FY BCOM SEM 1 SEC_ Advanced Communication Skills in English-I Grammar Excercises

 Article

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’. Use X where no article is required.

a. The peacock is in danger of extinction.
b. Could you get me a kilogram of tea, please?
c. There is a European and an Eskimo among the tourists.
d. The Sally I know lives in Bhubaneswar.
e. Sajita found a wallet on her way home. She took the wallet to the police station.
f. We must work to save the tigers from becoming extinct.
g. Have you had X breakfast?
h. You must reach X school before 9 a.m.
i. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see the Brahmaputra in spate.
j. This is a painting of the Western Ghats, and that is a photograph of X Mahabaleshwar peak.
k. Mary will go to X school when she is three.
l. Our library has three copies of the Mahabharata.

Exercise 2

Some of the following sentences may have errors relating to the use of articles. Rewrite the sentences correctly.

1. The oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
2.  Asif is going to visit the Oxford University
3. The elephants and the lions are found in India.
4. Have you been to Nila Hills?
5. English is not really Lisa's favourite subject, but she finds the history of the Greeks fascinating.
6. You can take Kerala Express to Shoranur.
7. The children have been sent to the bed.
8. Gold you buy here is of excellent quality.
9. Manoj heard an old tale about an unicorn.
10. Philosophy discussed in this book is very difficult to understand.

Answers:

1. Oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
2. Asif is going to visit Oxford University.
3. Elephants and lions are found in India.
4. Have you been to the Nilgiri Hills?
5. History is not really Lisa’s favourite subject, but she finds the history of the Greeks fascinating.
6. You can take Kerala Express to Shoranur.
7. The children have been sent to bed.
8. The gold you buy here is of excellent quality.
9. Manoj heard an old tale about a unicorn.
10. The philosophy discussed in this book is very difficult to understand.

Prepositions:

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

a. The bag is on the top rack of the cupboard.

b. They are sorry for having disturbed you.

c. The woman in the car is my neighbour.

d. Did you see the article on the applications of biotechnology?

e. Shikha spent a day with her aunt at 12, Begumpet, Hyderabad.

f. The baby slept peacefully until the telephone rang.

g. During the bandh, people went out to work.

h. Rini was angry with Simon and spoke harshly to him.

i. The building is deserted of pigeons and mice.

j. His clients are happy with Mani’s work.

Exercise 2

Correct errors in the use of prepositions in the following sentences.

1. Among the two sisters, Habiba is the better dancer.
2. They left in midnight to their village.
3. Man has been living ______ Dubai since ten years.
4. The shop is under my flat.
5. The girls sat down besides the lake.
6. The reference of the details is page 33 on chapter 6.
7. We insisted to going out for a walk.
8. Don't interfere with my affairs.
9. He was in great need for affection.
10. I am surprised over the slow pace of life here.

Answers: 

1. Between the two sisters, Habiba is the better dancer.
2. They left at midnight for their village.
3. Manu has been living in Dubai for ten years.
4. The shop is below my flat.
5. The girls sat down beside the lake.
6. There is a reference to the drug on page 33 of chapter 6.
7. We insisted on going out for a walk.
8. Don’t interfere with my affairs.
9. He was in great need of affection.
10. I am surprised at the slow pace of life here.

Exercise 3 – Verbs

Look at the verbs in the following sentences and say whether they are regular or irregular.

a. I won a set of twelve coffee mugs at the fair.
Answer: Irregular

b. The trees swayed in the wind.
Answer: Regular

c. We fried the potatoes with the brinjals.
Answer: Regular

d. My uncle smiled gently.
Answer: Regular

e. Nidhi looked surprised.
Answer: Regular

f. It rained hard in the afternoon.
Answer: Regular

g. The balloon burst with a loud bang.
Answer: Irregular

h. The police found a bag of fake currency notes in the room.
Answer: Irregular

i. I forgot my doctor’s telephone number.
Answer: Irregular

j. The lake froze last winter.
Answer: Irregular

Exercise 4

Pick out the auxiliary verbs and say whether they are primary or modal auxiliary verbs.

a. You should talk to the teacher.
Answer: should – Modal

b. He should have been in class by now.
Answer: should – Modal; have – Primary; been – Primary

c. They might sing again tomorrow.
Answer: might – Modal

d. I will go shopping today.
Answer: will – Modal

e. You shall finish this by 6 pm.
Answer: shall – Modal

f. Is he coming?
Answer: is – Primary

g. I have been cleaning all day.
Answer: have – Primary; been – Primary

h. Have you finished reading the book?
Answer: have – Primary

i. She must have forgotten.
Answer: must – Modal; have – Primary

j. She could have helped if she wanted to.
Answer: could – Modal; have – Primary

Punctuation

Exercise 1 – 

Use commas wherever required in the following sentences.

1. Tomatoes potatoes carrots and brinjals are called vegetables.
2. On arrival he sent the car back.
3. To be honest this is not the best method to do it.
4. Well there are too many mistakes in your answer.
5. When he reached home he cooked a simple meal for himself read the newspaper and then dropped off to sleep.
6. We need blankets sweaters bedsheets and a heater in this weather.
7. When we arrived at the lake the birds of different species such as cranes ducks cranes and geese were to be seen there.
8. I would like you to buy pens pencils and a sharpener.

Answers:

1. Tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and brinjals are called vegetables.
2. On arrival, he sent the car back.
3. To be honest, this is not the best method to do it.
4. Nitin, there are too many mistakes in your answer.
5. When he reached home, he cooked a simple meal for himself, read the newspaper and then dropped off to sleep.
6. We need blankets, sweaters, bedsheets and a heater in this weather.
7. When we arrived at the lake, the birds of different species, such as drakes, ducks, cranes and geese, were to be seen there.
8. I would like you to buy pens, pencils and a sharpener.

Exercise 2 

Rewrite the following sentences using appropriate punctuation marks.

1. where will you find the book which tells you everything about the
2. he donated a sizeable amount of his earnings to the surprise of his long time associates
3. those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others it is an old saying that people tend to forget
4. where can I get a string file
5. alas everything is lost he said disappointedly
6. mr mohan rao lives in detroit which is not far from houston we do see him very often sometimes once a week
7. the vindhyas constitute a dividing line between the indo gangetic plain and the deccan plateau
8. among the books he has read are the bible the holy quran and the bhagvad gita
9. hello mr rajesh glad to see you may i know the name of your companion
10. what a lovely scene just cant believe my eyes

Ansawers:

1. Where will you find the book which tells you everything about the stars?
2. He donated a sizeable amount of his earnings, to the surprise of his long-time associates.
3. “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others” is an old saying that people tend to forget.
4. Where can I get a string file?
5. “Alas! Everything is lost,” he said disappointedly.
6. Mr Mohan Rao lives in Detroit, which is not far from Houston. We do see him very often, sometimes once a week.
7. The Vindhyas constitute a dividing line between the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Deccan Plateau.
8. Among the books he has read are the Bible, the Holy Quran and the Bhagavad Gita.
9. “Hello, Mr Rajesh. Glad to see you. May I know the name of your companion?”
10. What a lovely scene! Just can’t believe my eyes!