L1ess2on Question Tag
Preview
Conversation practice.
Mina : Mahesh is an intelligent boy,
isn't he?
Richa : Yes, he is. But Dinesh is more
intelligent than Mahesh.
Mina : Is he ? I do not know.
Richa : Yes, he is the most intelligent
boy in our class.
Mina : If so, he knows more things
than us, doesn't he?
Richa : Yes, he does.
Mina : Let's go and discuss some problems with him.
Now, read the conversation above and rewrite the statements and tag questions.
Question Tag
A short question tagged (added) to a sentence asking for agreement or
confirmation is called a Question Tag. A sentence expresses an assumption
and a Question Tag expects confirmation.
Examples:
He can't help us, can he?
I am a teacher, aren't I?
Read and learn.
• Tag question begins with an auxiliary verb.
E.g. He is going, isn't he?
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• The first letter of the tag is always small.
E.g. We are here, aren't we?
• A question tag ends with a pronoun (subject).
E.g. Ram goes, doesn't he?
• An affirmative statement has a negative question tag.
E.g. I can go, can't I?
• A negative statement has an affirmative question tag.
E.g. We aren't good, are we?
• In tag, not is added in contracted (n't) form.
E.g. You will go, won't you?
• A statement/command has a comma (,) and a tag has question mark(?).
E.g. She has gone, hasn't she?
Subject in question tag
Statement • Personal pronoun - same pronoun
• Noun- suitable pronoun
• There - there
• One-one
• someone/somebody/anyone/anybody/no one/ nobody-
they/none/ everyone/everybody/ these/those /all- they
• None of+ Plural Noun/Third Person Pronoun- they.
• Some of us (If it doesn't include the speaker) -they
Everything/something/anything/nothing/this/that/all- it
• Some of you/One of you/You and he- you
• None of us/You, he and I/You and I- we
• Some of us (if it includes the speaker)- we
Command • Let's- We
• Let us (for all commands)- you
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Structures and Examples
According to the given sentence structures and verbs, the tag question will
be as follows:
S.N. Statement Tag Questions
1. I drink tea, (S + v1 + O) don't I?
2. She drinks tea, (s + v5 + O) doesn't she?
3. She has taken her pen, (aux. v. + vpp) hasn't she?
4. She is drinking tea, (be + v1 - ing) isn't she?
5. She drank tea, (s + v2 + o) didn't she?
6. She will drink tea, (will+ v1) won't she?
7. She would drink tea, (would+ v) wouldn't she?
8. She can drink tea, (can+ v) (modal verbs) can't she?
9. Ram and his friend drink tea, (plural subjects) don't they?
10. She has a gold ring, ('have' as main verb) doesn't she?
11. They had a program, ('have' as main verb, in past) didn't they?
12. She never studies, (as negative) does she?
13. She seldom does homework, (negative sense) does she?
14. She hardly helps me, (negative) does she?
15. She did her work, ('do' as main verb, in past) didn't she?
16. Nobody helps you (negative, looks singular) do they?
17. No one should do it, (negative, looks singular) should they?
18. Someone may help you, (looks singular) mayn't they?
19. Nothing is ready (singular) is it?
20. Something is brought, (singular) isn't it?
21. Look at this (imperative) will you?
22. Go ahead, (imperative) will you?
23. Let me have a meal, (imperative) will you?
24. Let us go out, (imperative) will you?
25. Let's go out, (suggestion) shall we?
26. You'd rather go out, wouldn't you?
27. You'd better go by bus, hadn't you?
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Rules:
1. A tag question is added to the end of a statement after a comma (,).
Pratima studies well, doesn’t she?
statement comma tag
2. Tag question should begin with as mall letter and there should be
a question mark(?) at the end.
He played well, didn’t he?
small letter question mark
3. If the statement is positive/affirmative, question tag should be
negative and vice versa.
We shall overcome one day, shan’t we?
contracted form of shall+not
4. Contract form of 'not' should be used for tag
cannot = can't, is not = isn't, will not = won't
5. The subject of the question tag must be a pronoun but not a noun.
Ruben is a laborious boy, isn’t he?
noun pronoun
Examples:
Rita reads a novel. (Statement)
Rita reads a novel, doesn't she?
6. If the words of negation / negative words such as never / seldom
/hardly/ rarely/barely/scarcely/nobody/no one/none/neither of.....
etc. are in the statements, question tags must be positive /affirmative
They hardly know the answer, do they?
None passed the exam, did they?
Neither of them told the truth, did they?
7. There must be pronouns (not nouns) in the question tags. The
pronouns of some of the nouns / subjects are
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Nouns/subjects Pronouns
These/Those they
This/That it
Something / Anything / Nothing / Everything it
Somebody/Nobody/None/No one/Someone/Some/People/ they
Everybody / Everyone / Anybody / Anyone
Plural nouns(horses/insects/boys/sheep........) they
Singular male gender(Ram/Hari/My father/My uncle/Her he
youngest son ....)
Singular female gender (Rita/my mother/her eldest she
daughter/the queen.....)
Singular animal, insect, bird and other creatures(a cow/an it
insect/an eagle/ a fish....)
All+singular uncountable nouns(all the sugar/all the money/ it
all the water ........)
All + plural count nouns (all the boys/all the students) they
All + singular verb (All was ........ ) it
All + plural verb (All were........ ) they
You and I/He and I/She and I we
He and She / He, she and their friends they
He / She and You you
There/one there/one
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8. If the statement begins with 'Let's", the question tag must be 'shall we?'
Let’s prepare for examination, shall we?
But for other imperative sentences (that begin with let + me / us, Please/
kindly, Don’t, Never+V¹), the question tag should be 'will you?'
Let us organise a field visit, will you?
Please shut the door, will you?
Don't make noise, will you?
9. If a statement has two clauses, the question tag should be formed
according to the main clause
He doesn't think she is mad, does he?
I believe, you are a doctor, aren’t you?
10. The following contractions could be tricky!
's + V3 = has 's + V4 = is 's + noun/pronoun/adjective = is or has according
to the context 'd + rather = would
'd + V = would'd + better = had'd + V3 = had
's + V3 (passive) or (being + V3) = is
She’s spoken to me, hasn’t she?
She’s riding a motorbike, isn’t he?
He’s a spokesman, isn’t he?
He’s got a big farm near Narayani river, hasn’t he?
They’d rather avoid that route, wouldn’t they?
You’d better leave the foreign country soon, hadn’t you?
She’d bought a new car, hadn’t she?
He’s badly beaten by a burglar, isn’t he?
11. Sometimes,has/have/had are used as main verbs, not auxiliaries:
She has a car, doesn't she? They never have breakfast, do they?
V5 V1
He had a house, didn'the?
V2
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12. Sentences consisting of negative adverbs like never, hardly, barely,
scarcely, seldom, etc. have affirmative tags:
She hardly sings for us, does she?
Mohan never invited us to his home, did he?
13. The following verbs could be tricky! Just be careful!
They brust into tear yesterday, didn’t they? (past simple)
They brust into tear, don’t they? (present simple)
Rupesh and Aashish cut the apples and served everyone, didn’t they?
(past simple)
Rupesh and Aashish cut the apples and serve everyone, don’t they?
(present simple)
Note: Some English verbs that are same in the present and the past tense:
Bet, broadcast, brust, beat, cut,shut,shed, cost, cast, hit,hurt, let, put, read,
quit,spit, upset,forecast,etc.
14. Look at some examples: wasn't it?
All was done, didn't he?
Ram read the whole book last night, weren't they?
All were foolish, shouldn't one?
One should love children, did it?
Nothing happened, didn't she?
She thought the wasn't happy, aren't they?
Every one is happy, isn't it?
This story is written by B.P. Koirala, wouldn't she?
She'd love cricket, wouldn't she?
She'd rather be happy, aren't there?
There are some fish, hadn't you?
You'd better go there,
15. The same auxiliary verb used in the statement should be used in the
tag.
Ganesh is a good teacher, isn’t he?
All were foolish, weren’t they?
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 107
But,
I’m / I am--------->aren’t I?
e.g. I’m a good student, aren’t I?
We use do/does or did in the following situations.
V1------->do [They hardly come to see me, do they?]
V2-------> did [She cut her finger, didn’t she?]
V5--------> does [Gajapati always gets angry,doesn’t he?]
has to --------> does [ She has to study well,doesn’t she?]
have to -------->do [I have to do it, don’t I?]
had to ---------> did [The students had to be on time, didn’t they?]
16. Question tag with ‘need to’ and ‘must’
He needs to know now, doesn’t he? I needn’t do that, need I?
I don’t need to do that, do I?
I must leave, mustn’t I? [Obligation]
He must be a teacher, isn’t he? [Assumption]
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Exercise
1. Add question tags to the following sentences:
1. He is an honest boy, ...................................?
2. They are very happy now, ...................................?
3. She was absent yesterday, ...................................?
4. Harkey has passed the examination, ...................................?
5. They were playing basketball, ...................................?
6. Ramesh can help you, ...................................?
7. Padam will come to meet you, ...................................?
8. My dog is really beautiful, ...................................?
9. I am an engineer, ...................................?
10. He visited Shiva Mandir last month, ...................................?
11. Saroj dances well, ...................................?
12. Ugin speaks well in the program.
13. Bibhan sings beautiful songs, ...................................?
14. Urmila may come to attend the program, ...................................?
2. Encircle the correct alternatives:
a. The tag of 'He went there' is:
i. isn't he? ii. don't he?
iii. doesn't he? iv. didn't he?
b. They will come here soon, .......................... ?
i. won't they? ii. won't he?
iii. won't she? iv. shan't they?
c. My father's a black dog, .......................... ?
ii. isn't he? ii. hasn't he?
iii. wasn't he? iv. hadn't he?
d. He would rather come .......................... ?
i. didn't he? ii. wouldn't he?
iii. wasn't he? iv. hadn't he?
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 109
e. He jumped strongly, ......? ii. didn't he?
i. don't he?
iii. did he? iv. hadn't he?
f. No one is correct, ...................?
i. is they? ii. are they?
iii. isn't they? iv. aren't they?
g. Let's stop writing, ......................?
i. will you? ii. won't you?
iii. shall we? iv. shan't you?
h. I'm not correct, .....................?
i. am I? ii. won't you?
iii. shall we? iv. shan't you?
3. Tick () the best alternative.
a. They had gone to school, .......................... ?
i. wouldn't they? ii. would they?
iii. hadn't they? iv. had they?
b. We'll learn fast ..........................?
i. will you? ii. won't we?
iii. will we? iv. won't you?
c. He was right, ................?
i. wasn't he? ii. weren't he?
iii. isn't he? iv. was he?
d. They helped me, .......................... ?
i. did they? ii. didn't I?
iii. didn't they? iv. don't they?
e. They're writing homework, .......................... ?
i. are they? ii. aren't they?
iii. do they? iv. don't they?
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f. We often visit Pashupatinath, .......................... ?
ii. do we? ii. don't we?
iii. not we? iv. will you?
g. Come to me, .......................... ?
i. will you? ii. shall you?
iii. shan't you? iv. don't you?
h. Have a cup of tea, .......................... ?
i. will not you? ii. will you?
iii. don't you? iv. haven't you?
i. She's watching T.V. yesterday, ..........................?
i. is she? ii. isn't she?
iii. was she? iv. wasn't she?
4. Rewrite the following sentences selecting the correct words
from the brackets:
a. He's a wealthy man, ..................... ?(is he, isn't he, didn't, he)
b. Everything is perishable, ................ .? (isn't it, isn't there, aren't they )
c. Let's do our homework, ...................... ? (will you, shall we, don't we)
d. I'm tired and hungry, .......................... ? (isn't it, aren't I, am I)
e. Ram and Dilli will finish the work, .......................... ? (won't he, won't
they, will they, don't they)
f. No one solved the problem, ............. ? (did they, didn't they, did he)
g. Niroj never gets angry, .......................... ? (does he, doesn't he, did
he, didn't he)
h. I'm alright .......................... ? (aren't I, hasn't I, am I)
i. I'm a nurse, .......................... ? (amn't I , aren't I, don't I)
j. Someone is waiting for you, .............. ? (amn't I, aren't I, don't I)
k. None helped me last week, ..................... ? (did they, did he, don't
they, didn't they)
5. Add a tag to the following sentences.
a. Cats pollute the environment, .......................... ?
b. The trip is very expensive, .......................... ?
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 111
c. Karun missed his flight, .......................... ?
d. Anu wouldn't say no, .......................... ?
e. You are Janak, .......................... ?
f. They didn't recognize me, .......................... ?
g. Mr. Pradhan had been to Singapore recently, .......................... ?
h. She went to the library yesterday, .......................... ?
i. The car isn't in the garage, .......................... ?
j. Mr. McDonald is from Ireland, .......................... ?
k. She went to the library yesterday, .......................... ?
6. Add a suitable tag.
a. Let's go out, .......................... ?
b. There's a big pond in front of Durbar School, .......................... ?
c. Everybody knows the answer, .......................... ?
d. Have a cup of tea, .......................... ?
e. You'd do homework daily, .......................... ?
f. Let me start a new business, .......................... ?
g. I am never with you, .......................... ?
h. Sital looks clean and tidy, .......................... ?
i. Mingma has never been to Pokhara, .......................... ?
j. Don't make a noise, .......................... ?
k. Let's unite together, .......................... ?
l. Nobody helped the old, .......................... ?
m. He'd better stop drinking, .......................... ?
n. Students have to study hard, .......................... ?
o. He's now reading a book, .......................... ? ?
p. Let's go to Nagarkot, .......................... ?
q. He's already gone out, .......................... ?
r. Try to be a little more polite, .......................... ?
s. She seldom does the homework, .......................... ?
t. Everybody was there, .......................... ?
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7. Choose the correct answer from the bracket.
a. Neither of them complained, ........? (had they, didn't they, did they)
b. Come here, ........? (shall we, will you, didn't you)
c. This is the temple which opens only on Mondays, ........? (isn't this,
isn't it, isn't that)
d. I'm a little late, ........?(aren't I, am I, don't I)
e. Please bring that pen, ........? (will you, won't you, shall we)
f. Everyone is making noise, ........? (aren't everyone, aren't they, don't
they)
g. Let him do what he likes, ........? (shall we, will you, don't he)
h. You'd better not to teach them,........?(wouldn't you, hadn't you, had
you)
i. Hema used to be kind to me, ........? (hadn't she, didn't she, used she)
j. She's done her work, ........? (hasn't she, isn't she, has she)
k. None of the students brought their calculators, ........? (did they,
didn't they, did he)
l. I do well, ........? (won't I, don't I, didn't)
m. You needn't buy a pen, ........? (needn't you, do you, need you)
n. Uma hardly passed the exam, ........? (didn't she, did she, hadn't she)
o. They'd build a house, ........?(hadn't they, didn't they, wouldn't they)
Pronunciation practice
Vowel sound practice /ə/
Read the following words after your teacher.
purse turn burn
purple hurt nurse
curtain surfing Thursday
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 113
13Lesson
Subject-Verb Agreement
Preview
Select the correct word to fill in the gaps.
• Hemanta and Sheela .............. (is, have, are) supposed to marry.
• It .............. (is, are, has) you who can help me.
• You, as well as she, .............. (has, have) to worry about them.
• Chapatti and vegetable curry .............. (is, are, has) my daily food.
• One of the villagers .............. (was, were, had) abducted by the rebels.
• Today's news .............. (is, are, has) shocking.
• Ten kilometers .............. (has, are, is) long to walk on foot.
• All the furniture .............. (are, were, was) stolen yesterday.
• The staff .............. (was, were, had) against the decision taken by the
management.
• Social Studies....... (include, includes, including) history portion as
well.
• Some of the students ...... (are, was, were) punished for what they did.
• The teachers of our school ............ (is, are, have) a good sense of unity.
Note : Singular subject takes singular verb, plural subject takes plural verb
E.g. He is here. They are there.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Read and learn.
1. Singular subject takes singular verb and plural subject takes plural
verb:
• These tables look very shiny.
• The earth moves round the sun.
114 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
But if the subject begins with: The number of, the verb is singular:
• The number of students in the class is forty.
2. Plural nouns that denote some specific quantity or amount often have
a singular verb:
• One hundred paisa is equal to one rupee.
• Six miles is a long distance.
• Three parts of the business is left for me to do.
3. Plural noun which is proper noun for some single object or some
collective unit must be followed by a singular verb:.
• The United States has a big navy.
• The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite.
4. Some nouns like scissors/ shorts/ pants/ jeans/ trousers/ binoculars/
tongs/ pliers, etc. take a plural verb: The pants are in the drawer. The
scissors are blunt.
• My shorts are too big for my brother.
But a pair of trousers/ shorts/ pilers I jeans/ scissors/ binoculars/ tongs etc. take
a singular verb:
• A pair of pants is in the drawer. A pair of scissors is blunt.
• A pair of new shorts it too big for my brother.
5. Collective nouns may take a singular verb:
• The government/ parliament has decided it.
• The committee has issued its report. (thought of as a whole)
• The government has different opinions on this matter.
• The crew was large (thought of as a whole).
Words to remember: jury, committee, staff, family, crew, government,
parliament, team, audience, etc.
6. In the case of 'No' as subject, singular verb is used if it is followed by
singular or uncountable nouns, and plural verb is used if it is followed
by plural nouns:
• No answer is correct
• No students are brilliant in Grade VI.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 115
8. Two or more nouns or pronouns (subjects) joined by 'and' often require
a plural verb:
• Gold and silver are precious metals.
• Fire and water do not agree.
• He and I were playing chess.
• Knowledge and wisdom have often no connection.
9. But if the nouns suggest one idea to the mind or refer to the same
thing, the verb is singular.
Examples:
• Time and tide waits for no man.
• Bread and butter is his only food.
• Slow and steady wins the race.
• Honour and glory is his reward.
10. And, if the nouns refer to the same person, the verb is singular, as:
• My friend and benefactor has come.
• The poet and singer is corning to our school next week.
11. But, if the nouns refer to different persons, the verb is plural, as:
• The novelist and the poet are dead.
• The accountant and the cashier have been invited to dinner.
• Article is used before each noun.
12. Two or more subjects joined by 'as well as', 'with', 'together with',
'accompanied by', including', 'in addition to', etc. take verbs according
to the former subject, as:
• The chairman, with the directors, is present today.
• Mr. Robbins, accompanied by his wife and children, is arriving
tonight.
• Sanskrit, as well as Arabic, was taught there.
13. Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a
singular verb, as:
• The news is true. Politics is a dirty game. The wages of sin is death.
Words to remember : Mathematics, Physics, Linguistics, Statistics,
Economics, Ethics, Measles, Gymnastics, Social Studies, News, etc.
116 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
14. Some nouns like cattle, people, vermin, poultry, sheep, deer, salmon,
fish, police, swine, clergy, etc. take plural verb:
• The cattle are grazing in the field.
• The police have been investigating into a bank robbery.
But, A sheep/deer/fish/policeman/clergyman take singular verb:
• A deer is coming to the village.
• A police man is questioning a woman.
15. Two or more nouns qualified by each or every, even though joined by
'and', require a singular verb:
• Every boy and every girl learns sewing here.
• Each and every girl learns sewing here.
• Every book and note book has been torn by the little child.
16. If the subject of a sentence begins with either of/ neither of/ each of/
every one of+ plural nouns, and 'many a', it must be followed by a
singular verb:
• Neither of the two men was strong.
• Each of these substances is found in India.
• Many a man has done it.
• Everyone of the boys loves to ride.
• Either of the boys was absent yesterday.
17. Two or more nouns/pronouns connected by 'either ..... or ..... and
'neither ...... nor ........... ' take verb according to the latter nearest
subject, as:
• Either Rarnesh or Rarna has taken my book.
• Neither the dogs nor the cat is around.
18. Phrases beginning with- a crowd of/ a band of/ a group of/ a herd of/ a
flock of/ a gang of/ a regiment of/ a set of I a team of/ a pack of I a pride
of I a flock of+ plural nouns take both plural and singular verb:
• A flock of sheep is/are corning.
• A pride of lions is/are seen.
• A group of boys is/are taking lunch now.
• A herd of cows is/are grazing.
• A gang of youths is/are foaming around here.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 117
But, A chain of/ A bunch of / A bouquet of/ A batch of/ A galaxy of I
Aseries of / A packet of + plural nouns generally take singular verb: A
packet of biscuit contains some 20 biscuits.
• A galaxy of Holleywood stars has been awarded.
Exercise
1. Choose the correct form of verbs to fill in the following sentences:
a. He ..................(is / are) a tall boy.
b. They .................. (is / are) playing outside.
c. She ....................(was / were) unable to come.
d. Saroj and Sunil.................... (has / have) planned to come.
e. Today........................(is / are) holiday.
f. Many of my friends.....................(is / are) helpful.
g. They ................. (plan / plans) to organize a party.
h. Sonu...................(sing / sings) well.
i. All the villagers ..................(is/are) united.
j. This water....................(is/are) very hot to drink.
k. My pen ........................(write/writes) smoothly.
l. The earth ......................(go / goes) round the sun.
m. You........................(look/looks) like twins.
n. My father.....................(work / works) in a bank.
o. We....................(has / have) made a decision.
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2. Select the correct word to fill in the gaps.
a. Hemanta and Sheela .................... (is, have, are) supposed to marry.
b. It .................... (is, are, has) you who can help me.
c. All the villagers .................... (is, are, is) honest and helpful.
d. Today's news .................... (is, are, has) shocking.
e. All the furniture .................... (are, were, was) stolen yesterday.
f. All staff .................... (was, were, had) against the decision taken by
the management.
g. Social Studies ....................(include, includes, including) history
portion as well.
h. Some of the students .................... (are, was, were) punished for what
they did.
i. The teachers of our school ................ (is, are, have) a good sense of
unity.
j. Neither the farmer nor the businessman ...................... (is, am, are)
satisfied with you.
k. Ten tons of cement ......................(is, are, were, has) enough for this
building.
l. In the cage there ...................... (is, are, have) a lion and a lioness.
m. He and I ...................... (am, is, are) going to Damauli.
n. Neither you nor I ...................... (is, are, am, be) a student.
o. The quality of these recordings ................. (is, are, be) not very good.
p. One of the teachers.........(is/are) absent today.
3. Fill in the suitable auxiliary verbs (is, are) in the blank spaces:
a. There ...................... a saying that 'time and tide waits for no man'.
c. All of the books, including yours, ...................... in that trunk.
d. Each toy ...................... a different colour.
e. Collecting stamps ...................... one of his favourite pastimes.
f. Cattle ...................... raised for meat, milk and leather.
g. Here ...................... your notebook and dictionary.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 119
h. The quality of the candies ...................... poor.
i. One of his sisters ...................... a ballet dancer.
j. Neither the basket nor the apples ...................... expensive.
k. The price of these jeans ...................... reasonable.
l. A number of people ...................... sitting on the grass.
4. Fill in the blanks with is, are, has or have.
a. She ....................... very fond of her nephew.
b. Jimmy ....................... many friends.
c. The whale ....................... a mammal.
d. They ....................... already finished their project.
e. Our teacher ....................... sick today.
f. The old beggar ....................... no home and no money.
g. My brother ....................... a good soccer player.
h. Mr Arnold ....................... many rare stamps.
i. A dolphin ....................... a very intelligent animal.
j. ....................... you returned the book to the library.
k. ....................... those boys your classmates?
l. ....................... the technician repaired the computer?
m. ....................... that a rubber tree?
n. ....................... it going to rain soon?
5. Choose the correct word. Then write out each sentence.
a. Mary (dance/dances) very well.
.................................................................................................................
b. Some babies (cry/cries) a lot.
.................................................................................................................
c. The postman (deliver/delivers) the letters every afternoon.
.................................................................................................................
d. Grandpa (like/likes) to take a nap in the afternoon.
.................................................................................................................
120 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
e. Father (chop/chops) down the tree with an axe.
.................................................................................................................
f. Most trees (shed/sheds) their leaves in autumn.
.................................................................................................................
g. The police officer (ride/rides) a bicycle.
.................................................................................................................
h. Polar bears (live/lives) in very cold regions of the world.
.................................................................................................................
i. We (eat/eats) out once a week.
.................................................................................................................
j. He (smoke/smokes) ten cigarettes a day.
.................................................................................................................
k. The farmers (work/works) from sunrise to sunset.
.................................................................................................................
6. Choose the correct answer from the bracket.
a. Ten kilos of rice......... bought yesterday. (is, were, was)
b. He does not.........hard. (studies, study, has studied)
c. Fifty kilos of rice.........enough for our family. (is, has, are)
d. Today's news.........interesting. (is, has, are)
e. Each of the boys .........here on time yesterday. (is, was, were)
f. The cost of these articles.........risen at present. (has, have, had)
g. Neither Mohan nor they.....(has, have, had)understood my question
till now.
h. Mohan drives a car but he.........a bus. (doesn't drive, doesn't drives,
don't drive)
i. Renu and Bina.........(is, am, are, be) the best teachers of our school.
j. Geeta! Clean the room.........(herself, ourselves, yourself, themselves)
k. Hari didn't.........(built, builds, build, builded) his house.
l. ......... (Are, Do, Does, Is) he sing songs daily?
m. Slow and steady.........(will win, won, wins, win) the race.
n. A number of fools.........(is,are, have) present there.
o. A group of boys .........taking lunch now. (is, are, were)
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 121
7. Choose the correct answer from the bracket.
a. Neither the man nor his friends.........injured in the accident last
week. (was, were, had)
b. The cost of apples.........risen at present. (has, have, had)
c. Each of the girls .........here on time yesterday.(was, is, were)
d. A herd of kangaroos.........jumping. (is,are,will)
e. Neither Hari or Kirshna.........home now.(is going, will be going,
went)
f. Ravi as well as his friends.........(is, are, has) present today.
g. Twenty dollars.........(has, is, are)too much to pay for an ordinary
shirt.
h. Much of the machinery on this farm.........unusable. (is, are, does)
i. Two of the girls in our class......... very naughty. (are, is, am)
j. No news.........good news.(are,is,am)
k. Does Mahendra ......... up early in the morning? (get, gets, got)
l. Each of the books.........of great importance.(is, has, are)
m. Thirteen kilometers.........not a long distance.(is, has, are)
8. Choose the correct answer from the bracket.
a. The data.........incorrect.(is,are,was)
b. The South African cricket team.........all under thirty years of age.(is,
am, are)
c. Robert, as well as his sisters,.........amount standing musician.(is, am,
are)
d. Everyboy and girl at the party ......... given a balloon. (was, were, are)
e. Five liters of milk.........enough for today. (is, are, were)
f. Rice and potato.........his favourite food.(are,is,has)
g. Neither he nor his friends......... to use the book a gain.(want, wants,
wanting)
h. A packet of cigarettes .........not enough to him.(is, are, were)
i. Either you or our friend......... to finish it. (has, have,was)
j. Aesop's Fables .........an interesting book.(is, are,have)
k. Dal and bhat.........our common food.(is, are, have)
l. The water of these rivers......... very dirty.(are,is, were)
m. Bob and Bon, like their mother.........very tall. (is,are, was)
122 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
L1ess4on Tense
Preview
Complete the sentences using the present simple form of the verbs in
the box.
do help live teach want
• My cousins ...................... in an old house near the bus station.
• My father usually ...................... me do my homework.
• My little brother always ...................... to play with me.
• My brother always ...................... his homework before dinner.
• My aunt ...................... English in a school.
Tense
Types of tense
Present Past Future
Simple present
Present continuous Simple past Simple future
Present perfect
Present prefect Past continuous Future continuous
continuous
Past perfect Future perfect
Past perfect continuous Future perfect
continuous
A. Present tense
1. Simple present
Structure: Sub+ V1 / V5 + obj.
Example: The sun rises in the east.
Time adverbs: [always, never, seldom, generally, daily, usually, hardly,
rarely, often, now-a-days, frequently, scarcely, every (time/day/week/
month, etc.) once, twice, thrice a day/week/month, etc.]
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 123
2. Present continuous
Structure: Sub+ is/am/are+ V4 + obj.
Time adverbs: [now, at this moment, at this time, at present, still]
Example: She is dancing now.
Hurry up! The trains are whistling.
I am corning.
3. Present perfect
Structure: Sub+ has/have+ V3 + obj.
Time adverbs: [just, ever, yet, already, recently, lately, never, etc.]
Example: They have already visited Nepal.
I have never seen a tiger. He has done it.
4. Present prefect continuous
Structure: Sub+ have/has+ been+ V4 + obj.
Time adverbs: [since+ point of time, for+ period of time]
Example: She has been living here for seven years.
We have been doing our work.
B. Past tense
1. Simple past
Structure: Sub + V2 + obj.
Time adverbs: [yesterday, ago, last + time, day, week, month, etc.) (just,
now, in the past in+ past time]
Example: Smriti left college last year.
2. Past continuous
Structure: Sub+ was/were+ V4 + obj.
It often occurs with all past time i.e. all day, Saturday, last night/ Sunday,
month, etc.
Example: We were watching TV all last night.
He was complaining yesterday.
124 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
3. Past perfect
Structure: Sub+ had+ V3 + obj.
If there are two actions of past time, the simple past is used for the second
action and the past perfect is used for the first action.
Example: When the police arrived, the thief had run away.
4. Past perfect continuous
Structure: Sub+ had+ been+ V4 + obj.
Example: When Mr. Gurung carne to Gorkha in 1990, Mr. Regmi had
already been teaching there for two years.
C. Future tense
1. Simple future
Structure: Sub+ will/ shall+ V1 + obj.
It often occurs with adverbs like soon, tomorrow, tonight, shortly, next
time (day, week, month, year, etc.)
Example: He will go home tomorrow.
2. Future continuous
Structure: Sub+ shall/will+ be+ V4 + obj.
Example: He will be crossing the road.
3. Future perfect
Structure: Sub +shall/will +have + V3 + obj.
It often occurs with future time. [by+ future point of time and in+ future
period of time]
Example: By the end of this month, our result will have been published.
4. Future perfect continuous
Structure: Sub+ will/shall+ have+ been+ V4 + obj.
Example: In three years, he will have been staying in this village for ten
years.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 125
Exercise
1. Name the tenses of the following sentences and write their
structures.
a. He will repair the roof. Simple future (s+will+V1+o)
b. They will sing a song. .........................................................
c. Binik repairs the roof. .........................................................
d. Bipik repaired the roof. .........................................................
e. Jenish has repaired the roof. .........................................................
f. Birek had repaired the roof. .........................................................
g. Aniket has repaired the roof. .........................................................
h. They have been singing a song. .........................................................
1. He will be repairing the roof. .........................................................
J. Barsa has been repairing the .........................................................
roof.
k. Bijay has repaired the roof. .........................................................
1. Sanjay will have repaired the .........................................................
roof.
m. Sanam and Rohit were singing .........................................................
a song.
n. Sapana had been making .........................................................
pictures.
o. Noyal will have been reading .........................................................
the book.
126 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
2. Encircle the correct alternatives.
a. By tomorrow, they ...................... to Japan.
i. go ii. will go
iii. will be iv. will have been
b. By 2025, we ...................solar power in our homes
i. will have used ii. will use
iii. will have been using iv. are using
c. By 2025, we.........................many electronic gadgets.
i. will have made ii. will have been making
iii. are making iv. will make
d. They ...................... study in two years.
i. will have finished ii. will finish
iii. will have been finishing. iv. finished
e. He .............................. in 1967.
i. is dead ii. killed
iii. dead iv. died
f. When the teacher came in, the students ................................... .
i. stand up ii. standard up
iii. stood up iv. not stood up
g. I would fail if they ......................................... .
i. not helped ii. had not helped
iii. will not help iv. didn't help
h. He ............................me all non-sensical questions all day yesterday.
i. asked ii. was asking
iii. had asked iv. had been asking
i. Mr. Robbins...........................me in trouble.
i. helping ii. will help
iii. helps iv. have helped
j. He ......................... any food today.
i. not has ii. not have
iii. has had iv. has not had
k. Where.....................you go last week?
i. did ii. were iii. was iv. had
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 127
l. What ..................Aesop famous?
i. did make ii. had make
iii. made iv. was making.
3. Encircle the correct alternatives:
a. Students rarely ...................... expensive clothes.
i. bought ii. will buy
iii. have bought iv. buy
b. They will come if you ...................... .
i. call ii. calls
iii. will call iv. have called
c. They .................... to go to America but it's very difficult to get visa.
i. will plan ii. have planned
iii. plan iv. planned
d. We ...................... a lot last year.
i. will discuss ii. were being
iii. discussed iv. have been
e. Mr. Dhakal's songs ...................... so popular.
i. are being ii. will be
iii. were being iv. is getting up
f. He always ...................... at 5 o'clock.
i. gets up ii. get up
iii. will get up iv. is getting up
g. When Nila pushed Binod, he ........................in to the lake.
i. fell ii. fall iii. falls iv. had fallen
4. Change the following sentences as indicated in the bracket.
a. My daughter washes all our clothes.(into Present Perfect Tense)
b. I am doing my homework. (into Future Continuous Tense)
c. She is still doing her homework.(into Past Perfect Tense)
d. Madhav goes running in the morning. (into Simple Past)
e. She will be busy for week. (into Past Perfect)
f. Geetanjali has lost the key of her house.(into Future Perfect)
128 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
g. He was walking very weakly. (into Past Perfect Continuous)
h. Amresh has been playing for an hour. (into Future Continuous)
i. Scientists will have discovered the medicine for new diseases.(into
Simple Present)
j. I didn’t get any letters from my friends. (into Past Continuous)
k. People are destroying the forest. (into Future Perfect)
l. Reena did her graduation in Education. (into Simple Future)
m. We drink coffee every morning.(into Future Perfect Continuous)
n. We have already had our breakfast. (into Past Perfect)
o. I shall have gone by the weekend. (into Past Perfect)
5. Complete the following sentences with the correct tense of the verb
given in the bracket.
a. The earth round the sun.(go)
b. She homework now.(do)
c. My mom meal everyday.(prepare)
d. Don’t disturb. The baby. (sleep)
e. The match at 8:00 tomorrow.(begin)
f. Smoking injurious to health. (be)
g. Samantha to see me next week.(come)
h. He generally the folk songs.(listen to)
9. The students cricket.(still; play)
h. She her house blue. It looks beautiful. (paint)
i. I Pokhara twice.(visit)
j. Harish to live in Kathmandu last year.(come)
k. It all day yesterday. (rain)
l. The bell while I was doing my work.(ring)
m. As soon as the teacher ,the students stood up.(enter)
6. Choose the correct answer from the brackets.
a. As soon as the teacher entered, the students...........their feet.(leapt,
had leapt, were leaping)
b. The SEE examination...........near.(will come,is coming, come)
c. When Rita arrived, I...........a bath.(had, was having, have)
d. Do the farmers ...........rice every year? (grow, grows, growing)
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 129
e. How did Shyam ...........to school yesterday? (go, goes, went)
f. Did Sarita ...........the exam? (take, takes, took)
g. The cost of apples...........risen at present. (has, have, had)
h. ...........it? Yes, I did it yesterday. (Did you, Did you do, Do you do)
i. He speaks English but he...........speak Chinese.(doesn't, didn't, don't)
j. Rita and Sita...........Pokhara by next week.(will gone, will have gone,
will go)
k. Take an umbrella. It...........outside.(rains, is raining,rained)
l. Madam Curie...........radium.(discover,discovered,discovering)
Pronunciation practice
Vowel sound practice /aI/
Read the following words after your teacher.
cry fly shy
dry sky my
fry buy lie
130 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
15Lesson
Active and Passive Voice
Preview
Rewrite the following sentences selecting the correct word/words from
the brackets:
• Columbus discovered America. This means America ......................
(is discovered, has been discovered, was discovered) by Columbus.
• Someone has stolen my books. My books ...................... (has been
stolen, have been stolen by someone, had been stolen, have been
stolen).
• No one uses the car today. The car ...................... (is used, was not
used, is not used) today.
• Everybody knew him. He ...................... (is known, was known
by everybody, had been known, was known).
• Rupesh beat Ram. Ram ...................... (is beaten, was beaten, had
been beaten) by Rupesh.
• We have to control population growth. It means population
growth...................... (have to be controlled, should be controlled,
should be controlled, has to be controlled, is controlled).
• Mahesh cut a tree. A tree ...................... (is cut, has been cut, was
cut)by Mahesh.
• Somebody stole my bags last week. My bags ...................... (was
stolen, are stolen, were stolen) last week.
• When did Rita bring these pens? When ...................... (these pens
were, was these pens, were these pens) brought by Rita?
• Nobody likes her. She ...................... (was not liked, is not liked
by nobody, is not liked).
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 131
Active and Passive Voice
Read the examples and learn.
Tense Active Voice Passive Voice
Simple Present Radha eats apples. Apples are eaten by Radha.
She does not do the work. The work is not done by her.
Simple Past They did the work. The work was done.
He did not eat food. Food was not eaten by him.
Present They are doing the work. The work is being done.
continuous She is not cooking food. Food is not being cooked by her.
Past He was buying a mango. A mango was being bought by
Continuous He was not sweeping the him.
room. The room was not being swept
by him.
They have answered the The questions have been
Present Perfect questions. answered by them.
I have not done the work. The work has not been done.
Past Perfect He had not seen me. the I had not been seen by him.
They had not fed The cows had not been fed.
cows.
Simple Future She will do the work. the The work will be done.
They will not paint The picture will not be painted.
picture.
I will have eaten food. Food will have been eaten.
Future Perfect He will have solved the The problem will have been
problem. solved.
132 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
Structures and Examples of Active and Passive:
Tense Active Voice Passive Voice
Simple present He buys a mango. A mango is bought by him.
Obj. +is/am/are+ V3 +by+ sub.
Present Sub+ V1/V5 + obj.
continu- He is buying a mango A mango is being bought
ous Sub+ is/am/are/ ving + by him.
obj. Obj+is/am/are+being+V3+
by+ sub.
Simple past He bought a mango.
Sub+ V2 + obj. A mango was bought by him.
Obj + was/were/+V3+by+ sub.
Past continu- He was buying a mango. A mango was being bought
ous Sub+was/were + V4 + obj. by him.
Past perfect obj + was/were + being + V3 + by
Present perfect He had bought a mango. +sub.
S + had + V1+ obj. A mango had been bought
Simple future by him.
Future perfect He has bought a mango. 0+ had been + V3 + by + sub.
Sub+ has/have + V3 + A mango has been bought
obj. by him.
obj. +has/have + been + V3+ by
He will buy a mango. +sub.
Sub+ will/shall+ V1+ obj. A mango will be bought
by him.
He will have bought a Obj.will/shall +be+ V3+by+ sub.
mango. A mango will have been
Sub+will/shall+have+V3 bought by him.
+ obj. Obj +will/shall+ have+ been+
V3+ by+ sub.
Other changes Passive
Structures and examples: Obj + modals +be+ V3 +by+ sub
I would be called by her.
Active It can be joined by me.
Sub+modals + V1 + obj.
E.g. She would call me.
I can join it.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 133
Sub + have form + to+ V + obj. Obj +have from + to +be+ V3 +by+ sub
Eg: She has to call me. I have to be called by her.
Sub + is going + to + V1 + obj. Obj + is going + to +be + V3+ by+ sub
Eg: She is going to call me. I am going to be called by her.
Exercise
1. Change the following sentences into Passive Voice.
a. He palys cricket.
Ans: Cricket is played by him.
b. Saroj borke a glass.
c. They brought a suitacase.
d. She ate a mange.
e. We elected him.
f. He is writing a novel.
g. She finishes homework.
h. Ram killed Ravan.
i. Shanti is painting a house.
j. Harka will write a book.
k. My sister has washed some clothes.
l. Gourika was telling a story.
m. She teaches mathematics.
2. Tick () the best answer.
a. 'She gave me a slap.' Its passive is .................
i. I am given a slap. ii. I had been given a slap.
iii. I was given a slap. iv. I will be given a slap.
b. The passive of "Everyone understands him" is ........................
i. He was understood. ii. Him was understood.
iii. He has been understood. iv. He is understood.
134 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
c. Franklin laid the foundation for the university.
i. The foundation for the university was laid by Franklin.
ii. The foundation for the university is laid by Franklin.
ii. The university was laid the foundation by Franklin.
iv. The foundation for university has been laid by Franklin.
d. People elect the representatives and mayors.
i. Representatives and mayors was elected by people.
ii. Representatives and mayors were elected by people.
iii. Representatives and mayors are elected by people.
iv. People are elected by representatives and mayors.
e. They gave my brother a ball. The passive form of this sentence is:
i. A ball was given my brother.
ii. My brother was given a ball.
iii. My brother is given a ball.
iv. A ball is given to my brother.
f. Someone has stolen my money. The passive form of this sentence is:
i. My money have been stolen.
ii. My money is stolen.
iii. My money was stolen.
iv. My money has been stolen.
g. They publish Gorkhaparta daily. The passive form of this sentence
is:
i. Gorkhapatra are published daily.
ii. Gorkhapatra was published daily.
iii. Gorkhapatra is published daily.
iv. Gorkhapatra were published daily.
h. A cat kills mice. The passive form of this sentence is:
i. Mice is killed by a cat. ii. Mice are killed by a cat.
iii. Mice was killed by a cat. iv. Mice were killed by a cat.
3. Tick () the correct voice.
a. The active of 'My friend is easily upset by unkind remarks' is:
i. Unkind remarks upset easily my friend.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 135
ii. Unkind remarks easily upset my friend.
iii. Unkind remarks have upset my friend easily.
iv. Unkind remarks upset my friend easily.
b. The passive of "The teacher will help us" is:
i. We shall be helped by the teacher.
ii. We will be help by the teacher.
iiii. We will be helped the teacher.
iv. We shall be helped the teacher.
c. The active of 'By whom was this jug broken' is:
i. Who has broken this jug?
ii. Who breaks this jug?
iii. Who broke this jug?
iv. Who will have broken this jug?
d. The active of 'He was saved by his dog' is:
i. His does save him.
ii. His dog saved him.
iii. His dog will save him.
iv. His dog has to save him.
e. The passive of 'Farmers are clearing the jungle' is:
i. The jungle are being cleared by farmers.
ii. The jungle is being cleared by farmers.
iii. The jungle has been cleared by farmers.
iv. The jungle is to be cleared by farmers.
f. The active of 'Our house was painted last week' is:
i. They painted our house last week.
ii. They have painted our house last week.
iii. They painted our house the week before.
iv. They will paint our house last week.
g. The active of 'The electric light was left on all night' is:
i. We left the electric light on all night.
ii. We has left the electric light on all night.
iii. We left the electric light on all night.
136 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
iv. We will have left the electric light on all night.
h. The sentence 'They have turned down all our proposals' can be
written into passive as:
i. All our proposals have been turned down.
ii. All our proposals has been turned down.
iii. All our proposals were turned down.
iv. All our proposals will be turned down.
i. The passive transformation of "He could write it in a day" is .......
i. It could be written by him in a day.
ii. It could written by him in a day.
iii. It written by him in a day.
iv. It could be written in a day by him.
j. "A truck ran her down" has passive voice .......
i. She was run down by a truck.
ii. Her down was run by a truck.
iii. Down was run her by a truck.
iv. She is run down by a truck.
k. The passive transformation of "Why have they sold the car?" is .......
i. Why have the car been sold?
ii. Whey has the car been sold by them?
iii. Why has the car been sold?
iv. Why the car has been sold?
l. "The noise frightened the birds" has passive voice .......
i. The birds was frightened by the noise.
ii. The birds were frightened by the noise.
iii. The birds are frightened by the noise.
iv. The birds were being frightened by the noise.
m. "Nobody told me the news" has passive voice .......
i. I was not told the news.
ii. I was told the news by nobody.
iii. I was told the news.
iv. The news was not told me by nobody.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 137
n. "Did they open the box?. " has passive voice ...... .
i. Was the box opened by they?
ii. Was the box opened by them?
iii. Was the box opened?
iv. Were the box opened?
o. "Has he killed the tiger?" has passive voice ...... .
i. Has the tiger killed?
ii. Has been the tiger killed?
iii. Has the tiger been killed?
iv. Has the tiger been killed by him?
p. "Don't hate the poor" has passive voice ..... ..
i. Let the poor be hated.
ii. Let the poor not be hated.
iii. Let not the poor be hated.
iv. Let the poor not to be hated.
q. "Let me open the window" has passive voice .......
i. Let the window be opened me.
ii. Let me the window be opened.
iii. Let me be opened the window.
iv. Let the window be opened by me.
r. "People say that elephants never forget" has passive voice .......
i. It is said that elephants never forget.
ii. People said that elephants never forget.
iii. It is said that elephants ever forget.
iv. Elephants said that they never forget.
4. Tick () the best answer.
a. "She has written a letter for an hour." The passive voice of the
sentence is
i. A letter has been written by her for an hour.
ii. A letter has been writing by her for an hour.
iii. A letter is written by her for an hour.
138 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
b. "Mukunda has to teach us." The passive form of this sentences is
.................
i. We have to teach by Mukunda.
ii. We had to be taught by Mukunda.
iii. We have to be taught by Mukunda.
c. "Whom do you ask for help?" The passive form of this sentence
is.........
i. Whom is asked for help?
ii. Who is asked for help?
iii. Who are you asked for help?
d. "Who killed the cock?" The passive form of this sentence is .................
i. Who the cock was killed by?
ii. Who was the cock killed by?
iii. Whom did the cock kill?
e. "Who told you about the accident?" The passive form of this
sentence is
i. By whom you were told about the accident?
ii. By whom were you told about the accident?
iii. Whom you were told about the accident?
f. "How did Sita write it?" The passive voice of this sentence is .................
i. How was it written by Sita?
ii. How it was written by Sita?
iii. How is it written by Sita?
g. "Did they buy a kite?" The passive voice of this sentence is .................
i. Was a kite bought by them?
ii. Is a kite bought by them?
iii. Were a kite bought by them?
h. "The tigers are being killed by the poachers." The active voice
of this sentence is .................
i. The poachers is killing the tigers.
ii. The poachers are killing the tigers.
iii. The poachers were killing the tigers.
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 139
i. The passive form of "She tells us a story." is .................
i. She told a story us.
ii. We are told a story.
iii. She told us a story.
j. The active form of "Food hasn't been prepared yet." is .................
i. No one has prepared food yet.
ii. I am not preparing food yet.
iii. By whom is food prepared.
k. "The guests were satisfied by the hosts." The active voice of this
sentence is .................
i. The hosts satisfy the guests.
ii. The hosts satisfied the guests.
iii. The hosts satisfies the guests.
l. "My room hasn't been swept well." The active voice of this sentence
is
i. She didn't swept my room well.
ii. No one has swept my room well.
iii. No one swept my room well.
m. "Was it made by Punam?" The active voice of this sentence is
.................
i. Was punam made it?
ii. Did Punam made it?
iii. Did Punam make it?
n. The active voice of "How was the tiger trapped? " is .................
i. How was the tiger trapping by you?
ii. How were the people trapped?
iii. How did the people trap the tiger?
5. Change the following sentences into active:
a. Our dog was run over by a car.
b. The jungle is being destroyed by farmers.
c. Tourists are attracted by national parks.
d. America was discovered by Columbus.
e. The window was opened by an unseen hand.
140 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
f. This poem has been written by Devkota.
g. A virtuous soul is respected by everyone.
h. Were you frightened by the noise?
i. The cow was hit by a lorry.
j. My friend is easily upset by unkind remarks.
k. They are often trained by Ram.
l. He was saved by his dog.
m. Several rhinos have been killed by poachers.
n. More rice has to be grown by farmers.
o. The book was written by my father.
p. Rice has to be grown by farmers.
q. I was told the news this morning by a friend.
r. Where have you been found by your father?
s. Let the order be given.
t. By whom was this jug broken?
u. Why was such a letter written by your brother?
v. The king was given a warm welcome.
w. Our king and queen were warmly welcomed.
x. Parliament members will be elected soon.
y. A letter will have been posted.
z. The arrival of the team was not noticed.
Pronunciation practice
Vowel sound practice /au/
Repeat after your teacher.
town hour plow
scout
out about doubt
how
down howl
bowl owl
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 141
16Lesson
Direct and Indirect Speech
Preview Ram told that
Hari is a good
"Hari is a good
doctor." doctor.
Ram Saroj Sunil Saroj
Read and learn.
• She said to us, "You are very honest."
• She said, "We have to finished this work in time."
• He asked, "What are you doing now?"
• She said, "Do that again."
• He said, "Speak politely."
Now, report these expressions in indirect speech.
Direct and Indirect Speech
Reported speech can be presented in two ways. When we use the actual
words of the speaker, we use Direct Speech; but when we report what the
speaker said in our own words, we use Indirect Speech.
Examples: Ram said, "I ate rice." (Direct Speech)
Ram said that he had eaten rice. (Indirect Speech.)
There are two parts in Direct Speech: Reporting Verb and Reported Speech.
The part before inverted comma is called Reporting Verb and the part inside
the inverted commas (" ") is called Reported Speech. See the following sentence.
Maya said, "I dance well."
R.V. - Reported Verb R.S.- Reported Speech
142 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
Change of reporting verb and use of connectives:
Kind of Sentences R.V. Connectives
1. Assertive
2. Interrogative say, says, tells, said, told that
i. Yes/No ask, asks, asked, wanted if/ whether
to know Wh-word or Wh-phrase
ii. 'Wh' question told, ordered, advised to, not to
3. Imperative
requested, suggested
4. Optative
wished, blessed, cursed, that
5. Exclamatory
prayed
exclaimed that
While changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech three kinds of changes
are made in general. They are:
A. Change of Tense
B. Change of Person
C. Change of Adverb
A. Change of Tense
If the reporting verb is in the present or future tense, the tense of the verb in
the reported speech is not changed.
Direct : Anju says, "I dance well."
Indirect : Anju says that she dances well.
Similarly tense doesn't change when universal truth or proverb is reported.
My father said, "Water freezes at 0°Celsius."
My father said that water freezes at 0° Celsius.
If the Reporting Verb is in past tense, the Reported Speech is changed in the
following ways.
Direct Indirect
1. Simple Present Simple Past
(S + V2 + ...)
(S + Vl/V5 + ...)
Past Continuous
2. Present Continuous (S + was/were/V4 + ... )
(S +am/as/are+ V4 + ... ) Past Perfect
3. Present Perfect (S + had + V3 + ... )
(S +has/ have+ V3 + ... )
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 143
4. Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
(S + have/has+ been+ V4 + O) (S. + had + been +V4 + O)
Past Perfect
5. Simple Past (S + had + V3 + ... )
(S + V2 + 0) Past Perfect Continuous
(S + had/been + V4 + ... )
6. Past Continuous No Change
(S + was/were + V4 + ... ) (S +had + V3 + 0)
Would/should/could/might
7. Past Perfect must+ Vl...
(S + had + V3 + ... ) had to+ Vl + ...
8. Will/ Shall/ can/ May would have to+ Vl + ...
9. Must+ Vl + . . . was not to/were not to + Vl ...
10. Must + Vl + . . . would not have to + Vl + ...
(if used to show any need/s of the present)
No change
11. Must+ Vl + . . . No change
(if used to show any need/s of the future)
12. Must not+ Vl + ...
(If used to show prohibition)
13. Need not+ Vl + . . .
(used to show any need/s of the future)
14. Would/Should/ Could/ Might
15. Had better/ ought to/used to
B. Change of Person
The first and second person in Direct Speech may changein Indirect Speech.
The first person (we) changes according to the subject of the reporting verb.
The second person (you) changes according to the object of the reporting
verb. The third person (he, she, it, they) doesn't change.
In short: S O N
123
Different forms of Personal Pronouns
Case Subjective Objective Possessive Possessive Reflexive
Person Case Case Adjective Pronoun Case
1st person
I Me My Mine Myself
We Us Our Ours Ourselves
144 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
2nd person You Your Your Yours Yourself
3rd person He His His His Yourselves
She Her Her Hers Himself
It Its Its Herself
They Their Their Theirs Itself
Themselves
C. Change of Adverb Indirect
Direct then
there
now
here before
that day
ago that night
today thence
tonight so
hence the day before/the previous day
thus the previous + noun
yesterday two days before
last+ noun the previous week/month (the week/
the day before yesterday month before)
last week/month the following day/the next day
the next + noun
tomorrow intwo days' time
tomorrow + noun the following week/month
the day after tomorrow that/those
next week/month it
this/these
this
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 145
Exercise
1. Tick () the best answer.
a. The indirect speech of: He says, "The cow is a gentle animal" is ...
i. He says that the cow was a gentle animal.
ii. He said that the cow is a gentle animal.
iii. They said that the cow is a gentle animal.
iv. He says that the cow is a gentle animal.
b. The indirect speech of: I say, "I am a student" is ......
i. I say that I was a student.
ii. I say that I am a student.
iii. I said that I am a student.
iv. I said that I was a student.
c. Narayan said, "Ganga can solve this problem". Its indirect speech
can be: Narayan said that ......
i. Ganga could solve that problem.
ii. Ganga can solve this problem.
iii. Ganga could solve this problem.
IV. All are possible.
d. She said, "Antari may come today." She said that ......
i. Antari may come that day.
ii. Antari may come today.
iii. Antari might come that day.
iv. Antari might come today.
e. They said, 'The police arrested the thieves." They said that ......
i. the police arrested the thieves.
ii. the police had arrested the thieves.
iii. the police had arrest the thieves.
iv. the police have arrested the thieves.
f. Ram said to me, 'I am suffering from fever."Ram told me that.....
i. I was suffering from fever.
ii. I am suffering from fever.
146 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
iii. he is suffering from fever.
IV. he was suffering from fever.
g. The principal said to me, "You may see me tomorrow."
i. The principal tells me that I may see him the next day.
ii. The principal told me that I might see him the next day.
iii. The principal said to me that I might see him tomorrow.
iv. The principal told me that I might see him tomorrow.
h. She said that she was not to b e blamed in that matter. She said.
i. "I was not to blame in this matter."
ii. "I am not be blame in this matter."
iii. "I am not to blamed in that matter."
IV. "I was not to blame in that matter."
i. You said that you were very busy that day. You said, "......"
i. You were very busy that day.
ii. You were very busy today.
iii. I am very busy that day.
IV. I am very busy today.
j. The postman told me that that letter was not for me. The postman
said to me,
i. "This letter was not for you."
ii. "This letter is not for you."
iii. "That letter was not for me."
iv. "That letter was not for you."
k. Shanti Ram asked me where I was going that day. Shanti Ram said
to me, "......?"
i. Where am I going today
ii. Where I am going today
iii. Where are you going today
IV. Where are you going that day
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 147
2. Put the correct answer in the blank.
a. The fox said, "How clever I am!" has indirect speech ........................
i. The fox asked that how clever he was.
ii. The fox told that how clever he was.
iii. The fox exclaimed that how clever he was.
iv. The fox exclaimed that he was very clever.
b. He said to me, "Are you going to school?" The indirect speech is
..................
i. He asked me if you were going to school.
ii. He asked me if I was going to school.
iii. He asked me if he was going to school.
iv. He asked me if I were going to school.
c. My bother said, "I'm staying here for a week." has indirect speech
..............
i. My brother said that he was staying here for a week.
ii. My brother said that he was staying there for a week.
iii. My brother told that he was staying there for a week.
iv. My brother said that I was staying there for a week.
d. I said to the boy, "What are you doing?" has indirect speech
........................
i. I asked the boy what was he doing.
ii. I asked the boy what he was doing.
iii. I told the boy what he was doing.
iv. I told the boy what he was doing?
e. "Stop thief!" the crowd shouted, has indirect speech ........................
i. The crowed told to stop thief.
ii. The crowd asked to stop thief.
iii. The crowd shouted to stop thief.
IV. The crowd shouted them to stop.
f . She Said to me, "I can't come with you," has the indirect
speech........................
148 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
i. She told me that she couldn't come with me.
ii. She told me that she couldn't come with you.
iii. She said me that I couldn't come with you.
tv. She said to me that she couldn't come with me.
g. ‘‘He told me that I had done well’’ has direct speech ........................
i. He said to me, "I have done well."
ii. He told me, "You have done well."
iii. She said me that I couldn't come with me.
tv. She said to me that she couldn't come with me.
h. He asked me if I had known him, has direct speech ........................
i. He asked me, "Have you know me?"
ii. He asked me, "Did you know me?"
iii. He said to me, "Did you know me?"
tv. He said to me, 'Have you known me?"
i. He inquiredwhere the bus stop was, has direct speech ........................
i. He asked, "Where is the bus stop?"
ii. He said, "Where is the bus stop?"
iii. He inquired, "Where is the bus stop?"
iv. He told, "Where is the bus stop?"
3. Change the following statements into Indirect Speech.
a. She said, "I want a dictionary."
b. He said, "I write home every week."
c. The Saint said, "God is everywhere."
d. The commander said, "Turn right."
e. They said, "I bought a car last year."
f. She said to Reeta, "I don't write every week."
g. She said, "Ouch! I have cut my finger!"
h. The boy said, "Mother, I am hungry."
i. I said, "I like my house."
j· Juhi said, "I shall see her in school."
k. The boy said, "I have been playing cricket’’
Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6 149
l. She said to me, "I will bring my book everyday."
m. "I'll do it today," he promised.
n. She said, "You can sit here, Mahesh."
o. "I'll never eat meat," he exclaimed.
p. She said, "May you pass your exam."
q. They said, "We can speak English."
4. Change the following questions into indirect speech.
a. They said to me, "Where are you going?"
b. The teacher said to me, "What are you doing?"
c. Arun said to me, "When will you return?"
d. He asked, "What time is it?"
e. She said, "Madan, when is the next train?"
f. The old man said to me, "Where do you live?"
g. He said, "What have you got in your bag?"
i. I said to her, "Did you go away last year?"
j. "Is anyone there?" he asked.
k. He said, "Did you see Mukul at the football match?"
l. "Do you write a good hand?"asked the teacher.
m. My father said, "Have you done your homework?"
n. "Is this seat reserved?" the student asked the teacher.
o. The doctor said to the patient, "Do you have a headache?"
p. "Have you no manners?/" shouted the woman angrily.
5. Change the following commands and requests into indirect
speech.
a. The boy said to the teacher, "Please mark me present."
b. He said, "Go home."
c. He said to the boys, "Do not make a noise."
d. I said to the teacher, "Please explain the question to me."
e. "Waiter, please bring me a cup of tea," said the man.
f. He said to me, "Do try your luck."
g. He said to his servant, "Leave my house at once."
h. He said, "Don"t move, boys."
i. I said, "Don"t leave the place without my permission."
150 Oasis Applied Grammar and Composition Book-6
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