6 grammar

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Using Commas I

Nobito: Yes, I have finally competed
my homework!
Doraemon: Well done, Nobito. You
can choose a candy, a cap or a game
from my magic pocket.
Nobito: I’ll choose the game, and I
will play with Shizuka.

We use commas in a sentence for a pause or to separate its parts. Thus, commas
help us by making sentences easier to understand.
Rule 1: Use commas to separate three or more items in a list or series.

Bananas, coconuts and watermelons are Mogali’s favourite fruits.
Binit lived, studied and worked in Shantipur.
She is a teacher, poet and a mother.
Rule 2: Use a comma after an introductory word to show a pause.
Yes, we are going on a tour.
No, the trip is cancelled due to heavy rain.
None, but he made it to the top.
Rule 3: Use a comma after two or more prepositional phrases in the beginning

of a sentence.
For a number of years, Chitra wrote in her diary.
In the early hours of a Tuesday, he left home without telling anyone.
From the East to the West, people praise good deeds.
You do not have to put a comma after one prepositional phrase, but it is not
incorrect if you do so.
For many years Tamanna helped her mother.
Rule 4: Use commas to separate a word or group of words that interrupt the

flow of thought in a sentence.
She, of course, went to a college to complete her higher studies.
Gautam, however, wakes up early in the morning.
Uday, as you might imagine, spends a lot of time daydreaming.

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Rule 5: Use commas to separate names used in direct address.
Kamana, did you know about these before?
Pardon him, Mrs. Chaudhary, it was an accident.
Borrow and read a book from the library, Rasham.

1. Complete the following sentences adding commas where necessary.
If they are correct, write “correct”.

i. Meetu Kumari Biswakarma we have learned was a very nice woman.
ii. Bivek has completed primary secondary and higher secondary education.
iii. In the early part of his life he enjoyed candies and sweets.
iv. Babita served various ethnic groups as a nurse and social worker.
v. From 2010 to 2014 I lived in Dharan with my grandparents.
vi. Mr. Sherpa is it Mount Annapurna or Machapuchhure?
vii. Yes we are going on a summer holiday.
viii. Jenny Sharma is a Montessori trained teacher for the primary level.
ix. From the 19th century to the present weather has changed a lot.
x. In the village the gold medals were awarded to eight young students for
their outstanding achievement.

2. Add commas where necessary in the following sentences. Also,
write the number of the rule 1,2,3... for adding the commas.

Example: Miss Lama is it good to help friends?
Miss Lama, is it good to help friends? (rule 5)
i. Yes it is good to help friends in need.
ii. Both girls or so I’ve heard were from Jhumla.
iii. Namita and Sonam are helping illiterate ethnic and backward people.
iv. After completing her college in 2014 Jamuna moved to Biratnagar.
v. There is little on TV or radio except advertisements these days Mr. Bhandari.

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Using Commas II

We also use commas in compound sentences, after salutations and closings in
letters, and to prevent misreading.
Rule 6: Use a comma before and, or, or but when it joins simple sentences into a

compound sentence.
Prapti Rana started her schooling at the age of 14, but she completed her primary
education in just two years.
She walked to the window, and then she opened it to let the fresh air into her room.
We either dislike poems, or they spellbind us with their magical words.
Rule 7: Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter and after the closing

of both friendly and business letters.
Dear Mum, Your brother, Yours sincerely,
Rule 8: Use a comma to prevent misreading.
Instead of one, two brothers were waiting for her at the station.
Now, read the sentence without the comma:
Instead of one two brothers were waiting for her at the station.

1. Add commas in the following sentences where needed. Write
“correct” if commas are not needed.

i Three little pigs were taken in a jeep to Bara and there they were sold at a
busy market on a Saturday.
ii They were sold to a wealthy shepherd family and the wealthy family
gave them wool to stay warm in the winter.
iii The Sunwars recognised they were illiterates and they taught them to
read and write.
iv They encouraged them to learn Nepali, English, Science and Maths.
v They read poems in Nepali and they read stories written by English
writers.
vi They began writing poems after two years and many of their poems are
well known to us.
vii A book collecting poems of all of them was published by Popular
Publishing.
viii The title of the book is I think “Poems From The Three Little Pigs”.
ix Mrs. Agrawal have you read any of their poems?

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x They travelled to many places but they always returned to the shepherds.

2. Read the letter, and add commas where necessary.
Dear Suman
I read your short stories yesterday and I thought they were very promising.
You should submit them to a publisher or a magazine may print a few of them.
You will get a chance to travel to Kathmandu but you’ll want to return to Bara.
Instead of one three of your brothers will go with you to the Kathmandu valley.
I suggest you visit the Fifty-five Window Palace and Mr. Shah insists that you
go to the Dharahara to view the whole Kathmandu valley. This tower was not
damaged thank goodness during the first earthquake in the Kathmandu valley.
Of course I hope that you will have a great time in Kathmandu.
Your friend
Piggy

Using Commas III

We also use commas for other purposes such as in dates, addresses and titles.
Rule 9: Use a comma to separate day and year in the date format mm/dd/yy. But

do not use a comma when only month and year or month and date are
given.
The journey began on July 8, 2010 and lasted for six months.
The journey began on July 2010 and lasted for six months. (no comma needed)
The journey began on July 8 and lasted for six months. (no comma needed)
Rule 10: Use a comma to separate the name of a city, town or village and that of
a state or district or zone in an address.
Shantipur, Gulmi Kathmandu, Bagmati zone Albany, New York
Rule 11: Use a comma or pair of commas to separate an abbreviated degree or
title following a person’s name.
Sugam Rai, PhD.
Shankar Banjara, M.D., is our new lecturer.
Thaman Singh Thapa, A.I.G.

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Rule 12: Use a comma or a pair of commas to separate “too” when it means
“also”.

Patan Darbar Square, too, is a famous place.
I am coming, too.
Is Mamta taking the test, too?
Rule 13: Use a comma or a pair of commas to separate a direct quotation.
Chuman said, “Yamuna completed her degree recently.”
Amar said, “weather is getting warmer with the arrival of February.”
“I think,” said Lalita, “Kakarbhitta is far from here.”

1. Add commas in the following sentences where needed. Write
correct if no comma is needed.

i. A letter from my grandma arrived yesterday from Banepa Kathmandu.
ii. The postal stamp on the letter was dated May 18 2014.
iii. It was signed Kusum Raimajhi PhD.
iv. On January 2015 we received another letter from her.
v. Rita and Malala invited grandma and they enjoyed the festival with her.
vi. They sent a greeting card to grandma and one to grandpa, too.
vii. Mr. Thapa Gen. is also writing a letter to his family.
viii. Yes grandpa is coming to celebrate, too.
ix. Before Malala’s farewell in December Rita gave her a gift.
x. “It’s true” said Malala “we will meet again!”

2. Read the letter, and add commas where necessary.
16 Sauraha Road
Chitwan Narayani Zone
May 21 2014
Dear Arati
On May 12 2014 I auditioned for a role in a play in school. Akriti Tamang M.A. was
the director of the play. “With a little bit of effort” she said “I can get a role in the
play.” In the second audition I was selected for the lead role and my friend Sony got
a part too. We are performing the play at the Mandala Theatre on June 10 2014 and
June 15 2014. I am looking forward to meeting you in Kathmandu soon.
Your friend
Dilrani

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Using Semicolons and Colons

Doraemon: Nobito is coming home; I’ll
surprise him today.
Nobito: I can see you, Doraemon. You are
hiding with the following items: a mask,
a book and a broom.
Doraemon: Oh no! He isn’t as foolish as I
thought he was.

The semicolon and the colon are used to separate parts of a sentence to avoid
confusion.
Rule 1: Use a semicolon to join two simple sentences into a compound sentence,

when the conjunctions such as and, or, or but are not used.
Sushil is sitting in an exam; he is busy preparing for it.
In the 20th century, many scientific theories were established; one of them is the
theory of relativity.
The cow is white; it is also young.
Rule 2: Use a colon to introduce a list of items that ends a sentence. We use

phrases such as the following, these and follows before the list.
We make tea with the following: tea, sugar or salt, hot water and (sometimes) milk.
Do as follows: read and then write.
But never use a colon immediately after a verb or preposition.
In school, we study Maths, Science, English, Nepali and Social Studies.
(No colon is needed to introduce the list of subjects because they are
introduced by the verb study.)
His journey took him to the U.K., Japan, the United States and Nepal.
(No colon is needed to introduce the list of countries because they are
introduced by the preposition to.)
Rule 3: Use a colon to separate the hour from the minute in time.
3:45 p.m. 12:00 noon
Our bus is leaving at 8:32 a.m. tomorrow.

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Rule 4: Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.
Dear Madam: Dear Sir: Dear Mrs. Sherpa:

1. Add semicolons and colons in the following sentences where
needed. Write correct if they do not need any semicolons or colons.

i. Padma Khatiwada is the original thinker she provided us the blueprint of
the model.
ii. The poem talks about childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
iii. The new theory describes time it suggests that time moves in a circular
motion.
iv. Shrawan works as a tourist guide this job has gave him an opportunity to
make many new friends.
v. He described the company’s motto as follows give to get more.
vi. Her wish list contained these wishes a teddy bear, a pair of Cinderella’s
sandals, sunshine and a rainbow.
vii. Tulsi missed her mother during the festival she talked to her mother on
phone.
viii. I am landing in Biratnagar, Nepal at 145 p.m. on April 1, 2015.
ix. In his late 80s he was offered the presidency of the association he insisted
that he was not the right person for the position.
x. Einstein lived the last part of his life in Princeton, New Jersey he
considered himself a citizen of the world.

2. Add semicolons and colons in the following letter where necessary.
Dear Mr. Gyawali

I am sorry that I missed the appointment with you. Due to an unexpected accident,
I had to go to the hospital at 345 p.m. and couldn’t make it to the appointment.
I would like to meet you next week please fix the appointment as per your
convenience. I will be present with the following a suitcase, my research paper
and a proposal.
Yours sincerely,
Jamuna

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Using Quotation Marks and Italics

Doraemon said, “Come down from that
tree, Nobito.”
“No,” Nobito replied, “I am scared of
heights.”
“Well, if that is so, how did you get up
there in the first place?” asked Doraemon.

We use quotation marks to show a person’s exact words and the titles of some
works. Italics are usually used to write titles of works, too.
Rule 1: Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation. In other words, use

these marks before and after a direct quotation.
“Ramesh is leaving for Foksing tomorrow,” said Raghav.
Dipesh says, “Forests play a very significant role in balancing the greenhouse
gases.”
Rule 2: If the direct quotation is in two parts, close both the parts with quotation

marks.
“He was,“ explained Kavita, “a great hero of our country.”
“She has been to her hometown,” told Sakar, “three times already in the last
month.”
Rule 3: Use a comma to separate phrases such as she said from the quotation

itself. Put the comma outside the opening quotation mark, but place it
inside the closing quotation mark.
Vivek said, “What’s the matter with you?”
“We are eating biscuits and drinking tea,” Madhav added.
Rule 4: Place a full stop inside closing quotation marks.
Ms. Malla said, “We should start a library of second-hand books.”
Laxman murmured, “I will be back.”
Rule 5: Place a question mark or an exclamation mark inside the quotation marks
when it is part of the quotation.

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Chintamadi asked, “Did you find your lost book?”

Babita screamed, “Help me! Help me!”

Rule 6: Place a question mark or an exclamation mark outside the quotation
marks when it is part of the entire sentence but not part of the quotation.

Did Ms. Yadav say, “Dalai Lama is in exile”?

Who said, “Newton was woken up by the apple”!

Rule 7: Use quotation marks with the title of a short story, essay, poem, song,
magazine or news article, or book chapter.

“The Fox and the Crow” (short story) “Mero Nepal” (song) “Muna Madan”

Rule 8: Use italics to identify the title of a book, film, play, magazine, television
series or magazine.

The Gurkha’s Daughter (book) Tom and Jerry (television series)
Wave (magazine)

1. Italicise or put quotation marks where necessary.
i. No Land is Her Land (short story)
ii. Portrait of a Child (poem)
iii. Saptahik (magazine)
iv. Romeo and Juliet (play)
v. Health and Sanitation in Bir Hospital (newspaper article)
vi. Jindagi Rocks (film)
vii. Tin Ghut (book)
viii. The Attractions of The Himalayan Kingdom (magazine article)
ix. Jire Khursani (television series)
x. Self-Reliance (essay)
xi. Yug Dekhi Yug Samma (film)
xii. We Are The World (song)
xiii. The Kantipur Daily (newspaper)
xiv. Sun Ko Bihan (poem)
xv. Punctuation (book chapter)

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2. Add quotation marks and other punctuation marks in the following
sentences as needed.

i. Most writers take up a writing name said Walid.

ii. Madhur Awaj changed his name said Kalu when he decided to write
his first novel.

iii. Don’t you think his original name, Gopala Pun, was also a good
name? asked Maya.

iv. Sagar exclaimed But his writing name sounds much more poetic

v. Writers work with their pen said Ms. Pradhan.

vi. Bunu asked What is the meaning of Madhur

vii. Ms. Pradhan said Madhur means sweet, but it doesn’t mean a candy

viii. Did Ms. Pradhan say writers work with a pen

ix. Bunu exclaimed What a cool profession it is

x. Go to a public library said Ms. Pradhan and find an interesting novel
and read it

Using Apostrophes and Hyphens

Nobito: Today is Great-aunt’s birthday.
Doraemon, what should I give her?

Doraemon: Maybe new reading glasses.

Nobito: No, she will then read my
progress report, and everyone will know
that I scored just 33 in English.

We use apostrophes to show possession and to make contractions in writing.
We use a hyphen to join parts of compound words and divide a word between
syllables.

Rule 1: Use an apostrophe and an –s (‘s) to form the possessive of singular nouns.

kid + ‘s = kid’s Chandana + ‘s = Chandana’s

Rule 2: Use an apostrophe and an –s (‘s) to form the possessive of plural nouns
that do not end in –s.

children + ‘s = children’s men + ‘s = men’s

Rule 3: Use an apostrophe (‘) alone to form the possessive of plural nouns that
end in –s.

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dogs + ‘ = dogs’ boys + ‘ = boys’

Do not use an apostrophe (‘) in a possessive pronoun.

hers (Not, hers’) theirs (not theirs’)

Rule 4: Use an apostrophe to make contractions. A contraction is a word made of
two words by replacing some of the letters with an apostrophe.

it is = it’s they are = they’re

Rule 5: Use a hyphen in compound numbers.

twenty-six fifty-five

Rule 6: Use a hyphen or hyphens in certain compound nouns. Look in a
dictionary if in doubt.

great-uncle father-in-law editor-in-chief attorney-at-law

1. Make the possessive form of the following words using an
apostrophe and an s (-‘s) or just an apostrophe (‘) as necessary.

i. men

ii. women

iii. Laxman

iv. Ms. Mamta Ragami

v. oxen
vi. wolves

vii. kids

viii. dog
ix. Mrs. Jha

x. bird

xi. President Yadav

xii. penguin

xiii. Mr. Sherpa
xiv. girls

xv. groups

2. Add apostrophes and hyphens in the following sentences. If
sentences require no change, write correct.

i. After attempting ninety nine experiments, he finally succeeded in
inventing the electric bulb.

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ii. Monita and Preeti went to the same summer camp.
iii. They didnt know the fact at that time.
iv. We are taking our mother in law to the Pashupatinath Temple this

Saturday.
v. After spending two days in the hotel, theyre going to meet each other.
vi. When I was a young boy, I weighed fifty five kgs.
vii. Agans mother works in a hospital.
viii. Shes a nurse in our local health centre.
ix. A very renowned attorney at law is working on the case.
x. I’ll take you to Sauravs house this Sunday evening.

Practice exercises

Practice set A: Using end marks
Put correct end marks to the following sentences.
1. Haritara Tamrakar was born in a happy family
2. Who served in the army
3. What an amazing story that was
4. Take a glass of milk every morning
5. Tarik jumped into the river and swam across.

Practice set B: Using commas
Add commas in the following sentences as needed.
Example: During his 30-year career Nidan Thulung worked as a

messenger boy a supervisor and a manager of the same company.
During his 30-year career, Nidan Thulung worked as a

messenger boy, a supervisor and a manager of the same company.

1. Nidan worked with his boss Mrs. Tamrakar and he helped her to pass
messages between staff.

2. With the help of the messenger boy the staff was kept up-to-date on
business matters.

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3. During that period Nidan also made frequent visits to other offices.
4. The company reported his excellent work on October 12 2004.
5. Yes Nidan was considered a very good employee even when he was just a

messenger boy.
6. Nidan’s brother discouraged him you may be surprised to know when he

applied to the supervisor position.
7. Nidan settled in Sauraha Chitwan and he brought his parents to live there

too.
8. Ms. Budhathoki do you know how he became a manager?
9. During one long shift on a summer’s day he supervised the whole floor for

16 hours.
10. After his retirement, Nidan helped the locals by establishing a library for

the elders and the children of Sauraha Chitwan and by funding educational
projects.

Practice set C: Using semicolons and colons
Put semicolons and colons in the following sentences as needed. Write correct if
a sentence does not require any semicolons or colons.
1. Aladdin found a magical lamp he rubbed it to free the genie.
2. I admire Saugat Malla’s performance in the following film: Kagbeni.
3. Laxmi Prasad Devkota was a great writer his greatest works include
“Muna Madan”, “Sun Ko Bihan” and Putali.
4. We are going to the National Museum in Chhauni at 250 p.m.
5. Visitors can see statues, paintings, murals, coins and weapons in the
National Museum.

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15 Conditionals

Nobito: Oh no, today is Sunday, and
I haven’t done my homework. I don’t
want to go to school.

Doraemon: If I were you, I wouldn’t be
so worried. We still have two hours to
go.

Nobito: Then help me complete my
homework, please.

(after completing the homework)

Nobito: Yes, it is complete. I am going
to school.

Doraemon: If you had seen the school
calendar, you would have noticed that
today is holiday!

Nobito: If you had told me so earlier, I
wouldn’t have woken up at 4 AM!

We use conditionals to describe the possibility or no possibility of something
happening or happened in the past. We have four types of conditionals to
express real and imaginary situations. Every conditional has two clauses: if-
clause and main clause. An if-clause shows a possible or not possible situation.
A main clause shows the result of that situation. The four types of conditionals
are as follows:

Type 0 Conditional (general truth)

We use type 0 conditionals to say something which is always true, such as laws
of nature. In this conditional, both the clauses are in the present simple form.

If-clause Main clause
If + present simple Present simple

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If you heat water, it vaporises.
If you water plants, they grow.

In this conditional, we can use when in place of if.
When you heat water, it vaporises.
When you water plants, they grow.

1. Make type 0 conditionals using the following prompts.
Example: it is the monsoon season/ it rains.
If it is the monsoon season, it rains.
i it is night/ it gets dark
ii you throw a ball to the sky/ it falls to the ground
iii you add six and three/ you get nine
iv you mix red and blue/ you get purple
v you exercise/ you stay healthy

Type 1 Conditionals (real present):

We use type 1 conditionals to express real situations, that is, things that are likely
to happen in the present or future. In this conditional, the if-clause is in any form
of the present tense, and the main clause is in future, imperative or modals with
bare infinitive.

If-clause Main clause

If + present simple/continuous/perfect future/imperative/can/may/might/

/perfect continuous must/could/should + bare

infinitive

If he wakes up early, we will go for a walk.

If it is raining, take an umbrella.

If you have completed your project, we can watch Doraemon.


Here, in the if-clause, we can use unless in place of if...not. We always use an
affirmative verb after unless.

If Ravi does not complete his chapter, he won’t get any chocolate.

Unless Ravi completes his chapter, he won’t get any chocolate.

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1. Make type 1 conditionals using the following prompts.
Example: give a ball of wool/ it play
If you give a ball of wool, it will play with it.
i put some milk in its bowl/ it drink
ii you touch it softly/ it love
iii you scold it/ it make a very innocent face
iv it sees a mouse/ it hunt down
v you guess correctly/ you know the animal by now.

Type 2 Conditionals (unreal present):

We use the type 2 conditional to express imaginary situations which are in
contrary to facts in the present. It is also used to give advice. In the if-clause, we
use the past simple or past continuous, and in the main clause we use modal
verbs with bare infinitive.

If-clause Main clause

If + past simple or past would/could/might +

continuous bare infinitive

If I saw an accident, I would call 911. (but haven’t see an
accident – unreal
present)

If I were you, I would complete my work (advice)
first.

In this conditional, we can use were instead of was in all persons.
If I were/was you, I would wake-up early in the morning.

1. Complete the following sentences to make type 2 conditionals.
Example: If my dreams came true..........................................................................
If my dreams came true, I would be so happy.
i. If I saw a blind person on the road, ....................................................................
ii. If I were you, .......................................................................................................
iii. If I was able to travel back in time, ...................................................................
iv. If my dad bought me a bicycle, ........................................................................
v. If I wanted to dance, ..........................................................................................

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Type 3 Conditionals (unreal past):

We use the type 3 conditional to express imaginary or unreal situations in the
past. It is also used to express regrets and criticism. Here, the if-clause is in the
past continuous or past perfect, and the main clause is in modals + have + past
participle.

If-clause Main clause

If + past perfect or would/could/might
past perfect + have + past
continuous participle

If I had taken part in the I would have won the first (but didn’t take part in

competition, prize. the competition – unreal

past)

If he had not been sleeping he would have caught the (criticism)

all morning, bus.



We separate the if-clause and the main clause with a comma when the if-clause
begins a conditional.

If you join us, the fun will be doubled.

But: The fun will be doubled if you join us.

1. Write in the type 3 conditionals about Sagar Thapa, the football
player, using the given prompts.

Example: father not buy/ football not learn/ play

If my father hadn’t bought a football, I wouldn’t have learned to play.

i. not learn/ play football not join/ school football team

ii. not play/ school football team not get chance/ play inter-school
football tournament

iii. not get chance/ play inter-school football tournament not play
district level

iv. not play/ district level not get chance/ play national team

v. not play/ national team not sign/ football clubs

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Practice exercises

Practice set A: Using conditionals
Use the given prompts to write conditional sentence. Then write the type of
conditional you have used.
Example: I passed my test. My father bought a football for me. (unreal past)
If I hadn’t passed my test, my father wouldn’t have bought a football for

me. (type 3)
1. Children don’t get enough healthy food. They suffer from malnutrition.
(general truth)
2. I finish my work and then I will play with you. (real present)
3. I switched off the light. We have saved electricity. (unreal past)
4. I am a prime minister. I make my country a better place. (unreal present)
5. I see a thief. I call the police. (unreal present)
6. Pour and stir salt in water. It dissolves. (general truth)
7. Dipal woke up late this morning. He was late for school. (unreal past)
8. They are still waiting for Sudha. We can’t go swimming. (real present)

Practice set B: Identifying correct options
Select the correct options to complete the following sentences.
1. If you go to Ilam, you (would see/will see) many tea gardens.
2. If I had woken up early, I (will have/would have) practised a little more.
3. If it is warm, snow (melts/will melt).
4. If you (will mix/mix) red and white, you get pink.
5. If Nita (came/had come) earlier, we could have brought her with us.
6. If Chanda (comes/will come), ask her to report to me first.
7. If I had the time, I (would talk/will talk) to her.
8. Unless the greenhouse gases (decrease/had decreased), we will have to
reduce the use of fossil fuel.

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Practice set C: Using correct tenses
Write the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.
1. A: I am suffering from the common cold.
B: If I ............................................. (be) you, I ........................................ (take)
some medication and hot water.
2. A: Why don’t you play with us coming Saturday?
B: Well, if I ........................................ (complete) my homework early, I
........................................ (join) your team.
3. A: I cannot believe you did not come again!
B: I am really sorry. If I ........................................ (fall) sick yesterday, I
........................................ (attend) the seminar.
4. A: Mr. Gauchan, how do I make green?
B: Well Kiran, if you ........................................ (mix) yellow and blue, you
........................................ (get) green.
5. A: What should we do, Tilak?
B: I don’t know! If Uncle ........................................ (be) here, he
........................................ (know) what to do.
6. A: Why didn’t you tell me Janaki was back from Ramechhap?
B: I didn’t know then. If I ........................................ (see) her, I
........................................ (tell) you.

Practice set D: Writing conditional sentences
Rewrite the sentences using conditionals.
1. I hurt my leg. I could not play football.
If I had not hurt my leg, I could have played football.
2. I go to bed late every night. My mother is always angry with me.
3. I lost my wallet on the bus. I couldn’t buy the new book.
4. I found a lost kitty. I cannot find its owner.
5. It’s raining. We cannot go out without an umbrella.
6. Their team did not play well. They lost the match.

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Practice set E: Gap-filling
Complete the following sentences with appropriate conditional clauses.
1. If I found some money in the street, I would report it to the police.
2. If you ride your bike very fast,..........................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
3. If you see Mohan in the evening,......................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
4. If you had listened to me, ..................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
5. Unless you improve your behaviour,................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
6. My mother would have told me a bedtime story, ........................................
...............................................................................................................................
7. He would be very happy,..................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
8. If you are not watching the cartoon, ...............................................................
...............................................................................................................................

171

Composition

1 Personal Narrative

Your life is made up of different stories. Remember your first day of school and
how you felt? Your last birthday? A recent trip you took?
A story that tells about a personal experience is called a personal narrative. In a
personal narrative, you write about something that happened to you, including
how you felt about the experience.

Features of a Personal Narrative:
• Tells a story from a personal perspective
• Expresses feelings by using the first-person point-of-view
• Has a beginning, middle and end
• Uses time-order words, such as first, last, etc. to connect ideas and show
the sequence of events

Read the following personal narratives.

I am a zoologist

When I was a small boy, I was very interested in natural history. I remember
distinctly the first time I realised I wanted to become a zoologist. I was walking
up the Broadway market and saw a dead seal laid out on a slab of wood. I used
to pass the market sometimes to get strawberries before breakfast.
That seal filled me with every feeling of fascination and adventure possible. I
asked where it was killed, and was told it had been in the harbour. As long as
that seal remained there, I visited the neighbourhood of the market day after
day. I recall that I measured it with a folding pocket foot-ruler. I did not have a
measuring tape. I carefully made a record of the utterly useless measurements.
I had vague aspirations of, in some way or another, owning and preserving that
seal. Unfortunately, they never went beyond the purely formless stage. I did,
however, get the seal’s skull, and, with two of my cousins, promptly started
what we ambitiously called the “Roosevelt Museum of Natural History.”

172

A day in my life

I’m generally a very happy-go-lucky kind of person, and it takes a lot to upset
me. When I woke up today, for instance, it was with a smile. I had a huge
amount of English homework due, but I completed the work in no time. I was
also looking forward to playing hide-and-seek with my friends.
At school, the English teacher collected our homework. No wonder it had
seemed so easy – I had done the wrong pages! The rest of the morning was
fine, except I nearly fainted out of fear when I found a snake among my books
and notebooks. It turned out to be a prank pulled by my little sister Anjana.
She had secretly slipped the rubber snake into my bag.
At last, it was the time to play hide-and-seek in the playground. When it was
my turn to seek friends hiding in the bushes, I used the snake to bring them
out and caught them easily! They later accused me of unfair play. I laughed
and replied, “All is fair in hide-and-seek!”

Discuss the personal narratives you have just read.
1. List the sequence of events in “A day in my life” in the correct order.
2. Discuss the beginning, middle and end of “I am a zoologist”.
3. What time-order words has the author used to tell you about the sequence

of events in “A day in my life”?
4. How has the author of “I am a zoologist” used paragraphs to organise his

personal narrative?
5. Reread the narratives again and compare the experience of the two writers.

Discuss how their feelings might have been alike or different.

173

Taking part in the Annual Sports Day
Every year, our school holds the Annual Sports Day. I usually prefer to watch
my friends compete in different events, and I cheer for them. This year, however,
I decided it was time to surprise everyone. I was determined to take part in the
hundred-metre race.
I knew it would be difficult because I hadn’t taken part in any sports competitions
before. So first, I made a plan to help me fulfil my objective. Next, I asked the
P.T. instructor to help me train. After four weeks of training on the playground
and at home, I felt I was finally ready.
When the Annual Sports Day arrived, everyone was pleasantly surprised! All
my classmates supported and cheered for me during the race. To top it all off, I
didn’t just take part in the race, but won it too. It just goes to show that one can
do anything if one really wants to.

Practice Time

Write a personal narrative about an event in your life.

174

2 Persuasive Writing

In persuasive writing, you write your opinion on a given topic. Your opinion is
backed up by good reasoning. The reasoning helps your reader to understand
and agree with your opinion.

Features of Persuasive Writing:
• A clear opinion on a specific topic
• Uses convincing reasons and arguments
• Uses a logical order to organise reasons
• The strongest arguments are mentioned at the end

Read the following examples of persuasive writing.

The sun: Ultimate renewable source of energy
Most of the energy consumed by our industrial world comes from fossil fuels
such as coal, oil and gas. These substances not only pollute the environment
heavily, but also will not last forever. What is the solution? It is right there in
front of us: the renewable energy of the sun.
When the sun heats up the air, it rises and the cooler air rushes in to take its
place. The sun’s energy has been converted to wind energy! It can now turn
windmills that, in turn, can produce electrical energy.
The sun also warms water, which rises and evaporates. Then it falls as rain or
snow, which, in turn, fills rivers. We can now use this water to run generators
to produce electricity.
Many houses also have solar panels that collect solar energy. It can warm
our rooms in winter and heat the water supply. Special cells collect the sun’s
energy and change it into electricity.
The more we start using the sun’s renewable energy, the less we will depend
on other fuels, and the cleaner our atmosphere will be.

175

ABCD School
Mahalaxmithan – 10
Lalitpur
November 16, 2014

Sunrise Publishing Company
Naxal – 5, Kathmandu
G.P.O. Box No 8795
Dear Mr. Thulung,
I am writing on behalf of the sixth-grade of Annaupurna School,
Mahalaxmithan. We all admire your books, and in last month’s student vote,
you were chosen the author of the month.
It has been brought to our attention that you are on a lecture tour of the
Kathmandu Valley. More specifically, we’re told that you are giving a lecture
at Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, on December 16, 2014. Mahalaxmithan is
nearby, and I would like to invite you to visit us on your way to T.U. Your
presence will delight students and teachers alike. We would gladly listen to
you on any subject.
Please inform us if you will be able to make the visit, so that we can make
arrangements for your welcome and stay.
Yours sincerely,
Taniya Singh

Discuss the above examples of persuasive writing you have just read.
1. Discuss the reasons given by Taniya in the letter.
2. Discuss the reasons for using solar energy given in “The sun: Ultimate

renewable source of energy”. You can add yours, too.
3. Where does Taniya place her strongest argument? Do you think it will

persuade Mr. Thulung to speak at her school? Why?
4. How does the author of “The sun: Ultimate renewable source of energy”

persuade the readers to agree with his opinion?
5. Reread and compare the two examples of persuasive writing. Which one

do you think is more convincing and why?

176

The Community Youth Club
Patan Darbar Square
Lalitpur
November 17, 2014

Tandukar Tower
Lagankhel - 6, Lalitpur

Dear Mr. Tandukar:
Have you noticed the garbage in the streets and corners of our community?
Our streets are littered with rubbish and look very unpleasant and unhealthy.
The Community Youth Club is taking the initiative to clean our streets. We
request you to help us clean the streets and corners of our community for the
following three reasons:
First, many studies and surveys show that people like to live in a clean and
green community. Since your business tower is an attraction, it would help
your business to clean up the community.
Second, garbage harms the environment. It is general knowledge that it mixes
and pollutes land, water and air. Third, community pride is the best reason
to help the cause. Our community could be the first clean community in the
country.
A member of the Community Youth Club will be visiting your office soon to
see if you can donate shovels, trash cans, gloves and any other materials, or
support the effort financially. Remember: Your customers and community are
depending on you to help.
Yours sincerely,
Prakriti Sherpa
Coordinator

Practice Time

Write a letter to the principal to persuade him to start a monthly school
newspaper.

177

3 Fictional Narrative: A Story

A story is a fictional narrative that you create using your own imagination. A
story has a setting, characters and a plot, usually with a problem that is solved
by the end.

Features of a Story:
• Has a beginning, middle and end

• Describes a setting, and tells when and where a story is taking place

• Has characters that move the story forward

• Has a plot with a problem that is resolved by the end

• Often uses dialogues

Read the following two stories.

Ogali and the sick chimp
Once upon a time, a girl named Ogali lived in a small village in the kingdom of
Congo. One evening, the king returned from a walk in the forest to find Ogali
at the gate, staring at the chimpanzees.

“What are you doing here, Chimp Coach?” he asked.

“I worry about Kinkaku,” she replied. “I love every one of the chimpanzees
and know them well. I sense there is some sort of problem with him.”

The king pondered for a moment and said, “Go ahead and check.”

Ogali approached Kinkaku, the king’s favourite chimp. She studied his hands
and feet. When Ogali got to the left foot, she discovered a sharp nail lodged in
the pad. Ogali took the nail out slowly, sang Kinkaku a soothing song and went
home.

The next day, when Ogali returned, Kinkaku greeted her and played with her
for hours.

The king was overjoyed. He declared an evening feast and invited everyone in
the kingdom to the palace.

178

A gift from heaven
Khushi had always wanted a yak. Where she lived, in the Mustang Valley, it
seemed as if everyone had a yak.
One day, Khushi saw a little yak stuck on a pathway down a cliff. A rock was
blocking its way, and it couldn’t move up or down. Khushi inched down the
path, speaking softly to the yak. When she reached the yak, she took off her
scarf and looped it around the yak’s neck.
Khushi and the yak walked down the path together. When they reached home,
Dad came to see them.
“Can I keep him?” pleaded Khushi.
“Someone may come looking for him,” replied Dad. “If so, you will have to
give him back.”
Weeks went by, and no one came to claim him. Dad said at last that Khushi
could have the yak.
“I will call him Akash,” said Khushi smilingly, “because he is my gift from
heaven.”

Discuss the stories you have just read.
1. Who are the main characters in “Ogali and the sick chimp”?
2. Where did the story “A gift from heaven” take place?
3. What you think of the dialogues in “Ogali and the sick chimp”?
4. What words are used in “A gift from heaven” to describe the setting of the

story?
5. Reread and compare the two stories. Discuss the problem and how it is

resolved at the end of each story?

179

Can you sniff it?
by Neelam Chaudhary

Amateur detective Nita Shahi was engrossed in a detective story in her room.
Suddenly, she heard her mother grumbling.
“Is something wrong, Mum?” Nita asked.
“My nail polish bottles are missing,” Nita’s mother replied.
That was all Nita needed to hear. She said, “I will find them in no time!” She
called her dog, “Arrow, we have a job to do.”
Nita’s mother looked doubtful, but she let Arrow sniff the nail polish on her
fingernails anyway. Nita and her mother followed Arrow to the garden. The
nail polish bottles were lying under a tree.
“Unbelievable, Arrow!” her mother exclaimed.
Nita patted Arrow and said, “Thanks. Arrow is my detective partner, Mum.
Just wait until I grow up, and Arrow will catch thieves with me!”

Practice Time

Create a story using your imagination.

180

4 Expository Writing:
Research Report

In expository writing, you give facts and information about a certain topic to
your readers. The facts should be true and interesting for readers.

Features of Expository Writing:
• Introduces the main idea
• Gives facts and supporting details about the main idea
• Gives important information about a specific topic
• Collects information from various sources such as books, internet, etc.
• Draws a conclusion based on facts and information

Read the following examples of expository writing.

Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game. It is played between two teams of 11 players
each. The field is oval in shape. It has a rectangular 22-yard long pitch at the
centre. Each team takes a turn to bat, while the other team fields. Each turn is
known as an innings.
A batsman hits the ball delivered by a bowler to make runs. The runs can be
scored by hitting sixes, fours and by running to the other end of the pitch. A
batsman scores a six when he hits a ball, and it goes over the field without a
single bounce on the field. A batsman scores a four when he hits a ball, and the
ball crosses the field bouncing on it. A batsman continues batting until he is out.
An innings comes to an end in one of the following ways. First, if the batting
team loses all 10 batsmen. Second, if a specified number of overs are completed.
In an over, a bowler delivers six balls to batsmen. Once an innings is over, the
teams switch roles, and the fielding team comes in to bat.
The most popular types of cricket games are one-day and test matches. One-
day match, as the name suggests, comes to an end in a day. It has only two
innings, one for each team to bat in. On the other hand, test matches go on for
several innings and can last up to a maximum of five days.

181

Rainforests
Rainforests are forests characterised by high rainfall. They receive annual
rainfall between 250 and 450 centimetres. There are two types of rainforest:
tropical and temperate.
Around 40% - 70% of plant and animal species are found in rainforests. It has
been estimated that there may be many millions of species of plants, insects
and microorganisms still undiscovered in tropical rainforests.
Tropical rainforests are called the “jewels of the Earth” and the “world’s
largest pharmacies”, because over one quarter of natural medicines have been
discovered there.
Rainforests are also responsible for 28% of the world’s oxygen turnover.
They process oxygen through photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and release
oxygen through respiration.
Indeed, rainforests are our tropical treasures.

Discuss the two reports you have just read.
1. What is the first paragraph describing in “Cricket”?
2. What is the most important information in “Rainforests”?
3. Would you suggest some additional information to the author of “Cricket”?
4. Do you agree with the conclusion of “Rainforests”?
5. Reread and compare the introductions. Write how they are alike or

different.

182

Stage fright – no more!

A lot of people suffer from stage fright. Do you remember the last time you
were on stage? Your legs were shaking, your body and hands were numb, and
worst of all, your throat dried out.

You are not alone; even professional actors and performers have it. Then,
how do they perform confidently? Here are two ways to overcome your stage
fright: One of the ways is to push yourself beyond your fear. In simple words,
take up the challenge. Prepare yourself for a stage performance, and do it. As
you perform, the stage fright will slowly give up, and you will perform more
naturally.

The second way to overcome stage fright is to convince yourself logically that
the dialogue of your negative mind is incorrect and, in fact, self-sabotaging.
Take a moment to write down your own negative mind’s reservations about
appearing on stage. Then, write down the corresponding positive mind’s
responses that empower you.

Use the pronoun “you” for the scripts of your negative mind, and pronouns
“I” and “me” in your positive mind’s responses. This will help you disassociate
from your negative mind and associate more closely with your positive mind.

For example, if your negative mind tells you, “The audience won’t hear you.”
Your positive mind should answer back, “If the audience doesn’t hear me for
the first time, I’ll smile and politely repeat myself more loudly, slowly and
clearly.”

With these techniques in your hands, you will be performing like professional
actors and actresses in no time.

Practice Time

Write a research report on a topic that interests you.

183

Writing Skills

Writing skills are a set of skills that help you improve your writing with each
new attempt. Here we are sharing some of the skills and techniques we used in
the composition section of the book.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is quick and easy. It involves jotting down ideas and thoughts
on a topic. When you first jot down you don’t think of them as right or wrong.
Thus, it helps you collect ideas and information on a given topic. When you are
planning a story, brainstorming can help you think of the beginning, middle and
end for the story.

Can you sniff it?
• Girl likes to find missing things
• Girl’s mother’s nail polish is lost
• Girl tries to find the lost nail polish
• Girl finds it with the help of her dog
• Girl and her dog win a prize
Remember, you do not have to use all the ideas that you get in the brainstorming.

Organising

Organising helps you present your ideas in a better way. It helps readers to
follow and understand your writing. When you are organising a story, you can
use a story map to work on your characters, setting and plot. In simple words,
you work on how to begin and then take the story to its end.

184

Title: Can you sniff it? Beginning: Introduces
Setting: Basement and garden of a home characters, setting
and the problem.

Characters: Girl, Nita Shahi – a detective buff
Her dog, Arrow – a sniffing expert
Her mother

Problem: Mother’s nail polishes are lost, and Nita wants to help her.

Events Middle: Add dialogue
1. Mum complains about lost nail polishes. to tell what characters

2. Nita wants to help somehow. are thinking and
feeling.

3. She uses her detective skills.

4. She is assisted by her dog to find it. End: The girl and her
dog solve the problem.

Solution: The dog finds the nail polish in the garden and everyone is happy.

Elaborating
When you are elaborating, you fill in missing facts and information in your
writing. When you are elaborating a story, you add details that let the readers
“see” the setting, characters and events in their own minds.

Nita Shahi was reading a detective novel in her room.
Amateur detective Nita Shahi was engrossed in a detective story in her room.

“My nail polish is missing” Nita’s mother said.
“My nail polish is missing” Nita’s mother replied.

185

Appendix

Pronunciation

This section is recorded. Play the audio and practise.

Phonetic symbols
Vowels

eat, cheese pigeon, city measure, friend badge, action

art, class none, country coffee, because yawn, sure

wood, sugar fool, shoe bird, worship advice, future

Dipthongs boil, drawing ago, low
aim, they shine, die

vowel, mountain care, dairy hero, fierce poor, moor

Consonants but, basket talk, time wood, done
pool, pocket goat, glass
clean, kettle five, cough moon, milk none, nose
ring, song six, ceiling
the, then hot, heat van, vase think, thank
decision, measure look, listen
read, row zoo, zebra shirt, nation

chin, fortune jam, bridge

yes, yellow watch, will

186

Commonly mispronounced words

exhibit exhibition accept binoculars cassette debt

film flour healthy pigeon spinach tonight

tortoise vitamin wealthy yacht admission available

envelop envelope marriage medicine opposite question

receipt restaurant soldier suggestion target adventure

appreciate bison bouquet cafe career chore

studious boutique consume consumption determine

development famine grease scholar sesame

analyse analysis doughnut fiancé gauge gauze

gauze luxurious luxury pageant president pronunciation

rapport receipt visa accessible chaos mirage

mythology statistics taboo tulip avalanche camouflage

cappuccino entrepreneur espionage facade finale foetus

freight genre kaleidoscope liaison naive p

poignant suite morale rendezvous souvenir Ganges

Magi McDonald Nazi Socrates Virgo

Word stress

1st syllable stress 2nd syllable stress 3rd syllable stress 4th syllable stress

morning today afternoon accommodation

evening tomorrow engineer information

language tonight university identification

Saturday vacation conversation congratulation

restaurant delicious electricity participation

favorite successful independent contamina1tion

187

Vocabulary

Prefixes and Suffixes

Learning prefixes and suffixes can help you build your vocabulary. Let’s learn about
them.

Prefix

A prefix is a set of letters that is added at the beginning of a word to make another word
with a different meaning. Adding a prefix can change the meaning of a word, such as
reversing its meaning.
For example, clear – unclear.

Prefixes that reverse the meaning of a word

Prefix Meaning Word New word
un- unacceptable
in- not or the opposite of acceptable unbalance
il- indecent
im- balance inexpert
ir- illiterate
not or the opposite of decent illegal
immobile
expert immodest
irrational
not or the opposite of literate irreligious

legal

not or the opposite mobile
of modest

not or the opposite of rational

religious

Prefixes that show relations

Prefix Meaning Word New word
pre- before cook precook
mature premature
post- after date postdate
season postseason
sub- below or beneath committee subcommittee
division subdivision
co- with or partner operative cooperative
existence coexistence

188

Suffix

A suffix is a set of letters that is added to the end of a word to make a new word with
a different meaning.

Examine the suffixes given below and learn how they change the meaning.

Suffixes that mean one who does something

Suffix Meaning Word New word
-er, -or one who does labour labourer
collect collector
-ee, -eer one who does absent absentee
engine engineer
-ist one who does violin violinist
active activist
-ian one who does mathematics mathematician
physics physician

Suffixes that mean full of

Suffix Meaning Word New word
-ful full of hand handful
help helpful
-ous full of glory glorious
labour laborious


Suffixes that mean in the manner of or having to do with

Suffix Meaning Word New word
-ly in the manner of or having to do with pure purely
-y in the manner of or having to do with clever cleverly
-al in the manner of or having to do with bush bushy
boss bossy
arrive arrival
nation national

189

Spelling

Spelling –ie and –ei

Many English words have the letter combinations –ie and –ei in them, for example,
achieve and ceiling.

Using these words can be confusing sometimes, but learning the rhyme below can
help you master these words in no time.

Rules Examples
Put i before e field, niece, diesel, retrieve, mischief, siege, wield
except before c
or when sounded like a, ceiling, deceive, conceit, receive, perceive, deceit
as in neighbour and weigh eighty, veil, freight, forfeit, heir, rein, foreign, vein

Exceptions: friend, lieutenant, seize, leisure, protein, height, species, weird, either,
neither

Adding prefixes

When adding a prefix to a word, keep the word as it is and put the prefix at the
beginning of the word.

co + operative = cooperative sub + lime = sublime

dis + advantage = disadvantage un + rest = unrest

il + literate = illiterate in + tolerable = intolerable

Adding suffixes

Adding suffixes to the words ending in –y

• Change y to i when a word ends in a consonant + y.

army + -es = armies supply + -es = supplies

puppy + -es = puppies marry + -es = marries

• If the suffix starts with an i, keep the y.

apply + -ing = applying study + -ing = studying

rely + -ing = relying fly + -ing = flying

• Keep the y when a word ends in a vowel + y.

pray + -ing = praying convey + -ing = conveying

employ + -ing = employing stay + -ing = staying

190

Doubling the final consonant:

• When a word ends in a single consonant following a vowel and the word is a
one-syllable word

stop + -ed = stopped rub + -ed = rubbed

refer + -ed = referred hop + -ing = hopping

beg + -ing = begging sad + -er = sadder
• When a word ends in a single consonant following a vowel and the word has a
stress on the last syllable, and the stress remains in the last syllable even after the suffix
is added

occur + -ence = occurrence forget + -able = forgettable

regret + -ing = regretting permit + -ing = permitting

travel + -ed = travelled refer + -ed = referred

Do not follow the doubling of the final consonant rule:
• When two vowels come before the final consonant of the word.

contain + -ing = containing head + -ing = heading

look + -ed = looked train + -ed = trained
• When the suffix begins with a consonant.

power + -ful = powerful dark + -ness = darkness

moral + -ly = morally eat + -less = heatless

reader + -ship = readership casual + -ty = casualty
• When a word ends with two consonants.

sing + -ing = singing click + -ing = clicking

invest + -or = investor attach + -ment = attachment

discount + -ed = discounted fact + -or = factor

191