Articles
They are probably the simplest words. They are probably
the most used words. A, an and the. These three words are
known as articles. It is difficult to master these (particularly
the) without sufficient practice. Let us see what we can do in
the few pages that we have.
Indefinite Article
A or an is called the indefinite article because it leaves
indefinite the person or thing spoken of. For example,
There shall come a day when everyone will be rich.
The writer of the above sentence is indefinite about the day.
He cannot specify a particular day. It could be any day.
K
The difference between a and an is only phonetic
(of sound). Both of them serve the same function.
Rule: An is used before a word beginning with a vowel
sound.
Incorrect : The English were a enemy of the French.
The word enemy begins with a vowel (e) sound. So, use an.
Correct : The English were an enemy of the French.
Note : There are five vowels in the English alphabet — a, e, i,
o, u. the rest are consonants.
Incorrect : He is a MP.
KUNDAN
MP stands for Member of Parliament. But when you read the
above sentence, MP is read as empee. So the word begins
with a vowel (e) sound. The correct indefinite article is
therefore an.
Correct : He is an MP.
Rule: A is used before a word beginning with a consonant
sound.
Incorrect : An girl is waiting for me.
Girl begins with a consonant (g) sound, So, it should be
preceded by a.
Correct : A girl is waiting for me.
Incorrect : She is an university student.
You are tempted to use an when you see the u in university.
But pronounce it and it is yuniversity. That is, it begins with
a y sound. y is a consonant. So,
Correct : She is a university student.
Use of the indefinite article
In its original numerical sense of one.
Incorrect : There are hundred centimetres in the metre.
If you know the metric system well, 1m = 100 cm. Thus, there
are hundred centimetres in one metre. If we have to substitute
one with an article, it is a, not the. So,
Correct : There are hundred centimetres in a metre.
In the vague sense of a certain.
I saw a book on the table.
It means I do not know exactly which book I saw.
To make a common noun of a proper noun.
When NT Ramarao died, the media said of Lakshmi
Parvati: “Will she do a Jayalalitha?
If you see Jayalalitha as a proper noun, it makes no
sense. The writer here is not concerned with Jayalalitha the
person but with the traits she carries. Jayalalitha thus becomes
a common noun: characteristics particular of Jayalalitha.
In such conversions a (or an) is used.
In the sense of each, every or per.
The doctor said “Take the pill twice a day.”
In the sense of any, to single out an individual as the
representative of a class.
A computer saves time.
That is, saving time is the characteristic of any and every
computer.
Rule: When two subjects are thought of as a single unit,
article is used before the first subject.
Incorrect: He introduced me to his friend who is a singer
and a scientist.
Correct: He introduced me to his friend who is a singer
and scientist.
The same person is a singer as well as a scientist. So
article is used before the first subject.
Use of the definite article
When we speak of a particular person or thing, or one
already referred to.
Incorrect : He has been causing trouble since a day he came.
See how things become clear if we split the given sentence
into two parts.
(1) He came one day.
(2) He has been causing trouble since then.
Now, what would you do if you have to use the noun day
instead of then in (2)? Which article would come before day?
It has to be the definite article the because the day has already
been referred to in (1). So, after substitution we have
(2) He has been causing trouble since the (that) day.
Combining (1) and (2).
Correct : He has been causing trouble since the day he came.
When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class.
The elephant is a huge animal.
Exceptions: Man and woman are not preceded by an article
when used in the general sense.
Before the names of physical features in geography.
The Gulf of Cambay; the Volga (river); the Arabian Sea;
the Indian Ocean,
the West Indies (group of islands); the Himalayas
(mountain range).
Before the names of religious and mythological books.
Incorrect : The story is there in Bible.
Correct : The story is there in the Bible.
However, when these books are preceded by the name of
their authors, the is not used. So, you might have read the
Aeneid, but you cannot read Virgil’s the Aeneid. It is Virgil’s
Aeneid.
Before common nouns which are names of things unique of
their kind.
The earth goes round the sun.
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Before a common noun to give it the meaning of an abstract
noun.
The devil in him begins its misdeeds now and then.
Here the devil becomes an abstract noun which means the
devilness or the devilish spirit.
Before superlatives.
Incorrect : Kumble is best bowler in the country.
The moment you use the superlative, you are pointing to a
particular person or thing. When you use best for someone
you are specific about him. So, the definite article is used.
KUNDAN
Correct : Kumble is the best bowler in the country.
Before ordinals.
Incorrect : They won the match in fortieth over.
Fortieth (40th) is an ordinal because it tells you which (in
terms of number) over. By thus singling out this over, it is
being specified. Hence, the should be used.
Correct : They won the match in the fortieth over.
Before Comparatives.
Incorrect: He is a better of the two boys.
Correct: He is the better of the two boys.
Note: If “than” is used to express comparative degree, the
article “the” is not used with comparative degree.
Incorrect: He is the better than the two boys.
Correct: He is better than the two boys.
Before musical instruments.
Amjad Ali Khan plays the sarod.
Before an adjective when it is understood a noun.
Let us enter the world of the bold and the beautiful.
Here the adjectives actually contain the noun persons or
people within them.
Omission of the article
We are so much in the habit of using the ( or even a/an) that
it becomes imperative to know where not to use them.
Before a common noun used in its widest sense.
Incorrect : The science has developed much in the past
hundred years.
The above sentence would be correct if a particular science
were being talked about. Since this is not mentioned in any
form, we assume science to be used in its general sense. So,
the article the should not be used.
Correct : Science has developed much in the past
hundred years.
Before the noun following kind of.
Incorrect : What kind of a hobby is this?
When you talk of a particular thing, it is a kind of general
thing (a common noun in its widest sense). Here hobby has
been used in this general sense. By the previous rule, there
should be no article before it. So,
Correct : What kind of hobby is this?
Note : The above sentence is different from the exclamatory
“What a hobby!” You exclaim thus about one hobby, so it is
correct to use a.
Before names of materials.
Incorrect : An iron is a useful metal.
Here we are talking of iron the material. So, it is incorrect to
use an article.
Correct : Iron is a useful metal.
But it is correct to say
An iron is a useful gadget.
because here we are not talking of the material iron but the
object which is used to make clothes smooth.
Before proper nouns.
India is a big country.
Before abstract nouns used in a general sense.
Incorrect : The strength is what makes a man successful.
Which strength? Any particular one? No. So, do not use the.
Correct : Strength is what makes a man successful.
But it is correct to say
The strength of a team lies in its ability to maintain
harmony. The adjective phrase thus makes strength particular.
Before names of one’s relations.
Mother would like to see you.
The writer of the above sentence is telling the reader that his
mother would like to see him (the reader). But if someone
else’s mother is being talked about, he should write.
The mother would like to see you.
Articles are not used with these common expressions if they
are used for primary purposes. For example,
 (1) to go to school/college/church/home/market/bed
court/hospital/prison.
(2) At home, at fault, at down, at night, at noon, at church,
at hand, all day, all right.
(3) By road/land/air/ train/sea/bus/ship.
Incorrect: I went to school to drop my sister.
Correct: I went to the school to drop my sister.
Here school is not used for primary purpose that to
study there. Dropping someone to school becomes secondary
purpose. So the should be used before school.
No article is used after such verbs as appoint, elect, crown,
make.
Incorrect : They elected him a chairman
Correct : They elected him chairman.
No article is used before sunset, sunrise, daybreak,
dawn, dusk, night, noon, today, yesterday.
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EXERCISE
Directions: Read each sentence to find out whether there
is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the
sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is
no error, tick “No error” as your answer. (Ignore the errors
of punctuation, if any)
1. It is not my business (a)/ to give an advice to those who
are not sensible enough (b)/ to deal with their own
problems. (c)/ No error (d)
KUNDAN
2. You have been learning Tamil (a)/ for last one year (b)/ but
you show no improvement whatsoever. (c)/ No error (d)
3. The English (a)/ defeated (b)/ French in the battle of
Waterloo. (c)/ No error (d)
4. A first step (a)/ in a rational solution to any problem (b)/
is the recognition that a problem exists. (c)/ No error (d)
5. I am not wealthy (a)/ so I cannot afford (b)/ to buy a
expensive car. (c)/ No error (d)
6. As soon as the teacher entered (a)/ everyone in the class
(b)/ fell in a silence. (c)/ No error (d)
7. On my request (a)/ Lalit introduced me to his friend (b)/
who is singer and a scientist. (c)/ No error (d)
8. To perform this experiment (a)/ drop little sugar (b)/ into
a glass of water and see the change. (c)/ No error (d)
9. Even now when I (a)/ see the spot (b)/ I am reminded of
an unique accident that took place several years ago.
(c)/ No error (d)
10. With little imagination and enterprise (a)/ the tournament
could have been transformed (b)/ into a major attraction.
(c)/ No error (d)
11. Page after page (a)/ of Gita were read (b)/ and it gave
great consolation to his mind. (c)/ No error (d)
12. One should (a)/ be true to one’s promises in order to
earn (b)/ name & fame in the life. (c)/ No error (d)
Incorrect: I will meet you at the dusk.
Correct: I will meet you at dusk.
Articles are not used with certain idiomatic phrases
like — in danger, in demand, on fire, by mistake, in problem,
in difficulty, by bus, in hope, in detail etc.
Incorrect: The house was on a fire.
Correct: The house was on fire.
No article is used before most proper nouns (names of
persons, countries, cities, continents).
Correct: My friend will come from India.
Correct: My friend will come from the USA.
Note: Certain countries like USA, US, UAE take the article
“the” before them.
13. The robbers were (a)/ caught just as they (b)/ were about
to escape from the jail. (c)/ No error (d)
14. The man is mortal (a)/ and ultimately he has to leave
everything here (b)/ yet how irrationally he remains
attached to his worldly possessions. (c)/ No error (d)
15. In a mountaineering expedition (a)/ higher you (b)/ go
from the base camp the colder you feel. (c)/ No error (d)
16. He leads a very busy life (a)/ so he goes everywhere (b)/
by a car. (c)/ No error (d)
17. We should spend a good part of the day (a)/ in outdoor
activities and games (b)/ because staying indoors all the
time is bad for health. (c)/ No error (d)
18. The trees in a forest must be properly counted and
numbered (a)/ and proper entries be made (b)/ in the
register. (c)/ No error (d)
19. The principal asked the girls to return (a)/ to the hostel
(b)/ before the sunset. (c)/ No error (d)
20. He is the best artist of his time (a)/ but unfortunately (b)/
least recognised. (c)/ No error (d)
21. Brahmaputra is (a)/ one of the largest rivers (b)/ that
originate in the Himalayas. (c)/ No error (d)
22. In a hour’s time (a)/ when I had finished the work, (b)/ I
got up and slipped out unnoticed. (c)/ No error (d)
23. He was fascinated by insects (a)/ and the more he studied
their habits (b)/ greater was his fascinations. (c)/ No
error (d)
24. We all (a)/ must respect (b)/ a honest and hardworking
person. (c)/ No error (d)
25. By all standards (a)/ he is a best soldier (b)/ our military
school has produced so far. (c)/ No error (d)
26. He did not go (a)/ to the city on foot (b)/ he went there.
by the train. (c)/ No error (d)
27. A person I met (a)/ in the theatre yesterday (b)/ was the
playwright himself. (c)/ No error (d)
28. Both the civilians (a)/ and armymen (b)/ joined the First
World War. (c)/ No error (d)
29. My friends insisted (a)/ that I should see (b)/ the movie
from beginning to the end. (c)/ No error (d)
30. He took to (a)/ reading Times (b)/ for better knowledge
of the facts. (c)/ No error (d)
31. All the staffs (a)/ of this office hold the view (b)/ that Mr.
Sinha is a very wise and an intelligent officer. (c)/ No
error (d)
32. I don’t like (a)/ that type of a man (b)/ who does nothing
but find out faults in others. (c)/ No error (d)
33. Little knowledge (a)/ of music that he possessed proved
to be a boon for him (b)/ when he was utterly helpless.
(c)/ No error (d)
34. It was (a)/ by a mistake (b)/ that he caught her hand (c)/
No error (d)
35. After returning (a)/ from the jail, he has abandoned (b)/
all the criminal activities and is determined to lead a simple
life. (c)/ No error (d)

Answers and Explanations

1. b; Omit the article “an” before “advice” as “advice” is 17. d; No error.
singular uncountable noun. 18. d; No error.
2. b; Put “the” before “last” is an ordinal. 19. c; Omit “the” before “sunset”.

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3. c; Put “the” before “French”. 20. d; Put “the” before “least” as it is a superlative.
4. a; Replace ‘a’ with “the” as the word “first” is an 21. a; Put “the” before “Brahmaputra”
ordinal. 22. a; Replace ‘a’ with “an”.
5. c; Replace ‘a’ with “an”. 23. c; Put “the” before “greater”.
6. c; Omit ‘a’ before “silence” as it is uncountable noun. 24. c; Replace ‘a’ with “an”.
7. c; It should be “a singer and scientist”. 25. b; Replace ‘a’ with “the”.
8. b; Put ‘a’ before “little”. 26. c; Omit “the” before “train”.
9. c; Replace “an” with “a”. 27. a; Replace “a person” with “the person”.
10. a; Put “a” before “little”. 28. b; Put “the” before “armymen”.
11. b; Put “the” before “Gita” as it is the name of a 29. c; Put “the” before “beginning”.
30. b; Put “the” before “Times”.

KUNDAN
religious text.
12. c; Omit “the” before “life”. 31. c; Omit “an” before “intelligent”
13. c; Omit “the” before “jail” as it has been used for primary 32. b; Omit “a” before “man”.
purpose. 33. a; Put “the” before “little”.
14. a; Omit “the” before “man”. 34. b; Omit “a” before “mistake”.
15. b; Put “the” before “higher” as it is a comparative. 35. b; Omit “the” before “jail”.
16. c; Omit “a” before “car”.

Preposition
A preposition is a word placed before a noun (or a pronoun)
to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it
stands to something else.
Kinds of Preposition
1) Simple Prepositions : They are the simple words used
as prepositions. For example, at, by, for, from, in, of, off,
on, out, over, through, till, to, under, up, with.
2) Compound Prepositions : They are generally formed by
prefixing a preposition (usually a = on or be = by) to a
noun, an adjective or an adverb. For example,
about, above, across, along, amidst, among, around,
before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between,
beyond, inside, outside, underneath, within, without.
3) Phrase Prepositions : When a group of words is used
with the force of a single preposition, it is known as a
phrase preposition. For example,
He succeeded in spite of obstacles.
4) Participial Prepositions: When the present participle
of a verb acts as a preposition, it is known as a participle
preposition. For example,
There have not been too many communal riots in recent
times barring those in the aftermath of Dec 6.
Some Rules
Rule : In is used with names of countries and large towns;
at is more often used when speaking of small towns
and villages.
Incorrect: He lives at Germany.
Correct: He lives in Germany.
Rule : In and at are used in speaking of things at rest; to
and into are used in speaking of things in motion.
Incorrect : This week the song jumped at the top of
the charts.
Correct: This week the song jumped to the top of
the charts.
Rule : Till is used of time and to is used of place.
Incorrect: The office will remain open to six in the
evening.
Correct: The office will remain open till six in the
evening.
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Rule : With often denotes the instrument used by the agent.
Incorrect: The ball was hit by the bat.
Correct: The ball was hit with the bat.
Rule : Both since and from are used before a noun denoting
some point of time. However, while since is preceded
by a verb in the perfect tense, from is used with the
non-perfect tense.
Incorrect: India has been playing Test cricket from
1932.
Correct: India has been playing Test cricket since
1932.
KUNDAN
Rule : While since or from is used with a point of time, for
is used with a period of time.
Incorrect: The parcel has been lying here since 10
days.
Correct: The parcel has been lying here for 10 days.
Rule : Beside means by the side of while besides means in
additions to.
Incorrect: He sat besides the chair.
Correct: He sat beside the chair.
Rule : Between is used for only two things or persons while
among is used for more than two.
Incorrect: You have to choose among tea and coffee.
Correct: You have to choose between tea and coffee.
Rule : Above and below merely denote position while over
and under also carry a sense of covering or
movement.
Incorrect: The bird flew above the lake.
Correct: The bird flew over the lake.
Rule : During is used when we are talking about the time
within which something happens. For is used when
we are talking about how long something lasts.
Incorrect: There were few incidents of irregularity
for the Emergency years.
Correct: There were few incidents of irregularity during
the Emergency years.
Rule: The preposition “off” denotes “separation”, “at a
distance from” or “far from” whereas the
preposition “of” denotes cause, origin, quality,
possession.
Incorrect: He put of his coat.
Correct: He put off his coat. (Separation)
Incorrect: He died off cancer.
He died of cancer. (Cause)
Rule : The word compare is followed by to when it shows
that two things are alike. It is followed by with when
we look at the ways in which two things are like
and unlike each other.
Incorrect: Sanath Jayasuriya's batting may be
compared with the sales of a useful book:
they score fast right from the beginning.
Correct: Sanath Jayasuriya's batting may be
compared to the sales of a useful book:
they score fast right from the beginning.
Rule : When we simply speak of a thing having got better,
we talk of an improvement in it. When we compare
two things, the second of which is better than the
first, we talk of an improvement on the first thing.
Incorrect: There has been an improvement on the
weather.
Correct: There has been an improvement in the
weather.
Rule : In means at the end of, while within means before
the end of, the said time duration.
Incorrect: We left at 5 o'clock expecting to come
back in an hour and watch the 6 o'clock
movie.
Incorrect: We left at 5 o'clock expecting to come
back within an hour and watch the 6
o'clock movie.
Some important points about prepositions
1. The words “superior”, “inferior”, “senior”, “junior” etc.
take the preposition “to” with them.
Incorrect: Ram is senior than Mohan.
Correct: Ram is senior to Mohan.
2. The words “prefer”, “preferrable”, “preferred” also take
the preposition “to” with them
Incorrect: I prefer tea than coffee.
Correct: I prefer tea to coffee.
3. The words “inspite of” and “despite” share the same
meaning. The only difference is that inspite takes the
preposition “of” whereas despite does not take any
preposition.
Incorrect: Despite of bad weather, he went to school.
Correct: Despite bad weather, he went to school.
 In the same way, the word “consist” takes the preposition Incorrect: The classroom comprises of twenty students.
“of” whereas “comprise” does not take any preposition. Correct: The classroom comprises twenty students.

EXERCISE

Directions: Choose the most appropriate preposition in 14. I am not obsessed _______ such ideas as you are.
each of the following sentences. a) in b) for
1. The peasant refused to grovel _______ the feet of his c) on d) with
master. 15. The thunder was accompanied _____ heavy rains.
a) on b) about a) with b) by
c) upon d) at c) up d) through
2. He was killed _______ a highway man ______ a dagger. 16. We travelled _____ a boat to reach Dhaka.
a) by; for b) by; with a) by b) on
c) in; for d) with; for c) for d) about
3. Give an example pertinent ________ the case. 17. Rata is married ______ Bobby.
a) with b) for a) with b) to
c) on d) to

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c) at d) between
4. Are not these slums a disgrace ______ the civic
18. I brought him _____ with great difficulty.
authorities.
a) about b) round
a) for b) to
c) towards d) on c) up d) in
5. Take this medicine and you will get rid _______ the bad 19. Good sleep is necessary ______ good health.
cold. a) of b) for
a) from b) over c) at d) from
c) at d) of 20. Exercise is beneficial _____ health.
6. President Saddam Hussain has lived _______ the gun a) towards b) for
all his life. c) to d) in
21. I have been teaching in this school a)/ since several

KUNDAN
a) with b) for
c) by d) on years b)/ but have never met such a hopless class as
7. He had to repent _______ what he had done. this. c)/ No error d)
a) at b) of 22. I have an appointment a)/ on the 9th of September b)/ on
c) over d) for five O’clock. c)/ No error d)
8. The commentator seems to be enamoured _______ it. 23. Despite of a good monsoon a)/ this year, the production
a) with b) over of food grains in the b)/ country did not go up. c)/ No
c) for d) on error d)
9. The man died _______ fever last week. 24. Ordinarily, when in difficulty a)/ Renu prefers keeping
a) with b) from her counsel b)/ than running about taking advice. c)/ No
c) of d) by error d)
10. He has not been cured _______ his disease. 25. The invitation card a)/ says that Satish b)/ marries with
a) of b) from Sunita next month. c)/ No error d)
c) by d) through 26. She looked very different from a)/ the photograph b)/ I
11. He is a descendant ______ the Mughal royalty. had of her. c)/ No error d)
a) of b) from 27. The bride said a)/ that she would not b)/ marry the man
over thirty five. c)/ No error d)
c) at d) for
28. The reason a)/ of his failure b)/ is due to his negligence.
12. Kabir was born ________ humble parents.
c)/ No error d)
a) of b) from
29. The captain and his wife were invited a)/ for the cultural
c) by d) with b)/ function at my home. c)/ No error d)
13. She was a devoted wife and looked _____ her husband. 30. Yesterday, while a)/ crossing the road b)/ he was run out
a) after b) at by a truck. c)/ No error d)
c) for d) to 31. Beside chocolates a)/ the parents also b)/ bought toys
for the child. c)/ No error d)
32. None of the students a)/ saw him b)/ worthy for the 34. I am vexed a)/ at him b)/ about what he has done. c)/ No
reward he received. c)/ No error d) error d)
33. All the players a)/ except Sam b)/ were present on the 35. Mr. Smith was accused for murder a)/ but the court did
playground. c)/ No error d) net find him guilty b)/ and acquitted him. c)/ No error d)

Answers and Explanations

1. d 2. b 3. d 4. b 5. d 27. c; Replace “over” with “above”
6. c 7. d 8. a 9. c 10. a 28. b; Replace “of” with “for”
11. a 12. a 13. a 14. d 15. a 29. b; Replace “for” with “at”
16. a 17. b 18. c 19. b 20. c 30. c; Replace “run out” with “run over”
21. b; Replace “since” with “for”. 31. a; Replace “beside” with “besides”
22. c; Replace “on” with “at”. 32. c; Replace “worthy for” with “worthy of”
23. a; Omit “of” 33. c; Replace “on” with “in”
24. c; Replace “than” with “to” 34. b; Replace “at” with “with”
25. c; Replace “with” with “to” 35. a; Replace “accused for”“ with “accused of”

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26. d; No error.

Conjunction
A conjunction is a word which merely joins together
sentences or clauses, and sometimes words.
1. That is a beautiful place and I have been there.
2. That is the beautiful place where I have been to.
Note : "No sooner A ... than B" is very similar to "Scarcely
A... when B" and has almost the same meaning.
Rule : Do not use seldom or ever in place of seldom or

KUNDAN
Classes of Conjunctions
Conjunctions are divided into two classes: 1) Co-ordinating
and 2) Sub-ordinating.
1. Co-ordinating conjunction : It joins together clauses of
equal ranks. For example.
He is slow, but he is sure.
2. Sub-ordinating conjunction : It joins together clauses in
which one is dependent on the other. For example,
Since you wish to excel in life, you must learn English.
Some rules
Rule: Scarcely should be followed by when, not by than.
Incorrect: Scarcely had he arrived than he had to
leave again.
Correct: Scarcely had he arrived when he had to
leave again.
Rule : No sooner is followed by than, not by but.
Incorrect: No sooner had we reached the station but
the train left.
correct: No sooner had we reached the station than
the train left.
never.
Incorrect: The national network seldom or ever
telecasts good programmes.
Correct: The national network seldom or never
telecasts good programmes.
Rule : Correlative conjunctions should be followed by
the same part of speech.
Incorrect: He neither agreed to my proposal nor to
his.
Correct: He agreed neither to my proposal nor to
his.
Rule : Neither is followed by nor, not by or.
Incorrect: The phone neither went dead or worked
properly.
Correct: The phone neither went dead nor worked
properly.
Rule : The conjunction that is not used before
i) a sentence in direct narration.
ii) an interrogative adverb or interrogative pronoun
in the indirect narration.
Incorrect: He said that, "it is none of my business".
Correct: He said, "It is none of my business."
Incorrect: He asked me that which was the way to
the station.
 Correct: He asked me which was the way to the
station.
Rule : Although goes with yet or a comma (,) in the other
clause.
Incorrect: Although Manohar is hardworking, but
he does not get a job.
Correct: Although Manohar is hardworking, yet he
does not get a job.
Note: Though/Although is used with contradictory
sentences (sentences expressing opposite views).
Incorrect: Since she was sick, she attended the party.
Correct: Though she was sick, she attended the party.
Rule : Nothing else should be followed by but, not by than.
Incorrect: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else than
red-tapism.
Correct: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else but
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red-tapism.
Rule : The correlative conjunctions indeed... but are used
to emphasis the contrast between the first and the
second parts of the statement.
Incorrect: I am indeed happy with my school but it
produces famous men.
Correct: I am indeed happy with my school that it
produces famous men.
Rule : In a "not only ... but also ... "sentence, the verb should
agree with the noun or pronoun mentioned second,
KUNDAN
that is, the one after but also because this is the part
being emphasised.
Incorrect: Not only the students but also the teacher
were responsible for what happened
in the class.
Correct: Not only the students but also the teacher
was responsible for what happened in
the class.
Rule : Not only ... but also always comes before the same
part of speech.
EXERCISE
Directions: In each of the following questions, find out
which part of the sentence has an error. The error may be
grammatical or idiomatic. If there is no mistake, the answer
is ‘No error’.
1. No sooner did I open the door (a)/ when the rain, heavy
and stormy, rushed in (b)/ making us shiver from head to
foot. (c)/ No error (d)
2. Be smart (a)/ not only in dress (b)/ and also in action. (c)/
No error (d)
3. Hardly had I reached the airport (a)/ where I learnt (b)/
about the powerful bomb explosion. (c)/ No error (d)
Incorrect: They not only gave me standing ovation
but also a cash prize of `1000.
Correct: They gave me not only standing ovation
but also a cash prize of `1000.
Rule : Such...as is used to denote a category whereas
such...that emphasises the degree of something by
mentioning its consequence.
Incorrect: Each member of the alliance agrees to take
such action as it deems necessary.
Correct: Each member of the alliance agrees to take
such action that it deems necessary.
Rule: The conjunction “lest” is followed by “should”.
Incorrect: Work hard lest you would fail.
Correct: Work hard lest you should fail.
Note: “Lest” is a negative word. There should be no use of
“not”, “nothing”, “never”, “no” with “lest”.
Incorrect: Word hard lest you should not fail.
Correct: Word hard lest you should fail.
Rule: The conjunction so—as is used for comparison in a
negative sentence whereas—as is used in a positive
or affirmative sentence.
Incorrect: He is not as tall as his brother.
Correct: He is not so tall as his brother.
Rule: The conjunction, “both” is followed by “and” and
not by “as well as” or “along with”.
Incorrect: Both the boys as well as the girls were
asbent.
Correct: Both the boys and the girls were absent.
Rule: The conjunction “unless” denotes condition
whereas “until” denotes time.
Incorrect: Until you work hard, you will not succeed.
Correct: Unless you work hard, you will not
succeed.
Note: “Unless” and “Until” are negative words. There
should be no use of “not” “nothing”, “never” with
unless and until.
4. It is not (a)/ such a good book (b)/ that I expected. (c)/
No error (d)
5. The downfall of this kind (a)/ is to be attributed to (b)/
nothing else than pride. (c)/ No error (d)
6. Unless he does not return (a)/ all the library books (b)/
he will not be relieved from the service. (c)/ No error (d)
7. You must either tell me (a)/ the whole story or, at least,
(b)/ the first half of it. (c)/ No error (d)
8. The old woman has had the best medical facilities
available (a)/ but she will not be cured (b)/ unless she
does not have a strong desire to live. (c)/ No error (d)
9. My books have been (a)/ missing from my room (b)/ till
yesterday. (c)/ No error (d)
10. The manager of the bank was busy; (a)/ so he asked
them to come and (b)/ see him between two to three in
the afternoon. (c)/ No error (d)
11. He is as clever if (a)/ not cleverer (b)/ than his brother.
(c)/ No error (d)
12. No sooner did the sun rise (a)/ when we took a hasty
breakfast (b)/ and resumed the journey. (c)/ No error (d)
13. Hardly had the children (a)/ left the school (b)/ than it
began to rain. (c)/ No error (d)
14. Because he is physically strong, (a)/ therefore he was
selected (b)/ for the school boxing team (c)/ No error (d)
15. The reason for (a)/ his failure is because (b)/ he did not
work hard. (c)/ No error (d)
16. Bharat asked him (a)/ that which was the way (b)/ to the
post-office. (c)/ No error (d)
17. Unless you do not listen to his advice (a)/ I am not going
23. Ranjeet is as (a)/ fast as or (b)/ perhaps faster than Rohit.
(c)/ No error (d)
24. Though she was sick (a)/ but she (b)/ attended the party.
(c)/ No error (d)
25. Neither the famine (a)/ or the subsequent fire (b)/ was
able to destory the spirit of the poeple. (c)/ No error (d)
26. No sooner did (a)/ the Chairman begin speaking, some (b)/
participants started shouting slogans. (c) No error (d)
27. The Management Committee has requested me (a)/ not
to take any action (b)/ unless and until I don’t see all the
documents. (c)/ No error (d)
28. As he is rich, (a)/ so he spends (b)/ lavishly. (c)/ No error
(d)
29. I am but (a)/ a humble seeker after truth (b)/ and bent
upon finding it. (c)/ No error (d)
30. Hardly had he arrived (a)/ when the house caught fire (b)/
and everything was reduced to ashes. (c)/ No error (d)
31. Make haste (a)/ lest you might (b)/ miss the train. (c)/ No

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(b)/ to help you. (c)/ No error (d)
18. How do you say (a)/ that neither he or (b)/ Ravi has
qualified in the examination? (c)/ No error (d)
19. Being a strict vegetarian (a)/ he depended on milk and
fruit (b)/ and had to cook for himself. (c)/ No error (d)
20. Even though the shirt is rather expensive (a)/ but I wish
to (b)/ purchase it with my own money. (c)/ No error (d)
21. Unless Ashish does not (a)/ return all the library books,
(b)/ he will not be awarded the pass certificate. (c) No
error (d)
22. Mohan could not (a)/ go to the picnic (b)/ for his mother
error (d)
32. Neither did he (a)/ accept the punishment (b)/ or
apologised (c)/ for his mistake. (d)/ No error (e)
33. No sooner did the jeep arrive at the station (a)/ than a young
police officer (b)/ jumped out of it. (c)/ No error (d)
34. If you hate me, (a)/ then you should (b)/ leave my house.
(c)/ No error (d)
35. The managing director well as the Board members (a)/
was in favour of taking strict action (b)/ against the
striking workers. (c)/ No error (d)

KUNDAN
(c)/ was not well. (c)/ No error (d)

Answers and Explanations

1. b; Replace ‘with’ by ‘than’ 19. c; Replace ‘and’ with ‘or’
2. c; Replace ‘and’ with ‘but’ 20. b; Remove ‘but’
3. b; Replace ‘where’ with ‘when’ 21. a; Replace ‘unless’ with ‘if’
4. c; Replace ‘that’ with ‘as’ 22. d; No error
5. c; Replace ‘than’ with ‘but’ 23. b; Remove ‘as’
6. a; Replace ‘does not return’ with ‘returns’ 24. b; Replace ‘but’ with ‘yet’
7. d; No error 25. b; Replace “or” with “nor”
8. c; Replace ‘does not have’ with ‘has’ 26. b; Add ‘than’ before ‘some’
9. c; Replace ‘till’ with ‘since’ 27. c; Remove ‘don’t
10. c; Replace ‘to’ with ‘and’ 28. b; Remove ‘so’
11. a; Add ‘as’ after ‘clever’ 29. c; Remove ‘and’
12. b; Replace ‘when’ with ‘than’ 30. d; No error
13. c; Replace ‘than’ with ‘when’ 31. b; Replace “might” with “should”
14. b; Remove ‘therefore’ 32. c; Replace ‘or’ with ‘nor’
15. b; Replace ‘because’ with ‘that’ 33. d; No error
16. b; Remove ‘that’ 34. b; Remove ‘then’
17. a; Remove ‘do not’ 35. a; Add ‘as’ before ‘well’
18. b; Replace ‘or’ with ‘nor’
 Noun
Words are divided into different kinds or classes according Incorrect: The jury were unanimous in their opinion.
to the work they do in a sentence. These kinds or classes are Correct: The jury was unanimous in its opinion.
known as Parts of Speech. They are eight in number: 1. Noun Rule: A collective noun takes a plural verb and is
2. Pronoun 3. Verb 4. Adjective 5. Adverb 6. Preposition 7. substituted by a plural pronoun when the
Conjunction 8. Interjection. individuals of which it is composed are thought of.
What is noun? Noun is a word used to name a person, place net behaving as a single unit
or thing. Incorrect: They jury was divided in its opinions.
For example: Correct: The jury were divided in their opinions.
Rama was an epic king.
His valour brought him laurels. 4. Abstract Noun
An abstract noun is usually the name of a quality, action or
Kinds of Noun state considered apart from the object ( which is usually a
common noun and often qualified by an adjective) to which it

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1. Common Noun belongs. For example:
Innocence is integral to a child.
A common noun is a name given in common to every person Love knows no bound.
or thing of the same class or kind. For example;
I write with a pen. 5. Material Noun
The student asked me a few questions.
A material noun is the name of a material ( matter from which
2. Proper Noun a thing is made). For example:
Cotton is the source of natural fibre.
A proper noun is the name of a particular person or Milk constitutes a nutritious food.
place. Rule: A material noun does not take an article (a, an, the)

KUNDAN
For example: before it.
Ramu is a wise fellow. Incorrect: The tobacco is a cash crop.
Patna lacks basic civic amenities. Correct: Tobacco is a cash crop.
Rule: Proper nouns are always written with a capital Rule: It takes articles when treated as common nouns.
letter at the beginning. Incorrect: They offered me glass of water.
Incorrect: Earlier the capital of india was in calcutta. Correct: They offered me a glass of water.
Correct: Earlier the capital of India was in Calcutta.
Rule: Proper nouns are sometimes used as common nouns. Numbers
Incorrect: LK Advani is today regarded as Sardar
Patel of India. Numbers are of two kinds-
Correct: LK Advani is today regarded as the Sardar (1) Singular Number
Patel of India. (2) Plural Number
Generally while changing singular noun to plural we add
Rule: In this case proper nouns are always preceded by s, es in the end.
articles. For example
She is a Lata Mangeshkar. cow cows
Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India. chair chairs
school schools
3. Collective Noun
Mango Mangoes
A Collective noun is the name of a group of persons or
On the surface some nouns appear to be singular but in
things. For example army, committee, crowd, fleet, flock, herd,
meaning they are treated as plural.
jury, mob, parliament, team.
For example,
Rule: A collective noun usually takes a singular verb and
cattle, clergy, people, children, police, poultry
is substituted by a singular pronoun.
 peasantry peasants of a country Certain other nouns - caves, riches (valuables),
admirality the Government department that alms, funds, proceeds (profit), annals (record).
controls navy Incorrect : I bought a trousers yesterday.
infantry soldiers who fight on foot Correct :I bought a pair of trousers yesterday.
cavalry horse soldiers Some nouns are always singular and used as singular
gentry people belonging to high social class only. For example
nobility people belonging to aristocratic Poetry, information, machinery, dust, furniture, dirt,
class traffic, money, music.
Incorrect: The peasantry has always stood as Some nouns have one meaning in singular form and
rockstars for the development of a country. another in plural. For example,
Correct: The peasantry have always stood as Singular Plural
rockstars for the development of a country. Advice – counsel Advices – information
Some nouns look like plural but are always used as Air – wind Airs – affected manners
singular. For example, Colour – hue Colours – appearance, the
Subjects - Mathematics, economics, physics, ethics, flag of regiment
politics, classics. Compass – limit, Compasses – an instrument for
Rule: When these subjects denote qualities or property, range drawing circles
they are used in plural sense. For example, Custom – habit Customs – duties levied on

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Incorrect: His mathematics is weak. imports
Correct: His mathematics are weak. Force – strength Forces – troops
Diseases - Rickets, AIDS, diabetes, mumps, measles. Good – profit Goods – movable property
Some other nouns - News, gallows, summons, Pain – suffering Pains – careful effort
innings. People – men & Peoples – nations
Some nouns are plural in form and in meaning, normally women
they are instruments or dress articles which have two parts Spectacle– sight Spectacles – eye-glasses
and make a kind of pair. Do not use a/an before these nouns. Manner – method Manners – correct behaviour
For example, Letter – a unit Letters – letters, literature
Spectacles, tongs, scissors, pincers, bellows, of alphabet
trousers, drawers, breaches, pants, knickers, Ground – Earth Grounds – reasons, enclosed

KUNDAN
pantaloons. land

EXERCISE

Directions: Find out the error in each of the following
sentences, if any. If there is no error, the answer is ‘d’.
1. The sceneries (a)/ of Kashmir is more beautiful (b)/ than
that of Darjeeling. (c)/ No error (d).
2. One of the reason (a)/ for his failure (b)/ in the examination
is his carelessness. (c)/ No error (d).
3. All his sister-in-laws (a)/ are extremely beautiful to look
at, so the question (b)/ of selection is very puzzling. (c)/
No error (d).
4. The tables’s legs (a)/ were broken by my (b)/ angry
brother. (c)/ No error (d)
5. There were only (a)/ certain boy that were sincere and
diligent that (b)/ could do well in the examination. (c)/ No
error (d)
6. These type of books (a)/ are certainly helpful to the
students (b)/ preparing for the Banking Service
Examinations. (c)/ No error (d)
7. You are among those (a)/ luckiest man who attained
name and fame not by (b)/ labour but by chance. (c)/
No error (d)
8. Not to speak of failure (a)/ even a tragedy (b)/ does not
affect his high spirits. (c)/ No error (d)
9. Running a five-stars (a)/ hotel needs much more (b)/
money than what we have in our account. (c)/ No error
(d)
10. All the Chiefs Ministers (a)/ are responsible for the (b)/
pitiable condition of their states. (c)/ No error (d)
11. The wall of this magnificent (a)/ building is (b)/ fifty foot
high and its paintings are very striking. (c)/ No error (d)
12. He gave me two important informations (a)/ I had been
waiting for (b)/ for the previous two months. (c)/ No
error (d)
13. All the girls students (a)/ of the college are advised (b)/
to set in the Girls’ Common Room. (c)/ No error (d).
14. One of the problem (a)/ with you is that you do not (b)/
come in time. (c)/ No error (d)
15. When he returned (a)/ from America, he informed me (b)/
that he had come here to do urgent work. (c)/ No error (d)
16. I do my best (a)/ but I don’t understand why I do not get
expected (b)/ marks in the examination. (c)/ No error (d)
17. The pretty woman (a)/ sitting in the car (b)/ is the
daughter of one of the headman of the village. (c)/ No
error (d)
18. Owing to his heavy engagement (a)/ he could not write
even two-third (b)/ of the book of which the publications
was expected before January. (c)/ No error (d)
19. You will not be allowed (a)/ to go anywhere else (b)/ to
play outdoor games. (c)/ No error (d)
20. The beautiful surrounding (a)/ of the palace (b)/ attracted
a large number of tourists coming from abroad. (c)/ No
error (d)
21. He did not know (a)/ that the headquarter (b)/ of the
army was in Delhi. (c)/ No error (d)
22. Liberalisation of economy (a)/ has given birth to (b)/
25. Cattles are grazing (a)/ in the field (b)/ near my house.
(c)/ No error (d)
26. He gave me (a)/ a five-rupees note (b)/ and asked me to
get him a few cigarettes. (c)/ No error (d)
27. I have not read (a)/ the first and second (b)/ chapter of
the book. (c)/ No error (d)
28. These kind (a)/ of shirts (b)/ are rather expensive for him
to buy. (c)/ No error (d)
29. All the furnitures have been (a)/ sent to the new (b)/
house located in the village. (c)/ No error (d)
30. The Cotton Textile Company cannot work properly (a)/
unless it employs (b)/ a talented sale representative. (c)/
No error (d)
31. The poultries (a)/ situated near my house (b)/ are for
sale. (c)/ No error (d)
32. They left (a)/ their luggages (b)/ at the railway station
and went to save the child. (c)/ No error (d)
33. The disclosure of the synopsis of (a)/ the Thakkar

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many uncommon phenomenon in the society. (c)/ No
error (d)
23. Thousand of young (a)/ protesters were standing (b)/ at
Jantar Mantar and supporting Anna Hazare. (c)/ No error
(d)
24. It is very difficult (a)/ to chase (b)/ a huge score in the
fourth inning. (c)/ No error (d)
Commission Report (b)/ has raised several vital question.
(c)/ No error (d)
34. I don’t think (a)/ it is your house (b)/ it is somebody’s
else. (c)/ No error (d)
35. The table’s wood (a)/ is infested with (b)/ termites and I
am likely to dispose it off. (c)/ No error (d)

Answers and Explanations

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.
a;
a;
a;
a;

b;
a;
b;
d;
KUNDAN
Replace “sceneries” with “scenery”.
Replace “reason” with “reasons”.
Replace “sister-in-laws” with “sisters-in-law”
Replace “the table’s legs” with “the legs of the
table.”
Replace “boy” with “boys”.
Replace “type” with “types”
Replace “man” with “men”
No error
19. e;
20. a;
21. b;
22. c;
23. a;
24. c;
25. a;
26. b;
27. c;
No error
Replace “surrounding” with “surroundings”
Replace “headquarter” with “headquarters”
Replace “phenomenon” with “phenomena”
Replace “thousand” with “thousands”
Replace “inning” with “innings”
Replace “cattles” with “cattle”
Replace “rupees” with “rupee”
Replace “chapter” with “chapters”
9. a; Replace “stars” with “star”. 28. a; Replace “kind” with “kinds”
10. a; Replace “Chiefs” with “Chief”. 29. a; Replace “furnitures” with “furniture”
11. c; Replace “foot” with “feet” 30. c; Replace “sale representative” with “sales
12. a; Replace “informations” with “information” representative”
13. a; Replace “girls” with “girl” 31. a; Replace “poultries” with “poultry”
14. a; Replace “problem” with “problems” 32. b; Replace “luggages” with “luggage”
15. d; No error 33. c; Replace “question” with “questions”
16. d; No error 34. c; Replace “else” with “else’s”
17. c; Replace “headman” with “headmen” 35. a; Replace “The table’s wood” with “The wood of the
18. d; Replace “third” with “thirds” table”.
 Pronoun
A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun.
Amit is absent because he is ill.
Kinds of Pronoun
1. Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns are those which stand for three persons.
You may ask: which three? Well, here are the three persons
grammar knows:
(1) First Person: the person speaking.
Pronouns used: I, we.
(2) Second Person: the person spoken to.
Pronoun used: you.
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(3) Third Person: the persons other than the above two.
Pronouns used: He, she, it, they.
Rule: A personal pronoun must be of the same number,
gender and person as the noun for which it stands.
Incorrect: Every man must love their own country.
Correct: Every man must love his own country.
Rule: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person,
number and gender.
Incorrect: I am not one of those who believe
everything I see.
KUNDAN
Correct: I am not one of those who believe everything
they see.
Rule: When a pronoun stands for a collective noun, it
must be in the neuter gender and
i) singular number, if the collective noun is viewed as a
whole.
ii) Plural number, if the collective noun conveys the
idea of separate individuals.
Incorrect: The committee decided the matter without
leaving its seats.
Correct: The committee decided the matter without
leaving their seats.
Rule: When two or more singular nouns are joined by and
refer to
i) separate persons, the pronoun used for them must be
plural.
ii) the same person, the pronoun used for them must be
singular.
Incorrect: Both Manas and Appu showed his
fondness for his father.
Correct : Both Manas and Appu showed their
fondness for their father.
Rule: When two singular nouns joined by and are preceded
by each or every, the pronoun must be singular.
Incorrect: Every teacher and every student got their
dress ready.
Correct: Every teacher and every student got his
dress ready.
Rule: When two or more singular nouns are joined by or,
either... or or neither... nor, the pronoun is generally
singular.
Incorrect: Neither Mani nor Guni has brought their
identity card.
Correct: Neither Mani nor Guni has brought his
identity card.
The 123 rule of joint pronoun: When a pronoun
refers to more than one noun or pronoun of different
persons, it must be of the first person plural in
preference to the second, and of the second person
plural in preference to the third.
Incorrect: You and I, husband and wife, have to look
after your home.
Correct: You and I, husband and wife, have to look
after our home.
Note : 123 is a shorthand to remember the above rule, 1
stands for first person, 2 for second person, and 3
for third person.
231 manners: Generally the second person should
come before the third and the third person before
the first.
Incorrect : I, you and he had forgotten our roots.
Correct : You, he and I had forgotten our roots.
Rule: When expressing a negative idea the sequence of
personal pronouns should be 123.
Incorrect: you, I and he are guilty of committing
theft.
Correct: I, You, and he are guilty of committing
theft.
Rule: The complement of the verb “to be”, when it is
expressed by a pronoun, should be in the nominative
case.
Incorrect: It is him whom we are looking for.
Correct: It is he whom we are looking for.
Rule: If a pronoun is used as the object of a verb or of a
preposition, it should be in the objective case.
Incorrect: Let you and I take a dip into holy water.
Correct: Let you and me take a dip into holy water.
2. Reflexive Pronouns
When the action done by the subject reflects or turns back
upon the subject. In other words, the subject and the object
refer to the same person or thing.
He killed himself.
Emphatic pronouns: For the sake of emphasis.
I myself went to finalise the deal.
Rule: When the following verbs are used reflexively a
reflexive pronoun must be put after them: absent,
acquit, apply, avail, enjoy, exert, forget, over-reach,
pride, resign.
Incorrect : I absented from the class.
Correct : I absented myself from the class.
Rule: The following verbs are usually not followed by a
reflexive pronoun: bathe, break, burst, feed, form,
gather, hide, keep, lengthen, make, move, open,
qualify, rest, roll, speed, steal, stop, turn.
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Incorrect : I bathed myself in the river.
correct : I bathed in the river.
Rule: A reflexive pronoun can not be used as a substitute
for the subject.
Incorrect : Mohan and myself decided to join politics.
Correct: Mohan and I decided to join politics.
3. Demonstrative Pronouns
The pronouns that are used to point out the objects to which
KUNDAN
they refer, are called demonstrative pronouns. For example,
this, these, that, those, such.
This is a book.
Rule: When two things which have already been
mentioned are refered to, “this” refers to the thing
last mentioned, “that” to the thing first mentioned.
Incorrect: India and England shared a relationship
of exploitation; this was the slave and
that the master.
Correct: India and England shared a relationship of
exploitation; this was the the master and
that the slave.
Rule: The pronoun “it” comes before the phrase or clause
to which it refers whereas “this” follows the phrase
or clause it refers to.
Incorrect: This is true that bell-bottoms were once
in fashion.
Correct: It is true that bell-bottoms were once in
fashion.
4. Indefinite Pronouns
When a pronoun refers to a person or a thing in a general
way, but not to any person or thing in particular, it is called an
indefinite pronoun. For example, one, none, all, some,
somebody, nobody, few, many, any, other, anybody, anyone,
everyone. In sentences like.
They say India will reach on top of the world one day.
they is an indefinite pronoun.
Rule: In referring to anybody, everybody, everyone,
anyone,each etc, the pronoun he or she is used
according to the context. But when we are not
talking categorically of the females, the pronoun of
the masculine gender is used.
Incorrect: Each can buy whatever she wants with
her own money.
Correct: Each can buy whatever he wants with his
own money.
Rule: The indefinite pronoun “one” should be used
throughout, if used at all.
Incorrect: One should take care of his house.
Correct: One should take care of one's house.
Rule: None is used in the singular or plural as the sense
may require.
Incorrect: Each boy was accompained by an adult
but there were none with the orphan.
Correct: Each boy was accompained by an adult but
there was none with the orphan.
Rule: Anyone should be used when more than two persons
or things are spoken of.
Incorrect: I could not meet either of my three
brothers at home.
Correct: I could not meet anyone of my three
brothers at home.
5. Distributive Pronouns
The pronouns that refer to persons or things one at a time
are called distributive pronouns. For example, each, either,
neither.
each everyone of a number of persons or
things taken singly
either the one or the other of two
neither not the one nor the other of two
Rule: A distributive pronoun is used as a singular.
Incorrect: Either of the choices fit the answer.
Correct: Either of the choices fits the answer.
Rule : Each may come after the object of the verb only if
the object contains a number.
Incorrect: The boys narrated stories each.
Correct: Each of the boys narrated stories.
6. Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun is a pronoun that refers or relates to some
noun going before, which is called its antecedent. Besides, it
is a pronoun that serves as a conjunction as well because it
connects two statements. For example;
She worked in the kitchen which was like a bedroom.
Rule: The relative pronoun “that” has the same form in
the singular and the plural.
Incorrect: They those worship money only are
deprived of life's other rewards.
Correct: They that worship money only are deprived
of life's other rewards.
Rule: That may be used as an adverbial accusative
meaning on which, in which or at which.
Incorrect : I remember the day which he came.
Correct: I remember the day which he came on.
or,
I remember the day that he came.
Rule: The relative pronoun that is preferred to who or
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which
i) after adjectives in the superlative degree.
ii) after all, same, any, none, nothing, only.
iii) after interrogative pronouns who, what.
iv) after antecedents, one denoting a person and
the other an animal or a thing.
Incorrect: It was the best food which we ever tasted.
Correct: It was the best food that we ever tasted.
Rule: The word but after a negative, often has the force of
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a relative pronoun and is equivalent to who... not,
which... not.
Incorrect: There is no city but does not have a huge
population.
Correct: There is no city but has a huge population.
Rule: As the relative pronoun refers to a noun or pronoun,
it must be of the same number and person as its
antecedent (that is, the noun or pronoun referred
to).
Incorrect: I, who is your captain, shall never desert
you.
Correct: I, who am your captain, shall never desert
you.
Rule: The case of the relative pronoun depends upon its
relation to the verb in the clause in which it occurs.
Incorrect: I was the boy whom they thought
committed the theft.
Correct: I was the boy who, they thought, committed
the theft.
Rule: If a relative pronoun is used in both subjective and
objective cases, we cannot put one pronoun in place
of two.
Incorrect : I have an uncle who I love and is a
management guru.
Correct: I have an uncle whom I love and who is a
management guru.
Rule: The relative pronoun should be placed as near as
possible to its antecedent.
Incorret: The office was located in the heart of the
town which had state-of-the-art interior
decoration.
Correct : The office which had state-of-the-art
interior decoration, was located in the
heart of the town.
Rule: No conjunctions should be placed before the
relative pronoun except to join together two relative
clauses referring to the same antecedent.
Incorrect : He had a cow, and which gave him milk.
Incorrect : He had a cow, which gave him milk.
Rule: A pronoun (or noun) in the possessive case should
not be used as the antecedent to a relative pronoun.
Incorrect: India became dependant on his batting
who scored runs with a passion.
Correct: India became dependant on batting of him
who scored runs with a passion.
Rule: The relative pronoun is sometimes wrongly omitted
when it is the subject of a clause.
Incorrect: He has a resilience would see him through
anything.
Correct: He has a resilience that would see him
through anything.
Rule: The relative pronoun “what” is used without an
antecedent.
Incorrect: I mean that what I say.
Correct: I mean what I say.
Rule: When the antecedent is the same, the consequent
should be as or that; when the antecedent is such,
the consequent should be as.
Incorrect: The book was such that he could read.
Correct: The book was such as he could read.
Rule: Pronoun of the third person plural should not be
used as antecedent to who and that.
Incorrect: They who are students of the school
need not buy tickets.
Correct: Those who are students of the school need
not buy tickets.
7. Interrogative Pronouns
The pronouns used for asking questions are called
interrogative pronouns.
Rule: Which implies selection, that is it implies a question
concerning a limited number. It is used of both
persons and things.
EXERCISE
Directions: In the following questions, some of the
sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which
part of the sentence has an error. If there is no error, mark
your answer as ‘No error’.
1. The interviewer asked the candidate a)/ to what district
b)/ he came from. c)/ No error d)
2. The master did not know a)/ who of the servants b)/
broke the glass. c)/ No error d)
3. The ruling party stood a)/ for implementation of the Bill
b)/ and was ready to stake their political existence. c)/.
No error d)
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4. This is the boy a)/ whom I think had won b)/ the gold
medal in the Dance competition. c)/ No error d)
5. Wherever they go, a)/ the Indians easily adapt to b)/
local circumstances, c)/ No error d)
6. He is a)/ taller b)/ than me. c)/ No error d)
7. It is not easy for anyone to command a)/ respect from
both one’s friends and critics b)/ as Dr. Johnson did for
his integrity and honesty. c)/ No error d)
8. Mahatma Gandhi taught us a)/ that one should respect
b)/ the religions of others as much as his own. c)/ No
error d)
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9. He, you and I a)/ will manage b)/ this problem together.
c)/ No error d)
10. Was it him a)/ who got injured b)/ in an accident this
morning. c)/ No error d)
11. I suppose a)/ you have heard the latest news b)/ John
has married that girl. c)/ No error d)
12. As soon as he a)/ saw his mother b)/ he ran to her and
embraced. c)/ No error d)
13. Due to me being a newcomer a)/ I was unable to get a
house b)/ suitable for my wife and me. c)/ No error d)
14. The audience a)/ are requested b)/ to be in its seats. c)/
No error d)
15. The scientist must follow a)/ his hunches and his data
b)/ wherever it may lead. c)/ No error d)
16. He is the general a)/ whom the reporters agree b)/ was
the most popular with the troops. c)/ No error d)
Answers and Explanations
1. b; Replace ‘to what’ with ‘which’
2. b; Replace ‘who’ with ‘which’
Incorrect: What of the pictures do you like best?
Correct: Which of the pictures do you like best?
17. There is no question a)/ of my failing b)/ in the
examination. c)/ No error d)
18. The number of vehicles a)/ plying on this road b)/ is
more than on the main road. c)/ No error d)
19. Being a destitute, a)/ I admitted him b)/ to an old people’s
home. c)/ No error d)
20. This is not the a)/ sense which b)/ concerns us here. c)/
No error d)
21. One should make a)/ his best efforts b)/ if one wishes to
achieve success in this organisation. c)/ No error d)
22. May I a)/ know who you want b)/ to see please. c)/ No
error d)
23. Our is the only country in the world a)/ that can the
boast of b)/ unity in diversity. c)/ No error d)
24. Last summer he went a)/ to his uncle’s village, b)/ and
enjoyed very much. c)/ No error d)
25. If I were him, a)/ I would have taught b)/ those cheats a
lesson. c)/ No error d)
26. Those sort of people a)/ usually do not b)/ earn fame in
society. c)/ No error d)
27. He could not plan his strategy a)/ until he knew b)/ whom
his opponents could be. c)/ No error d)
28. Being a very a)/ hot day I b)/ remained indoors. c)/ No
error d)
29. Concurrent with this programme, a)/ educational
institutions may be urged b)/ to inculcate patriotism c)/
in each and every one of its pupils. c)/ No error d)
30. Inspite of the doctor’s stern warning, a)/ he continued
taking b)/ sugar in his tea. c)/ No error d)
31. Had I come a)/ to know about b)/ his difficulties I would
have certainly helped. c)/ No error d)
32. One of them a)/ forget to take their bag b)/ from the
school. c)/ No error d)
33. Mr. Sunil Pawar, our representative, a)/ he will attend the
meeting b)/ on our behalf. c)/ No error d)
34. If the teacher is good a)/ the students will respond b)/
positively to them. c)/ No error d)
3. c; Replace ‘their’ with ‘its’
4. b; Replace ‘whom’ with ‘who’
 5. b; Add ‘themselves’ after ‘adapt’ 20. b; Replace ‘which’ with ‘that’
6. c; Replace ‘me’ with ‘I’ 21. b; Replace ‘his’ with ‘one’s’
7. b; Add ‘one’s’ before ‘critics’ 22. b; Replace ‘who’ with ‘whom’
8. c; Replace ‘his’ with ‘one’s’ 23. a; Replace ‘our’ with ‘ours’
9. a; The correct form is ‘You, he and I’ 24. c; Add ‘himself’ after ‘enjoyed’
10. a; Replace ‘him’ with ‘he’ 25. a; Replace ‘him’ with ‘he’
11. a; Add ‘that’ after ‘suppose’ 26. a; Replace ‘Those’ with ‘That’
12. c; Add ‘her’ after ‘embraced’ 27. c; Replace ‘whom’ with ‘who’
13. a; Replace ‘me’ with ‘my’ 28. a; Add ‘It’ before ‘being’
14. c; Replace ‘its’ with ‘their’ 29. c; Replace ‘its’ with ‘their’
15. c; Replace ‘it’ with ‘they’ 30. c; Remove ‘his’
16. b; Replace ‘whom’ with ‘who’ 31. c; Add ‘him’ after ‘helped’
17. d; No error 32. b; Replace ‘their’ with ‘his’
18. c; Add ‘that’ after ‘than’ 33. b; Remove ‘he’
19. a; Add ‘He’ before ‘being’ 34. c; Replace ‘them’ with ‘him’

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person or thing.
For example,
The girls were singing,
The watch has been found.
Verb
A verb is a word used to tell or assert something about some Verbs of Incomplete Predication
The intransitive verb which requires something to make the
sense complete is called a verb of incomplete predication.
For example be, become, seem, grow, taste, appear.
That which is required to make the sense (of these verbs)
Kinds of Verb complete is known as the complement of the verb or the

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completion of the predicate.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs For example,
A Transitive verb is a verb that denotes an action which The family appears.
passes over from the doer or agent to an object. Transitive Rule: When the subjective complement is a noun (or a
means passing over. For example, pronoun), it is in the same case as the subject, that is,
India won the World Cup. in the nominative case.
An Intransitive verb is a verb that denotes an action For example
which does not pass over to an object, or that expresses a The lawyer called the witness a liar.
state of an object, or that expresses a state of being.
Intransitive means not passing over. For example, Rule: When the objective complement is a noun it is in the
The sun shines brightly. objective case in agreement with the object.

Rule: When an intransitive verb is used in a causative Subject-Verb Agreement

sense, it becomes transitive.
1. He sat in a chair.
2. He sat me on chair.
Rule: Verbs like, fall, lie, rise and sit are made transitive by
a slight change in their spellings. The transitive is
the causative of the corresponding intransitive verb.
Incorrect: The poachers were caught yesterday when
they fell trees illegally.
Correct : The poachers were caught yesterday when
they felled trees illegally.
Language has its base in logic and harmony. The subject and
the verb are the essential parts of a sentence. It is imperative
that the verb agree with the subject in number and person.
Rule: Two or more singular subjects connected by and
usually take a verb in the plural.
Incorrect: Computer and telecommunication has
metamorphosed information technology.
Correct: Computer and telecommunication have
metamorphosed information technology.
Rule: If two singular nouns refer to the same person or
thing, the verb must be singular.
Incorrect : The poet and critic have been honoured.
Correct : The poet and critic has been honoured.
Rule: If two subjects together express one idea, the verb is
in the singular.
Incorrect: Bread and butter are essential for one's life.
Correct: Bread and butter is essential for one's life.
Rule: If the singular subjects are preceded by each or every,
the verb is usually singular.
Incorrect: Every man and woman in a family are
responsible for the upbringing of a child.
Correct: Every man and woman in a family is
responsible for the upbringing of a child.
Rule : Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor,
either ... or, neither... nor take a verb in the singular.
Incorrect: Either Manoj or Madhukar have the key
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to this problem.
Correct: Either Manoj or Madhukar has the key to
this problem.
Rule: When the subjects, joined by or or nor are of different
numbers, the verb must be plural, and the plural
subject must be placed next to the verb.
Incorrect : Neither Rekha nor her friends was present
at the party.
Correct : Neither Rekha nor her friends were present
at the party.
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Rule: When the subjects, joined by or or nor are of different
persons, the verb agrees in person with the one nearest
to it.
Incorrect : Either she or I pays the fees.
Correct : Either she or I pay the fees.
Error of Proximity: The verb is made to agree in number
with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject.
This is wrong and should be avoided.
Incorrect : The behaviour of the students were not proper.
Correct: The behaviour of the students was not proper.
Rule: Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as,
etc. are parenthetical. The verb should therefore be
put in the singular.
Incorrect: The guru as well as his disciples are
committed to celibacy.
Correct: The guru as well as his disciples is
committed to celibacy.
Rule: Either, neither, each, everyone, many a must be
followed by a singular verb.
Incorrect: Many a man have resigned in crisis.
Correct: Many a man has resigned in crisis.
Rule: When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity
or amount considered as a whole, the verb is
generally singular.
Incorrect: Five hours are too short a time to judge
one's character.
Correct: Five hours is too short a time to judge one's
character.
The Infinitive
Usually a verb is limited by the number and person of its
subject.
For example,
He plays cricket.
They play cricket.
A verb, which is not limited by person and number as a
verb that has a subject, is called the verb infinite or the
infinitive. Infinitives are of two kinds. (1) Simple Infinitive
and (2) Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive.
(1) Simple Infinitive - when the infinitive is used like a noun.
(i) as the subject of a verb.
To name is to give an identity.
(ii) as the object of a verb.
I have decided to leave the place.
(iii) as the complement of a verb.
Her hobby is to dance.
(iv) as the object of a preposition.
He is about to go.
(v) as the complement of the object.
She heard her weep.
(2) Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive-when the infinitive
is used for the following purposes:
(i) to qualify a verb.
He slept to refresh himself.
(ii) to qualify an adjective.
Tea is easy to prepare.
(iii) to qualify a noun.
He has a point to make.
(iv) to qualify a sentence.
To be very frank, I hate your smile.
Rule: The infinitive is used without to after verbs like help,
watch, bid, dare, hear, let, make, need and see.
Incorrect : I bid him to quit the organisation.
Correct : I bid him quit the organisation.
Rule: If, however, the structure is do + dare or do + need,
the infinitive is used with to.
Incorrect: You do not need worry about us.
Correct: You do not need to worry about us.
Rule: The following verbs are followed by the infinitive.
agree, arrange, attempt, care, cease, consent, decide,
determine, endeavour, fall, forget, hesitate, hope, learn,
manage, neglect, prepare, promise, propose, refuse,
regret, remember, seem, swear, undertake.
 Incorrect: I agree for helping you out in trouble.
Correct: I agree to help you out in trouble.
Rule: Prepositions but and except take the infinitive without
to.
Incorrect: There is no alternative but to help him out.
Correct : There is no alternative but help him out.
Rule: Expressions would rather, would sooner, rather than,
sooner than, had better are followed by infinitive
without to.
Incorrect : I would rather to go for batting.
Correct : I would rather go for batting.
Participle
(1) Present Participle
(2) Past Participle
(3) Perfect Participle
Rule: Present participle is used when all the parts of a
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sentence have the same subject;
Incorrect: Opened the drawer, he took out his gun.
Correct: Opening the drawer, he took out his gun.
Rule: When a sentence has two different subjects, avoid
using present participle. Instead a clause should be
used in such instances.
Incorrect: While going to school, a dog jumped
at me.
Correct: While I was going to school, a dog jumped
at me.
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Rule: Some past participles are used only as adjectives and
qualify a noun. They can be used as past participles
with changed spellings. For example, shrunken,
drunken, sunken, graven, molten.
Incorrect: He and his brother have drunken wine
last night.
Correct: He and his brother have drunk wine last
night.
Rule: Perfect participle is used when one activity is
completely over.
Having worked hard, he felt tired.
EXERCISE
Directions: In the following questions, some of the
sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which
part of the sentence has an error. If there is no mistake, the
answer is ‘No error’.
1. Many a student (a)/ are frustrated (b)/ because of
unemployment. (c)/ No error (d)
2. It is true (a)/ that the poor is unable (b)/ to get nourishing
food even today. (c)/ No error (d)
Auxiliary Verb
Auxiliary literally means giving help, So an auxiliary verb
is one that helps the main verb form in tenses, moods, voices
etc. The following verbs are auxiliaries: is, are, am, was, were,
be, can, could, dare, do, does, did, have, has, had, may,
might, must, need, ought, shall, should, will, would, used to.
1. May implies permission, doubt or possibility.
Ex. May I come in? (permission)
It may rain tonight. (possibility)
2. Might is the past form of “may” and it implies more doubt
than “may”.
Ex. If the clouds are salted, the rains might come.
3. Can is used to express ability.
Ex. He can do the work.
4. Could is the past form of can but it does not necessarily
represent past time. Often it implies a more uncertain
condition.
Ex. He could refuse, but she never does.
5. Should expresses the idea that something must be done
or is important.
Should and ought to have similar meanings, but ought is
followed by “to” “Ought to” has a more objective force
and is used when we are talking about laws, duties and
regulations.
Ex. We ought to see her tomorrow.
6. Must is used to give strong advice or orders.
Ex. He really must stop drinking.
7. Do is used to make question and negative forms of
ordinary verbs.
Ex. Do you know him?
I don’t like swimming.
“Do” is always used in question-tags.
Ex. You know painting, do you?
3. People have a right to criticise (a)/ but at the same time
each of them (b)/ have to remember his duty also. (c)/ No
error (d)
4. The child (a)/ picked up a burned paper (b)/ from the
street. (c)/ No error (d)
5. Never did this exhibition of contempt and anger ceased
(a)/ so long as British rule remained (b)/ a live thing in
India. (c)/ No error (d)
6. The teacher was angry (a)/ when he found that (b)/ you
are not there. (c)/ No error (d)
7. I would like you to (a)/ complete this assignment (b)
before you will leave for Mumbai. (c)/ No error (d)
8. Ordinarily, when in difficulty (a)/ Ruchi prefers keeping
her counsel (b)/ than running about taking advice. (c)/
No error (d)
9. One of the drawbacks (a)/ of modern education are (b)/ that
it does not encourage original thinking. (c)/ No error (d)
10. I enquired of him (a)/ why he is so negligent (b)/ in his
studies. (c)/ No error (d)
11. There was no doubt (a)/ that the majority of workers (b)/
is in favour of the proposal. (c)/ No error (d)
12. He laid unconscious for half an hour (a)/ until he was
seen (b)/ by a passing motorist. (c)/ No error (d)
13. None of my friends (a)/ are applying (b)/ for this job. (c)/
No error (d)
14. Rohan was leading (a)/ a happy and leisurely (b)/ life
employees (b)/ to be reinstated, has been accepted by
the management. (c)/ No error (d)
22. When he went out (a)/ he left the radio on (b)/ so that his
parents shall think that he was still in the house. (c)/ No
error (d)
23. The foremost criterion of selection we adopted (a)/ were
the number of years of training (b)/ a dancer had received
under a particular guru. (c)/ No error (d)
24. I can’t understand why (a)/ he did not told me (b)/ the
reason for his absence. (c)/ No error (d).
25. He very promptly (a)/ withdraw the remarks (b)/ made by
him on my office note. (c)/ No error (d)
26. He would not return the money (a)/ that he borrowed,
(b)/ will he? (c)/ No error (d)
27. None of my friends (a)/ are applying (b)/ for this job. (c)/
No error (d)
28. Bread and butter (a)/ is (b)/ a wholesome food. (c)/ No
error (d)

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after his retirement from service. (c)/ No error (d)
15. When I went to Maniram’s house, (a)/ his mother told
me (b)/ that he was gone out of the country. (c)/ No error
(d)
16. One of his many (a)/ good traits that (b)/ come to my
mind was his modesty. (c)/ No error (d)
17. When the dentist came in (a)/ my tooth was stopped
aching (b)/ out of fear that I might lose my tooth. (c) No
error (d)
18. The parents scolded the child (a)/ for having broke the
29. The future is (a)/ yet to come but you have a (b)/ right to
shape it. (c)/ No error (d)
30. I finished my work (a)/ before we reached his place (b)/
with great difficulty because of heavy traffic. (c)/ No
error (d)
31. If I knew (a)/ that my friend had planned to visit the town
today, (b)/ I would have made his stay comfortable. (c)/
No error (d)
32. More widely popular (a)/ than the hunting of deer or fox
(b)/ were the pursuit of the hare. (c)/ No error (d)

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window (b)/ but their words fell (c)/ on deaf ears. (d)/ No 33. The Committee Chief warned the party members (a)/ that
error (e) if they persist in their obstructionist attitude (b)/ they
19. Two-thirds of the book (a)/ were (b)/ rubbish. (c)/ No would be suspended. (c)/ No error (d)
error (d) 34. If the manager acted in time, (a)/ the strike would (b)/ not
20. The chief idea of (a)/ very common type of traveller (b)/ have lasted long. (c)/ No error (d).
is to see as many objects of interest as he possibly could. 35. On hearing the news over the radio that (a)/ India has
(c)/ No error (d) won the hockey match, (b)/ I jumped with joy. (c)/ No
21. The demand of the workers’s union (a)/ that the dismissed error (d)

Answers and Explanations

1. b; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’ 11. c; Replace ‘is’ with ‘was’
‘Many a’ takes singular subject and singular verb. 12. a; Replace ‘laid’ with ‘lay’
2. b; Replace ‘is’ with ‘are’ 13. b; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’
Here, ‘poor’ stands for ‘poor people’. 14. a; Replace ‘was leading’ with ‘led’
3. c; Replace ‘have’ with ‘has’ 15. d; Replace ‘was’ with ‘had’
4. b; Replace ‘burned’ with ‘burnt’ 16. d; Replace ‘was’ with ‘is’
5. a; Replace ‘ceased’ with ‘cease’ 17. b; Remove ‘was’
6. c; Replace ‘are’ with ‘were’ 18. b; Replace ‘broke’ with ‘broken’
7. c; Remove ‘will’ 19. b; Replace ‘were’ with ‘was’
8. c; Replace “than” with “to” 20. c; Replace ‘could’ with ‘can’
9. b; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’ 21. c; Remove ‘to’
10. b; Replace ‘is’ with ‘was’ 22. d; No error
 23. b; Replace ‘were’ with ‘was’ 29. a; Replace ‘is’ with ‘has’
24. b; Replace ‘told’ with ‘tell’ 30. a; Replace ‘finished’ with ‘had finished’
25. b; Replace ‘withdraw’ with ‘withdrew’ 31. d; No error
26. c; Replace ‘will’ with ‘would’ 32. c; Replace ‘were’ with ‘was’
27. b; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’ 33. b; Replace ‘persist’ with ‘persisted’
28. d; No error 34. a; Replace ‘acted’ with ‘had’ acted
35. b; Replace ‘has’ with ‘had’

Adjective
An adjective is a word used with a noun ( or a pronoun) to
add something for its meaning. The adjective may be used
(i) attributively: when it is used along with the noun as
an epithet or attribute; for example,
There were dark clouds in the sky.
Rule: When a number together with a unit of measurement
is to be used as an adjective, it is a compound word
and the unit of measurement is taken in the singular.
Incorrect : It is a twenty-kilometres walk.
Correct : It is a twenty-kilometre walk.

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(ii) predicatively : when it forms part of the predicate;
for example.
The clouds in the sky were dark.
Rule : The adjective is correctly used with a verb when some
quality of the subject rather than of the action of the
verb, is to be expressed.
Incorrect: Flowers were plucked freshly.
Correct: Flowers were plucked fresh.
Rule: Due to and prior to should be used as predicative
adjectives. When prepositional functions are to be
Rule: Definite Numeral Adjective always takes plural
countable noun.
Incorrect: When I was in Punjab, I had twenty
money.
Correct: When I was in Mumbai, I had twenty rupees.
Rule: If in a sentence one noun is used for all ordinals and
the first ordinal has 'the' while, other not, the noun
will be in the plural.
Incorrect: I have read the literature of the seventeenth
and eighteenth century.

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performed, use because of in place of due to, and
before in place of prior to.
Incorrect : Wickets fell due to superb bowling.
Correct : Wickets fell because of superb bowling.
Kinds of Adjective
1. Adjective of Quality : Also known as Descriptive
Adjective, it shows the kind of quality of a person or a
thing. For example,
He loves her soft skin.
2. Adjective of Quantity : It is an adjective which shows
how much of a thing is meant. For example,
There is little sense in it.
3. Adjective of Number : Also known as Numeral Adjective,
it shows how many persons or things are meant, or in
what order a person or a thing stands. For example,
The face of a clock has sixty divisions.
Numeral Adjectives are of three kinds:
(i) Definite Numeral Adjective: It denotes an exact number.
It may be a cardinal denoting how many; as, one, two,
three, etc. It may be an ordinal denoting the order, as
first, second, third etc.
Correct: I have read the literature of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries.
(ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjective : It does not denote an
exact number. For example.
There are many petitions lying on the tables.
Rule : Many takes plural noun while "Many a/an singular
noun.
Incorrect: He has observed many an uncommon
phenomena.
Correct: He has observed many an uncommon
phenomenon.
Rule : The few is used before plural countable noun and the
little before uncountable noun. Both follow a clause.
Incorrect: I gave the beggar a little coins I had.
Correct: I gave the beggar the few coins I had.
(iii) Distributive Numeral Adjective : It refers to each one of
a number. Distributive numeral adjectives are the same
as distributive pronouns (see Pronoun). They only differ
in function. For example,
Each time he missed the bus.
4. Demonstrative Adjective : It points out which person or
thing is meant. For example,
This table is made of wood.
Rule : The plural forms these and those are often wrongly
used with the singular nouns kind and sort.
Incorrect : These kind of clothes are not acceptable.
Correct : This kind of clothes are not acceptable.
5. Interrogative Adjective: When an interrogative pronoun
is used with a noun to ask a question, it is called an
interrogative adjective. For example,
What options are available after graduation?
6. Exclamatory adjective: It is used with a noun in
exclamatory sentence. For example,
What a show!
Confusing Words
Later, latter, latest, last: Later and latest refer to time.
Latter and last refer to position.
Incorrect: The later part of the novel is not neatly written.
Correct: The latter part of the novel is not neatly written.
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Incorrect: What is the last news?
Correct: What is the latest news?
Elder, older, eldest, oldest: Elder and eldest are used of
members of the same family. Besides, both of them are
used only attributively (that is, before the noun). Older
and Oldest are used in the general sense.
Incorrect : I have an older brother.
Correct : I have an elder brother.. (Since brother is a
member of the same family)
Incorrect : Mohan is the eldest boy in the town.
KUNDAN
In a town there may be so many families. We are talking
of boys in general sense. So eldest should be replaced
by oldest.
Correct : Mohan is the oldest boy in the town.
Degree of Comparison
Degrees are of three kinds.
1. Positive Degree
2. Comparative Degree
3. Superlative Degree
Rule: When a selection is made out of the two, and two is
given in the sentence, the is used before the adjective
denoting comparison.
Incorrect: Shikha is better of the two sisters.
EXERCISE
Directions: In the following questions, some of the
sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which
part of the sentence has an error. The letter corresponding
to that part is your answer. If there is no mistake, the answer
is ‘No error’.
Correct: Shikha is the better of the two sisters.
Rule: Preferable takes to and is not preceded by more.
Incorrect: Coffee is more preferable than tea in Brazil.
Correct: Coffee is preferable to tea in Brazil.
Rule: When two adjectives in different degrees of
comparison are used in the same sentence, each
should be complete in itself.
Incorrect: My father is as rich if not richer than your
mother.
Correct: My father is as rich as if not richer than
your mother.
Rule: If two adjectives are connected by and, they should
be in the same degree throughout.
Incorrect: Raj is more intelligent and most active.
Correct: Raj is more intelligent and more active.
Rule: The comparative in -er is not used when we compare
two qualities of the same person or thing.
Incorrect : Mohan is wiser than strong.
Correct : Mohan is more wise than strong.
Rule: When two objects are compared with each other, the
latter term of comparison must exclude the former.
Incorrect : Satish is cleverer than any student in his
class.
Correct : Satish is cleverer than any other student
in his class.
Rule: The comparative degree is generally followed by than
but the following comparative adjectives are followed
by the preposition to : inferior, superior, prior, anterior,
posterior, senior, junior.
Incorrect: India's fielding is inferior than South
Africa's.
Correct: India's fielding is inferior to South Africa's.
Rule: Adjectives expressing qualities that do not admit of
different degrees cannot be compared.
Incorrect: Our field is more square.
Correct: Our field is square.
Rule: Double comparatives and superlatives are to be
avoided.
Incorrect: Zarda mangoes are more sweeter than
Maldah ones.
Correct: Zarda mangoes are sweeter than Maldah
ones.
1. Firstly you should a)/ think over the meaning of the
words b)/ and then use them. c)/ No error d)
2. The driver tried his best a)/ to avert the accident by b)/
bringing the car to a suddenly stop. c)/ No error d)
3. The Sunrise Hotel was a)/ fully equipped to offer b)/
leisure stay c)/ to its clients. d)/ No error e)
4. The technician reminded a)/ them to have a thoroughly
cleaning of the b)/ machine after each use. c)/ No error d)
5. I am much glad a)/ that you have b)/ won the prize. c)/ No
error d)
6. My observation is that a)/ between Vivek and Shashi,
b)/ Vivek is the most intelligent. c)/ No error d)
7. It very often a)/ happens that b)/ a man who talks most
does little. c)/ No error d)
8. From all accounts a)/ I learn that b)/ he is the best and
honest member of the new Cabinet. c)/ No error d)
9. He is a)/ too intelligent b)/ to make a mistake. c)/ No error
d)
10. The flood situation this year a)/ is worst than b)/ that
prevailed in the last year, c)/ No error d)
11. People invent new machines a)/ when they b)/ think
independent. c)/ No error d)
12. Geometry and Drawing a)/ are more easier than b)/
Geography and Social Studies. c)/ No error d)
the statue of the one who had dedicated b)/ his life to the
uplift of the poor. c)/ No error d)
21. The car flew off the road a)/ and fell into the valley b)/
because Ashish was driving faster. c)/ No error d)
22. He is very blind a)/ to read b)/ smallest of prints. c)/ No
error d)
23. What is worst, a)/ this distortion cannot be corrected b)/
by either contact lens or glasses. c)/ No error d)
24. Inspite of working a)/ very neat and careful b)/ he could
not win even the third prize. c)/ No error d)
25. Sohanlal is a)/ the richest b)/ of the two. c)/ No error d)
26. On hearing the news, a)/ he went directly b)/ to the
Manager’s room. c)/ No error d)
27. Even though it was a)/ raining bad b)/ I went out to get
some medicines. c)/ No error d)
28. The Headmaster said that a)/ Sachin was capable of doing
b)/ more better work. c)/ No error d)
29. The night was bright, a)/ the clouds dispersed, b)/ and

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13. Some people get a)/ used to changes b)/ very easily than
others do. c)/ No error d)
14. My uncle forbade me a)/ not to go through b)/ the
contents of his letter. c)/ No error d)
15. This road is the worst a)/ than any other road in Delhi b)/
but remains unrepaired. c)/ No error d)
16. Of all the friends a)/ I have had, he is the most helpful b)/
and less arrogant. c)/ No error d)
17. A man entered the tavern a)/ and asked for some bread
and cheese b)/ with a decided foreign accent. c)/ No
error d)
the stars were shining brightly in the sky. c)/ No error d)
30. It is the duty of every citizen to do his utmost a)/ to
defend the hardly-won b)/ freedom of the country. c)/
No error d)
31. Of the two a)/ he was trying the hardest b)/ to attain the
highest percentage. c)/ No error d)
32. Early rising a)/ brings out the better b)/ in a story writer.
c)/ No error d)
33. At the end of the Second World War a) the USA was
stronger b)/ than any country in the world. c)/ No error
d)

KUNDAN
18. Our new playground a)/ is big and cleaner b)/ than theirs. 34. Being the only people there a)/ their presence was b)/
c)/ No error d) most important. c)/ No error d)
19. Watch how careful a)/ the sparrow knits the b)/ straws 35. He can play a)/ as good as b)/ he can write with his left
into one another to form a nest. c)/ No error d) hand. c)/ No error d)
20. It is rather ironically that so much is being spent a)/ on

Answers and Explanations

1. a; Replace ‘Firstly’ with ‘First’ 14. b; Remove ‘not’
2. c; Replace ‘suddenly’ with ‘sudden’ ‘Forbade’ has a negative meaning and double
3. c; Replace ‘leisure’ with ‘leisurely’ negatives are not used.
4. b; Replace ‘thoroughly’ with ‘thorough’ 15. a; Replace ‘the worst’ with ‘worse’
5. a; Replace ‘much’ with ‘very’ 16. c; Replace ‘less’ with ‘least’
6. c; Replace ‘the most’ with ‘more’ 17. c; Replace ‘decided’ with ‘decidedly’
7. c; Replace ‘most’ by ‘much’ 18. b; Replace ‘big’ with ‘bigger’
8. c; The correct form is ‘he is the best and most honest When two qualities are compared, the two adjectives
member....’ should be of the same degree.
9. d; No error 19. a; Replace ‘careful’ with ‘carefully’
10. b; Replace ‘worst’ with ‘worse’ 20. a; Replace ‘ironically’ with ‘ironical’
11. c; Replace ‘independent’ with ‘independently’ 21. c; Replace ‘faster’ with ‘fast’
12. b; Remove ‘more’ No comparison has been made here and so positive
Double comparatives are not used degree should be used.
13. c; Replace ‘very’ with ‘more’ 22. a; Replace ‘very’ with ‘too’
 23. a; Replace ‘worst’ with ‘worse’
24. b; The correct form is ‘very neatly and carefully’
25. b; Replace ‘richest’ by ‘richer’
When a comparison is made between two,
comparative degree is used.
26. b; Replace ‘directly’ with ‘direct’
27. b; Replace ‘bad’ with ‘badly’
28. c; Remove “more”
Adverb
An adverb is a word which modifies the meaning of a verb, an
adjective or an adverb. For example
Rama runs quickly.
Govinda reads quite clearly.
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Kinds of Adverb
(a) According to meaning
1) Adverbs of Time : They are the adverbs which tell us
when an action takes place. For example,
I shall meet you tomorrow.
Rule : Time adverbs cannot be used in the present perfect,
instead the past indefinite is used for them.
KUNDAN
Incorrect : I have seen a 3D movie last night.
Correct : I saw a 3D movie last night.
2) Adverbs of Place : They are the adverbs which tell us
where an action takes place. For example,
He left his bag there.
3) Adverbs of Manner : They are the adverbs which tell us
how an action takes place or in what manner. For example,
Gautam Buddha left his family stealthily.
4) Adverbs of Frequency : They are the adverbs which tell
us how often an action takes place. For example,
The Delhi Police is always with you .
5) Adverbs of Degree or Quantity : They are the adverbs
which tell us how much or in what degree or to what
extent. For example,
I have pleaded enough and now I give up.
Rule : The adverb “so” as an adverb of degree must not be
used absolutely.
Incorrect : He is so rich.
Correct : He is very rich.
Rule : That “should not be used instead of ” so “as an
adverb”.
29. c; Replace ‘brightly’ with ‘bright’
30. b; Replace ‘hardly’ with ‘hard’
31. b; Replace ‘the hardest’ with ‘harder’
32. c; Replace ‘better’ with ‘best’
33. c; Replace ‘any country’ with ‘any other country’
34. c; Remove ‘most’
35. b; Replace ‘good’ with ‘well’
Incorrect : He went only that far.
Correct : He went only so far.
Rule : The adverb “too” should not be used instead of “very”
or “much” and vice versa.
Incorrect : She is too intelligent.
Correct : she is very intelligent.
Rule : Much is used with past participles used as adjectives
not with present participles.
Incorrect : The match became much interesting.
Correct : The match became very interesting.
Rule : Adverb of degree comes just before the adjective it
qualifies.
Incorrect : He too is weak to run.
Correct : He is too weak to run.
They are so honest that they cannot tell a lie.
6) Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation : They are the
adverbs which tell us whether an action is done or
not. For example,
He has not left the place.
7) Adverbs of Reason : They are the adverbs which tell
us why an action takes place. For example,
She therefore decided to be a rich woman.
(b) According to use
1) Simple Adverb : It only modifies some words (verb,
adjective or an adverb). All the above examples belong
to this category.
2) Interrogative Adverb : It not only modifies some words
but also introduces a question. For example,
How did you come here?
3) Relative Adverb : It not only modifies some words but
also refers back to some antecedent. For example,
How can I forget the day when happiness was
showered on me from all sides?
Forms of adverb
Rule : Adjective should not be used for adverb.
Incorrect: The moon shone bright in the sky.
Correct: The moon shone brightly in the sky.
Rule : Some adverbs have two forms, the form ending in-ly
and the form which is the same as adjective. For
example, loud, quick, high, hard, near, late, pretty.
Incorrect: He fought hardly for the No. 1 spot.
Correct: He fought hard for the No. 1 spot.
Similarly, Incorrect: It would hard rain today.
Correct : It would hardly rain today.
Comparison of adverbs
Rule : If the adverb is of one syllable, the comparative is
formed by adding-er and the superlative by adding-
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est to the positive.
Incorrect : The hare ran more fast than the dog.
Correct : The hare ran faster than the dog.
Rule : Adverbs ending in -ly form the comparative by
adding more and the superlative by adding most.
Incorrect : The petrol price hike issue has been
debated hotlier than the urea scam.
Correct : The petrol price hike issue has been
debated more hotly than the urea scam.
KUNDAN
Position of adverbs
Rule : Adverbs of manner, place and time are generally
placed after the verb or after the object if there is
one.
Incorrect: He wrote last year a book.
Correct: He wrote a book last year.
EXERCISE
Directions: Find out the error in each of the following
sentences, if any. If there is no error, the answer is ‘d’.
1. She behaved in a cowardly manner (a)/ before the
headmaster (b)/ and hesitated to do the work. (c)/ No
error (d)
2. The girl refused (a)/ not to (b)/ return the articles. (c)/ No
error (d)
3. The real important thing (a)/ of our life is our livelihood (b)/
which discriminates us from animals. (c)/ No error (d)
4. She is too much beautiful (a)/ so most of the boys (b)/ run
after her and want to influence her. (c)/ No error (d)
5. The taxi driver who had come (a)/ to receive us at (b)/ the
airport was speaking fluently French. (c)/ No error (d)
Rule : When there are two or more adverbs after a verb
(and its object), the normal order is; adverb of
manner, adverb of place, adverb of time.
Incorrect: I read the proof yesterday meticulously at
home.
Correct: I read the proof meticulously at home yesterday.
Rule : Adverbs of frequency and most of the adverbs of
quantity are
i) normally put between the subject and the verb if the
verb consists of only one word;
ii) put after the first word if there is more than one word
in the verb;
iii) put after the verb if the verb is am/are/is/was/were;
Some more rules
Rule : Two negatives should not be used in the same
sentence unless we wish to make an affirmation.
Incorrect: she did not despise none of her lovers.
Correct: She did not despise any of her lovers.
Rule : Ever should not be used for never.
Incorrect: She seldom or ever has sweet talks with
her son.
Correct: She seldom or never has sweet talks with
her son.
Rule : Else should be followed by but.
Incorrect: It is nothing else than fatigue.
Correct: It is nothing else but fatigue.
Rule : Never should not be used for not.
Incorrect: She met her friend after a long time and
her friend never recognised her.
Correct: She met her friend after a long time and her
friend did not recognise her.
6. The observers feel that (a)/ the stronger team has to face
defeat (b)/ because the players don’t play whole hearted.
(c)/ No error (d)
7. Although he is usually (a)/ rude with everyone, (b)/ he
behaved nice with all of us today. (c)/ No error (d)
8. He ran so fastly (a)/ that he reached first and (b)/ realised
that he had (c)/ not earned anything substantial. (d)/ No
error (e)
9. In spite of toiling (a)/ very hardly he (b)/ realised that he
had not earned anything substantial. (c)/ No error (d)
10. We were very much (a)/ carefully in our approach (b)/
and hence we would complete the complicated task. (c)
No error (d)
11. Hard had he (a)/ thrown the ball (b)/ when it fell on the
ground. (c)/ No error (d)
12. We are confident (a)/ enough to earn (b)/ our livelihood
by toiling hardly. (c)/ No error (d)
13. All said and done (a)/ it is the basic values that (b)/ are
most importance and help you in the long run. (c)/ No
error (d)
14. She was so (a)/ emotional stable that (b)/ she was not
moved by their decision to suspend her. (c)/ No error (d)
15. He is sure (a)/ to succeed because (b)/ he is used to
working very hardly. (c)/ No error (d)
16. He has been working with me (a)/ for the last ten years
(b)/ but I cannot claim that I have understood him
thorough. (c)/ No error (d)
17. I saw a (a)/suddenly change in the weather (b)/ last night.
(c)/ No error (d)
18. Some people get (a)/ used to change (b)/ very easily
than others do. (c)/ No error (d)
23. He was looking impatient (a)/ at the visitor (b)/ who
showed no signs of leaving the room. (c)/ No error (d)
24. The rabbit runs (a)/ enough fast (b)/ to win the race. (c)/
No error (d)
25. Your scooter would not (a)/ have given you trouble (b)/
if you had maintained it proper. (c)/ No error (d)
26. Ajay is the most (a) succeeded of all the businessmen
(b)/ in this city today (c)/ No error (d)
27. I was delighted (a)/ to see him (b)/ full recovered. (c)/ No
error (d)
28. The old man continued (a)/ living an independently life
(b) and never asked anyone for help. (c)/ No error (d)
29. All of them worked (a)/ very careful (b)/ from the
beginning till the finish. (c)/ No error (d)
30. As the accountant (a)/ came lately (b)/ he was punished
by the boss. (c)/ No error (d)
31. He will (a) have to pay (b)/ dear for his foolishness (c)/
No error (d)

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19. Although it was (a)/ raining bad (b)/ he went out. (c)/ No
error (d)
20. The worker was (a)/ paid poor (b)/ for his dedication and
hard work. (c)/ No error (d)
21. Watch how careful (a)/ the sparrows knit (b)/ the straws
into one another. (c)/ No error (d)
22. Shekhar comes usually (a)/ to my house (b)/ on Sunday.
(c)/ No error (d)
32. As he was running fastly (a)/ he was knocked down (b)/
by a speeding car. (c)/ No error (d)
33. The boy spoke out straightly (a)/ to the principal (b)/ to
prove his innocence (c)/ No error (d)
34. Rahul wants to stand first (a)/ in the class and so (b) he
works hardly (c)/ No error (d)
35. All the flowers (a)/ in the garden (b)/ smell sweetly. (c)/
No error (d)

Answers and Explanations

1. d;
2. b;
3. a;
4. a;
5. c;
6. c;
7. c;
8. a;
KUNDAN
No error
Omit the word “not”
Replace “real” with “really”
Replace “too much” with “very”
Replace “fluently French” with “French fluently”
Replace “whole-hearted” with “whole-heartedly”
Replace “nice” with “nicely”
Replace “fastly” with “fast”
19. b;
20. b;
21. a;
22. a;
23. a;
24. b;
25. c;
26. b;
Replace “bad” with “badly”
Replace “poor” with “poorly”
Replace “careful” with “carefully”
Put the word “usually” before “comes”
Replace “impatient” with “impatiently”
Replace “enough fast” with “fast enough”
Replace “proper” with “properly”
Replace “succeeded” with “successful”
9. b; Replace “hardly” with “hard” 27. c; Replace “full” with “fully”
10. b; Replace “carefully” with “careful” 28. b; Replace “independently” with “independent”
11. a; Replace “hard” with “hardly” 29. b; Replace “careful” with “carefully”
12. d; Replace “hardly” with “hard” 30. b; Replace “lately” with “late”
13. c; Replace “importance” with “important” 31. c; Replace “dearly” with “dear”
14. b; Replace “emotional” with “emotionally” 32. a; Replace “fastly” with “fast”
15. c; Replace “hardly” with “hard” 33. a; Replace “straightly” with “straight”
16. c; Replace “thorough” with “thoroughly” 34. c; Replace “hardly” with “hard”
17. b; Replace “suddenly” with “sudden” 35. c; Replace “sweetly” with “sweet”
18. c; Replace “very” with “more”
 Time and Tense
Simple Present
To express a habitual action.
Incorrect : He is taking a walk every morning.
It is clear that the action (taking a walk) happens only every
morning and not continuously. While describing such ac-
tions as happen at regular invervals or routinely we use the
simple present. So,
Correct : He takes a walk every morning.
To express general truths.
Incorrect : Two and two are making four.
The above incorrect sentence gives the impression, that such
a thing is happening in a particular case. The truth is it hap-
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pens always. It is a general truth. So,
Correct : Two and two make four.
In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to
express what is actually taking place in the present.
Incorrect : Here is coming the bus !
It is true that the bus is actually coming. But, bearing the
above rule in mind,
Correct : Here comes the bus!
To indicate a future event that is part of a plan or an
arrangement. For example,
KUNDAN
The Indian team goes to the Caribbean island next month.
Note: It is not, however, incorrect if one uses will go in place
of goes in the above sentence.
To introduce quotations.
For example,
Pope says “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.
Note: It is also correct if said is used in place of says.
When two actions of the future are being talked about, one
dependant on the other, the former action is denoted by
simple present and the latter by simple future.
For example,
We shall go when the child comes back home.
Present Continuous
To express an action going on at the time of speaking.
For example, if you are sitting indoors, and you lament not
being able to go out because rain continues to fall heavily,
you say.
It is raining heavily.
If you say
It rains heavily.
You are not referring to the falling of the rain at the moment of
speaking, but to a phenomenon which occurs regularly; as
in.
It rains heavily in equatorial regions and hilly areas.
To express a temporary action which may not be actually
happening at the time of speaking.
For example; If you are a teacher but work on a project tempo-
rarily, you say
I am working on a project.
This you may say in a conversation even though you are not
working at the moment of speaking. You cannot say
I work on a project.
because this would give the false impression that you are a
project worker by profession. As things stand in the given
circumstances, the appropriate statements would be
I teach.
I am working on a project.
To express an action that is planned or arranged to take
place in the near future. For example,
He is going to the city tomorrow.
But it is not good to use the present continuous for slightly
distant future. So, don’t say
He is going to the city next week.
Rather, use the simple present. So, it is better if you say
He goes to the city next week.
When the reference is to a particularly obstinate habit, the
present continuous is used instead of simple present. An
adverb like always, continually, constantly is also used.
Incorrect : It is no use scolding him; he always
does what is forbidden.
Note that his doing what is forbidden has become a die-hard.
The habit persists inspite of advice or warning. So, we should
use the present continuous.
Correct : It is no use scolding him; he is always
doing what is forbidden.
The following verbs are normally used in the simple present
instead of the present continuous.
a) verbs of appearing - appear, look , seem.
b) verbs of emotion - want, wish, desire, feel, like, love,
hate, hope, prefer, refuse.
c) verbs of perception - see, hear, smell, notice, recognise.
d) verbs of possession - belong to, consist of, contain,
have, own, possess.
e) verbs of thinking - agree, believe, consider, forget,
imagine, know, mean, mind, remember, suppose, think,
trust, understand.
f) the verb ‘be’
Incorrect : The allegation is appearing to be true.
Since appear here is being used in the sense of look or seem,
the above usage is incorrect.
Correct : The allegation appears to be true.
But it is correct to say that
He is appearing on the stage for the first time.
because appear here has a meaning different from that
mentioned in the list. It does not mean look or seem. It means
present oneself formally or publicly.
Present Perfect
To indicate completed activities in the immediate past.
Incorrect : He just came.
The usage of just tells us that the activity of coming has
been completed in the immediate past. So, we use the present
perfect instead of the past simple.
Correct : He has just come.
To express past actions whose time is not given and not
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definite.
Incorrect : I wrote three books.
Then the reader would infer that you wrote books in the
past as a profession or hobby. But when you are being so
specific as to say “ three books”, we immediately feel the
need of a time frame. Since no time frame is mentioned, we
assume it to be by now (not definite). So, we have something
to the effect.
I have written three books by now.
This by now is implied and need not be written. So,
KUNDAN
Correct : I have written three books.
The present perfect is never used with adverbs of past time.
In such cases the simple past should be used.
Incorrect ; India has won the match last week.
Now, last week is immediate past. You may therefore be
tempted to use the present perfect. But remember that the
immediate past here does not go un-indicated. Last week in
being used as an adverb of past time. So,
Correct : India won the match last week.
Present Perfect Continuous
To express an action which began at some time in the past
and is still continuing.
Incorrect : They have built the road since March last.
Have built is present perfect and implies that the action of
building is complete. Note, however, that the sentence only
mentions when the work began. If it were suggested that the
work was finished at a certain time, say May last, things
would have been different.We would then say
They built the road between March and May last. In the
given sentence, however, we are not told that the work has
ended. So, we assume it is going on. Then
Correct : They have been building the road since March
last.
Note: There are certain verbs which are used in the present
perfect form even though they function as present perfect
continuous for such verbs, referred to the list given at the
end of present continuous. (There we saw how those verbs
are used in the simple present form even though they carry
the present continuous sense.)
Incorrect : I have been knowing him for a long time.
As per our discussion above,
Correct : I have known him for a long time.
Simple Past
To indicate an action completed in the past.
I met her last year.
For past habits.
I visited Jaipur every year.
After “it is time”.
It is time we started working.
Past Continuous
To denote an action going on at some time in the past.
Incorrect : When I saw her, she wrote a poem with
full attention.
The two-clause sentence obviously gives us the clue
that she was doing (past continuous) something when I saw
her. So,
Correct : When I saw her, she was writing a poem
with full attention.
For persistent habits in the past.
Incorrect : She always chewed gum.
The use of always tells us that the habit is persistent, or
rather was persistent because chewed suggests that it is the
past, not the present, that is being talked about.
Correct : She was always chewing gum.
Past Perfect
To describe an action completed before a certain moment in
the past.
Incorrect : He wrote a novel even before he was 10 years
old.
Being 10 years old is a moment in the past. The writing of the
novel had been completed (past perfect) before that point of
time. So,
Correct : He had written a novel even before he was 10
years old.
If two actions happen in the past, the earlier one is denoted
by past perfect while the later one is denoted by simple past.
For example, you deposited money in the bank. An hour later
your friend came to you to borrow some money. You then
say: I had deposited money in the bank when my friend came
to borrow from me.
Past Perfect Continuous
To express an action that began before a certain point in the
past and continued upto that time.
Incorrect : Kapil Dev had played for more than a decade
when Tendulkar entered the Indian team.
Note that here we do not have a case where both the actions
had been completed in the past. Kapil had not bidden good-
bye to cricket then. He was still playing. So,
Correct : Kapil Dev had been playing for more than a
decade when Tendulkar entered the Indian
team.
Simple Future
To express an action that has still to take place.
For example, He will play cricket tomorrow.
Future Continuous
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To express an action as going on at some time in future.
When I reach there, he will be reading a book.
The above sentence means that the action of reading will be
going on at that moment in future when I make my entry. Now
mark its difference from the following:
When I reach there, he will read a book.
Here his action of reading is dependant on my reaching there.
He will begin reading only when I reach there.
KUNDAN
To express future events that are planned.
For example,
He will be coming here for Durga Puja.
Future Perfect
To indicate the completion of an action by a certain future
time.
I shall have read the books when you come next.
Future Perfect Continuous
To indicate an action represented as being in progress over
a period of time that will end in the future.
She will have been teaching for six years when she gets
married.
EXERCISE
Directions: In each of the following sentences, find out
which part of the sentence has an error. The error may be
idiomatic or grammatical. If there is no mistake, the answer
is ‘No error’
We often have to deal with sentences where the tense
of the subordinate clause has to be seen in relation with the
tense of the principal clause. The following rules should then
be observed.
1. A past tense in the principal clause should be followed
by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
Incorrect : He hinted that he wants money.
Correct : He hinted that he wanted money.
Incorrect : He replied that he will come.
Correct : He replied that he would come.
Incorrect : I never thought that I shall see him
again.
Correct : I never thought that I should see him
again.
However,
i) when the subordinate clause in the above case expresses
a universal truth, it is in the present tense.
Incorrect : Newton discovered that the apple fell
due to gravity.
Correct : Newton discovered that the apple falls
due to gravity.
Incorrect : He said that honesty was the best
policy.
Correct : He said that honesty is the best policy.
ii) when the subordinate clause is introduced by than in the
above case, it may be in the present tense. This implies that
in this case, even if the subordinate clause is in the past
tense, it will not be considered incorrect. Both tense are
correct.
Correct : He liked you better than he liked me.
Or Correct : He liked you better than he likes me.
Correct : I saw him often than I saw my children.
Or Correct : I saw him often than I see my children.
2. A present or future tense in the principal clause may be
followed by any tense in the subordinate clause, as required
by the sentence. Thus all of the given sentences are correct.
He thinks that she is there.
He thinks that she was there.
He thinks that she will be there.
He will think that she is there.
He will think that she was there.
He will think that she will be there.
1. He drank once again a)/ as he was b)/ feeling thirsty. c)/
No error d)
2. With a view to help the Third World countries, a)/ the
I.M.F. and the World Bank keep sending b)/ their experts
to different regions of the world. c)/ No error d)
3. One of these days a)/ I will be going to b)/ confront you 18. You and I a)/ know each other b)/ for the last six years.
with incontrovertible evidence. c)/ No error d) c)/ No error d)
4. It is necessary a)/ that everybody b)/ must have a house. 19. The eminent speaker’s speech a)/ was broadcasted over
c)/ No error d) b)/ all the major radio stations. c)/ No error d)
5. This small table a)/ will collapse b)/ if you will stand on it. 20. Somewhere along the line a)/ I lost track of b)/ what
c)/ No error d) Ashish said about heart ailments. c)/ No error d)
6. Shobha asked the dealer a)/ what was the price b)/ of 21. When your father inquired a)/ about your marks b)/ you
that bicycle and whether it is really made in Germany? c)/ lied to him. Have you not? c)/ No error d)
No error d) 22. I am sure that a)/ neither the flat nor its contents b)/ is for
7. He refused to answer the question a)/ despite the fact sale. c)/ No error d)
b)/ that his silence will be interpreted as guilt. c)/ No 23. It’s time a)/ you started b)/ working. c)/ No error d)
error d) 24. You are learning Tamil a)/ for the last one year b)/ but you
8. Sadhana was the one person a)/ who could somehow show no improvement whatsoever. c)/ No error d)
manage b)/ to working in that section for a long time. c)/ 25. Many a profound thinker believe a)/ that the march of
No error d) civilisation b)/ has not coincided with real human
9. When we consider all the factors, which are many, a)/ progress. c)/ No error d)
the number of school dropouts b)/ are quite disturbing. 26. The last of the Mughal emperors of India a)/ was
c)/ No error d) imprisoned b)/ and was later sent into exile by the British.

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10. The lecture to be held a)/ in the auditorium tomorrow b)/
was open to the public and free of charge. c)/ No error d)
11. While proceeding on leave a)/ he had committed b)/ that
he would be resumed after two days. c)/ No error d)
12. Coffee seeds a)/ is dried and roasted b)/ before they are
ground into powder. c)/ No error d)
13. If there had been a)/ no new thinking, b)/ life would
follow the beaten track. c)/ No error d)
14. My father did not a)/ heard from my younger brother b)/
who is abroad for over a month. c)/ No error d)
c)/ No error d)
27. The programme which a)/ came on television b)/ these days
in the evenings is very interesting. c)/ No error d)
28. On reaching the railway station a)/ he was disappointed
to learn b)/ that the train left. c)/ No error d)
29. Neither India nor Pakistan a)/ have yet acquired b)/ the
capability to produce nuclear weapons. c)/ No error d)
30. When I shall see him a)/ I shall tell him b)/ that you had
called. c)/ No error d)
31. I courteously asked him a)/ where was he going b)/ but

KUNDAN
15. While going a)/ through the report b)/ yesterday I find
several factual mistakes. c)/ No error d)
16. The meeting adjourned abruptly a)/ by the Chairman
after b)/ about three hours of deliberation. c)/ No error d)
17. If the streets would have been clearly marked a)/ it would
not have taken us b)/ so long to find his house. c)/ No
error d)
he did not reply. c)/ No error d)
32. Nobody believed him a)/ when he said that b)/ his son
was gone out of the country. c)/ No error d)
33. It is high time a)/ that we send b)/ the answer. c)/ No error d)
34. I have had to work a)/ at the fountain for almost b)/ ten hours
before it could start functioning well. c)/ No error d)
35. My body has long since exhausted all its energy. a)/ but
it went on running b)/ just the same. c)/ No error d)

Answers and Explanations

1. d; No error 13. a; Replace ‘had been’ with ‘was’
2. a; Replace ‘help’with ‘helping’ 14. a; Replace ‘did’ with ‘has’
3. b; Replace ‘will be’ with ‘am’ 15. c; Replace ‘find’ with ‘found’
4. c; Replace ‘must’ with ‘should’ 16. a; The correct form is: ‘The meeting was abruptly
5. c; Remove ‘will’ adjourned...’
6. c; Replace ‘is’ with ‘was’ 17. a; Replace ‘would have’ with ‘had’
7. c; Replace ‘will’ with ‘could’ 18. b; Replace ‘know’ with ‘have known’
8. c; Replace ‘working’ with ‘work’ 19. b; Replace ‘broadcasted’ with ‘broadcast’
9. c; Replace ‘are’ with ‘is’ 20. c; Replace ‘said’ with ‘was saying’
10. c; Replace ‘was’ with ‘is’ 21. c; Replace ‘Have’ with ‘Did’
11. c; Replace ‘be resumed’ with ‘resume’ 22. c; Replace ‘is’ with ‘are’
12. b; Replace ‘is’ with ‘are’ (‘seeds’ is plural) 23. b
 24. a; Replace ‘are’ with ‘have been’ 30. a; Remove ‘shall’
25. a; Replace ‘believe’ with ‘believes’ 31. b; The correct form is ‘where he was going’
26. c; Remove ‘was’ 32. c; Replace ‘was’ with ‘had’
27. b; Replace ‘came’ with ‘comes’ 33. b; Replace ‘send’ with ‘sent’
28. c; Add ‘had’ before ‘left’ 34. e; No error
29. b; Replace ‘have’ with ‘has’ 35. b; Replace ‘went’ with ‘goes’

Active and Passive Voice

Voice is that form of a verb which shows whether what is
denoted by the subject does something or has something
done to it.
A verb is in the active voice when its form shows that the
person or thing denoted by the subject does something, that
is, is the doer of the action. The subject acts.
number) with vermin.
She was touched with pity for the animals.
The poor man was beset (was surrounded) with
difficulties.
The master was pleased with the servant.
The road was lined with people.

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A verb is in the passive voice when its form shows that
something is done to the person or thing denoted by the
subject. The subject is not active but passive. It does not act,
but suffers or receives some action.
Consider the following sentences.
1. The peon opened the gate.
2. The gate was opened by the peon.
Both the sentences have the same meaning. The difference,
however, lies in emphasis. In the first sentence, the peon
The field was thronged (was crowded) with audience.
She was surprised at what her mother said.
Rule: A few transitive verbs like eat, read,smell, taste etc,
even in an active form, are sometimes used in a passive
sense.
Incorrect: The mangoes are tasted sour.
It is true that the mangoes are tasted. Mangoes do not taste.
Yet the above sentence would imply that
The mangoes are tasted when they are

KUNDAN
becomes prominent. In the second sentence, the gate
becomes prominent. So, the function of voice lies in the shifting
of prominence.
Sentence 1 is in the active voice because the subject
(the peon) is the doer of the action (opened). Note that the
gate is the object here.
Sentence 2 is in the passive voice because the subject
(the gate) is not the doer of the action, but the receiver (was
opened). It does not have any object. Note that the object of
the verb becomes the subject in the passive voice. Thus only
transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice because an
intransitive verb has no object.
Rule: The subject of the verb in the active voice comes after
the verb in the passive voice and is usually preceded by
the preposition by.
Incorrect: The mouse was killed of the cat.
The cat would have been the subject of killed, the verb in the
active voice. On the verb being converted to the passive
voice, the cat goes after the verb and is preceded by by. So,
Correct: The mouse was killed by the cat.
However, there are a few notable exceptions:
The writer is enamoured (is inspired with love) of what
he writes.
The entire place is infested (is spread over in large
sour.
(Like “Some vegetables are eaten raw.” means “Some
vegetables are eaten in their raw state or when they are raw.”)
But common knowledge tells us that people in general prefer
sweet mangoes. What the writer intends is the meaning
The mangoes are sour when tasted.
This comes out in the following sentence.
Correct: The mangoes taste sour.
Incorrect: This fruit is smelt sweet.
This would mean that this fruit is smelt when it is sweet. Do
you know of any such fruit bound by such convention?
What the writer intends to say is that this fruit is sweet when
smelt. So,
Correct: This fruit smells sweet.
SYNTACTICAL CHANGES IN ACTIVE-PASSIVE
CONVERSION PROCESS
A. TENSE
(i) Present Indefinite Tense
Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object
Passive Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (is/am/are)
+ third form of verb (V3) + by + Object
 Active Voice Passive Voice (vii) Future Indefinite Tense
(a) I love my children. My children are loved by me. Active Voice : Subject + Helping Verb (shall/will)
(b) They call him a liar. He is called a liar by them. + Verb + Object.
(ii) Present Continuous Tense Passive Voice : Subject + Helping Verb (shall/will) +
be + third form of Verb + by + Object
Active Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (is/am/are)
Active Voice Passive Voice
Verb + ing + Object
(a) He will give the news. The news will be given by
Passive Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (is/am/are)
him.
+ being + third form of Verb + by + Object (b)We will teach him. He will be taught by us.
Active Voice Passive
(a) He is writing a letter. A letter is being written by him. (viii) Future Perfect Tense
Active Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (will/shall) +
(b) The children are The poor are being helped
have + third form of Verb + Object
helping the poor. by the children. Passive Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (will/shall)
(iii) Present Perfect Tense + have + been + third form of Verb + by + Object
Active Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (has /have) Active Voice Passive Voice
+ third form of Verb + Object (a) They will have planted Trees will have been planted
trees. by them.
Passive Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (has/have + been)

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(b)The teacher will have The students will have been
+ third form of verb + by + Object
called the students. called by the teacher.
Active Voice Passive Voice
(a) He has invited all his All his friends have (B) TWO OBJECTS OF THE VERB
friends. been invited by him. If a verb in the Active Voice takes two objects — a direct
(b)I have lost my watch. My watch has been lost. one and an indirect one after it, either of them may be
(iv) Past Indefinite Tense retained in the Passive such as,
Active Voice: Subject + second form of verb + Object (i) The direct object of the Active Verb:
Passive Voice: Subject + helping verb (was/were) Active Voice Passive Voice
+ third form of verb + by + Object (a) He teaches us Sanskrit. We are taught Sanskrit by
Active Voice Passive Voice him.

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(a) He bought a watch A watch was bought by him (b)He forgave me my fault. I was forgiven my fault by
yesterday. yesterday. him.
(b)They kept us waiting. We were kept waiting by (ii) The indirect object of the Active Verb:
them. Active Voice Passive Voice
(v) Past Continuous Tense (a) He teaches us Sanskrit. Sanskrit is taught to us by
Active Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (was/were) him.
+ Verb + ing + Object (b)He forgave me my fault. My fault was forgiven by
Passive Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (was/were) him.
+ being + third form of Verb + by + Object (C) SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH “LET”
Active Voice Passive Voice Active Voice Passive Voice
(a) Ram was writing A book was being written (a) Let Neha run a show. Let a show be run by Neha.
a book. by Ram. (b)Let me try this question.Let this question be tried by
(b)The horses were A cart was being drawn by me.
drawing a cart. the horses. (D) USE OF PREPOSITION
(vi) Past Perfect Tense (i) Certain intransitive verbs which take a preposition after
Active Voice: Subject +Helping Verb (had) + third form them when changed into the Passive Voice retain the
of Verb + Object preposition as part of the verb.
Passive Voice: Subject + Helping Verb (had been) Active Voice Passive Voice
+ third form of Verb + by + Object (a) He looks at the The painting is looked at by
Active Voice Passive Voice painting. him.
(a) She had finished the The work had been finished (b)The parents spoke to The children were spoken to
work. by her. their children. by the parents.
(b)They had invited the The students had been (ii) Sometimes, in the Passive Voice, a preposition other than
students. invited by them. “by” is used,
 Active Voice Passive Voice (b)Can he do the work? Can the work be done by
(a) Rita knows me. I am known to Rita. him?
(b)It is time to send for It is time for the musician to (iii) If the question in the Active Voice begins with has/have/
the musician. be sent for. had, the form of the verb in the Passive Voice is:
(E) PASSIVE OF IMPERATIVE SENTENCES Has/Have/Had + been + Past Participle
(i) An imperative sentence in Passive Voice begins with the Active Voice Passive Voice
work “let”. The form of the verb is: (a) Had you seen the Had the boy been seen by
Let + be + past participle boy before? you before?
Active Voice Passive Voice (b)Has Priya invited you? Have you been invited by
(a) Shut the door. Let the door be shut. Priya?
(b)Tell the students to sit. Let the students be told to (iv) If the question in the Active Voice begins with what/
sit. where/why/when, the form of the verb in the Passive
(ii) We can use another method to change the sentences voice is:
into the Passive form. Question word + is/am/are/was/were + past participle
Active Voice Passive Voice of the verb.
(a) Please help me. You are requested to help Note: If the Active Voice sentence begins with “who”, then it
me. is changed into “By whom” in the Passive Voice.
(b)Always keep to You are always advised to Active Voice Passive Voice

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the left. keep to the left. (a) Who wrote the letter? By whom was the letter
(c) Stand up on the bench. You are ordered to stand up written?
on the bench. (b)Where did you pick it? Where was it picked by
(F) PASSIVE OF INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES you?
(i) If the question in the Active Voice begins with Do/Does/ (c) When do they deliver When is the mail delivered
Did, the form of the verb in the Passive Voice is: the mail? by them?
Is/are/was/were + Past Participle of the Verb. (G) VERBS OF INCOMPLETE PREDICATION
Active Voice Passive Voice Whenever a transitive verb of incomplete predication
(a) Do you speak French? Is French spoken by you? (i.e. a verb which needs a complement in addition to an
(b)Did India win the Was the match won by object) is changed from the Active Voice into the Passive

KUNDAN
match? India? Voice, the object (and never the complement) becomes
(ii) If the question in the Active Voice begins with modal the subject in the Passive Voice.
auxiliary the form of the verb in the Passive Voice is: Active Voice Passive Voice
Modal auxiliary + be + Past Participle of the Verb (a) They elected him He was elected secretary by
Active Voice Passive Voice secretary. them.
(a) Must we finish this Must this work be finished (b)The people proclaimed He was proclaimed king by
work? by us? him king. the people.

EXERCISE
Directions: A sentence has been given in Active Voice/
Passive Voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select
the one which best expresses the same sentence in Passive/
Active Voice and mark your answer in the Answer-Sheet.
1. The bag was packed by his mother.
(a) His mother has packed the bag.
(b) His mother packed the bag.
(c) His mother pack the bag.
(d) His mother packs the bag.
2. Football is played by the children.
(a) The children are playing football.
(b) The children have played football.
(c) The children played football.
(d) The children play football.
3. This book was written by an Irishman.
(a) An Irishman wrote this book.
(b) An Irishman has written this book.
(c) An Irishman had written this book.
(d) An Irishman writes this book.
4. The electricians test the fire alarm.
(a) The fire alarm was tested by the electricians.
(b) The fire alarm has been tested by the electricians.
(c) The fire alarm is tested by the electricians.
(d) The fire alarm is being tested by the electricians.
5. The girls can play handball.
(a) Handball could be played by the girls.
(b) Handball can be played by the girls.
 (c) Handball is to be played by the girls.
(d) Handball is played by the girls.
6. The teacher closes the window.
(a) The window is closed by the teacher.
(b) The window is being closed by the teacher.
(c) The window will be closed by the teacher.
(d) The window is to be closed by the teacher.
7. They expected us to build the road.
(a) We expected to build the road.
(b) We have expected to build the road.
(c) We are expected to build the road.
(d) We were expected to build the road.
8. Snow covered the mountains.
(a) The mountains are covered with snow.
(b) The mountains have been covered with snow.
(c) The mountains were covered with snow.
(d) The mountains are to be covered with snow.
9. The professor is going to show the students an old bone.
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(a) The students will be shown an old bone.
(b) The students are going to be shown an old bone.
(c) The students are going to see an old bone.
(d) The students are going to be seen an old bone.
10. Who said it?
(a) It is said by whom?
(b) It was said by whom?
(c) It was being said by whom?
(d) It has been said by whom?
11. Rick told Sue to give up smoking.
(a) Sue was told to give up smoking.
KUNDAN
(b) Sue was asked to give up smoking.
(c) Sue has been told to give up smoking.
(d) Sue told to give up smoking.
12. People said that the President is ill.
(a) It was said that the President was ill.
(b) It was said that the President had been ill.
(c) It was said that the President has been ill.
(d) It was said that the President is ill.
13. The instructions have been changed.
(a) Someone changed the instructions.
(b) Someone has changed the instructions.
(c) Someone has been changed the instructions.
(d) Someone have changed the instructions.
14. She will have to be taught.
(a) Someone teach her.
(b) Someone will teach her.
(c) Someone will have to teach her.
(d) Someone will need to teach her.
15. This car was manufactured in Japan by Toyota.
(a) Toyota had manufactured this car in Japan.
(b) Toyota has manufactured this car in Japan.
(c) Toyota is manufacturing this car in Japan.
(d) Toyota manufactured this car in Japan.
16. Why aren’t the exercises being finished on time?
(a) Why don’t you finish the exercises on time?
(b) Why haven’t you finished the exercises on time?
(c) Why aren’t you finishing the exercises on time?
(d) Why didn’t you finished the exercises on time?
17. Last year 2,000 new units had been produced by the time
we introduced the new design.
(a) We had produced 2,000 new units when we
introduced the new design last year.
(b) We had produced 2,000 new units by the time we
introduced the new design last year.
(c) We produced 2,000 new units by the time we
introduced the new design last year.
(d) We have produced 2,000 new units by the time we
introduced the new design last year.
18. Casual clothes must not be worn.
(a) You must not wear casual clothes.
(b) You should not wear casual clothes.
(c) You do not wear casual clothes.
(d) You will not wear casual clothes.
19. $400,000 in profit has been reported this year by the
company.
(a) The company has reported $400,000 in profit this
year.
(b) The company had reported $400,000 in profit this
year.
(c) The company is reported $400,000 in profit this year.
(d) The company reported $400,000 in profit this year.
20. The test will be given at five o’clock this afternoon.
(a) The school would give the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(b) The school gives the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(c) The school will give the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(d) The school will be giving the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
21. You should look into this matter.
(a) This matter has been looked into by you.
(b) This matter may be looked into by you.
(c) This matter should be looked into by you.
(d) This matter into looked by you.
22. Do you imitate others?
(a) Are others imitated by you?
(b) Are others being imitated by you?
(c) Were others imitated by you?
(d) Have others been imitated by you?
23. He was arrested on a charge of theft, but for lack of
evidence he was released.
(a) He was arrested on a charge of theft, but of evidence
he was released for lack.
(b) The police arrested him on a charge of theft, but for
lack of evidence he was released.
(c) The police arrested him on a charge of theft, but for
lack of evidence released him.
(d) None of these.
24. A stone struck me on the head.
(a) I was struck by a stone on the head.
(b) My head was struck by a stone.
(c) I had been struck by a stone on the head.
(d) I was struck on the head by a stone.
25. Who can question Gandhi’s integrity?
(a) By whom Gandhi’s integrity can be questioned?
(b) By whom can Gandhi’s integrity be questioned?
(c) Gandhi’s integrity can be questioned by whom?
(d) Who could have questioned Gandhi’s integrity?
26. He asked me to finish the work in time.
(a) I was asked that I should finish the work in time.
(b) He asked me that I should finish the work in time.
(c) I was being asked to finish the work in time.
(d) I was asked to finish the work in time by him.
27. The residents celebrated the Republic Day.
(a) The Republic Day is celebrated by the residents.
(b) The Republic Day was celebrated by the residents.
(c) The Republic Day has been celebrated by the
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residents.
(d) Celebration of the Republic Day was done by the
residents.
28. A lion may be helped even by a little mouse.
(a) A little mouse may even help a lion.
(b) Even a little mouse may help a lion.
(c) A little mouse can even help a lion.
(d) Even a little mouse ought to help a lion.
29. I know him.
(a) He is known by me.
KUNDAN
(b) He was known to me.
(c) He has been known by me.
(d) He is known to me.
30. His subordinates accused him of various offences.
(a) They accused him of various offences.
(b) It was accused by his subordinates that he has done
various offences.
(c) His subordinates accused that he had done various
offences.
(d) He was accused of various offences by his
subordinates.
31. He was obliged to resign.
(a) He was made to resign.
(b) To resign was his obligation.
(c) Circumstances obliged him to resign.
(d) Resignation obliged by him.
32. This shirt cannot be worn any longer.
(a) I cannot wear this shirt any longer.
(b) Wearing of this shirt any longer is not possible.
(c) This shirt is too worn out to be worn any longer.
(d) This worn out shirt cannot be worn any longer.
33. Why are you waste time?
(a) Why is time wasted by you?
(b) Why is time been wasted by you?
(c) Why has time been wasted by you?
(d) Why is time being wasted by you?
34. It is time to ring the bell.
(a) It is time the bell rings.
(b) It is being time to ring the bell.
(c) It is time for the bell to ring.
(d) It is time for the bell to be rung.
35. We hope that we shall win the match.
(a) The match is hoped to be won.
(b) Match winning is our hope.
(c) It is hoped that the match will be won by us.
(d) Winning the match is hoped by us.
36. I have watched a movie today.
(a) A movie has been watched by me today.
(b) A movie had been watched by me today.
(c) A movie is being watched by me today.
(d) A movie was being watched by me today.
37. They say that women live longer than men.
(a) Women are said to have lived longer than men.
(b) Women are said to live longer than men.
(c) Women live longer than men.
(d) Women have said to live longer than men.
38. Does your mum pick you up?
(a) Have you picked up by your mum?
(b) Will you be picked up by your mum?
(c) Are you picked up by your mum?
(d) Were you picked up by your mum?
39. They wear blue shoes.
(a) Blue shoes were worn by them.
(b) Blue shoes have been worn by them.
(c) Blue shoes will be worn by them.
(d) Blue shoes are worn by them.
40. They don’t help you.
(a) You will not be helped by them.
(b) You are not helped by them.
(c) You were not helped by them.
(d) You may not helped by them.
41. Why did you not agree to my proposal?
(a) Why was my proposal not agreed to?
(b) Why was my proposal not agreed by you?
(c) Why my proposal not agreed by you?
(d) Why was my proposal not agreed to by you?
42. A lion does not eat grass however hungry he may be.
(a) Grass is not eaten by a lion however hungry he may
be.
(b) Grass is not being eaten by a lion however hungry
he may be.
(c) Grass is eaten not by a lion however hungry he may
be.
(d) Grass is being not eaten by a lion however hungry
he may be.
43. The teacher punished the boys who had not done their
home work.
 (a) The boys who had not done their home work had
been punished by the teacher.
(b) The boys were punished by the teacher who had not
done their home work
(c) The boys who had not done their home work were
punished by the teacher.
(d) The boys who had not done their home work were
being punished by the teacher.
44. People claim to have seen the suspect in the city.
(a) The suspect is being seen in the city .
(b) The suspect has been seen in the city.
(c) The suspect is claimed to have been seen in the city.
(d) The suspect was seen by people in the city.
45. You watch movies every week.
(a) Movies are watched by you every week.
(b) Movies are being watched by you every week.
(c) Movies have been watched by you every week.
(d) Every week you watch movie.
K
46. We set the table.
(a) The table is to be set by us.
(b) The table is getting set by us
(c) The table is set by us.
(d) The table is being set by us.
47. She pays a lot of money.
(a) A lot of money has been paid by her.
(b) A lot of money is to be paid by her.
(c) A lot of money gets paid by her.
(d) A lot of money is paid by her.
48. I draw a picture.
KUNDAN
(a) A picture is to be drawn by me.
(b) A picture is drawn by me.
(c) A picture is drew by me.
(d) A picture will be drawn by me.
49. Will the teacher test our English?
(a) Will our English be tested by the teacher?
(b) Will our teacher test our English?
(c) Is our English to be tested by the teacher?
(d) Will our English tested by the teacher?
50. Could Jenny lock the door?
(a) Was the door locked by Jenny?
(b) Could the door be locked by Jenny?
(c) Was Jenny able to lock the door
(d) Can the door be locked by Jenny?
51. (a) Will the company employ a new worker?
(a) Will a new worker to be employed by the company?
(b) Will a new worker be employed by the company?
(c) Is a new worker to be employed by the company?
(d) Shall a new worker be employed by the company?
52. You ought to wash the car.
(a) The car has to be washed by you.
(b) The car is to be washed by you.
(c) The car ought to be washed by you.
(d) The car has ought to be washed by you.
53. They will not show the new film.
(a) The new film will not be shown by them.
(b) The new film would not be shown by them.
(c) The new film is not be shown by them.
(d) The new film cannot be shown by them.
54. We have not agreed to this issue.
(a) This issue is not to be agreed to by us.
(b) This issue had not been agreed to by us.
(c) This issue has not been agreed to by us.
(d) This issue can not been agreed to by us.
55. They have not caught the thieves.
(a) The thieves had not been caught by them.
(b) The thieves have not been caught by them.
(c) The thieves were not caught by them.
(d) The thieves could not be caught by them.
56. Has she phoned him?
(a) Has she been phoned by him?
(b) Was he phoned by her?
(c) Was she phoned by him?
(d) Has he been phoned by her?
57. Have they noticed us?
(a) Had we been noticed by them?
(b) Have we been noticed by them?
(c) Were we noticed by them?
(d) Have we noticed by them?
58. A thief stole my car.
(a) My car has been stolen by a thief.
(b) My car had stolen by a thief.
(c) My car was stolen by a thief.
(d) My car is stolen by a thief.
59. They didn’t let him go.
(a) He was not to be let go by them.
(b) He was not letting go by them.
(c) He was not let go by them.
(d) He could not let go by them.
60. Our boss will sign the contract.
(a) The contract is to be signed by our boss.
(b) The contract will be signed by our boss.
(c) The contract would be signed by our boss.
(d) The contract could be signed by our boss.
61. Do not put your feet on the seats.
(a) One should not put feet on the seats.
(b) You must not put your feet on the seats.
(c) Feet must not be put on the seats.
(d) Feet should not be put on the seats.
62. You must look into this matter.
(a) This matter has been looked into by you.
(b) This matter may be looked into by you.
(c) This matter should be looked into by you.
(d) This matter into looked by you
63. He asked me to finish the work in time.
(a) I was asked that I should finish the work in time.
(b) He asked me that I should finish the work in time.
 (c) I was being asked to finish the work in time.
(d) I was asked to finish the work in time by him.
64. The residents celebrated Holi.
(a) Holi is celebrated by the residents.
(b) Holi was celebrated by the residents.
(c) Holi has been celebrated by the residents.
(d) Celebration of Holi was done by the residents.
65. This shirt cannot be worn any longer.
(a) I cannot wear this shirt any longer.
(b) Wearing of this shirt any longer is not possible.
(c) This shirt is too worn out to be worn any longer.
(d) This worn out shirt cannot be worn any longer.
66. Snow covered the mountains.
(a) The mountains are covered with snow.
(b) The mountains have been covered with snow.
(c) The mountains were covered with snow.
(d) The mountains are to be covered with snow.
67. Why aren’t the exercises being finished on time?
K
(a) Why don’t you finishing the exercises on time?
(b) Why haven’t you finishing the exercises on time?
(c) Why aren’t you finishing the exercises on time?
(d) Why didn’t you finishing the exercises on time?
68. The test will be given at five o’clock this afternoon.
(a) The school would give the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(b) The school gives the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(c) The school will give the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
KUNDAN
(d) The school will be giving the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
69. The Shakuntalam was written by Kalidas.
(a) Kalidas wrote the Shakuntalam.
(b) Kalidas written the Shakuntalam.
(c) Kalidas had written the Shakuntalam.
(d) Kalidas writes the Shakuntalam.
70. We must now deal with these problems.
(a) These problems must now be dealt with by us.
(b) These problems must now be dealing with by us.
(c) These problems must now deal with by us.
(d) These problems are to be dealt with by us.
71. I did not trust anybody.
(a) Nobody was trusted by me.
(b) Anybody had been trusted by me.
(c) Nobody would be trusted by me,
(d) Nobody has been trusted by me.
72. Rain disrupted the last day’s play between India and
Srilanka.
(a) The last days play of India and Srilanka was disrupted
by rain.
(b) India and Sri Lanka’s play of the last day was
disrupted by rain.
(c) The last day’s play between India and Sri Lanka was
disrupted by rain.
(d) The last day’s play between India and Sri Lanka were
disrupted by rain.
73. Can you solve this sum quickly?
(a) Can this sum be solved by you?
(b) Can this sum solve by you?
(c) Can this sum be solved you quickly?
(d) Can this sum be solved by you quickly?
74. Saumya married Rohan.
(a) Rohan was married for Saumya.
(b) Rohan was married to Saumya.
(c) Rohan is married to Saumya.
(d) Rohan has been married to Saumya.
75. I want to buy a house.
(a) I want a house to bought.
(b) I want a house to have bought.
(c) I want a house to be bought.
(d) I wanted a house to be bought.
76. Women like men to flatter them.
(a) Men are liked by women to flatter them.
(b) Women like to be flattered by men.
(c) Women like that men should flatter them.
(d) Women are liked to be flattered by men.
77. I saw a few trees laden with fruits.
(a) I was seen a few trees laden with fruits.
(b) A few trees were saw by me laden with fruits.
(c) A few trees had been seen by me laden with fruits.
(d) A few trees were seen by me laden with fruits.
78.Without effort nothing can be gained.
(a) We can gain anything with effort.
(b) We can gain nothing without effort.
(c) Without effort, we cannot gain anything.
(d) We can gain only with effort.
79. God helps those who help themselves.
(a) Those whose help themselves are helped by god.
(b) Those who help themselves are helped by god.
(c) Those which help themselves are helped by god.
(d) Those who help themselves were helped by god.
80. He is not hated by me.
(a) I do not hate him.
(b) I do not hate he.
(c) I didn’t hate him.
(d) I will not hate him.
81. The electricians test the fire alarm.
(a) The fire alarm was tested by the electricians.
(b) The fire alarm has been tested by the electricians.
(c) The fire alarm is tested by the electricians.
(d) The fire alarm is being tested by the electricians.
82. The professor is going to show the students an old bone.
(a) The students will be shown an old bone.
(b) The students are going to be shown an old bone.
(c) The students are going to see an old bone.
(d) The students are going to be seen an old bone.
83. The instructions have been changed.
(a) Someone changed the instructions.
 (b) Someone has changed the instructions.
(c) Someone has been changed the instructions.
(d) Someone have changed the instructions
84. The test will be given at five o’clock this afternoon.
(a) The school would give the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(b) The school gives the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(c) The school will give the test at five o’clock this
afternoon.
(d) The school will be giving the test at five o’clock this
afternoon
85. He was arrested on a charge of theft, but for lack of
evidence he was released.
(a) He was arrested on a charge of theft, but of evidence
he was released for lack.
(b) The police arrested him on a charge of theft, but for
lack of evidence he was released.
91. Anybody will rob you if you are not careful.
(a) You will be robbed if you are not careful.
(b) You will robbed if you are not careful.
(c) You will be rob if you are not careful.
(d) You will have robbed if you are not careful.
92. One must do one’s duty.
(a) Duty must done.
(b) Duty must be done.
(c) Duty must have be done.
(d) Duty must have been done.
93. someone gave her a bracelet.
(a) She was given a bracelet.
(b) A bracelet was given to her.
(c) She has been given a bracelet.
(d) She is being given a bracelet.
94. a stone struck me on the head.
(a) I was struck by a stone on the head.
(b) My head was struck by a stone.

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(c) The police arrested him on a charge of theft, but for
(c) I had been struck by a stone on the head.
lack of evidence released him.
(d) I was struck on the head by a stone.
(d) None of these
95. Rama gave the beggar an old shirt.
86. He asked me to finish the work in time.
(a) An old shirt was given to Rama by the beggar.
(a) I was asked that I should finish the work in time.
(b) An old shirt was given to the beggar by Rama.
(b) He asked me that I should finish the work in time.
(c) The beggar was gave an old shirt by Rama.
(c) I was being asked to finish the work in time.
(d) An old shirt was gave to the beggar by Rama.
(d) I was asked to finish the work in time by him.
96. he asked me to wait.
87. His subordinates accused him of various offences.
(a) I was asked wait.
(a) They accused him of various offences.
(b) I was asked to wait.
(b) It was accused by his subordinates that he has done

KUNDAN
(c) I was asked to waitng
various offences.
(d) I was asked for wait.
(c) His subordinates accused that he had done various
97. We hope that we shall win the match.
offences.
(a) The match is hoped to be won.
(d) He was accused of various offences by his
(b) Match winning is our hope.
subordinates.
(c) It is hoped that the match will be won by us.
88. Have the box broken.
(d) Winning the match is hoped by us.
(a) Have the broken box.
98. They don’t help you.
(b) Break the box.
(a) You will not be helped by them.
(c) Get someone to break the box.
(b) You are not helped by them.
(d) They have broken the box.
(c) You were not helped by them.
89. The child’s shrill wail broke the silence.
(d) You may not helped by them.
(a) The silence was being broken by the child’s shrill
99. The exhibition was opened by the governor.
wail.
(a) The governor opened the exhibition.
(b) The child’s shrill wail was broken by the silence.
(b) The governor has opened the exhibition.
(c) The silence was broken by the child’s shrill wail.
(c) The governor had opened the exhibition.
(d) The silence was being broken by the child’s shrill
(d) The governor was opened the exhibition
wail.
100. English is spoken all over the world.
90. They promised Mary a new doll on her birthday.
(a) People spoke English all over the world.
(a) Mary had been promised a new doll on her birthday.
(b) People speak English all over the world.
(b) Mary was promised a new doll on her birthday.
(c) People will People speak English all over the world.
(c) Mary is promised a new doll on her birthday.
(d) People have spoken English all over the world.
(d) Mary had promised a new doll on her birthday.
 Answers
1. b 2. d 3. a 4. c 5. b 51. b 52. c 53. a 54. c 55. b
6. a 7. d 8. c 9. b 10. b 56. d 57. b 58. c 59. c 60. b
11. a 12. d 13. b 14. c 15. d 61. c 62. c 63. d 64. b 65. a
16. c 17. b 18. a 19. a 20. c 66. c 67. c 68. c 69. a 70. a
21. c 22. a 23. c 24. d 25. b 71. a 72. c 73. d 74. b 75. c
26. d 27. b 28. b 29. d 30. d 76. b 77. d 78. b 79. b 80. a
31. c 32. a 33. d 34. d 35. c 81. c 82. b 83. b 84. c 85. c
36. a 37. b 38. c 39. d 40. b 86. d 87. d 88. c 89. c 90. b
41. d 42. a 43. c 44. c 45. a 91. a 92. b 93. a 94. a 95. b
46. c 47. d 48. b 49. a 50. b 96. b 97. c 98. b 99. a 100. b

Direct and Indirect Speech

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The words of a speaker are reported in two ways:
(i) Direct Speech: When we quote the speaker’s
actual words. These words are put within inverted
commas (“ ”).
(ii) Indirect (or Reported) Speech: When we report
what the speaker said without quoting his exact
words.
Direct: He said to me, “I am reading a book.”
Ex.: Dipu said, “I have bought a red pen.”
(Direct Speech)
Dipu said that he had bought a red pen.
(Indirect Speech)
(d) When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the
present perfect continuous becomes the past
perfect continuous.
Ex.: He said, “I have been doing the job for a month.”
Indirect: He told me that he was reading a book. (Direct Speech)

KUNDAN
Rule I: When the reporting or principal verb is in the present He said that he had been doing the job for a month.
tense, the tenses of the direct speech do not change. (Indirect Speech)
Ex.: He says, “I am busy.” (Direct Speech) (e) The simple past changes to the past perfect.
He says that he is busy. (Indirect Speech) Ex.: You said, “she wrote a letter.”
Rule II: When the reporting or principal verb is in the future (Direct Speech)
tense, the tenses of the direct speech do not change. You said that she had written a letter.
Ex: He will say, “I am fine.” (Direct Speech) (Indirect Speech)
He will say that he is fine. (Indirect Speech) (f) The past continuous changes to the past perfect
Rule III: When the reporting or principal verb is in the past continuous.
tense, all present tenses of the direct speech are Ex.: He said, “I was writing a letter to the principal.”
changed into the corresponding past tenses. (Direct Speech)
(a) When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the He said that he had been writing a letter to the
simple present in the direct speech becomes the principal. (Indirect Speech)
simple past. (g) The past perfect in the direct speech does not
Ex.: He said, “I am happy.” (Direct Speech) change.
He said that he was happy. (Indirect Speech) Ex.: The students said, “We had completed the work.”
(b) When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the (Direct Speech)
present continuous in the direct speech becomes The students said that they had completed the work.
the past continuous. (Indirect Speech)
Ex.: The boy said, “My master is writing letters.” (h) The past perfect continuous in the direct speech
(Direct Speech) does not change.
The boy said that his master was writing letters. Ex.: She said, “I had been doing my work for two
(Indirect Speech) months.” (Direct Speech)
(c) When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the She said that she had been doing her work for
present perfect becomes the past perfect.
two months. (Indirect Speech)
Rule IV: When the reporting or principal verb is in the First person pronoun will change according to the
past tense, the shall/will of the future tense is subject.
changed to should/would Second person pronoun will change according to
Ex.: The student said, “I shall do the work.” the object.
(Direct Speech) There will be no change in third person pronoun.
The student said that he should do the work. Ex.: He said, “I am busy.” (Direct Speech)
(Indirect Speech) He said that he was busy. (Indirect Speech)
Note: If the direct speech consists of a sentence expressing She said to me, “I don’t believe you.” (Direct speech)
universal truth or habitual action, there is no change She told me that she didn’t believe me.
in tense. (Indirect Speech)
Ex.: The teacher said, “The earth revolves round the He said to me, “I am right but you are wrong.”
sun.” (Direct Speech) (Direct Speech)
The teacher said that the earth revolves round the He told me that he was right but I was wrong.
sun. (Indirect Speech) (Indirect Speech)
Rule V: When direct speech is changed into indirect speech, INDIRECT NARRATION OF INTERROGATIVE
the tense of certain words also changes. SENTENCES
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
In reporting questions, the indirect speech is introduced by
(a) now then

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verbs such as asked, enquired etc.
(b) here there
(c) ago before Ex.: He said to me, “What are you doing?” (Direct Speech)
(d) thus so She asked me what I was doing. (Indirect Speech)
(e) this that “Where do you live?”, asked the stranger.
(f) these those (Direct Speech)
(g) hence thence The stranger asked/enquired where I lived.
(h) today that day
(Indirect Speech)
(i) tonight that night
(j) yesterday the day before INDIRECT NARRATION OF IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
(k) tomorrow next day Ex.: Ram said to Arjun, “Go away.”

KUNDAN
(l) last night the night before (Direct Speech)
(m) next day the following day
Ram ordered Arjun to go away. (Indirect Speech)
Ex.: He said, “I am glad to be here this evening.”
(Direct Speech) He said to him, “Please wait here until I return.”
He said that he was glad to be there that evening. (Direct Speech)
(Indirect Speech) He requested him to wait there until he returned.
Rule VI: There is change in pronouns when direct speech is (Indirect Speech)
changed into indirect speech.

EXERCISE
Directions: A sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect
form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one
which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct
form.
1. She said, “I was teaching earlier.”
(a) She said that she was teaching earlier.
(b) She said that she had been teaching earlier.
(c) She said that she has been teaching earlier.
(d) She said that she is teaching earlier.
2. She said, “The lesson had already started when he
arrived.”
(a) She said that the lesson already started when he
arrived.
(b) She said that the lesson had already started when he
had arrived.
(c) She said that the lesson had already started when he
arrived.
(d) She said that the lesson already started when he had
arrived.
3. He said that he had waited for an hour.
(a) He said, “I have been waited for an hour.”
(b) He said, “I have been waiting for an hour.”
(c) He said, “I have waited for an hour.”
(d) He said, “I waited for an hour.”
4. Kiran asked him if he had read the letter.
(a) Kiran asked, “Did you read the letter?”
 (b) Kiran asked, “Have you read the letter?”
(c) Kiran asked, “Are you read the letter?”
(d) Kiran asked, “Do you read the letter?”
5. He said, “I do not wish to see any of you; go away.”
(a) He said angrily that he did not wish to see any of
them and asked them to go away.
(b) He said angrily that he had not wished to see any of
them and asked them to go away.
(c) He said angrily that he did not wished to see any of
them and asked them to go away.
(d) He said angrily that he did not wish to see any of
them and asked them to went away.
6. My teacher often says to me, “If you don’t work hard
you will fail.”
(a) My teacher often says to me that if I don’t work hard
I would fail.
(b) My teacher often says to me that if I didn’t work
hard I would fail.
(c) My teacher often says to me that if I didn’t work
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hard I will fail.
(d) My teacher often says to me that if I don’t work hard
I will fail.
7. John asked, “Where does Paul live?”
(a) John wondered where Paul lived.
(b) John wondered where Paul lives.
(c) John wondered where does Paul live.
(d) John wondered where Paul live.
8. Liz said, “Does John have eggs for breakfast?”
(a) Liz wondered if John has eggs for breakfast.
KUNDAN
(b) Liz wondered if John have eggs for breakfast.
(c) Liz wondered if John had eggs for breakfast.
(d) Liz wondered if John has had eggs for breakfast.
9. The campers asked Mrs Taylor, “Can we spend the
evening in town?”
(a) The campers asked Mrs. Taylor if they could spend
the evening in town.
(b) The campers asked Mrs. Taylor if they can spend
the evening in town.
(c) The campers asked Mrs. Taylor if they would spend
the evening in town.
(d) The campers asked Mrs. Taylor if they could spent
the evening in town.
10. Rohit said, “Ritu isn’t fun to be with”.
(a) Rohit said that Ritu is not fun to be with.
(b) Rohit said that Ritu has not been fun to be with.
(c) Rohit said that Ritu had not fun to be with.
(d) Rohit said that Ritu was not fun to be with.
11. Jack said, “I wonder why Walter always wears a cap.”
(a) Jack wondered why Walter always wears a cap.
(b) Jack wondered why Walter is always wearing a cap.
(c) Jack wondered why Walter always wore a cap.
(d) Jack wondered why Walter always has to wear a cap.
12. Deb said, “Salma, you really are a nice roommate.”
(a) Deb told Salma that she really is a nice roommate.
(b) Deb told Salma that she really has been a nice
roommate.
(c) Deb told Salma that she really was a nice roommate.
(d) Deb told Salma that she is really a nice roommate.
13. Mrs. Taylor wondered, “Where is my wallet?”
(a) Mrs. Taylor wondered where her wallet was.
(b) Mrs. Taylor wondered where was her wallet.
(c) Mrs. Taylor wondered where her wallet is.
(d) Mrs. Taylor wondered where is her wallet.
14. Sumit said to Shashi, “My father owns a pub in Mumbai.”
(a) Sumit told Shashi that his father owns a pub in
Mumbai.
(b) Sumit told Shashi that his father owned a pub in
Mumbai.
(c) Sumit told Shashi that his father has owned a pub in
Mumbai.
(d) Sumit told Shashi that his father had a pub in Mumbai.
15. Aman said to Sunita , “Will you marry me?”
(a) Aman asked Sunita if she would marry him.
(b) Aman asked Sunita if she will marry him.
(c) Aman asked Sunita that will she marry him.
(d) Aman asked Sunita whether she would marry him.
16. Hari asked Sunil, “Do you like going to the swimming
pool?”
(a) Hari asked Sunil that did he like going to the swimming
pool.
(b) Hari asked Sunil if he liked going to the swimming
pool.
(c) Hari asked Sunil if he likes going to the swimming
pool.
(d) Hari asked Sunil that does he like going to the
swimming pool.
17. Kailash said, ‘Why is Bhavana always in a bad mood?”
(a) Kailash wondered why Bhavana is always in a bad
mood.
(b) Kailash wondered why Bhavana has always bad
mood.
(c) Kailash wondered why Bhavana was always in a
bad mood.
(d) Kailash wondered why does Bhavana has always
bad mood.
18. Pooja said to Amit, “Are you glad to be in Lucknow?”
(a) Pooja asked Amit if he is glad to be in Lucknow.
(b) Pooja asked Amit if he was glad to be in Lucknow.
(c) Pooja asked Amit that was he glad to be in Lucknow.
(d) Pooja asked Amit that is he glad to be in Lucknow.
19. Nisha said, “My brother’s got a Ferrari.”
(a) Nisha said that her brother has got a Ferrari.
(b) Nisha said that her brother had a Ferrari.
(c) Nisha said that her brother has a Ferrari.
(d) Nisha said that her brother had got a Ferrari.
20. Juhi said to Suman, “You can come and stay in my flat.”
(a) Juhi told Suman that she can come and stay in her
flat.
 (b) Juhi told Suman that she could come and stay in her
flat.
(c) Juhi told Suman that she should come and stay in
her flat.
(d) Juhi told Suman that she may come and stay in her
flat.
21. Manisha said, ‘How long does Anjali swim for?”
(a) Manisha wondered how long does Anjali swim for.
(b) Manisha wondered how long Anjali swam for.
(c) Manisha wondered how long did Anjali swim for.
(d) Manisha wondered how long Anjali swims for.
22. Shalini said, “I bought a house in Ranchi last year.”
(a) Shalini said that she bought a house in Ranchi the
year before.
(b) Shalini said that she had bought a house in Ranchi
the year before.
(c) Shalini said that she has bought a house in Ranchi
last year.
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(d) Shalini said that she has bought a house in Ranchi
the year before.
23. She said that she was going to the market.
(a) She said, “I was going to the market.”
(b) She said, “I am going to the market.”
(c) She said, “I have been going to the market.”
(d) She said, “I would be going to the market.”
24. His friends said that they would go home the following
Sunday.
(a) His friends said, “We can go home next Sunday.”
(b) His friends said, “We will go home the following
KUNDAN
Sunday.”
(c) His friends said, “We will go home next Sunday.”
(d) His friends said, “We should go home next Sunday.”
25. The teacher told Mark he had been very regular in his
work
(a) The teacher said to Mark, “You have been very
regular in your work.”
(b) The teacher said to Mark, “You are very regular in
your work.”
(c) The teacher said to Mark, “You had been very regular
in your work.”
(d) The teacher said to Mark, “You are being very regular
in your work.”
26. The Chief Minister said, “What a terrible disaster the
earthquake is!”
(a) The Chief Minister cried that the earthquake was a
terrible disaster.
(b) The Chief Minister expressed with surprise that the
earthquake was a terrible disaster.
(c) The Chief Minister exclaimed with sorrow that the
earthquake was a terrible disaster.
(d) The Chief Minister told in pain that the earthquake
was a terrible disaster.
27. “From one of the windows of my flat I can see the Qutub
Minar”, said my friend.
(a) My friend told that from one of the windows of his
flat he could be seeing the Qutub Minar.
(b) My friend told that from one of the windows of his
flat he can see the Qutub Minar.
(c) My friend said that from one of the windows of his
flat he could see the Qutub Minar.
(d) My friend told that from one of the windows of his
flat he would see the Qutub Minar.
28. The teacher said, “Don’t sleep late and miss the train.”
(a) The teacher advised us not to sleep late and missed
the train.
(b) The teacher advised us not to sleep late and miss the
train.
(c) The teacher advised us not sleep late and missed the
train.
(d) The teacher advised us do not to sleep late and
missed the train.
29. He asked me, “Do you like this?” and I said, “Yes.’
(a) He asked me if he liked it and I said that I did.
(b) He asked me if I had liked it and I said that I did.
(c) He asked me if I like it and I said that I did.
(d) He asked me if I liked it and I said I did.
30. She said, “I’ve lost my key. Can I borrow yours?”
(a) She said that she has lost her key and asked me
whether she could borrow mine.
(b) She said that she had lost her key and asked me
whether she could borrow mine.
(c) She said that she had been lost her key and asked me
whether she could borrow mine.
(d) She said that she lost her key and asked me whether
she could borrow mine
31. He said, “Please let me go.”
(a) He said that let him go.
(b) He requested them to let him go.
(c) He requested them that they should let him go.
(d) He said to them that please let him go.
32. He said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
(a) He told that honesty was the best policy.
(b) He said that honesty has been the best policy.
(c) He told that honesty had been the best policy.
(d) He said that honesty is the best policy.
33. “Please don’t go away.”, she said.
(a) She said to please her and not go away.
(b) She told me not to go away.
(c) She begged that I not go away.
(d) She begged me not to go away.
34. She said, ‘I had already eaten’.
(a) She said that she had eaten.
(b) She said that she had already eaten.
(c) She said that she has been already eaten.
(d) She said that she would have already eaten.
35. She said to him, “Be careful.”
(a) She said to him that be careful.
 (b) She told him to be careful.
(c) She asked him to take care.
(d) She told him he should be careful.
36. She said to him, “Leave my house at once.”
(a) She ordered him leave his house at once.
(b) She ordered him to leave my house at once.
(c) She told to him to leave the house.
(d) She ordered him to leave his house at once.
37. “Hello! How are you?”
(a) He greeted me and asked how was I.
(b) He greeted me and asked me how I had been.
(c) He greeted me and asked me how I was.
(d) He greets me and asks me how I was.
38. He said to us, “Let us have some coffee.”
(a) He proposed us that we should have some coffee.
(b) He proposed to us that they should have some coffee.
(c) He proposed to us that we should have some coffee.
(d) He proposed to us that we should had some coffee.
K
39. he said, “ I will come here again tomorrow.”
(a) He said that he will go there again the next day.
(b) He said that he should go there again the next day.
(c) He said that he would go there again tomorrow.
(d) He said that he would go there again the next day.
40. He said, “After the class I had to return home.”
(a) He said that after the class he had had to return
home.
(b) He said that after the class he had to return home.
(c) He said that after the class they had to return home.
(d) He said that after the class he has returned home.
KUNDAN
41. He said he goes for a walk every morning.
(a) He said, “I went for a walk every morning.”
(b) He said, “I go for a walk every morning.”
(c) He said, “I will go for a walk every morning.”
(d) He said, “He goes for a walk every morning.”
42. I wondered how many discoveries went unheeded.
(a) I said, “How many discoveries have gone unheeded.”
(b) I said, “How many discoveries went unheeded.”
(c) I said, “Do discoveries go unheeded?”
(d) I said, “How many discoveries go unheeded?”
43. He said that it used to be a lovely, quiet street.
(a) He said, “It was a lovely, quiet street.”
(b) He said, “It used to be a lovely, quiet street.”
(c) He said, “It has been a lovely, quiet street.”
(d) He said, “It always used to be a lovely, quiet street.”
44. He said he had done amazingly well that day.
(a) He said, “I did amazingly well today.”
(b) He said, “I am done amazingly well today.”
(c) He said, “I have done amazingly well today.”
(d) He said, “I am doing amazingly well today.”
45. We said we had been watching a truly absorbing movie.
(a) We said, “We were watching a truly absorbing movie”
(b) We said, “We are watching a truly absorbing movie”
(c) We said, “We watched a truly absorbing movie”
(d) We said, “We watch a truly absorbing movie”
46. He said, “I will teach him a lesson to remember me by.”
(a) He said he will teach him a lesson to remember him
by.
(b) He said he is to teach him a lesson to remember him
by.
(c) He said he would teach him a lesson to remember
him by.
(d) He said he has taught him a lesson to remember him
by.
47. I warned that at I could not tolerate her coming late.
(a) I said to her, “You can no longer tolerate my coming
late.”
(b) I said to her, “I can no longer tolerate your coming
late.”
(c) I said to her, “I cannot tolerate you coming late any
longer.”
(d) I said to her, “I cannot tolerate your late coming any
longer.”
48. Everybody said, “How well she sings!”
(a) Everybody told us that she sings very well.
(b) Everybody exclaimed that she sings very well.
(c) Everybody exclaimed that she sang very well.
(d) Everybody told us that how she sang very well.
49. “May you live long and prosper”, said the old lady to
her son.
(a) The old lady blessed her son with long life and
wished him prosperity.
(b) The old lady prayed for her son’s long life and
prosperity.
(c) The old lady prayed for her son and said that he
might live long and prosper.
(d) The old lady blessed her son and prayed for his long
life and prosperity.
50. Kiran said to Kailash, “When do you intend to pay back
the money you borrowed from me?”
(a) Kiran enquired Kailash when did he intend to pay
back the money she borrowed from him.
(b) Kiran enquired Kailash when he intended to pay back
the money she borrowed from him.
(c) Kiran enquired Kailash when he intended to pay back
the money she had borrowed from him.
(d) Kiran enquired when Kailash did intended to pay
back the money she borrowed from him.
51. I said to my friend, “Good Morning. Let us go for a
picnic today.”
(a) I told good morning to my friend and asked to go for
a picnic that day.
(b) I wished my friend good morning and proposed that
we should go for a picnic that day.
(c) I wished my friend good morning and proposed that
they should go for a picnic that day.
 (d) I told good morning to my friend and suggested to
go for a picnic that day.
52. The new student asked the old one, “Do you know my
name?”
(a) The new student asked the old one if he knew his
name.
(b) The new student asked the old one that whether he
knew his name.
(c) The new student asked the old one did he know his
name.
(d) The new student asked the old one if he knows his
name.
53. The kids yelled in a loud voice, “We love our family.”
(a) The kids yelled loudly that they loved our family.
(b) The kids yelled in a loud voice that they loved their
family.
(c) The kids yelled in a loud voice that they loved our
family.
K
(d) The kids were shouting loudly that they loved our
family.
54. He said to me, “Please visit my company tomorrow.”
(a) He said to me to visit his company tomorrow.
(b) He requested me to visit his company tomorrow.
(c) He requested me to visit his company the next day.
(d) He said to me to visit his company the next day.
55. He enquired, ‘When do you intend to pay me?’
(a) He enquired when I intend to pay him.
(b) He enquired when I had intended to pay him.
KUNDAN
(c) He enquired when I intended to pay him.
(d) He enquired when I have intended to pay him.
56. He said, ‘Oh! that’s a nuisance.’
(a) He exclaimed that it was a nuisance.
(b) He exclaimed that this was a nuisance.
(c) He exclaimed that it is a nuisance.
(d) He exclaimed it to be a nuisance.
57. You said, “I killed a rat rather wickedly.”
(a) You said you killed a rat rather wickedly.
(b) You said you have killed a rat rather wickedly.
(c) You said you had killed a rat rather wickedly.
(d) You said you did kill a rat rather wickedly.
58. They said, “We have put up an extraordinary
performance indeed.”
(a) They said they have put up an extraordinary
performance indeed.
(b) They said they had put up an extraordinary
performance indeed.
(c) They said they put up an extraordinary performance
indeed.
(d) They said they could put up an extraordinary
performance indeed.
59. I said, “I shall certainly take care of all eventualities.”
(a) I said I should certainly take care of all eventualities.
(b) I said I could certainly take care of all eventualities.
(c) I said I shall certainly take care of all eventualities.
(d) I said I will certainly take care of all eventualities.
60. He said, ‘I will teach him a lesson to remember me by’.
(a) He said he will teach him a lesson to remember him
by.
(b) He said he would teach him a lesson to remember
him by.
(c) He said he taught him a lesson to remember him by.
(d) He said he has to teach him a lesson to remember him
by.
61. He said, “I do not wish to see any of you; go away.”
(a) He said angrily that he did not wish to see any of
them and asked them to go away.
(b) He said angrily that he had not wished to see any of
them and asked them to go away.
(c) He said angrily that he did not wished to see any of
them and asked them to go away.
(d) He said angrily that he did not wish to see any of
them and asked them to went away.
62. Sumit said to Shashi, “My father owns a pub in Mumbai.”
(a) Sumit told Shashi that his father owns a pub in
Mumbai.
(b) Sumit told Shashi that his father owned a pub in
Mumbai.
(c) Sumit told Shashi that his father has owned a pub in
Mumbai.
(d) Sumit told Shashi that his father had a pub in Mumbai.
63. He said, “We have done our work.”
(a) He said that he had done his work.
(b) He said that they have done his work.
(c) He said that they had done his work.
(d) He said that they should do their work.
64. “How did it get here?” she wanted to know.
(a) She wanted to know how did it get here.
(b) She wanted to know how it had got there.
(c) She wanted to know how did it got there.
(d) She wanted to know how it get there.
65. The police said to thief, “Don’t move.”
(a) The police ordered the thief not to move.
(b) The police ordered the thief he should not move.
(c) The police told the thief that he did not move.
(d) The police ordered to the thief to not move.
66. My friend said “I am leaving today.”
(a) My friend said that he is leaving today.
(b) My friend said that he was leaving today.
(c) My friend said that he leaves today.
(d) My friend said that he was leaving that day.
67. The boy promised that he would do it the next day.
(a) The boy promised, “I will do it tomorrow.”
(b) The boy said, “I would do it tomorrow.”
(c) The boy promised, “I shall do it tomorrow.”
(d) The boy said, “I should do it tomorrow.”
68. They requested the teacher to let them go home.
(a) They said to the teacher, “Shall we go home?”
(b) They said to the teacher, “Let me go home.”
(c) They said to the teacher, “Let us go home.”
(d) They said to the teacher, “Allow us to go home.”
69. He enquired whether his name was Ahmed.
(a) He said to him, “Is your name Ahmed or not?”
(b) He said to him, “Is not your name Ahmed?”
(c) He said to him, “Is your name not Ahmed?”
(d) He said to him, “Is it your name Ahmed?”
70. “Hurry up”, he said to his servant, “don’t waste time”
(a) He told his servant to hurry up and not to waste
time.
(b) He told his servant to hurry and don’t waste time.
(c) He told his servant to hurry up and do not waste
time.
(d) He told his servant to hurry and should not waste
time.
K
71. I asked Kiran if she would lend me her book.
(a) I said to Kiran, “Will she lend me your book?”
(b) I said to Kiran, “Will she lend me her book?”
(c) I said to Kiran, “Will you lend me her book?”
(d) I said to Kiran, “Will you lend me your book?”
72. The Prince said, “ It gives me great pleasure to be here
this evening.”
(a) The Prince said that it gives him great pleasure to be
there that evening.
(b) The Prince said that it gave him great pleasure to be
there in the evening.
KUNDAN
(c) The Prince said that it gave him great pleasure to be
there that evening.
(d) The Prince said that it would give him great pleasure
to be there that evening.
73. “I believe”, said he, “that we are in this country among a
people whom we like and who like us.”
(a) He said that he believed that they were in that country
among a people whom they like and who like them.
(b) He said that he believed that they were in that country
among a people whom they liked and who like them.
(c) He said that he believed that they had been in that
country among a people whom they liked and who
liked them.
(d) He said that he believed that they were in that country
among a people whom they liked and who liked them.
74. Juhi said to Suman, “You can come and stay in my flat.”
(a) Juhi told Suman that she can come and stay in her
flat.
(b) Juhi told Suman that she could come and stay in her
flat.
(c) Juhi told Suman that she should come and stay in
her flat.
(d) Juhi told Suman that she may come and stay in her
flat.
75. Manisha said, ‘How long does Anjali swim for?”
(a) Manisha wondered how long does Anjali swim for.
(b) Manisha wondered how long Anjali swam for.
(c) Manisha wondered how long did Anjali swim for.
(d) Manisha wondered how long Anjali swims for.
76. She shouted, “What a funny man you are?”
(a) She exclaimed that she was a very funny man.
(b) She exclaimed that I was a very funny man.
(c) She exclaimed if I was a very funny man.
(d) She exclaims that I was a funny man.
77. ”You must be tired after such a trip.”
(a) He said we must have been tired after such a trip.
(b) He said we must be tired after that trip.
(c) He said we must be tired after such a trip.
(d) He said we would be tired after such a trip.
78. “Don’t hesitate,” he said.
(a) He persuaded me to do not hesitate.
(b) He persuaded me not to hesitate.
(c) He persuaded me so that I do not to hesitate.
(d) He persuaded me that I should not hesitate.
79. “Don’t smoke,” the doctor warned my father.
(a) The doctor warned my father not to smoke.
(b) The doctor asked my father that he should not smoke.
(c) The doctor warned my father so that he does not
smoke.
(d) The doctor warned my father to not to smoke.
80. “Will you make coffee?” he said.
(a) He asked me if I could make coffee.
(b) He asked me if I would make coffee.
(c) He asked me if I will make coffee.
(d) He asked me if I had made coffee.
81. The prisoner said to the officer, “Please let me go.”
(a) The prisoner said to the officer that let him go
(b) The prisoner requested the officer to let him go.
(c) The prisoner requested the officer that they should
let him go.
(d) The prisoner said to the officer that please let him go
82. He said to us, “let us have some coffee.”
(a) He proposed us that we should have some coffee.
(b) He proposed to us that they should have some coffee.
(c) He proposed to us that we should have some coffee.
(d) He proposed to us that we should had some coffee.
83. He said he goes for a walk every morning.
(a) He said, “I went for a walk every morning.”
(b) He said, “I go for a walk every morning.”
(c) He said, “I will go for a walk every morning.”
(d) He said, “He goes for a walk every morning.”
84. Everybody said, “How well she writes!”
(a) Everybody told us that she writes very well.
(b) Everybody exclaimed that she writes very well.
(c) Everybody exclaimed that she wrote very well.
(d) Everybody told us that how she wrote very well.
85. He said, “All that glitters is not gold.”
(a) He told that all that glitters was not gold.
(b) He said that all that glitters has not been gold.
(c) He told that all that glitters cannot be gold.
(d) He said that all that glitters is not gold.
86. Poonam said, “I saw Ambuj at the theatre on Monday.”
(a) Poonam said she saw Ambuj at the theatre on
Monday.
(b) Poonam said she has seen Ambuj at the theatre on
Monday.
(c) Poonam said she had seen Ambuj at the theatre on
Monday.
(d) Poonam said she have seen Ambuj at the theatre on
Monday.
87. Will you come?” she asked me.
(a) She asked me if I will come.
(b) She asked me if I would come.
(c) She asked me if I would have come.
K
(d) She asked me if I came.
88. “Did he marry Shilpi?” she said.
(a) She wondered whether he would marry Shilpi.
(b) She wondered whether he had married Shilpi.
(c) She wondered whether he married Shilpi.
(d) She wondered whether he will marry Shilpi.
89. What time did it start?” he said.
(a) He wanted to know what time it had started.
(b) He wanted to know what time it started.
(c) He wanted to know what time it has started.
KUNDAN
(d) He wanted to know what time it starts.
90. “Why won’t he do it?” she said.
(a) She wondered why he won’t do it.
(b) She wondered why he will not do it.
(c) She wondered why he wouldn’t do it.
(d) She wondered why he didn’t do it.
91. He said, “I shall go as soon as possible.’
(a) He said that he should go as soon as possible.
(b) He said that he would go as soon as possible.
(c) He said that he will go as soon as possible.
(d) He said that he shall go as soon as possible.
92. He said that he came to see them.
(a) He said, “I come to see them.”
(b) He said, “I have came to see them.”
(c) He said, “I have come to see them.”
(d) He said, “I came to see them.”
93. She said, “ I went to watch a movie yesterday.”
(a) She said that she had gone to watch a movie the day
before.
(b) She said that she did go to watch a movie the day
before.
(c) She said that she went to watch a movie the day
before.
(d) She said that she went to watch a movie yesterday.
94. He said, ‘Oh! that’s a nuisance.’
(a) He exclaimed that it was a nuisance.
(b) He exclaimed that this was a nuisance.
(c) He exclaimed that it is a nuisance.
(d) He exclaimed it to be a nuisance.
95. “Please don’t disturb me”, she said.
(a) She said to please her and not disturb.
(b) She told me not to disturb her.
(c) She begged that I not disturb her.
(d) She begged me not to disturb her.
96. Mita said to Sita, “Where are you going?”
(a) Mita asked sita where is she going.
(b) Mita asked sita where she was going.
(c) Mita asked sita where has she been going.
(d) Mita asked sita where did she go.
97. Arun said, “Arjun has gone home?”
(a) Arun said that Arjun has gone home.
(b) Arun told that Arjun had gone home.
(c) Arun told that Arjun went home.
(d) Arun said that Arjun is going home.
98. Teacher said, “Never make mischief again.”
(a) The teacher warned me never to make mischief again.
(b) The teacher warned me never make mischief again.
(c) The teacher warns me never to make mischief again.
(d) The teacher had warned me never to make mischief
again.
99. She said, “The lesson had already started when he
arrived.”
(a) She said that the lesson already started when he
arrived.
(b) She said that the lesson had already started when he
had arrived.
(c) She said that the lesson had already started when he
arrived.
(d) She said that the lesson already started when he had
arrived.
100. Hariasked Sunil,“Do you like going to the swimming
pool?”
(a) Hari asked Sunil that did he like going to the swimming
pool.
(b) Hari asked Sunil if he liked going to the swimming
pool.
(c) Hari asked Sunil if he likes going to the swimming
pool.
(d) Hari asked Sunil that does he like going to the
swimming pool.
 Answers
1. b 2. c 3. c 4. b 5. a 51. b 52. a 53. b 54. c 55. c
6. d 7. a 8. c 9. a 10. d 56. a 57. c 58. b 59. a 60. b
11. c 12. c 13. a 14. b 15. a 61. a 62. b 63. c 64. b 65. a
16. b 17. c 18. b 19. d 20. b 66. d 67. c 68. c 69. b 70. a
21. b 22. b 23. b 24. c 25. a 71. d 72. c 73. d 74. b 75. b
26. c 27. c 28. b 29. d 30. b 76. b 77. c 78. b 79. a 80. b
31. b 32. d 33. d 34. b 35. b 81. b 82. c 83. b 84. c 85. d
36. d 37. c 38. c 39. d 40. b 86. c 87. b 88. c 89. a 90. c
41. b 42. d 43. b 44. c 45. a 91. b 92. a 93. a 94. a 95. d
46. c 47. b 48. c 49. c 50. c 96. b 97. b 98. a 99. c 100. b

Common Errors

K
Directions: In each of the following exercises we have
sentences given in four parts. Read each sentence to find out
whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in
one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the
answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e). (Ignore the
errors of punctuation, if any.)
1. (a) Magic realism is one/ (b) of the latest/ (c) addition to
good literature published in recent times./(d) No error
12. (a) Neither Prannoy nor his wife /(b) were aware / (c) of
the arrangements made for their journey. /(d) No error
13. (a) The man who I have often mentioned, /(b) is one
whose friendship I could /(c) wish to acquire because he
possesses my esteem./ (d) No error
14. (a) After the Civil War Harriet Tubman, herself an escaped
slave,/ (b) continued her efforts on behalf of former
slaves,/ (c) helping to educate freedmen, supporting
2. (a) Even though he found the subject /(b) rather children and she was assisting impoverished old people./

KUNDAN
interesting Manoj could not / (c) manage good marks /
(d) in the examination./ (e) No error
3. (a) I now understand why / (b) Sanjay did not told/ (c)
me the reason why he was late. / (d) No error
4. (a) He got to the top /(b) and was very disappointed /(c)
when he found that someone else has reached it first.
/(d) No error
5. (a) Our rich men, /(b) to say the least, /(c) did not advance
the moral struggle of passive resistance as much the
poor. / (d) No error
6. (a) You are learning English / (b) for the last one year / (c)
but you show no improvement whatsoever. / (d) No error
7. (a) My friend being unwilling to attend / (b) the court at
an early hour of the morning, sent a letter explaining /(c)
why could he not obey. /(d) No error
8. (a) Such a life as this /(b) is far conducive to health than
that of the man /(c) who rises late. /(d) No error
9. (a) We had swam /(b) across the river before /(c) the sun
set. /(d) No error
10. (a) I knew your college library /(b) was running
chaotically but only recently did I discover /(c) how bad
the situation is. /(d) No error
11. (a) If you know what it is /(b) that you want out of life /
(c) it is easy to find out what different kinds of job offers
this. /(d) No error
(d) No error
15. (a) Never before in the history of music / (b) have musical
superstars been able to command / (c) so extraordinary
fees / (d) of the kind they do today. / (e) No error
16. (a) Researchers have demonstrated that homing pigeons
/(b) can sense changes in the earth’s magnetic field, see
light waves that people cannot see, /(c) and can detect
low-frequency sounds from kilometres away. /(d) No error
17. (a) The sale of government-surplus machinery /(b) will
begin at 9 a.m. /(c) and continue until the supply lasts.
/(d) No error
18. (a) I am not / (b) one of those / (c) who believe everything
I hear. / (d) No error
19. (a) There are many reasons /(b) that the whole character
of the twentieth century / (c) should be very different /
from that of the nineteenth. /(d) No error
20. (a) Disregard for odds and complete confidence / (b) in
one’s self / (c) have produced many of our successes. /
(d) No error
21. (a) No one /(b) who has seen him lecture in the class /(c)
can deny that Mr Mehrotra has an interest and aptitude
for teaching. /(d) No error
22. (a) No less / (b) than fifty mariners / (c) were killed in the
explosion. /(d) No error
23. (a) No sooner the advertisement appeared /(b) in the
newspapers /(c) than there was a rush at the booking
window. /(d) No error
24. (a) The house with all its / (b) furnitures and exotic plants
was sold /(c) for Rs 50,000. / (d) No error
25. (a) He made a great fuss /(b) about having an
investigation, / (c) but it all ended with smoke. / (d) No
error
26. (a) The crew were /(b) on board / (c) and they soon
busied themselves in preparing to meet the storm. /(d)
No error
27. (a) The long-awaited moment at last came and we set out
for the station, / (b) as merry a band of children / (c) as I
have ever seen before or since. / (d) No error
28. (a) In these days of inflation /(b) a ten rupee’s note / (c)
will not buy you even an ordinary meal. / (d) No error
29. (a) Well, I spent six or seven years / (b) after high school
/ (c) trying to find a job for me / (d) but could not succeed
K
in it. / (e) No error
30. (a) I am pleased to sanction / (b) one special increment /
(c) to all the employees with this month. /(d) No error
31. (a) Our school would / (b) have won the match / (c) if
only we would have concentrated. / (d) No error
32. (a) Ajay asked the dealer / (b) what the price / (c) of that
bicycle was and whether it is really made in Germany. /
(d) No error
33. (a) The other day / (b) I told you / (c) about this book;
you may take. / (d) No error
KUNDAN
34. (a) Elders have said / (b) that we should not entertain /
(c) a too high opinion of our wisdom. / (d) No error
35. (a) He copied the letter/ (b) word by word / (c) and kept
it as a proof / (d) of his innocence. / (e) No error
36. (a) He is a MA / (b) of the Delhi University / (c) and is
expected to know his subject well. / (d) No error
37. (a) He is / (b) more liberal but / (c) not so competent as
his elder brother . / (d) No error
38. (a) Prabhash is a tall gentleman / (b) and can therefore /
(c) play basketball better than others. / (d) No error
39. (a) He orders for / (b) every new book / (c) that is
published in Bihar. / (d) No error
40. (a) Since he has never kept his promise, / (b) I conclude
that / (c) he is nothing else than a liar . / (d) No error
41. (a) The beggar stood / (b) at the gate / (c) in the hope of
receiving alms. / (d) No error
42. (a) I sat in the office / (b) to welcome the visitors / (c) but
nobody came for the whole day. / (d) No error
43. (a) We lived within the British / (b) before Independence
and (c) we are yet to get out of the slave mentality. / (d)
No error
44. (a) I was not there / (b) when the incident took place / (c)
but the news came to me by a friend. / (d) No error
45. (a) The match could have been / (b) won in ease / (c) but
Indian cricketers have mastered the art of making easy
things difficult. / (d) No error
46. (a) The boy in grey hair / (b) looked a bit sad / (c) while
the rest of the audience were in a gay mood. / (d) No
error
47. (a) You will not get / (b) a banana or two here;/ (c) this
fruitseller sells bananas in the dozen. / (d) No error
48. (a) On what I know / (b) of him, I can / (c) easily affirm
that he is a good husband. / (d) No error
49. (a) Kumble has not turned / (b) a word-class spinner
overnight ; / (c) his skill comes of practice. / (d) No error
50. (a) If the work is / (b) without your capacity, / (c) why not
take the help of others? (d) No error
51. (a) Children visiting the / (b) park are amused / (c) by the
monkeys’play in the cages. / (d) No error
52. (a) The enmity of the / (b) two groups has reached a level /
(c) where reconciliation has become impossible. / (d) No
error
53. (a) To make him succeed, / (b) the correct thing to do / (c)
is to punish him until he does not try. / (d) No error
54. (a) If he would not have / (b) confessed it himself / (c) the
crime could scarcely have been known to him. / (d) No
error
55. (a) The purpose of this book, / (b) however, is not to discuss
/ (c) these basic issues in its various aspects. / (d) No error
56. (a) My uncle / (b) forbade me not to / (c) go through the
contents of his letter. / (d) No error
57. (a) How does he earn money / (b) is more important than
/ (c) how much he earns. / (d) No error
58. (a) Manisha is / (b) more prettier / (c) than her sister.
/ (d) No error
59. (a) In the harbour great ships / (b) lay at anchor / (c)
bearing the names of faraway places like Aberdeen and
even Singapore. / (d) No error
60. (a) School offers many opportunities of meeting / (b)
helpful people, reading useful books, / (c) and obtain
information about a variety of public careers. / (d) No
error
61. (a) All one can gather / (b) from the children / (c) are that
there were a loud noise and smoke. / (d) No error
62. (a) Politicians in particular / (b) get carried away / (c) by
analogies and draw unwarranted conclusions from them.
/ (d) No error
63. (a) The percentage of the labour force / (b) that is
unemployed / (c) has dropped sharply this month even
though it may be only temporarily. / (d) No error
64. (a) In ancient times, / (b) Nubia was the principal corridor/
(c) where there were cultural influences transmitted
between Black Africa and the Mediterranean Basin.
/ (d) No error
65. (a) Jayaprakash Narayan was among the last of a
generation / (b) of freedom fighters who led the nation
through decades of change / (c) so profound, many
 young Indians are not able to imagine, much less
remember, what slavery was like. / (d) No error
66. (a) I know that / (b) Jaigopal is more efficient / (c) than
any man in our organisation. / (d) No error
67. (a) The annual survey of chemistry published by the
American Chemical Society / (b) attributes the vast
change in warfare / (c) to the airplane and, above all, to
the motor fuel of today. / (e) No error
68. (a) The successful self-employed man / (b) invariably
works harder / (c) and worries most than the man on a
salary. / (d) No error
69. (a) Mr Churchill must be / (b) the first to rejoice that / (c)
both Sir Samuel Hoare and the Premier had vindicated so
emphatically. / (d) No error
70. (a) I am working / (b) on this job / (c) since last Monday.
/ (d) No error
71. (a) World affairs have surprises in store / (b) for
whomever tries / (c) to read the future from his knowledge
K
of the past and from the signs of the present. / (d) No
error
72. (a) Our neighbours are / (b) old-fashioned and / (c) are
very strictly with their children . / (d) No error
73. (a) Last year there was flood, / (b) the river was
overflowing, / (c) and everyone run to save his life. / (d)
No error
74. (a) He was not only involved / (b) in her kidnapping / (c)
but also in her murder. / (d) No error
75. (a) As he had taken / (b) only a few sips / (c) there was
still little water left in the glass. / (d) No error
KUNDAN
76. (a) One of the members / (b) expressed doubt if / (c) the
minister was an atheist. / (d) No error
77. (a) In a report / (b) issued by Indian Statistical Institute,
/ (c) the Iron and Steel Industry is spending more than
any other Indian industry on fighting pollution. / (d) No
error
78. (a) The retiring principal / (b) asked his old pupils / (c) to
take the interest in the school after his retirement./ (d)
No error
79. (a) The mission provides /(b) able service to all / (c) the
needy people in this area during last few years. / (d) No
error
80. (a) I missed the train / (b) which I usually catch / (c) and
had to travel on the next. / (d) No error
81. (a) A hammer, some nails, / (b) and a few other tools / (c)
was all that he used for mending the boat. /(d) No error
82. (a) I am fed up / (b) of working from morning / (c) till night
in this damp room. / (d) No error
83. (a) This book resembles / (b) to that / (c) and I often get
confused about which one I am pulling out. / (d) No error
84. (a) There are not / (b) some good restaurants / (c) in this
part of the town. / (d) No error
85. (a) Due to illness / (b) he was unable / (c) to go on a
holiday. /(d) No error
86. (a) He only died / (b) a week ago / (c) but it appears as if
it were ages. /(d) No error
87. (a) This matter / (b) must be considered / (c) from every
points of view. / (d) No error
88. (a) Before you / (b) enter the temple, / (c) you should
take out your shoes. / (d) No error
89. (a) Since we have / (b) only one life / (c) to live, let us
enjoy. / (d) No error
90. (a) Although I am living / (b) in Delhi for the / (c) last
seven years, I have not seen Purana Qila. / (d) No error
91. (a) That Lear was eager/ (b) to hear his own praise / (c)
becomes evident when he tells Cordelia, “Nothing will
come from nothing.” / (d) No error
92. (a) I must start / (b) by dawn / (c) to reach the station in
time. / (d) No error
93. (a) I got the information / (b) just now / (c) that the Kalka
Express is due to 4 p.m. / (d) No error
94. (a) Sati was practised / (b) among the Hindus / (c) but
women’s activists of today cannot tolerate such
nonsense anymore, / (d) No error
95. (a) The fever has taken / (b) a turn for / (c) the better from
yesterday. / (d) No error
96. (a) I agree that / (b) nobody besides you / (c) could have
borne so much burden. / (d) No error
97. (a) Beside Madan and Daman, / (b) there were five / (c)
more boys present in the class. / (d) No error
98. (a) Rana Pratap, a true Rajput, (b) subsisted with grass /
(c) but did not give up his independence. / (d) No error
99. (a) Divide the mango / (b) in four parts / (c) and distribute
them among your queens one each. / (d) No error
100. (a) The old lady / (b) can hardly walk / (c) and is now
confined within her house. /(d) No error
101. (a) The car flew off the road / (b) and fell into the valley
/ (c) because Amit was driving faster. / (d) No error
102. (a) Anita was / (b) unhappy about the results / (c) of the
discussion she has with Rajani. / (d) No error
103. (a) Taking pity / (b) on the mouse, / (c) the sage
transformed it into a cat. / (d) No error
104. (a) You have not care / (b) to see that your / (c) expenditure
was more than your salary. / (d) No error
105. (a) Jayesh had hardly / (b) started reading the magazine
/ (c) than the managing director came to see him. / (d) No
error
106. (a) Unless I do not get / (b) some tea / (c) I shall not be
able to do any more work. / (d) No error
107. (a) Both of my / (b) children, a daughter and a son, / (c)
always quarrel with one another. / (d) No error
108. (a) Every man and woman / (b) should vote / (c) for the
candidate of their choice. / (d) No error
109. (a) He had consulted not only the opposition parties /
(b) but also accommodated their views / (c) while
dropping this controversial clause. / (d) No error
110. (a) The escape of David to France / (b) was successfully
arranged, but no sooner / (c) was this did than George
was captured and held prisoner. /(d) No error
111. (a) People are just likely / (b) to be failures through / (c)
a lack of jobs as through sheer incompetence. / (d) No
error
112. (a) Nowadays several / (b) plastic products are superior
/ (c) than similar products made from rubber. / (d) No
error
113. (a) Sorry for the inconvenience / (b) caused by our
delayed delivery / (c) but the dispatcher is already
reprimanded for this lapse./ (d) No error
114. (a) The patient admitted yesterday / (b) did not responded
/ (c) to the treatment prescribed by the doctor for him. /
(d) No error
115. (a) Both the alternatives /(b) have their merits and
demerits / (c) when it comes to their actual implementation.
/ (d) No error
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116. (a) Luckily, the prisoner agreed / (b) to accompany the
stranger and / (c) they slowly made their way down to
the bottom of the cliff. / (d) No error
117. (a) As more and more subjects take the Rorschach test,
/(b) the body of information tying styles of response
/(c) with specific problems or tendencies grows and the
predictive power of the test increases. / (d) No error
118. (a) It is a special feature of cell aggregation in the
developing nervous system / (b) that in most regions of
the brain / (c) the cells not only adhere to one another /
KUNDAN
and also adopt some preferential orientation. / (d) No
error
119. (a) The residents’ opposition to the spraying programme
/ (b) has rekindled an old debate / (c) among those who
oppose the use of pesticides and those who feel that
pesticides are necessary to save the trees. / (d) No error
120. (a) He made it / (b) appear to the police / (c) as if his
condition is very serious. / (d) No error
121. (a) Cannot one do / (b) what one / (c) likes to do with his
own ? / (d) No error
122. (a) There’s Mr Shanu, / (b) whom they say / (c) is the
best singer in the country. / (d) No error
123. (a) The Renaissance is one of the most / (b) interesting /
(c) period in the history of architecture and indeed, of art
in general. / (d) No error
124. (a) By this time next week / (b) my child not only / (c) will
have learnt numbers but will also master the alphabet.
/ (d) No error
125. (a) It gives me / (b) great pleasure / (c) in calling on Mr
Smith to address you. / (d) No error
126. (a) My brother has gone / (b) to Madras; / (c) he will
return back in a week’s time. / (d) No error
127. (a) A majority of the / (b) students / (c) believes that the
terminal examination is unnecessary. / (d) No error
128. (a) All history shows that nations active in international
politics / (b) are continously preparing, / (c) actively
involved in, or recovering from organised violence in
the form of war. / (d) No error
129. (a) We invited applications / (b) for sixteen posts / (c)
but we have receive 20,000 applications. / (d) No error
130. (a) It is the duty / (b) of every right-thinking citizen / (c)
to try to make the whole world a happier place to live.
/ (d) No error
131. (a) Our laxity/ (b) in duty / (c) increases with our aversion
for work. / (d) No error
132. (a) Though he lives in Tamil Nadu, / (b) he speaks / (c)
not only Tamil but Telugu as well. / (d) No error
133. (a) It is / (b) difficult for / (c) anyone to past time thus.
/ (d) No error
134. (a) I will put on / (b) a note in this regard / (c) for your
consideration and necessary decision. / (d) No error
135. (a) He wasn’t rich / (b) by any means, / (c) although he
never turned away anyone who needed help./ (d) No
error
136. (a) Scarcely had I / (b) finished washing the car / (c) than
the master came and asked me to clean the floor of the
house. / (d) No error
137. (a) Your scissor / (b) are blunt; / (c) my razor is sharp. /
(d) No error
138. (a) Mr Sharma has set up / (b) another school with a view
/ (c) to compete against his rival. / (d) No error
139. (a) Until you / (b) remain restless / (c) you cannot
concentrate. / (d) No error
140. (a) He can / (b) only be cured / (c) by a surgical operation.
/ (d) No error
141. (a) Politicians who are wise / (b) profit from / (c) the
dissensions of the bureaucrats. / (d) No error
142. (a) That Birbal was / (b) a contemporary with Akbar / (c)
is well-established from the Akbar-Birbal jokes. / (d) No
error
143. (a) The cat appears / (b) to have / (c) originated from the
East. /(d) No error
144. (a) The solution / (b) does not hint / (c) the possibility of
an alternative answer./ (d) No error
145. (a) As far as I think, / (b) the dress he wore / (c) was not
appropriate to the occasion. /(d) No error
146. (a) The ideas / (b) he propagates / (c) are subversive to
discipline. / (d) No error
147. (a) A mother, of whichever species / (b) she may be, / (c)
can never lose affection to her son. / (d) No error
148. (a) Your capacity of / (b) facing difficult situations / (c)
will be tested when you have to live on your own. / (d)
No error
149. (a) India can / (b) hardly stand / (c) any comparison to
the US. / (d) No error
150. (a) She has an experience / (b) for three years / (c) and is
therefore eligible for the scholarship. /(d) No error
151. (a) Piyush was the one person / (b) who could somehow
manage / (c) to working in that section for such a long
time. / (d) No error
152. (a) He was driving slowly / (b) down the highway / (c)
when a cat ran across and he had to brake all of a sudden.
/ (d) No error
153. (a) Watch how careful / (b) the sparrow knits / (c) the
straws into one another to form a nest. / (d) No error
154. (a) Most of the third world / (b) country are experiencing
/ (c) the ethnic or communal problems in various degrees.
/ (d) No error
155. (a) The manager asked the worker / (b) why was he / (c)
again disturbing the schedule of production./ (d) No
error
156. (a) It is necessary to check every passenger for security
/ (b) and do not load his luggage / (c) on to the aircraft
unless he identifies it. / (d) No error
157. (a) The Secretary and Treasurer / (b) were / (c) not present
K
at today’s meeting. /(d) No error
158. (a) He used /(b) very inaccurate language /(c) for he
knew no better. / (d) No error
159. (a) I cannot understand that / (b) how you can think/ (c)
of going to Kashmir without woollen clothes. / (d) No
error
160. (a) With a lot of persuasion / (b) Mrinal was able to get /
(c) the professor to agree to review his article. / (d) No
error
161. (a) No slogan was so popular / (b) in the poorer population
KUNDAN
/ (c) as “Garibi Hatao”, which reflected the government
policies. / (d) No error
162. (a) The programme is / (b) being telecasted / (c) from one
of the Doordarshan Kendras./ (d) No error
163. (a) Unlike the Second World War, when long voyages
home aboard troopships gave soldiers / (b) a chance to
talk out their experiences / (c) and time to absorb them,
Vietnamese returnees often came home by jet, singly or
in small groups. /(d) No error
164. (a) Since 1965 there are four times as many Black college
students enrolled, / (b) and the one million Black people
/ (c) in college today represent 11 per cent of all college
students. / (d) No error
165. (a) In cold-water habitats, certain invertebrates / (b) and
fish convert starches into / (c) complex carbohydrates
called glycerols, in effect manufacturing its own
antifreeze. / (d) No error
166. (a) The two first rows / (b) in the auditorium / (c) were
reserved for the press. / (d) No error
167. (a) Each of the students / (b) have done / (c) well in the
internal examination. / (d) No error
168. (a) Men, women and children — in a word, the whole
population / (b) of the parish / (c) had turned out to
welcome the new Vicar. /(d) No error
169. (a) He has not undergone / (b) any technical training in
the games / (c) but he plays good than most
professionals. /(d) No error
170. (a) My sermon on the meaning of manna / (b) in the
wilderness / (c) can be adapted on / (d) almost any
occasion, joyful or distressing./ (e) No error
171. (a) It is the first time / (b) in the history of India that / (c)
people from all over India flocked to see a naked fakir. /
(d) No error
172. (a) The money-minded people believe / (b) that it is
foolish to exert themselves for such study / (c) and
brainwork which cannot be converted into cash. / (d) No
error
173. (a) They talked to Ajit / (b) and tried to / (c) convince he
about their point of view. /(d) No error
174. (a) The lovers had great fun / (b) and then walked / (c)
besides each other in silence. /(d) No error
175. (a) He won’t / (b) return the money / (c) that he borrowed,
will he ? / (d) No error
176. (a) A large-scale exchange of / (b) nuclear weapons will
produce / (c) unprecedented amounts of radiation that
can penetrate into the biological tissue. / (d) No error
177. (a) Troy was taken by Greeks; / (b) this formed the basis
/ (c) of a story which has become famous./ (d) No error
178. (a) I have had to work / (b) at the fountain for almost / (c)
ten hours before it could start functioning well. / (d) No
error
179. (a) If the teacher / (b) is good the students/ (c) will respond
positively to them. / (d) No error
180. (a) The teaching staff had taken / (b) lectures regularly /
(c) had they known that the Principal would know about
it. / (d) No error
181. (a) One learns / (b) to respect / (c) oneself in the army.
/ (d) No error
182. (a) The Governor will preside / (b) at the meeting / (c) in
which a decision regarding the statehood of Uttarakhand
will be taken. / (d) No error
183. (a) You cannot / (b) believe / (c) his words because he is
untruthful man. / (d) No error
184. (a) While trying / (b) to swim, / (c) the mouth must be
kept above water. / (d) No error
185. (a) The captain as well as / (b) five other members / (c) of
the team were present. / (d) No error
186. (a) Please specify / (b) in your letter / (c) what kind of a
camera you want. / (d) No error
187. (a) It was a / (b) major earthquake / (c) and the house’s
roof fell down. / (d) No error
188. (a) When she / (b) could not / (c) answer his question, he
called her as a fool. / (d) No error
189. (a) Ram as well as Shyam / (b) was invited / (c) but both
men have not come. /(d) No error
190. (a) Let you and I / (b) come to an agreement / (c) that we
will share the space adjoining the building. / (d) No error
191. (a) Being courteous, / (b) I accepted / (c) the invitation
for the dinner. /(d) No error
192. (a) Is there any / (b) exemption of income tax / (c) if you
invest in mutual funds ? (d) No error
193. (a) This is nothing new; / (b) we have become / (c)
accustomed with instances of corruption./ (d) No error
194. (a) Being accomplished with / (b) the art of dancing, / (c)
she must not let her talent go waste. / (d) No error
195. (a) He pleaded for some more time / (b) to prove his
innocence / (c) but the court was deaf before all his
pleas. / (d) No error
196. (a) He became so infatuated / (b) of her charm / (c) that
he was ready to do anything for her sake. /(d) No error
197. (a) He said that / (b) he was not / (c) liable to his wife’s
debts. /(d) No error
198. (a) Are you so sure / (b) about your success / (c) that
you are not taking the examination again? / (d) No error
199. (a) It was evident from / (b) the umpire’s controversial
decisions / (c) that he was partial with his own country.
/ (d) No error
200. (a) I am/ (b) anxious of / (c) the outcome of this game.
/ (d) No error

Answers
1. c 2. b 3. b 4. c 5. c 101. c 102. c 103. d 104. a 105. c
6. a 7. c 8. b 9. a 10. c 106. a 107. c 108. c 109. a 110. c

K
11. c 12. b 13. a 14. c 15. c 111. a 112. c 113. c 114. b 115. d
16. c 17. c 18. c 19. b 20. d 116. d 117. c 118. c 119. c 120. c
21. c 22. a 23. a 24. b 25. d 121. c 122. b 123. c 124. c 125. d
26. c 27. c 28. b 29. c 30. c 126. c 127. c 128. b 129. c 130. c
31. c 32. c 33. c 34. c 35. b 131. c 132. c 133. c 134. a 135. c
36. a 37. b 38. a 39. a 40. d 136. c 137. a 138. c 139. a 140. b
41. d 42. c 43. a 44. c 45. b 141. d 142. b 143. c 144. b 145. d
46. a 47. c 48. a 49. c 50. b 146. c 147. c 148. a 149. c 150. b
51. c 52. a 53. c 54. a 55. c 151. c 152. d 153. a 154. b 155. b
56. b 57. a 58. b 59. d 60. c 156. b 157. b 158. d 159. a 160. c
61. c 62. d 63. c 64. c 65. c 161. a 162. b 163. a 164. a 165. d

KUNDAN
66. c 67. d 68. c 69. c 70. a 166. a 167. b 168. d 169. c 170. c
71. b 72. c 73. c 74. a 75. c 171. a 172. c 173. c 174. c 175. d
76. b 77. a 78. c 79. a 80. c 176. d 177. a 178. a 179. c 180. a
81. c 82. d 83. b 84. b 85. a 181. c 182. d 183. c 184. c 185. c
86. a 87. c 88. c 89. c 90. a 186. c 187. c 188. c 189. c 190. a
91. a 92. b 93. c 94. b 95. c 191. c 192. b 193. c 194. a 195. c
96. b 97. a 98. b 99. b 100. c 196. b 197. c 198. b 199. c 200. b

Sentence Improvement
Directions: In each sentence below, a group of words 2. Anyone can now gather a vast amount of information if
has been given in bold. Below each, four choices (a), (b), (c), you have access to the internet.
and (d) are given. Pick out the one which can substitute the (a) they have access
bold group of words correctly, without changing the meaning (b) access can be available
of the sentence. (c) he or she has access
1. It was them who had left before I arrived. (d) one of them have access
(a) they who had left before I had arrived 3. She prepares tea, works on computer and then doing her
(b) them who had went before I arrived homework.
(c) them who had went before I had arrived (a) doing then her homework
(d) they who had left before I arrived (b) then is doing her homework
 (c) doing her homework then (a) to not refrain from (b) to resort to
(d) then does her homework (c) to refrain from (d) to be refrained from
4. The grocer hadn’t hardly any of those kind of soap. 13. What happens to all those aboard the bus was not known.
(a) had hardly any of those kinds (a) What happened of
(b) hadn’t hardly any of those kinds (b) This is what happens to
(c) had hardly any of those kind (c) What is that happens to
(d) had scarcely any of that kind (d) What happened to
5. My teacher believed that I would get over my problems 14. Despite of their efforts to tarnish our campaign, we
and get the results I would be producing before. managed to emerge victorious.
(a) would have been producing (a) Despite their (b) Despite of the
(b) would have produced (c) Despite for their (d) Despite off their
(c) had been produced 15. The singer had been left the auditorium before the
(d) had been producing audience stood up.
6. If you are thinking of investing money, isn’t it makes (a) had been leaving (b) was left
sense to consult your father? (c) leaves (d) would leave
(a) is it not making (b) doesn’t it make 16. They came to the conclusion that the members should
(c) does it make (d) is it making unitedly undertook the assignments for the next month.
7. In addition to communicated his innocence through his (a) should be united undertook

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speech, the minister attacked the opposition for its (b) should unitedly undertake
malicious campaign. (c) should be unitedly undertaken
(a) of communicating his innocence (d) should be unitedly undertake
(b) to having communicated his innocence 17. One of my drawbacks is that I do not have to tolerance of
(c) to communicating his innocence ambiguity.
(d) to have his innocence communicated (a) do not have (b) cannot have to
8. Technology must use to feed the forces of change. (c) am not (d) did not have to
(a) must be used to feed 18. They should have carefully calculated what they stand
(b) must have been using to feed to gain from the deal.
(c) must use having fed (a) should have been careful in calculating about
(d) must be using to feed (b) should be carefully calculated

KUNDAN
9. Unemployment has growth rapidly since the advent of (c) shall have to carefully calculate
computers in our country. (d) should have carefully calculate
(a) Rapid unemployment has grown 19. They are so poor that they struggle to make both ends to
(b) Unemployment has grown rapid meet.
(c) Unemployment grows rapidly (a) to making both ends meet
(d) Unemployment has been rapidly grown (b) to make both ends for meeting
10. The Senator rose up to say that, in his opinion, he thought (c) to make both ends meet
the WTO Bill should be passed on unanimously. (d) for making both ends to meet
(a) rose to say that he thought the WTO Bill should be 20. He never has and ever will take a decision against his
passed conscience.
(b) rose up to say that the WTO Bill should be passed (a) has taken nor will ever take
on (b) had taken and will ever take
(c) rose to say that, in his opinion, he thought that the (c) has and never will take
WTO Bill should be passed (d) had and ever will take
(d) rose to say that, in his opinion, the WTO Bill should 21. Law-breakers should severely punished when they are
be passed on found out.
11. The courts are actively to safeguard the interests of the (a) should be severe punished
commuters. (b) should have severely punished
(a) are actively to safeguarding (c) shall have severe punishment
(b) have been actively safeguarding (d) should be severely punished
(c) have to active in safeguarding 22. They examined the twins very carefully but failed to
(d) are actively in safeguarding detect any difference in them.
12. Because of his poor memory, the teacher has advised (a) some difference in
him not to refrain from cramming. (b) some difference between
 (c) any difference between
(d) any difference among
23. Mr Pant, the defence minister and who is also the
secretary of the party, has been chosen as the
representative for the talks.
(a) since he is the secretary of the party
(b) also being the secretary of the party
(c) secretary of the party
(d) in addition, who is the secretary of the party
24. He marvelled at Shah Jahan’s love for architecture and
admiring the monuments built by him.
(a) admire the monuments being built
(b) admired the monuments built
(c) admire the building of monuments
(d) admired building the monuments
25. Since the advent of internet trading at the beginning of
this decade, the capital markets took a giant stride
forward in our country.
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(a) this decade saw the capital markets taking
(b) this decade, the capital markets have taken
(c) this decade, the capital markets had taken
(d) this decade, the capital markets will take
26. Only people who are good at these kind of activities will
be considered for the appointment.
(a) these kind of activity
(b) this kinds of activity
(c) these kinds of activities
(d) the kind activities like these
KUNDAN
27. If you are on a three-monthly software design project
and you have put together a program that solves part of
the problem in two weeks, show it to your boss without
delay.
(a) and you have put together a program that has solved
part of the problem in two weeks
(b) and, in two weeks, you have put together a program
that solves part of the problem
(c) and, in two weeks, you put together a program that
solved only part of the problem
(d) and you put together a program that solves part of
the problem in two weeks.
28. Some believed Hrithik’s acting is no different from the
other actors.
(a) not different from
(b) not different than the
(c) no different from that of the
(d) not differing from the
29. If you would have completed the assignment, I would
have granted you leave.
(a) Had you been
(b) If you would be
(c) If you had
(d) If you would have been
30. Bacon believes that the medical profession should be
permitted to ease and quicken death where the end would
otherwise only delay for a few days and at the cost of
great pain.
(a) be delayed for a few days
(b) be delayed for a few days and
(c) be otherwise only delayed for a few days and
(d) otherwise only delayed for a few days
31. Though his actions were severe criticised, he didn’t
lose his temper.
(a) were severe criticism
(b) were being of severe criticism
(c) had severe criticise
(d) were severely criticised
32. It was he, not me, who decided to postpone the programm
(a) he, not I
(b) him, not me
(c) he, not mine
(d) him, not I
33. This candidate has none of the characteristics possess
by the deserving ones.
(a) from the characteristics possessed by
(b) with the characteristics possess by
(c) of the characteristics possess with
(d) of the characteristics possessed by
34. Those who are indecisive can be readily persuading to
change their mind again.
(a) can be ready persuading
(b) can be readily persuaded
(c) could be ready to persuade
(d) can be readily persuasive
35. We should realise that the chance of accident may be as
great or greater in our homes than in a train or on the
road.
(a) may be at least as great in our homes as
(b) was at least as great as in homes
(c) can be as great or greater in our homes than
(d) may be at least as great or greater in our homes than
36. In 1994 the batsman scored thrice as many runs against
Australia as that had in 1993.
(a) than he had (b) than he did
(c) as he had (d) as he did
37. The possibility of cyclones are regarded by most Orissa
residents with fear and desperation.
(a) are regarded by most of the residents of Orissa as
(b) is regarded by most Orissa residents with
(c) is regarded by most of the residents of Orissa with
(d) is regarded by most Orissa residents as
38. Primitive man believing that a crime created an imbalance
which could be rectified only by punishing the
wrongdoer.
(a) believes that a crime created
(b) believed that a crime created
 (c) believed that a criminal created (b) similarly as those that inspired belief
(d) believed that a crime creates (c) similarly as those that had inspired belief
39. Everybody depend upon him scoring runs every time (d) similar to those that inspire belief
India goes to bat. 48. On seeing him breathe with difficulty, I asked him since
(a) depends upon him scoring how long he had been ailing.
(b) depend upon him score (a) how long he had been ailing for
(c) depends upon his scoring (b) how long he had been ailing
(d) depending upon his scoring (c) since how long he was ailing
40. The floods that came last year was devastating more (d) since when he ailed
than the ones this year. 49. They asked him to keep studying till they had returned.
(a) were more devastating (a) until they had returned
(b) was devastated more (b) till their returning
(c) were devastating more (c) till they return
(d) were more devastated (d) till they returned
41. Most of the boys and girls like to see these kind of 50. Of the two brothers, I think the oldest one is the taller.
movies. (a) the eldest one is the taller
(a) this kind of movies (b) the elder one is the taller
(b) these kind of movie (c) the older one is the taller

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(c) these kinds of movies (d) the oldest one is the tallest
(d) this kind of movie 51. If you have power or money you misuse and if you don’t
42. Because of the changing times, we expect to study more have it you yearn for it.
than our teachers have. (a) you misuse it when you don’t
(a) should expect to study more than our teachers (b) you misuse it and if you don’t
(b) are expected to study as much as our teachers study (c) you misuse so that you don’t
(c) are expected to study more than our teachers did (d) you misuse and if you can’t
(d) expected to study more than our teachers 52. With the number of vehicles on the roads going up fast,
43. It is difficult to prevent assault against environment as the traffic in the metros have become heavy and
those that are against animals. uncontrollable.
(a) those against (a) has become heavily

KUNDAN
(b) it is against (b) had become heavy
(c) preventing those against (c) have become heavily
(d) it is to prevent those against (d) has become heavy
44. There is no need of being anxious about him; he knows 53. The tehelka.com revelations and their aftermath
his target and will certainly achieve it. have shaked up entrenched political-bureaucratic
(a) for being anxious of him networks in New Delhi.
(b) to be anxious about him (a) its aftermath has shaken up
(c) for being anxious about him (b) their aftermaths have shaked up
(d) to feeling his anxiety (c) its aftermath has shook
45. The success of a captain depends upon the tact in which (d) their aftermath have shaken up
he is able to get the best out of his team members. 54. The editor cut up all the long words from his article and
(a) that makes him enabled made the text easier.
(b) in which he enables (a) cut up some of the
(c) with which he is able (b) cut across all the
(d) in which he has been able (c) cut out all the
46. Soon after the first show I returned to my quarter, where (d) cut back all
I was surprised to find my uncle waiting for me. 55. The man is mortal and ultimately he has to leave
(a) to my quarter, where I everything here, yet how irrationally he remains attached
(b) to my quarter in which I was to his worldly possessions.
(c) to my quarter, where I had been (a) The man is immortal
(d) to my quarters, where I was (b) Man is considered to be mortal
47. Scientific medicine had at first to combat superstitions (c) Man is mortal
similar to those that had inspired belief in witchcraft. (d) Though the man is mortal
(a) like the ones that inspired belief
56. I already thrice have read this story.
(a) I have already read this story thrice.
(b) I thrice have already read this story.
(c) I have thrice already read this story.
(d) I have already read thrice this story.
57. All of the candidates except Manindra and I intends on
choosing cricket as hobby.
(a) me intends on choosing
(b) me intends to choose
(c) me intend to choose
(d) I intend to choose
58. He has requested for an interview of the principal this
morning.
(a) an interview by the principal
(b) an interview with the principal
(c) the interview of the principal
(d) an interview from the principal
59. Can you tell me where does your uncle live?
66. When I receive the letter, the date for the interview was
already over.
(a) I received the letter
(b) the letter I had received
(c) I had to receive letter
(d) I was receiving the letter
67. Facing with the prospect that the RBI withholds approval
for the UTI-GTB merger, GTB has played safe by walking
out of the merger.
(a) Faced with the prospect of the RBI withholding
(b) Facing the prospect that the RBI withholds
(c) In the face of the prospect of the RBI withholding
(d) On the face of it, the RBI withholds
68. The chairman approved the recommendations to the
committee with partial modifications.
(a) by the committee for
(b) of the committee with
(c) to the committee by

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(a) where your uncle does live (d) at the committee in
(b) whether your uncle does live 69. Enzymes help develop a person’s appetite, but it is
(c) where your uncle lives unharmful to their bodies.
(d) where lives your uncle (a) and it is not harmful to their bodies
60. This milk has got a funny taste — it can have gone sour. (b) and it is not harmful to the body
(a) can go sour (b) had soured (c) but they are not harmful to the body
(c) can have gone sourly (d) may have gone sour (d) and they are not harmful to the body
61. All the newcomers enjoyed at the welcome party. 70. Having tired of play he sat down to rest.
(a) enjoyed in (a) Having tired with (b) Having tired by
(b) themselves enjoyed at (c) Being tired of (d) Having been tiring by

KUNDAN
(c) enjoyed themselves at 71. I have never been hearing from him since he left this city.
(d) enjoyed thoroughly at (a) was never heard
62. Most of the politicians in the town, they supported the (b) have never been heard
striking employees of the factory. (c) had never been heard
(a) Most of the politicians in the town supported (d) have never heard
(b) Most of the politicians in the town provided support 72. If you have examined the proposals, you must have found
for that his scheme is preferable than that of anyone else.
(c) The politicians in the town, most of them supported (a) preferable than for
(d) Of the politicians in the town, mostly supported (b) preferably more than that of
63. The Bill on the Right to Information is being examined (c) preferable for than
by a committee; is it? (d) preferable to that of
(a) hasn’t it (b) isn’t it 73. The terrorists were not in a yielding mood but ultimately
(c) won’t it (d) doesn’t it they were given in.
64. He is afraid that his past will be a deterrent when he will (a) were given up (b) gave in
seek fresh admission to the college. (c) had been given up (d) had been given in
(a) when he seek fresh admission 74. Finding fault with others is the business of those who
(b) when he seeks fresh admission are nothing else to do.
(c) when he shall seek fresh admission (a) are nothing to do elsewhere
(d) when he should seek fresh admission (b) have nothing else to do
65. He went to the flooded area to save his friend who was (c) do not have nothing else to do
stranding there. (d) had nothing to be done
(a) had been stranded 75. Kailash Satyarthi has championed the cause from child
(b) had to strand labourers for the last several years.
(c) was being stranding (a) has been championing the cause for
(d) has been stranding (b) has been championing the cause of
 (c) had been championed the cause for
(d) had championed the cause for
76. Our business firms were full aware of the Y2K crises.
(a) were fully aware into
(b) have been full aware of
(c) were fully aware of
(d) had been fully aware at
77. To finish a long journey, persistent is needed.
(a) persistence is needful
(b) persistence is what one needs
(c) persistent is what one needs
(d) one needs to be persisted
78. Moby Dick is the story of a man’s battle with a white
whale and the story would take place mainly in the south
seas.
(a) the story has taken place mainly
(b) the story took place primarily
(c) the story is set to take place mainly
(a) an out-of-court settlement seems ruled out
(b) an out-of-curt settlement seems to has been ruled
out
(c) an out-of-court settlement seem ruled out
(d) out-of-court settlement seems to have ruled out
86. When I managed to convince him that I want to get home
quickly, he agreed to leave me early.
(a) I want to get home quickly
(b) that I want to get to home quickly
(c) that I wanted to get home quick
(d) that I wanted to get home quickly
87. Robin Singh is oldest than the other player in the Indian
cricket team.
(a) older than any other
(b) oldest than other
(c) the oldest among the
(d) elder than the other
88. Even after requesting him, Sachin did not tell us how he

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(d) the story takes place mainly bats so well.
79. Holding the fatal telegram in her closed fist, the distraught (a) Even on requesting him
mother fell back on the couch. (b) Even we had requested him
(a) fell out with (b) fell back (c) Though after requesting him
(c) fell back for (d) fell on (d) Even after being requested
80. The quality of coal mined from State X is less than State 89. Cutting small savings rates is conducive for the growth
Y. of the economy.
(a) is less than that from (a) To cut small savings rates is conducive for
(b) is lower than (b) Cutting small savings rates is conducive to
(c) is lower than that from (c) Cutting small savings rate is conducive for
(d) is lower than that of (d) Cutting small savings rates are conducive to

KUNDAN
81. He likes living in small towns rather than crowded cities. 90. It is definitely kind of this attitude that is required in this
(a) rather than that in crowded cities day and age.
(b) rather than in crowded cities (a) one of this kind of attitude
(c) rather crowded cities (b) this kind of attitude
(d) better than crowded cities (c) one of this kinds of attitude
82. Last fifteen days he has not been attending classes and (d) kind of these attitudes
he cannot make up for it now. 91. The manager got very angry and order immediate
(a) In the last fifteen days dismissal of the employee who had committed the
(b) Fifteen last days mistake.
(c) Of the last fifteen days (a) order immediately (b) ordered immediately
(d) For the last fifteen days (c) ordered immediate (d) ordering immediate
83. Tansen is occupying an important position in the world 92. I have told the sculptor to put on all the best in the statue
of music for many generations. which he was carving.
(a) occupies (a) to put in (b) to put up
(b) has occupied (c) to put down (d) to put
(c) has been occupying 93. The finance ministry has initiated talks with the law and
(d) is being occupied power ministries on an arbitrator being appointed.
84. He is not in a position to use the digital diary given by (a) for an arbitrator being appointed
you to him. (b) on the appointment of an arbitrator
(a) given to him (b) given by you (c) to appoint an arbitrator
(c) you gave to him (d) given by him to you (d) so that an arbitrator be appointed
85. The Centre has decided to take Enron’s arbitration notice 94. You should apologise for your inability to attending the
head-on and chances of out-of-court settlement have wedding.
seem ruled out. (a) inability about attending
 (b) being inability to attending (c) keep the colony clean
(c) being unable to attend (d) for clean and keep the colony
(d) unability to attend 104. Any one who known to India’s metros knows the
95. Unless you show me how to do it, I should not be able to meaning of pollution.
solve the problem. (a) knowing India’s metros knows
(a) shall not be able (b) is known to India’s metros knows
(b) should not be unable (c) knows India’s metros knows
(c) shall not be unable (d) knew India’s metros knowing
(d) should be unable 105. Shook by the challenge thrown by Reliance Infocom,
96. Nothing is so easy than operating the new-generation BSNL is planning to give its customers a better deal.
machines; they are user-friendly in true sense. (a) Shaken by the challenge thrown by Reliance Infocom
(a) Nothing is easier as (b) Since Reliance Infocom shook it by throwing a
(b) Nothing is so easy as challenge
(c) Nothing is so easier than (c) Thrown away by the shaking challenge of Reliance
(d) Nothing is more easier than Infocom
97. Despite being tried his best to win the minority votes, (d) Shook up by the challenge thrown by Reliance
he could not be successful. Infocom
(a) Despite his best trying 106. If Indian people are united, this nation could become a

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(b) Despite of his best trial source with strength for the entire world.
(c) In spite of being tried his best (a) can become a source with
(d) Despite trying his best (b) could become a resource of
98. His suggestions were so trivial and hence nobody paid (c) can become resourceful for
any attention to them. (d) can become a source of
(a) so trivial that and hence 107. All the efforts were direct to promote harmony among
(b) very trivial and hence so various groups of people.
(c) too trivial to and hence (a) were directing to promote
(d) very trivial and hence (b) were directed at promote
99. But for your time of helping, the mission would still (c) were directed to promote

KUNDAN
have remained incomplete. (d) were directed to promoting
(a) But for your timely help 108. What did happen there is not something that agitates
(b) Because of your timely helping me.
(c) Despite your time of helping (a) What does happen
(d) But your time for helping (b) What would have happened
100. He failed in his attempt to disperse the mob before the (c) What happened
miscreants sets the fire on the bus. (d) What should have happened
(a) set the bus on fire 109. We cannot ignore the contribution of Kapil Dev for
(b) setting fire on the bus bringing about change in our bowling pattern.
(c) set fire on the bus (a) for bringing in
(d) set the fire on to the bus (b) in bringing about
101. The patient was saved from the jaws of death because of (c) in bringing of
the doctor arrived on time. (d) for he brought over
(a) of the doctor being arrived 110. Such loopholes can be founded whenever similar laws
(b) of the arrival of the doctor exist.
(c) the doctor arrived (a) could have been founded
(d) of the doctor had arrived (b) can be found
102. How can you take the support of your voters for granted (c) could be founded
without being loyally to them? (d) could have found
(a) being loyally for (b) been loyally to 111. The Supreme Court was never bothering to care about
(c) being loyal to (d) loyally being to the sufferings of the masses.
103. Every resident must help the Residents’ Welfare (a) was never bothered to
Association for keep up the colony clean. (b) never bothered to
(a) for upkeep clean the colony (c) never was bothering to
(b) for keeping the colony cleanliness (d) was never bothering to
112. India’s outlook on the world is consisting of these (b) had been known
various elements. (c) knew
(a) consists of (b) is consisted of (d) was known
(c) is consisted by (d) has been consisting 123. The presence of politicians in celebrating the life of a
113. That match-fixing is a universal phenomenon is evident spiritual conqueror is an anomaly because few among
from events that taking place around the globe. them rise above the formality of making speeches and
(a) taken place over (b) taking place in transforming words into action.
(c) that take place on (d) that take place around (a) but transforming words into action
114. The exploitation of employees in a factory needs be (b) and transform action from words
condemned. (c) and transform words into action
(a) needs to be condemned (d) that transform words into action
(b) needs condemned 124. The construction of great temples which had seemingly
(c) needs condemnation have presented great engineering difficulties, was
(d) need be condemned relatively easy.
115. The fact-finding team which had been at the area found (a) had seemingly been presented
villagers giving information to the police. (b) had been seemed present
(a) which had been for (c) was seemingly presented
(b) that led to (d) would seemingly have presented

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(c) which led to 125. Finishing his homework, he went out to play.
(d) that had been to (a) His homework finished
116. The new facts he had discovered has not changed my (b) His homework having finished
opinion. (c) Having finished his homework
(a) could not change (b) could not be changed (d) Finished his homework
(c) has not been changed (d) cannot be changed 126. One of the characteristic of an officer is to make decision
117. On firm ground the tent had held in place by pegs driven in the most demanding of the situations.
into the ground. (a) One of the characteristics of
(a) has been held at (b) was held in (b) Most of the characteristics of
(c) was being held with (d) should be held at (c) Some of the characteristics of
118. Inaugurating the 2600th birth year celebrations of (d) One of the characteristics by

KUNDAN
Bhagwan Mahavir, the prime minister has well done to 127. Whenever we went to the canteen, it was mandatory for
restate the fundamental tenets of ahimsa and each of us to pay our own bills.
intolerance. (a) to pay my own bill
(a) has well done in restating (b) paying our own bill
(b) has done well to restate (c) are paying our own bills
(c) has done well in restating (d) to pay his own bill
(d) has done good in restating 128. Even if a work is tedious, I prefer doing it myself than
119. He has still studied the matter and is still collecting related depending upon another person.
reports. (a) than depending upon the other
(a) is still studying (b) has studied still (b) than depend upon another
(c) still has studied (d) will have still studied (c) to depending upon another
120. I overheard him saying something to me when I was (d) rather than depending upon another
quit. 129. Being a demanding exam, he had to put in much more
(a) was almost quit (b) was about to quit time than in other exams.
(c) had about to quit (d) had been quitting (a) With a demanding exam
121. They have not only troubled us with their erratic (b) It being a demanding exam
behaviour but also with unnecessary disturbances. (c) Being a demanded exam
(a) not only troubled us by (d) As a demanding exam
(b) troubled us not only with 130. We are happy to recommend that his son to be considered
(c) troubled not only to us with for the post.
(d) not only been troubled us by (a) considers for
122. It was strange that no one was knowing who the culprit (b) be considered with
was. (c) be considered for
(a) had been knowing (d) may consider for
131. Plummeting stock markets have discouraged investors
to make their own investment decision.
(a) from making their own investment decision
(b) to make their own investment decisions
(c) of making their own investment decisions
(d) from making their own investment decisions
132. No sooner he ordered for food than the waiter was ready
with it.
(a) No sooner had he order
(b) He ordered no sooner
(c) He no sooner having ordered
(d) No sooner did he order
133. I am working on this book since last January.
(a) was working
(b) have been worked
(c) being worked
(d) have been working
134. The modifications made by them in the draft were so
141. The plight of the Gujarat earthquake victims must be
seen to believe.
(a) have been seen to believe
(b) have been seen for believing
(c) have seen for belief
(d) be seen to be believed
142. The truth is that the UGC with the help of certain
handpicked educationists are offering cash incentives
to cash-strapped universities to start these courses.
(a) who are offering cash incentives to
(b) is offering cash incentives for
(c) is offering cash incentives to
(d) are offering incentives in cash to
143. The Election Commission announced that elections to
the Assemblies will be held on May 10.
(a) should be held from (b) will be held from
(c) would be held on (d) are being held on
144. He was quite sure that none of them were aware of the

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drastic that the entire emphasis had been shifted. truth.
(a) shall have been shifted (a) were aware from (b) was aware of
(b) had shifted (c) were beware of (d) had aware of
(c) was being shifted 145. Vedic astrology is not only one of the main subjects of
(d) had been shifting our traditional and classical knowledge, but this is the
135. Many of our top managers today feel so frustrated and discipline which let us knowing the events happening
powerless as the rest of us. in human life and in the universe on time scale.
(a) so frustrating and powerless as (a) this is the discipline which lets us know
(b) quite frustrating and powerless as (b) this is the discipline that let us know
(c) so frustrated and powerless like (c) this being the discipline whom let us know

KUNDAN
(d) as frustrated and powerless as (d) this is the discipline that lets us to knowing
136. Despite his best efforts, the prime minister could not 146. Shocked of seeing corrupt persons partying in his house,
convince the rebels by changing their decision. the honest minister committed suicide.
(a) and changed their (b) to change their (a) Shockingly seen (b) Shocked at seeing
(c) with changing their (d) in changing his (c) Shocked by seeing (d) Seeing as a shock
137. The sight of the accident was so frightened that the 147. No sooner did he finish writing the article than his friend
bystanders could not utter a single word. had arrived there.
(a) so very frightening because (a) had arrived thereat (b) had had his arrival there
(b) so frightening that (c) had been arrived there (d) arrived there
(c) extremely frightening as 148. When your father inquired about your marks, you lied to
(d) extremely frightened him; have you not?
138. He travelled by bus but would have travelled by car to (a) haven’t you (b) couldn’t you
save time. (c) have you (d) didn’t you
(a) must have travelled (b) should be travelling 149. As soon as I will get my salary, I will repay your loan.
(c) could be travelling (d) should have travelled (a) The sooner I will get
139. The passing-out parade was held yesterday as they were (b) As soon as I get
for years. (c) No sooner than I get
(a) as they have been for (b) so were they for (d) As soon as I shall get
(c) as they are for (d) as they were before 150. Before the advent of the internet, television has been the
140. By the time he had won his commission, Mohan had to major source of entertainment.
start seeking employment elsewhere. (a) television was the major source of entertainment
(a) had started seeking (b) television has been the major source for
(b) were started seeking entertainments
(c) had been started to seek (c) the major source of entertainment is the television
(d) were to have started seeking (d) television was there a major source from
entertainment
 Answers
1. d 2. c 3. d 4. a 5. d 76. c 77. b 78. d 79. d 80. c
6. b 7. c 8. a 9. b 10. a 81. b 82. d 83. b 84. b 85. c
11. b 12. c 13. d 14. a 15. d 86. d 87. a 88. d 89. b 90. b
16. b 17. a 18. c 19. c 20. a 91. c 92. a 93. b 94. c 95. a
21. d 22. c 23. c 24. b 25. b 96. b 97. d 98. d 99. a 100. a
26. c 27. b 28. c 29. c 30. c 101. c 102. c 103. c 104. a 105. a
31. d 32. a 33. d 34. b 35. a 106. d 107. d 108. c 109. b 110. b
36. c 37. c 38. b 39. c 40. a 111. b 112. a 113. d 114. a 115. d
41. d 42. c 43. b 44. b 45. c 116. a 117. b 118. b 119. a 120. b
46. d 47. a 48. b 49. d 50. b 121. b 122. c 123. c 124. d 125. c
51. b 52. d 53. d 54. c 55. c 126. a 127. d 128. c 129. b 130. c
56. a 57. c 58. b 59. c 60. d 131. d 132. d 133. d 134. b 135. d
61. c 62. a 63. b 64. b 65. a 136. b 137. b 138. d 139. a 140. a
66. a 67. a 68. b 69. d 70. c 141. d 142. c 143. c 144. b 145. a
71. d 72. d 73. b 74. b 75. b 146. b 147. d 148. d 149. b 150. a

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KUNDAN