GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY

BY DIPANKAR SAHA
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate verb forms
Some days after the funeral, a special train ________ (was taking/had taken/took) Gandhiji’s ashes to
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Allahabad. The compartment ________ (was decked/decked/was decking) with flowers. People on the
train ________ (were singing/sang/had sung) Bhajans .
Answer : took, was decked, sang

He now stood (defeat/ defeats/ defeated), his cries, suppressed into sobs. Then he ________
(run/ran/runs) again, this time to a temple to which people seemed to be crowding. Every little inch of
space here ________ (is congested/ was congested/ are congested) with men, but he ran through
people’s legs.
Answer : defeated, ran, was congested

There ________ (is/are/was) a rain-water pond behind our house in Dehradoon. It was grandfather
who first ________ (show/showed/shows) me the pond-world. We chose a dry place in the shade of the
old peepul tree and sat for an hour ________ (gaze/gazes/gazing) steadily at the green layer of dirt
floating on the water.
Answer : was, showed, gazing

Rabindranath used to ________ (sit/sat/sitting) by the window. He ________ (observed/has

observed/ had been observing) nature from the window of his room. His writings ________
(influenced/had been influenced/were influenced) largely by the environment around.
Answer : sit, observed, were influenced

Food ________ (keep/keeps/kept) us alive and ________ (give/gives/gave) us health. But it ________
(do/does/did) a lot of harm, if we eat more than we need.
Answer : keeps, gives, does

Google ________ (began/begins/beginning) in January 1996 as a research project by Larry Page and
Sergey Brin when they ________ (are/have/ were) both PhD students at Stanford University in Stanford,
California. The domain name for Google ________ (registered/is registered/was registered) on
September 15, 1997.
Answer : began, were, was registered

Surprisingly, Salim Ali ________ (have/has/had) no university degree. Although he ________

(join/joins/ joined) college, his intense dislike for mathematics did not allow him to continue his studies.
He ________ (leave/leaves/left) for Burma to help his brother in his farm.
Answer : had, joined, left

B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions.

The ashes of Bapu were immersed ________ the Ganges where ________ huge crowd had gathered
________ the bank.
Answer : in, a, at
 Prof. Amartya Sen is ________ great son ________ India. He was born on 3rd November, 1933. He
was named ‘Amartya’ ________ Rabindranath Tagore.
Answer : a, of, by

Many fat gentlemen lived ________ Ealing and caught this train ________ town. They all started late.
They all carried ________ black bag and newspaper in one hand. Page | 2
Answer : at, to, a

I was ________ my wit’s end. People smiled me when they met me in ________ streets.
Answer : at, at, the

When he returned home he did ________ course ________ Zoology and was appointed a guide at the
museum of ________ Bombay Natural History Society.
Answer : a, in, the

The Thurlow lived ________ a small hill. As though it were not high enough, the house was raised
________ as on invisible stilts, with a wooden flight of steps to ________ front door.
Answer : on, up, the

________ Amazon Rainforest is located ________ South America and covers ________ area of
approximately 5.500,000 square kilometres.
Answer : The, in, an

That was why I was curious ________ meet Thomas Wilson. It was ________ interesting and a bold
thing he had done. Of course the end was not yet and ________ the experiment was concluded it was
impossible to call it successful.
Answer : to, an, until

The white man gazed straight ________ him into the darkness with wide-open eyes. The fear and
fascination, ________ inspiration and the wonder of death ________ of death near, unavoidable, and
unseen, soothed the unrest ________ his race and stirred the most indistinct, the most intimate of his
thoughts.
Answer : before, the, of

My freedom is limited ________ what is possible and legal. But am I not ________ face free to kill my
neighbour provided I can do it without being found ________? Well, yes, in fact I am.
Answer : to, in, out

________ English newspaper published ________ а reputed business house has started their e-
edition. It is going to be popular ________ the young generation.
Answer : An, by, with

We were ________ the habit of bathing ________ a beach called ________ Baths of Tiberius.
Answer : in, at, the

The first term ________ school came to ________ end. David went home for the holidays. In the
meantime a baby had been born ________ his mother.
Answer : at, an, to
C. Do as directed.
(i) Change the following sentences as directed.

Having finished their lunch, they made for the meeting place. (Complex)
Answer : After they have finished their lunch, they made for the meeting place. Page | 3

During my stay there I was quite well. (Complex)

Answer : As long as I stayed there, I was quite well.

It seemed impossible that he could escape. (Simple)

Answer : His escape seemed impossible.

Only those boys who will work hard will succeed. (Simple)
Answer : Only hard-working boys will succeed.

I am so tired that I cannot walk. (Simple)

Answer : I am too tired to walk.

Taking pity on the beggar the child gave him a coin. (Compound)
Answer : The child took pity on the beggar and gave him a coin.

In the absence of the teacher, the students make noise. (Complex)

Answer : When the teacher is absent, the students make noise.

He was poor, but he was honest. (Complex)

Answer : Though he was poor, he was honest.

He was ill, so he could not be present. (Complex)

Answer : As he was ill, he could not be present.

Although my father was poor, he gave me the best possible education. (Compound)
Answer : My father was poor, still he gave me the best possible education.

If you do not surrender your arms immediately, you will be shot dead. (Compound)
Answer : Surrender your arms immediately, or you will be shot dead.

It began to rain before we reached the house. (Negative)

Answer : It began to rain not earlier than we reached the house.

The boy does not smoke now. (Affirmative)

Answer : The boy has given up smoking.

I am not stronger than he. (Affirmative)

Answer : I am as strong as he.

I shall always remember you. (Negative)

Answer : I shall never forget you.
 He tried every method. (Negative)
Answer : He left no method untried.

I was not sure that it was you. (Affirmative)

Answer : It was doubtful whether it was you. Page | 4

The load is too heavy to lift. (Negative)

Answer : The load is so heavy that none can lift it.

As soon as the teacher came, the students stood up. (Negative)

Answer : No sooner had the teacher come than the students stood up.

We received the Minister respectfully. (Use noun form of ‘respectfully)

Answer : We received the Minister with respect.

I decided this myself. (use noun form of ‘decided’)

Answer : I took this decision myself.

He is very wise. (Use noun form of ‘wise’)

Answer : He possesses much wisdom.

Death is better than dishonour. (Use verb form of ‘dishonour’)

Answer : It is better to die than to be dishonoured.

Apparently it is a good proposal, (Use verb form of apparently’)

Answer : It appears to be a good proposal.

They differ from each other. (Use noun form of “differ’)

Answer : There is a difference between them.

The student gave a correct answer to the question. (Use “answer’ as a verb)
Answer : The student answered the question correctly.

What is he? (Make it Affirmative)

Answer : Let us know about his profession.

Nobody is free from sin. (Make it Interrogative)

Answer : Who is free from sin?

You want to give the toy to someone. (Make it Interrogative)

Answer : Whom do you want to give the toy?

How nice is it to see you again? (Make it Assertive)

Answer : It is so nice to see you again.

I want to know the reason of your coming late in the class. (Make it Interrogative)
Answer : Why do you come late in the class?
 Wherein lies his strength? (Make it Assertive)
Answer : I like to know the source of his strength.

How beautiful is the night! (Make it Assertive)

Answer : The night is very beautiful. Page | 5

What a nice thing it is! (Make it Assertive)

Answer : It is a very nice thing.

I saw a bear, I ran away. (Join using a participle)

Answer : Seeing a bear, I ran away.

(ii) Change the degree of the following sentences as directed.

He is as tall as Sujata. (Comparative)
Answer : Sujata is not taller than he.

Silver is not so precious as gold. (Comparative)

Answer : Gold is more precious than silver.

He is more intelligent than you. (Positive)

Answer : You are not so intelligent as he.

Kalidas is greater than any other poet of modern India. (Superlative)

Answer : Kalidas is the greatest poet of modern India.

The sun is the biggest planet. (Positive, Comparative)

Answer : No other planet is so big as the sun. The sun is bigger than any other planet.

Very few poets in the world are as great as Rabindranath. (Comparative, Superlative)
Answer : Rabindranath is greater than most other poets in the world. Rabindranath is one of the
greatest poets in the world.

He is one of the best boys in the class. (Positive, Comparative)

Answer : Very few boys in the class are as good as he. He is better than most other boys in the class.

She is the most beautiful girl in the locality. (Positive, Comparative)

Answer : No other girl in the locality is as beautiful as she. She is more beautiful than any other girl in
the locality.

(iii) Change the voice of the following sentences.

Open the door.
Answer : Let the door be opened.

Please do not smoke.

Answer : You are requested not to smoke.

Respect your superiors.

Answer : Your superiors should be respected.

Love all men.

Answer : All men should be loved.

She does not read the novel. Page | 6

Answer : The novel is not read by her.

The woman looks after the child.

Answer : The child is looked after by the woman.

His behaviour astonished me.

Answer : I was astonished at his behaviour.

Tears filled her eyes.

Answer : Her eyes were filled with tears.

The drama interested us.

Answer : We were interested in the drama.

The lady killed herself.

Answer : The lady was killed by herself.

Somebody has stolen my purse.

Answer : My purse has been stolen.

A picture is drawn by him.

Answer : He draws a picture.

A bag is being taken by him.

Answer : He is taking a bag.

The glass jar has been broken by me.

Answer : I have broken the glass jar.

The room was being cleaned by her.

Answer : She was cleaning the room.

The boy had been scolded by you.

Answer : You had scolded the boy.

The lame man was laughed at by the boy.

Answer : The boy laughed at the lame man.

The prize was won by the boy.

Answer : The boy won the prize.

The match may be won by you.

Answer : You may win the match.

We were charmed at your manner.

Answer : Your manner charmed us.

The stage was flooded with the light. Page | 7

Answer : The light flooded the stage.

The man is known to me.

Answer : I know the man.

The lady was interested in the book.

Answer : The book interested the lady.

He was made president by them.

Answer : They made him president.

Do you read the book?

Answer : Is the book read by you?.

(iv) Change the mode of narration.

Samar says, “I have bought a pen.”

Answer : Samar says that he has bought a pen.

She said to me, “How happy you are!”

Answer : He told me that I was very happy.

He said, “I have come.”

Answer : He said that he had gone.

He said, “What a sight!”

Answer : He exclaimed in joy that it was a beautiful sight.

He said, ‘Honesty is the best policy.’

Answer : He said that honesty is the best policy.

He said, “We are happy here.”

Answer : He said that they were happy there.

He said to you, “May God bless you.”

Answer : He prayed that God might bless you.

Father said to me, “Will you not go to school?”

Answer : Father asked me if I would not go to school.

He said to me, “Have you bought the project book?”

Answer : He asked me if I had bought the project book.
 He said to her, “What are you doing?”
Answer : He asked her what she was doing.

Mother said to me, “Where did he go?”

Answer : Mother asked me where he had gone. Page | 8

He said, “Let us play.”

Answer : He proposed that we should play.

The police said to him, “Obey the traffic rules.”

Answer : The police ordered him to obey the traffic rules.

I said to him, “Please give me some money.”

Answer : I requested him to kindly give me some money.

Parijat said, “Let us visit the Book Fair.”

Answer : Parijat suggested that they should visit the book fair.

He said to me, “Do not go there.”

Answer : He advised / ordered / told me not to go there.

He says, “I shall not attend the class.”

Answer : He says that he will not attend the class.

He said, “Did you see the mad man.”

Answer : He asked if he had seen the mad man.

He said, “Let me come in.”

Answer : He requested that he might be allowed to go in.

She said, “Alas! I have lost my sight.”

Answer : She cried out in sorrow that she had lost his sight.

She said to her mother, “Let me help her.”

Answer : She requested her mother that she might be allowed to help her.

He said, “The Earth moves round the Sun.”

Answer : He said that the earth moves round the sun.

The boy said, “Had I the wings of bird!”

Answer : The boy wished that he might have the wings of bird.

She said, “Good-bye, my friends!”

Answer : She bade her friends good-bye.

D. Replace the underlined words with correct phrasal verbs.

He could not tolerate such indecent behaviour.
Answer : bear with

My father reared me very strictly.

Answer : brought up

The work demands endurance and patience. Page | 9

Answer : calls for

He obeyed the plan without difficulty.

Answer : carried out

I met my friend by chance on the way.

Answer : came across

The unconscious man slowly began to recover.

Answer : come round

I don’t want to quarrel with you.

Answer : fall out

All their plans have failed.

Answer : fallen through

The old lady descended from the bus.

Answer : got down

We will assemble before we start.

Answer : get together

Traffic was delayed for an hour for escorting the VIPs to the city.
Answer : held up

He was stricken to the ground by a speeding taxi.

Answer : knocked down

One should put aside some money for future.

Answer : lay aside

I requested him to investigate the matter.

Answer : look into

I cannot understand the meaning of what you say.

Answer : make out

He died at midnight last night.

Answer : passed away

His father reserved a large sum of money for future use.

Answer : put aside

The soldiers exploded the opponent’s camp.

Answer : blew up

The burglar entered by force the house. Page | 10

Answer : broke into

When is your publisher publishing your new book?

Answer : bringing out

I shall visit the doctor’s chamber today.

Answer : call at

The go-slow agitation was cancelled.

Answer : called off

We have abandoned our old prejudices.

Answer : cast aside

How did you get this job?

Answer : come by

She distributed the money to the poor.

Answer : gave away

This action opposes my conscience.

Answer : goes against

He continued till the work was finished.

Answer : kept on look

We must not despise the leper.

Answer : down upon

They extinguish the flames.

Answer : put out

He established a school for poor children.

Anwer : set up

The baby really resembles his father.

Answer : takes after

They rejected my proposal.

Answer : turned down

Put down your demands on this paper.

Answer : Write down

I cannot remember his name.

Answer : call up

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