English Eduspot Educational Blog & Edu-Videos

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Grammar Elements and Discourse Formats in a Nutshell
1. Tag Questions
AUXILIARY VERBS Splitting Verbs with Do / Does / Did
Primary Auxiliary Verbs Modal Auxiliary Verbs Work = do + work
am/ is / are / was / were Can - could Works = does + work
do / does / did May - might Worked = did + work English
have / has / had Will – would
Shall – should Do + write = write
Must / Dare /Need Does + write = writes Eduspot
Ought to Did + write = wrote
© English Eduspot Used to

Negative sentences will take Positive Question Tag. [ -ve sentence , +ve tag? ]

Positive Sentence will take Negative Question Tag [ +ve sentence ________, -ve tag? ]

If there is an auxiliary verb in the given sentence, use it in the tag question. If there is no auxiliary
verb, use do/does/did in the tag question splitting the main verb as shown in the above table.
The following Negative Words can make sentences negative.
Little / few / seldom / rarely / hardly / scarcely / barely / no / not / never / nobody / nowhere, etc.

Special rules / Exceptions Examples

1. A positive sentence beginning with ‘I am’ takes ‘aren’t I?’ 1. I am a student, aren’t I?
as tag
2. Sentences beginning with ‘Let’s’ take ‘shall we?’ as tag 2. Let’s go home, shall we?
3. Sentences with ‘This/that’ as subject will have ‘it’ as the 3. This is beautiful, isn’t it?
subject in tag
4. Sentences with ‘These/those’ as subject will have ‘they’ as 4. Those are good, aren’t they?
tag’s subject
5. Sentences with ‘There’ as subject will take ‘there’ as the 5. There aren’t much, are there?
subject in tag
6. Sentences with ‘somebody/someone/nobody/no one 6. Nobody came, did they?
/everyone / everybody’ as subject will take ‘they’ as tag’s
subject.
7. Sentences with ‘Something/Nothing’ as subject will take 7. Nothing happened, did it?
‘it’ as tag’s subject.
8. We use ‘will you?’ or ‘won’t you? as the tag question of a 8. Open the door, won’t you?
command sentence. Don’t forget, will you?
For requests, could/would/can you? etc. are used Please open the window, would you?

We use ‘should’ in tag question with sentences having 9. We ought to obey the traffic rules,
‘ought to’ as the auxiliary verb. shouldn’t we?
10. We use ‘did’ or ‘didn’t’ in tag question with sentences 10. We used to play here, didn’t we?
having ‘used to’ as the auxiliary verb.
© English Eduspot
 2. Reported Speech
Tense Changes

All the Present Tense will change into the Past Tense

All the Past Tense will change into the Past Perfect (had +V3)

Will/Shall/Can/May + Verb will change into Would/Should/Could/Might + Verb

Did + Verb (Did you write...?) will change into Had + V3 (Had you written...?)

Am/is/are will change into Was/Were

Was/were will change into Had been

Linking Words
© English Eduspot

Statements (Reply sentences): → That

Wh-Questions : → The Same Question Word
→
Yes/No Answer Questions : → If / Whether

Positive Command/request: → To + Base Verb English

Negative Command/request: → Not + to + Base Verb

Adjective / Adverb Changes Eduspot

• Now Then
• This That
• Today That day
• Yesterday The previous day
• Here There
• These Those
• Tomorrow The next day

Note: follow this word order while reporting: RC + LW + S + V …

Example: Friend: Why didn’t the thief take the dirty vest?
The friend asked why the thief hadn’t taken the dirty vest.

Reporting Clause (RC) LW Suject Verb …………

Question 1: Report the following dialogues

1 The boy: Where did you get the white rat from?
Grandfather: I bought it from the bazaar.

The boy asked his grandfather where he had got the white rat from.

The grandfather replied that he had bought it from the bazaar.
2 Grandmother: Son, do you know where my knitting is?
The boy: No grandma, I don’t know.

The grandmother asked the boy if he knew where her knitting was.

The boy replied (negatively) that he didn’t know.
3 The friend: is your wife fat?
The homoeopath: No, she is not fat. She is a reedy person.

The friend asked the homeopath whether his wife was fat.

The homeopath replied negatively that she was not fat, and he added that she was a reedy
person.
4 The friend: why do you look so worried?
The homoeopath: I have been frightened by a snake.

The friend asked the homeopath why he looked so worried.

The homeopath replied that he had been frightened by a snake.
5 Ray: why did you bring two tigers?
Mr. Thorat: we can use the other if one doesn’t behave well.

Ray asked Mr. Thorat why he had brought two tigers.

Mr. Thorat replied that they could use the other if one didn’t behave well.
6 Ali: Can I take these potatoes?
Akbar: Don’t take the potatoes from this box.

Ali asked Akbar whether he could take those potatoes.

Akbar told Ali not to take the potatoes from that box. © English Eduspot

3. Conditional Sentences (If-clauses)

If – clause Main Clause
First Conditional Simple Present Tense Will/Shall/May/Can + base form verb
(Base form / S-form verb)
If you study well, you will pass the exam.
Second Conditional Simple Past Tense Would/Should/Might/Could + base verb
If you studied well, you would pass the exam.
Third Conditional Past Perfect Tense Would/Should/Might/Could + have + V3
(had + V3 form verb)
If you had studied well, you would have passed the exam.

4. Had better

‘Had better’ is used to give strong advice, or to tell people what to do.

‘Had better’ should be followed a base form verb (bare infinitive). ‘Had better + base verb’.
o E.g.: You had better tell your grandpa about the payment.

The negative form of ‘had better’ is ‘had better not’ [NOT hadn’t better] English
E.g. We had better not tell her about the bad news.
Eduspot
5. Would rather

The expression ‘would rather’ is used to talk about preference.

‘Would rather’ has two different constructions – one with the same subject and the other with different
subjects.

With the same subject, a base verb (bare infinitive) is used after ‘would rather’.
E.g. I would rather do my homework than watch TV. (the same subject) – would rather + base verb

With different subjects, a simple past verb (without a past meaning) is used after the second subject.
E.g. I would rather you did the homework than watch TV. (different subjects) -
would rather + second subject + simple past verb

The negative form of ‘would rather’ is ‘would rather not’ (NOT ‘wouldn’t rather) when the subject is
the same person. E.g. I would rather not go out tonight.

When the subjects are different, we should use ‘would rather + second subject + didn’t + verb’.
E.g. I would rather you didn’t go out tonight.

© English Eduspot
 Question 2: Complete the following conversations:
(A)
Homeopath: I think you remember me, ...........(a)..............?
Police officer: Yes, I remember you. You’re the homeopath who filed a theft case last week.
Homeopath: Yes, sir. ....................(b)........................? a. don’t you?
Police office: No, we haven’t got any clues yet. If we get any information, ..............(c).................
b. Have you got any
Homeopath: OK, sir. I look forward to hearing from you some good news soon. clue about the thief?
Police officer: By the way, I think you had better .............(d).............. c. we will let you know.
d. shift to a new house.
Homeopath: I’ve already shifted to a new house. Thank you.
(B) a. aren’t you?
Mr. Thorat: You are Mr. Sayajit Ray, .......(a).......? b. What do you want, sir? / What can I do for you?
c. talk to the manager.
Ray: Yes, I am. d. I will bring the tiger to the shooting location.
Mr. Thorat: ..............................(b)...................?
Ray: I want a trained tiger to shoot a scene in my next film.
Mr. Thorat: You had better..............(c)...............
Ray: I’ve already talked to the Manager and he told me to contact you.
Mr. Thorat: If the manager agrees, ..................(d).......................... .By the way, where is the location?
Ray: It’s in Notun Gram village.
(C) a. haven’t you?
Mother: Ali, you’ve got the shoes repaired,.........(a)............? b. Where did you lose them?
c. aren’t you?
Ali: Yes mom; But I lost them. d. you wouldn’t have lost the shoes.
Mother: ............(b)..........................? e. ask the junk collector.
Ali: I lost them in Akbar Akka’s vegetable shop. f. I knew him. / I found him.
Mother: Ali, you are very careless nowadays, .......(c)...........?
Ali: No mom. I kept them outside the shop while I was collecting potatoes.
Mother: If you had been careful enough, ...........(d).......................
Ali: A junk collector came there and took all junks while I was inside the shop.
Mother: Then, you had better...........(e)..........
Ali: But I don’t know him. I wish .............(f)...................
Mother: Then, you can ask Akbar Akka. He may know him.

© English Eduspot 6. Sentence Analysis

Mr. Thorath, who was the ringmaster of Bharat Circus, had brought two tigers in a lorry.

Subject Noun Phrase? Mr. Thorat, who was the ringmaster of Bharat Circus
Verb Phrase? had brought two tigers in a lorry
Object Noun Phrase? two tigers
Prepositional Phrase? of Bharat Circus / in a lorry
Relative Clause? who was the ringmaster of Bharat Circus
Auxiliary Verb? had
Main Verb? brought
All Noun Phrases in the sentences? Mr. Thorat / ringmaster / Bharat Circus / tigers / lorry

Question 2: Analyse the following sentence and identify the parts asked:
English
Akbar, who was the owner of a vegetable store, threatened to beat Ali.

1. Subject NP? Eduspot

2. Verb Phrase?
3. Prepositional Phrase?
4. Relative Clause?
Answers:1. Akbar, who was the owner of a vegetable store 2. threatened to beat Ali.
3. of a vegetable store 4. who was the owner of a vegetable store
7. Basic Sentence Patterns © English Eduspot

A) Identify the pattern of the following sentences.

1. Mr. Thorat nodded. SV
2. This puzzled me. SVO
3. All animal actors were well-trained. SVC
4. The manager gave Ray two tigers. SVOO
5. Hitchcock advertised in newspapers. SVA
6. The manager greeted Ray warmly. SVOA
7. The manager’s greetings made Ray happy. SVOC

B) Construct sentences of your own in the following patterns.

1. SV A strange thing happened.
2. SVO Hitchcock needed a variety of birds.
3. SVC Mr. Thorat appeared shocked.
4. SVA The shooting ended successfully.
5. SVOA Mr. Thorat opened the cage carefully.
6. SVOO Ray told the manager the purpose of his visit.
English
7. SVOC The tiger’s behaviour made everyone frightened.
8. Phrasal Verbs
Some Commonest Phrasal Verbs and their meanings Eduspot
1 be taken aback = be shocked or astonished
2 come across = meet or find by chance
3 end up = to be in a place or situation
4 get along = make a friendly relation; manage a situation
5 get away = Escape
6 get over = recover from, overcome
7 get through = Succeed in an exam, competition etc
8 get up = rise from bed after sleeping
9 give in = surrender, yield
10 give up = abandon; stop making an effort
11 go on = Continue
12 let off = release, forgive
13 look after = take care of; protect © English Eduspot
14 make out = Understand
15 make up one’s mind = make a decision, decide
16 put across = explain an idea; convey something
17 put off = Postpone
18 put on = Wear
19 put up = display a notice etc.; construct
20 Put up with = Tolerate
21 set out = begin a journey; start an activity
22 set up = arrange something; establish or build
23 take off = remove clothe, etc. (bird, aircraft) begin to fly
24 turn down = decline; reject
25 turn up = appear; show up; arrive
Question 3:
Replace the underlined words with suitable Phrasal Verbs from the brackets.
The cobra and mongoose continued (a) their fight. A myna and a crow arrived (b) at the spot. They also
decided (c) to participate (d) in the fight. The crow got killed. They myna wisely escaped (e) from the
scene.
(turned up, made up their mind, got away, take part, went on)

Answers: a. went on b. turned up c. made up their mind d. take part e. got away
Complete the following passage with suitable phrasal verbs given in the brackets.
After having meals at a restaurant, the doctor ___a____ in his room at about 10pm. He ------b------ his
clothes, prepared his bed and lay down to sleep. But he could not .....c........ the heat inside the room.
So he ...........d............ to go to the veranda to get some fresh air.
(made up his mind, turned up, took off, put up with)
Answers: Turned up, b. took off c. put up with, d. made up his mind)
Replace the underlined words with suitable phrasal verbs given in brackets.
Ray and his team started their journey (1) to the shooting location. Mr. Thorat arrived (2) there in a lorry
with the two tigers. He explained (3) to Ray why he brought two tigers. When the tiger became violent, all
of them were frightened (4).
(taken aback, set off, turned up, put across)
Answers: 1. set off 2. turned up 3. put across 4. taken aback English

9. Editing
Eduspot
© English Eduspot
Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.

I saw the bird flung nearly twenty foot (a) across the garden, were,(b) after fluttering about for a while, it
lay still. The myna remind (c) on the cactus plant, very wise (d) refrained from interfering again!
Answers: a. feet b. where c. remained d. wisely
Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.

I maid (1) my bed and pulled it close to the wall. I lay down but I could not slept (2). I got up and go (3)
out to the veranda for a little airs (4), but the wind god seemed to have taken time off.
Answers: 1. made 2. sleep 3. went 4. Air
Edit the marked errors in the following passage.

The cameraman shouted to everyone to took (1) their positions but the dog remained where it is (2). This
puzzled me. Could it be that it were (3) not required in the next shot? Before I could asked (4) someone, a
strange thing happened.
Answers: 1. take 2. was 3. Was 4. ask
Edit the marked errors in the following passage.

Ali finishes filling the bag and hands it to akbar (a) for weighting (b). Akbar holds the bag in his hand to
feeling (c) the weight for a movement (d) and hands it back to Ali.
© English Eduspot
Answers: a. Akbar b. weighing c. feel d. moment
 10. Discourse Formats
Formal/Official Letter

Writer’s Address
© English Eduspot
Without name

Date
English
Recipient’s
Address
Eduspot
Dear Sir / Dear Madam,

Subject: ............................................................... ...........................................................................

(The body of the letter)...................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................
1. Self introduction.........................................................................................................................
2. Subject matter............................................................................................................................
3. Request and thanks expression..................................................................................................

Yours faithfully,

Sd/

Writer’s Name

Informal/Friendly/Social Letter

Writer’s Address
Without name

Date
© English Eduspot
My dear friend,

(The body of the letter)..........................................................................................................................

In an informal letter, there are no formal restrictions. A friendly letter is like a friendly chat. We can
use informal words and expressions to show the intimacy of our relations.

In the same way, we can use the salutation and conclusion phrases suitably enough to express our
intimacy with our dear and near ones. We may use Dear friend / My dearest friend / My dear
Grandpa / My beloved mom, etc.
While concluding the letter, we may use Yours lovingly / With love / Yours ever /
Yours affectionately / Your loving son/daughter/brother/sister, etc.

Yours affectionately,

Sd/
Writer’s Name
 News Report

2
Tiger Goes Violent at Shooting Location © English Eduspot
Staff Reporter, Sunday, 24 Aug 2022.
3 Kolkata: The shooting of the much awaited film “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne” by the legendary
filmmaker Satyajith Ray began yesterday at Notun Gram. In the film there is a scene in which
4 heroes of the film Goopy and Byne meet a tiger in a forest. To get it filmed, a well-fed and
robust tiger from the Bharat Circus was brought to the shooting location. When the trainer
opened its cage, the ferocious animal suddenly turned violent and charged at the spectators.

The tiger’s trainer Mr. Thorat was helpless, and he could not bring it under control even though
he made many strenuous attempts. After a while, the tiger became calm and Mr. Ray and his
5 crew managed to take their required shots successfully. When asked about the incident, Mr. Ray
expressed his relief and said, “we were very much frightened and disappointed at the
unexpected behavior of the tiger. We had taken much pain to get hold of a tiger and to bring it to
the shooting location. For a while we thought all our efforts went in vain. Anyhow, we managed
to take the shots and we will see the quality of the pictures once we reach back to Kolkata”.

1. Headline 2. Byline (Date, day and reporter’s name)

3. Place line (the place from where the news is reported) 4. Lead (the main points)
5. The body of the news report (News in detail)

Notice © English Eduspot

ABC School Kochi

FILM FESTIVAL
Dear Friends,

The movie club of ABC School, Kochi has decided to conduct a film festival as part of the silver jubilee
celebrations of the school. Sri. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, renowned film director, inaugurates the festival.
.
Date : 30 Aug 2022
Time: 10:00 am
Venue: School Auditorium. English

All are welcome.

Programme Details Eduspot

Welcome Speech: Secretary, Movie Club

Presidential Address: Principal
Inauguration: Sri. Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Felicitations: PTA President
Vote of Thanks: School leader.

Kochi Secretary,
25 Aug 2022 Movie Club.

Prepared by Mahmud K Pukayoor

© English Eduspot
©English Eduspot
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