CONTENT
1. PARTS OF SPEECH 3-22
Sentence Structures or Patterns 3
Noun 3
Verbs 6
Adjectives 6
Adverbs 8
Preposition 8
Pronouns 9
Conjunctions 12
Interjections 13
Functional and Lexical Words 14
Determiners 14
Adverbial Particles 14
Infinitive Marker 15
Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers 15
Exercises 16
Answers 20 l
2. SENTENCE STRUCTURE: SUBJECT AND PREDICATE 23-38
Defining A Sentence 23
Fragment, Phrase, Clause, Individual Words 23
Parts of Speech 24
Parts of Sentence 24
Subject, Verb 24
Subject and Predicate - Bare and Modified 26
Sentence Patterns 28
Modifiers and Complements 31
Grammatical and Semantic Roles of Words 31
Expletives 31
Exercises '32
Answers 35
3. SENTENCE STRUCTURE: PHRASES AND CLAUSES 39-64
Slots in a Sentence 39
Word Groups as Sentence Parts 40
' Phrase 41
Exercises 42
Verbals 43
Exercises 44
Verb Phrases 45
Noun Phrases 45
Determiners 45
Noun Modifiers 45
Appositives 47
Exercises 47
Clause 48
Exercises 49
Adjectival Clauses 49
Restrictive and Non Restrictive Clauses 50
Choice of Relativizers 51
Adverbial Clauses 52
Noun Clause 53
Exercises 54
Complement Clauses 54
Exercises 58
Answers 60
4. SIMPLE, COMPLEX AND COMPOUND SENTENCES 65-76
Classification based on Meaning 65
Classification based on Structure 66
Simple Sentence 66
Exercises 67
Complex Sentence 68
Compound Sentence 70
Coordinating Conjunctions 70
Exercises 72
Answers 75
5. ORDER OF WORDS IN A SENTENCE 77-92
Concept of Word Order 77
Basic Word Order 77
Adjectives and Nouns 79
Positions of Adverbs 79
Adverbial Positions 80
Phrases 80
Transposing - Types 81
Exercises 85
Answers 89
6. CONNECTIVES 93-118
Preposition 93
Prepositional Phrase 93
COMMON PREPOSITIONS 94
Prepositions which show Spatial Relations 95
Prepositions which show Direction 95
Prepositions of Time 96
Prepositions of Exclusion or Separation 96
Phrases used as Prepositions 96
Exercises 98
Conjunctions 102
Classification of Conjunctions 102
Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions 102
Summary of Conjunctions 108
Exercises 109 Answers 112
7. VERB 119-136
Classes of Verbs 119
Main Verb 119
Auxiliary Verbs 119
Primary Verb, Modal Verb 119
Lexical Verb Classes 120
Regular and Irregular Verbs 122
Valency Pattern
Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs 125
Voice
Process of Changing the Voice 127
Exercises 129
Answers 133
8. VERB AND TENSE 137-164
Tense Overview
Three Verb Forms 138
Simple Present Tense 138
Present Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Tense 142
The Present Perfect Continuous 145
Difference between Present Perfect Simple and Progressive
Simple Past Tense 147
Past Continuous Tense
The Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense 152
Simple Future Tense 153
The Future Continuous Tense 154
The Future Perfect Tense 155
The Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Exercises 157 o .
Answers 163
9. MODAL VERBS 165-175
Use of Modal Verbs Features of Modal Verbs Semi-modals
Semantic Role of Modals 166
Permission/Possibility/Ability Modals 167
Modals of Obligation and Necessity 168
Modals of Volition and Prediction 169
Exercises 171
Answers 174
10. ADVERBIALS 177-188
Adverb and Adverbial
Classes of Adverbials 177
Stance Adverbials 181
Attitude Adverbials 182
Style Adverbials 183
Linking Adverbials 183
Exercises 185
Answers 187
11. EFFECTIVE SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION-I 191-220
Grammar and Writing
Attributes of An Effective Sentence
Unity 192
Coherence 193
Emphasis 193
Illustrations 193
Canons of Writing
Brevity, Vigour and Directness 194
Coordination 199
Subordination 200
Primer Style
Variety
Changes in Word Order 203
Parallel Construction 204
Emphasis: Periodic and Loose Sentences 205
Coherence
Length of Sentences
Summary 207'
Exercises 209
Answers 214
12. EFFECTIVE SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION 221-229
Combining Sentences
Connecting Sentences with Adjective Clauses 222
Joining Sentences with Adverb Clauses 223
Joining Sentences with Independent Phrases 224
Joining Sentences with Participle Phrases 224
Connecting Sentences with Noun Clauses and Phrases 225
Connecting Sentences, with Appositives 225
Summary 225 Exercises 226 Answers 228
13. PARAGRAPH WRITING 231-258
Concept of a Paragraph
Illustrations 231
Parts of a Paragraph
Illustrations 232
Topic Sentence
Attributes of a Paragraph
Paragraph Unity Illustrated 234
Coherence
Development 237
Categorisation of Paragraphs 237
Enumeration
Elucidation of Concepts 240
Defining Terms
Drawing Distinctions 241
Compare antf Contrast 242
Illustrating General Ideas 243
Adducing Reasons 244
Analysis and Classification 245
Exercises 247
Answers 256
14. Essay Writing 259-278
Essays in Civil Services Examination 259
Steps Involved in Essay Writing 259
Themes of Essays in Civil Services Examination 260
electing An Essay Question 263
Defining the Scope of An Essay 264
Illustrations 265
Process of Developing An Essay 267
Introduction/Thesis Statement 269
General Categories of Essays 269
Preparing An Outline 270
Some Practical Issues 274
Exercises 277
15. COMMON ERRORS IN WRITING-! 279-302
Errors of Sentence Form 279
Fragments 279
Comma Splice 280
Fused Sentences 281
Excessive Coordination and Subordination 281
Inconsistent Points of View 282
Mixed Constructions 282 * Improper Placing of Modifiers 283
Squinting Modifiers 283
Split Infinitives 284
Improper Separation of Sentence Parts 284
Dangling Modifiers: Participles 284
Dangling Infinitives 285
Dangling Elliptical Expressions 285
Missing Words and Improper Connections 285
Missing Connectives 287
Errors Involving Comparisons 287
Awkward, Obscure and Illogical Sentences 288
Lack of Grammatical Agreement 288
Agreement between Subject and Verb 288
Agreement between Pronouns and Their Antecedents 290
Demonstratives 293
Exercises 294 ' Answers 299
16. COMMON ERRORS IN WRiTiNG-2 303-332
Errors involving Verbs 303
Errors involving Infinitives 304
Incorrect use of Negatives 305
Errors involving Articles 305
'Some' and 'Any' ,306
Lack of Agreement 306
Incorrect use of Adjectives 307
Incorrect use of Pronouns 308
Incorrect Word Order 309
Errors with Some Verb Forms 310
Quantifiers 311
Needless use of Two Conjunctions 311
Some More Errors of Verb Use 312
Sequence of Tense 312
Wishes 313
As it-ed, as was 313
'Much'and'Most' 314
During and For 314
Adjective in the Wrong Place 315
Uncountable Nouns 315
As, like 316
Bring, take 316
Rather 316
If, in case 316
50'sor60's 316
Surely, certainly 317
Big, great 317
Nowadays 317
What, which 317
Along, through 317
Other, different 318
According to, in my view 318
Article after an adjective 318
Whole, the whole 318
Almost, nearly 318
One, we/they 318
Own 319 ' '
Know 319
Like, so 319
Getting 319
No doubt, doubtless 320
Who, whom 320
Two Nouns in Row 320
Grateful, thankful 320
If, whether 320
Except 320
Return, return back 321
Unless 321
Exercises 325
Answers 329
17. PUNCTUATION 333-352
Punctuation Marks which Separate Sentences 333
Comma 335
Semicolon 340
Colon 341
Dash 341
Apostrophe 342 ^
Conclusion 342
Exercises 343
Answers 349
Suggested Readings 352