English Grammar for Year 4, 5 and 6

Bull (cattle) Cow Calf
Bull (elephant) Cow Calf
Bull (seal) Cow Calf
Bull (whale) Cow Calf
Dog Bitch Puppy
Dog (fox) Vixen Cub
Leopard Leopardess Cub
Lion Lioness Cub
Ram (sheep) Ewe Lamb
Stag Hind Fawn
Stallion Mare Foal
Tiger Tigress Cub
Tom-cat Tabby-cat Kitten
wolf She-wolf Cub

Cob (swan) BIRDS Cygnet
Cock Pen Chick
Cock (pigeon) Hen Squab
Drake Hen Duckling
Eagle Duck Eaglet
Hawk Eagle Bower
Owl Bowess Owlet
Owl

Adult Young
INSECTS
Ant , bee
Butterfly Grub
Cockroach Caterpillar
Housefly Nymph
Mosquito Maggot
Moth Wriggler
Wasp Caterpillar
Grub
Eel FISH
Salmon Elver
Trout Parr
Fry
Frog, toad AMPHIBIANS
tadpole

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Similes compared things that are similar in some ways.

as agile as a monkey / cat as hungry as a wolf
as alike as two peas
as bald as an egg as industrious as a beaver / an ant
as beautiful as the rainbow
as big as an elephant / a whale as lazy as a toad
as black as coal / soot
as blind as a bat as light as a feather
as brave as a lion
as busy as a bee as loud as thunder
as changeable as the weather
as clear as crystal as meek as a lamb
as clumsy as a bear
as cold as ice as old as the hills
as cool as a cucumber
as cunning as a fox as playful as a kitten / puppy
as deep as the sea
as devoted as a mother as proud as a peacock
as dry as a bone
as quick as lightning

as quiet as a mouse

as right as rain

as round as a ball

as sharp as a needle

as silent as a grave

as silly as a sheep TICERtINA
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as slippery as an eel

as slow as a snail/ tortoise

as fat as a pig as straight as an arrow
as feeble as a child
as fierce as a lion as strong as a horse / ox
as fit as a fiddle
as flat as a pancake as stubborn as a mule
as foolish as a calf
as gentle as a dove / lamb as sturdy as an oak
as graceful as a swan
as greedy as a hog as sweet as honey
as green as grass
as hairy as a gorilla as swift as a deer/hare/hawk
as happy as a lark/ king
as hard as iron as tall as a giant
as harmless as a dove
as heavy as an elephant as tender as a chicken
as helpless as a baby
as bitter as gall as thin as a rake
as frisky as a lamb/two year old
as hungry as a hunter/ wolf as timid as a mouse
as round as a barrel/ ball
as sound as a bell as useful as a cow
as sure-footed as a goat
as warm as wool

as wet as a fish

as white as snow

as wide as the ocean

as wise as an owl

as dull as ditchwater

as good as gold

as obstinate as a mule

as safe as a bank

103 as stiff as a poker TICERtINA
as thick as thieves

A) Complete the following y
1 as ___________ as a mule
2 as ___________ as gold 6 as _______________ as a rock
3 as ____________ as an ant 7 as _______________ as honey
4 as ____________ as a deer 8 as _______________ as thieves
5 as ____________ as glass 9 as _______________ as thunder
10 as _______________ as a dog

(A) Complete these sentences with suitable words. TICERtINA
1 He was as happy as a ______________________.
2 We feel as hungry as a ________________________.
3 Learning to dance is as easy as ___________________.
4 Fang Ping is as quiet as a _______________________.
5 The ballerina moved as gracefully as a _____________________.
6 Her dress was as beautiful as the ____________________.
7 He is as fierce as a _____________________ when he is angry.

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8 Don’t worry about me. I’m as fit as a ____________________.
9 The nurse was as tender as a _____________ as she picked up the baby.
10 This bus is moving as slowly as a _______________.

(B) Correct these sentences by changing the underlined words.
1 My brother is as thin as a poker.
2 My grandmother is as wise as a mouse.
3 Raju’s hand were as black as gall.
4 I met a man who was as round as an elephant.
5 The hall was as silent as a bank.

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A compound word is made up of two or more words.
Examples: basket + ball = basketball

106 TICERtINA

Sun + flower = sunflower

airport eyesight motorboat skateboard
bathroom fingernail motorcar softball
bean sprouts fireman mousetrap somebody
bedroom fire station necklace stallholder
bedtime firewood necktie sunlight
birthday fireworks needlework tablespoon
birthmark fisherman netball teardrop
birthplace fishmonger newspaper teaspoon
blackboard football newsvendor timekeeper
blackout footwear notebook timetable
boatman goalkeeper oil lamp toothache
bookcase grandchild oil palm toothbrush
bookmark granddaughter outdoors toothpaste
bookshop grandfather paperweight toothpick
bookworm grandmother pen pal torchlight
businessman grandson playground upstairs
bus stop grasshopper policeman volleyball
butterfly groundnuts postman warehouse
childhood hardworking postmaster washbasin
chopsticks homesick raincoat watchman
classmate homework raindrop watercolours
downstairs ice cream salesman watermelon
dragonfly keyhole screwdriver weekday
dustbin lamp post seafood weekend
everybody lampshade seashell woodpecker
everyday maidservant seashore woodwork
everywhere mailbox seaside workbook
eyebrow mid-year shophouse zoo keeper
eyelash moonlight shopkeeper

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air heir fair fare
aisle isle (I’ll) feat feet
alley ally flew flu
allowed aloud sflcoeunre fsleoewner
manatin amuannte fsoceonl t fsuelnl t/ cent
amtaere emigahytor fsoerae fsoeuer
mbaedat bmaedeet fsoeualm fsoeweml
mbaeildal mbaeleddle gseawit sgoa/tesow
mbailslsed bmaiwstl gsiagmhtble sgiatme bol
mbaursecle mbeuasrsel gsouailrd gsourilet
bneoanceh bneuench gsoralete gsoreual t
boearll bore/lloere gsoronan gsuronwn
bpaleilw bplaulee hstaaiilr hstaalree
bpoaianr bpaonree hstaaikr e hstaeraek
pboaiarrd bpeoarerd shteaatrionary shtearteionery
pbaouusgeh bpaowws hsteeaarld hsteeredl
pboeayce bpuieocye shtiigleher shtiyrele
pbueayl bpye/elbye thaimil htaylme n
pceeielirng speiearling htaoraersd hteoarrdse
pceiclltaurre speitlclehrer theoalers twiehrosle
cpelarceeal spelariiacel thhoelyir wthheorelly
cphlaeianp pchlaeneep thhoruerw othurrough
pchluemck cphluemqube tkheryone qthuraoywn
pcooarerse pcoouurrse tkindeew ntiewd
pcorarectice pcorarpctsise tkinmigeht nthigyhmte
pcorauinsecil pcorauynss/eplreys tkonot tnooot/two
pcrreewsesnce cprrueisseents tkonlodws tnoolsleed
cpurrirnacniptal cpurirnrceinptle vleaaink vleaenke/ vein
rdaeianrs rdeeiegrns/reins lviaglhetning vliegihltening
draieise drayyes/ raze lwoainst wloansete
dreraadft drereaudght lwoaoitt wlueteight
reewael yreoeul wmeaadke wmeaeidk
fraicient freisient mwoanil omnaele
right write wood would
ring wring
road rode/ rowed
roll role
root route
rose rows
roar raw
rye wry
sail sale

108 TICERtINA

IDIOMS MEANING
a chip of the old block very like the father
a close shave a narrow escape
a cock and a bull story an absurd and unbelievable story
a hard nut to crack a difficult problem
a skeleton in the cupboard a dreadful family secret
a storm in a teacup much excitement about something small
a wet blanket a discouraging person
a white elephant something useless and expensive to keep
An eye for an eye Retaliation, revenge
Armed to the teeth Completely armed
At loggerheads with Quarrelling
At the eleventh hour At the last moment
Bite one’s head off Answer sharply or angrily
Blow one’s trumpet Boast
Bring one to one’s senses Cause one to stop foolish or wild behavior
Burn the candle at both ends Overdo work and play
Bury the hatchet Make peace
Butter someone up Flatter
By hook or by crook By fair or foul means
By leaps and bounds With remarkable speed
Can’t make head or tail of Can’t understand at all
Carried away Very excited
Cat-and- dog life Life full of quarrel
Close fisted Miserly
Completely at sea Puzzled
Crocodile tears False tears
Dirt cheap Extremely cheap
Do away with Get rid of
Down to earth Practical
Draw the line Fix the limit
Easier said than done Easier to talk about than to do
Eat one’s words Take back something said earlier
Ends of the earth Remote faraway places

109 TICERtINA

Face the music Take punishment
Fair and square With justice and honesty
Fall on deaf ears To be ignored
Fell in one’s bone Have a strong feeling about something
Fit as a fiddle In very good health
Get along with Be friendly and in harmony with
Get away with Be successful in something which usually
results in punishment or misfortune
Get down to Deal seriously with
Get into hot water Get into trouble
Get it into one’s head that Understand
Get on one’s nerves Irritate
Get over Forget
Give a piece of one’s mind Punish or scold
Give the game away Reveal a secret plan
Go bananas Act crazily
Go by the book Follow the rules closely
Go off one’s head Become crazy
Hard up Short of money
Hard and fast rules Strict rules
Have a go at To try
Have at one’s fingertips Be thoroughly familiar with
Have one’s hand full Very busy
Have one’s heart in one’s mouth Be frightened
Head over heels Deeply, completely
High and dry Alone and helpless
Hit the nail on the head Guess correctly
Hold one’s tongue Keep silent
In a nut shell Briefly
In cold blood Purposely
In black and white In writing
In one ear and out the other Heard but without effect
In the nick of time Just before it is too late
In the same boat In the same unfortunate circumstance
Keep a straight face Hide one’s amusement by not smiling or
laughing
Keep an eye on To watch carefully, to look after
Keep one’s head Keep calm
Let the cat out of the bag Tell what should be kept a secret
Like water off a duck’s back With no effect or reaction
Lock, stock and barrel The whole of everything
Look down one’s nose on Treat haughtily

110 TICERtINA

Lose face He humiliated
Lose one’s head Become confused or over-excited
Make a clean breast of Confess
Make do To get along with what one has
Make ends meet Manage financially
Make one’s blood run cold Fill with horror
Make sense Have a meaning
Make the mouth water Cause to desire
Mind one’s P’s and Q’s Be careful and polite about what one’s says
or does
Mind your own business Do not interfere in the affairs of other
people
Next to kin The nearest of relations
Not turn a hair Show no fear
On the dot At the exact time or point
Once in a blue moon Rarely, once in a very long time
Out of hand Out of control
Out of the blue Unexpected
Out of date Old-fashioned
Pick someone’s brain Get ideas from someone
Play fast and loose Act carelessly
Pull one’s leg Try to make someone believe an untruth as
a joke
Pull/wear a long face Look sad and glum
Put an end to Stop
Put the cart before the horse Start at the wrong end
Rains cat and dogs Rain heavily
Rub the wrong way Irritate
Runaway success Great, immediate success
Run into someone Meet unexpectedly
See eye to eye Agree completely
Sell like hot cakes Very readily or quickly
Send one packing Dismiss quickly
Send to Coventry Ignore as a punishment
Show a clean pair of heels Run away
Show one’s teeth Look angry
Sit on the fence Avoid taking sides
Smell a rat Be suspicious
Spick and span Neat and clean
Steal the show Attract all the intension
Strike while the iron is hot Act without delay
Stuck up Conceited, proud

111 TICERtINA

Take to one’s heels Run away
Thick in the head Stupid
To put one’s best foot forward To do the best possible
Turn over a new leaf Conduct oneself better
Turn to other cheek Accept attack, refuse to take revenge
Turn the tables Reverse the result
Turn up one’s nose Be scornful of
Under one’s very nose Directly in front of one
Wash one’s hands off Refuse to have anything to do with
Wear a long face Look serious or dismal
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve To behave so that one’s feelings are clear to
all
With a high hand With arrogance
Well begun is half done A good start makes it easy to finish
something

112 TICERtINA

1 Rohaizat ____________ a new motorcycle.

A has bought B buy C buying D have bought

2 __________ is the manager here?

A Whom B Who C Whose D What

3 Petrol __________ a highly volatile liquid.

A are B is C was D were

4 I bought a __________ of grapes at the market.

A crate B comb C bunch D set

5 The __________ of stray dogs attacked and bit the child.

A herd B pack C flock D swarm

6 __________ I go out shopping with my friends, mother?

A Do B Am C Will D May

7 The villagers saw a __________ of thieves hiding in the forest near the
village.

A crew B gang C fleet D troop

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8 My father stopped his car to allow a _________ of sheep to cross the road.

A herd B pack C flock D swarm

9 We __________ ask our teacher’s opinion before we make any decision.

A shall B will be C shall be D shan’t be

10 The letter __________ I cannot post it.

A tear B torn C tears D is torn

11 The pupils were all __________ about when the headmaster entered the
classroom.

A run B ran C runs D running

12 The dogs have been __________ since 10.00p.m.

A howl B howled C howls D howling

13 She has __________ all her money on clothes.

A spend B spent C spends D spending

14 __________ your mother speak French fluently?

A Is B Do C Was D Does

15 The children __________ eat the bread because it was not fresh.

A do B does C don’t D didn’t

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16 Miss Zeela __________ the prettiest pair of eyes I have ever seen.

A has B have C having D to have

17 Whales __________ holes on top of their heads through which they blow out
air.

A has B had C have D having

18 ___________ I boring you with my silly jokes?

A Am B Is C Are D Were

19 Some animals __________ more active at night than in the day.

A is B are C was D will

20 Are there only __________ chalks in the box?

A any B a few C a lot D a little

21 How __________ must I pay for this food?

A few B many C much D a lot

22 You are like your father in __________ ways.

A many B much C plenty D a little

23 Busu and I made __________ a raft to cross the river.

A himself B myself C ourselves D themselves

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24 To __________ do you talk when you have problems?

A who B whom C which D what

25 __________ is the biggest kite at the kite- show.

A They B Them C Their D Theirs

26 All of us listened intently to __________ exciting story.

A he B him C his D himself

27 Please stop that big boy from bullying ___________.

A us B we C our D ours

28 I hope __________ patience and hard work will pay off.

A me B my C mine D myself

29 Water vapourises when __________ is heated.

A it B its C he D they

30 She looks __________ cheerful today than yesterday.

A less B least C most D very

31 It is __________ to cycle very fast down a hill.

A danger B dangerous C dangerously D to danger

32 You speak __________ Bahasa Malaysia than your friend. TICERtINA
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A good B better C best D very good

33 Mr Chong spoke __________ because he was annoyed with us.

A angry B anger C angrily D very angry

34 Syafiq did very __________ in the Mathematics test.

A bad B worse C worst D badly

35 How __________ do you go to the dentist?

A always B often C sometimes D never

36 __________ I am not here by 9.00 a.m., you can leave without me.

A If B So C And D But

37 She has not eaten well for a few days __________ she is very sick.

A so B if C but D because

38 The men tried to catch the dog __________ it was too fast for them.

A so B but C and D because

39 I hid __________ the bushes when we played hide-and- seek.

A on B at C against D among

40 The petrol dripped all the way because there was a leak __________ the
tank.

A by B at C in D through

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41 The exhibition was held __________ a public holiday.

A in B on C at D by

42 They stopped the car __________ the side of the road to take a short rest.

A by B in C for D from

43 Why is she so afraid __________ cockroaches?

A of B to C at D for

44 We went to __________ clinic to see __________ Dr Ramesan.

A a, an B an, a C the, - D the, the

45 __________ art competition was organized by __________ Parent- Teacher
Association.

AA,a B An, a C An, an D The, the

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1 __________ forgot to wear __________ badge to school.

A She, hers B He, his C They, them D I, me

2 “Do you know __________ to answer these questions?” asked my younger
brother.

A who B how C which D what

3 Amin went to the __________ shop to buy some tools.

A book B hardware C sundry D tuck

4 The boys took off __________ shoelaces before washing their shoes.

A they B theirs C their D them

5 They have been talking __________ two o’clock.

A for B since C with D at

6 Raman’s auntie is very tall. She is as __________ as her father.

A tall B tallest C taller D more taller

7 We should __________ play in the middle of the road. TICERtINA
119

A always B never C often D seldom

8 Aminuddin found a coin __________ the floor.

A over B in C at D on

9 I saw __________ German tourist eating at __________ hawker centre.

A a, the B a, - C a, an D the, a

“This is the place __________ I was born ,” said Encik Zain to his wife.

A who B when C where D how

10 Hayati wants to buy a new scarf _____ she does not have enough money.
A if B so C or D but

11 The aeroplane will __________ at 3a.m.

A take in B take of C take on D take off

12 She likes to bring her dog __________ whenever she goes.

A among B across C around D along

13 “Please take care of __________ when I am away,” said Mrs Thong to her
children.

A yourself B ourselves C yourselves D myself

14 It is __________ to eat more vegetables than meat.’

A good B best C better D very good

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15 My father bought a __________ of eggs from the market.

A swarm B comb C clutch D brood

16 Zainal’s father is a rich man. He has __________ money.

A many B a lot of C a few D several

17 __________ apple she gave was sweet. It was __________ expensive one
too.

A An, - B The, an C the, an D The, -

18 When they won the netball game, all the players felt pleased with
__________.

A yourselves B himself C themselves D ourselves

19 Many goods are kept in the _____________.

A hangar B harbor C warehouse D station

20 My driving license expires __________ in the sixth of October.

A in B at C on D by

21 __________ help of a passerby, I managed to push the car to the side of the
road.

A By B With C From D On

22 Speak ___________, they are having an examination. TICERtINA
121

A softly B bravely C loudly D politely

23 There were __________ people at the grand opening of the shopping
complex.

A much B plenty C a little D a lot of

24 “ Puan Ani gave me a __________ of bananas yesterday,” said Ramli.

A bouquet B bunch C packet D pack

25 This is __________ insect I have ever seen.

A strange B strangest C stranger D the strangest

26 A penguin ___________ not fly, but it swims very well.

A do B does C did D doing

27 My motorcycle is __________ Hamdan’s and Farid’s motorcycles.

A behind B beside C opposite D between

28 The tourist stayed __________ Kota Kinabalu for ten days.

A at B on C in D by

29 Rashid Sidek was __________ as the Best Sportsman in 1991.

A choose B chose C chosen D choosing

30 “We__________ you all in the cooking competition,” said the girl.
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A shall join B joining C joins D join

31 Zaiton’s house was __________ decorated for her brother’s wedding.

A angrily B politely C soundly D beautifully

32 You must attend the course __________ you are ill.

A unless B therefore C if D or

33 Khaidar has the __________ T-shirt I have ever seen.

A very colourful B colourful C most colourful D more colourful

34 Don’t give him too __________ food to eat.

A a lot B many C much D a little

35 The __________ wore masks during the robbery.

A rob B robber C robbers D robbed

36 The bridesmaid carried a beautiful __________ of flowers.

A clump B group C set D bouquet

37 They came back ___________ Pulau Tioman five days ago.

A from B on C into D at

38 We shall rest __________ we have finished the work. TICERtINA
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A at B above C across D after

39 When the fire started, __________ rushed to the door. Luckily, __________
was hurt.

A nobody, none B someone, one C everything, all

D everybody, no one

40 Henry bought a __________ of oranges for the Chinese New Year.

A collection B packet C pack D crate

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