GRAMMAR AND USAGE English Supplementary Conventions

GRAMMAR AND USAGE

I Spot the errors. (Indicate the part in which the error is. Use ‘no error’ in case there is
no error in the sentences)

1. Her father/forbade her to go/to cinema/with Geeta./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

2. We/saw/a elephant/in the zoo./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

3. The milk/is/good/for health./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

4. The dog/is/a/faithful animal./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

5. Red Fort/is a /beautiful/monument in Delhi./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

6. The apple/a day/keeps/the doctor away./no error.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

7. The fruits of/all the modern luxuries/lie/in the science./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

8. Mrs. Geeta Paul/is/coming to /dinner./no.error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

9. The Punjabi/is spoken/by the people/of Punjab./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

10 The teacher/called a /last boy/standing in the queue./no error
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

SOLUTIONS:

1. c place ‘the’ before cinema
2. c. ‘A’ is used in place of ‘An’ with elephant.
3. a. ‘The’ article is omitted before proper nouns, uncountables etc. in general.
4. e ‘The’ is used before a singular countable noun meant to represent a whole
class or kind.
5. a ‘The’ is used in front of the names of monuments.
6. a ‘An apple’- an is used before a word beginning with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) sound.
7. d delete ‘the’ before science
8. e no error
9. a Punjabi. ‘The” is not used before the names of a language.
10. b ‘The last boy’. ‘The’ is used before the ordinals.

II Choose the correct alternative from those given in the brackets.

1. I ______________a new car last week.
(buy/bought/have bought)

2. He will explain it to you when he____________back.
(comes/will come./came)

3. My uncle______________tomorrow.
(has arrived/arrives/will have been arriving)

4. She jumped off the bus while it _________________.
(moved/had moved/was moving)

5. The earth_____________round the Sun.
(revolves/revolve/revolved)

6. He_________________asleep while he was driving.
(fall/fell/fallen)

7. The baby____________all morning.

(cries/is crying/has been crying)

8. She____________in the concert tomorrow evening.
(is playing/has played/has been playing)

9. I meant to repair the switch, but_____________time to as it today.
(am not having/have’nt had/had’nt)

10. Can I have some milk before I _____________to bed?
(go/agoing/shall go)

SOLUTIONS:
1. bought
2. comes
3. arrives
4. was moving
5. revolves
6. fell
7. has been crying
8. is playing
9. haven’t had
10. go.

III Choose the best option from those given to complete the sentences (Reported speech)

1. Please tell me__________________
a. where is the bus stop
b. where the bus stop be
c. where stops the bus
d. where the bus stop is

2. He said_____________________
a. that the weather colder than usual.
b. The weather be colder than usual
c. The weather was colder than usual
d. The weather is colder than usual.

3. I believe______________________

him he is right
b. he is right
c. he be right
d. that he right

4. He told us____________________
a. that he like the show
b. he liked the show
c. he be liking the show
d. that like the show

5. Mother said________________
a. that she was angry
b. she angry
c. she be angry
d. her was angry

6. Father didn’t know_________________
a. what I mean
b. what did I mean
c. what did I meant
d. what I meant

7. I think________________

a. today it is Sunday
b. that is today Sunday
c. today is Sunday
d. today be Sunday

8. My friend told me___________________
a. what the answer was
b. what was the answer
c. what was to be the answer
d. what is the answer

9. He ordered _________________
a. that the class stand in a line
b. the class to stand in a line
c. that the class be standing in a line
d. the class stood in a line

10. I hope __________________
a. he is well
b. him he is well
c. he be well
d. that he well

SOLUTIONS :-
1. d
2. c

3. b
4. b
5. a
6. d
7. c
8. a
9. b
10. a

IV Choose the correct option to complete these passive voice sentences.

1. Your jacket___________over there.
a. can be hang up
b. can be hanged up
c. can be hunged up
d. can be hung up

2. He___________________
a. have never been heard of
b. has never been hearing of
c. has never been heard of
d. has never been heard of

3. The keys_________________
a. must have been left behind
b. must been left behind
c. must having been left behind
d. must have be left behind

4. The criminal_______________
a. were locked up
b. were lock up
c. were locking up
d. was locked up

5. The lamp _____________________by the wind
a. was being blown out
b. was blown out
c. was blow out
d. was blowed out

6. My bank loan _________ in three years time.
a. will paid off
b. will be paying off
c. will be paid off
d. will be being paid off

7. ________ to you yet.
a. Has the book been given back
b. Has the book being given back
c. Has the book been gave back
d. Has the book being gave back

8. The road _________
a. was blocking off
b. was block off
c. was blocking of
d. was blocked off

9. She _________ with a reprimand.
a. was let off
b. was letted off
c. was letting off
d. were lett of

10. Nothing _________ me.
a. can be hald against.
b. Can be held against
c. Can be hold against
d. Can be holding against

SOLUTIONS :-

1. d
2. d
3. a
4. d
5. b
6. c
7. a
8. d
9. a
10. b

V Choose the appropriate modal to fill in the blank:-

1. _____________ you, please, stop talking ? (would/can/will)
2. You ________ not hurry, there is plenty of time(must/can/need).
3. You __________ go now(can/may/should)
4. What cannot be cured, _________ be endured(should/will/must).
5. You _______ have given me a helping hand(ought/should/must).
6. The doctor said that the patient ________ recover(may/will/might)
(Hint:- The doctor was not very sure about it)
7. The student politely said to the principal “_________ I have a word with
You ? “ (Can/May/Might).
8. I’m afraid I _______ tell you that, it is a secret(must not/can not/will not).
9. I ________ like you to answer my questions properly(should/would/will).
10. He has lost your pen and he _________ not tell you(will/dare/can).

SOLUTIONS:-

1. will
2. need
3. may
4. must
5. should
6. might
7. may
8. can not
9. would
10. dare

VI – Fill in ‘a/an/the’ wherever required. Fill ‘X’ where no article is needed:-
1. Meena went to __________ sports complex to meet _______ coach.
2. Ritu had already gone to ________ play.
3. Cholera is __________ water borne _______ disease.
4. I like ________ red colour.
5. My mother had never touched ________ onion.
6. Mr. Kapoor organised _______ nice lunch in honour of ________ chairman.
7. Our aim should be to build _______ strong India.
8. _________ apple a day, keeps ________ doctor away.
9. _________ Luncheon Party was organised to welcome _______ guests.
10. __________ bird in hand is worth two in _________ bush.
Page 173 of 280
SOLUTIONS
1. the, the
2. X
3. a , X
4. X
5. an
6. a , the
7. a
8. an , the
9. a , the
10. a , the
VII – Choose the correct alternative out of the four given in the brackets:-

1. The florist does not have the flowers. I was looking _______ .
(a) by (b) about (c) for (d) to

2. Books are very often compared ________ a granary.
(a) with (b) to (c) by (d) at

3. Divide twelve sums __________ three students.
(a) to (b) for (c) between (d) among

4. Ram will never pass his XII class examination ______ he works hard.
(a) if (b) unless (c) since (d) because

5. We must try to rise _________ the prevailing prejudices.
(a) upon (b) over (c) above (d) beyond

6. He has been living in Delhi _________ 1989.
(a) since (b) for (c) before (d) although

7. I have been working in this school __________ 20 years now.

(a) since (b) before (c) for (d) although

8. There was nothing we could do ________ wait.
(a) and (b) except (c) otherwise (d) than

9. Professor Nath will take __________ as the chairman tomorrow.
(a) on (b) as (c) over (d) from

10. His topic is different _________ mine.
(a) than (b) with (c) to (d) from

SOLUTIONS
1. c
2. b
3. d
4. b
5. c
6. a
7. c
8. b
9. c
10. d

VII- Fill in the appropriate connectors from those given in the brackets:-

1. The boy will fail _______ he does not study.
(a) because (b) if (c) until (d) though

2. Ram was late _________ it was raining heavily.
(a) while (b) after (c) so (d) because

3. _________ you have any questions, please ask me.
(a)Incase (b) until (c) unless (d) because

4. She is more dedicated _________ her sister.
(a) as (b) than (c) before (d) because

5. We want our feelings to be respected ; _________ , we should respect the feeling
Of others.
(a) neverthelless (b) similarly (c) on the other hand (d) because

6. We lost the House Keys, _________ we had to break the lock.
(a) still (b) for (c) therefore (d) since

7. My uncle left for the U.S.A. _________ I was a baby.
(a) when (b) since (c) while (d) for

8. __________ much I tried, I could not help him.
(a) though (b) however (c) as (d) still

9. I ate my breakfast ___________ he was having his bath.
(a) when (b) as (c) since (d) while

10. ___________ I entered the class, the students stood up.
(a) As long as (b) While (c) Since (d) As soon as

SOLUTIONS :-

1. b
2. d
3. a
4. b
5. b
6. c
7. a
8. b
9. d
10. d