Useful Spelling Rules – Part II --- 11
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🌼‘se’ and ‘ce’; ‘sy’ and ‘cy’
When two words, verb and noun, are spelt alike, ‘se’ and ‘sy’ are verb endings; ‘ce’ and ‘cy’ are noun endings. The following are therefore verbs: license, practise, prophesy, advise.
The following are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice
Promise is an exception to this rule. It is a noun.
This rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike, so ‘suspense’ and ‘hypocrisy’ are nouns.

🌼The final ‘e’

🎈1. When followed by ‘ment’
Till recently the final ‘e’ was dropped from words ending in ‘dge’. Example: judgment
Nowadays, it is not necessary to drop the final ‘e’ before ‘ment’. So you can write ‘judgement’, ‘acknowledgement’, ‘arrangement’ and ‘advertisement’.
(See The Concise Oxford Dictionary)

🎈2. The final ‘e’ must be dropped before ‘able’.
Move; movable (NOT moveable)
Like; likable (NOT likeable)
The exceptions are words ending in ‘ge’ and ‘ce’. For instance
Change; changeable (NOT changable)
Peace; peaceable (NOT peacable)

🎈3. The final ‘e’ is also dropped before ‘ous’, ‘age’ or ‘ish’.
Virtue; virtuous
Mile; milage (occasionally still: mileage)
Blue; bluish
Courage is an exception to this rule. We write courageous and not couragous.

🎈4. The final ‘e’ is always dropped before ‘ing’ except when it is preceded by a vowel with which it forms one sound.
Love; loving
Like; liking
See; seeing (Here the final ‘e’ and the preceding vowel forms one sound.)
Dye; Dyeing (Here the final ‘e’ and the preceding y forms one sound.)

🌼Words ending in ‘c’ and ‘ck’
Words ending in ‘c’ take ‘k’ after the ‘c’ before adding ‘ed’or ‘ing’.
Examples:
Frolic - frolicked, frolicking
Mimic - mimicked,mimicking
picnic - picnicked, picnicking
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SV RAMANUJ

Spelling : capital letters --- 12
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👉🏻 Capital letters are used at the beginning of the following kinds of words.

🌺1. the names of days, months and public holidays. The names of seasons do not usually begin with capital letters.
🔹Sunday; Monday; Friday
🔹January; March, August
🔹Christmas; Easter;
🔹summer; autumn; winter; spring

🌺2. the names of people and places, including stars and planets
🔹Shailesh; Alka; Tina
🔹India; Tokyo; Paris; Singapore
🔹Jupiter; Mars; Neptune
(But the earth, the sun and the moon)

🌺3. people’s titles
🔹Mr Shah; Dr Dave; the Chairman; the Managing Director

🌺4. nouns and adjectives referring to nationalities and regions, languages, religions and ethnic groups
🔹He is French.
🔹She is Spanish.
🔹He is a Sikh.
🔹Chinese history

🌺5. the first word in the title of books, magazines, plays, pictures, magazines etc. Sometimes other nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in the title also begin with capital letters.
🔹The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The adventures of Tom Sawyer
🔹Gone with the Wind OR Gone with the wind

🌼 Spelling :-ly
We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding -ly.
🔹Late – lately
🔹Real – really
🔹Right – rightly
🔹Definite – definitely
🔹Hopeful – hopefully
🔹Complete – completely

🌸 Exceptions
There are some exceptions to this rule.
🔹True – truly (NOT truely)
🔹Full – fully (NOT fullly)
🔹Due – duly (NOT duely)

🌼 Y and I
The final -y in an adjective changes to -i- before adding -ly.
🔹Happy – happily
🔹Merry – merrily
🔹Easy – easily

🌼 Adjectives ending in consonant + le
-le changes to -ly after a consonant
🔹Idle – idly
🔹Noble – nobly

🌼 Adjectives ending in -ic
Adjectives ending in -ic, have adverbs ending in -ically.
🔹Tragic – tragically
🔹Phonetic – phonetically

🌸 Exception
🔹Public – publicly
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SV RAMANUJ

Spelling and Pronunciation --- 14
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👉🏻 Words ending in -ize and -ise
In British English some words can be spelt with either -ize or -ise. In American English, the forms with -ize is more common.
Examples are given below:

🔵 British English
Realize / realise
Computerize / computerise
Mechanize / mechanise
Baptize / baptise

🟣 American English
Realize
Mechanize
Computerize
Baptize

🔶Most words of two or more syllables have -ise in both British and American English.
Examples are:
Surprise, revise, exercise, advise, comprise, despise, compromise, improvise, supervise, televise, advertise
Notes:

🔶In American English, advertize is also possible.
If in doubt, remember that -ise is almost always correct in British English.

🔶 Spelling and pronunciation
In English, spelling words is not easy. In fact, even native English speakers often find it difficult to spell words correctly. This is mainly because the pronunciation of many English words has changed over
the last few hundred years. The spelling system, on the other hand, has stayed more or less the same. Here is a list of some common words that often cause difficulty.

🟩 In the following words the letters in brackets are not pronounced.
Ev(e)ning
Asp(i)rin
Bus(i)ness
Choc(o)late
Diff(e)rent
Ev(e)ry
Marri(a)ge
Om(e)lette
Rest(au)rant
Sev(e)ral
Med(i)cine

🟨 The following four syllable words are usually pronounced like three syllable words. The letters in brackets are usually not pronounced.
Comf(or)table
Int(e)resting
Temp(e)rature
Us(u)ally
Veg(e)table

🔇 Silent letters
In the following words b is silent.
Climb, comb, dumb

🔻In the following words d is silent.
Handkerchief, sandwich, Wednesday

🔻The gh is silent in the following words.
Bought, caught, ought, thought, daughter, height, high, light, might, neighbour, right, sight, tight, straight, through, weigh

🔻In the following words h is silent
What, when, whip, why, honest, hour, honour
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SV RAMANUJ

Words ending in -ise and -ize --- 15
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👉🏻 Many English words can be spelt with either –ise and –ize. In American English, the spelling with –ize is preferred. In British English, both forms are usually possible.

🌺 Examples are:

🟡 British English
🔹Realize / realise
🔹Mechanize / mechanise
🔹Computerize / computerise
🔹Baptize / baptise

🟤 American English
🔸Realize
🔸Mechanize
🔸Computerize
🔸Baptize

🎈Some words have –ise in both British and American English. Examples are:
🔹surprise; revise; advise; comprise; despise; compromise; exercise; supervise; televise; advertise

In American English advertize is also sometimes possible.

🌸 Exception
🔸Capsize has –ize in both British and American English.

🔮 If you are in doubt, remember that in British English the forms with –ise are almost always possible.

🎈Adverb formation
We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding –ly.
🔹Pale – palely
🔹Right – rightly
🔹Shy – shyly
🔹Sly – slyly
🔹Coy – coyly
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SV RAMANUJ

Some useful spelling rules --- 16
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👉🏻 When the word ends in a consonant
If the accent falls on the last syllable, the consonant is doubled to form the past tense.

🌷So we have
Occur –> occurred
Transfer –> transferred

When the word ends in a short vowel + consonant, the final consonant is not usually doubled to form the past tense.

🌷Therefore
Offer –> offered (NOT Offerred)
Budget –> budgeted

🍃 Short monosyllabic words always double their final consonant.

🌷Examples are:
Shop –> shopping
Let –> letting
Cut –> cutting

🌻‘ie’ and ‘ei’
The general rule is ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’
Examples are:
Siege, believe, friends

🌞But
Receive, deceive, ceiling (after ‘c’, we use ‘e’ before ‘I’)

🍃 There are however several exceptions to this rule. Examples are: reign, heir, seize, weird. As you can see, in all of these words, the letter ‘e’ goes before the letter ‘i’.

🌼Dis and mis
Never double the ‘s’ of these prefixes. In some words, you may notice a second ‘s’, but remember that it is the first letter of the next syllable.

🌼So we have
Dismiss (NOT Dissmiss)
Misplace
Misunderstand
Dispel

🌺Se and Ce
Se and sy are usually verb endings and ce and cy are usually noun endings. So the following words are verbs: license, practise, advise, prophesy

🍃 And the following words are nouns: licence, practice, prophecy, advice

🌍The word promise is an exception to this rule. Although it ends in –se, it is a noun.
Note that this rule does not hold good when verb and noun are not spelt alike.

🍁Us and ous
Nouns end in ‘us’. Adjectives end in ‘ous’.
So we have:
⛄️Nouns: census, phosphorus, genius
⛄️Adjectives: jealous, unanimous, tremendous
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SV RAMANUJ

Spelling Exercise --- 17
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👉🏻 There are some words which can cause confusion in meaning if we are not careful about their spelling because they can be confused for another word which is very similar in spelling.

🔶 Here are some commonly confused verbs

🔹die / dying / died
🔹dye / dyeing / dyed
🔹hop / hopping / hopped
🔹hope / hoping / hoped
🔹mop / mopping / mopped
🔹mope / moping / moped
🔹scrap / scraping / scraped
🔹lie (recline) / lying / laid or lain
🔹lie (tell a lie) / lying / lied
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Complete the following sentences.

1. The rabbit .......................... across the field.
hopped
hoped

2. I was ........................... that you could lend me a pound.
hoping
hopping

3. Divya ........................ the skirt to match her blouse.
died
dyed

4. The poor woman is ...........................
dying
dyeing

5. The rough surface of the floor made ........................ difficult.
mopping
moping

6. I slipped and .......................... an elbow.
scrapped
scraped

7. The witness .......................... to the jury.
lied
laid

8. The king ............................ now in his final resting place.
lays
lies

9. I .......................... down on the couch yesterday.
lie
lay

10. Please .................................. the plate down now.
lie
lay
lain

11. The tiles were .......................... in a geometric pattern.
lied
laid

12. It is a mistake to .............................. too much emphasis on grades.
lie
lay
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🟢Answers🟢

1. The rabbit hopped across the field.
2. I was hoping that you could lend me a pound.
3. Divya dyed the skirt to match her blouse.
4. The poor woman is dying.
5. The rough surface of the floor made mopping difficult.
6. I slipped and scraped an elbow.

7. The witness lied to the jury.
8. The king lies now in his final resting place.
9. I lay down on the couch yesterday.
10. Please lay the plate down now.
11. The tiles were laid in a geometric pattern.
12. It is a mistake to lay too much emphasis on grades.
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SV RAMANUJ

Hyphens --- 18
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👉🏻 Hyphens are the short lines that separate the words in the expressions ‘non-English’ and ‘ex-husband’.

☺️ When to use hyphens?
We usually use a hyphen between the two words in a two-part adjective in which the second part ends in -ed or -ing.

🔹Good-looking
🔹Broken-hearted
🔹Blue-eyed

🔗Two-part adjectives which contain the sense of ‘between’ are also hyphenated.
🔹the India-Pakistan match (= the match between India and Pakistan)
🔹the Anglo-French agreement

🔗A longer phrase used as an adjective before a noun is also hyphenated.
Compare:
🔹An out-of-work singer
🔹He is out of work. (NOT He is out-of-work.)

🟡 Prefixes
The prefixes co-, non- and ex- are sometimes separated from the following words by hyphens.
🔹Ex-lover
🔹Non-cooperation
🔹Co-production

🔗Hyphens are also used to separate the parts of a long word at the end of a written or printed line. To see where to divide words look in a good dictionary.

😥 Are hyphens disappearing?
The rules about the usage of hyphens are very complicated. Needless to say, people seem to be using hyphens less. Many short compound words are now written with no separation between the two parts.
🔹Examples are:
weekend, takeover ,cooperation etc.

📎Many longer compound words are now written as completely separate words.
🔹Examples are:
bus driver, living room etc.

📎It is also not unusual to find the same word written in three different ways.
🔹Examples are:
living-room, living room, livingroom

😌 If you do not know whether to use a hyphen or not, the best thing to do is to write the words without a hyphen.
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SV RAMANUJ

Apostrophe --- 19
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The punctuation mark (‘) is called apostrophe. It has the following functions.

🌺In writing a contraction
The apostrophe is used in writing a contraction. It shows the place of the omitted letters.
Examples are:
🔹it’s (for it is or it has)
🔹hasn’t (for has not)
🔹doesn’t (for does not)

🌺The apostrophe is also used in writing certain words which were formerly contractions.
Examples are:
🔹o’clock (of the clock)
🔹o'er (over)
🔹Let's (let us)
🔹'tis (it is)

🌺In writing most possessives
The apostrophe is used in writing most possessives.

🔹Riya’s mother
🔹Priya’s car
🔹Children’s books
🔹two weeks’ vacation

🌺Note that the apostrophe is not used in writing the possessive forms of most pronouns.
🔹The cat closed its eyes. (NOT The cat closed it’s eyes.)
🔹Whose bag is this? (NOT Who’se bag is this?)
🔹These toys are hers. (NOT These toys are her’s.)

🌺In writing the plurals of letters
Although the apostrophe is not used in writing plurals, it is used in writing the plurals of letters and other forms which would be difficult to read without the apostrophe.
🔹Dot the i’s and cross the t’s
🔹Mind your p’s and q’s
🔹Do's and Dont's
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SV RAMANUJ

📢 Comma – Part I --- 20
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👉🏻 The punctuation mark comma (,) has the following uses.

🟣 To connect the items in a list

🌼Commas are used to connect the items in a list, except for the last two which are usually connected by a coordinating conjunction like and or or.

🔹My favorite writers are Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte and Jane Austen.
🔹The Three Musketeers were Arthos, Porthos and Aramis.

🌼To join two complete sentences into a single sentence
A comma is used to join two complete sentences into a single sentence. It is usually followed by a connecting word like and, but, or, while or yet.
🔹She had very little to live on, but she would never take what was not hers.

📎 Notes
Short clauses connected by and, but or or are not usually separated by commas.
🔹She is poor but she is honest. (NOT She is poor, but she is honest.)

🌼To show that certain words have been omitted
A comma can be used to show that certain words have been omitted.
🔹Ankita decided to order to steak pie and Peter, the chicken pathia. (The omitted words are ‘decided to order’.)

🟤 Subordinate clauses
When subordinate clauses begin sentences, they are often separated by commas.
🔹When the rain stopped, we went out. OR We went out when the rain stopped.

🌼Commas are also used to set off words or expressions that interrupt the natural progression of a sentence
🔹My friends, however, did not come.
🔹Neha had, surprisingly, did everything.
======================
📢 Comma – Part II
======================
👉🏻 To separate adjectives used in the predicative position

🌸Adjectives used in the predicative position are always separated by commas.
🔹He is tall, dark and handsome.
🔹That was a lovely, long, cool drink.

🌸Sometimes commas are not used between the last two adjectives which are usually separated by a conjunction like and or or.
Commas are sometimes dropped between short adjectives.

🟡 In direct speech
A comma is generally used between a reporting verb and a piece of direct speech.
🔹Looking at the painting, she said, ‘I like this one.’

🌸 If the reporting verb follows a piece of direct speech, we usually use a comma instead of a full stop before the closing quotation mark.
🔹‘I don’t like this,‘ said Siya.

🔵 Numbers
Large numbers are often divided into groups of three figures by using commas.

◾️ Examples are:
🔹5,768 (NOT 5.768)
🔹6, 567, 873

🌸Commas are sometimes not used in four figure numbers.
🔹5,378 or 5378

🌸Commas are never used in dates.
🔹The Year 1953 (NOT The Year 1,953)

🌸Cases where commas are not used
Commas are not used before that, what, where etc in indirect speech structures.
🔹Nobody realized that the child was missing. (NOT Nobody realized, that the child …)
🔹She didn’t know what to do. (NOT She didn’t know, what to do.)

🌸Commas are not used between two grammatically independent sentences. Instead we use a full stop or a semicolon.
🔹The blue dress was cheap. On the other hand, the pink dress was better.
🔸OR The blue dress was cheap; on the other hand, the pink dress was better.
🔻(NOT The blue dress was cheap, on the other hand, …)
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SV RAMANUJ

Punctuation: Colon
================
💧The colon (:) marks a bigger pause than that is expressed by the semicolon. It is sometimes used with a dash after it.
🔸We cancelled our decision to go on a holiday: we had too little money.
🔸Sonal had to be hospitalized: she had heart trouble.

💧Direct speech
A colon is used when famous sayings are quoted.
🔸Bacon says: ‘Reading makes a full man, writing an exact man, speaking a ready man.’

💧A colon is also used when direct speech is introduced by a name.
🔸Polonius: What do you read, my lord?
🔸Hamlet: Words, words, words.

💧In other cases, direct speech is usually introduced by a comma.
🔸Shailesh looked at the photo and said, ‘Who is this beautiful girl?’

💧Lists
A colon can introduce a list.
🔸The three tenses are: the present tense, the past tense and the future tense.
🔸We need three kinds of support: financial, political and moral.

💧In a title or heading, a colon is often used to introduce a subdivision of a subject.
🔸Tenses: the present tense
🔸Punctuation: colon

💧Capital letters
In British English, we do not normally use a capital letter after a colon. In American English, colons are more often followed by capital letters.
🔸Verbs: transitive verbs (GB)
🔸Verbs: Transitive verbs (US)

💧Letters
In letters Americans usually put a colon after the opening salutation.
🔸Dear Mr. Ramanuj:
I am writing to…

💧British people prefer a comma in this case. Sometimes they do not use any punctuation mark at all.
🔸Dear Mr Ramanuj,
I am writing to…
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Punctuation Exercise
==================
Use appropriate punctuation marks in the following sentences.

1. We had a great time in France the kids really enjoyed it
2. Some people work best in the mornings others do better in the evenings
3. What are you doing next weekend
4. Mother had to go into hospital she had heart problems
5. Did you understand why I was upset

6. It is a fine idea let us hope that it is going to work
7. We will be arriving on Monday morning at least I think so
8. A textbook can be a wall between teacher and class
9. The girls father sat in a corner
10. In the words of Murphys Law Anything that can go wrong will go wrong
=============================
🟢Answers🟢

1. We had a great time in France – the kids really enjoyed it.
2. Some people work best in the mornings; others do better in the evenings.
3. What are you doing next weekend?
4. Mother had to go into hospital: she had heart problems.
5. Did you understand why I was upset?

6. It is a fine idea; let us hope that it is going to work.
7. We will be arriving on Monday morning – at least, I think so.
8. A textbook can be a ‘wall’ between teacher and class.
9. The girl’s father sat in a corner.
10. In the words of Murphy’s Law: ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.’
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Uses of comma in a simple sentence
==============================
💦The comma is the shortest pause between words.
The comma has the following uses in a simple sentence.

💦To mark off nouns, pronouns or phrases in apposition
🔻Shailesh, my neighbor, is a teacher.
🔻Wordsworth, the famous English poet, was a lover of nature.

💦To mark off each one of a series of words belonging to the same part of speech
🔻He spoke easily, clearly and eloquently.
🔻The children laughed, danced, jumped and cried for joy.

💦A comma is generally not placed before a word preceded by and.
🔻The farmer owned sheep, cattle and poultry.

💦To mark off a nominative of address
🔻Doctor, the patient is ill.
🔻Gentleman, I bring good news.

💦After a nominative absolute
🔻God willing, we shall meet again.

💦To mark off a direct quotation from the rest of the sentence
🔻‘I am not tired,’ said James, ‘but I am very hungry.’

💦To separate each pair of words connected by ‘and’
🔻Young and old, high and low, rich and poor, all praised the little boy’s clever tricks.

💦Before and after words, phrases and clauses let into the body of a sentence.
🔻His conduct, to say the least, was disgusting.
🔻He did not, however, agree.

💦The following words and expressions are also separated from the rest of the sentence by means of a comma:
🔻at least, indeed, well, all the same, however, of course, on the whole, in short, in particular etc.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Using the apostrophe
====================
🌞An apostrophe (’) is used to create possessive forms, contractions and some plural forms. It indicates where the letter has been omitted.
🔹I am = I’m
🔹He’s = he is
🔹They’re = they are
🔹Do not = don’t
🔹I’d = I would or I had
🔹She would have failed. = She would’ve failed.

🌞Contracted forms are not considered appropriate in formal writing. However, it is basically a matter of personal choice.
Before writing contractions in a paper that is going to be graded, you should ask your tutor whether it is appropriate to include them in your writing.
Apostrophes are used in writing possessives.
While writing possessives, the position of the apostrophe depends on whether the noun is singular or plural.

🌞If the noun is singular, the apostrophe goes before the –s.
🔹Example: the girl’s parents
If the noun is plural, the apostrophe usually goes after the –s.
🔹Example: the girls’ parents
If the plural form of the noun does not end in –s, the apostrophe goes before the –s.
🔹Example: the men’s hostel

🌞You can also create possessive forms with of. In this case, no apostrophes are used.
🔹A friend of mine works abroad.

🌞Common mistakes
The words its and it’s are often confused.
🔸Its is a possessive word.
🔹The dog wagged its tail.
🔸It’s means it is or it has.
🔹It’s your book. (= It is your book.)
🔹It’s stopped raining. (= It has stopped raining.)

🌞They’re and their
These two expressions are also confused.
They’re means they are. Their is a possessive word.
🔹They took their children along.
🔹They’re waiting for us. (= They are waiting for us.)

🌞‘There are’ does not have an appropriate contracted form.

🌞An apostrophe is also used to form the plurals of letters and digits. This is particularly common when the letters are written in the small case.
🔹Mind your p’s and q’s.
🔹She got 4 a’s this term.

🌞Apostrophes are no longer used to form plurals of years.
🔹Example: 1990s (more natural than 1990’s)
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Using the quotation marks
=====================
🗣Quotation marks (“ ”) are used to set off text that denotes quoted or spoken language.
Quotation marks are also used to set off titles of stories, novels and poems.

🗣In American English, it is not uncommon for periods and commas to go inside quotation marks.
For example, an American may write:
🔹My favorite novel is “Gulliver’s Travels.”

🗣This use of punctuation marks within the quotation marks is not considered appropriate in British English.
So if you follow the rules of British English, you are more likely to write:
🔹My favorite novel is ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.

🗣Note that if the text inside the quotation marks is a sentence, then a full stop can be used at the end.
🔹He always said, “Be careful what you wish for.”
🔹He always said, “Be careful what you wish for”.

🗣We use quotation marks when we quote direct speech. Single quotation marks (‘ ’) are more common in British English and double quotation marks (“ ”) in American English.
🔹Albert said, “Get that woman out of here.”

🗣A long passage of direct speech inside the quotation marks may be introduced by a colon.
🔹Announcing the quarterly earnings, the Chairman said: “A number of factors have contributed to the stellar performance of the company.”

🗣A colon is also used when direct speech is introduced by a name.
🔹Lord Polonius: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

🗣In reporting words that are said internally, but not spoken out loudly, the writer may or may not use quotation marks.
🔹“What a lovely morning!” Maya said to herself.
🔹What a lovely morning, Maya said to herself.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Uses of the comma
===================
🌼The comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence.

🌼Uses of the comma
Before and after words used in apposition to a noun
🔹Winston Churchill, the statesman, was also an eminent writer.
🔹Riya, my sister, is an eminent cardiologist.

🌼To separate two or more nouns, adjectives, or adverbs that come together
🔹England, Russia and France formed an alliance.

🌼To separate a participial phrase
🔹Feeling tired, I went to bed.
🔹Being fat, she couldn’t run fast.

🌼To mark off a noun
🔹Shailesh, can we bank on him?
🔹Maya, have your meals.
🔹Satish, come here.

🌼After an introductory phrase or clause
🔹To be honest, I have little interest in politics.
🔹For God’s sake, leave me alone.
🔹In the name of justice, be fair to that poor man.

🌼To indicate the omission of a verb in cases where repetition should be avoided
🔹My brother bought a watch and my sister, a camera. (= My brother bought a watch and my sister bought a camera.)

🌼Before and after words or phrases let into the body of a sentence
🔹She had, surprisingly, paid for everything.
🔹The boy had, in spite of all the hardships he faced, managed to succeed.

🌼To separate a subordinate clause from the main clause
🔹After he had finished his job, he went out.
🔹When I opened the door, the cat jumped in.

🌼The comma can be omitted when the subordinate clause goes after the main clause.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Relative Pronouns Exercise
=======================
Fill in the blanks with appropriate relative pronouns.

1. The crow dropped the piece of cheese ………………………. the fox snapped up immediately.
which
who
whom

2. People …………………....…. live in glass houses must not throw stones.
who
that
Either could be used here

3. Last year we visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa …………………….. is a great architectural marvel.
that
which
Either could be used here

4. Where is the book ……………………… I left here yesterday?
that
which
Either could be used here

5. It was a wretched hut ……………………….. she lived.
that
which
in which

6. Napoleon, ……………………… the French admire, was a great General.
which
whom
that

7. The boys gave a loud shout ………………………. was heard across the park.
which
what
Either could be used here

8. The conference ………………….. was held at a Five Star hotel was a huge success.
which
that
Either could be used here

9. The boy spoke to the soldier …………………….. arm was in a sling.
who
which
whose

10. The captain praised Martin, …………………. bowling was very good.
who
whose
whom

11. Shailesh, ……………………… is my cousin, is a pilot.
who
whom
that

12. That girl ……………………… you see there sings very well.
whom
which
whose
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🟢Answers🟢

1. The crow dropped the piece of cheese which the fox snapped up immediately.
2. People who / that live in glass houses must not throw stones.
3. Last year we visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa which is a great architectural marvel.
4. Where is the book that / which I left here yesterday?
5. It was a wretched hut in which she lived.
6. Napoleon, whom the French admire, was a great General.

7. The boys gave a loud shout which was heard across the park.
8. The conference that / which was held at a Five Star hotel was a huge success.
9. The boy spoke to the soldier whose arm was in a sling.
10. The captain praised Martin, whose bowling was very good.
11. Shailesh, who is my cousin, is a pilot.
12. That girl whom you see there sings very well.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Vocabulary Exercise
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Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option.

1. He was ……………………. by the police, but he refused to reveal the secret.
prosecuted
persecuted

2. He was ……………………. for defaming his partner.
prosecuted
persecuted

3. He could not ……………………… his son to continue his studies.
persuade
pursue

4. The cops …………………….. the criminal and caught him.
persuaded
pursued

5. A ……………………… man will never support a wrong cause.
rightful
righteous

6. The …………………… of Emperor Asoka is considered to be a golden period in the history of India.
reign
rein

7. ………………………… progress is essential to gain lasting happiness in life.
Spiritual
Spirited

8. The candidates should write down their …………………………. roll numbers.
respective
respectful

9. The room was filled with the noise of his ……………………..
laugh
laughter

10. We had a good ………………………. over his silly mistake.
laugh
laughter

11. His good deeds are …………………………..
commentable
commendable

12. English literature is full of ……………………… to Latin and Greek authors.
allusions
illusions
==========================
🟢Answers🟢

1. He was persecuted by the police, but he refused to reveal the secret.
2. He was prosecuted for defaming his partner.
3. He could not persuade his son to continue his studies.
4. The cops pursued the criminal and caught him.
5. A righteous man will never support a wrong cause.
6. The reign of Emperor Asoka is considered to be a golden period in the history of India.

7. Spiritual progress is essential to gain lasting happiness in life.
8. The candidates should write down their respective roll numbers.
9. The room was filled with the noise of his laughter.
10. We had a good laugh over his silly mistake.
11. His good deeds are commendable.
12. English literature is full of allusions to Latin and Greek authors.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

Idioms Exercise
=================
Fill in the blanks. This exercise tests your understanding of common idiomatic expressions.

1. Beware of that ……………………….. in sheep’s clothing.
fox
wolf
jackal

2. After her husband’s death, she is struggling to keep the ……………………………….. from the door.
tiger
owl
wolf

3. The violence came to a ……………………….. when the police fired at the rioters.
high
head
peak

4. He might plead the cause of the poor, but he is unlikely to put his hand in his ..........................................
bag
pocket
drawers

5. You see she has two strings to her ……………………………. She is a writer. She also does modeling.
bow
sitar
violin

6. They have threatened war to the …………………………….. if their demands are not granted.
spear
dragon
knife

7. Shailesh joined the company as a cashier but now he is at the top of the …………………………..
house
tree
ship

8. I sent him about his …………………………… because I could no longer stand his insolence.
work
job
business

9. He says that he has rubbed …………………………… with many celebrities.
head
shoulders
hands

10. I have told you time and again not to poke your …………………………… into my business.
head
nose
tongue

11. He is the ……………………………. man of his boss.
right hand
left hand
second hand

12. After the death of his parents, his uncle took him under his …………………………….
shoulder
wings
head
===========================
🟢Answers🟢

1.Beware of that wolf in sheep’s clothing.
2. After her husband’s death, she is struggling to keep the wolf from the door.
3. The violence came to a head when the police fired at the rioters.
4. He might plead the cause of the poor, but he is unlikely to put his hand in his pocket.
5. You see she has two strings to her bow. She is a writer. She also does modeling.
6. They have threatened war to the knife if their demands are not granted.

7. Shailesh joined the company as a cashier but now he is at the top of the tree.
8. I sent him about his business because I could no longer stand his insolence.
9. He says that he has rubbed shoulders with many celebrities.
10. I have told you time and again not to poke your nose into my business.
11. He is the right hand man of his boss.
12. After the death of his parents, his uncle took him under his wings.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

English Vocabulary Exercise
===========================
Fill in the blanks.

1. In the ……………………….. the author states his intentions in writing the book.
foreword
foreward
forward

2. The museum curator discovered that the Persian vase was a ………………………..
forge
forage
forgery

3. It looks like he has …………………………. our appointment.
forgot
forgotten
Either could be used here

4. Sonal is so …………………………. that she has to make a note of everything.
forgetful
forgettable
Either could be used here

5. Because of other expenses, I had to ………………………… that dress.
forgo
forage
forge

6. When I saw that ……………………….. watchdog, I went no further.
forbidden
forbidding
Either could be used here

7. Have you ever seen anyone so fond of ……………………………..?
deserts
desserts

8. The child …………………………… about in the water until the lifeguard got to him.
foundered
floundered

9. We know she is rich, so she doesn’t have to …………………………. it.
float
flaunt
flout

10. That was a …………………………….. abuse of his authority.
flagrant
fragrant
flagrent

11. The visiting head of state was given a ……………………………. welcome.
fitting
fitful

12. The children get ………………………. when we take them to church.
fidgety
fidelity
fidget
========================
🟢Answers🟢

1. In the foreword the author states his intentions in writing the book.
2. The museum curator discovered that the Persian vase was a forgery.
3. It looks like he has forgotten / forgot our appointment.
4. Sonal is so forgetful that she has to make a note of everything.
5. Because of other expenses, I had to forgo that dress.
6. When I saw that forbidding watchdog, I went no further.

7. Have you ever seen anyone so fond of desserts?
8. The child floundered about in the water until the lifeguard got to him.
9. We know she is rich, so she doesn’t have to flaunt it.
10. That was a flagrant abuse of his authority.
11. The visiting head of state was given a fitting welcome.
12. The children get fidgety when we take them to church.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ

General Grammar Exercise
=============================
Fill in the blanks.

1. ……………….. working hard, he failed the test.
Despite
However
Though

2. Shailesh is ………………….. to beat his opponent.
too strong
enough strong
strong enough

3. …………………… the thief saw the cops coming, he ran away.
As soon as
No sooner
Scarcely

4. …………………… he is so ill, the doctors do not expect him to recover.
As
Though
If

5. The boy ………………….. watch had been stolen complained to the teacher.
who
whose
who's

6. ………………….. on tip-toe, he reached for the apple.
Standing
Stood
Having standing

7. He will ………………….. spend his money nor invest it.
neither
either
both

8. This is the hotel …………………… our meetings usually take place.
where
there
whence

9. I prefer reading books …………………… watching TV.
to
than
over

10. The house is …………………….. to accommodate all.
so spacious
too spacious
spacious enough

11. The germ is ……………………. small to be seen with the naked eye.
too
so
much

12. ……………………. had the hunter raised the gun, than the birds flew away.
No sooner
As soon as
Hardly
=====================
🟢Answers🟢

1. Despite working hard, he failed the test.
2. Shailesh is strong enough to beat his opponent.
3. As soon as he saw the cops coming, he ran away.
4. As he is so ill, the doctors do not expect him to recover.
5. The boy whose watch had been stolen complained to the teacher.
6. Standing on tip-toe, he reached for the apple.

7. He will neither spend his money nor invest it.
8. This is the hotel where our meetings usually take place.
9. I prefer reading books to watching TV.
10. The house is spacious enough to accommodate all.
11. The germ is too small to be seen with the naked eye.
12. No sooner had the hunter raised the gun, than the birds flew away.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
SV RAMANUJ