OU Degree 5th Sem English Unit 1 Vocabulary, Grammar
Exercise I.
Match the expressions in column I with the words In column II.
| I | Answer | II | ||
| 1. | English medicine | e | a. | Complaining |
| 2. | Cent percent | i | b. | Lighter skin colour |
| 3. | Cut the call | g | c. | Blender, mixer |
| 4. | Non-veg | h | d. | Best |
| 5. | Batchmate | j | e. | Allopathy |
| 6. | Wheatish | b | f. | Memorize, cram |
| 7. | Cribbing | a | g. | Hang up abruptly |
| 8. | Mixie | c | h. | Food containing meat |
| 9. | Level best | d | i. | Hundred percent |
| 10. | Mug up | f | j. | Classmate |
Exercise II.
Make the following sentences more acceptable.
1. I ordered for a coffee.
Answer:
I ordered a coffee.
2. Let us discuss about common errors in English.
Answer:
Let us discuss common errors in English.
3. The meeting is preponed.
Answer:
The meeting is advanced.
4. I was out of station last week.
Answer:
I was out of town last week.
5. I am sending you an application. Please do the needful.
Answer:
I am sending you an application. Please do what needs to be done / Please do what is required.
6. He bought this car a few years back.
Answer:
He bought this car a few years ago.
7. He had studied law. He passed out last year.
Answer:
He had studied law. He graduated last year.
8. Kindly revert back at the earliest.
Answer:
Kindly respond/reply at the earliest.
9. “My computer is not working”. “ok. Do one thing”.
Answer:
“My computer is not working”. “ok, what you can do is” … / “ok, you can do this” / “ok, do this …“ / “ok, here is what you can do.”
10. I am having a headache.
Answer:
I have a headache.
11. On Sundays, I am sitting at home only.
Answer:
On Sundays, I stay at home.
12. I can be able to do it.
Answer:
I can do it. It will be able to do it.
13. Take the umbrella, rain is coming.
Answer:
Take the umbrella, it is raining.
14. I forgot to give key to the watch.
Answer:
I forgot to wind the watch.
15. He failed to get a job and so he is keeping quiet.
Answer:
He failed to get a job and so he is doing nothing.
16. What is your good name, please?
Answer:
May I know your name, please?
17. I’ll go and come.
Answer:
I’ll come back.
18. No parking before the gate.
Answer:
No parking in front of the gate.
19. Parking at the backside.
Answer:
Parking at the back. / Parking in the rear.
20. Have you taken your meals?
Answer:
Have you had your food? / Have you had your lunch (or dinner)?
21. She is my cousin sister but he is my real brother.
Answer:
She is my cousin but he is my brother.
22. Kindly attend the meeting without fail.
Answer:
Kindly attend the meeting.
23. He told he was going to America.
Answer:
He said he was going to America.
24. I will explain you.
Answer:
I will explain to you.
25. Let me suggest you something.
Answer:
Let me suggest to you something. / Let me suggest something to you.
26. Why not you try this idea?
Answer:
Why don’t you try this idea?
27. Please correct if I’m incorrect.
Answer:
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
28. You are calling regarding?
Answer:
Your call regarding
29. Can you repeat it again, please?
Answer:
Can you repeat it, please? / Could you please repeat it?
30. Sorry for the delay in replying to your letter.
Answer:
Sorry for the delay in replying your letter. / Sorry for the delay in replying to you.
Grammer: Framing Questions
information questions (or ‘Wh’ questions)
“Where do you work?”
Information questions begin with ‘Who’, ‘What’, ‘Where’, ‘Hàw’, ‘How much’ and so on, which are called ‘question words’, Questions usin2 these words cannot be answered with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Some information is given in response. Hence, they are called information questions.
E.g., What is your name? Where do you study? Whose choice was it? Who teaches you English? Which subject do you like most? Why is it your favourite subject? How do you go to college?
‘Yes’/’No’ questions “Are you a teacher?”
The response to such questions may be affirmative (“yes”) or negative (‘so”), but it should be all affirmation or all neative.
- Are you a student?
- Yes, I am. I No, I’m not.
Never say - Yes, I’m not. / No, I am.
Alternative questions
“Do you Like teaching or administration?”
Such questions offer alternatives and the response may be either or both or neither of the alternatives. Such questions are called alternative questions. Alternative questions are used with the word or’, and they cannot be answered with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. A full sentence is needed as an answer.
Tag questions
“Teaching is a noble profession, isn’t it?”
Note that the question tag at the end draws attention to the statement that precedes it. Such questions are called ‘tag questions’. Question tags are not actually questions they only expect agreement (hence, they may be remembered as ‘confirmation questions’). Tag questions are usually used only in conversation and not in formal English.
→ If the statement is in the affirmative, the tag is in the negative.
You are a student, aren’t you?
→ If the statement is in the negative, the tag is in the affirmative.
You aren’t a bad student, are you?
→ The subject of the tag question is always a pronoun, and it is a substitute for the subject of the statement.
Ramesh is a student, isn’t he?
Zahira isn’t a teacher, is she?
→ The pronoun is used in the tag according to the number (singular/plural), gender
(masculine/feminine) and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) of the subject of the statement.
Ramesh is a student, isn’t he?
Zahira isn’t a teacher, is she?
Ramesh and Zahira are students, aren’t they?
→ In the tag, as in other ‘Yes-No’ type questions, the verb is shifted to the beginning of the tag.
Your mother is a teacher, isn’t she?
→ The other ‘be’ forms (‘are, is, was, were’) are repeated in the tag.
They are students, aren’t they?
They were in the college yesterday, weren’t they?
→ In the case of linking verbs other than ‘be’, the appropriate form of ‘dd in the statement is repeated in the tag.
They attend college every day, don’t they? (Present tense, third person plural).
You got good marks last year, didn’t you? (Past tense, second person singular).
She also works at home, doesn’t she? (Present tense, third person singular).
Exercise I
Frame questions to elicit the following answers:
1. He is my friend.
Who is that man? / Who is he?
2. It’s and audio book.
What is this? I What is it?
3. It’s a Thursday.
What day is today? / What day is it today?
4. English is my favourite subject.
what is your favourite subject? (Where selection among indefinite number
Is Involved) / Which is your favourite subject? (Where selection among a limited [definite] number Is involved)
5. I would like to become an astronaut.
What would you like to become?
6. I study in New Ideas College
Where do you study?
7. It is near Charminar
Where is It?
8. I joined last year.
When did you join (the college)?
9. Igobybus.
How do you go to college?
10. I am 18 years old.
How old are you?
Exercise Il
Frame questions to elicit the following answers:
1. My college is about 10 kilometres from home.
How far is your college from your home?
2. I spend nearly Rs. 30 every day on transport.
How much do you spend on transport?
3. I go to the playground once a week.
How often do you go to the playground?
4. I play football.
What game do you play?
5. I play quite well.
How well do you play?
6. I have been playing form the last three years.
How long have you been playing?
7. The one with No. 10 is my jersey.
Which one is your Jersey?
8. I like Ronaldo the most
Who do you like the most? Which player do you like the most?
9. Yes, I would love to meet him.
Would you like to meet him?
10. No I dont watch cricket.
Do you watch cricket?
11. Yes, I used to play cricket when I was in school.
Did you ever play cricket?
12. I prefer to play football.
What do you prefer to play?
Exercise III.
Add question tags to the following statements:
1. Seema sings well, ———–
doesn’t she?
2. He did not go to college, ———–
did he?
3. She is suffering from fever, ———–
Isn’t she?
4. He doesn’t swim well, ———–
does he?
5. They are celebrating their victory, ———–
aren’t they?
6. Gautham should buy this book, ———–
shouldn’t he?
7. Hecanwalkfst, ———–
can’t he?
8. She would like this gift, ———–
wouldn’t she?
9. They had their lunch, ———–
hadn’t they?
10. She will listen to you, ———–
won’t she?
11. They don’t go to the market often,
do they?
12. You paint well,
don’t you?