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10th English Compound Words (Q.11) Study Material & Exercises

Q.11 Compound Words

The following table:

Word 1 Word 2 Compound word
airportairport
handwrittenhandwritten
overloadoverload
childhoodchildhood
safeguardsafeguard
typewritetypewrite
softwaresoftware
walkingstickwalking stick
fastfoodfast food
waterfallwater fall
cricketgroundcricket ground
headlightheadlight
windscreenwind screen
eyebroweye brow
carparkcar park
secondclasssecond class
nicemannice man
honestmanhonest man
wisemanwise man
tallgirltall girl
shorthandshort hand
drivinglicencedriving licence
walkingstickwalking stick
dininghalldining hall
readingroomreading room
restinghallresting hall
cloakroomcloak room
afternoonafternoon
foresightfore sight
overcoatover coat

Exercises

1. Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word 'watch' to form a compound word. (MDL-19)
  • a) hall
  • b) house
  • c) man
  • d) clock
2. Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word alarm to form a compound word. (PTA - 1)
  • a) sound
  • b) clock
  • c) time
  • d) watch
3. Choose the suitable option to pair with green to form a compound word. (PTA - 2)
  • a) dress
  • b) house
  • c) glass
  • d) pen
4. Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word traffic to form a compound word. (PTA-3)
  • a) police
  • b) signal
  • c) jam
  • d) light
5. Choose the suitable option to pair it with 'boarding' to form a compound word. (PTA-4)
  • a) pause
  • b) pass
  • c) parts
  • d) fast
6. Choose the suitable option to pair with 'sea' to form a compound word. (PTA - 5)
  • a) shine
  • b) shore
  • c) soar
  • d) pool
7. Choose the suitable option that do not pair with life to form a compound word. (PTA - 6)
  • a) skill
  • b) time
  • c) boat
  • d) leave

Master Phrasal Verbs and Idioms: 15 Board Exam Practice MCQs (English Grammar: Phrasal Verbs Question Bank with Explained Answers)

Master the concept of Phrasal Verbs and Idioms with this comprehensive study guide. Designed for Board Exam preparation, this resource covers essential rules, clear definitions, and a series of 15 important practice exercises from previous question papers to help you score full marks in your English Grammar section.

Q.10. Phrasal Verbs (Idiomatic Phrases) / Idioms

What is a Phrasal Verb?

Look at the following sentences:

  • 1. I exercise every day.
  • 2. I work out every day.

In the first sentence, the verb is a single word. In the second sentence, the verb is a phrase consisting of two words.

Definition: A phrasal verb is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition, an adverb, or both. The overall meaning of a phrasal verb often differs completely from the literal combined meaning of its individual words.
Exam Tip: When choosing the correct phrasal verb in board exams, read the entire sentence to understand the context (e.g., time, motion, exhaustion). Substitute the given options mentally to see which one logically and grammatically completes the action!

Practice Exercises (Board Questions)

Test your knowledge with these 15 high-frequency questions. (Scroll to the bottom for the answer key and explanations!)

  1. The crew ___________ of water and food before they could complete their expedition. (MDL-19)

    1. ran on
    2. ran about
    3. ran in
    4. ran out
  2. There will be a ___________ in the office next week. (PTA-1)

    1. warm up
    2. run out
    3. shut down
    4. take off
  3. It helps to ___________ the calories. (PTA-2)

    1. warm up
    2. stretch out
    3. put on
    4. burn off
  4. The airhostess instructed the passengers to wear the seat belts during the ___________. (PTA-3)

    1. warm up
    2. stretch out
    3. put on
    4. take off
  5. Doing ___________ every day in the morning keeps one healthy. (PTA-5)

    1. warm in
    2. warm up
    3. warm out
    4. warm into
  6. The principal decided to ___________ the sports meet due to heavy rain.

    1. call on
    2. call off
    3. call in
    4. call out
  7. If you want to pass the exam, you must ___________ your habit of procrastinating.

    1. give up
    2. give in
    3. give away
    4. give out
  8. The thieves managed to ___________ the bank in the middle of the night.

    1. break down
    2. break out
    3. break into
    4. break up
  9. Please ___________ your shoes before entering the laboratory.

    1. take over
    2. take off
    3. take after
    4. take up
  10. I am ___________ meeting my old school friends this weekend.

    1. looking up to
    2. looking down on
    3. looking forward to
    4. looking after
  11. The brave firefighters worked for three hours to ___________ the massive fire.

    1. put on
    2. put off
    3. put away
    4. put out
  12. The teacher asked the students to ___________ the important dates in their notebooks.

    1. take down
    2. take over
    3. take off
    4. take in
  13. She ___________ her grandmother; they both share the exact same smile and artistic talent.

    1. takes off
    2. takes over
    3. takes after
    4. takes down
  14. I cannot ___________ his rude behavior anymore.

    1. put up with
    2. put out
    3. put on
    4. put off
  15. Make sure you ___________ the lights before you leave the classroom.

    1. turn into
    2. turn off
    3. turn up
    4. turn out

Answer Key & Explanations

Reviewing why an answer is correct is the best way to master English grammar. Use this table to check your scores and learn the exact meanings of these idiomatic phrases!

Q.No. Correct Answer Meaning / Explanation
1 d) ran out To exhaust the supply of something completely.
2 c) shut down To stop operations or close a business/office.
3 d) burn off To eliminate energy or calories through physical exercise.
4 d) take off The moment an aircraft leaves the ground and begins to fly.
5 b) warm up To prepare for physical exertion by doing light exercises.
6 b) call off To cancel an event or an agreement.
7 a) give up To stop doing or having a particular habit.
8 c) break into To enter a building or place illegally using force.
9 b) take off To remove something (like clothing or shoes) from one's body.
10 c) looking forward to To anticipate something with pleasure and excitement.
11 d) put out To extinguish something that is burning (like a fire).
12 a) take down To write something down on a piece of paper.
13 c) takes after To resemble an older family member in appearance or character.
14 a) put up with To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
15 b) turn off To stop the operation or flow of something (like lights or a machine).

Degrees of Comparison Flashcards: Practice & Exercises

Degrees of Comparison Flashcards

Tap on a card to reveal the answer or conversion.

What are the three forms, or 'degrees of comparison', in which an adjective can exist?

Tap to flip

Positive, comparative, and superlative.

What does the positive form of an adjective represent?

Tap to flip

The base form of the adjective, used when not making a comparison.

What does the comparative form of an adjective express?

Tap to flip

A higher degree of some quality, used when comparing two things.

What does the superlative form of an adjective express?

Tap to flip

The highest degree of a quality, used when comparing three or more things.

According to the 'Important Tip', which form of an adjective should be used when comparing exactly two things?

Tap to flip

The comparative form (e.g., 'bigger', 'more beautiful').

The superlative form of an adjective (e.g., 'biggest', 'most beautiful') is used for comparing how many items?

Tap to flip

Three or more items.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective 'Good'?

Tap to flip

Comparative: Better, Superlative: Best.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective 'Bad'?

Tap to flip

Comparative: Worse, Superlative: Worst.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives 'Much' and 'Many'?

Tap to flip

Comparative: More, Superlative: Most.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective 'Little'?

Tap to flip

Comparative: Lesser, Superlative: Least.

What are the two different sets of comparative and superlative forms for the adjective 'Old'?

Tap to flip

For family: Elder, Eldest. For general use: Older, Oldest.

For adjectives like 'Beautiful' or 'Industrious', how are the comparative and superlative forms typically created?

Tap to flip

By adding 'More' for the comparative and 'Most' for the superlative.

A superlative sentence using 'the [adjective]-est' (e.g., 'the richest') can be changed to a comparative sentence using what phrase?

Tap to flip

...[adjective]-er than any other.

A superlative sentence using 'the [adjective]-est' (e.g., 'the tallest') can be changed to a positive sentence using what phrase?

Tap to flip

No other ... as [adjective] as.

A superlative sentence using 'one of the [adjective]-est' can be changed to a comparative sentence using what phrase?

Tap to flip

...[adjective]-er than many / most other.

A superlative sentence using 'one of the [adjective]-est' can be changed to a positive sentence using what phrase?

Tap to flip

Very few ... as [adjective] as.

Change the following superlative sentence to the comparative form:

'Raji is the richest woman in Mumbai.'

Tap to flip

Raji is richer than any other woman in Mumbai.

Change the following superlative sentence to the positive form:

'Australia is the largest island.'

Tap to flip

No other island is as large as Australia.

Change the following superlative sentence to the comparative form:

'Australia is one of the largest islands.'

Tap to flip

Australia is larger than many other islands.

Change the following comparative sentence to the positive form:

'Iron is stronger than many other metals.'

Tap to flip

Very few metals are as strong as Iron.

Change the following positive sentence to the comparative form:

'No one is as lazy as Raja.'

Tap to flip

Raja is lazier than anyone else.

Change the following comparative sentence to the positive form:

'Mango is sweeter than Apple.'

Tap to flip

Apple is not as sweet as Mango.

Change the following positive sentence to the comparative form:

'March is not as hot as June.'

Tap to flip

June is hotter than March.

Change the following positive sentence to the comparative form:

'The rose smells as sweet as the lily.'

Tap to flip

The lily does not smell sweeter than the rose.

Rewrite the sentence using the Superlative degree:

'Lead is heavier than any other metal.'

Tap to flip

Lead is the heaviest metal.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'Very few cities in India are as big as Mumbai.'

Tap to flip

Mumbai is bigger than many other cities in India.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'The pen is mightier than the sword.'

Tap to flip

The sword is not as mighty as the pen.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.'

Tap to flip

No other peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'She is the smartest girl in the class.'

Tap to flip

She is smarter than any other girl in the class.

Rewrite the sentence using the Superlative degree:

'No other boy is as fast as Usain.'

Tap to flip

Usain is the fastest boy.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Greenland is the largest island in the world.'

Tap to flip

No other island in the world is as large as Greenland.

Rewrite the sentence using the Superlative degree:

'Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet.'

Tap to flip

Shakespeare is the greatest English poet.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Prevention is better than cure.'

Tap to flip

Cure is not as good as prevention.

Rewrite the sentence using the Superlative degree:

'Milk is more nourishing than any other food.'

Tap to flip

Milk is the most nourishing food.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'Diamond is the hardest substance.'

Tap to flip

Diamond is harder than any other substance.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'He is as strong as his brother.'

Tap to flip

His brother is not stronger than him.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'The airplane flies faster than birds.'

Tap to flip

Birds do not fly as fast as the airplane.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Gold is more precious than silver.'

Tap to flip

Silver is not as precious as Gold.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'This is the oldest tree in the forest.'

Tap to flip

This tree is older than any other tree in the forest.

Rewrite the sentence using the Superlative degree:

'Very few cricketers were as great as Sachin.'

Tap to flip

Sachin was one of the greatest cricketers.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'This sum is easier than that one.'

Tap to flip

That sum is not as easy as this one.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Jupiter is the biggest planet.'

Tap to flip

No other planet is as big as Jupiter.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'A train is faster than a car.'

Tap to flip

A car is not as fast as a train.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'Winter is the coldest season.'

Tap to flip

Winter is colder than any other season.

Rewrite the sentence using the Superlative degree:

'No other story book is as popular as Harry Potter.'

Tap to flip

Harry Potter is the most popular story book.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'My house is bigger than yours.'

Tap to flip

Your house is not as big as mine.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Iron is more useful than copper.'

Tap to flip

Copper is not as useful as Iron.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'The Pacific is the deepest ocean.'

Tap to flip

The Pacific is deeper than any other ocean.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'Hunger is the best sauce.'

Tap to flip

Hunger is better than any other sauce.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Sam is the tallest boy in the group.'

Tap to flip

No other boy in the group is as tall as Sam.

Rewrite the sentence using the Comparative degree:

'Coffee is not as healthy as Tea.'

Tap to flip

Tea is healthier than Coffee.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Asia is the largest continent.'

Tap to flip

No other continent is as large as Asia.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Light travels faster than sound.'

Tap to flip

Sound does not travel as fast as light.

Rewrite the sentence using the Positive degree:

'Your handwriting is worse than mine.'

Tap to flip

My handwriting is not as bad as yours.

Term: Adjective

Tap to flip

Definition: A word that tells us more about a person, place, or thing.

Term: Comparison

Tap to flip

Definition: Looking at two or more things to see how they are alike or different.

Term: Degree (of comparison)

Tap to flip

Definition: Levels that show how much of a quality something has when you compare it.

Term: Base form (of adjective)

Tap to flip

Definition: The simple, original adjective before you change it to compare (e.g., 'tall').

Term: Recreation

Tap to flip

Definition: Fun things you do to relax when you're not working or studying.

Term: Eminent

Tap to flip

Definition: Very famous and respected by many people for being good at something.

Term: Industrious

Tap to flip

Definition: Someone who works very hard and is always busy doing useful things.

Term: Ferocious

Tap to flip

Definition: Very wild, fierce, and a bit scary.

The Real Wealth Poem Questions Answers | 4th English Term 2 Unit 1 Affection

The Real Wealth (Poem): Questions with Answers

4th English | Term 2 Unit 1 | Affection

A. Fill in the blanks.

1. Parents never let us get spoilt.
2. Parents help us to overcome our bad habits (which spoil us).
3. Sister is next to parents in care.
4. Relationships are the real wealth.
5. A friend always stays to the last in our needs.

B. Answer the following questions.

1. Who brought us to this world?

Our parents brought us to this world.

2. Which is as important as our health?

Relationship is as important as our health.

3. How does a friend support us?

A friend is with us in all our deeds. He sticks to us till the end in fulfilling our needs.

4. Why relationships are more important than wealth?

Relationships feed us, protect us and prevent us from being spoiled. They help us to grow ahead. So they are more important than wealth.

C. Match the rhyming words.

Student Task: Try to match the words on the left with the rhyming words on the right before checking the answer below.

Questions:

(i) share - dare
(ii) bread - rest
(iii) care - needs
(iv) deeds - ahead
(v) zest – bear

Answer:

(i) share - bear
(ii) bread - ahead
(iii) care - dare
(iv) deeds - needs
(v) zest - rest

LET US KNOW

Look at the picture and find the dog.

Dog positions relative to house
The dog is in front of the house.
The dog is behind the house.
The dog is between the houses.

The words in front of, behind and between tell us where the dog is. Such words are called prepositions of place.


Tick (✔) the correct place of the apple.

Apple positions

Write the correct prepositions.

Doll and Box positions
(i) The doll is in front of the box.
(ii) The doll is between the boxes.
(iii) The doll is behind the box.

Imagine yourself as the rabbit and tell your friend deer where you are.

Rabbit and Deer positions
I am in front of the rock.
I am behind the tree.
I am between the bushes.

Before – After

Yellow and Blue Toys
The yellow toy is before blue toy.
The blue toy is after yellow toy.

Here before indicates a position preceding.

After indicates a position following.


Fill in the blanks with before or after.

Numbers 1 to 6 sequence
a) 5 is after 4.
b) 1 is before 2.
c) 3 is before 4.
d) 6 is after 5.

Letters A to F sequence
a) A is before B.
b) D is after C.
c) E is before F.
d) B is before C.

Children standing in line
Athithya is standing in front of Devi.
Vishali is standing behind Anish.

Fruits in order
Watermelon is in front of pineapple.
Banana is behind apple.

LET US LISTEN

Listen to the conversation and answer the following.

1. How many variety of dosa did the waiter say?

a. one
b. two
c. three

2. Name the special dish.

a. Adai
b. Idly
c. Dosai

3. How long will it take to make Adai?

a. 5 minutes
b. 10 minutes
c. 15 minutes

4. What type of coffee did the customer order?

a. instant
b. black
c. filter

Note to the teacher: Scan the QR code to listen to the audio. Let the children listen to the audio and answer the questions.

LET US SPEAK

Conversation at bus stand
Hello sir. Give me ticket to Trichy.
How many tickets do you need?
Only one ticket sir.
It costs 120 rupees.
Here it is .
Here is your ticket and the change.
What time does the bus leave?
The bus leaves in 5 minutes.
Will you stop the bus for breakfast?
Yes, we will stop in Alathur for breakfast.
When will we reach Trichy?
We will reach Trichy by 12:30 p.m.
Thank you sir.

Structures that are useful for this situation.

Useful structures for conversation
Does this bus go to Trichy?
How much is a ticket to Trichy?
Give me a ticket.
When will you start the bus?
Give me 120 rupees.
We are leaving in 5 minutes.
We are about to leave.
Note to the teacher: Make the children practice these phrases and give them more scenarios to practise.

Book Back Exercises Questions with Answers, Solution

Tags: Affection, Term 2 Chapter 1, 4th English, The real wealth

Home | More Notes

My Hobbies | Treasure Trove Poem & Grammar Exercises | Class 4 English Term 1 Unit 2

Chapter: 4th English : Term 1 Unit 2 : My Hobbies

Treasure Trove: Questions with Answers

A. Answer the following questions.

a. What would we do when we are happy or sad?
When we are happy or sad we should read books.
b. When do we land on Mars?
When we read about space we land on Mars.
c. Why do we discover a mystery?
We discover a mystery to solve a crime.
d. Where did we visit a mermaid?
We visit a mermaid under the sea.
e. Why should we read?
We should read to learn a lot about things around us.

B. Pick out the rhyming words from the poem and write.

Mars - cars
time - crime
be - sea

LET US KNOW

Simple present tense is used to describe habits, unchanging situations, general truths and planned actions. The simple present tense is easy to form. We all know verbs have forms. Those are:

Verb Forms Chart

The present form is used in simple present tense. Come let us use it.

Pronoun Chart

• For I, we, you and they, present form is used.

• For he, she and it, s is added to the present form.

Give the correct verb form for following sentences.

I go I go to school.
You go You go to school.
We go We go to school.
He goes He goes to school.
It goes It goes to school.
She goes She goes to school.
They go They go to school.

Simple Present Tense for 'Be' Verbs

We saw simple present tense for action verbs. Let us see the simple present tense for ‘be’ verbs. 'Be' verbs show a state of being.

Be Verbs Chart

• ‘am’ is used for I

• ‘are’ is used for we, you, and they

• ‘is’ is used for he, she, it.

Give the correct verb form for following sentences.

I am I am a doctor.
It is It is a car.
We are We are police.
They are They are football players.
You are You are an engineer.
She is She is a driver.
He is He is a carpenter.

When to use Simple Present Tense?

Habitual actions.

Habitual Action

I wake up at 6 am every day.

I go to market every Saturday.


General truths.

General Truths

The earth goes round the sun.

Water boils at 100º C.


Unchanging situations.

Unchanging Situation

I am a teacher and I teach English. I go to school by bus.


Planned actions.

Planned Actions

The examination starts next week.

A. Use the suitable verb. ( Read / reads )

I read the book.

Banu reads the lesson.

Suresh reads the poem.

We read loudly.

My friends read a passage.

My father reads the news.

The boy reads the story.

You read the instruction.

The robot reads some words.

B. Circle/underline the correct word.

1. Boy like / likes the cake.

2. We come / comes home at 4 p.m. every day.

3. The birds fly / flies in the sky.

4. You comes / come late to school.

5. It run / runs very fast.

C. Rewrite the sentences using the words in the brackets.

1. I go to school at 8 ‘o’ clock. (He)
He goes to school at 8 o'clock.
2. We play cricket on Sundays. (Aravind)
Aravind plays cricket on Sundays.
3. I watch tv in the afternoon. (My mother)
My mother watches TV in the afternoon.
4. They visit their friends in the evenings. (Kavitha)
Kavitha visits her friends in the evenings.
5. I have dinner at 8 p.m. (She)
She has dinner at 8 p.m.

Fill in the blanks.

Family Tree Activity

She is my mother.

He is my father.

I am Rani.

They are my brothers.

He is my grandpa.

She is my grandma.

We are family.

My grandma goes to temple.

My grandpa goes to shop.

My Mom goes to office.

They go to school

I go to school.

My dad goes to office.

We all do our work regularly.

LET US LISTEN

Listen to the audio and answer the riddles.

Who am I?

1. ___________

2. ___________

3. ___________

4. ___________

5. ___________

Note to the teacher: Scan the QR code to listen to the audio. Let the children listen to the audio and answer the question.

LET US SPEAK

What’s your lunch today?

Lunch Conversation

Lucky: come let’s have our lunch together.

Kavi: Mm... wait a minute, Kavi.

Lucky: What is your lunch today?

Kavi: Let me see, oh! It is curd rice.

Kavi: What is yours?

Lucky: Mine is white rice and sambar.

Kavi: I like sambar.

Kavi: Can I take some?

Lucky: Yes, sure. Let’s share.

Kavi: You take my curd rice.

Lucky: Enough... enough, I can not eat this much.

Kavi: Have it, kavi. This is not much.

Structures that are useful for this situation.

Conversation Structures

Take or have some more rice.

Give me some water please.

I don’t like eggs.

Eat slowly.

It is enough.

I want more sambar, rasam, etc.

Take some vegetables.

I am full.

No thanks.

Do you want Pickles?

Note to the teacher: Make children practise these structures and encourage them to use them during their lunch time. You can also practise with different situations like breakfast and supper.

The Woman on Platform 8: Step to Success & Connecting to Self Exercises | 8th English Unit 1

The Woman on Platform 8

Unit 1: Supplementary by Ruskin Bond | 8th English

Step to Success

Sentence Rearrangement

Arrange the following sentences in the correct logical order.

  • A. Miss Sullivan arrived at the Keller home when Helen was seven.
  • B. The deaf and blind Helen learned to communicate verbally.
  • C. But, eventually, Miss Sullivan's effort was rewarded.
  • D. Before Helen Keller was two years old, she lost her sight and her hearing.
  • E. Miss Sullivan worked closely with Helen, her new student.
  • F. At times the teacher became frustrated.

Choose the correct sequence:

  1. 1. DEFACB
  2. 2. DAEFCB
  3. 3. ACFDEB
  4. 4. CFDABE
  5. 5. FDACEB

Correct Order

[Answer: 2. DAEFCB]

  1. D. Before Helen Keller was two years old, she lost her sight and her hearing.
  2. A. Miss Sullivan arrived at the Keller home when Helen was seven.
  3. E. Miss Sullivan worked closely with Helen, her new student.
  4. F. At times the teacher became frustrated.
  5. C. But, eventually, Miss Sullivan’s effort was rewarded.
  6. B. The deaf and blind Helen learned to communicate verbally.

Connecting to Self

Think you are in the following situation and write what would you do and why.

1. Will you ignore/take and give to its owner/take and keep it yourself.

A wallet on the ground

I will take it and see the address of the owner.

I will hand it over to him.

If not, I’ll hand it in the police station.

This is an act of a good person.

2. Will you ignore/go and help him/stand watching him feeling shy to help.

An old man struggling with heavy bags

I will go and help him to carry his things till he reaches his destination.

Helping an elderly person is a good quality of a youngster.

3. Will you ignore/try to stop them fighting / be afraid and go away from there.

Two people fighting

Even though I am afraid, I would like to stop them, if I can.

It is a human nature.

ICT CORNER

GRAMMAR – NOUN

To learn the parts of speech and also about the Nouns and its kind.

ICT Corner Grammar Noun Banner

STEPS TO PLAY THE GAME:

  1. Type the URL link given below in the browser or scan the QR code.
  2. Click the arrow button to know about nouns with examples.
  3. Click QUIZZES at the bottom and answer the questions.
  4. Click GAMES to play a game related with noun.
  5. Continue the same with the remaining parts of speech to strengthen your learning.
Steps to play the grammar game

** Images are indicatives only.

Mastering English Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement and Non-Finites

Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement, Appropriate Verb, & Non-Finites

Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject and verb of a sentence should be in agreement with each other.

A verb agrees with the subject in number and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

E.g., for singular verb in a sentence:

  1. She is a good speaker.
  2. Ramu is an intelligent student.
  3. Subhasini is an excellent dancer.
  4. Sunita is a great artist.
  5. He is a good person.

E.g., for plural verb in a sentence:

  1. Children are playing.
  2. They have finished their work.
  3. Geeta and Sita have won the prize.
  4. You and I are friends.
  5. Two and two make four.

Rules

  1. Two or more singular subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb.

    E.g., You and I love music.

  2. When two subjects are joined by “as well as”, the verb agrees with the first subject.

    E.g., Her cousins as well as she are hard working.

  3. Either, neither, each, every and everyone are followed by a singular verb.

    E.g., Each of them is lovable.

  4. When two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular.

    E.g., My sister and friend has come.

  5. When two subjects express one idea, the verb is in the singular.

    E.g., Three and three make six.

  6. When a plural noun expresses some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is in the singular.

    E.g., Thirty litres of milk is too much for payasam.

  7. When two or more singular subjects are connected by “with”, “together with”, “and not”, “besides”, “no less than”, the verb is in the singular.

    E.g., He and not she is to blame.

  8. The verb agrees with the number of the nouns that follow the verb.

    E.g., There are ten students in the crowd.

  9. Some nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning, take a singular verb.

    E.g., Tamil is my mother tongue.

  10. A plural noun which is in the name of a country, province, a book, is followed by a singular verb.

    E.g., Human values is of great importance.

  11. A collective noun takes a singular verb.

    E.g., The whole class is attentive.

  12. A relative pronoun must agree with its gender, number and person.

    E.g., It is I, who is to write.

A. Fill in the blanks appropriately

  1. Mahatma Gandhi is the father of our nation.
  2. There are ten dogs in my street.
  3. They are to write the exercises neatly.
  4. Butter milk is good for health.
  5. Fruits are good for health.

B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb:

  1. The quality of dal is not good.
  2. The horse carriage is at the door.
  3. My friend and teacher has come.
  4. Are your father and mother at home?
  5. Honour and glory is his reward.
  6. The ship with its crew is sailing good.
  7. Gullivers Travels is an excellent story.
  8. Neither food nor water is found here.
  9. Mathematics is a branch of study.
  10. Fifteen minutes is allowed to read the question paper.

C. Change the singular nouns to plurals by either adding ‘s’, ‘ies’, ‘es’, ‘ves

Exercise answers showing singular nouns converted to their plural forms.
Plural form conversions.

Non Finites

Verbs are action words. They are divided into two: Finite and Non Finites.

Finite Verbs...

  1. act as a verb.
  2. act as a main verb of a sentence or a clause.
  3. indicate number, person and tense.
  4. are used in the present tense and the past tense.
  5. have to agree with the subject and change accordingly.

On the other hand, Non Finite verbs...

  1. do not act as a verb.
  2. act as nouns, adjectives and adverbs.
  3. do not indicate number, person or tense.
  4. are usually gerunds, infinitives or participle.

The different kinds of Non Finites are:

  1. Infinitives
  2. Gerund
  3. Participles

Infinitives:

  1. Full infinitives - It is “to+ a verb.

    Example: Pushpa eats lunch with me.
    {to+a verb}
    ‘eats’ is a third person singular, simple present tense, main verb.

  2. Bare infinitives - It is a verb without ‘to’.

    Example: Reena will help me.

Gerund:

Gerund functions as a noun, so it is called a verbal noun. It also functions as an adjective. A gerund has the same form as a present participle.

Gerunds are used in the following ways.

  1. As a subject and a kind of a noun.
    • a) Reading is a good habit.
    • b) Learning a language is always useful.
  2. As an object:

    Rita likes cooking.

  3. As a complement:

    Her liking is cooking.

  4. Used in compound nouns:

    bath tub {a tub to bathe}

Participles:

Participles come after an object to describe it and express the state the object is in. A present participle indicates an activity that is continuing and is in progress. A present or past participle can function as an adjective phrase to describe a noun placed before it.

Example- 1. The baby singing in the room is my child.

Example- 2. The bird flying in the sky is the lark.

The different forms of Participles are:

  1. Present participle - verb +ing (e.g., sleep+ing=sleeping)
  2. Past participles - verb+d/ed/en (e.g., like+d=liked)
  3. Perfect participles - having + past participles (e.g., having + finished = having finished)
  4. Present - {passive} - being + past participle (e.g., being + toed = being toed)
  5. Perfect {passive} - having been + past participle (e.g., having been written)

Participles are used as a verb. Example: Sita is sleeping.

It is used as an adjective. Example: She is a retired Principal.

D. Identify the non-finites in the following sentences and underline them

E.g., Children love eating chocolates

  1. Roshan dreams of becoming an architect.
  2. We must aim at fulfilling Dr APJ Abdul kalam’s dream to make India the most developed country by 2020.
  3. Taking the children to the museum is Seema’s responsibility.
  4. Having finished the work, the manager decided to return home.
  5. Travelling with her family, Tara enjoyed every minute of it.

E. Replace the underlined words by a participle in the following sentences:

Example: When young people wear soiled clothes on formal occasions to show rebelliousness.
Ans: Young people wear soiled clothes on formal occasions to show rebelliousness.

  1. While Sudha was climbing the stairs, she tripped and fell down.
    Climbing the stairs, sudha tripped and fell down.
  2. After her evening prayers, my grandmother went to the temple.
    Having prayed, my grandmother went to the temple.
  3. Since he is a king, he can order everybody.
    Being a king, he can order everybody.
  4. They took the last wicket and walked back to the pavillion.
    Having taken the last wicket, they walked back to the pavillion.
  5. When he saw the train in the platform he rushed.
    Seeing the train on the platform, he rushed.

F. Fill in the blank with the correct alternative:

  1. Having played on the flute, Krishna returned it. {played/having played}
  2. We wish she continues being healthy. {being /be}
  3. The doctor advised him against wandering in the sun. {wander / wandering}
  4. I like drinking rasam. {drinking / drink}
  5. Having used the scissors I returned it to her. {using / having used}

G. Tick the correct sentences:

Exercise asking to tick the correct sentences.
Questions for Exercise G.
  1. I had desired to eat a cake.
  2. My son is fond of music.
  3. Sreena avoids eating fruits.
  4. Bravery is not picking a quarrel.
  5. It is easier to say than do.
Answers showing correct sentences ticked.
Answers for Exercise G (correct sentences are ticked).

Based on the image above, the correct sentences are 1, 2, 4, and 5.