Connect With Grammar For Class 8
Connect With Grammar For Class 8
By
WƌŝŶƚĞĚĂŶĚďŽƵŶĚŝŶ/ŶĚŝĂ
Typeset atdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ'ƌĂƉŚŝĐƐ͕ĞůŚŝ
EĞǁĚŝƟŽŶ͗ϮϬϭϵ
ISBN ϵϳϴͲϵϯͲϱϭϯϴͲϮϰϳͲϴ
The revised edition of Connect with Grammar and Composition LV LQ \RXU KDQGV 7 KH ¿UVW HGLWLRQ RXU
maiden endeavour at writing a book on English grammar for school students, had seen the light of day last
year. It had meant an effort to do a useful book for school students after decades of working on higher grade
books for academic and competitive exams. However, believing that the foundation of any language is laid
at school level; recognising the commendable work done by our colleagues at teaching and training young
minds; and bowing to the persuasive skills of Mr R.K Gupta, Chairman, Laxmi Publications Pvt. Ltd., we had
undertaken this venture.
We are thankful to many of our colleagues—the members of the teaching faculty of reputed schools—who
have wholeheartedly lent support, appreciated the effort, liked the book and have given valuable suggestions
for further improvement, keeping in mind the needs of their students. In light of their suggestions, various
sections of the book have been rewritten, and some improvements have been made. Technicalities, wherever
SRVVLEOHKDYHEHHQUHPRYHGRUWRQHGGRZQWKHERRNKDVEHHQVLPSOL¿HGDQGVRPHPRUHFKDSWHUVKDYH
been incorporated in the composition section.
We are thankful to Dr Rashmi Singh who has taught English language in renowned schools for over two
decades for having helped us in this entire exercise, and Mr R.K Gupta, for the constant guidance, planning
and designing of the series Connect with Grammar and Composition.
,WLVKRSHGWKDWWKHUHYLVHGHGLWLRQRIWKHERRNZLOO¿QGIDYRXUZLWKWHDFKHUVDQGVWXGHQWVDOLNH6XJJHVWLRQV
for improvement of the book are welcome, and will be acknowledged and appreciated.
—Authors
(iii)
Preface to the Previous Edition
The study of grammar basically pertains to the study of the rules of the structure of a language. It is the very
foundation on which riches of knowledge of the language may be accumulated. So, the foundation or the base
has to be strong and unshakeable.
The journey of studying grammar begins with learning an alphabet, a word, then a sentence and it
continues thereon. The process of learning the appropriate usage of words and the right construction of a
sentence goes a long way in developing the learner’s ability to use a language effectively in real-life situations,
in addition to improving knowledge of the language itself.
Grammar prescribes certain norms and rules about the arrangement of words in such a way as to
accord a proper form and meaning to a sentence. This arrangement in grammatical parlance is called syntax.
It involves understanding of sentence structure, parts of speech that deal with the way words function in a
sentence, the verb-subject relationship, sequence of tenses, correct use of articles, modal auxiliaries, etc.
How to go about learning English grammar? Should it be the traditional method of learning the rules
and principles by rote and then applying them or should it be the interactive method? We have followed the
middle path—we have blended the various approaches in perfect harmony. However, no compromise has
been made when it comes to teaching English Grammar by way of the traditional method, and yet we have
not allowed the dull and dreary approach to stand in the way of the interactive approach.
All rules have been given and explained. Examples from day to day life have been cited. Sentences
which we speak or hear day in and day out have been used. Although a feel for words, a turn of phrase, word
collocation and creative blending of expressions are certain aspects of the language which cannot be taught
like the rules of grammar can be, yet, overall, this book embodies a discreet attempt to instil in the student
an awareness as well as taste with regard to these so that he/she is encouraged to grasp, learn, imbibe and
improve his/her language skills. We have also tried to keep the interest of the student alive and increase his/
her curiosity as well as inquisitiveness by adopting a unique approach.
The book has three major divisions/sections which deal with grammar, vocabulary and composition in
keeping with the current trends in school syllabi and recent developments in the treatment of English grammar and
composition. Revision exercises have also been given to enable the students to assess and develop their skills.
We would like to acknowledge the help rendered by Mr B.K. Chouhan, Ms Arundhati D. Roy, Mr Umesh
Chakma and Dr Rashmi Singh, in the preparation of some parts of the manuscript and/or proof reading and
editing. Credit is also due to the editorial department of Laxmi Publications (P) Ltd. for relevant and useful
editorial inputs.
We are indebted to numerous Grammarians whose books have been of great help to us in the preparation
of the present work.
—Authors
(iv)
Contents
Page No.
(v)
(vi ) Contents
A systematically arranged group of words that makes complete sense and ends in a punctuation
mark is termed as a sentence.
It is the systematic arrangement, and not mere collection, of some meaningful words that makes a
group of words a sentence.
In order to understand the concept of ‘the sentence’ better, let us examine the following groups of words
LQWKHOLJKWRIWKHGH¿QLWLRQfurnished above.
(i) The bone and the dog picked mouth his in.
(ii) Indian people celebrate all festivals with great fervour.
(iii) Ever have been you island on an?
(iv) Must discussion our not you interrupt.
(v) It is all unbelievable.
(vi) This section of the lesson requires special attention.
(vii) Am an I insane man?
(viii) One bestows one’s faith but once.
(ix) None tide time for wait and.
(x) Dangerous it the when is in sight to cross a railway train track.
What do we see?
(a) The group of words numbered (i) is not a sentence as its constituent words are jumbled up and it does not
yield any meaning.
(b) The group of words numbered (ii) is not a mere group of words, it is rather a model sentence as it has a
clear-cut sense. This sense is conveyed by the proper arrangement of its constituent words and their ending
in a full stop.
(c) Though the punctuation mark (?) at the end of the group of words numbered (iii) indicates that it should be a
question, it does not convey any meaning. The improper arrangement of the words renders it meaningless.
Hence, it is not a sentence.
(d) The group of words numbered (iv) is not a sentence for it lacks sense on account of its constituent words
being improperly arranged.
(e) The group of words numbered (v) is clearly meaningful and ends in a full stop, hence, it is a sentence.
(f) Likewise, the set of words numbered (vi) is a sentence, because it has a clear meaning owing to proper
arrangement of the words and ends in a full stop.
(g) The set of words numbered (vii) is not a sentence as it fails to convey any understandable meaning.
(h) The group of words numbered (viii) conveys a convincing sense and ends in a punctuation mark. Therefore,
it is a sentence.
1
(i) The set of words numbered (ix) has no graspable sense. Hence, it is merely a group of jumbled words, and
is not a sentence.
(j) Finally, the group of words numbered (x) does not yield any meaning. Hence, we can conclude that it is not
a sentence.
Now let us study ‘the sentence’ in detail.
THE SUBJECT
In a sentence, the Subject is what (or who) the sentence talks about, employing/using one or
more words.
A word or a phrase in a sentence which describes or refers to the remaining part of the sentence is
termed as the Subject.
Take note of the subject in the following sentences.
(i) The TTE asked for our tickets.
Sub.
(ii) Honeybees collect honey in their hives.
Sub.
(iii) I am always at your service.
Sub.
(iv) The severely-injured man was shifted to the ICU of the hospital.
Sub.
(v) She has no patience.
Sub.
We see that the parts in bold—The TTE, Honeybees, I, The severely-injured man and She—are the
subjects in the sentences (i)–(v), respectively.
REMEMBER...
7 KHVXEMHFWVDWLV¿HVWKHTXHVWLRQVWDUWLQJZLWKµZKR¶DQGµZKDW¶
A noun or pronoun can be used as the subject in a sentence.
The subject can be a word, phrase or a clause.
The subject occupies different places in different kinds of sentences.
THE PREDICATE
In a sentence, a word or a group of words that says something about the subject, is termed as
the Predicate.
In simple terms, the part of a sentence (word/group of words) other than the subject is called the Predicate.
Notice the predicate in the following sentences.
(i) My friend, Aslam, plays the drums in an orchestra.
sub. pred.
In each of the above sentences, the highlighted parts—plays the drums in an orchestra; cried wildly
IRUPLONPDGHDKXJHSUR¿WLVQRWSRVVLEOHWRIXO¿OXQHQGLQJGHVLUHV and hit the coastal regions—
describe their respective subjects (My friend, Aslam; The child; The businessman; It and The sea-storm,
Helen). Therefore, these are predicates.
MARK THIS...
A predicate can be a word or a group of words.
The predicate can further be divided into two parts—Verb and Complement.
Verb
The part of the predicate that tells of some action/activity/process/being/possession, etc., pertaining to
the subject of the sentence is called the Verb (V).
Complement (C)
The part of the predicate excluding the verb is called the Complement (C).
The Object (O), Place (P), Time (T), Reason (R) and Manner (M) related to the verb collectively form
the complement (C) of the Predicate.
Observe the subject, the verb and the complement (C) in the following sentences.
(i) The merchant travelled long distances on the back of his horse.
s v c
(ii) Susie and her friends made a plan to go on a picnic.
s v c
(iii) The police inspector was not honest.
s v c
(iv) Sony TV is telecasting ‘Chennai Express’ tonight.
s v c
(v) Sachin Tendulkar received an unprecedented farewell from the whole country on his
s v c
retirement.
In the above sentences, the parts marked ‘s’ are the subjects; the parts marked ‘v’, the verbs; and the
parts marked ‘c’, the complements.
Activity 1
A. Read each of the following groups of words carefully and state, giving reason, whether or not it is a sentence.
If not, rearrange the words to make a meaningful sentence.
1. Was a celebrity a journalist interviewing.
2. Humanity is my only religion.
THE SENTENCE 3
1. WORD
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Observe the following combinations of letters. Can you adjudge which of them are words and which, not?
(i) angry (ii) ouslycontinu (iii) rhonuo (iv) faith (v) sound
: KHQZHORRNXSWKHDERYH¿YHFRPELQDWLRQVRIOHWWHUVLQWKHGLFWLRQDU\ZH¿QGWKDWWKHFRPELQDWLRQV
numbered (ii) and (iii) are meaningless sets of letters, whereas combinations numbered (i), (iv) and (v) have
clear meanings. Therefore, the sets of letters numbered (i), (iv) and (v DUHE\FRQFHSWDQGGH¿QLWLRQwords,
while the groups of letters numbered (ii) and (iii) are not.
KEEP IN MIND...
The different categories into which words are divided on the basis of their use or function in a sentence are
called parts of speech.
There are, in all, eight parts of speech—nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions
and interjections.
2. PHRASE
A group/set/combination of words, which is a part of a sentence and conveys partial meaning or makes
incomplete sense, is called Phrase.
Observe the following sentences and note the italicised groups of words in them.
(i) The helicopter landed on the helipad at noon.
(ii) The dog sat by the door wagging its tail.
MARK THIS...
A phrase can take the form of, and function as, a noun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition or a conjunction.
3. CLAUSE
A group or combination of words that is only a part of a sentence, despite containing a subject and a
¿QLWHYHUERILWVRZQMXVWOLNHDVHQWHQFHLVFDOOHGD&ODXVH
Study the following sentences and observe the italicised parts in them.
(i) My mother believes WKDW,ZLOOIXO¿OKHUGUHDPV.
(ii) The soldiers fell in ‘threes’ and marched on.
(iii) Sanskriti was sad because her doll had been damaged.
(iv) I must say, you are speaking correct English.
(v) Can anyone tell me where the airport is?
Did you notice that each of the highlighted parts in the above sentences, apart from expressing
VRPH VHQVH DOVR FRQVLVWV RI D VXEMHFW DQG D SUHGLFDWH ZLWK DW OHDVW RQH ¿QLWH YHUE"7 KHUHIRUH WKHVH
highlighted parts—WKDW,ZLOOIXO¿OKHUGUHDPV; and marched on; because her doll had been damaged;
you are speaking correct English; and where the airport is—are all clauses.
You will notice, that those parts that are not highlighted in their respective sentences are also
clausesIRUHDFKRIWKHPKDVLWVRZQVXEMHFWDQG¿QLWHYHUE
KEEP IN MIND...
A sentence can have more than one clause in it.
A clause can be principal (main), subordinate (dependent), or coordinate (of equal status).
The fundamental difference between a phrase and a clause is that a phrase, unlike a clause, does not have
DVXEMHFWRUD¿QLWHYHUE
4. PUNCTUATION MARKS
By Punctuation Marks, we mean the symbols or marks used in written language to denote the natural
or regular pauses occurring in speech.
Read the following sentences and observe the highlighted symbols in them.
(i) They brought toys, books and chocolates for the children.
(ii) The boy was the only child of his parents.
(iii) Will you listen to what I have to say"
(iv) May God have mercy on him!
(v *HQHUDOO\DIDUPHUSORXJKVKLV¿HOG; sows the seeds in it; irrigates it; and does the weeding at intervals to
reap a good harvest later.
THE SENTENCE 5
REMEMBER...
A group of words is not a sentence unless it ends with a full stop (.), mark of interrogation (?) or mark of
exclamation (!).
Colon (:), hyphen (-), dash (–), and marks of quotation (‘...’/‘‘...’’) are also included in the list of punctuation
marks.
Punctuation marks also convey the mood of the speaker or the mode of expression.
Activity 2
Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the kind of component indicated in brackets:
____________________________. (clause)
REMEMBER...
$VVHUWLYHGHFODUDWLYHLQIRUPDWLYHVHQWHQFHV ERWKDI¿UPDWLYHDQGQHJDWLYH HQGZLWKDIXOOVWRS .).
They follow the pattern:
Subject + Verb + Complement.
OR
Subject + Auxiliary + Not + Verb + Complement.
REMEMBER...
Interrogative sentences always end with a mark of interrogation (?).
Some questions start with auxiliaries while others with wh-family words.
They can be positive or negative.
They follow the pattern:
Auxiliary + Subject + Verb + Complement?
OR
Wh-family word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb + Complement?
3. Imperative Sentences: &RPPDQGVRUGHUV, suggestions, advice, request, etc., fall under this category.
Examples:
(i) Cross the road only at the zebra crossing. (advice)
(ii) Kindly do what is necessary. (request)
(iii) Stand in a straight line. (order)
(iv) Do not litter here. (order)
(v) We should try to help others. (advice)
(vi) Let us forget the sad incident. (proposal)
(vii) Let us not waste our time. (proposal)
(viii) She needs to apologise for her mistake. (suggestion)
REMEMBER...
Imperative sentences end with a full stop (.).
In direct commands, the subject (you) is implicit (not expressed).
Modals should, must and need to are used to express ‘advice’, ‘command’ and ‘suggestion’ respectively in
such sentences.
THE SENTENCE 7
REMEMBER...
The exclamatory words (interjections) and the exclamatory sentences (as a whole) are always followed by a
mark of exclamation (!).
Activity 3
Identify the following sentences as Declarative/Assertive, Interrogative, Exclamatory or Imperative. Also
mention if the sentence is Negative.
1. I am always with you.
2. Thank you!
3. Should you not attend your classes regularly?
4. 7 KHSHRQLVWRFDUU\RXWWKHRUGHUVRIWKHRI¿FHU
5. How dare you call me a fool?
6. May the departed soul rest in peace!
7. Do not spit on the walls.
8. Everyone is free to express themselves.
9. Eh! It’s so chilly here.
10. Stop it and get lost.
11. There came a stranger knocking at my door.
12. Alas! The sage who transformed many a wicked soul is no more.
13. Stop uttering this nonsense.
14. Happy is the person who thinks of others before self.
15. Aren’t you hungry?
16. Harish isn’t very happy with his scores in the examination.
17. Have they been told about the time we start?
18. Never do they admit that they have made a mistake.
19. How quickly you have reached here!
20. Kindly shut the door behind you.
A Noun is a naming word. Words used to name persons, places, things, processes, animals/
living beings, feelings, etc., are termed as Nouns.
Read the paragraph given below and observe the words highlighted in it.
Mrs Chopra , my next-door neighbour, happens to be a very quarrelsome lady . Often, she picks a
quarrel with any of my other neighbours. Just a few days ago, I witnessed a noisy quarrel between her and
another neighbour in the street by my house . It all started with a petty issue . A boy was playing with a ball
and, by chance , the ball got hit towards Mrs Chopra's house and broke her windowpane . Mrs Chopra came out of
her house fuming, and without showing any sign of mercy , began to thrash the poor boy who started crying at the
top of his voice . Hearing the cries of the boy, his mother came running. The two furious women started
to quarrel noisily. Very soon, their husbands also pitched in. However, instead of adding fuel to the ¿UH , they tried
hard to pacify the women. Thus, after sometime, the quarrel, thankfully, came to an end . But the quarrelsome nature
Taking note of the highlighted words, you must have observed that they have one common feature—
each of them is a NAME assigned/referring to something—a person, place, thing, feeling, matter, etc.
9
In the paragraph, the words—Mrs Chopra, neighbour, lady, boy, mother, women and husbands—
refer to persons; street and house, to places; ball and windowpane, to things; voice, quarrel and cries,
to abstractions; fuel and ¿UHto matter; days and end, to time; top, to level; and issue, chance, sign,
mercy and nature, to feelings or concepts.
Therefore, all the highlighted words are nouns. Now, that we have understood the concept of ‘noun’,
let us learn about the salient features and kinds of nouns.
MARK THIS...
In a sentence, a noun can take the place of the subject (of a verb) or object (of a verb/preposition) or show
possession and can be a part of an adverbial phrase.
I. KINDS OF NOUNS
The diversity in the various tangible and intangible components of the universe—people, places, things,
OLYLQJEHLQJVIHHOLQJVSURIHVVLRQVFDVWHVJURXSVPDWHULDOHWF²KDVLQÀXHQFHGWKHFDWHJRULVDWLRQRIQRXQV
as under.
(a) Proper Nouns (b) Common Nouns
(c) Collective Nouns (d) Material Nouns
(e) Abstract Nouns
NOUNS
Let us see how the above categories of nouns are different from one another.
REMEMBER...
Proper nouns always start with a capital letter.
A proper noun is unique, hence, it is impractical to change the number and gender of a proper noun.
Names of days, months, monuments, books, periodicals, rivers, mountains or any other distinctive thing are
all proper nouns.
REMEMBER...
Common nouns represent members of various groups in general.
They can undergo change in number as well as in gender.
REMEMBER...
Collective nouns refer to gatherings of common nouns.
They can undergo change in number.
REMEMBER...
Generally, material nouns are singular in form. However, sometimes, they are used in plural forms to express
some extraordinary or unusual sense.
Matter/material/substance is the product of Nature.
REMEMBER...
Generally, abstract nouns are singular in form; however, some such nouns are functional in plural forms also.
Activity 1
Read the following passage and identify the various nouns in it.
1. India
is a wonderful
land. 2. Its area is vast.
3. Its heterogeneous population and
geographical conditions are bewildering.
4. All the known faiths of the world exist here.
5. People are different in terms of religion, language,
THE NOUN 11
NOUNS
Countable Uncountable
Nouns Nouns
KEEP IN MIND...
Conversion of singular to plural is governed by certain rules.
When a singular noun ends with -ch, -sh, -o, -x, -ss, its plural takes -es at the end.
-y mostly changes into -ies in plurals.
6RPHSOXUDOVDUHIRUPHGE\VXI¿[LQJ-s only.
Some plurals are formed by a change of vowels in their respective singular forms.
Activity 2
Read the following sentences and identify the nouns appearing in them as countable or uncountable. Also
change their number, where possible.
1. Flies were hovering over the uncovered sweets displayed for sale.
2. The cattle grazed by the canal and the cowherd kept a watch on them.
3. These days, Samsung is bringing out some useful home appliances.
4. 7 KHFKLOGUHQKDGPDGHEXQFKHVRIOHDYHVDQGÀRZHUV
5. Two women were discussing their household issues while drawing water from the well.
6. His head had lost all its hair.
7. Sudden change in the temperature gives rise to viral diseases.
8. After emptying the pot of milk, the cat licked its lips clean.
9. The scenic beauty of the valley attracts tourists from all corners of the world.
10. The crowd followed the newly-elected leader everywhere.
NOUNS
Gender
Common Neuter
Masculine Feminine
(no gender (inanimate
(male) (female)
indication) things)
(a) Masculine
Masculine Gender refers to the male members of a species or category of nouns.
Examples
emperor, servant, man, boy, father, etc.
(b) Feminine
Feminine gender indicates the female members of a species or category of nouns.
Examples
duck, queen, lady, girl, maid, aunt, etc.
(c) Common
Common gender indicates the nouns which commonly refer to both male and female, or either of the two.
Examples
parent, child, friend, cousin, spouse, doctor, professor, engineer, etc.
THE NOUN 13
Activity 3
Fill in the blanks as directed in the brackets.
1. Some ____________________________________ stood at the bus-stop waiting for the bus to come.
(plural of man)
3. The popular ____________________________________, Sudha Chandran, had met with a serious accident in
her hey days. (noun form of dancing)
6. $ODUJHQXPEHURIBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDUHVDFUL¿FHGRQ(LGHYHU\\HDU
(plural of goat)
7. Humans are blessed with two ____________________________________ to perform daily tasks. (arms/arm)
9. In some Indian weddings, the groom rides a ____________________________________ to reach his bride.
(female horse)
10. The ____________________________________ of two countries of the world seldom have the same national
language. (plural form of people)
11. <RXUBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBRI(QJOLVKZRUGVLVQRWVDWLVIDFWRU\
(abstract noun of pronounce)
1. Nominative Case
When a noun is used as the Subject of a verb, it is said to be in the Subjective/Nominative case.
Examples:
(a) Hari sang while his friends gave the beats.
(b) His friend, Joyce, was already there when Aamir reached the station.
2. Objective Case
When a noun is used as the Object of a verb or a preposition, it is said to be in the Objective/
Accusative case. A noun can either be a Direct or an Indirect object of a verb.
Examples:
(a) Suri lent Maya a beautiful dress to wear on the show.
Verb i.o d.o.
(b) Chris ordered a pan-pizza for everyone.
Verb d.o.
3. Possessive/Genitive Case
When a form of noun shows possession, authority, origin, etc., with the help of an apostrophe (’)
(and s), it is said to be in the Possessive/Genitive case.
Examples:
(a) They are very upset with their children’s behaviour.
(b) Roald Dahl’s stories have been loved by children across generations.
Activity 4
Identify the nouns and state their cases in the following sentences.
1. All other animals scurry for cover when the lion roars in the jungle.
2. Mother did not want to cook (on) that day.
3. The stream gurgled in joy as it bounded down the hills.
4. Shakespeare’s plays are staged across the world.
5. The teacher gave my friend four stars in appreciation of his good work.
Activity 5
Rewrite the following paragraph using the appropriate noun form of each of the words given in the brackets.
THE NOUN 15
___________________ (impacting). So, there was a need for ________________________________ (improve) in the
Activity 6
Read the passage given below. It contains the words of praise Jawaharlal Nehru had for Maulana Abul Kalam
Azad.
Passage
“He was a peculiar and very special representative in a high degree of that great composite culture
which has gradually grown in India. I do not mean to say, that everybody has to be like Maulana Azad
to represent that composite culture. There are many representatives of it in various parts of India; but
he, in his own venue, here in Delhi or in Bengal or Kolkata, where he spent the greater part of his life,
represented this synthesis of various cultures which have come one after another to India—rivers that
ÀRZHGLQDQGORVWWKHPVHOYHVLQWKHRFHDQRI,QGLDQOLIH²,QGLD¶VKXPDQLW\DIIHFWLQJWKHPFKDQJLQJWKHP
and being changed themselves by them…”
Now identify the nouns appearing in the passage. Can you place them under the correct columns in
the table provided?
The words which can replace (take the place of) nouns are termed as Pronouns.
Read the following extract to see what Bhavika tells her friends. Also observe the highlighted words
appearing in it.
I am Bhavika Chouhan. I am a student at SKV Pushp Vihar. Miss Geeta Choudhary is my favourite teacher.
She is quite intelligent and has good command of her teaching subject. She teaches us Science and her method
of explanation is very interesting. All the other teachers praise her ways and methods of dealing with the students. All the
students of the school, on their part, respect her very much. They are always motivated by her to excel at studies
and other co-curricular activities. One of my friends, Amrit, lives in her neighbourhood. He receives additional help from
her whenever he asks her for it . She often tells her students, “Do your best and leave unto God the rest. But,
you should always remember that you yourselves are the architects of your destinies.” These words of hers
are indeed inspiring. We all are fortunate to have a lady of noble ideas and principles for our teacher. I hope, she
&RXOG\RXQRZH[SODLQWKHVLJQL¿FDQFHRIWKHKLJKOLJKWHGZRUGV"
Well, all the words highlighted in the extract actually replace some name or the other (assigned to some
person(s) or thing(s)).
17
The word(s)—I—refers to Bhavika Chouhan; We and us refer to Bhavika Chouhan and her
classmates; She, her (only in predicative use) and hers, to Miss Geeta Choudhary; you, yourselves, and
they, to the students whom Miss Geeta Choudhary teaches; he refers to Amrit; and it, to help.
That is to say, the words—I, we, us, she, her, hers, you, yourselves, they, he and it—have replaced the
nouns—Bhavika Chouhan, Miss Geeta Choudhary, the students, Amrit and help—and are, therefore,
pronouns.
KEEP IN MIND...
Pronouns replace the nouns at their second appearance, and thereafter, in the sentence or paragraph.
The words—my, our, your, his, her (in attributive use) and their—are not pronouns. They are, in fact, possessive
adjectives as they always appear before nouns, thereby qualifying them.
Activity 1
Fill in the blanks with suitable pronouns.
5. Birds and reptiles respire as we do. After all, oxygen is necessary for ________________ too.
7. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBORYH¿JKWHUSODQHVDQGP\DLPLVWRMRLQWKH1'$VRWKDW,FDQEHFRPHDFRPPLVVLRQHG
RI¿FHULQWKH,QGLDQ$LU) RUFH
8. The kite detached from the thread and was blown away by the wind. Soon, _____________ was torn to pieces.
KINDS OF PRONOUNS
PRONOUNS
An analysis of the full range of pronouns brings to the fore seven kinds of pronouns:
1. Personal Pronouns 2. Interrogative Pronouns
3. Relative Pronouns 4. 'HPRQVWUDWLYH3 URQRXQV
5. 'LVWULEXWLYH3 URQRXQV 6. ,QGH¿QLWH3 URQRXQV
7. Reciprocal Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
Persons Singular Plural
First Person I We
Second Person You You
Third Person He/She/It They
x First person refers to the pronouns (I and We) used for the speaker(s).
x Second person refers to the pronoun (You) used for the listener(s) or the person(s) spoken to.
x Third person refers to the pronouns (He, She, It and They) used for the noun(s) being spoken of.
Personal pronouns may appear in sentences in different cases. Let us study about them.
Cases of Personal Pronouns
Cases refer to the various forms of personal pronouns used to show the different roles they play in
sentences.
A personal pronoun can act as the subject; can show some relation/possession; can play the role of
the objectRUFDQHPSKDVLVHUHÀHFW EDFN WR something/somebody. Thus, there are four cases of personal
pronouns:
(a) Subjective/Nominative Case: It refers to the form of a personal pronoun used as the subject of the
verb.
Examples:
(i) I thanked my friend for his timely help.
(ii) She accepted my proposal to go on a picnic.
(I and She as the Subjects)
(b) Genitive/Possessive Case: It refers to the form of a personal pronoun which shows some relation/
possession with/of a noun.
Examples:
(i) The brightest of these pens is mine.
(ii) Sheena hasn’t written the story, though the idea is hers.
(Mine and hers showing relation/possession)
THE PRONOUN 19
(d) (PSKDWLF5HÀH[LYH &DVH It refers to the form of a personal pronoun used to lay emphasis on
something/someone.
Examples:
(i) He does all his tasks himself.
(ii) You yourself are responsible for your pathetic condition.
(himself and yourself used to lay emphasis)
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WKHVXEMHFWLWLVNQRZQWREHLQWKHUHÀH[LYHFDVH
Examples:
(i) Radhika gives herself little time to prepare.
(ii) The students taught themselves some discipline.
(Both herself and themselves are in the UHÀH[LYH case.)
Activity 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns from the brackets.
1. Gurmit called his brother to play with ______________________ . (he, him, his)
3. The girl holding a doll in her hand began to play with ______________________ . (them, her, it)
4. Everyone applauded ______________________ for his hard-fought victory over his opponents in the election.
(my, himself, him)
5. The award for ______________________ was announced in the morning assembly. (yours, me, my)
6. Ankit, ______________________ have become irresponsible these days. (she, they, you)
8. My sister vouched for the fact that ______________________ never lied. (I, yourself, my)
10. ______________________ never hold ourselves accountable for any wrong done. (you, they, we)
2. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
Interrogative Pronouns refer to those wh-family words which are placed at the beginning of sentences
to ask questions that can be answered in nouns.
Who, what, whom, whose and which are used as interrogative pronouns.
REMEMBER...
Wh-family words essentially begin with ‘wh’, the only exception being ‘how’ in which ‘w’ and ‘h’ are separated
by ‘o’.
Some more questions can be framed using these interrogative pronouns in combination with some prepositions
and nouns.
3. RELATIVE PRONOUNS
The wh-family words (who, what, whom, whose, which), when used in the middle of the sentences to
relate to the antecedents (nouns/pronouns appearing before them), are termed as Relative Pronouns.
As has been discussed in the preceding section,
Who indicates Subject
What indicates Direct Object
Whom indicates Indirect object (for ditransitive verbs) or Direct object (for transitive verbs)
Whose indicates Possession
Which shows indication/selection.
REMEMBER...
The word that is frequently used in context of which, who and whom.
The only difference between interrogative pronouns and relative pronouns is that while interrogative pronouns
appear at the start of sentences, relative pronouns are found in the middle of sentences.
The nouns that are referred back by the pronouns in the same sentences are called their antecedents.
Examples:
(i)The bus-conductor, who was issuing the tickets, was not in proper uniform.
(ii)The Chetak Express, which (that) plies between New Delhi and Udaipur, is late today.
(iii)Anil, whom the teacher punished today, is a naughty boy.
(iv) We don’t get what we want.
(Notice that what stands for the thing that where the thing is the implied antecedent)
(v) Here are the candidates whose names were shortlisted for the interview.
(vi) Please, tell me something that I am not aware of.
In the preceding sentences, the highlighted words—who, which, whom, what, whose and that—refer
to the italicised noun(s)/noun phrase(s) appearing before them. Hence, they are relative pronouns in the
respective sentences.
THE PRONOUN 21
2. ________________________, do you think, will clock the best time in today’s race?
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11. Nobody can predict ________________________ the next President will be.
12. The man ________________________ the crowd lynched was actually innocent.
13. The brush ________________________ can paint a picture is different from this.
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Indian Armed Forces.
4. DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
Demonstrative Pronouns are the words which are used to indicate or demonstrate some nouns(s).
PRONOUNS
Demonstrative
5. DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS
Distributive Pronouns are the words which treat nouns in a one-at-a-time manner.
Words, such as Each, Either, Everyone, Neither, None, etc., are distributive pronouns.
Examples:
(i) Each of the miscreants was tried in the court of law.
(ii) Either of the boxes weighs 50 kg.
(iii) Everyone in the audience applauded his superb performance.
(iv) NeitherRIWKHER\VZDVVDWLV¿HGZLWKKLVUHVXOW
(v) None of the rooms was properly ventilated.
MARK THIS...
Distributive pronouns take singular form of the verbs.
6. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
,QGH¿QLWH 3URQRXQV UHIHU WR WKH ZRUGV ZKLFK GR QRW VSHFLI\ DQ\ QRXQ RU ZKLFK LQGLFDWH QRXQV LQ D
general sense.
PRONOUNS
Indefinite
THE PRONOUN 23
7. RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS
Reciprocal Pronouns are the words which refer to nouns with a sense of reciprocation.
The word pairs, each-other and one-another, convey a sense of reciprocation.
Examples:
(i) The two quarrelsome men began to abuse each other.
(ii) All the sentences are connected to one another so as to explain the theme in its entirety.
KEEP IN MIND...
Each-other creates reciprocation between two nouns.
One-another creates reciprocation among more than two nouns.
Activity 4
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate pronouns from the brackets.
4. Look here, __________________________ are the pictures that were painted in 1920. (Those/These)
10. The two doctors congratulated __________________________ on the success of the operation.
(one another/each other)
Activity 5
The following sentences are incorrect in terms of the use of pronouns in them. Rewrite them appropriately.
(Retain the person if applicable).
1. Me was listening to the election news on radio.
2. Her is honest and soft-spoken.
3. We themself were present in the auditorium to witness the magic show.
4. The stranger whom was asking the address of his relative is still wandering.
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INDIAN PRIME MINISTERS
THE PRONOUN 25
Adjectives are a category of words that qualify, or modify the sense of, nouns (and pronouns, too).
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moves inwards and the end of the eyebrow dips to some extent. 6. It has been proved
that the more we smile, the more positive reactions others are likely to give us. 7. False facial emotions are
more pronounced on the left side of the face than the right .
Having read the above paragraph, you must have realised that:
— In sentence 1, natural adds to the sense of smile; characteristic TXDOL¿HVwrinkles; our relates to eyes; crafty
TXDOL¿HVman; and his adds to the sense of mouth.
— In sentence 2, true TXDOL¿HVsmiles; unconscious says something about brain; and involuntary tells something
about smiles again.
— In sentence 3, their TXDOL¿HVFOLHQWVthis indicates act; zygomatic and major tell the qualities of muscles.
— In sentence 4, false tells something about smile; and imperfect adds to the meaning of picture.
— In sentence 5, coy and natural tell something about smile; spongy extends the meaning of part; and some
adds to the sense of extent.
— In case of sentence 6, positive tells the quality of reactions.
— Finally, in sentence 7, facial tells something about emotions; and left and right add to the sense of side.
— We can safely, thus, conclude that all the highlighted (encircled) words modify the sense of their corresponding
nouns. Hence, they are all adjectives.
REMEMBER...
Adjectives can be in the form of a word or a phrase.
Mostly, adjectives precede nouns (attributive adjectives), but they can also be placed after the nouns they
qualify (predicative adjectives).
Activity 1
Insert the given adjectives at the right places in the following sentences. Use appropriate articles wherever
applicable.
1. Today, Deepika Padukone is the most actor. (successful)
2. Can anyone tell which is the river in the world? (longest)
3. Soldiers have forced the enemy to retreat. (our, brave)
4. It is a fact that many farmers in India are still uneducated. (regrettable)
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6. $FFRUGLQJWRPRVWQDWXUDOLVWVORWXVLVWKHPRVWÀRZHU EHDXWLIXO
7. It will not be improper to say that mind is a devil's workshop. (idle)
8. Owing to lack of proper socialisation, people are and ill-mannered. (cruel, some)
9. She recited a poem on the occasion of the Independence Day. (patriotic)
10. Do not sit in chair as one of its legs is broken. (this)
I. KINDS OF ADJECTIVES
THE ADJECTIVE 27
REMEMBER...
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Activity 2
Rewrite the following sentences supplying antonyms for the adjectives underlined in them.
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KEEP IN MIND...
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THE ADJECTIVE 29
REMEMBER...
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YDJXHQXPHUDOUHIHUHQFH7 KH\DUHDOOQHZIHZFHUWDLQQRHWF
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DUHHDFKHYHU\HLWKHUQHLWKHUHWF
Activity 4
Fill in the blanks with words which are generally nouns but function as adjectives in the given context.
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THE ADJECTIVE
Activity 5
Rewrite the following sentences changing the highlighted words (nouns) into adjectives.
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DEGREES
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A syllable is the smallest unit of speech that can be pronounced in isolation. Monosyllabic = having one
syllable; Polysyllabic = having many syllables.
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Activity 6
Fill in the blanks with appropriate degrees of comparison for the given adjectives.
popular
healthy healthiest
bulky bulkiest
thick thickest
good best
delightful
fat fatter
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1. ,QGLD¶V¿UVWQDWLRQDO¿OPPXVHXPZDVRSHQHGLQ
(a) Delhi (b) Mumbai
(c) Chennai (d) Pune
2. Who became fastest Indian to claim 100 ODI wickets?
(a) Ravindra Jadeja (b) Ravichandran Ashwin
(c) Jasprit Bumrah (d) Mohammed Shami
3. Which country’s president attended the 2019 Republic Day
as a chief guest?
(a) South Africa (b) Thailand
( ) Malaysia (d) Japan
4. Which famous singer was conferred Bharat Ratna award in the year 2019?
(a) Bhupen Hazarika (b) Lata Mangeshkar
(c) Kavita Krishmurthy (d) Kailash Kher
5. : KLFKFLW\LQFOXGHG+ LQGLDVWKHWKLUGRI¿FLDOODQJXDJHWREHXVHGLQLWVFRXUWV"
(a) Doha (b) Singapore
(c) Abu Dhabi (d) Kuala Lumpur
5. (c) Abu Dhabi 4. (a) Bhupen Hazarika 3. (a) South Africa 2. (d) Mohammed Shami 1. (b) Mumbai
Test Your General Knowledge
Answers
THE ADJECTIVE 35
Read the following paragraph and observe the encircled words appearing in it.
1. It
is
undoubtedly
true that we cannot
live a lifespan without
6. But although a good man may at times be angry with the world, it is
certain that no man who has done his rightful duty is ever discontented with the
36
world. 7. The world is like a looking glass; if you smile , it smiles too; if you frown ,
it frowns back. 8. If you look at it through smoke, it will look all dull and dingy. 9. So,
always try to look on the bright side, for almost everything in the world has a bright side for sure.
In the above paragraph, we notice that the words—have and has—indicate possession of something;
the words—is and be—indicate state or condition of something or someone; and the words—live, complain,
bear, escape, distress, torment, done, smile(s), frown(s), look and try—indicate some action or activity.
7 KHVHHQFLUFOHGZRUGVSURYLGHDQLGHDDERXWWKHGH¿QLWLRQRIverbs.
Verbs are the words symbolic of some work/action/activity/process, state/condition/quality or
possession.
From the above discussion, we can conclude that there are mainly three functions of verbs—(i) to convey
an action/work/activity, etc.; (ii) to indicate some ‘state, condition, quality or designation’; and (iii) to express
the sense of ‘having/possessing’.
MARK THIS...
Verb is the most indispensable (unavoidable) element of a sentence.
A verb undergoes change with the change in the subject and the tense.
Activity 1
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verbs indicated for each.
2. All of us __________________________ two eyes and two ears each. (verb of possession)
3. Some of the animal species have __________________________ extinct now. (verb of being)
4. The wedding will __________________________ place in the community hall tomorrow. (verb of action)
7. The students are __________________________ their SUPW classes at present. (verb of action)
8. Hiranya Kashipu __________________________ a cruel king who tortured his own son in different ways.
(verb of being)
9. Please __________________________ off the lights when they are not in use. (verb of action)
10. The lizard was __________________________ the insects on the wall. (verb of action)
KINDS OF VERBS
There can be various bases to categorise verbs:
1. Basis of Role Played 2. Basis of Object
3. Basis of Strength (Forms) 4. Basis of Changeability
THE VERB 37
REMEMBER...
Main verbs of action and possession satisfy the question framed with the help of ‘what’ and different forms
of ‘do’—What...do (sentences (i), (iii) and (iv).
They are subject to change with the change of subject and tense.
Every main verb represents a unique action/work/activity/fact/state/possession, etc.
Activity 2
(A)
Read the following paragraph and identify the main verbs and the auxiliaries in each sentence.
1. Generally, men and women are not warriors. 2. They are busy bothering about two square meals, children and
other allied problems. 3. But there comes a time when the whole nation awakens to a noble cause. 4. On such occasions,
common and simple men and women become warriors and a new and revolutionary episode of history sets in. 5. Great
leaders have the same element in their personality which spurs them to inspire a whole nation and sometimes the whole
world.
(B)
Fill in the blanks with the correct auxiliaries from the given choices.
1. ____________________ your brother passed Senior Secondary Examination? (Was/Has)
5. They ____________________ been singing and dancing on stage for some time. (has/have)
10. The teacher ____________________ asked his students to write all the answers in their
notebooks. (had/need/was)
2. BASIS OF OBJECT
A verb can be studied in terms of its object—whether it has an object or it does not have any. On this
basis, verbs can be categorised as:
(a) Transitive Verbs
(b) Intransitive Verbs
(A) Transitive Verbs
The action verbs which require some (direct/indirect) object to receive the action, or whose effect is
received by some (direct/indirect) object are called Transitive Verbs.
Examples:
(i) The shopkeeper sold some articles later than their expiry date. (what...some articles)
v. object
THE VERB 39
REMEMBER...
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Some verbs are ditransitive—they are followed by both a direct and an indirect object.
A direct object receives an action directly, whereas an indirect object receives it indirectly.
KEEP IN MIND...
Intransitive verbs cannot satisfy the question—what/whom.
Transitive or intransitive status of the verb is subject to its usage in the sentence.
Sentences bearing intransitive verbs cannot be transformed into passive voice.
Activity 3
Analyse the underlined verbs in the following passage as transitive or intransitive.
1. The Bhagvad Gita tells us that the people, who believe in religion as an experience of truth, will never quarrel
about the names which they assign (to) God. 2. They will tell us that God is there in our hearts; He is the truth behind
our being; He is the lord of our inner chamber—our soul. 3. There, He resides in a hidden state; we can see Him, if we
have the sense to see that He dwells there. 4. Because we have so many other interests and pursuits in life, He stays
there unrecognised. 5. If we can perceive this sacred truth, we can see Him face to face. 6. It is at this juncture that we
realise that God has possessed us. 7. It is this notion that has given our culture a wider vision.
Activity 4
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Present Past Past Participle
1. ____________ arise _______________________________ _______________________________
THE VERB 41
4. BASIS OF CHANGEABILITY
By changeability of verbs, we mean their capacity to undergo change(s) in form in agreement with
tense and subject.
Based on this, verbs can be bifurcated into two streams:
(a) Finite Verbs
(b) Non-Finite Verbs
(A) Finite Verbs
Finite Verbs are a broad category of verbs which are subject to change(s) in the number and/or person
of the subject, and the tense of the verb.
Examples:
(i) My brother listens to music regularly.
(ii) We listen to music regularly.
(iii) They listened to music regularly.
(iv) I will listen to music in the evening.
(v) She is listening to music on the iPod.
In the above sentences, the verb—listen—appears in different forms in agreement with different subjects
DQGWHQVHV7 KHUHIRUHLWLVD¿QLWHYHUE
(B) Non-Finite Verbs
Non-Finite Verbs refer to the verb forms which remain unaltered notwithstanding the change(s) in the
tense and/or the subject (number/person).
Examples:
(i) I want to becomeDQRI¿FHULQWKH$LU) RUFH
(ii) I wanted to becomeDQRI¿FHULQWKH$LU) RUFH
(iii) They wanted to become RI¿FHUVLQWKH$LU) RUFH
(iv) He wants to become DQRI¿FHULQWKH$LU) RUFH
(v) I do not like boating at all.
(vi) They like boating in the river.
(vii) He will go for boating in the river.
MARK THIS...
,Q¿QLWLYHVFDQEHXVHGLQWKHFDSDFLW\RIDVXEMHFWRUWKHREMHFWRIDYHUE
Examples:
(i) To err is human. (as subject)
(ii) She wants to reach home quickly. (as object)
(iii) The man tried to break the safety rules. (as object)
(iv) To read and write should be the sole duty of a student. (as subject)
In the above sentences, the WRYHUE forms—to err, to reach, to break and to read and write—are
LQ¿QLWLYHV
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go there.
(2) Participles
Participles are the -ing (present participle) or double past (past participle) forms of verbs used in the
capacity of adjectives.
Examples:
(i) The dying man called his sons to him.
(ii) Go to the tailor and get your torn shirt stitched.
(iii) I found my pocket picked.
(iv) Do not get off a moving bus.
In the preceding sentences, the words—dying, torn, picked and moving—function as adjectives for
they qualify their respective nouns—man, shirt, my pocket and bus; hence, they are participles (–ing/III
form of the verb).
THE VERB 43
Activity 5
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2. ______________________ (tell as gerund) lies does not help one get out of problems.
6. The ______________________ (roar as participle) lion at the zoo frightened the children away.
Activity 6
Story Time!
Now read the following story and identify the LQ¿QLWLYHVSDUWLFLSOHV and gerunds in it.
Once, there was a gifted jester in a king’s court. The king was very happy with him as he used to make the
king split his sides laughing at the witty jokes he would make about everyone, including the king himself. But one
day, he crossed his limits and the king shook in anger. “You sneering devil! Prepare to die now.”
The trembling jester begged for mercy. As begging before a king is seldom ineffective, it had the desired effect.
Relenting was the only choice left with the king. Observing the shaken jester, he said, “Die you must! However, I
can allow you to choose how you would die.” The relieved jester fell at the king’s feet and instantly replied, “Thank
you, my lord! I choose to die of old age.”
The visibly pleased king picked up the bowing jester by his shoulders and said. “Have a long blessed life!”
Words that qualify or modify a verb, adjective or another adverb are termed as Adverbs.
Observe the highlighted words in the following sentences.
Examples:
(i) The Indian spaceship has reached Mars successfully.
(ii) I am not at all a coward.
(iii) This story is quite interesting.
(iv) No, I will never forgive my enemy.
(v) It was raining cats and dogs that day.
(vi) The new chief minister will be sworn in next Sunday.
(vii) Leave town immediately, or else you will be captured.
(viii) My purse was to be found nowhere.
(ix) The doctor advised me to take the medicine twice a day.
(x) Presently, my father is out of town.
Having read the above sentences, you would have noticed that:
— In sentences (i) and (v), the highlighted words—successfully and cats and dogs—describe the manner of
action of the verbs—has reached and was raining, respectively.
— The verbs—am and will forgive—in sentences (ii) and (iv) are negated by the words—not at all and no,
respectively.
— In case of sentences (iv) and (ix), the words—never and twice a day—indicate the frequency of the verbs—
will forgive and take, respectively.
— The word—quite—gives the degree of the adjective—interesting—in sentence (iii).
— In sentences (vi), (vii) and (x), the words—next Sunday, immediately and presently—indicate the time of
the verbs—will be sworn in, leave and is.
² $QG ¿QDOO\ LQ VHQWHQFHV viii) and (x), the words—nowhere and out of town—indicate the place of the
verbs—was found and is, respectively.
The preceding analysis proves that the highlighted words (in bold) are adverbs as they comply in toto
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KINDS OF ADVERBS
ADVERBS
45
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1. SIMPLE ADVERBS
Simple Adverbs are those modifying words which indicate particular aspects of a verb, adjective or
another adverb.
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IROORZLQJVXEKHDGV
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Simple Adverbs
REMEMBER...
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$GYHUEVFDQDSSHDUDVZRUGVRUSKUDVHV
A. Adverbs of Place
These are the words (or phrases) that indicate the place or site of an action performed.
Examples:
(i *RGisSUHVHQWeverywhere.
v. adv.
(ii 7 KHDEVFRQGLQJFXOSULWwas found nowhereHYHQDIWHUDELJKXQW
v. adv.
(iii) Look upDQGmove ahead.
v. adv. v. adv.
(iv) MakeQRQRLVHhere.
v. adv.
(v $EDQ\DQWUHHgrew on the bank of the river.
v. adv.
MARK THIS...
Adverbs of place answer the question—where.
B. Adverbs of Time
These are the words (or phrases or clauses) which tell the point/period of time of an action performed.
Examples:
(i) You can see dew on the leaves or grass during the winter mornings.
v. adv.
(ii) I am busy now.
v. adv.
(iii) The door-bell rang when my mother was cooking in the kitchen.
v. adv.
(iv) Presently, there isWRRPXFKWUDI¿FRQURDGV
adv. v.
(v) My brother joined the Indian Military Academy three years ago.
v. adv.
In the above sentences, the words/phrases/clauses in bold—during the winter mornings, now, when
my mother was cooking in the kitchen, presently and three years ago—tell the point/period of time of
their respective verbs—can see, am, rang, is and joined. Thus, the words in bold are adverbs of time.
Today, lately, formerly, early, immediately, soon, then, etc., are some of the other adverbs of time.
MARK THIS...
Adverbs of time answer the questions—when/since when/how long, etc.
C. Adverbs of Frequency
The words, which express the frequency of a verb, i.e., the number of times an action occurs or is
performed, are called Adverbs of Frequency.
Examples:
(i) I am always at your service.
v. adv.
(ii) Barking dogs seldom bite.
adv. v.
(iii) Generally, our friends share our joys and sorrows.
adv. v.
(iv) We eat thrice a day.
v. adv.
(v) You have frequently broken the school rules.
adv. v.
THE ADVERB 47
REMEMBER...
Adverbs of this category answer the questions of ‘how often/how many times/in what frequency’.
Adverbs of frequency express habitual actions, nature of things and universally acknowledged facts.
Mostly, WKHVHDUHDGYHUEVXVHGLQLQGH¿QLWHRUVLPSOHWHQVHV
D. Adverbs of Manner
These are the words (or phrases) which explain the method, manner, fashion or style of an action
performed.
Examples:
(i) The Rani of Jhansi, Laxmi Bai, fought the British valiantly.
v. adv.
(ii) Students should attend their classes regularly.
v. adv.
(iii) We had to run fast to catch the moving train.
v. adv.
(iv) Whatever Shikha does is done well.
v. adv.
(v) Children were painting with the help of brush and poster colours.
v. adv.
In the above examples, the words in bold—valiantly, regularly, fast, well and with the help of brush
and poster colours—indicate the manner of the action conveyed by the verbs—fought, should attend, to run,
is done and were paintingUHVSHFWLYHO\7 KHUHIRUHWKHZRUGVLQEROGE\GH¿QLWLRQDUHDGYHUEVRIPDQQHU
Words such as indeed, surely, actually, really, thus, therefore, amiss, slowly, etc., can be used as
adverbs of manner.
REMEMBER...
Adverbs of manner answer the questions of ‘how’ or ‘in what manner/style/fashion/way’.
Adverbs of manner are either ‘one words’ ending with ‘-ly’, ‘-ally’, or ‘-ily’, etc., or phrases such as ‘by...’ or
‘with the help of...’.
Mostly, they are used after the object (or after the verb, in case it is intransitive).
E. Adverbs of Degree
These are the words that indicate the qualitative/quantitative degree (or extent/limit) of adjectives
appearing in sentences.
Examples:
(i) Due to extreme pain, the patient’s naps were hardly peaceful.
adv. adj.
(ii) Your strange behaviour has made me somewhat crazy.
adv. adj.
(iii) It’s quite easy. Even a child can do it.
adv. adj.
As seen in the above sentences, the words in bold—hardly, somewhat, quite, very and almost—
express the extent or degree of their respective adjectives—peaceful, crazy, easy, sorry and frozen. Hence,
they are adverbs of degree.
Words such as enough, fully, partly, rather, much, a little, almost, so, half, entirely, simply, etc., are
also used as adverbs of degree.
KEEP IN MIND...
The adverbs of degree mostly precede adjectives so as to limit or quantify them.
They indirectly have a bearing on the verbs used in the sentences.
They answer the questions—to what limit/degree/extent.
Activity 1
5HDGWKHIROORZLQJVHQWHQFHVWRFKHFNLIWKHUHDUHDGYHUEVLQWKHP$OVRPHQWLRQWKHNLQGVRIWKHDGYHUEV\RX¿QG
1. Today, we are going to watch a movie.
2. What you say is totally wrong.
3. Have you ever been to the mountains?
4. The food was half cooked.
5. The page was completely blank.
6. You are a hero, indeed.
7. Occasionally, the boy hid himself behind a bush to befool his friends.
8. An employee gets salary every month.
9. King Dashrath killed Shravan Kumar with an arrow.
10. Keep this heavy box down to relieve yourself of its burden.
Activity 2
Rewrite the following sentences using adverbial forms of the words given in brackets.
1. Pure honey is not available in the market. (ready)
2. All the villagers were afraid of the serpent. (mortal)
3. Ruby called out to her mother. (loud)
4. Products manufactured are released for sale in the market. (perfect)
5. We should not follow anybody. (blind)
6. I am from the state of Rajasthan. (original)
7. 7 KHPLVFUHDQWKDVFRQIHVVHGKLVJXLOW ¿QDO
8. The manager deals with all kinds of customers. (amiable)
9. Can anyone drive two vehicles? (simultaneous)
10. Talking over the mobile phone, while driving, can be dangerous. (continuous)
Activity 3
Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the brackets.
1. Mr Ahmed speaks ____________________________________________ (respectfully/respectable) to every one
THE ADVERB 49
5. 7 KHIDUPHUFRQWLQXHGWRSORXJKKLV¿HOGBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB(untiring/untiringly).
______________________________________ (tender/tenderly)
me.
10. 7 KH IR[ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB FXQQLQJFXQQLQJO\ ÀDWWHUHG the crow for the
F. Adverbs of Reason
The words or phrases which indicate the stated or implied reason or cause behind an action are termed
as Adverbs of Reason.
Examples:
(i 7 KHÀRZHUVDQGOHDYHVhave, hence, wilted and fallen.
adv. v.
(ii) The wailing child could not, therefore, be quitened.
adv. v. v.
(iii) Consequently, the electorate gives a fractured mandate time and again.
adv. v.
(iv) As a result of his irritable nature, he remains without friends.
adv. v.
(v) The curtains were, thus, drawn on the regressive practice.
adv. v.
The words/phrases in bold in the above sentences—hence, therefore, consequently, as a result and
thus—indicate the reason behind their respective actions/verbs—have wilted, could not be quietened, gives,
remains and were drawn. Therefore, they are adverbs of reason.
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7KHVHDUHWKHZRUGV RUSKUDVHV ZKLFKFUHDWHDVHQVHRIDI¿UPDWLRQWRZDUGVDQDFWLRQVWDWHTXDOLW\
etc., expressed through a clause.
Examples:
(i) Yes, as we sow, so do we reap.
(ii) It will certainly be a new morning tomorrow.
MARK THIS...
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VLPLODUFRQQRWDWLRQVDUHDOVRFRQVLGHUHGDVDGYHUEVRIDI¿UPDWLRQQHJDWLRQ
Activity 4
Fill in the blanks with adverbs of QHJDWLRQDI¿UPDWLRQ or UHDVRQIURPWKHER[SURYLGHG
1. 7 KHFURZGZDVBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBUHDG\WRUHOHQW
2. $SURPLVLQJIXWXUHZDVBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBEURXJKWWRDGLVDSSRLQWLQJHQG
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9. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBKHPD\VRRQ¿QGKLPVHOIRXWRIZRUN
10. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBZRXOG,OLHLQP\OLIHZKDWHYHUEHWKHFLUFXPVWDQFH
THE ADVERB 51
MARK THIS...
Wh-family words are a peculiar category of words which play different roles in different kinds of sentences.
And for this reason, they are differently introduced in different sentences.
3. RELATIVE ADVERBS
When the words—where, when, why, how, etc.—and the phrases formed with their help, are used to
combine two clauses (or sentences) to describe or qualify some adjective, verb or adverb in the preceding
clause, they are called Relative Adverbs. Such adverbs refer back to noun antecedents in their respective
sentences.
Examples:
(i) During the holidays, we visited Jaipur where my grandparents live.
(ii) Ten years ago, when my sister was born, the winter cold was unprecedented.
(iii) Villages, wherein the majority of India lives, produce foodgrain for cities, too.
(iv) The reason why the boys quarrelled is still unknown.
(v) Show me the manner how an educated man should behave.
In the above sentences—where, when, wherein, why and how—refer back to the antecedents—
Jaipur, ten years ago, villages, the reason and the manner while qualifying their respective verbs—live, was
born, lives, quarrelled and behave. Hence, the wh-family words and phrases in the preceding sentences are
relative adverbs.
Activity 5
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate wh-words or phrases from the box.
how where wherein why where when
[Note: (DFKRSWLRQJLYHQDERYHFDQEHXVHGWR¿OOLQPRUHWKDQRQHEODQN@
1. Hill stations, ____________________ the weather is pleasant throughout the year, are thronged by tourists.
10. : LOODQ\RQHH[SODLQWRPHWKHUHDVRQBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBKHZDV¿UHGIURPKLVMRE"
Activity 6
Story Time!
Read the following excerpt from the biography of Ruskin Bond and pick out the adverbs from it, mentioning
their kind also.
Ruskin slowly left the room.
At that moment, he hated the headmaster as he had never hated anyone before. It was almost as if his only link
with his father had been severed forever. Totally devastated, he ran out, kicking the stones in his path violently.
He had no time to brood as he had to leave for home where he would be with his mother and step-father, a home
without his Daddy.
In Dehradun, his step-father Mr. Hari ignored him completely. Unwanted and lonelier than ever, Ruskin went
for long walks in the countryside. Nature with her bounty, offered him solace. If he passed the dhobi-ghat, Ruskin
MRLQHGWKHZDVKHUPHQ¶VFKLOGUHQLQWKHLUJDPHV7 KRVHZHUHPRPHQWVZKHQ5XVNLQFDPHFORVHVWWREHLQJKDSS\
.12:/('*(&251(5
TEACHER’S DAY
In India Teacher’s Day is celebrated every year as a mark of accolade to the part played by the
teachers in the society. Since 1962, India has been celebrating Teacher's
Day on 5th September. The day commemorates the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli
Radhakhrishnan, a philosopher and a teacher, and his valuable contribution
WRWKH¿HOGRIHGXFDWLRQ'U5DGKDNULVKQDQEHOLHYHGWKDWWHDFKHUVVKRXOG
EHWKHEHVWPLQGVLQWKHFRXQWU\
Teachers are the cornerstones of our future and act as foundation for
creating responsible citizens and good human beings. This day is celebrated
to acknowledge and recognise the hard work put in by our teachers towards
our development.
THE ADVERB 53