English Grammar: Lesson No. 5

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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

 

English Grammar.

Lesson No. 5.

Part A: Comprehension Passage:

      The former Prime Minister, Mr. Went Dove, was defeated in the recent elections. He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad. My friend, Cobweb, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Went Dove's Party. After the elections, Cobweb went to the former Prime Minister's house. When he asked if Mr. Dove lived there, the policeman on duty told him that

since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone to live abroad. On the following day. On the following day, Cobweb went to the house again. The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Cobweb asked the same question. Though a little suspicious this time, the police man gave him the same answer. The day after, Cobweb went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question. This time, the policeman lost his temper. "I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday," he shouted, "Mr. Dove was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad, refraining from indulging into any political activity !"

      "I know the answer," answered Cobweb, "but I love to hear you say it !"       

 

Comprehension Questions:

1. When had the ex-Prime Minister gone to live abroad ?

 .............................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................

2. From what activity had the ex-Prime Minister refrained ? 

 .............................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................

3. What did the policeman tell Cobweb yesterday and the day before yesterday ?

 ..............................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................

 

Part B: Grammar Questions

 

 Make a circle round the best answer from a , b , c  or  d.

1. I told him to  ....................  from interfering in our affairs.

    a. refrain                     b. avoid                 c. prevent                       d. prohibit

 

2. He asked me  ..................... to the show.

    a. can you come                                   b. if I could come      

    c. when could I come                           d. are you coming

3. Do you know when .............................................................................................. ?

    a. does the game start                         b. the game starts                

    c. will the game start                          d. is the game starting

 

 

Part C: Correct Your Mistakes

 

1. Don't say:The wind stopped to blow.

    Say:           The wind stopped blowing.

 

                  "stop" = abandon/ leave. e, g. He stopped smoking.  (use gerund/-ing noun).

                  "stop" = not to move. At the airport, the president stopped to address the public.

                                                                                                        (use to-infinitive).

 

2. Don't say:   You must practice to speak English.

    Say:          a) You must practise speaking English.

     Verbs taking -ing form:

                finish, practise, worth, risk, suggest, consider, enjoy, forgive, avoid, not mind, not help

                 = (not stop), not stand = (endure), no use, ...... etc.

                   e.g. It is no use talking to him, because he cannot avoid insulting you, and you will

                   not stand hearing his words.

                       

Part D - 1: Model answers for Part A (Comprehension).

 

1. The ex-Prime Minister had gone to live abroad since his defeat in the elections.

2. He had refrained from indulging into any political activity.

3. He told him that Mr. Dove was defeated in the elections, and that he had retired from political life and he had gone to live abroad, and he had refrained from indulging into any political activity.

 

 

Part D - 2: Model answers for Part B (Grammar).

 

1. Correct Answer: a. (refrain): It is intransitive verb. You refrain (stop) yourself.

Rejected Answers:b) avoid interfering. No need for the preposition "from". "avoid" is a

                                     transitive verb.

                                  c) & d) prohibit / prevent are transitive verbs used as follows:

                                       i) prohibit/prevent something (smoking).

                                       ii) prohibit/prevent somebody from doing something.

 

 

2. Correct Answer:b. (if I could come). This is indirect question.

Rejected answers:

     (a, c, & d) are all in the interrogative (question) form. (they are direct questions).

3. Correct Answer:b. (the game starts). It is indirect (reported) question.

Rejected answers:

     (a, c, & d) are all in the interrogative (question) form.

Rules for Direct & Indirect (Reported) Speech:

A) If it is a Yes-No question, add "if/whether" e.g. Are you well ?

       He asked me if (whether) I was well.

B) If it begins with a question word (what, why, who, etc), use this word. e.g. What are

      you doing ?    He asked what I was doing.

 

Observe the Following Changes:

   i) Change tense one step back to past: do        did;  did        had done; will         would,

        can         could, ....... etc.

 

  ii) Change form from question form to statement: e.g. Will you go         I would go.

 

 iii) Change pronouns: You             I (we);  we           they;   I            he/she, etc.

 

  iv) Change adverbs: today         that day;     now          then;  tomorrow          next day;

   yesterday           the day before, ........ etc.