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Hi All,
From today onwards, I would be posting a few points on the practical usage of English. I would update it every now
and then. My request to you is not to start any discussions below this thread. Please go through it on a daily basis
and learn as much as you can. You can discuss the points in a separate thread.If you would like to contribute
something, you can mail the material to me and I will add it with your name. My email id is dagny@totalgadha.com
Let' start:-
Besides can also be used as a discourse marker meaning 'also', 'in any case',and 'as well'. It is often used to add a
stronger, more conclusive argument to what has gone before. In this case, besides usually goes at the beginning of
the clause.
It's too late to go out now. Besides, it's starting to rain.
I don't like this dress; besides,it's too expensive.
After no, nobody, nothing and similar negative words, the three expressions (besides, except, apart from) can all
have the same meaning.
He has nothing except/besides/apart from his house. (= He only has his house.)
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Usage of JUST
by Dagny Taggart - Sunday, 25 November 2007, 12:39 PM
Just
time
'Just' often emphasizes the idea of 'at this moment' or 'close to the present'.
I'll be down in a minute-I am just completing my lunch.
Harry has just phoned.
In expressions such as 'just after', 'just before', and 'just when', just suggests closeness to the time in question.
I saw him just after dinner. (=very soon after dinner.)
'Only', 'scarcely'
Just can mean 'only', 'scarcely', 'nothing more than'.
Complete dinner set for just $100.
I just want somebody to be with me.
Exactly
Just often means 'exactly'.
What is the time by your watch?--It's just 3 o'clock.
Thanks. That's just what I wanted.
Emphasizer
Just can emphasize other words and expressions, with the sense of 'simply', 'there's no other word for it'.
You are just amazing.
I just love your pen.
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Reflexive Pronouns
by Dagny Taggart - Monday, 26 November 2007, 08:03 PM
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Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, ourselves, yourselves, himself, herself, itself and themselves.
Used in apposition for emphasis . They may also be placed after a verb.I can't come myself, but I'll send someone to
help you.
The paintings themselves are magnificent, but what ugly frames?
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Whose is a possessive word meaning 'of whom/ which',used in questions and relative clauses. Who's is a
contraction of who is and who has.
Compare:
Whether and If
by Dagny Taggart - Friday, 30 November 2007, 08:22 PM
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Whether and if
Indirect questions
After verbs that are more common in formal style, whether is preferred.We discussed whether we should close the shop.
Prepositions
After prepositions, only whether is possible.
I haven't settled the question of whether I'll go back home.
There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new office.
Infinitives
Whether, but not if, is used before to-infinitives.
They can't decide whether to get married now or wait. ( NOT they can't decide if…).
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Little= not much (hardly any). The adjective little has a negative meaning.
He has little appreciation of good poetry.
A little = some though not much. 'A little' has a positive meaning.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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Distance
We use both farther and further to talk about distance. They both mean the same.
Delhi is farther/further away from Chennai.
Additional
Further (not farther) can mean additional. extra, more advanced.
College of Further Education.
For further information, turn to page 5
Show parent | Reply
The business makes less money each/every year. (NOT ... each/every years)
She had a toy holding on to each hand. (NOT....every hand)
Exception
Every (frequency)
Every (which is normally used with singular nouns) can be used before plural expressions in measurements of
frequency.
I go to Canada every six weeks.
2. Meaning
Each and every can often be used without much difference of meaning.
You look more beautiful each/every time I see you.
But we prefer each when we are thinking of people or things separately, one at a time. And every is more common
when we are thinking of people or things together, in a group. (every is closer to all). So we are more likely to
say:
3. Structures
We do not use each with word expressions like almost, nearly, practically, or without exception. These words stress
the idea of the whole group.
She's lost nearly every friend she had. (NOT...nearly each friend)
Like and As
by Dagny Taggart - Thursday, 13 December 2007, 11:41 AM
Like can be a preposition. We use like, not as, before a noun or a pronoun to talk about similarity.
Like + noun/ pronoun
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We can use very, quite and other adverb of degree before like.
He is very like his father.
She looks a bit like Julia Roberts.
2. as (similarity): as I do
As is a conjunction. We use it before a clause, and before an expression beginning with a preposition.
as + clause
as + preposition phrase
3. like I do (informal)
In modern English, like is often used as conjunction instead of as. This is most common in an informal style.
Some expressions beginning with as are used to introduce facts which are "common ground" known to both
speaker/writer and listener/reader.
There are some passive expressions of this kind- for example as is well known, as was agreed.. Note that there is no
subject "it" after as in these expressions.
As is well known, more people get cold in winter. (NOT …as it s well known).
I am sending you the bill, as we agreed. (NOT …as it was agreed)
6. Comparison with as and like after negatives
After a negative clause, a comparison with as or like usually refers only to the positive part of what comes before.
I don't smoke, like Jane (Jane smokes)
I am not a conservative, like Tom.(Tom is conservative)
Another use of as is to say what function or role a person or thing has- what jobs people do, what purposes things
are used for, what category they belong to etc. In this case, as is a preposition, used before a noun.
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We use neither before a singular noun to mean 'not one and not the other (of two)'.
Can you come on Wednesday or Thursday? - I'm afraid neither day is possible.
2. neither of + plural
We use neither of before a determiner (for example he, my, these), and before a pronoun. The noun or pronoun is
plural.
Neither of my brothers can sing. (NOT: Neither my brothers can sing.)
Neither of us saw it happen.
Verb + ing or to
by Dagny Taggart - Monday, 17 December 2007, 12:52 AM
I am absolutely sure I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it. (= I locked it and now I remember it.)
I regret to say/ to tell/ to inform you = I'm sorry that I have to say.
We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you the job.
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For and since can both be used with perfect tense to talk about duration upto the present. They are not the same.
Compare:
for + period
I have known him for three years. ( NOT... since three years.)
It's been raining for weeks.
Since + starting point
I;ve known her since Tuesday.
It's been raining since the beginning of the month.
With a past perfect, for and since refer to duration up to a particular past moment.
She'd been working there for a long time. (NOT… since a long time)
She'd been working there since 2000.
From and since give the starting point of actions, events or states: they say when things begin/began.
We use since (with a perfect tense) especially when we measure duration from a starting point up to the present, or
up to a past time that we are talking about.
I've been working since six o' clock, and I am getting tired. (NOT I've been working from six o' clock, and I am
getting tired)
I had been working since six o' clock, and I was getting tired.
From is sometimes possible with a present perfect, especially in expressions that mean "right from the start".
She's been like that from her childhood. (…OR since her childhood)
From/Since the moment they were married, they've quarrelled.
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both....and
by Dagny Taggart - W ednesday, 19 December 2007, 01:46 AM
both...and
We often balance 'both...and' structure, so that the same kind of words or expressions follow both and and.
However, unbalanced sentences with both...and are common. Some people prefer to avoid them.
She both dances and she sings. (both + verb; and + clause)
I both play the piano and the violin.
We use ‘would prefer’ to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general):
Shall we go by train? Well, I’d prefer to go by car. (NOT I’d prefer going by car.) .
I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go by cinema.
Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do) After would rather we use infinitive without to.
Compare:
Shall we go by train? I’d prefer to go by car.
I’m tired. I’d rather not go out this evening, if you don’t mind.
Do you want to go out this evening? I’d rather not.
When you want somebody to do something, you can say I’d rather did something’ :
Shall I stay here? I’d rather you come with us.
Shall I tell them the news? No, I’d rather they didn’t know.
Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn’t know?
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In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past.
Compare:
I’d rather cook the dinner now.
I’d rather you cooked the dinner now. (not I’d rather you cook)
a lot, lots, plenty, a great deal, a large amount, a large number, the majority
by Dagny Taggart - Saturday, 22 December 2007, 11:05 PM
a lot, lots, plenty, a great deal, a large amount, a large number, the majority
a lot of and lots of:
These are rather informal. In more formal style, we prefer a great deal of, a large amount of, much or many.
There is not much difference between a lot of and lots of , they are both used mainly before singular
uncountable and plural nouns, and before pronouns.
When a lot of is used before a plural subject, the verb is plural; when lots of is used before a singular subject,
the verb is singular.
plenty of
Plenty of is usually rather informal. It is used mostly befor singular uncountables and plurals. It suggests
‘enough and more’.
majority of
The majority of (= ‘most’ or ‘most of’) is mostly used with plural nouns or verbs.
The majority of criminals are non violent.
measurement nouns
These expressions are not generally used before words for units of measure, like pounds, years or miles. Other
words have to be used.
It costs several pounds. ( NOT It cost a lot of ponds.)
They lived many miles from the town. (NOT they lived plenty of miles from the town)
used as adverbs
A lot and a great deal can be used as adverbs
On holiday, we walk and swim a lot. (NOT…we walk plenty OR…swim lots)
Show parent | Reply
A) the difference
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Less is quite common before plural nouns and uncountable nouns, especially in an informal style. Some people
consider this incorrect.
I’ve got less problems than I used to have.
D) lesser
Lesser is used in a few expressions (in a rather formal style) to mean ‘smaller’ or ‘not so much’
The lesser of two evils.
A lesser known writer.
Show parent | Reply
Grateful is the normal word for people's reaction to kindness, favours etc.
I'm very grateful for my teacher's help. (NOT I'm very thankful..)
She wasn't grateful to me for repairing her watch.
Thankful is used specially for feelings of relief at having avoided a danger, or at having come through an
unpleasant experience.
We were really thankful when it stopped raining after two days.
Well, I'm thankful that's over.
Show parent | Reply
These words have similar meanings and uses. Permit is more formal. Both words can be flowed by
object+infinitive
We do not allow/permit people to smoke in the kitchen.
When there is no personal object, an –ing form is used.
Passive structures are common; personal subjects and gerund (-ing form) both are possible.
People are not allowed/permitted to smoke in the kitchen.
Smoking is not allowed/permitted in the kitchen.
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let
Let is the least formal of these three words, and is followed by object+infinitive without to.
Compare:
Please allow me to buy you a drink. (polite and formal)
Let me buy you a drink. (friendly and informal)
Let is not usually used in the passive.
I wasn’t allowed to pay for the drinks. (NOT I wasn’t let…)
Let can be used with adverb particles; passives are possible in this case.
She wouldn’t let me in.
I’ve been let down.
Show parent | Reply
Enjoy
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 29 January 2008, 01:25 PM
Enjoy
Either...or
by Dagny Taggart - Friday, 1 February 2008, 05:10 PM
Either…or
We use either…or to talk about a choice between two possibilities (and sometimes more than two)
I don’t speak either Japanese or Chinese.
You can either come with me now or walk home.
If you want ice-cream, there is either vanilla, raspberry, or chocolate.
We often balance this structure, so that same kinds of words or expressions follow either and or.
You can eat either chocolate or ice-cream. (nouns)
He is either in Delhi or in Mumbai. (prepositional expressions)
Either you will leave this house or I will call police. (clauses)
However unbalanced sentences with either….or are possible. The usage is mostly avoided.
You can either have chocolate or ice-cream.
He is either in Delhi or Mumbai.
You will either leave this house or I will call police.
Show parent | Reply
Re: Either...or
by Dagny Taggart - Friday, 7 March 2008, 12:27 PM
One of
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After one of, a noun phrase must have a determiner (eg. the, my, those)
One of the/my/those dogs. ( NOT one of dogs)
Of cannot be dropped.
One of my friends. (NOT one my friend or one my friends)
In
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 11 March 2008, 12:55 PM
In : Place
In is used for a position inside large areas, and in three dimensional space when something is surrounded on all sides.
In: Time
Note he difference between ‘in the night (mostly used to mean during one particular night)’ and ‘at the night’(=
during any night)
Compare:
We use on if we say which morning/ afternoon etc we are talking about, or if we describe the morning/afternoon etc.
In + longer period
He died in 1989.
Other uses of in
It can also be used to say how soon something will happen, and to say how long something takes to happen.Ask me again in
three or four days.
The expression in ….’s time is used to say how soon something will happen, not how long something takes. Compare:
In American English, in can be used in negative sentences, like for, to talk about periods up to the present.
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Countable Uncountable
· Did you hear a noise just now?(= · I can’t work here. There is too
a particular noise) much noise. (NOT ‘too many
noises’)
· You can stay with us . There is a · You can’t sit here. There
spare room.(= a room in a house) isn’t enough room.(=space)
Likely
by Dagny Taggart - Friday, 14 March 2008, 04:39 PM
Likely
Meaning
Certain/sure of + ing are used to refer to the feelings of the person one is talking about.
Before the game she felt certain of winning, but after the few minutes she realized that it wasn’t going to be easy.
You seem very sure of cracking the CAT, I hope you are right.
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The repairs are certain to cost more than you think. (NOT the repairs are certain of costing…)
Kimi is sure to win- the other boy hasn’t got a chance.
Note that he is sure to succeed means’ I’m sure that he will succeed’.
A bit
by Dagny Taggart - Thursday, 20 March 2008, 04:13 PM
[a] bit
Use
A bit of a
A bit of a can be used before some nouns in an informal style. The meaning is similar to rather a.
Note: a bit and a little are used with non comparative adjective, the meaning is usually negative or critical.
A bit tired
A bit expensive
A little (too) old
(NOT a bit kind, a little interesting)
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Not a bit
Lay
Lay is a regular verb except for its spelling. Its forms are:
Infinitive: (to) lay past: laid
-ing form: laying past participle: laid
Lay means ‘put down carefully’ or ‘put down flat’. It has an object.
Lay the tent down on the grass and I’ll see how to put it up.
Note the expression lay a table (= put plates, knives etc. on a table) and lay an egg ( a bird’s way of having a baby).
Lie (irregular)
Lie (regular)
The regular verb lie (lied) ‘say things that are not true’.
You lied to me when you said you loved me.
Dialect forms
In many British and American dialects, different forms of lay and irregular lie are used. Lay is often used in cases where Standard
English has lie.
I am going to lay down for a few minutes. (Standard English…lie down)
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We use will when we talk about Willingness to do something (eg. in offers, invitations, requests, and orders) and will not when w
talk about unwillingness to do something (eg. reluctance, refusal):
Notice that we can also talk about the refusal of a thing t work in the way it should:
To talk about general or repeated willingness in the past we can sometimes use would, but we can’t use would in this way to
talk about a particular occasion in the past.
Compare:
Whenever I had to go to town, Charlie would give me a lift.(= repeated)
I was late, so Charlie gave me a lift to town (not Charlie would give me ..)(=particular situation)
However, we can use would not either when we talk about unwillingness in general or about a particular occasion.
Compare:
We thought that people wouldn’t / would buy the book (=general)
She wouldn’t say what was wrong with her when I asked. (not ..would say..)( = particular situation)
The standard spelling is all right. Alright is common, but some people consider it wrong.
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We use the past continuous to say that somebody was in middle of doing something at a certain time. The action or
situation had already started before this time but had not finished.
There are some verbs (eg. know, want, believe) that are not normally used in the continuous.
We were good friends. We knew each other well. (not ‘we were knowing’)
I was enjoying the party but Kim wanted to go home.( not ’was wanting’)
working etc.
You can say that something had been happening for a period of time before something else happened.
Our game of cricket was interrupted. We had been playing for half an hour when it started to rain heavily.
Amy gave up smoking last year. She had been smoking for 10 years.
Compare had been doing (past perfect continuous) and was doing (past continuous) :
I wasn’t raining when we were out. The sun was shining. But it had been raining since morning, so the ground was wet.
Rohan was sitting in an armchair watching television. He was tired because he had been working very hard.
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1. requests
Have you got a pen I could use?~ Yes here you are. (NOT…Please)
Thank you very much indeed. (But NOT usually Thank you indeed.)
Thank you for coming.~ Not at all. Thank you for having me.
We often use Thank you/ Thanks like Yes, please, to accept offers.
Yes, thanks is most often used to confirm that things are all right.
Come or Gone
by Dagny Taggart - Monday, 31 March 2008, 04:10 PM
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1) The milkman’s already been. (He has come and gone away again)
Jack’ come, so we can start preparing for CAT 2008. (He has come and is still here)
If I were you
by Dagny Taggart - W ednesday, 2 April 2008, 08:02 PM
If I were you
Advice
I should/ would
Sometimes we leave out If I were you, and just use I should….or I would… to give advice.
I shouldn’t worry.
I would have started preparing for CAT 2008 already.
In British English, singular words like family, team government, which refer to groups of people, can have either singular or
plural verbs and pronouns.
Plural forms are common when the group is seen as the collection of people doing personal things like deciding, hoping or
wanting. Singular forms rae more commom when the group is seen as an impersonal unit.
Compare:
The firm are wonderful. They do all they can for me.
My firm was founded in 2005.
We prefer who as a relative pronoun with plural forms, and which with singular forms.
Compare:
When a group is used as with a singular determiner (eg. a/an, each, every, this, that), singular verbs and pronouns are regular.
Compare:
The group gave its first concert in January and they are now planning a tour.
Examples of group nouns, which can be used with both singular and plural verbs in British English.
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In American English, singular verbs are normal with most of these nouns in all cases. Plural pronouns can be used.
The team has started preparing for CAT 2008. They expect to crack it.
Many singular quantifying verbs can be used with plural nouns and pronouns; lural verbs are normally used in this case.
A number of people have tried to find the treasure, but they have all failed.
(more natural than A number of people has)
A group of us are going to run the Marathon this year.
A majority of criminals are non- violent
Relative Clauses
by Dagny Taggart - Saturday, 12 April 2008, 04:32 PM
Relative Clauses
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We usually say:
After than/as it is more usual to say me/him/her/them/us when there is no verb. Compare:
You are taller than I am. but You are taller than me.
They have more money than we have. but They have more money than us.
I can’t run as fast as he can. but I can’t run as fast as him.
When one verb follows another verb, the structure is usually verb + ing or verb + to
Compare:
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They denied stealing the money. They decided to steal the money.
Often we use -ing…for an action that Often we use to…for an action that
happens before the first verb or at the follows the first verb:
same time:
Decided→ to steal want→ to go
Stealing ↠denied enjoy
↓↑
going
Some verbs are followed by a to-infinitive but not –ing : agree, aim, ask, decline, demand, fail, hesitate, hope, hurry,
manage, offer, plan, prepare, refuse, want, wish.
Some verbs are followed by –ing but not a –to infinitive: admit, avoid, consider, delay, deny, detest, dread, envisage, feel
like, finish, imagine, miss, recall, resent, risk, suggest.
The verbs begin, cease, start, and continue can be followed by either a –to infinitive or an –ing form with little difference in
meaning.
Even though it was raining, they continued to play/ playing.
However, with these verbs we normally avoid using two –ing forms together, as a repeated pattern may sound awkward:
I am starting to learn French. ( rather than I am starting learning French.)
The verbs advise and encourage are followed by –ing when there is no object and –to infinitive when there is one. Compare:
Other verbs can be followed by either a –to infinitive or an –ing form, but there can be a difference in meaning. These
+ to infinitive + -ing
Come To talk about a gradual change. To say that someone moves in a way that
is described.
After a few years, they came to accept him
as an equal. He came hurrying up the path.
Regret To say that we are about to do something To say that we have already done
we are not happy about. something we are not happy about.
I regret to inform you that you have not It’s too late now, I’ll always regret
passed the exam. asking Ama to do the work.
go on To mean something is done after something To say that someone moves in a way that
else is finished. is described.
After the class, Ali went on to do his Although she asked him to stop, he went
evening prayer. on tapping his pen on the table.
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Stop To say when we stopped doing something. To say what is it that we stopped doing.
She stopped to prepare a cup of coffee. The baby stopped crying when he saw its
mother.
Mean To say that we intend(ed) to do something. To say that something has something else
as a result.
I meant to phone you yesterday.
If I want to attend the class at 9.00, that
means I waking up before 7.00
remember To mean that remembering comes before To mean the action comes before
the action is described. remembering.
Remember to carry your umbrella before I remember going to the library but
you go out. (first remember, and then take nothing after that. (I remember that I
it) went there.
In active clauses after these verbs, we use an –ing form if there is no subject. If there is an object, we use an infinitive.
Compare:
Passive structures:
Smoking is forbidden.
Students are forbidden to smoke.
After these verbs, the difference between verb +-ing and object+ infinitive is like the difference between progressive and simple
tenses. With –ing forms the verb suggest that one pays attention to events or actions that are already going on; infinitives
usually refer to complete events/ actions which are seen/heard from beginning to end.
Compare:
I looked out of the window and saw Mary crossing the road.
I saw Mary cross the road and disappear in the post office.
These verbs (and other with similar meanings) are followed by –ing forms mostly when we are referring to lessons or subjects
of study.
Infinitives are preferred when we talk about the result of the study- about successfully learning a skill.
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After these four verbs, both infinitive and –ing forms can often be used without a great difference of meaning.
Compare:-
After would like, would prefer, would hate, and would love , infinitives are most often used.
I’d like to tell you something. (NOT I’d like telling you something)
Do you like dancing? (=Do you enjoy dancing)
Would you like to dance? (= Do you want to dance now?)
Contd.
Afraid
To talk about fear of things that happened accidentally, we prefer afraid of +ing
Why are you so scared? I’m afraid to walking in dark.
In other cases we use afraid of +ing or afraid +infinitive with no difference of meaning
I’m afraid of telling /to tell her the truth.
Sorry
Sorry for/about +ing is used to refer the past things that one regrets. (That-clauses are also used in informal form.)
Interested
To talk about reaction to things one learns , interested + infinitive is commonly used.
I’m interested to see that Hema and Rahul are going out together.
To talk about a wish to find out something, both interested +ing and interested +infinitive are common.
I’m interested in finding out/ to find out how she is studying for CAT
2008.
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Fused Sentences: A fused sentence is an error caused by running two independent clauses together with no punctuation at all.
A comma splice : A comma splice is an error caused by joining two independent clauses with only a comma. Often, the subject
of the second sentence is this, that, these, or those.
The above sentence is incorrect because ‘Rohan came to Tathagat’ and ‘he wanted to prepare for CAT 2008’ are
both independent clauses. A comma is not required to join two powerful clauses.
A run-on sentence: A run-on sentence is an error caused by joining two or more independent clauses with only a coordinating
conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).
Incorrect: Rohan came to Tathagat for he wanted to prepare for CAT 2008.
Correct: Rohan came to Tathagat, for he wanted to prepare for CAT 2008.
Each independent clause expresses a complete thought. If you run two or more complete thoughts together without the right
punctuation or no punctuation, the thoughts tend to blur.
There are four methods of fixing the comma splices, run on sentences, and fused sentences.
1) By separating the two clauses into two sentences, and replacing the comma with a full stop.
3) By connecting the two main clauses with a comma, and a coordinating conjunction. (e.g.,and, but, or, not, for, yet, so)
4) By replacing the comma with a subordinating conjunction. (e.g., after, although, before, unless, as, because, even though, if,
since, until, when, while).
Hi
Can we have this thread active please ..... really found it amazing
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THanx Mam
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Not all words ending in -ly are adverbs. Some adjectives end in -ly too, for example: friendly, lively, elderly, lonely, silly, lovely
Adjective or adverb?
Adjectives (quick/careful etc.) tell us about Adverbs (quickly/ carefully etc.) tell us
a noun. We use adjectives before nouns and about how a verb. An adverb tells us how
after some verbs, especially be: somebody does something or how something
happens.
Ram is a careful driver. (not a carefully Ram drove carefully along the
driver) narrow road. ( not- drove careful)
We didn't go out because of the heavy rain. We didn't go out because it was
raining heavily. (not -raining heavy)
Please be quiet.
Please speak quietly. (not-
I was disappointed that my exams result
speak quiet)
were bad.
I was disappointed that I did so
We also use adjectives after the verbs look/
badly in the exam(not did so bad)
feel/ sound etc.
Why do you always look so serious?
Why do you never take me seriously?
Compare:
She speaks perfect English.
(perfect=adjective + English= noun) She speaks English perfectly. (speaks+
English+ perfectly = verb + object+ adverb)
Compare these sentences with look:
Prince looked at me sadly.
Prince looked sad when I saw him. (= he
seemed sad, his expression was sad.)
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We also use adverbs before adjectives and other adverbs. For example:
Reasonably cheap (adverb +adjective)
Terribly sorry (adverb +adjective)
Incredibly quickly ((adverb +adjective)
You can use an adverb before a past participle (injured, organized, written etc.)
Children were seriously injured in an accident. (not serious injured)
The examination hall was badly organized.
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Like vs As
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:00 PM
Like vs As
Like= similar to, the same as. Note that you cannot use as in the same way.
In these sentences, like is a preposition. So it is followed by an noun (like a palace), a pronoun (like me) or-ing (like walking)
As can also be used a preposition but the meaning is different from like. Compare :
As Like
Sonal is the manger of the company. As the Smita ia the assistant manger. Like the
manger, she has to make many important manger (Sonal), she also has t make
decisions. ( As the manger= in her important decisions. (Like the manager=
positions as manager) similar to the manager)
During the war this hotel was used as a Everyone is ill at home. Our house is like
hospital. (so it really was a hospital) a hospital. (it isn't really the hospital)
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Incase/ If
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:01 PM
In case and If
In case is used to talk about precautions in order to be ready for the possible future situations. (it is possible that this mighat
happen later)
Hunny might phone this evening. I don't want to go out in case he phones.
Let's get some more muffins in case Vendy comes. ( Let's get some muffins now because Vendy might come later)
Let's get some more muffins if Vendy comes. (Perhaps Vendy might come; if she come we'll get some more muffins, if she
doesn't we won't)
I or Me
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:05 PM
I or me?
Be careful to use the pronouns I and me, he and him, she and her, we and us, and they and them in the right place. Use I, we,
etc. when you are talking about someone who has done something (i.e. who is the subject of the sentence), and use me, us, etc.
when you are talking about someone who has had something done to them (i.e. who is the object of the sentence). People most
often make mistakes over this when they are talking about more than one person:
'Me and Annie had a dog once'; 'Adrian and me were going out'. In these sentences you should use I, not me, because the
two people are the subject in both. 'Annie and I had a dog once'; 'Adrian and I were going out'.
'Watch Helen and I while we show you'. You need me here, as the object of watch.
'Everything depends on you and I'. Use me, us, etc. after prepositions.
A good guide in cases like these is to see whether the sentence sounds right with only the pronoun. If 'Me had a dog' is wrong,
then so is 'Annie and me had a dog'; if you wouldn't say 'Watch I while I show you', you shouldn't say 'Watch Helen and I'.
It's right to say 'between you and me', and wrong to say 'between you and I'. This is because a preposition such as 'between'
should be followed by an object pronoun such as 'me', 'him', 'her', and 'us' rather than a subject pronoun such as 'I', 'he', 'she',
and 'we'.
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Contributed By:
Aditya Zutshi
Prepositions
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:08 PM
PREPOSITIONS
DEFINITION
Preposition is a word used to relate noun or pronoun to form a phrase. They are used before nouns to give additional
information in a sentence. Usually, prepositions are used to show where something is located or when something
happened.
EXAMPLES
NOTE- Preposition is generally placed before the noun but sometimes preposition follows also.
EXAMPLES
In the above sentences, preposition is placed in the end when the object is either a relative pronoun or an interrogative
pronoun.
PHRASE PREPOSITIONS:-A group of words used with the force of a preposition are called Phrase Prepositions.
in order to, inspite of, along with, in front of, according to, owing to, because of, away
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EXAMPLES:-
3) Owing to his laid back attitude, he was fired from the organization.
4) On account of his hard work, he has scored the highest marks in the class.
5) With regard to Chechnya, the main rebel leaders Shamil Basayev and Al Khattab were trained and indoctrinated in CIA
sponsored camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
8) Conformably to the Italian law of privacy The personal data of the customer are registered by Italian Government.
9) Instead of reading the comics, you should read your course books.
13) With a view to company's progress, I would like you to increase my salary.
21) Swahili could not attend Rasul's marriage because of her illness.
23) In the event of his marriage,his sister would arrange for everything.
26) India won the match by the virtue of Sehwag's stoke play.
30) In accordance with the rules and regulations, you are not allowed to attend the class.
PARTICIPLE PREPOSITIONS:- Some present participals of verbs are used without any noun or pronoun being attached to
them.
1) Respecting the decision you have taken, I would like to suggest something.
2) Concerning the Prime Minister's death,there is mourning all across the country.
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USAGE OF ‘AT’
b) I wake up at 6 a.m.
2) With Places
a) At bus stop
a) at party
4) Specific addresses
a) At lunch
b) At dinner
USAGE OF ‘ON’
2) For bicycle,plane,ship,train,foot
a) I go to office on foot.
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4) With islands
5) With directions
a) on the left
b) on the right
a) Hey! i am on television.
Articles
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:09 PM
ARTICLES
1) Definite
2) Indefinite
Indefinite :- Indefinite articles are a, an, some and any. They are used for non specific things.
EXAMPLES:-
2) Use 'a' is before a consonant sound and 'an' before a vowel sound.
EXAMPLES:-
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a) A boy was playing with the ball.The boy was wearing a black shirt.
b) A book is kept on the table.the book contains the names of the countries of the world.
c) I went to a hotel.the hotel was beautiful.
6) With water bodies eg. sea, ocean, lake etc. and continents.
EXAMPLES:-
a) Asia is a continent.
b) Cactus is grown in a desert.
c) Sharks live in an ocean.
EXAMPLES:-
a) He knows how to play the guitar.
b) Zakir Hussain plays the tabla.
c) Amjad Ali Khan is the santoor player.
4) With Superlatives:-
EXAMPLES:-
5) Before the names of things that are unique of their own kind.
EXAMPLES:-
6) With Ordinals
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EXAMPLES:-
the Ramayana, the Bible, The Vedas, The Upnishads, the Mahabharata, the Quoran.
1) Before plural countable noun when they are used in general sense.
EXAMPLES:-
a) Chocolates are kept in the box. (In place of ‘the chocolates are kept in the box’)
b) Girls are wearing pretty dresses. (In place of ‘the girls are wearing pretty dresses’ or
‘some girls are wearing pretty dresses’)
c) Scissors are kept in the cupboard. (In place of the scissors are kept in the cupboard)
d) Men are considered to be better cooks than women.
e) Children like to hear stories.
2) Before table, school, hospital, college, church, prison, market and bed when these places are used for primary purpose.
EXAMPLES:-
EXAMPLES:-
a) Rhyna speaks French at home.
b) He is learning German at MaxMueller?.
c) W e are taught Italian at school.
d) Japanese ambassador would be visiting India next week.
6) Before names of relations like brother,mother,uncle,aunt, and allso nurse,cook meaning 'our cook','our nurse'eg.
EXAMPLES:-
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Usual vs Is Usual
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:10 PM
Some nouns have singular and plural alike; as swine, sheep, dear, cod, trout, salmon, aircraft, series, spacecraft, species,
pair, dozen, score, gross, hundred, thousands (when used after numerals).
1. Name of the instruments which have two parts forming a kind of pair; as bellows, scissors, tongs, pincers,
spectacles.
2. Names of certain articles of dresses; as trousers, drawers, breeches, jeans, tights, shorts, pyjamas.
3. Certain other nouns; as annals, thanks, proceeds (of a sale), tidings, environs, nuptials, obsequies, assets, chattels.
4. Some nouns originally singular are now generally used in the plural; as alms, riches, eaves.
5. Certain collective nouns, though singular in form; as poultry, cattle, vermin, people, gentry.
Idiom List
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:18 PM
Idioms to Remember
2) Different from one another (Different one from the other is wrong)
3) X is unknown, nor it is known - is a correct idiom (Neither is not required) It is not that nor would always be preceded
by a neither
6) To try to fix is the right idiom (to try and fix is incorrect)
9) Same as X..as to Y
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12) Believe X to be Y
19) Both X and Y (Both X as well as Y is incorrect) Both at X and at Y is correct. Both on X or on Y is correct. Both should
always have parallel forms associated to it. Similarly, Neither¦ nor should have parallel forms associated to it.
24) x forbids y to do z
x prohibits y from doing z.
31) No sooner-than
32) X expected to Y
35) Persuaded X to do Y
38) As a result of
41) So X that Y (So illiterate are people that they cant even write)
42) Intent on
43) Native of (Native to is also used in some cases, as in the example given below)
48) X is to what? Y is to
People were asking Goddess Dias aid in healing ills or thanking her for such help.
53) When rates means prices charged it should be followed with 'for'
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54) Distinguish between X and Y (2 very different items, distinguished, say red and green colors)
Some color blind people cannot distinguish between red and green
55) Distinguish X from Y (Two pretty similar items, say original paintings from fake ones)
58) May be (This is a word) is idiomatic, maybe (This means perhaps) is not idiomatic
63) To worry about someone's condition (To keep worrying over an action)
Auxiliary Verbs
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:19 PM
Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs are used together with a main verb to give grammatical information and therefore add extra meaning to a
sentence, which is not given by the main verb.
Be, Do and Have are auxiliary verbs, they are irregular verbs and can be used as main verbs. The verbs 'to be' and 'to
have' are the most commonly used auxiliary verbs and work alongside the main verbs in any statement.
Every tense takes an auxiliary form of the verb. There are three exceptions to this rule:
There are also a number of short forms that take ONLY the auxiliary form of the verb:
Question tags:
They enjoy learning English, don't they?
He won't agree with me, will he?
So did I.
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DO / DOES
Used simple present question and negative forms:
What time does he get up?
They don't drive to work. They take the bus.
DID
Used in simple past question and negative forms:
When did they arrive yesterday?
He didn't finish his homework last week.
IS / ARE / AM
Used in present continuous and for the future with 'going to':
They are working hard at the moment.
She is going to study medicine at university.
WAS / WERE
Past continuous:
I was watching TV when you arrived.
What were they doing while you were cooking dinner?
HAVE / HAS
Present perfect and present perfect continuous:
How long have you lived here?
I've been working since seven this morning.
HAD
Past perfect and past perfect continuous:
He had eaten by the time I arrived.
She had been studying for two hours when he finally telephoned.
WILL / WON'T
Future with 'will':
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
He won't understand.
Happy Endings
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:21 PM
Adding endings
Usually endings (suffixes) can be added to base words without any complications. You just add them and that is that!
e.g.
However, there are four groups of words which need especial care. Fortunately, there are some straightforward
rules which save your learning thousands of words individually.
Rules:
The 1-1-1 rule
Words of ONE syllable ending with ONE consonant preceded by ONE vowel
When you add an ending beginning with a consonant to a l-l-l word, there is no change to the base word:
When you add an ending beginning with a vowel to a l-l-l word, you double the final letter of the base word:
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drop + ed = dropped
flat + est = flattest
win + ing = winning
sun + *y = sunny
Don’t double final w and x. They would look very odd and so we have correctly:
When you add an ending beginning with a consonant, keep the -e:
When you add an ending beginning with a vowel, drop the -e:
· Do, however, keep the -e in words like singeing (different from singing) and dyeing (different from dying) and
whenever you need to keep the identity of the base word clear (e.g. shoeing, canoeing).
· Do remember to keep the -e with soft c and soft g words. It's the e that keeps them soft (courageous, traceable).
· Don't keep the -e with these eight exceptions to the rule: truly, duly, ninth, argument, wholly, awful, whilst,
wisdom.
(iii) -y rule
This rule applies to all words ending in -y. Look at the letter before the -y in the base word. It doesn't matter at all
what kind of ending you are adding. When you add an ending to a word ending in a vowel + y, keep the y:
portray + ed = portrayed
employ + ment = employment
Do keep the y when adding -ing. Two is together would look very odd, despite our two words ski-ing and
taxi-ing.
This rule applies to: words of TWO syllables ending with ONE consonant preceded by ONE vowel. With this rule,
it all depends on which syllable of the word is stressed.
The 2-1-1 words below are stressed on the first syllable, and both vowel and consonant endings are added without any
complications:
gossip gossiping
target targeted
limit limitless
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eager eagerness
Kidnap
Outfit
Worship
always double their final letter:
Kidnapped
Outfitter
Worshipping
Take care with 2-1-1 words which are stressed on the second syllable. There is no change when you add a
consonant ending:
Double the final consonant of the base word when you add a vowel ending:
This rule is really valuable but you must be aware of some exceptions:
" 2-1-1 words ending in -l seem to have a rule all of their own. Whether the stress is on the first or the second
syllable, there is no change when a consonant ending is added:
" Notice how the change of stress in these words affects the spelling:
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Grammar Exercises
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:24 PM
http://totalgadha.com/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=3442
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Hello All, I found the below written article from a very reliable source:
SUPPOSE YOU are on a train, with nothing to do except observe your fellow travellers. A couple of professional-
looking people are talking earnestly. You hear the words, These allergic reactions would seem to contraindicate the
use of penicillin.'
Allergic, penicillin - these must be medical people. But what was that other word, contraindicate? It is not a word
you have ever heard before. Why not have a go at working out its meaning?
Allergic reactions are doing something to the use of penicillin. So, contraindicate is a verb. Allergic reactions are not
desirable. They sometimes follow the use of various drugs. You know that. So the sentence probably means
something like: 'Allergic reactions rule out using penicillin or make it impossible or undesirable to use it.' Perhaps
contraindicate is a specialist medical word meaning something along these lines.
Now how about approaching the problem from a different angle? Contraindicate? It is a word made up of two parts.
The indicate part is straightforward. It means: 'demonstrate, suggest, or show'.
What about contra-? There are a number of common words that begin with contra:- contradict, contraception,
contravene. All these words suggest being against something - against what someone else has said, against
pregnancy, against a rule or law. So the chances are that contraindicate means something like 'suggest against'..
The whole sentence would appear to mean that 'Allergic reactions seem to show that penicillin should not be used'.
Which is precisely what it does mean.
Cheers!!
AM
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Comma
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:53 PM
Comma
lists
Commas are used to separate items in a series or lists.
I went to Italy, Rome, and Venice
I listened to jazz, classic, and rock music yesterday.
It is necessary to use comma before 'and' because the last two items may glom into one if a serial comma is not used.
Direct Speech
A comma is used between the reporting expression and a piece of direct speech.
He said, " I like you".
If a reporting expression follows a piece of direct speech, we put a comma instead of a full stop before the closing quotation mark.
"I like you", he said.
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Indirect Speech
Comma is not used before that, where, what etc. in indirect speech.
I didn't know where I should sit. (NOT : I didn't know, where I should sit.)
He said that he likes me. (NOT: He said, that he likes me.)
Co- ordinate Clauses
Clauses connected with and, but or or are usually separated by commas unless they are very short.
Compare:
I decided to try the thin crust Garden Pizza, and TG ordered pan minis with five sauces.
I had pizza and TG had had pan minis.
Subordinate Clauses
When subordinate clauses begin sentences, they are often followed by commas. Compare:
If you are ever in Delhi, come and see me.
Come and see me if you are ever in Delhi.
Similarly- need for/ demand for/ reason for ('reason of' is a wrong usage)
You are sorry about something, sorry for doing something, and sorry for someone.
I am sorry about the noise yesterday.
I am sorry for yelling at you last night.
I feel sorry for him.
Disinterested/ Uninterested
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 07:54 PM
Disinterested: impartial.
Example: a disinterested decision by a king.
To write is to become disinterested. There is a certain renunciation in art.
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3.
· Affection - (n)-- the feeling of liking or loving sb/sth very much and caring about them
· Affectation - (n)-- behaviour or an action that is not natural or sincere and that is often intended to impress other
people
4.
· Agnostic - (n)-- a person who is not sure whether or not God exists or who believes that we cannot know whether God
exists or not
· Atheist - (n)-- a person who believes that God does not exist
5.
· Allude -(v)-- allude to sb/sth - to mention sth in an indirect way
· Elude -(v)-- to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; evade
6.
· Amiable -(adj)-- pleasant; friendly and easy to like
· Amicable -(adj)-- done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without quarrelling
7.
· Apprise -(v)-- apprise sb of sth - to tell or inform sb of sth
· Appraise -(v)-- to make a formal judgement about the value of a person’s work, usually after a discussion with
them about it
8.
· Aught -(pn)-- Anything whatever; any part
· Ought -(v)--expressing duty or rightness
9.
· Ament -(n)-- A person whose intellectual capacity remains undeveloped.
· Emend -(v)-- to remove the mistakes in a piece of writing, especially before it is printed
10.
· Attenuate -(v)-- to make sth weaker or less effective
· Extenuate -(v)--make(guilty or an offence)seem less serious by referencing to another factor
11.
· Brusque -(adj)-- using very few words and sounding rude
· Burlesque -(n)-- a performance or piece of writing which tries to make sth look ridiculous by representing it in a
humorous way
12.
· Bridle -(n)-- a set of leather bands, attached to REINS, which is put around a horse’s head and used for controlling
it
-(v)-- to put a bridle on a horse
· Bridal -(adj)-- connected with a BRIDE or a wedding
13.
· Broach -(v)-- ~ (sth) (to / with sb) to begin talking about a subject that is difficult to discuss, especially because it is
embarrassing or because people disagree about it
· Brooch -(n)-- a piece of jewellery with a pin on the back of it, that can be fastened to your clothes
14.
· Cannon -(n)-- an old type of large heavy gun, usually on wheels, that fires solid metal or stone balls
-(v)-- to hit sb/sth with a lot of force while you are moving
· Canon -(n)-- a Christian priest with special duties in a CATHEDRAL,
a generally accepted rule, standard or principle by which sth is judged
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15.
· Censor -(n)-- a person whose job is to examine books, films/movies, etc. and remove parts which are considered
offensive, immoral or politically dangerous
-(v)-- to remove the parts of a book, film/movie, etc. that are considered offensive, immoral or politically dangerous
· Censure -(n)-- strong criticism
-(v)-- ~ sb (for sth) to criticize sb severely, and often publicly, because of sth they have done
· Cynosure -(n)-- something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, etc.: the cynosure of all eyes.
16.
· Climatic -(adj)-- connected with the weather of a particular area
· Climactic -(adj)-- (of an event or a point in time) very exciting, most important
17.
· Complacent -(adj)-- ~ (about sb/sth) too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not feel that any
change is necessary; showing or feeling complacency
· Complaisant -(adj)-- ready to accept other people’s actions and opinions and to do what other people want
18.
· Corporal -(n)-- a member of one of the lower ranks in the army, the MARINES or the British air force
· Corporeal -(adj)-- that can be touched; physical rather than spiritual
19.
· Decry -(v)-- ~ sb/sth (as sth) to strongly criticize sb/sth, especially publicly
· Descry -(v)-- catch sight of , descern
20.
· Delusion -(n)-- a false belief or opinion about yourself or your situation,
the act of believing or making yourself believe sth that is not true
· Illusion -(n)-- a false idea or belief, especially about sb or about a situation,
something that seems to exist but in fact does not, or seems to be sth that it is not
21.
· Deprecate -(v)-- to become less valuable over a period of time
· Depreciate -(v)-- to become less valuable over a period of time
22.
· Disinterested -(adj)-- not influenced by personal feelings, or by the chance of getting some advantage for yourself
· Uninterested -(adj)-- ~ (in sb/sth) not interested; not wanting to know about sb/sth
23.
· Elicit -(v)-- ~ sth (from sb) to get information or a reaction from sb, often with difficulty
· Illicit -(adj)-- not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful
24.
· Errant -(adj)-- doing sth that is wrong; not behaving in an acceptable way
· Arrant -(adj)-- downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious: an arrant fool.
25.
· Expatiate -(v)-- to write or speak in detail about a subject
· Expiate -(v)-- to accept punishment for sth that you have done wrong in order to show that you are sorry
26.
· Extant -(adj)-- still in existence
· Extent -(n)-- how large, important, serious, etc. sth is
27.
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enemies to attack
41.
· Objurgate -(adj)-- to scold or rebuke sharply; berate.
· Obdurate -(adj)-- refusing to change your mind or your actions in any way
Syn- Stubborn
42.
· Officious -(adj)-- too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power you have to give orders
· Official -(adj)-- connected with the job of sb who is in a position of authority
43.
· Principle -(n)-- a moral rule or a strong belief that influences your actions
· Principal -(n)-- the person who is in charge of a college or a university
44.
· Panegyric -(n)-- a speech or piece of writing praising sb/sth
· Paregoric -(n)-- soothing, a medicine used to make pacify.
45.
· Perspicacity -(adj)-- able to understand sb/sth quickly and accurately; showing this
· Perspicuity -(n)-- clearness or lucidity, as of a statement, the quality of being perspicuous.
46.
· Prescribe -(v)-- ~ (sb) sth (for sth) (of a doctor) to tell sb to take a particular medicine or have a particular treatment;
to write a
· Proscribe -(v)-- to say officially that sth is forbidden
47.
· Provident -(adj)-- careful in planning for the future, especially by saving money
· Providential -(adj)-- lucky because it happens at the right time, but without being planned
48.
· Quiet -(adj)-- not disturbed; peaceful
· Quite -(adv)-- to a great degree; very; really
49.
· Reign -(n)-- the period during which a king, queen, EMPEROR, etc. rules
· Rein -(n)-- a long, narrow, leather band that is fastened around a horse’s neck and is held by the rider in order to
control the horse
50.
· Sear -(v)-- to burn the surface of sth in a way that is sudden and powerful
· Seer -(n)-- (in the past) a person who claimed that they could see what was going to happen in the future
51.
· Simulate -(v)-- to create particular conditions that exist in real life using computers, models, etc., usually for study or
training purposes, to be made to look like sth else
· Dissimulate -(v)-- to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones
52.
· Spacious -(adj)-- (of a room or building) large and with plenty of space for people to move around in
· Specious -(adj)-- seeming right or true but actually wrong or false
53.
· Stationary -(adj)-- not moving; not intended to be moved
Opp-Mobile
· Stationery -(n)-- materials for writing and for using in an office, for example paper, pens and envelopes
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54.
· Temperance -(n)-- the practice of not drinking alcohol because of your moral or religious beliefs, the practice of
controlling your behaviour, the amount you eat, etc., so that it is always reasonable
· Temperament -(n)-- a person’s or an animal’s nature as shown in the way they behave or react to situations or
people
55.
· Unexceptional -(adj)-- not interesting or unusual
syn Unremarkable
· Unexceptionable -(adj)-- not giving any reason for criticism, not very new or exciting
56.
· Urban -(adj)-- connected with a town or city
· Urbane -(adj)-- (especially of a man) good at knowing what to say and how to behave in social situations; appearing
relaxed and confident
57.
· Vain -(adj)-- that does not produce the result you want
· Vein -(adj)-- any of the tubes that carry blood from all parts of the body to the heart
58.
· Venal -(adj)-- prepared to do dishonest or immoral things in return for money
· Venial -(adj)-- (of a SIN or mistake) not very serious and therefore able to be forgiven
59.
· Voracity -(adj)-- eating or wanting large amounts of food, wanting a lot of new information and knowledge
· Veracity -(n)-- the quality of being true; the habit of telling the truth
syn - Truthfulness
60.
· Whet -(v)-- to increase your desire for or interest in sth
· Wet -(adj)-- covered or soaked with liquid, especially water
61.
· Wreath -(n)-- an arrangement of flowers and leaves, especially in the shape of a circle, placed on graves, etc. as a sign
of respect for sb who has died
· Wreathe -(v)-- ~ sth (in / with sth) to surround or cover sth, to move slowly and lightly, especially in circles
Who/ Whom
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:43 PM
Who
Who is an interrogative pronoun and is used in place of the subject of a question.
Who is going?
Who are you?
Is this who told you?
Who can also be used in statements, in place of the subject of a clause.
This is who warned me.
Ravi is the one who wants to go.
Anyone who knows the truth should tell us.
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Whom
Whom is also an interrogative pronoun, but it is used in place of the object of a question.
Whom is this story about?
With whom are you going?
Whom did they tell?
And whom can be used in statements, in place of the object of a clause.
This is the man whom I told you about.
RAM is the man whom you met at dinner last week.
Whom is always the correct choice after a preposition.
The students, one of whom is graduating this year, failed the test.
Sita is the girl with whom I'm driving to Marine.
The difference between who and whom is exactly the same as the difference between I and Me, he and him, she and her, etc. Who,
like I, he, and she, is a subject - it is the person performing the action of the verb. Whom, like me, him, and her, is an object - it is
the person to/about/for whom the action is being done. Whom is also the correct choice after a preposition: with whom, one of
whom, not "with who, one of who."
Sometimes it helps to rewrite the sentence and/or replace who/whom with another pronoun so that you can see the relationships
more clearly.
Ram is the one who wants to go > He wants to go (not "him" wants to go)
This is the man whom I told you about > I told you about him (not about "he")
Sita is the girl with whom I'm driving to Marine > I'm driving to Maine with her (not with "she")
Adverb
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:44 PM
Different types of adverbs favour different positions and I describe these trends below. There are sometimes exceptions to the
general rule, so please regard this as a basic guide.
Initial position
Linking adverbs, which join a clause to what was said before, always come here. Time adverbs can come here when we want to
show a contrast with a previous reference to time. Comment and viewpoint adverbs (e.g. luckily, officially, presumably) can
also come here when we want to highlight what we are about to say. Compare the following:
Two of the workers were sacked, and, as a result, everybody went on strike.
The weather will stay fine today, but tomorrow it will rain.
Initially, his condition remained stable, but over the last few weeks it has deteriorated.
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Sita ran the office, although, officially, Ravi was the manager.
I haven't made any plans yet, but presumably you'll want to show her around mumbai
mid position
Focusing adverbs (e.g. just, even), adverbs of indefinite frequency (e.g. often, always, never) and adverbs of certainty and
degree (e.g probably, obviously, clearly, completely, quite, almost) all favour this position. Note that when auxiliary verbs
(e.g. is, has, will, was) are used, they normally go between the auxiliary verb and the main verb:
She's been everywhere - she's even been to Tibet and Nepal.
Ravi won't be back yet, but I'll just see if Sita's home. I'll give her a ring.
My boss often travels to Malaysia and Singapore but I've never been there.
Have you finished yet? I haven't quite finished. I've almost finished.
end position
Adverbs of time and definite frequency (e.g. last week, every year) and adverbs of manner when we want to focus on how
something is done (e.g. well, slowly, evenly) and adverbs of place (e.g. in the countryside, at the window) usually go in end
position:
I had a tennis lesson last week, but I'm usually travelling in the middle of the month, so I don't have a lesson every
week.
How long have you been here? Not long. We arrived about five minutes ago.
I chewed the food slowly because it hadn't been cooked very well.
She was standing at her window, looking out at her children who were playing in the garden.
Note that when more than one of this type of adverb is used, the order in which they are placed is normally: manner, place, time:
They played happily together in the garden the whole afternoon.
adverb-adjective
When adverbs modify adjectives, they are placed immediately before them:
We had some really interesting news last night. John's been offered a job in Australia. He's absolutely delighted.
I bought an incredibly expensive dress last week which fits me perfectly. But John says I shouldn't wear it. He says it's
too tight.
An exception to this rule is enough which is placed after the adjective or adverb that it modifies:
I got up quite early but not early enough to eat a good breakfast.
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Who/ Whom
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:12 PM
1. Know the difference between who and whom. They are both pronouns but who is used as the subject of a sentence or phrase
and whom is used as the object of a verb. What follows is a quick way to determine which pronoun to use in a particular question.
4. Ask yourself if the answer to the question would be he or him. If you can answer the question with him, then use whom. It's
easy to remember because they both end with "m". If you can answer the question with he, then use who.
* Example: A suitable answer to the question, "To [who or whom] did the prize go?" is, "It went to him." (Almost no one
would say "It went to he.") The correct pronoun for the question is whom.
* Example: A suitable answer to the question, "[Who or Whom] went to the store?" is, "He went to the store." (Almost no one
would say "Him went to the store.") The correct pronoun for the question who.
Future Tense
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:39 PM
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Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.
By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With non - continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will
continue up until another action in the future.
Examples:
I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.
Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs,
the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs
REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before,
after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.
Examples:
I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct
Contributed By Gowri Nandana
Your vs You're
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:39 PM
Your
Your is the second person possessive adjective, used to describe something as belonging to you. Your is nearly always followed by a
noun.
Is your name Gadha?
Is this your pen?
This is your chair and this is mine.
You're
You're is the contraction of "you are" and is often followed by the present participle (verb form ending in -ing).
You're going to be the queen of Gadha Land.
I can't believe you're a Gadha!
When you're my age, you'll understand.
The Bottom Line
The confusion between your and you're occurs because the two words are pronounced pretty much the same.
The ironclad rule - no exceptions - is that if you're able to replace the word with "you are," you're saying you're. Otherwise, your
only choice is your.
Keep in mind that the word your will never be followed by the words the, a, or an.
Try replacing “your” or “you’re” with “you are” if you are unsure which to use. If the sentence makes sense, use “you’re.” Remember
that only “you’re” is a contraction, and it omits the letter “a.” The apostrophe in “you’re” signifies the omission of the letter “a.” If
the sentence does not make sense, you will know to use “your
Contributed By Gowri Nandana
Show parent | Reply
Affect vs Effect
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:38 PM
Affect vs Effect
Affect
1. To have an influence on or effect a change in: Inflation affects the buying power of the dollar.
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Effect
1. If you are talking about a result, then use the word "effect."
What effect did the CAT result have on the TG team?
2. It is appropriate to use the word "effect" if one of these words is used immediately before the word: into, no, take, the, any, an, or
and.
The prescribed medication had no effect on the patient's symptoms.
In analyzing a situation, it is important to take the concepts of cause and effect into consideration.
3. If you want to describe something that was caused or brought about, the right word to use is effect.
Example: The new manager effected some positive changes in the office. (This means that the new manager caused some
positive changes to take place in the office.)
4. Affect can be used as a noun to describe facial expression.
The young man with schizophrenia had a flat affect.
5. Affect can also be used as a verb. Use it when trying to describe influencing someone or something rather than causing it.
How does the crime rate affect hiring levels by local police forces?
Contributed By Gowri Nandana
Show parent | Reply
Than vs Then
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:36 PM
Than
1. Used after a comparative adjective or adverb to introduce the second element or clause of an unequal comparison
DT had better grammar than TG.
2. Used to introduce the second element after certain words indicating difference
He sang at a lower octave than she.
3. Used especially after hardly and scarcely
I had hardly the energy to smile than I saw your face.
Then
Then has numerous meanings.
1. At that point in time
I wasn't ready then.
Will you be home at noon? I'll call you then.
2. Next, afterward
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There vs Their
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:36 PM
There vs Their
There is used as an introductory subject is sentences with "There is" and "There are". It is also used as an adverb of place meaning
"in that place".
Use there when referring to a place, whether concrete ("over there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to live
there").
o There is an antique store in the city.
o The science textbooks are over there on the floor.
Their is the possessive pronoun form. This form is used to express that "they" have a specific quality, or that something belongs to
"them".
My friends have lost their tickets.
Their things were strewn about the office haphazardly.
The Bottom Line
1. If you wrote there, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with here? If so, you're using it correctly.
2. If you chose their, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with our? If so, you've chosen the correct word.
3. there: refer to there as a word for location. their : refer to their as a word for people.
Contributed By Gowri Nandana
Show parent | Reply
Its vs It's
by Dagny Taggart - Tuesday, 27 October 2009, 08:35 PM
It's vs Its
It's
It's is a contraction of "it is" or "it has."
I read the article on TG - it's very good.
It's time to start serious preparation for CAT.
Its
is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less,of it or belonging to it.
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You needn't water the garden this evening. It's going to rain tonight.
There's no need to water the garden this evening. It's going to rain tonight.
You don't need to shout. It's a good line. I can hear you perfectly.
You needn't shout. It's a good line. I can hear you perfectly.
There's no need to shout. It's a good line. I can hear you perfectly.
However, when we are talking about general necessity, we normally use don't need to:
You don't need to pay for medical care in National Health Service hospitals.
You don't need to be rich to get into this golf club. You just need a handicap.
Contributed By: Gowri Nandana
2. Enquire vs Inquire:
These two words means the same meaning...i.e. to seek information about something or to conduct a formal investigation.
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3.Especially vs Specially:
They both mean something which was “out of the ordinary” or even “exceptional”. however, 'especial' implies that something less
good exists, whereas something 'special' doesn’t need to be compared against anything.
4.Any vs Either:
5.Farther vs Further:
Farther has a physical connotation and means " to a greater distance" whereas further is conceptual and means "to a greater
degree".
Hi,
As you have mentieoned the usage of than with hardly or scarcely, but "when" is used with the words hardly or scarcely.
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