ACHARYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Soladevanahalli, Bengaluru – 560107

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH
(BENGK106)

Surya Saju
Ms.
Department of HUMANITIES
Acharya Institute of Technology
Soladevanahalli, Bengaluru – 560107
2024-25
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DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

I. COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course Communicative English (BENGK106) will enable the students,

• To know about Fundamentals of Communicative English and Communication Skills in
general.
• To train to identify the nuances of phonetics, intonation and enhance pronunciation skills for
better Communication skills.
• To impart basic English grammar and essentials of important language skills.
• To enhance with English vocabulary and language proficiency for better communication skills.

• To learn about Techniques of Information Transfer through presentation.

II. COURSE OUTCOMES (COS)

At the end of the course Communicative English (BENGK106) the student will be able to:
• CO1 Understand and apply the Fundamentals of Communication Skills in their
communication skills.
• CO2 Identify the nuances of phonetics, intonation and enhance pronunciation skills.
• CO3 To impart basic English grammar and essentials of language skills as per present
requirement.
• CO4 Understand and use all types of English vocabulary and language proficiency.
• CO5 Adopt the Techniques of Information Transfer through presentation.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH

Course Code BENGK106 Semester I

MODULE – 04: BASIC ENGLISH COMMUNIATIVE GRAMMAR AND

VOCABULARY PART-II

SYLLABUS CONTENT

1. WORD FORMATION
2. PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
3. CONTRACTIONS
4. ABBREVIATIONS
5. WORD PAIR (MINIMAL PAIR)
6. TENSES AND TYPES OF TENSES
7. SEQUENCE OF TENSES

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BASIC ENGLISH COMMUNIATIVE GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY

PART-II

1.Word Formation
Word formation is a linguistic process that involves creating new words or modifying existing ones to
expand the vocabulary of a language. It is a dynamic aspect of language evolution, allowing speakers to
express new ideas, concepts, and relationships efficiently. The study of word formation explores the rules
and patterns through which words are generated.

Types of Word Formation

1. Derivation: Derivation involves adding prefixes or suffixes to a root word to create a new word with a different
meaning or grammatical category.
• Examples: o Prefixes: Un- (as in unhappy), Re- (as in rebuild).
o Suffixes: -ness (as in happiness), -ly (as in quickly).
2. Compounding
• Definition: Compounding combines two or more independent words to form a single word with a
new meaning. When a word is formed out of two or more root words, it is called a compound word.
• Examples:
o Noun + Noun: toothbrush. o Adjective + Noun: bluebird. o Verb +
Noun: pickpocket.
o Adjective + noun: hard drive
3. Blending
• Definition: Blending merges parts of two words into one.
• Examples:
o Brunch (from breakfast + lunch). Smog (smoke + fog) o Motel (from
motor + hotel). o travelogue (travel +catalogue)

4. Clipping

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• Definition: Clipping reduces a longer word into a shorter form while retaining its meaning.
• Examples:
o Exam (from examination). o Gym (from gymnasium). o Phone (from
telephone).
o Fridge (from refrigerator)
5. Borrowing
• Definition: Borrowing involves taking words from other languages and incorporating them into the
vocabulary. • Examples:
o Taco (from Spanish). o Guru (from Sanskrit).
o Pizza (from Italian)

2. Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes and suffixes are essential components of word formation, playing a crucial role in modifying the
meanings and grammatical categories of words. They are collectively known as affixes and are bound
morphemes, meaning they cannot stand alone but must attach to a base word or root.
Prefixes
A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to alter its meaning. Prefixes primarily
modify the meaning of the base word, often negating, intensifying, or changing the direction or quality of
the word.

Types of Prefixes and Their Functions

1. Negative Prefixes o Examples:
▪ Un-: unhappy (not happy), uncertain (not certain).
▪ In-/Im-/Il-/Ir-: invisible (not visible), impossible (not possible), illegal (not legal),
irregular (not regular), irrational.
▪ Dis-: dislike (not like), disagree (not agree).
2. Prefixes Indicating Size or Degree o
Examples:

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▪ Super-: superhuman (above human ability), superpower (great power).
▪ Sub-: submarine (underwater), substandard (below standard).
▪ Mini-: miniskirt (small skirt), minibus (small bus).
▪ Hyper-: hyperactive (overly active), hypercritical (excessively critical).
3. Prefixes Indicating Time or Order
o Examples:
▪ Pre-: preview (view before), predict (say before).
▪ Post-: postpone (delay after), postgraduate (after graduation).
▪ Re-: rewrite (write again), rebuild (build again).
4. Prefixes Indicating Direction or
Position o Examples:
▪ Over-: overcome (conquer), overload (load too much).
▪ Under-: underestimate (estimate too little), underground (beneath the ground).
▪ Inter-: international (between nations), interact (act between).
5. Prefixes Indicating Number o
Examples:
▪ Mono-: monologue (speech by one person), monorail (single rail).
▪ Bi-/Di-: bilingual (speaking two languages), dioxide (two oxygen atoms).
▪ Multi-: multicultural (many cultures), multitask (do many tasks).

Suffixes
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a root word. Suffixes often change the grammatical
category of a word, such as turning a noun into an adjective or a verb into a noun. They can also
modify the word's meaning. Types of Suffixes

1. Suffixes That Form Nouns o

Examples:
▪ -ness: happiness (state of being happy), kindness (quality of being kind).
▪ -tion/-sion: celebration (act of celebrating), confusion (state of being confused).

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▪ -er/-or: teacher (one who teaches), actor (one who acts).
2. Suffixes That Form Verbs o
Examples:
▪ -ify: clarify (make clear), simplify (make simple).
▪ -ize/-ise: realize (make real), organize (arrange systematically).
▪ -ate: activate (make active), motivate (cause to act).
3. Suffixes That Form
Adjectives o Examples:
▪ -ful: hopeful (full of hope), useful (full of use).
▪ -less: hopeless (without hope), useless (without use).
▪ -ous: famous (well-known), dangerous (full of danger).
4. Suffixes That Form Adverbs o
Examples:
▪ -ly: quickly (in a quick manner), happily (in a happy way).
▪ -ward: forward (towards the front), backward (towards the back).
5. Suffixes Indicating
Comparison o
Examples:
▪ -er: faster (more fast), bigger (more big).
▪ -est: fastest (most fast), biggest (most big).

Usage of Prefixes and Suffixes in Word Formation

1. Adding Prefixes:
o Honest → Dishonest (negation). o Connect → Reconnect (repeat action). o Hero →
Superhero (greater degree).

2. Adding Suffixes:
o Friend → Friendship (noun formation). o Beauty → Beautiful (adjective formation).
o Quick → Quickly (adverb formation).

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3. Combining Both:
o Happy → Unhappiness (prefix + suffix).
o Real → Unrealistic (prefix + suffix).

Contractions in English
A contraction is a shortened form of one or more words, created by omitting certain letters and replacing
them with an apostrophe ('). Contractions are commonly used in informal speech and writing to make
communication more natural and conversational.

Types of Contractions
1. Contractions with Auxiliary or Modal Verbs
o I am → I'm o
o He is / He has → He's
o They are → They're
o You will → You'll
o We have → We've
2.Contractions with "Not"
o Is not → Isn't
o Are not → Aren't
Cannot → Can't
Will not → Won't
Do not → Don't
Has not → Hasn't

Common Examples of Contractions

Full Form Contraction
I am I'm
You are You're

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He has He's
She will She'll
We had We'd
They will They'll

Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initialisms

1. Abbreviations
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or phrase, designed to save time or space in writing or
speaking.
Characteristics
• Can be formed by omitting letters from the middle, end, or both.
• May include periods (.) to indicate the omission.
• Used in both formal and informal contexts.
o Examples:
▪ Mr. (Mister)
▪ Dr. (Doctor)
▪ St. (Street)
▪ e.g. (exempli gratia, meaning "for example")
▪ etc( et.ctera)
▪ AI (Artificial Intelligence)
▪ ASAP (As Soon As Possible)
▪ OMG (Oh My God)
▪ BTW (By The Way)
▪ FYI (For Your Information)
▪ DIY( Do It Yourself)

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2. Acronyms
An acronym is a type of abbreviation formed by taking the initial letters of words in a phrase and
pronouncing them as a single word.
Characteristics
• Acronyms create a new word that is spoken as a single unit.
• Often used for organizations, technologies, and processes.
• Some acronyms become so widely used that they are recognized as standard words (e.g., scuba).
Examples
UNESCO → United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NATO → North Atlantic Treaty Organization
RADAR → Radio Detection and Ranging
PIN → Personal Identification Number
AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

3. Initialisms
An initialism is formed by taking the first letters of a phrase, but unlike acronyms, the letters are
pronounced individually.
Characteristics
• Initialisms are not pronounced as words but as a series of letters.
• Commonly used for names of organizations, technical terms, or tools.
• Often written in uppercase letters.
o Examples
o FBI → Federal Bureau of Investigation

o BBC → British BroadcastingCorporation

o ATM → Automated Teller Machine
o DIY → Do It Yourself

WORD PAIR- MINIMAL PAIR

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Minimal Pair
A minimal pair refers to a set of two words in a language that differ by only a single sound (phoneme) in
the same position but have distinct meanings.
For example:
• pin / bin
• cat / bat
Characteristics of Minimal Pairs
• Differ by a single phoneme.
• The phoneme contrast occurs in the same position (initial, medial, or final).
• Have distinct meanings.

Types of Minimal Pairs

1. Based on Initial Sound
• pat / bat
• sip / zip
• fan / van
• kite / light
2. Based on Medial Sound
• bit / bet
• fool / full
• cat / cut
3. Based on Final Sound
• cap / cab
• rice / rise
• leaf / leave
4. Based on Vowels (Vowel Minimal Pairs)
• ship / sheep
• cot / caught

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• bed / bad
• pool / pull
5. Based on Consonants (Consonant Minimal Pairs)
• tap / tab
• pen / ten
• dime / time

Vowel Minimal Pairs Consonant Minimal Pairs

man / men cap / cab

pull / pool fan / van

hut / hot cat / bat

set / sat pat / bat

Tenses in English Grammar

Tenses represent the time of an action or state of being in a sentence. They are divided into three main
categories: Present, Past, and Future. Each category is further divided into four aspects: Simple,
Continuous (Progressive), Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.

1. Present Tense
The present tense describes actions that are happening now, daily routines, general truths, or habitual
actions.
a. Simple Present : Subject + Base Verb + Object •
b. Usage: Facts, habits, general truths, and routines.
• Examples:
1. She writes letters every day.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. They play football on weekends.

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c. Present Continuous : Subject + Am/Is/Are + Verb(-ing) + Object

• Usage: Actions happening right now or ongoing.
• Examples:
1. He is reading a book.
2. They are working on the project.
3. I am writing a letter.

d. Present Perfect: Subject + Has/Have + Past Participle (V3) + Object

• Usage: Actions completed at some point in the past with relevance to the present.
• Examples:
1. She has finished her homework.
2. We have visited Paris twice.
3. He has just left the office.

e. Present Perfect Continuous : Subject + Has/Have + Been + Verb(-ing) + Object

• Usage: Actions that started in the past and are still continuing.
• Examples:
1. They have been studying for three hours.
2. She has been working here since 2019.
3. I have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.

2. Past Tense
The past tense describes actions or events that happened at a specific time in the
past. a. Simple Past: Subject + Past Verb (V2) + Object •
Usage: Completed actions or events in the past.
• Examples:
1. He watched a movie yesterday.
2. She visited her grandmother last weekend.

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3. They played cricket in the park.

b. Past Continuous: Subject + Was/Were + Verb(-ing) + Object •

Usage: Actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.
• Examples:
1. He was reading a book when I called.
2. They were playing football at 5 PM yesterday.
3. She was cooking dinner when the power went out.

c. Past Perfect: Subject + Had + Past Participle (V3) + Object •

Usage: Actions completed before another past action or time.
• Examples:
1. She had left before he arrived.
2. They had finished their homework before dinner.
3. He had already seen that movie.

d. Past Perfect Continuous: Subject + Had + Been + Verb(-ing) +O

Usage: Actions that were ongoing in the past up to another
point in the past.
• Examples:
1. They had been working for hours before they took a break.
2. She had been cooking for two hours when they arrived.
3. He had been studying for two hours before dinner.
4. I had been waiting for him for an hour when he showed up.

3. Future Tense
The future tense describes actions that will happen in the future.
a. Simple Future : Subject + Will/Shall + Base Verb + Object
• Usage: Actions that will occur in the future.

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• Examples:
1. I will meet her tomorrow.
2. They will go to the market next week.
3. She will complete the project by Friday.

b. Future Continuous : Subject + Will+ Be + Verb(-ing) + Object •

c. Usage: Actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.
• Examples:
1. She will be working on the report at 10 AM tomorrow.
2. They will be traveling to Paris this time next week.
3. I will be waiting for you at the station.

d. Future Perfect : Subject + Will + Have + Past Participle (V3) + Object •

e. Usage: Actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
• Examples:
1. They will have finished the work by 5 PM.
2. She will have completed her course by next year.
3. He will have left before we arrive.
f. Future Perfect Continuous : Subject + Will + Have + Been + Verb(-ing) + Object
• Usage: Actions that will have been ongoing for a specific time in the future.
• Examples:
1. By 2025, she will have been teaching for 10 years.
2. They will have been working on the project for a month by the deadline.
3. He will have been studying for hours by the time the exam begins.

Tense Example Sentence

Simple Present She writes letters.
Present Continuous She is writing a letter.
Present Perfect She has written a letter.

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Present Perfect Continuous She has been writing a letter.

Simple Past She wrote a letter.
Past Continuous She was writing a letter.
Past Perfect She had written a letter.
Past Perfect Continuous She had been writing a letter.
Simple Future She will write a letter.
Future Continuous She will be writing a letter.
Future Perfect She will have written a letter.
Future Perfect Continuous She will have been writing a letter.

Sequence of Tenses
The sequence of tenses refers to the relationship between the tense of the verb in the main clause
(principal clause) and the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause. The rules ensure that the tenses match
the context of the sentence.
Rule 1: Past follows past
If the main clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause is usually in a past tense unless it refers to a
universal truth or habit.

1. He said that he was tired.

2. She told me that she had finished her homework.
3. I knew that he wanted to say something.
4. She succeeded because she worked hard.
5. The patient had died before the doctor came.
6. They explained that the Sun rises in the East. (Universal truth remains in the Present tense)

Rule 2: If the Main Clause is in the Present or Future Tense

The subordinate clause can be in any tense (present, past, or future), depending on the meaning.
• Examples:
1. She says that she is studying.

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2. He says he saw Krishna.
3. He will explain why he missed the meeting.
4. My mother will be happy if you come home
5. They believe that it will rain tomorrow.

Rule 3: Earlier Action is in Past Perfect

If two past actions are mentioned, the action that happened first is in the Past Perfect tense, and the later
action is in the Simple Past tense.
• Examples:
1. She said that she had seen him before he left.
2. He explained that they had completed the project before the deadline arrived.
3. The patient had died before the doctor came.

Rule 4: Present follows future.

Using conjunctions like when, as soon as, after, once ..etc the subordinate clause will not take the future
tense when the principal clause is in future tense.
• Examples:
1. I will teach you after I finish learning.
2. Aruna will help her mother as soon as she completes her assignments.
3. The team will be here immediately after they receive the signal.

Rule 5: Universal Truths Stay in Present Tense

Even if the main clause is in the past, universal truths or eternal facts remain in the Present tense.
• Examples:
1. The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
2. He told us that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

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