ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Basic Concept

Assertive Sentence Interrogative Sentence

Definition Definition
• Assertive sentence is a sentence  An interrogative sentence is a
that makes a statement or states a sentence that asks a question. It
fact. It can be affirmative or contains a question mark (?). An
negative. interrogative can be affirmative
Examples or negative.
 They play cricket. (Affirmative) Examples
 He does not tell a lie. (Negative)  Do they study attentively?
 Everybody respects an honest  Isn’t he making a noise in the
person. (Affirmative) classroom?
 None believes a liar. (Negative)  Will you attend the meeting?
 He is a very active person.  How has he solved the problem?
(Affirmative)  Who respects a dishonest person?
 Changing Sentence (Rule 1)

 If an assertive sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary verb will be placed
before the subject while changing the assertive sentence into an interrogative sentence.
An affirmative assertive sentence will be converted into a negative interrogative
sentence and a negative assertive will be converted into an affirmative interrogative
sentence.
Structure
 Assertive : Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb +……
 Interrogative : Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb +…..?
Examples
 Assertive : He is watching an English movie.
Interrogative : Isn’t he watching an English movie?
 Assertive : The sentence does not contain any auxiliary verb.
Interrogative : Does the sentence contain any auxiliary verb?
 Assertive : He has not completed his work.
Interrogative : Has he completed his work?
 Changing Sentence (Rule 2)

 If an assertive sentence does not contain any auxiliary verb, an auxiliary verb
(don’t/doesn’t/didn’t) will be placed before the subject while changing the assertive
sentence into an interrogative sentence. In the interrogative sentence, the base form of
the main verb placed after the subject.
Structure
 Assertive : Subject + Main Verb +………………………
 Interrogative : Auxiliary Verb (Don’t/ Doesn’t/ Didn’t +
Subject + Main Verb +…..?
Examples
 Assertive : He speaks the truth.
Interrogative : Doesn’t he speak the truth?
 Assertive : The books of great writers contain good ideas.
Interrogative : Don’t the books of great writers contain good ideas?
 Assertive : Ruplal lived in a village.
Interrogative : Didn’t Ruplal live in a village?
 Changing Sentence (Rule 3)

 If an assertive sentence starts with ‘None/ No one/ Nobody’ (Subject), ‘Who’ will be
used while changing the assertive sentence into an interrogative sentence. The
interrogative sentence will be affirmative.
Structure
 Assertive : Subject (None/ Nobody/ No one) + Main Verb
+….
 Interrogative : Who + Main Verb +…………………………...?
Examples
 Assertive : None respects a dishonest person.
Interrogative : Who respects a dishonest person?
 Assertive : No one will support you.
Interrogative : Who will support you?
 Assertive : Nobody believes a liar.
Interrogative : Who believes a liar?
 Changing Sentence (Rule 4)

 If an assertive sentence starts with ‘Everyone/ Everybody’ (Subject), ‘Who’ will be

used while changing the assertive sentence into an interrogative sentence. The
interrogative sentence will be negative.
Structure
 Assertive : Subject (Everyone/ Everybody) + Main Verb +….
 Interrogative : Who + Main Verb +…………………………...?
Examples
 Assertive : Everyone respects an honest person.
Interrogative : Who doesn’t respect an honest person?
 Assertive : Everybody supported you.
Interrogative : Who did not support you?
 Assertive : Everybody wants to be happy.
Interrogative : Who doesn’t want to be happy?
 Changing Sentence (Rule 5)

 If an assertive sentence starts with ‘Every + Common Noun’ (Subject), ‘Is there any
+ Common Noun + who’ will be used while changing the assertive sentence into an
interrogative sentence. The interrogative sentence will be negative.
Structure
 Assertive : Subject (Every + Common Noun) + Main Verb +….
 Interrogative : Is there any + Common Noun + who + Main Verb
+…....?
Examples
 Assertive : Every woman wants freedom.
Interrogative : Is there any woman who doesn’t want freedom?
 Assertive : Every student expects a good result.
Interrogative : Who doesn’t expect a good result?
 Assertive : Every mother loves her child.
Interrogative : Is there any mother who does not love her child?
Exercise A: Change the following sentences according to the directions.
1. It matters if a man lives many years or not. (Interrogative)
2. No one can deny the importance of a computer. (Interrogative)
3. Patriotism is a noble virtue. (Interrogative)
4. Everybody uses a mobile phone. (Interrogative)
5. At present, terrorism is increasing alarmingly. (Interrogative)
6. Who is not now in the threat of violence? (Assertive)
7. He never thought of happiness of his own happiness. (Interrogative)
8. He inherited a vast property from his father and sister. (Interrogative)
9. Who does not know about the charity of Mother Teresa? (Assertive)
10. Mother Teresa is an icon of many people. (Interrogative)
11. Internet is a computer-based networking system. (Interrogative)
12. We got our independence for the sacrifice of our freedom fighters. (Interrogative)
13. Who does not want to succeed in life? (Assertive)
14. The books of great writers contain noble thoughts and great ideas. (Interrogative)
15. There was an old man in the village. (Interrogative)
16. The friends were talking about the love for each other. (Interrogative)
17. Nobody respects him. (Interrogative)
18. Is there anybody who does not want to succeed in life? (Assertive)
19. One cannot be successful without hard work. (Interrogative)
20. Who does not know the consequence of Tsunami? (Assertive)
 Exercise B: Change the following sentences according to the directions.

1. He can succeed in life. (Interrogative)

2. A flower is a glowing gift of nature. (Interrogative)
3. The man thought that he was born on the wrong side of the planet. (Interrogative)
4. Every student wants to do well in the exam. (Interrogative)
5. Every mother loves her child. (Interrogative)
6. Nobody believes a liar. (Interrogative)
7. The bee flies from flower to flower to collect honey. (Interrogative)
8. We are proud of our school. (Interrogative)
9. A mobile set is light to carry. (Interrogative)
10. His writings are very encouraging. (Interrogative)
11. Who does not now Nelson Mandela? (Assertive)
12. Can’t we overcome this problem. (Assertive)
13. Many people come to visit Cox’s Bazar sea beach every year. (Interrogative)
14. He goes to school regularly. (Interrogative)
15. A poor student cannot buy a computer. (Interrogative)
16. Corruption lies in every phase of our society. (Interrogative)
17. My friend received me cordially. (Interrogative)
18. They can improve their condition by working hard. (Interrogative)
19. Ruplal lived with his family. (Interrogative)
20. Something is needed for me to go ahead. (Interrogative)
 Exercise A: Answer Sheet
1. Doesn’t it matter if a man lives many years or not?
2. Who can deny the importance of a computer?
3. Isn’t patriotism a noble virtue?
4. Who doesn’t use a mobile phone?
5. Isn’t terrorism increasing alarmingly at present?
6. Everyone is now in the threat of violence.
7. Did he ever think of happiness of his own happiness?
8. Didn’t he inherited a vast property from his father and sister?
9. Everyone knows about the charity of Mother Teresa.
10. Isn’t Mother Teresa is an icon of many people?
11. Isn’t internet a computer-based networking system?
12. Didn’t we get our independence for the sacrifice of our freedom fighters?
13. Everyone wants to succeed in life.
14. Don’t the books of great writers contain noble thoughts and great ideas?
15. Wasn’t there an old man in the village?
16. Weren’t the friends talking about the love for each other?
17. Who respects him?
18. Everybody wants to succeed in life.
19. Who can be successful without hard work?
20. Everybody knows the consequence of Tsunami.
 Exercise B: Answer Sheet
1. Can’t he succeed in life?
2. Isn’t a flower a glowing gift of nature?
3. Didn’t the man think that he was born on the wrong side of the planet?
4. Is there any student who doesn’t want to do well in the exam?
5. Is there any mother who doesn’t love her child?
6. Who believes a liar?
7. Doesn’t the bee fly from flower to flower to collect honey?
8. Aren’t we proud of our school?
9. Isn’t a mobile set light to carry?
10. Aren’t his writings very encouraging?
11. Everybody knows Nelson Mandela.
12. We can overcome this problem.
13. Don’t many people come to visit Cox’s Bazar sea beach every year?
14. Doesn’t he go to school regularly?
15. Can a poor student buy a computer?
16. Does corruption lie in every phase of our society?
17. Didn’t my friend receive me cordially?
18. Can’t they improve their condition by working hard?
19. Didn’t Ruplal live with his family?
20. Isn’t something needed for me to go ahead?