1r direct speech T reporting
y en) 14 object T4
He says, "She is ill."
Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Speech as Object (Structure S)

said to inc 441 7U. T 1 Say 4Q verb

5 f3'
1Z4 indirect speech tt 41 i 4"T l ro 74 775 M indirect speech
<1)k 414C57C4 said to me/him/her, etc.

441 itt41 indirect speech 41

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

1. She says, She is ill' She says that she is ill.

2. He has said, "I have He has said that he has

eaten too much rice." eaten too much rice.
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 171

3. He says, "He will He says that he will

come at once." come at once.

rit CI indirect speech-' J [4 punctuation marks Vl0. fcT

CIO period () 1'lI(.II kCt reporting verb (says)-1 tt that
1ci, C4 LO that jli optional 50 1 itlC'13 bti i

tTiM. GtzrqM direct speech- ,4'0 tense indirect speech

tense M1 kCC t t f F1 11: reporting verb ft present, present

perfect 5I1T future tense A 17 IkM indirect speech-'l tense-' 1T

I1 I

reporting verb t4 past tense T indirect speech- verb

past tense I

Examples:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

4. He said to me, "I am lie told me that he was

busy now." busy then.

5. He said to me, "My He told me that his father

father died suddenly" had died suddenly.

6. He said, "The man He said that the man

may come." might come.

ZIT CT direct speech said to me 0 indirect speech 4 told me

-ils 1 C Direct speech died verb 0 indirect speech 4 had died
1 Mc 1t 1 0 direct speech-4 past tense QfMM indirect
speech 4 CI1 past perfect I 131M '. fI kCl direct speech
11 I1h
adverb of time I1t 013 t1r4
now C-4i indirect speech 4 then I t

Repoting verb-s past indirect speech Jl; time adverb '

4cNff; place adverb iici kT 31 CTI1r1 T1:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

now then

ago before

last the previous

next the following

 172 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

this that

here there

today that day

yesterday the day before

direct speech C11 universal 1 TkT indirect

speech-4 verb ID past tense 1

Examples:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, "The earth He said that the earth

moves round the sun" moves round the sun.

b) Interrogative Sentence: Direct Speech Interrogative

zi-kC9 indirect speech- fT 1
C11 11:

i) Interrogative speech with question words: TJ how

long, when, where question word ft
ccci indirect speech- 1t C31 fl:

Direct Question Indirect Question

1. He said, "How long He asked how long it
will it take?" would take.
2. He asked, "Where are He asked where I was
you going?" going.
3. He asked Mina, "When He asked Mina when she
did you come?" had come.

Indirect speech- 14 z MTn 75 T4 punctuation marks fZI

C'1 period (.) l(I asked 0
reporting verb-C
T ArqUk I Verb M past tense indirect speech- verb
0'3 past tense I Indirect speech question RC
RI statement V declarative sentence-. ilP 1 I lu
w1Q

T1tS direct question- 01 %51 verb '3 ft

subject f, indirect question 4 CTflZ 5flZ1 subject 8 ";' U verb
how long will it take? ' how long it would take
tI
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 173

ii) Question 7PF question word (how long, where, when, etc.) ¶CT
T T, Indirect question-4 f2t4T whether I31
I wo if 1I: Cft I fs choice ' 1f1 11C
whether- I

Examples:

Direct Question Indirect Question

He asked me, "Do He asked me if I spoke English.
you speak English? whether

The student asked The student asked the teacher

the teacher, "Is my if his essay was good
essay good?" whether
"Do you want to study The teacher asked whether I wanted
English or to study English or Economics.

Economics?" the teacher asked.

'ttrt TtkCCt indirect question- IJ C14 7N

c1f1

cT!g 11 (1) i I

iii) Question beginning with shall L/we in indirect speech. Shall 11we
nt
(I) Request for advice:' CWR ask '1 inquire should +
base form of verb TI

Examples:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

"What shall I do, Sir?" The student asked the teacher
the student said. what he should do.

(2) Offers: 4 C' indirect speech4 (N fI'i VI W

c41I 1:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Shall I give you a He offered to give me
cup of tea?" a cup of tea.

(3) Suggestions: 4 CWC4 indirect speech !I 1C

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Shall we go to the cinema?" He suggested going to the
cinema.


174 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

c) Imperative Sentence : Imperative sentence t

Direct speech 4 1 A WjM kfI1 indirect
speech 'I CI1 infinitive 1't

Examples:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

The teacher said to the The teacher told the students

students, "Come in." to come in.
She said to me, "Don't She told me not to make a nose.
make a noise."

, 0 W631M KrC-T)- indirect speech 4 say 4 7q tell k

41i1 verb LTh3 31?J1 1

advise, request, beg, order, command

Examples:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

"You had better see a doctor, She advised Hasan to see

Hasan," she said. a doctor.
"Don't hit the child, please," She begged her husband
she said to her husband. not to hit the child.

Let's indirect imperative. 1 suggestion

report

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

"Let's go for a picnic." He suggested going for a picnic.
he said. He suggested that we should
go for a picnic.

imperative passage 0i indirect speech ¶ftdt cn

My father said, "You had better take an umbrella because I think it

it
may rain and you have But don't leave it on the bus as you
did with mine when I lent it to you last week."

Indirect speech

My father advised me to take an umbrella because lie thought it

might rain and I had it cold. But he warned me not to leave it on the
bus as I had done with his when he lent it to me the previous week.
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 175

d) Exclamatory Sentence: N1 :4 direct speech-a' exclamatory sentence

flt ' q reporting verb fOM7 say 1 tell *1 kT lci
verb 0 90T,6'^i TC4 exclaim, cry out, pray, wish iT

verb I

Examples:
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
are
He said, "We undone!" He cried out that they were undone.
He said, "Hurrah! my He exciamed with delight that his
friend has come." friend had come.
He said. "Happy New Year!" He wished me a happy New Year.

Exercise
1. Change the following sentences from direct speech to indirect
speech:
a) He said to me. "I am coming."
h) He said, "The doctor has come."
c) The teacher asked Harnid, "Where do you live?"
d) I asked m y friend, "Do you play chess?"
C) My mo t her said to me, "Shut the door."
f) He said. "What a beautiful day!"

2. Put the following into i 'ct speech after a suitable reporting

verb in the (a) present; (b) past tense:
a) "What arc you doing tomorrow?
b) "By next week I shall be in London."
c) "Let's play a game of chess."
d) "What shall I watch on television, mother."
c) "Don't leave the door open."

3. Rewrite the following in direct speech:

hurry
Mr Hakim shouted to his wife to up. They were already
late and if they did not arrive before the curtain vent up, they
would not be allowed in.

4. Rewrite the following into indirect sppech:

"Your uncle has made a lot of sacrifices for you and you should
be grateful to him. He is coming to Rajshahi tomorrow, so that
will be a good opportunity for you to thank him. Meet him at the
station and bring him along to my house for tea. I will discuss
the question of your going on to a university next year."


Lesson 33

Aim : Prepositions c QPI1 I

CW C -41 C 1T preposition-4 `1
Preposition noun ' noun phrase TN ¶f relationship 1l
I t1 preposition-c tT relationship C31
I A ft preposition- CflT I

space, tune, degree and other usage- I

Ql^l
Space (specific point) Meet meat the bus-stop in
Mohammaclpur.
Kamal livesat 5 El e p h ant Road
Time (specific time) We arrived here at six o'clock.
The train leaves at 10:30.
Degree Water freezes at 0°C.
Water boils at 100"C-
Other Usages Mina is good at niatheniatics

They are at dinner.

About
Space (all around) He ran about the field.
I looked about the room.
Time (approximate) It is about 2 o'clock.
The bus will start about now.
Degree (approximate) The book costs about £ 5.
The temperature rose to about
40°C.
Other Usages (concerning) They are talking about the weather.
He has written a book about tigers.

Above
Space (higher than) The clock is above the mantelpiece.
There are clouds above the
mountains.
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 177

Degree The car costs above £ 300.

The temperature is above freezing
point-

Other Usages The servant is above suspicion.

No politician should be above
criticism.

Against
Space (contact) He is leaning against the wall.
Put the bicycle against the tree.

Time (conflict) He is working against the clock.

It was a race against time.

Degree (conflict) He played in the P t Test against

Australia.
They are two against four.

Other Usages (internal) I did it against my conscience.

(external) He fought against heavy odds.

Around
Space (state) There is a wall around the house.
(action) The children are running around
the field.
Time (approximate) I will see you around 5 o'clock.
Degree (approximate*) The price of the refrigerator is
around £ 250.
The distance is around 10 miles.

Before
Space (in front of) He stood before us.
The tea was set before him.

Time (earlier than) All this happened before 1980.

It was just before Eid.

Below
Space (lower than) The dolphin has gone below the
surface.
The temperature has gone below
zero.

Degree The student is below average.

178 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

Between

Space (at an intermediate point between two entities) : He sat

between me and my brother.
Please see me between 4 and 5
o'clock.
Degree The weight of the boy is between 5
and 5'/7stone.
Other Usages : It is a matter between you and me.

By
Space (nearness) I sat by the window.
Time (not later than) Applications should reach this
office by 15 " August.
Degree (degree of failure) He missed a first class by 4 marks.
He missed the train by 2 minutes.
Other Usages (without help) I did the work by myself.

For

Space (goal) He left for London yesterday.

(distance) There is no post office for three miles.
Time (duration) lie has been living in Rajshahi for
five years -
Degree (exchange) I bought the car fort 1500.
Other Usages (reason) Chapai-I'wabgonj is famous for
mangoes.
"(goat, purpose) He is looking for ajob.

From

Space (a starting point) We travelled from Rajshahi to

Rangpur.
Space (origin) He is a man from Natore.
Time The banks arc open from 9 to 3.
Degree The temperature varies from 50 to
60 degrees.
Prices of potatoes range from Tk
10 to Tk 12.
Other Usages (source) Paper is made from wood.

THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 179

In
Space (enclosure) Kamal is in the bedroom.

(area) He lives in Dhaka.

Time (in a period) The Second World War ended in

1945.

(future appointment) Come in half an hour.

Other Usages (currency) You can pay in pounds.

(language) Write the letter in English.

Of
Space (names of geographical locations or institutions)
The city of Dhaka is the capital of
Bangladesh.
He is studying in the University of
Raj shah i.

Degree (fraction, portion) : One of the boys is ill.

Other Usages (possessive): He is a friend of mine.
(source) : This table is made of wood.

On
Space (contact) : There is a clock on the wall.

(along) : 1 live on Elephant Road.

(in G 1)

Time (day, date) : He came here on December 15th•

Other Usages (communication): I heard the news on the radio/on

TV.

Over
Space (state of being above) : Many people in this country have
no roof over their heads.

(Action above) He jumped over the fence.

Degree (more than) : I have been waiting for you over an

hour.
He is over 50.
Other Usages (communication) : The news came over the radio/
TV.


180 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

Through

Space (penetrate) : He came in through the gate.

Time (duration) The office is open from Saturday
through Thursday.
Other Usages (endurance): We will stand by you through thick
and thin.
To

Space (direction) : He is going to town.

We travalled to Chittagong last week,
Time (un(il) : He works from 9 to 5.
(before) : It is a quarter to ten.

Towards
Space (in the direction of) He is walking towards the door.
Time I will come to your place towards
the evening.
Degree The temperature is moving towards

Other Usages They are working towards a lasting

peace.
Under
Space (below) : The cat is under the table.
Time (less than) : 1 will come back in under an hour.
Degree : The table costs under Tk 300.

C, Cq 75R prepositions-4 -4 CT1

ktQ Ct space, time degree eji
prepositions T TY4 ¶ i
t5 C91

1. by (agentive)— The snake was killed by Kamal.

2. by (means) - He went to Natoreby car.
3. for (bencfactive) - Mrs Hasina bought a necklace for her
daughter.
4. for (proxy) - Hasan is ill. So his son manages the shop for him.
5. from (Source) - I bought the car from a friend.
6. of (eliciting) - He asked a favour of me.
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 181

7. of (separation) - A gang robbed me of my money.

8. to (recipient) - He gave the book to his friend.
9. to (direction) - We travelled to Chapai-Nawabgonj.
10. with (instrument) - The naughty boy broke the window with
a stone.

CPT CP Ctt preposition optional, F154 t ".t

1. When the preposition for expresses a span of time:

I have lived in Rajshahi (for) twenty years.
(For) how long have you owned this car?

2. When the preposition on is used before the days of the week:

He will come (on) Monday.
I went to town (on) Saturday night/afternoon/morning.

3. In response to questions such as these:

How long have you lived here? (For) five years.
When did you get up this morning? (At) 7 o'clock.

fkjM Cq^U preposition 4[I T1 fl:

1. Noun 4 `1 ZIM last, next, this ' that

I went to Dhaka last week.
He will come to Rajshahi next month.
I will go to town this afternoon.
He was busy that day.

2. Noun T'I every Nt all

She goes shopping every Friday.
He stayed at home all day.

3. Verbs of motion or direction home, downtown or

uptown tTt:
He went home/we ran home.
He is going downtown.

4. Verb here there

He comes here once a month.
We go there quite often.
F-13
182 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

Exercises
1. Answer the following questions:

(a) 0 Where is the dot?

(b) A Where is the triangle?
(c) • Where is the circle?

(d) • Where v, the square?

(e) Q Wlicrc i the car?

2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions:

I met Kamal - the corner of Mirpur Road and Aziinpur Road-

4:00. He had conic -- foot, whereas I had come ---rickshaw. We
wanted to buy shoes - New Market. One shoe store had news
of a sale painted -- - the window. We decided to o --- that shoe
store.

3. Correct the following sentences:

(a) I live on 10 New Eskaton Road. Dhaka.
(b) He lives at (Iulshuii, Dhaka.
(c) We landed on the Zia International Airport safel.
(d) His son was born on 7:30 am.
(e) He will come to Rajshahi in October I5.
(1) I bought a television set at Tk20 thousand.
(g) He missed a second class for five marks.
(h) He will arrive here between 3 to 4 o'clock.
(I) He is going to New York on next month.

4. Use appropriate prepositions in place of the underlined

words.
20th Octoler.
(a) Interested persons should apply not later than
(b) My house is by the side of Nature Road.
(c) The chair cost icsc than Tk200 hundred.
(d) The man is more than 40.
(e) The book is included in the syllabus.
 Lesson 34

A Note on Structures
Words are essential for an effective communication of thoughts and
ideas. But words are of little use unless one knows how to put them
together. The combinations or arrangements of different kinds of
words are the most important features of any language. These
combinations include sentence structures and phrase structures. It is
vital for the student to have a firm grasp of the structures.

There are nine basic sentence structures in English They are as

follows:

1. Subject + Intransitive Verb

Lambs bleat.

2. Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective-Complement

Monica is pretty.

3. Subject + Linking Verb + Noun-Complement

Hasan is a student.

4. Subject + Be + Adverbial- Complement

Zohra is in the library.

5. Subject + Transitive Verb + Object

I have written this book.

6. Subject + Transitive Verb + Object + Adjective-Complement

We found the door locked.

7. Subject + Transitive Verb + Object + Noun-Complement

The club elected Nasim secretary.

8. Subject + Transitive Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Tareque sent Hena flowers.

9. There + Verb + Subject

There is a basket on the table.
184 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

Mostly single words have been used to illustrate the basic items of
the structures. But it is important to know that in place of single
words one can use groups of words called phrases. The phrases have
their own structures. The main kinds of phrases are as follows:

1. The Noun Phrase

2, The Verb Phrase
3. The Adjective Phrase

4. The Prepositional Phrase

5. The Present Participle Phrase

6. The Past Participle Phrase

7. The Infinitive Phrase

8. The Adverbial Phrase

The Noun Phrase: The noun phrase, which can function as Subject,
Object, Indirect Object, Appositive and Complement, Consists of a
main noun (headword) and modifiers. Modifiers, which precede the
headword, are called pre-modifiers and those which follow the
headword are called post-modifiers. Determiners, Adjectives and
Noun-adjectives are the most commonly used pre-modifiers.

Determiners, which come first in the noun phrase, include the

following groups of words:
a. Articles: alan, the
h. Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
c. Possessives: my his, her, your, our, its, their, Karim's
(nominal possessive)
d. Numerals: two, three, etc.
e. Quantifiers: all, both, some, any, no, every, each, either,
neither, few, a few, little, a little, many, much, most

Adjectives follow the determiners in a noun phrase : Adjectives can

be pre-modified by adverbs. Noun-adjectives, which are nouns
functioning as adjectives, come immediately before the headword.
The structure of pre-modification can be set out in columns:

Determiner + Adverb + Adjective(s) + Noun-Adjective +Noun (Headword)

a very interesting story
a beautiful diamond ring
some nice fountain pens
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 185

Post-modifiers, which occur after the headword in a noun phrase,

include the following:

a. Prepositional phrase: A prepositional phrase consists of a

preposition and a noun or a noun phrase: Examples of
prepositional phrases post-modifying nouns:
The people of Japan are hard-working.

The book on the table has a green cover.

b. Participle phrases: Participle phrases are of two kinds: present

participle phrase and past participle phrase. A present participle
phrase consists of the ing-form of a verb with object/modifiers.
Examples:
The girl picking flowers in the garden is pretty.

People going abroad must have valid documents.

A past participle phrase consists of an ed-form of a regular verb

with modifiers. Examples:
The bridge destroyed by the flood has been rebuilt.
The man injured in an accident yesterday happens to be a
friend of mine.

As for irregular verbs, the past participle is formed differently,

for which a good dictionary should be consulted.

c. Infinitive phrases: An infinitive phrase consists of 'to' and the

base form of a verb with object /modifiers. Examples:
Hasan's attempt to win the prize failed.
I have an essay to write.
2. The Verb Phrase: The verb phrase consists of two or more verbs
of which one is the main verb and the others may be primary
do, be
auxiliaries and/or modals. The primary auxiliaries include
and have. The modals are as follows: canicould, may/might,
shall/should, will/would 'must, need and dare.There are also
some modal-like forms which include ought to, have to, be to, be
going to, be about to, had better and would rather. The verb
phrase has four basic types:
Type A: modal+ base form of a verb: We must work hard.
Type B: have + past participle: I have seen the pyramids.
186 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

Type C: one form of primary auxiliary be + ing-form of a

verb: Monica is working.
Type D: one form of primary auxiliary he + past participle:
The meat is cooked
These four types can inter into various combinations with each
other:
AB: modal + have + past participle: He should have worked.
AC: modal + be+ ing-form: He may be sleeping.
AD: modal + he+ past participle: The meal should be served
'low.
BC: have+ a form of be+ ing-form: He has been working.
ABC: modal -Ehave +a form of be+ ing-form: He ma p have
been working.
BD: have +a form of be +past puticiple: The meat has been
COOkL'd

CD: be+ ing-form+ past participle: The meat is being cooked.

ARD: have ± a form of be+ past participle: The meat may have
beet: cooked.
Verb phrases may be optionally modified by prepositional
phrases, participle phrases, infinitive phrases and some noun
phrases all of which function as adverbialphrases modifying
verb phrases:
Kamal is playing in the field
He gets up at seven o'clock.
Examples of participle phrases modifying verb phrases:
He rushed out v/mauling for help.
He will go fishing in the lake tomorrow.

Examples of infinitive, phrases modifying verb phrases:

lie sat down to drink a glass of water.
He stopped to tie his shoelace.

Noun phrases like this morning, next day, every da y can also
modify verb phrases:
He is coming this morning.
She walks to school every day.
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 187

3. The Adjective Phrase: The adjective phrase, which functions as

a complement, has an adjective as its head. An adjective may
have pre-modification in the form of an adverb e.g. very
interesting, highly amusing. It may also have post-modification
which includes the following:
a. prepositional phrases: She is fond of sweets.
b. infinitive phrase: I am glad to see you.
c. enough +inhnitive phrase: He is old enough to go to
school.
d. too +adjective + infinitive phrase: The doctor is lob busy
to answer the telephone.
e. of-phrase + infinitive: It is very kind of you to invite me.
f. for-phrase + infinitive: It is difficult Jbr us to speak
English fluently.
'[he above analysis shows that prepositional phrases, participle
phrases and infinitive phi ;i'es function mainly as modifiers.
However, infinitive phrases can also be used as basic items like
Subjects and Objects. Examples:
To walk regularl y is good for the health.
To waste nonev is UI1WNC.
Examples of infinitive phrases as Objects:
Nasima wants to studs' English.
Hamid decided to go into business.

4. The Adverbial Phrase: J he head of an adverbial phrase is an

adverb which may he modified by another adverb called
intensifier.

Mina is walkingver.v luic /JV.

You have done the )h wontierfuhlv nell.

The foregoing analysis cxlflmns how simple sentences in English

work. Simple sentences are combined to make compound and
complex sentences and he student should familiarize himself
with them because he will meet them in his reading. Moreover,
he needs to use them if he wants to express himself effectively.

Compound sentences Consist of independent clauses(simple

sentences) joined by conjunctions which include and but, or,
188 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

nor, 1701 only - . .bui afro. On the other hand, complex Sentences
consist of one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
There are three kinds of suhoidinate clauses: adjective clauses,
adverbial clauses and noun clauses.

Adjective Clauses: An adjective clause modifies a noun. The

words which are used to introduce adjective clauses are called
relative pronouns. They include who, which, that, whom, whose.
Relative pronouns function as Subject, Object, Object of
preposition and Possessive. Examples:

Relative pronoun as Subject:

The car which broke down lia. heen fixed.
Relative pronoun as Object:
This is the pen that I lost s''.
The man whom I admire n s riiv father.
Relative pronoun as Object of .ition:
The house which we live in i niall.
The house we live in is small.

It may he mentioned that re!i\e pronouns functioning as

objects may he omitted.

Relative as possessive

The building W/uoe i collapsed has been rebuilt.

Adverbial Clauses: Adverhi.l I.iuscs are introduced by
subordinating conjunctions w1iit join the adverbial clauses to
the main clause. There are sevcr,il kinds of adverbial clauses:

Adverbial Clauses of Time: ]h.c are introduced by time

conjunctions such as ii'/ien. wIif, !re, after, as, as soon as,
till/until, etc.
while: He was watching k']cvisi ii n/i/fe his wife was cooking.
when: We were having lunch nice a guest arrived.
before: She had switched off the iwlit /iJbre she went to bed.
after: She went to bed after she had switched off the light.
as: As the teacher came in, the students stood up.
as soon as: I will come home as soon as the meeting is over.
(illJuntil: Wait here till/until I conic back.
 THE COMPLEX SENTENCE AND ITS STRUCTURE 189

Adverbial Clauses of Condition: These are commonly introduced

by if or unless:
If it rains today, the game will not take place.
If! were you, I would not accept the job.
If you had worked hard, you would have passed.

Unless you work hard, you will not pass.

Adverbial Clauses of Reason: These are introduced by because,
since, as:
He is absent today because he is ill.
As he was tired, he went to bed early.
Adverbial Clauses of Concession: These are introduced by
although or though:
Although he is poor, he is honest.
Though she is pretty, she is foolish.
Adverbial Clauses of Comparison: These are introduced by than:
He is wiser than I thought.
She is more intelligent than I gave him credit for.
Noun Clauses: Noun clauses, which are introduced by that, how,
why, what, when, where and if function as nouns.
A noun clause can occur as:
a. Subject:What he says is important.
b. Object: He admitted that he was wrong.
c. Object of preposition: The house will sell for what it is
worth.
d. Appositive: The news that he is alive after the crash
made his family happy.
e. Complement: This is exactlywhat he told inc.
f. Object - Complement: He told me what his name was.
g. Indirect Object: He gave whatever he did his full
attention.
h. Adjective-complement: I am glad that you have passed
the examination.


Section 5

The Effective Sentence

41 Titit T t# ilci structure 11ci kli

1 ($C I 11CINt C3Tt11 qfJ LI4 2T 1T C?

ci fP1 lJ fitr5 1T I 11
fitc 1LI ; T3
effective 31 Tf' ii principles
-M
I 4 principles T1TT

I. Omit needless words: - W fT 14

)j 4K ,TrZeconomical 1 fWT -I

Examples:
Wordy He has a garden which is beautiful.

Economi He has a beautiful garden.

Wordy The teacher became angry because of the fact

that one of his students misbehaved.

Economical The teacher became angry because one of his

students mishehaved.

Wordy Hasina walks in a graceful manner

Economical Hasina walks gracefully.

Wordy The ancient mariners story is a strange one.

Economical The ancient mariner's story is strange.

Wordy The matter is of great importance.

Economical The maucr is important.



THE EFFECTIVE SENTENCE 191

2. Use the active voice: Active voice 3 1't: passive

CtT 7ii1's csticicil ; C t11 active voice
CT passive voice 1 TI

Not : Sweets are very much liked by me.

But : I like sweets very much.
Not : Kamal has been hit by Hasan.
But : 1-lasan has hit Kamal.
Not : My visit to Dhaka will always be remembered by me.
But : I will always remember my visit to Dhaka.
Not : You are requested to come immediately.
But : Please come immediately.

3. Use parallel structure: Parallel structure 'T word,

phrase, clause 'G sentence 44¶li t1I I 4 q4um structure
4 T CStt1iMl T I

Examples:
A kward Hasan is a husband, a father and he runs a shop.

Parallel Hasan is a husband, a father and a shopkeeper.

(noun, noun, noun)

Awkward 'ma is tall, slim and she has a pretty face.

Parallel Mina is tall, slim and pretty. (adjective,

adjective, adjective)

Awkward She sang, danced, and jokes were made by her.

Parallel She sang, danced, and joked. (verb, verb, verb)

Awkward People came to the meeting by rickshaw, by

bus and they also used the train.

Parallel People came to the meeting by rickshaw, by

bus and by train. (prepositional phrase,
prepositional phrase, prepositional phrase)

Awkward He went to town to buy a book and with the

purpose of meeting a friend.

Parallel He went to town to buy a hook and to meet a

friend. (infinitive phrase, infinitive phrase)

Awkward He got what he wanted, ate what he liked and

expressed his feelings.


192 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

Parallel : He got what he wanted, ate what he liked and

expressed what he felt. (noun clause, noun
clause, noun clause)
Awkward : Since money is scarce and we cannot have
everything in this world, we must be content.
Parallel : Since money is scarce and since we cannot
have everything in this world, we must be
content. (reason clause, reason clause)
Awkward : Nobody was satisfied. Nobody was pleased.
There was not a happy man.
Parallel : Nobody was satisfied. Nobody was pleased.
Nobody was happy. (three simple sentences
with the same structure)

4. Make sure that co-relative expressions are followed by the same

construction : both, and; /101, but, not onl y, but also; either, or;
neither, nor. co-relative expressions I
'i l'IT cf 0 part of speech 11Lfl
part of speech P1 I

Examples:
Not It is a time not for words hut action.
But It is a time not for words but for action. (not, but,
followed by the same grammatical construction)
Not : Either you must do the work, or face the consequences.
But : You must either do the work or face the consequences.
(either, or followed by the same grammatical
construction)
Not He not only loves his wife but also his children.
But : He loves not only his wife but also his children. (not
on/v. but also followed by the same grammatical
construction)

5. Avoid a succession of choppy, stringy sentences: 9M 9M

Cl Cklt simple sentence N1l '3
W1T TJ iwf f tI3
lWlf 4P'1 1 I t1
choppy sentences lt1 C1t flt: (i) 01 phrase-4
cff ct Z; (ii) subordinate clause ti4&k I
 THE EFFECTIVE SENTENCE 193

(i) Avoid choppy sentences by using phrases:

Choppy : MaEek was born in Rajshahi. He was educated there.
He joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1985. He
was then 28.
Improved: Born and educated in Rajshahi. Malek joined the
Bangladesh Civil Service in 1985 at the age of 28.
Choppy : Bangladesh is a democratic country. India is also a
democratic country. Both countries are neighbours.

Improved: Bangladesh and India, both democratic countries, are

neighbours.
Choppy I have read an interesting book lately. The book is
called Mosques in Bangladesh. It is written by a
professor of Islamic History and Culture. He works
at Dhaka University.
Improved: I have lately read an interesting book called
'Mosques in Bangladesh' written by a professor of
Islamic History and Culture, Dhaka University.

(ii) Avoid choppy sentences by using subordinate clauses;

Choppy : I was sleeping. At that time the telephone rang.
Improved: While I was sleeping, the telephone rang.
Choppy : Hakim is a doctor. He is my friend. He works in the
Middle East.
Improved: Hakim, my friend, is a doctor who works in the
Middle East.
Choppy : Hamlet is a great tragedy. It is written by
Shakespeare. It is about Hamlet, the Prince of
Denmark. He was a student of the University of
Wittenberg. One day he received had news: His
father had died. His mother had married his uncle.
His uncle had become king; He was shocked at the
news. He came back. He learnt from his father's
ghost that his uncle had poisoned him. The ghost
urged him to take revenge. But Hamlet hesitated. He
delayed in taking revenge. He was a man of
philosophical temperament. He was also not sure
about the veracity of the ghost. Later, he got the


194 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

ghost's story confirmed by means of a play. Then he

avenged his father's death. But he was also killed.
Improved : Shakespeare's Hamlet, a great tragedy, is about the
prince of Denmark called Hamlet. While he was a
student of the University of Wittenberg, one day he
received the news that his father had died and that
his mother had married his uncle who had become
the new king. Shocked at the news, Hamlet came
back. His dead father who appeared as a ghost told
him that he had been poisoned by his uncle and he
urged him to take revenge. But as Hamlet was a man
of philosophical temperament, and as he was not
sure about the ghost's veracity, he hesitated and
delayed until he got (lie ghost's story confirmed by
means of a play. Although he avenged his fathers
death at last, he was also killed.

5. Use idiomatic English: Idiom f q%

fixed expression 1 1Ct 514 M 4-4-\ CI
idiom 1 CC Th I

tIMTQ TTt fli1 informal 1t

idiom idiom c verb '
particle (at, awa y, across, in, on, up, out, with, etc.)
c1i tit I ; verbal
idioms, phrasa[ verbs, prepositional idioms, etc. Verb 1
: break, bring, come, get, ca, make, put, run, set, turn. etc.
44RF verbal idiom 471f 1T CW31 I"

Idiomatic:
Formal/non-idiomatic : Old cars fail to function every Sc)
often.
Informal/Idiomatic : Old cars break down every so often.
Fornial/non-idiomatic : Hasan and Lina have ended their
cii gage men t.
Informal/Idiomatic : Hasan and Lina have broken off their
engagement.

s Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current Engfish 3 I

 THE EFFECTIVE SENTENCE 195

Formal/non-idiomatic: Robbers entered my neighbour's

house by force last night.
Informal/Idiomatic : Robbers broke into my neighbour's
house last night.
Formal/non-idiomatic: Fighting began suddenly and violently
between rival groups of students.
Informal/Idiomatic : Fighting broke out between rival
groups of students.
Formal/non-idiomatic: The meeting terminated in confusion.
Informal/Idiomatic : The meeting broke up in confusion.

passage 1f iI I passage non-idiomatic

expressions it ItT passage idiomatic version.

(A) Hasan, who is an industrialist, is a man who is regular in all his

activities. He arises from bed at seven o'clock every morning.
Then he leaves his house for a brisk walk. As soon as he
returns, he enter the bathroom to shave and to bathe. Having
dressed, he descends downstairs to take his breakfast. When
breakfast is finished, he goes to the office by driving his car. He
wants that everybody should arrive timely and work tirelessly.
According to him, it is absolutely necessary for success in life.

(B) Hasan, an industrialist, is a man of regular habits. He gets up at

seven o'clock every morning. Then he goes for a brisk walk. As
soon as he comes back, he goes into the bathroom to have a
shave and a bath. Having dressed, he comes down to breakfast.
Breakfast over, he drives to the office. He insists that everybody
should arrive strictly on time and work hard. He thinks
diligence is the key to success in life.

Exercise
1. Rewrite the following sentences omitting needless words:
(a) Elena is a girl who is very intelligent.
(b) The fact that he had not succeeded saddened his parents.
(c.) You are requested to sec me as soon as possible.
(d) He should be congratulated because of his success in the exam.
(e) A violent storm caused destruction of many houses in the
village.
196 LEARNING ENGLISH THE EASY WAY

2. Correct the fault in parallelism in the foIlowin' • sentences:

(a) He was shy but an intelligent boy.
(b) Either he is a fool or a knave.
(c) She knows how to cook and all about sewing.
(d) This is not only the case with the uneducated voters of
Bangladesh but also of the educated ones.
(e) We want peace without being dishonored.

3. Rewrite the following passages to eliminate choppy and stringy

sentences. Show relationship between the sentences by using
subordinate clauses.
(a) There were a few resolute Puritans. In the cause of their
religion, they did not fear the rage of the ocean. They did not
fear the hardships of uncivilized life. Nor did they fear the
attacks of savage beasts and savage men. They had built,
amidst primeval forests, villages. These villages are now
great and opulent cities. But these cities have retained some
traces of the character derived from their founders.

(b) It must have been two o'clock in the morning. I was woken
abruptly by a loud noise. It was sUCh a bitterly cold night. I
heard nothing more. So, I concluded that the sound must
have come from the street. I was just pulling the bedclothes
over my head to go back to sleep. There was anothei loud
bang then. The sound was extraordinary So this time I
jumped out of bed at once.

4. Rewrite the following passage in idiomatic English:

At a meeting held yesterday the workers of it factory raised many
problems and discussed them. The y raised such subjects as
salary, bonus, pension, schooling for their children and so on.
They requested the chairman to prepare a report and distribute it
well before the next meeting. The chairman thanked them and
said that he would start writing the report without delay. Thn
the meeting ended.