JUST GRAMMAR

 (a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. 

Example:

My guide (0) ………. (tell) me if I wanted to meet these people I would have to walk two miles.

Answer: told.

We finally (1) ……….. (reach) a village where I (2) ………… (meet) a lady whose age I (3) ………… (can) not immediately make out. My translator (4) ……….. (find) it difficult to interpret the lady’s words because her dialect was quite different. She (5) ………. (is) a dark-skinned and dark-haired lady. She must have been around seventy years old but there was no grey in her hair. She obviously could not afford to dye her hair. So what was her secret? Nobody (6) ……….. (know). It must have been a ‘secret’ common to all for not one person in that whole village (7) ………… (has) a trace of grey hair! I (8) ………. (think) about it for a long time.

(b) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word:                 [4]

• He was touched ……….. pity when he heard the tale.
• There is always a demand ……….. good tailors.
• The mother prevented her child ………… going out in the rain.
• The baby crawled …………. the table and hid there.
• Once upon a time, the great king ruled ………… all these villages and towns.
• She is the smarter ………. the two.
• Sheila insists ……….. wearing that dress.
• The teacher complained ………… him when she met his mother in the market.

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. [4]

He lived in the city for many years. He could not find his way out.

She complained that her brother did not know anything. Her brother claimed he knew everything.

The coffee isn’t strong. It won’t keep us awake.

I finished my homework. I switched on the TV.

(d) Re-write the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. [8]

My mother left a month ago.

(Begin : It has…………)

Anil was wrong to lose his temper.

(Begin : Anil ought…………)

As soon as the Chief Guest had seated himself the play began.

(Begin : No sooner…………)

Rajiv said to Arjun, “Is this the book you were reading yesterday?”

(Begin : Rajiv asked Arjun if…………)

Only a foolish person would be taken in by this trick.

(Begin : None………..)

Everybody has heard of Gandhiji.

(Begin : Who…………?)

He will issue the cheque only when he hears from the head office.

(Begin : On……….)

Father will send you a message if his flight is cancelled.

(Begin : Should……….)

Answers:

(a)

reached

met

could

found

was

knew

had

thought

(b)

with

for

from

under

over

of

on

against

(c)

Despite living in the city for many years, he could not find his way out.

She complained that her brother did not know anything, however her brother claimed he knew everything.

The coffee isn’t strong enough to keep us awake.

Having finished my homework I switched on the T.V.

(d)

It has been a month since my mother left.

Anil ought not to lose his temper.

No sooner had the chief guest seated himself them the play began.

Rajiv asked Arjun that that was the book he had been reading the previous day.

None but a foolish person would be taken in by this trick.

Who has not heard of Gandhiji?

On hearing from the head office only, he will issue the cheque.