Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1
ENGLISH SPELLING RULES
Writing (and therefore spelling) is a representation of the spoken
word. The spoken word is not a representation of writing. Because accents
and pronunciation can change easily and quite quickly, whereas what is
written in books and dictionaries remains "fixed" for years, as well as for
various historical reasons, there is often little correspondence between
spoken English (pronunciation) and written English (spelling). English
spelling therefore often appears to be totally illogical. The following rules
can help you to decode the mysteries of English spelling. But remember,
even the best rules have their exceptions.
Adding -er/est
We make the comparative or superlative forms of short adjectives by
adding -er or -est.
Spelling Rule
Just add -er or -est to the end of the adjective, for example:
quick > quicker > quickest
great > greater > greatest
full > fuller > fullest
Exceptions
If the adjective do this:
ends in:
and
add:
For example:
consonant + -y
happy >
happiest
happier
consonant + -e
remove the -e
>
consonant
vowel
consonant
+ double
+ letter
the
last
Adding -ing/-ed
Often we need to add -ing or -ed to a verb to make other forms of the
verb, for example:
I was talking when John arrived.
Spelling Rule
Just add -ing or -ed to the end of the base verb:
work > working > worked
play > playing > played
open > opening > opened
Exceptions
If the base verb
ends in:
do this:
and
add:
For example:
stop
>
stopping
>
stopped
begin
>
beginning
tap > tapping > tapped
But,
for
example:
open
>
opening
>
opened
(because no stress on
last syllable of open)
consonant + -e
phone >
phoned
dance >
danced
remove the -e
-ing
-ed
phoning
>
dancing
>
make
>
making
rake > raking > raked
-ie
lie
>
die > dying
nothing
lie
>
die > died
-d
lying
lied
Adding -ly
We often make an adverb by adding -ly to an adjective, for example:
quick > quickly.
Spelling Rule
Just add -ly to the end of the adjective:
coy > coyly
loud > loudly
beautiful > beautifully
senseless > senselessly
intelligent > intelligently
Exceptions
If the adjective ends in:
do this:
and
add:
For example:
-ll
nothing
-y
consonant + -le
remove
final -e
the -y
-y
(except
adjectives)
-ily
terrible
terribly
>
happy
happily
>
Adding -s
We add -s to words for two reasons:
to make plural nouns (boy > boys)
to form the 3rd person singular of the present simple tense (I
work > you work > he works)
Spelling Rule
Just add -s to the end of the word, for example:
dog > dogs
play > plays
demand > demands
Exceptions
If the word ends do this:
in:
and
add:
For example:
-ch
-s
-sh
-x
-z
nothing
-es
-f
-fe
consonant + -y
remove
-y
the -ies
-ible or -able
Many words end in -ible and -able. Sometimes it is difficult to
remember which spelling to use.
The ible ending is for words of Latin origin. There are about 180
words ending in -ible. No new words are being created with -ible endings.
Here are the most common examples:
accessible
divisible
indelible
possible
admissible
edible
inedible
responsible
audible
fallible
insensible
reversible
collapsible
flexible
intelligible
sensible
combustible
gullible
invincible
susceptible
compatible
horrible
invisible
suggestible
comprehensible
illegible
illegible
tangible
contemptible
implausible
irresistible
terrible
credible
inaccessible
irreversible
visible
defensible
incontrovertible
ostensible
destructible
incredible
permissible
digestible
indefensible
plausible
The -able ending is for:
some Latin words, for example: dependable
non-Latin words, for example: affordable, renewable, washable
new (modern) words, for example: networkable, windsurfable
Rule of thumb
This rule can help you decide the correct spelling. It works most (but
not all!) of the time. Remember, if you are not sure about a word, it is
probably best to use a dictionary. Here is the rule:
If you remove -able from a word, you are left with a complete
word.
If you remove -ible from a word, you are not left with a complete
word
(note
that accessible,contemptible, digestible, flexible and suggestible
above are among the exceptions to this rule).
-ie- or -ei-
Examples
I before E
except after C
or
when beige, feint, freight, inveigle, neighbour, sleigh, vein,
sounding like AY
weigh, weight
Here are some common exceptions to the above rule:
either, neither, caffeine, codeine, counterfeit, foreign, forfeit,
height, leisure, protein, their, weird, seize, seizure
English
American
English
rebel >
rebelled
travel >
travelled
rebel >
rebelled
travel >
traveled
center
theater
analog
catalog
color
labor
Common Differences
English
American English
all right
all
alright (disputed)
analyse
analyze
centre
center
cheque
check
colour
color
counsellor
counselor
criticise, criticize
criticize
defence
defense
doughnut
donut
favour
favor
fibre
fiber
flavour
flavor
fulfil
fulfill
grey
gray
honour
honor
humour
humor
jewellery
jewellery, jewelry
judgement, judgment
judgment
right,
realize
harmonize
kerb
curb
labour
labor
license (verb)
license (noun)
litre
liter
metre
meter
mould
mold
neighbour
neighbor
offence
offense
practise (verb)
practice (noun)
practice (verb)
practice (noun)
pretence
pretense
programme
concert
program
software)
(plan, program
etc) program
(computer
pyjamas
pajamas
realise, realize
realize
savour
savor
speciality
specialty
theatre
theater
travelled
travelling
travelled, traveled
travelling, traveling
tyre
tire
valour
valor
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2
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
In every language there are hundreds of combinations of words, each
having a special significance, which are very difficult for the foreign
student to grasp because he has no identical expressions in his own
language. Note, for instance, the following English idiomatic phrases
containing the word give.
give away, give in, give up, give out, give way to, give off,
give the cold shoulder, give vent to, give someone the slip
Not all these phrases can be translated literally into other languages.
In fact, the literal translation most often is ridiculous. Consider, for
instance, the literal translation of the following phrases into Urdu.
a maiden speech, at sixes and sevens, to hold water, through
thick and thin, to play ducks and drakes with, a rainy day.
Idioms are, thus, peculiar to a language. Even in the same language,
an idiom often has a meaning other than its grammatical or logical one.
The word-order and phraseology in an idiom have been fixed by usage
and any unwarranted change is considered a mistake. We can have a
mosque at a stone's throw from our house but not at a bullet's throw.
Care must be taken, therefore, in the memorising and use of idioms so
that their form and phraseology is not tampered with.
Idiomatic phrases do seem to break the accepted rules of grammar,
but they are not to be discarded on this account. The correct and easy use
of idiomatic expressions is the requirement of a good prose style. They are
necessary short-cuts in the language and make writing picturesque and
vigorous.
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In these notes an attempt has been made to explain almost all the
important idioms that are generally set in our examinations. They have
been roughly classified as under:
(a) Idiomatic Noun Phrases e.g., an apple of discord, a mare's
nest, the ins and outs, a stone's throw
(b) Idiomatic Adjective Phrases e.g., bad blood; a laughing
stock, red tape, tall talk.
(c) Idiomatic Verbal Phrases with certain verbs like to be, to
break, to bring, to call, to make, to play, to stand, etc.
(d) Adverbial Phrases e.g., above board, again and again, few
and for between, now and then.
(e) Prepositional Phrases e.g. according to, at the risk of, by
dint of, in keeping with, on behalf of
(f) Miscellaneous Idioms and Phrases
SENTENCE
CONSTRUCTION
A common examination question is "Use the following idioms
and phrases in sentences so as to bring out their meanings:
"to turn the tables, against the grain" etc.
In answering such a question, care must be taken to frame such a
sentence as will really illustrate the meaning of the given phrase. You may
write two or three sentences giving a situation in which only one meaning,
and that the correct one, fits. It is useless to say, for exampleHe is brave and has turned the table.
He had to act against the grain.
Here the two phrases may mean anything. One can substitute many
things for them. No credit is given for such sentences. Now consider the
following sentences.
The defence counsel produced in court the very man who was
alleged to have been murdered by the accused and thus
turned the tables on the public prosecutor.
He married the rich but plain girl against his grain as his
greedy father threatened to disinherit him if he didn't.
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Even if you did not already know the meaning of these phrases, after
a reading of these sentences, you can easily guess itand you will not be
wide of the mark.
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14
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
worthless
Many medieval alchemists believed they would find the philosophers
stone and elixir of life. They didn't know that they were after a mare's
nest.
A moot-point a point yet open to discussion
Whether we should abolish English as a medium of instruction in our
universities is yet a moot-point.
Pros and consarguments for and against
The scheme was adopted only after weighing its pros and cons.
A rope of sanddelusive security
Your hope of financial help from him is a rope of sand.
Rule of thumbrough rule based on experience or practice, not
on any nice theory
You must employ some expert. Such a big business cannot be done
well for long with rule of thumb methods.
Between devil and deep sea/between two firesbetween
two dangers.
The dacoits have demanded Rs. 50,00,000 of him or face death. He
is between devil and deep sea/between two fires. In one case he
loses his fortune, in the other, his life.
A snake in the grasssecret foe,
That sneaking cunning person is not your friend. He will rob you of
your money and then you will realise that he was a snake in the
grass.
A stone's throwas far as one can throw a stone
The post office is at a stone's throw from my house.
The sum and substancethe essence, the meaning in a nutshell
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29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
youth
All the young men in the hostel were ever cheerful and full of animal
spirits.
In apple-pie order in perfectly orderly arrangement
Ali loves his garden well and keeps it in apple-pie order.
Backstairs influence secret and improper influence
Even though he was t qualified for the post, he got it through
backstairs influence
Bad blood ill-feeling; active enmity
The division of their father's property has created bad blood between
the two brothers.
Blue blood noble blood; aristocratic; of gentle birth
Although they are one of most blue-blooded families in the land yet
they are desperately poor.
A black sheep one having a bad reputation in a company
A black sheep among the workers kept the authorities informed of all
their secret meetings.
A blind alley a narrow lane with a wall at the end; a dead-end.
To cut short the distance by the wide street, we followed a lane
but it turned out to be a blind alley.
His business has come to a blind alley, for no further expansion is
possible now.
A blue stocking a woman affecting literary tastes and learning
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Miss Raza is nothing more than a blue stocking and bore. Therefore,
Khalid who loves live a cheerful life, refused to marry her.
36. Blue ribbon the highest prize, in any sport competition or
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
tournament
Pakistan team got the blue ribbon in cricket in 1992.
A brown study a reverie; day-dreaming
Ahmad was in a brown study and did not notice my entrance in her
room.
A burning question a matter in a dispute which urgently
presses for settlement.
Kashmir has continued to be the burning question for India and
Pakistan since Independence.
Chicken hearted timid, cowardly.
You should have no hopes of help from such a chicken-hearted fellow.
He is daunted even by minor problems.
Crocodile tears pretended sorrow
Having poisoned her husband to death, the wicked woman shed
crocodile tears, to mourn his death.
Casting vote in case of a tie, the vote of the chairman which
decides the issue
The committee was equally divided on the point. The casting vote of
the chairman clinched the issue.
A close shave a narrow escape
During the encounter, a bullet fired by the criminal grazed the cops,
shoulder. It was a close shave indeed.
A cold blooded murder an unprovoked murder
The judge felt that it was a cold-blooded murder and he sentenced
the accused to death.
Cold comfort very slight satisfaction
He could not seek admission I to the medical college but got 900
marks in F.Sc. It was a cold comfort for him.
A curtain lecture scolding given by a wife to her husband in
the privacy of the bedroom
He seems to have received a curtain lecture. That is why he does not
agree to play cards with us today.
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50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
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61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
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71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
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enthusiasm
The children were full of fun and frolic, but, the grandfathers
entrance into the room acted as a wet blanket to their mirth.
81. A wild goose chase foolish, unprofitable adventure
Capturing the notorious dacoit, Riaz Basra, was believed to be a wild
goose chase by the police.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
family
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but
he dedicated his whole life to the service of his poor countrymen.
To be ill at easefeeling uncomfortable.
The boy was ill at ease in the presence of the Principal.
To be caught nappingcaught in an unguarded moment of
neglected duty
The officer is a clever swindler but the police will catch him napping
sooner or later.
To be in good booksin one's favour
He is a hard working man and is in the good books of his employer
whereas many of his colleagues are in the bad books (out of
favour).
To be on the alertwatchful and ready for any emergency
In view of the danger from India, Our Army should be always on the
alert.
To be on the wanegradually weakening.
When The English came to India, the Mughal empire was already on
the wane.
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22
23
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25
If you go on wasting your time and money like this, you will soon
come to grief.
117. To come to an endto end
The meeting came to an end at 7 o' cock.
118. To come to handto reach.
Your interesting letter came to hand yesterday.
119. To come to termsreach a formal agreement
We expect to come to terms about the house very soon.
120. To come into forceoperate, function.
The new laws will come into force next month.
121. To come to lightto be revealed.
His share in the mischief came to light during the enquiry.
122. To bring to bookbring a wrong-doer to punishment
The swindler was caught and brought to book by the police.
123. To bring home tocause one to realize, to feel, to understand.
The Principal brought home to him the guilt of his son.
124. To bring down the houseto elicit great applause of the
spectators.
The actress brought down the house by her clever performance.
125. To bring to lightto reveal clearly, to discover.
The searching cross-examination by the advocate brought everything
to light.
126. To call namesabuse
The teachers slapped him because he called names to his friends.
127. To call in question express doubt about.
He called in question the accuracy of these figures.
128. To call to accountdemand explanation, take to task.
The cashier was called to account by the principal for tampering with
the accounts.
129. To call a spade a spadespeak quite, plainly, bluntly and
without refinement.
To call a spade a spade, your cousin is a coward and a liar.
130. To come to harmto be injured
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If you insist on quarrelling with that rascal, you will come to harm
and not he.
131. To come down upon a personrebuke or punish him.
The teacher came down upon him when he found him copying in the
examination.
132. To come to the pointto reach the matter under discussion.
Stop beating about the bush and come to the point.
133. To come truehappen as expected.
My fears have come true for my cousin has failed in the examination.
134. To come off with flying colourscome out of a competition
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You may catch the train but you are cutting it rather fine.
148. To cut the Gordian knottake a quick and drastic method of
ending a difficulty
The Home Minister promised to cut the Gordian knot of corruption in
government officials by inflicting severe punishments on them after
summary trials.
149. To cut no icefail to convince or impress
The salesman's arguments cut no ice at all.
150. To cut and runhurry away, leave as quickly as possible
You will have to cut and run, if you want to catch the train.
151. To cut shortend abruptly
The preacher cut short his sermon when the church caught fire.
152. To cut a sorry figureto make a poor impression by failing to
do something
Thought he was a good speaker yet in the debate yesterday he cut a
sorry figure.
153. To cut one's coat according to one's clothlimit one's
expenses to the money available
We would like to go on a holiday in Kashmir, but we have to cut our
coat according to cloth and shall have to be content with a week in
Swat.
154. To be cut updistressed, unhappy
She was terribly cut up when she heard the sad news.
155. To do to death. kill violently, murder.
Caesar was done to death by the conspirators.
156. To have done with cease to have any connection with
stop
After finding out that he is a cheat and a liar, I have done with
him for the rest of my life.
Have done with all this nonsense.
157. To do one a good turnhelp a person on one occasion
I will support him with might and main because once he did me a
good turn when I was in trouble.
158. To have to do withhave to deal with
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You are responsible for returning me the money I lent to your cousin
on your asking. I have nothing to do with him.
159. To draw the long bowexaggerate
The old sailor says he once swam thirty miles, but he is always
drawing the long bow.
160. To draw to an endfinishI shall be glad when the concert draws to its end.
161. To draw a blankto be unsuccessful in an enterprise
He is careless and lazy by habit and in the export business too he
drew a blank.
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conviction of
I felt it in my bones that some untoward happening like this would
ruin our project.
173. To get hold of grasp; catch; understand
By chance I got hold of him in the market and demanded my
money back.
I shall explain and you will soon get hold of the idea.
174. To get the wind ofobtain early information about something
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were hurt.
187. To give one's wordto promise, guarantee
I give you my word that I shall stand by you through thick and thin.
188. To
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194. To give the devil his dueto allow even the worst man credit
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decay
A house will soon go or run to seed if left untenanted.
209. To go to piecesto break up.
When I quoted statistics his argument went to pieces..
210. To go through fire and water undergo any risk and danger
To win freedom for their mother-land, the revolutionaries went
through fire and water.
211. To go on a fool's erranda fruitless journey or expedition
The Insurance Company sent him to a village about 400 miles from
here to interview the old man. He went on a fool's errand for the old
man had died two years ago.
212. To go hot and coldhave excess of shame
Mohsin went hot and cold on the mention of her name.
213. To hold goodremain unaffected and unaltered
My promise to visit you in summer holds good and I hope to stay with
you for at least a weak.
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intimacy
I always keep such drunkards and gamblers at an arm's length.
227. To keep an eye onwatch; take care of.
I would be glad if you keep an eye on our garden while we are away.
228. To keep a stiff upper lipnot allow one's lip to tremble with
emotion; be firm and brave
Always keep a stiff upper lip whatever your trouble.
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starvation
Most of the Pakistanis are so poor that they can keep body and soul
together with difficulty.
236. To keep the wolf from the doorto keep away extreme
poverty and starvation
Most of the Pakistanis villagers suffer from grinding poverty and can
hardly keep the wolf from the door.
237. To keep the ball rollingcontinue the conversation or
proceedings successfully.
My host had very little to talk about and it was difficult to keep the
ball rolling.
238. To keep one's head above waterlive within one's income
He has a wife and six children to support. I don't know how he
manages to keep his head above water, with so meager income.
239. To keep pace withmove at an equal speed
He is a fast worker. I find it difficult to keep pace with him.
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a large place
I tried to find Ali in the crowd, but it was like looking for a needle in a
haystack.
248. To look before one leapsavoid hasty action
Don't rush about investing the whole of your money in this business.
You must look before you leap.
249. To look down one's noseto regard with contempt or
displeasure
When she met her husband's poor relation, she looked down her
nose.
250. To look in the faceto meet or face without shrinking or feeling
ashamed
He dare not look me in the face for he has not returned me the
money he borrowed two years ago though he had promised to pay it
back within a week.
251. To make a clean breast ofconfess all.
One of the murderers made a clean breast of the crime and helped
the police in tracing out the others.
252. To make clean sweepget rid or dispose of everyone or
everything concerned.
The new manager is determined to make a clean sweep of the old
staff.
253. To make douse as the best substitute available
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another secretly.
The innocent Pakistani leaders did not know that America had been
playing a double game of open friendship and secret aggression
against Pakistan.
285. A Child's playextremely easy to perform
Getting into Civil Services Academy is certainly not a child's play.
286. To pull one's legplay a joke on him, make him look foolish.
Don't take him seriously. He was only pulling your leg when he said
she loved you ardently.
287. To pull the stringsuse private and personal influence
Akram had to pull a good many strings to obtain the appointment.
288. To pull a long facelook miserable and depressed.
We have lost a good deal of money, but it is no use to pull a long face
about it.
289. To put all one's eggs in one basketrisk everything one has
in a single venture
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It is not always wise to put all your eggs in one basket. If you invest
all your money in this company, and if it fails, God forbid, you will be
ruined.
290. To put two and two togetherdeduce from obvious facts;
reason logically
Putting two and two together, he realized that his firm would soon be
bankrupt.
291. To put in a wordrecommend; speak in favour of
I have applied for this job. I will be grateful if you kindly put in a word
for me.
292. To put a spoke in one's wheelto obstruct one's progress ;
interfere with one's plans
If she intends to marry Aziz, her relatives will soon put a spoke in her
wheel.
293. To put in one's oarintervene; interfere
I am selling the matter, you need not put in your oar thus uninvited.
294. To put the cart before the horsebegin doing a thing at the
wrong end; put the second and the less important thing first
To learn a foreign language before one can speak one's own
language properly is to put the cart before the horse.
295. To put one's shoulder to the wheelwork hard steadily
instead of looking to others for help
Don't depend on his help. Put your shoulder to the wheel and you will
succeed in this business.
296. To put the screwto exert pressure, especially in way of
extortion or intimidation
He accused the party in power of putting the screw on the voters.
297. To run to earthtrace to the hiding place; of a quotation, its
origin
They ran the murderer to earth in his mother's cottage.
I ran the quotation to earth in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
298. To run one's earthly racelive one's life
The priest ran his earthly race in the most pious manner.
299. In the long runeventually
In the long run, dishonesty does not pay.
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48
Being his father, you see her through coloured glasses and fail to
notice his faults.
313. To set one's heart or affections ondesire intensely
The child set her heart on the big doll in the toy shop and will not
move without buying it.
314. To set one's face againstoppose firmly
The conservative old man has always set his face against coeducation.
315. To set on footTo start; initiate.
An enquiry will be set on foot to find out the cause of the accident
316. To set at naughtdisregard completely ; defy
Sometimes the young men want to set at naught all the social
conventions and customs.
317. To set the Thames on firedo something remarkable; achieve
sensational success
Whatever he might boast of, he can never set the Thames on fire.
318. To set the table in a roarcause shouts of laughter
The comedian's jokes set the table in a roar.
319. To set one's wits to workuse one's intelligence
The prisoner set his wits to work to discover some way of escape.
320. To stand on ceremonybehave stiffly; insist on formal
ceremonies
When among intimate old friends, why should you stand on
ceremony?
321. To stand one's groundmaintain one's position, in a fight or
argument
The police tried to make him admit that he had made a mistake, but
the boy stood his ground and said that he had seen the murderer
with a dagger.
322. To stand on one's own feet or legsdepend on one's own self;
accept no assistance
My uncle offered to help me but I told him I would rather stand on my
own legs.
323. To stand in the shoes ofto occupy his position or place
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Your boss is not to my liking. I would not like to stand in your shoes.
324. To stick to one's gunsremain faithful to the cause
The freedom fighters stuck to their guns in spite of the oppression
and tortures inflicted on them by the foreign rulers.
325. To
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51
You have still a chance of winning the first price; don't throw up the
sponge.
347. To throw cold water upondiscourage; depreciate
He wanted to set up a book shop but his father threw cold water on
the scheme
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348. To
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doubt
The evidence given by his friend turned the scale, and the boy was
set free.
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ADVERBIAL PHRASES
367. Above allmost important of all
Send to me all these things and above all don't forget to wire to me.
368. Above boardhonest and unconcealed
His conduct has been entirely above board and your criticism of him
is quite unjustified.
369. After allwhatever may be against it
You must help him in his distress. After all he is your own brother.
370. Again and again/over and over/time and againrepeatedly,
often
I dialed his number again and again but every time I found his
telephone engaged.
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PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
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career
In accordance with his father's wishes, he married the rich but plain
girl.
399. At home infamiliar with
The professor is at home in ancient Indian history and literature.
400. At the mercy of
The rich man was at the mercy of the dacoits and had to give them
the keys of the safe.
401. At the top ofat the highest pitch
The dying woman shouted for help at the top of her voice
402. At the risk ofendangering
He saved the child from drowning at the risk of his own lif
403. At enmity withenemies to
Some centuries ago the Roman Catholics were at great enmity with
the protestants.
404. At variance withopposed to, different from
He is at variance with his partner at many points. Their partnership is
not expected to last long.
405. Because of/On account of/ Owing todue to
He could not attend your wedding because of his wife's illness.
406. By dint of/By virtue ofwith the strength of.
He got a first class by dint of hard work.
He won the prize by virtue of his diligence.
407. By force of
You can never convince an unwilling man by force of your arguments
408. By means ofthrough with.
The firemen got to the roof by means of a ladder
409. By the side ofbeside
The new building shall be erected by the side of the library building.
410. By way ofas, in the form of
I gave him some money by way of help.
411. Due toon account of.
His failure was due to his ill health.
58
59
He got himself relieved from his job after paying one month's salary
in lieu of a month's notice.
427. In the face ofwhen opposed or beset by.
He remains calm in the face of difficulties.
428. In opposition tocontrary to.
You should not insist on doing this in opposition to your father's
wishes.
429. In point ofIn respect of.
He was not promoted though he is senior to others in point of length
of service.
430. In the place of
She has been appointed in the place of Majid who has resigned on
account of ill-health.
431. In the prospect ofin the hope of.
He has invested all his money in business in the prospect of getting
rich returns.
432. In pursuance ofin execution, performance of.
In pursuance of the instructions of the university, the college did not
admit third divisioners.
433. In quest of/In search of.He wandered from place to place in
quest of happiness.
At last he found it in working hard for humanity.
434. In spite of'notwithstanding.
In spite of my warning, he did not work hard and failed in the
examination.
435. Instead ofin place of
Instead of going to college, he went to the pictures.
436. In view ofafter consideration of.
In view of what you tell me about Kala Bagh, I will not go there.
437. In sight ofable to see.
After many days of hardship and despair, Columbus came in sight of
land.
438. In the guise of'disguised as.
Better be warned against him; he is a wolf in the guise of a sheep.
60
61
MISCELLANEOUS PHRASES
461. To beggar descriptionto be indescribable
The beauty of the Taj Mahal in moonlight beggars description.
462. To bear the brunt ofendure the chief stress of the attack.
The leader of the strikers had to bear the brunt of the punishment by
the management.
463. To beard the lion in his denconfront boldly one's opponent or
62
actions.
The way to win friends is not to blow your own trumpet always but
get interested in others.
465. To blow hot and cold in the same breathbe in consistent
and unreliable; say contradictory things.
The politician who blows hot and cold in the same breath soon loses
the confidence of the people.
466. To blunt the edge ofto dull the keenness of
Borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.Shakespeare
467. To bury the hatchetto make peace after a quarrel.
There is no use quarrelling. Let us bury the hatchet and be friends
again.
468. In a bodyall together
All the labourers went to the officer in a body and placed their
demands before him.
469. Beside the mark/off the mark/wide off the marknot hitting
the mark; irrelevant.
Your remark is witty but unfortunately beside the mark.
470. To beat about the bushto say irrelevant things and not come
to the point
If you want to get good marks, don't beat about the bush; write only
what the examiner wants.
471. To bear the palmbe the winner or conqueror ; be above all
others.
The athletes had practised a lot and bore the palm in all races.
472. To bell the catto try to render a common enemy harmless at a
great personal risk.
All the clerks decided to tell the officer frankly to change his
unreasonable and harsh attitude but no one was ready to bell the
cat.
473. To burn the candle at both endsto spend money or energy
extravagantly or recklessly
After the death of his father he burnt the candle at both ends and
soon became a pauper.
63
64
refined place
The clumsy villager, like a bull in a china shop, made her delicately
decorated drawing room pell-mell.
480. To buy a pig in a pokebuy a thing without carefully examining
it
Let me test this watch for a few days. I am not going to buy a pig in a
poke.
481. To change hands-pass from one owner to another
Is there something wrong with this house that it has changed so
many hands?
482. To clip a person's wingsmake him weak or powerless
The conspirators wanted to clip the wings of Caesar so that he could
not become a dictator.
483. To cook an accounttamper with the account in order to
deceive people
I suspected that the treasurer had cooked the accounts and reported
the matter to the police.
484. To dance attendance onattend, as an inferior, to every whim
or requirement of a person.
Nasim is dancing attendance on his rich neighbour hoping for some
gain.
65
employment.
Many of the income-tax officials feather their own nests instead of
collecting government revenue.
486. Root and branchentirely
The new minister has promised to eradicate corruption root and
branch.
487. The sword of Damoclesa constant danger
Stringent disciplinary action even at minor slips on the part of the
officials hangs like the sword of Damocles and hampers their
administrative efficiency.
66
known
In a democracy, people can ventilate their grievances through their
representatives in the Parliament.
496. To sow one's wild oatsto indulge in youthful follies before
becoming steady
The old man is quite indulgent towards his young son as he
remembers himself having sown his wild oats.
497. To rub one's shoulders withto come into contact.
He has seen the world and has rubbed shoulders with people from
different countries.
498. A round peg in a square hole(or vice versa)a person unfit
for a particular job
67
All through his life he has practised medicine. To appoint him as the
vice-chancellor of the university is to put a round peg in a square
hole.
499. At the zenith of powerat the height of
During Akbar's rule, the Mughal empire was at the zenith of its
power.
68
69
70
Genius lies not in following others blindly but in leaving the beaten
track and finding one's own way.
523. To leave in the lurchleave one in a difficulty.
His fair-weather friend left him in the lurch and now he has lost faith
in humanity.
524. To rack one's brainsexercise one's brains to the utmost
I racked my brains but could not devise a plan to do this.
525. To pocket an insultreceive it without protest.
He was guilty and had to pocket the insult offered to him by the
police official.
526. To hang by the threadin a precarious state.
In the past the life of a courtier hung by a thread for the king could
kill him at his will.
527. To lead a cat and dog lifeto be always quarrelling and so
miserable.
Though it was a love marriage, the husband and wife are leading a
cat and dog life.
528. To be in leading strings-puppet in the hands of others ; under
the thumb of some one
He has no brains of his own. He is completely in the leading strings of
his elder brother.
529. To kill two birds with one stoneaccomplish two things by a
single effort
Now that I have to go to Murree, I will kill two birds with one stone
and visit Nathiagali and my uncle too.
530. Not to let the grass grow under one's feetdo a thing very
promptly and quickly; not to delay
Be up and doing and finish this work quickly. Don't let the grass grow
under your feet.
531. To plough the sandsundertake an unprofitable, useless
venture.
He said that China is ploughing the sands by laying stress on cottage
industry in this age of heavy machinery.
532. Against the graincontrary to one's inclination
71
He had to marry the rich but plain girl against his grain because his
greedy father insisted on it.
533. With might and mainwith all the energy one has.
We struggled with might and main and cleared the road of the treetrunk.
534. Head over earscompletely; excessively
He cannot be dissuaded from this marriage because he is head over
ears in love with her though he is head over ears in debt.
535. Rain or shinewhatever the weather.
Rain or shine, a soldier must do his duty and defend his motherland.
536. Hard and faststrict ; clear-cut.
No hard and fast rules can be given for English spelling.
537. Out and outthoroughly and completely
It is no use your trying to defend him. He is out and out a scoundrel.
538. A storm in a tea cupgreat fuss about a trifle
The two families were quarrelling and all the neighbours had
gathered. It turned out to be a storm in a tea cup for the quarrel
started because a child had snatched the doll of another.
539. To husband one's resources manage one's means in an
economical way.
If you do not husband your resources, whatever your salary, you will
remain miserable.
540. A feather in one's cap an honour ; something to be proud of
It is a feather in Muhammad Hafeezs cap to be chosen captain of the
cricket team.
541. To show the white feather behave like a coward
Any soldier who shows the white feather in battle should be instantly
shot.
542. To eat the humble pie to have to humiliate oneself.
He began by threatening me but soon had to eat the humble pie
when I told him that I knew all about his past life.
543. To eat one's words withdraw a statement or challenge
completely and ignominiously.
72
into office.
When the Chief Minister came under a cloud, all his supporters
deserted him to join his competitor for the office because people
worship the rising sun.
549. To wash one's dirty linen in public discuss one's family
scandals and disgraces in public.
The husband and wife are leading a cat and dog life and she has no
hesitation in washing her dirty linen in public.
550. To burn the midnight oilsit up late at night to work or study
If you want to lead a happy and prosperous life, burn the midnight oil
during your college days.
551. To fish in troubled watersinterest oneself in affairs that are
likely to lead to trouble and danger.
Any country that interferes in African politics is fishing in troubled
waters.
552. To rest on one's oarscease work for a time ; remain passive,
after making progress.
After doing a roaring business for a season, he is resting on his oars
now.
73
74
564. To pay one in his own cointo treat another in his own manner
75
76
77
Only those who read between the lines can appreciate the mastery of
irony that this writer has employed.
589. To kiss the rodto accept punishment submissively
The offender kissed the rod and did not murmur any complaint.
78
590. To a Texactly
This amount will meet my needs to a T.
591. To the backbonethoroughly
Iqbal was a democrat and a pacifist to the backbone.
592. In a jiffyvery soon, no time
Don't worry, boy, I'll do it now in a jiffy.
593. Not worth one's saltgood-for-nothing.
He looked smart when we appointed him but now we have found that
he is not worth his salt.
594. Null and voidnot in force ; valueless.
That contract is now null and void for you failed to make the payment
in time.
595. At a pinchin an emergency ; if absolutely necessary
We have a good many guests, but at a pinch one or two can sleep in
the lounge.
596. A swelled heada conceited, vain person
I don't mean that I can't be friends with a very rich man but he has
an exceptionally swelled head.
597. The skin of one's teethloss of everything but life.
The ship broke up, several men were drowned, but four sailors
managed to escape with the skin of their teeth.
598. To hit below the beltto strike another unfairly
In a public discussion of his political opinions, you hit him below die
belt by referring to his private morals.
599. Out of the frying pan into the firefrom a bad to worse
position
To escape from the lion, he climbed the tree. The poor man fell out of
the frying pan into the fire because on the tree was a deadly snake.
600. On the horns of a dilemmain a fix or critical position
The young man was on the horns of a dilemmaif he married the
ugly girl, his happiness for life would be ruined; if he didn't, his
greedy father would disinherit him.
601. With open armswith a warm welcome
79
When the prodigal son returned home, he was received with open
arms by his father.
602. By hook or by crookby fair means or foul.
He is determined to get the job by hook or by crook
603. To all intents and purposespractically, virtually.
To all intents and purposes the Prime Minister is the ruler of the
country.
604. To gild the lilythe ridiculous attempt at beautifying something
80
realities of life
An artist cannot live in an ivory tower. His art must reflect the weal
and woe of society around him.
617. To face the musicshow no fear at a time of danger or trial
The union leaders alone among the strikers faced the music boldly.
81
3
ERROR ANALYSIS
ERRORS IN THE USE OF NOUN
1.
2.
Give me a blotting.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
82
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
83
84
2.
3.
4.
He is a coward person.
5.
He is a miser man.
6.
7.
8.
9.
85
86
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
He is a M.A.
8.
9.
He is an European.
87
88
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
89
90
2.
3.
4.
He is fail in English.
5.
He made a goal.
6.
7.
He said me a knave.
8.
9.
He spoke a lie.
91
92
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
He is too solicitous.
93
94
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
95
96
56. This is one of the best books that has been written on this subject.
57. This meeting do not recommend these proposals.
58. This room or that one are required at once.
59. Time and tide wait for none.
60. To win or to lose a game are not important.
61. Two and two makes four.
62. Who is there? It is me.
63. You as well as he is at fault.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
97
98
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
99
100
MISCELLANEOUS ERRORS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
He bade me to do it.
8.
9.
101
102
103
4
PREPOSITIONS
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
115
116
117
56. I have held this appointment since the last six months.
57. I have not faith upon this mans story.
58. I intend to inform your insolence to your father.
59. I regard his opinion as little in value.
60. I tried to give him wise advice, but he was deaf at my counsels.
61. I warned him about his danger.
62. I will do my very best to please to my master.
63. I will fine eight annas to you.
64. Information was sworn to the magistrate, but he shrank at issuing
any warrant.
65. Is it true that you have a dislike against geometry?
66. It is easy to write well by a good pen.
67. It is outside my power to help you.
68. It is time for you to go on the railway station.
69. It is twelve in my watch.
70. It is very wrong to make persecution upon any one for changing his
religion.
71. John felt certain about his success.
72. Keep this practice inside due bounds.
73. Many new words have been introduced in our language.
74. Marius married to Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar.
75. My brother has gone at Calcutta.
76. My enemies would deprive me from both my liberty and my property.
77. My master readily complied to my request.
78. My neighbours bullock strayed in my rice field.
79. My playmate is offended against me.
80. Never be guilty for impoliteness.
81. Never be neglectful to those who showed you kindness.
82. Never rejoice from anothers misfortune.
118
119
120
121
5
DIRECT AND INDIRECT
NARRATION
MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISES
1.
He says, I am tired.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2.
3.
Ali will say, I am a humble man and do not wish to offend anyone.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
5.
The guests say to their host, I have really enjoyed my stay at your
house.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
122
6.
7.
The boy says to the teacher, I shall come tomorrow if you have no
objection.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8.
The old man says to his sons, I am dying and I wish you to get all
my riches.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
9.
10. The professor said, If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
11. My father said, The Hindus cremate their dead bodies.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
12. He said, During my school days I took a morning walk daily.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
13. The peon said, The principal was not in his office when the visitor
came.
______________________________________________________________________
123
______________________________________________________________________
14. He explained, I was not briefed on what to do.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
15. She explained, My friends and I am here to help you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
16. She said, My brother and I have heard the news.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
17. He explained, I was too ill to do work regularly.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
18. The student answered, Heat expands, cold contracts.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
19. He said, Good food means good health.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
20. She promised, I will return this book tomorrow.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
21. She said to us, Green vegetables contain vitamins.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
124
125
______________________________________________________________________
126
127
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
40. He said God-bye my friends.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
41. My father said to me, You had better act on the advice of your
teacher who is your well-wisher at heart.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
42. The father said to his son, You will spoil your career, if you do not
keep the bad boys at an arms length.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
43. The lecturer said to the principal, I shall be highly obliged to you if
you kindly grant me leave for a week.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
44. Yes, mother, said Hamid, I slapped the servant on his face but I
am sorry for that.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
45. They said, No, we do not live in this house.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
128
46. She was married last year, said the mother to her neighbour.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
47. The peon said to the lady lecturer, Madam, I forgot to post this letter
yesterday.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
48. She said, I was reading the Holy Quran.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
49. The mouse said to the lion, Sir, I am a poor creature and you are the
king of the forest. If you take pity on me and let me go, I shall be able
to do you a kindness some time or another.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
50. My mother said, I am baking a cake for you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
51. I said to my brother, You have never told me a story.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
52. He said to his father, You have already given me a lot of money.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
129
53. The captain said about you, He is certainly one of the best players.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
54. The old man said, My sons! I am dying and I wish you to get all my
riches.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
55. They said, Our neighbours house is always full of gamblers and
drunkards, because they are the chips of the same block.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
56. She said to him, Well, Sir, my brother has not come to school today,
because he is suffering from fever.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
57. She said to us, Sir, I did not sleep the whole night, because your
dogs were barking at somebody.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
58. He said to me, No, Sir, I did not quarrel with your servant
yesterday.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
130
59. Now it is my turn, said he to them, to sit here behind this chair.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
60. Father said to us, Those who dig a pit for others fall into it
themselves.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
61. He said to me, Can you tell me the way to the Railway station?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
62. The beggar said to the rich lady, Will you not pity the suffering of an
old and miserable man and help him with a rupee or two?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
63. The shepherd boy shouted to the villagers, Will you not come and
save me from the jaws of the fierce animals?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
64. The poet said, Will no one tell me what she sings?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
65. The teacher said to us, Do not you know that honesty pays in the
long run?
______________________________________________________________________
131
______________________________________________________________________
66. The wolf said to the lamb, Did you not make the water muddy last
year?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
67. He said, Can the radio be repaired by tomorrow?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
68. The passenger asked, Does this bus go to the city?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
69. They asked the landlady, Can we rent a room for a month?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
70. I said, Is there a good restaurant in this town?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
71. The official asked me, Do you have a ticket?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
72. My father asked me, Have you studied your lessons for tomorrow?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
73. He said to you, Will you go to the pictures tonight?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
132
74. You said to her, Did you buy these cups and saucers yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
75. They said to us, Were you sleeping in this house yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
76. The headmaster said, Who has broken this window-pane?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
77. The lamb said to the wolf, Sir, how can I make the water muddy
when it is flowing down to me from you?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
78. The woman said to Buddha, Whom do you consider to be the happiest
man on the earth?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
79. I said to him, What do you mean by this? Are you trying to defraud
me?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
80. Do you really come from America? How do you feel in Pakistan? said I
to the stranger.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
133
______________________________________________________________________
81. He said to you, How far is Multan form Lahore?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
82. They asked us, How far is it to the museum?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
83. They asked, Who has written that beautiful poem?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
84. She said to us, Where were you going yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
85. The doctor said to me, Why did you not take this medicine
yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
86. I said to Amir, How have you got a good gardener to look after your
roses?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
87. The principal said to me, How many brothers have you?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
88. He said to his teacher, Sir, kindly excuse me now.
______________________________________________________________________
134
______________________________________________________________________
89. The officer said to the peon, Come in time otherwise you will be
turned out.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
90. The doctor said to the patient, Do not take eggs and sweets.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
91. He said to me, Do not try to teach me my business.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
92. My father said to me, Beware of the fair-weather friends.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
93. The accused said to the judge, Pardon me this time.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
94. The mother said to her daughter, Do your best and leave the rest to
God.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
95. The wise-man said, Let by-gones be by-gones, bury the hatchet and
be friends again.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
96. She said to me, Go home and bring my brother.
135
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
97. You go off to bed, said her mother, and do not get up till I call
you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
98. The watch-marker said to the customer, Do not try to threaten me.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
99. The instructor said to her, Do not drive so fast.
______________________________________________________________________
100.He said to his brother, Be at home before lunch.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
101.The old woman said to the young man, Help me with this heavy
box.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
102.He said to me, Please lend me your bicycle.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
103.The master said to the servant, Hang this coat on the peg.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
104.He said to his servant, Blow out the candle and go to your bed.
______________________________________________________________________
136
______________________________________________________________________
137
105. The doctor said to patient, Do not eat stale bread because you will not
be able to digest it.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
106.The teacher said to the students, Open your books at page twenty.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
107.I said to them, Come to dinner tonight.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
108.The said to me, Dont threaten me.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
109.He said to his boss, Please give a day off.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
110.I said to my classmate, Lend me your book for today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
111.The engineer said to me, Dont use those steps very often.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
112.She said to him, Give me your advice.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
138
139
140
129.The saint said to me, Good boy, gain knowledge and wisdom.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
130.The slave said, Would that I were a free man.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
131.We said, May the police arrest the thieves.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
132.The teacher said to the students, Would that I were on leave today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
133. People said, Would that the Quaid-i-Azam were alive these days to see
the fate of Pakistan.
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134.The beggar said to me, May you go to hell.
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135.I said to her, May you succeed in life.
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136.The old woman said to her son, May you return home safe and
sound.
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145.They said, Would that we had attended the funeral of the
deceased.
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146.They said with great repentance, Would that we had stood by our
friends through thick and thin.
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147.The hunter said, Would that I had shot down many birds today.
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148.The wretched and miserable man said, Would that I were never born
in this world.
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149.The old lady said to them, Would that I were rich enough to help you
in your distress.
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150.She said, Aha! My father is taking me to Murree tomorrow.
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151.We said, Bravo! Asif, you have played very well.
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152.The widow said, Alas! My only son has been killed in the war.
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153.He said, Ha! My brother has been run over by a Tonga.
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154.He said, What a beautiful horse I have bought!
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155.She said to her mother, How lucky you are to win this prize!
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156.He said, What a pitiable condition I am in!
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157.You said, What a beautiful bird it is!
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158.He said, What a pretty flower it is!
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159.He said, Alas! My son has failed.
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160.Rashid Said, Hurrah! I have got the first prize.
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161.The merchant said to his friend, Alas! I have been reduced to
poverty.
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162.The old man said, Alas! I have been wasting my life.
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163.The teacher said to us, Hurrah! Our result has been excellent.
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164.She said, Alas! All my hopes have dashed to the ground.
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165.My dear lord, answered the accused do you really think that I steal
for pleasure? I hate stealing. But I must eat. I must mix in society.
Man is not a solitary animal. Tell me, my lord, how to do this.
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who had entered unobserved. Why, sir, I was standing by the palace
gate this morning to see all the grand folk going to court splendidly
dressed in fine carriages. I thought how happy they must be to be
allowed to see the queen and to enter the beautiful palace! What
would you think if I told you that you might be the kings son, if you
chose, this very moment? asked the teacher.
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6
THE ART
OF
ESSAYS-WRITING
BEAUTIES OF NATURE
The vast lap of Nature is replete with infinite sights of beauty which
satisfy the aesthetic taste and the deepest emotions of man. Beauty of
Nature is an imperishable artistry of God which undoubtedly mirrors His
image. Physical beauty declines and deteriorates, it is within the impact of
relentless time; but "a thing of beauty is a joy forever, its loveliness
increases, it will never pass into nothingness." Beauty of Nature is a divine
treasure that never comes to an end. Successive seasons have different
phases of beauty. If spring has its own charms and attractions, autumn
has its own sombre and dismal beauty.
The beauties of Nature are not only endless but also countless.
Nature presents this vast panorama of beauties to bedeck the fair face of
earth. The beauties of Nature are found in small objects as well as in
panoramic scenes. A person who has aesthetic sense will always be
inspired by the fascinating scenes of Nature. The red glare of the rising
sun, the fading twilight of the parting sun, the silvery beams of the moon,
the fleecy floating clouds, the twinkling and glittering stars; the sounding
cataracts, heaven-kissing snow-capped mountains; winding rivers flowing
serenely, the tranquil blue lakes; old shady trees; the meadows and
pastures filled with infinite variety of flowers are the beauties of Nature If
observed by human eye, they not only captivate human soul but also
haunt the mind in pensive solitudes.
The poets and philosophers have vied with each other in describing
the beauties of Nature. Different aspects of Nature have appealed to
different poets. Wordsworth's heart leaped up with joy when he saw a
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rainbow in the sky or the golden daffodils growing by the side of a lake
and tossing their heads in sprightly dance. This sight of beauty so
possesses the mind of the poet that it becomes the bliss of solitude.
Byron liked the solitary grandeur of the mountains and the majesty of the
deep blue ocean. Shelley liked the fleeting clouds and the ever-changing
waters. To Keats, "a thing of beauty was a joy forever." He loved the
beauty of forests and fields, of flowers and sky and sea. There is not a
mood of earth he did not love, not a season that did not cheer and inspire
him.
Nature possesses endless variety and one does not know what to
admire and what to reject. To men like Wordsworth "beauteous forms
appareled in celestial light," sounding cataracts; and majestic mountains
appear charming; others are delighter by the flowers. Some like the sweet
music of the murmuring brook, but others like the gentle breeze laden
with the fragrance of flowers. The mighty tempests, the aimlessly
wandering clouds, rainfall, thunder and lightning please some, the
tenderness, softness, richness, and delicacy, of moonlight others. To some
sunrise is a glorious spectacle while the fading twilight of the parting sun
is the joy for others. Such are the intuitive charms of Nature, that the
growing cupidity of man for industrialism cannot dull, their eternal
attractiveness nor the relentless time withers their beauty.
Who does not like the green fields waving under the air of heaven,
the bowers of innocence and ease, cool and refreshing, the beautiful
blooming flowers of different hues fluttering and dancing in the breeze,
the shady haunts and the majestic trees spreading their branches to the
sky. What a world of joy and beauty lies before us where the cares and
worries, sorrows and anxieties of the world cannot torment us. Hills and
dales, fields and rivers, mountains and cataracts, fruits and flowers all are
delightful spring clothes.
Nature in green, autumn changes it to yellow and gold, while winter
leaves the branches leafless. There are the dulcet songs of the birds.
There is the melodious song of the lark, the double cry of the cuckoo, the
plaintive song of the nightingale, the cooing of the doves, and the chirping
of the sparrows.
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newly born Time, we feel that we are face to face with the Divine power
and realise the Holy Spirit pervading the whole atmosphere.
The spring comes in country with countless beauties in its wake. Its
arrival in big cities is manifested in colourful flowers, blooming gardens
and refreshing greenery. But the country in spring presents such beautiful
sights as are hardly seen in cities. At the end of February, the fields are
alive with greenery, the trees blossom and the whole surface of the earth
seems to be wrapped in colourful cloak as if it has been touched by the
wand of a mysterious magician.
The country people are not devoid of aesthetic sense. When the
hoary frost that benumbs the earth disappears and the earth reawakens
from its deep slumber, they anxiously await the moment when their eyes
would be entertained by the blossoms on all sides. A cursory glance at the
waving green stalks of crops brings smile to their lips and lustre in their
eyes. It gives them a rare pleasure and satisfaction which they
experience. The beauty of the present is mingled with the hopes of the
future. As the farmers gaze at the fields they feel a sense of pride and joy.
There before them is the reward of their labours. The stalks, which but six
months ago had been green, are now clustered with grain and are ready
for the farmer's blade. Even a stranger from the city cannot withhold his
admiration for the wide-spread dark-green fields with plain beautiful
surface.
People living in cities might think that this natural beauty is no match
to that of the cities. Here are many kinds of flowers with peculiar smells
and different colours. No doubt the flowers grown in gardens and park add
beauty to the dull and drab cities and arouse feelings of wonder and
admiration in us but when we see the natural beauty of shrubs and
thickets with flowers blossoming without cut and clip we are unable to
withhold our admiration. The blossom of mango trees with their unripe
fruits, clad in one green hue, have beauty of their own. The blossoming
trees of "shisham and pipal" with their thick foliage present the
atmosphere of a fairyland. Does it not give us an uncommon experience
of delightful wonder?
When the country is so clad in colourful garb, the birds further add to
its beauty. Before dawn, the continual cooing of a cuckoo coming from a
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hard by garden, is no less attractive. Flocks of birds perch on the sweetsmelling boughs of the trees and they seem to be fully enjoying the
festivities of spring.
The animating spirit of spring is a beneficent spirit. It creates life and
beauty. Before its advent, there is not much attraction in the countryside.
The fields and the trees look dismal and sad. But when it arrives with its
magic wand, it gives the country a new alluring look, a look that is
uncommonly charming. It becomes a harbinger of happiness, messenger
of life and a herald of prosperity for those who live in the country.
It was not foolish of the poets and the birds to sing of the country in
spring. They were attracted and impressed with the simple grandeur and
pure beauty of the country and could not restrain from singing its songs.
The words cannot communicate the experienced pleasure of look at the
country in spring. Its fascinating joys and dizzy raptures can be felt and
experienced and not to be talked about
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honour. With an easy but impressive gait, he moved up to the dais, placed
the register on the table and opened a chat, asking this boy his name,
that boy his address and enquiring about a lot of other things. The period
thus rolled by and towards the close he took the roll call.
This class was followed by two off-periods and the general recess. My
friend and I, therefore, went to the common room. It was packed to
capacity. I met a few familiar faces and exchanged smiles with them. The
common room was very noisy and there was no room for us to sit. So we
moved out through the opposite door and found the college canteen to
the left. We went in but found it no less crowded. Here also was the same
noise and debate.
I went to the library and received there the greatest joy and
amazement of the day. It consisted of two big rooms, packed up with rows
of almirahs and shelves, containing an incalculable number of books on
various subjects. To me the library appeared to be an ocean of books,
whose countless waves can only be wondered at and never fully admired.
I had no mind nor any mood to attend any further class though two
more were to be held in the last periods. Having, therefore, taken leave of
my friend I started home back. On my way home, I fell into a reverie, and
began to recapitulate the lessons and experiences of the day. I found
nothing to doubt that the college meant a definite change-over from a life
of spoon feeding to one of independence. But I found at the same time
that the freedom was not absolute, that it was conditioned at every step
by the shadow of responsibilities and that an improper use of the freedom
might well lead to self-destruction. In my boyish imagination I fancied the
college to be a domain of liberty and learning. On the very first day I
found the college life burdened with responsibilities which is the price to
be paid for its liberties. And throughout these years of study in it, I have
found that the scale of responsibility is much heavier than that of
freedom.
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separation of the departed souls whose better memories often haunt the
mind in pensive solitudes. It wastes a nation's wealth and hampers its
pace of progress. It turns back the speeding wheel of civilization. It calls
into play the fierce and animal instinct of man and sets his worst passions
loose.
War is fit for beasts and not for human beings. Just imagine of what
happens on the battlefield! The ground is covered with pools of human
blood. Wherever we go, we hear the cries and groans of the dying
persons. The battlefield is littered with dead bodies, foul smell, fragments
of human flesh. Desertion and dread prevails everywhere. It appears as if
we had entered into a spectral domain where death dances, demons sing
melancholy songs and vultures hover in quest of human flesh. What a
dreadful sight! What a gloomy and dismal spectacle!
We hear the thunder of booming guns, the whistling of bullets and
the blasting and exploding of bombs. We suffer privation, discomfort and
death. Can there be anything more hideous than this? Martin Luther says,
"War is one of the greatest plagues that can afflict humanity. It destroys
religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge, in fact, is
preferable to it. Famine and pestilence are nothing in comparison to it."
There are those who praise war on the ground that without war and
bloodshed a nation decays and loses its manhood, courage and sense of
bravery. They hold the opinion that in the times of peace men become
slaves to slothfulness and resort to love of ease and selfishness. They
further hold that it brings out in marked degree the qualities of heroism,
patience endurance and faithfulness in a nation. But our practical
experience contradicts this view. To call war the soil of courage and virtue
is like calling debauchery the soil of love. To let loose the dogs of war in
the name of glory, to bathe a country in blood, to jeopardize a nation's
wealth, is a terrible responsibility.
ATOMIC ENERGY
The discovery of Atomic Energy is one of the greatest scientific
discoveries of the present age. We may use it for destructive or
constructive purposes. If we use it for the settlement of our disputes it will
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obliterate the traces of humanity from the earth. If we are sensible in its
use, it will bring in prosperity for the suffering and ailing humanity. In the
constructive sphere, the atomic energy can work miracles.
The use of atomic energy for medical purposes can cure those
diseases which were once considered incurable. Radium can be used in
the destruction of abnormal tissues and cancer. Radio-therapy is an
important branch of medical science. Superfluous cells destroyed once for
all. The isotopes of sodium, potassium, bromine and iodine will go a long
way in tracing the origin and cause of many diseases. This saves man
from the cruel clutches of a slow and painful death. In this way, the atomic
energy has alleviated human sufferings. Medicine and surgery owe a deep
debt of gratitude to scientists who discovered the secrets of Atomic
Energy.
In the sphere of industry also, the atomic energy is going to play a
very important role. Coal and petrol supply of the world is being gradually
exhausted. The time is not far when they may not be available. Without
them electric current cannot be produced. Now atomic energy may be
used in the generation of electric current. Factories will get abundant
quality of electricity to produce things on a large scale. In U.S.A., a large
number of big and small firms are harnessing atomic energy for securing
cheap production. Electronic machines and computers are being used in
the process of metal working, mineral processing, machine designs, glass
making, textile manufacture, plastic and paper processing, electrical
equipments, rubber and cement.
In the field of agriculture, atomic energy will be of great help to the
farmers. Atomic explosions can level the hills and mounds. The land so
made available can be used for the cultivation of crops. Crops can be
ripened within a shorter period with the help of atomic energy. The yield
of grain per acre can be doubled the original one. Moreover, atomic
energy can prevent the pests of harmful bacteria. In this way food
problem can be solved.
We come to the use of atomic energy for transport purposes. With
the help of atomic energy, the means of communication can be made
swifter and more reliable than at present. Trains, cars, trucks, ships,
submarines aeroplanes, missiles and rockets can all be worked by atomic
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energy. Thanks to the power of Atom, the scientists are planning voyages
to the moon. Soon inter-planetary voyages will become a reality in near
future.
MY AIM IN LIFE
An aim is the greatest motivating force that determines the course of
one's life. Life without impetus and incentive is like a sandy desert where
no flower blooms. It is the guiding principle of life that gives us inspiration
and urges us to head towards our destination or goal of life. Greatness
and success in life are not like windfalls, they are achieved through honest
labour and perfect devotion to one's ideal. Shakespeare says, that "Some
are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust
upon them." The common man certainly belongs to the second category
Man himself is the maker of his destiny and the architect of his own life. It
has been rightly said by Bacon that "The mould of a man's fortune is in his
own hands". When a man does not know what harbour he is making for,
no wind is the right wind.
Some want to be civil and military officers, others want to be
engineers and doctors. Some want to be lawyers; other to be politicians
and rulers. Some cherish ambition to be world-renowned poets and
artists; other to be novelists. All that suits to the capabilities, aptitudes of
a man is the best aim for him.
The greatest aim of my life is to be an intellectual teacher. I know
that teaching profession is not so lucrative. Teachers are poorly-paid in the
under-developed countries. But just consider that the best people in the
world are those who impart knowledge to others, who give enlightenment
others, who launch a crusade against ignorance and who are the makers
of a nation's destiny. To me this profession is the only profession through
which a man can serve the ignorant humanity in the best possible
manner. Educating the existing generation is, as a matter of fact, paving
the way to success and prosperity for the succeeding posterity. Engineers
may construct palatial buildings, metalled roads, colossal dams doctors
may serve the ailing humanity and alleviate the pains of the wounded
persons; civil and military officers may feel proud of their successful
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policies and deeds of bravery but they cannot bring about a miraculous
change in the minds and hearts of the people. A teacher is like a lamp
spreading light that shows the path to those who are sauntering aimlessly
in the pitch darkness of ignorance. A teacher is like a ladder which
remains at the same place, but helps others to ascend higher and higher.
So instead of undertaking a technical calling, it is better to be an
engineer-maker, doctor-maker, an officer-maker. It is said that the hand
that rocks the cradle rules the world. Similarly the brain that produces
genius and intellectuals, administrators and rulers, patriots and soldiers,
also rules the hearts and minds of the people. Great teachers have always
achieved an immortal niche in the temple of fame. Aristotle Socrates and
Plato were the greatest teachers of their times. Their ideas, doctrines and
works have deeply influenced every sphere of life and people are still
deriving inspiration and light out of their works.
Realization of such a noble ambition demands perfect devotion,
perpetual labour, and a constant work to glean and gather lofty ideas of
the greatest literary artists of the world. I cherish sanguine hope produce
such men as could leave behind indelible marks on the sands of time, as
could become a beacon of light for others, as could render great service to
the coming generation. Whatever others think of my aim, I am satisfied
that this aim suits perfectly to my taste and disposition. Deviation and
digression would result in nothing but harm and confusion of my mind.
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all modern amenities which make life of the people comfortable and
pleasant. Parks and play-grounds attract people of all ages. People work
all the day long and need entertainment for relaxation. They can go to
cinema or a hotel. Occasionally cultural shows are arranged by some
organizations which provide valuable recreation. Music concerts and
Mushairas attract other people.
In big cities, every man keeps himself well-informed on local, national
and international problems. Newspapers and magazines are published and
are within easy reach of every citizen. Radio is another source of
information and entertainment. It broadcasts news, music, speeches, etc.
Moreover, one lives among the educated people who daily discuss
points of common interest. The exchange of views is another source of
information.
The big cities are full of political activities. Before and after elections,
there is much enthusiasm among the people which keeps the public life
alive. People living in big cities play key role in the political life of a
country and affect deeply the policies of the government. This is a role
which their brethren in the rural areas are ignorant of. The same vigilance
appears in the social life of the cities. In the economic sphere there is
much competition. It is a source of inspiration, worries and cares behind
all progress and development. But the common experience is that
inhabitants of the cities are victims of unusual strain and worries. Their life
is full of hurry and noise and add to their mental burden. On the contrary,
a man living in a village follows a straight course in life. His needs are
simple for which he never exerts himself very much. Life in big cities
causes complex problems of transport, traffic, dearness, shortage of
supplies etc. The daily life of the people may be made wretched by big
Business. The black marketeers and profiteers control the prices of things
of daily use by creating artificial shortage. This practice is very frequently
repeated every year. Apart from this, the life of the people living in big
cities is so much dependent upon modern mechanical devices that he is
at the mercy of forces beyond his control.
It should not be understood that life in big cities is full of worries and
has no charm. It is only the people of big cities who enjoy comforts and
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luxuries that modern life provides. Big cities are centres of national culture
and serve as standards for the whole country.
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anybody else in the land the great vision of Pakistan the homeland of free
Muslims.
Iqbal gave up practice owing to illness in 1934. He died on April, 21,
1938. His death was mourned by millions of his countrymen who were
thrilled by his poetry. He was a man whose name will stand out through
countless ages. His tomb near the 'Shah Mosque' at Lahore still draws
reverent crowds. It will remain as tomb of our national monuments.
FRIENDSHIP
People often talk about friendship but nobody knows what it means.
It is not something vague. It is something dynamic and real. It is not for a
day or two. It is forever. It is a perfumed flower which blossoms in different
hearts and the more it is cherished, the better fruit it brings forth. True
friendship is like a shady tree that gives us shelter from the broiling and
scorching heat of the sun; When time hangs heavy, and we are caught in
the whirlpool of sorrows and despair, we long for the company and
consolation of a true friend who could alleviate the tension of sorrows and
could put balm on our wounded and afflicted heart. A true friend is not
only a blessing of God but an everlasting asset of life. Life really becomes
intolerable without true friends. No doubt, a friend is like nectar that
sweetens the bitterness of our life. It has been truly said that a faithful
friend is the medicine of life, is a balm to our wounded hearts and is a
panacea to our tortured souls
True friendship does not exist where there is doubt and suspicion,
lack of sympathy and confidence. When the walls of confidence and
trustfulness crumble down, all emotional associations, all bonds of love,
all relations of friendship vanish in the dusty limbo of the past. Friendship
demands sacrifice and devotion and those who betray their sincerest
friends are placed by Dante in the lowest circles of Hell. An insincere and
selfish friend is like a blasted tree that never brings forth leaves and
flowers even in spring. Unforgettable are the moments of life spent in the
company of a true friend.
Everyone tries to find out his friend after his heart. There are some
who look upon their friends as their refuge and shelter. They like friends
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who are friends in need, who help them in their difficulties. They like
Antonio who tried to help his friend with money by borrowing it from a Jew
on the condition that he would give him a pound of flesh if he did not
return the money at the appointed time. There are others who wish that
their friends should be made of the stuff of which heroes are made of. He
should be one who should sacrifice his life and wealth whenever he is
called upon to do so in the interests of friendship. Such was the friendship
of Dante and Pythias. Damon was condemned to death by a tyrant. He
wanted to go home to settle his affairs. He was allowed to go on the
security of Pythias. The day of execution arrived, but he did not return. His
friend went to the scaffold cheerfully. Damon, however, just arrived at the
nick of time and saved his friend from death.
A friend should bear a friend's infirmities and I like to have a friend
who does not indulge in carping criticism day in and day out. He may try
to point out my faults with the intention of corrective purpose. He should
not be prepared to hear anything against me from the mouth of others as
"whispering tongue can poison truth." Moreover he should enrich my mind
by a lively as well as an instructive talk and not lead me to futilities and
mere abortive gossips. He must teach me something by his talk, by his
exemplary character, by his noble deeds and wise thoughts. If he fails to
do this, his companionship is a mere waste of time.
A faithful friend is the best medicine of life and my friend should act
as a balm to my wounded heart and a panacea to my tormenting soul. He
should take away the sting from my misfortunes and cheer the dark path
of life laden with sharp thorns and sweeten the poisoned springs of life.
TELEVISION
Television is one of the latest inventions of our age. It means "to see
from a distance." On the television, we can see people and their
movements from a very long distance. It has gained a wide-spread
popularity in Western as well as in Eastern countries. Now-a-days it has
become the need of every home. In leisure hours, it is the best means of
recreation and mental diversion. In this age of anxiety and tension,
emotional suffocation and depression, television serves the purpose of
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sacrifices. Millions of people lost their lives and homes. Such a dearly
bought prize cannot be neglected. My love has immense depth for this
reason too.
In the end, I should say that I love Pakistan because it is fountain of
my life, safety and honour. To have no love for it means to have no love
for my own self.
TERRORISM
The general view of the origin of the universe is that it started with a
BANG. The word suggests, both phonetically and semantically, violence:
And the holy scriptures table of creation has chaos as the origin of things.
Both the scientific and religious theories, notwithstanding science and
religion being antagonistic to each other, ironically agree on the point of
violence.
It follows, therefore, that violence forms a part of Nature as well as of
man, But there is a marked difference between natural violence and
human. Nature's acts of violencesuch as earthquakes, floods, volcanic
eruptionsare actually acts of creation. Nature destroys the unnecessary,
the unhealthy, the unwanted, and creates new landscapes to provide a
better, and perhaps more interesting, situation for social life. Change is
one of the laws of Nature. Man does violence to Nature's creations as well
his own.
There has always been violence in human society individual as well
as organised in the form of wars. And politics and religion joined hands to
massacre people who challenged their authority. This was followed by the
emergence of antagonistic political ideologies and isms. But terrorism is a
peculiar if not an entirely new, phenomenon of the later part of the
twentieth century.
What is terrorism? The most simplistic definition of this highly
complex phenomenon would beit is the result of the secret conspiracy
between politics and organised crime. The syndication of killing in a form
of big business combined with politics has given birth to the monster of
terrorism.
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We have known and still see the inhuman violent acts committed in
the name of caste, creed or community. But they are only extensions of
the violence inherent in Nature and in man. As such they are only sporadic
and can be located and controlled.
But terrorism is a synthetic form of violence. It is a kind of deviation
from the norm of the organic violence. The production and applications of
the pill of terrorism as a solution to political questions has created new
kind of problems in human society. The most difficult aspect of the
terroristic situation is its nature of unpredictability as regards its place and
time. It is ironic that the armed forces raised to fight external invasion are
now being used in our country to contain the consensus internal eruptions
of terrorism from Kashmir to North-East and down south. The soldier is
given the task of a curer. He is asked to cure what he has not been trained
to do. He can only mow down the mole-hills of terrorism. The moles are
rarely caught. If caught, others take their place. Both national and
international politics plays a large role in fanning the fire of terrorism in
various ways.
Obviously terrorism requires a new way to control it. Like the AIDS, it
requires a new medicine. The organic violence has somewhere, somehow,
at sometime, got mutated and it has created a new social virus which
travels fast, finds new places to hide, decide to erupt at unpredictable
points. No national or international apparatus of controlling violence
criminal communal or politicalcan even succeed in weeding out the
roots that terrorism has taken in human society. Some entirely new and
drastic weapon has to be invented to fight out the monster of terrorism.
Till then, we have to live with it, whether we like it or not, and wait for the
day of miracles. Eradication of any evil is a costly enterprise. To eradicate
a syndicated evil will require a much greater cost in terms of human life.
Man has paid this price during the two wars in the 20th century. He must
not hesitate to pay a greater price for a kind of violence he himself is
responsible for.
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cancer, tuberculosis and polio were incurable. People suffering from these
diseases, would strike horror and pity on the one hand and despair on the
other. But, today X-rays, antibiotic drugs and surgical operations have
controlled diseases to a great extent. Science has given eyes to the blind,
ears to the leaf and legs to the crippled. It has made a check on Diseases,
improved the standard of health and increased the longevity of human
life. Plastic surgery can even change a monster into a fairy. Scientific
breeding has yielded satisfactory results in the case of animals, plants and
even men. It has produced test-tube babies for childless couples.
Science has provided man with the means of comforts. The gift of
electricity has placed unlimited power into the hands of mankind. It not
only runs our factories and mills, but also lights our houses, cools and
warms our rooms and works our fans. We no longer need to sweat in the
heat or shiver from the cold. Electric gadgets can finish the entire cooking
in half an hour. Washing, drying and ironing can be done mechanically.
Another one of the miracles of science is the discovery of atomic
energy. It has created a paradise on Earth. It can create artificial weather
for crops and can also make barren land fertile. Fatal and incurable
diseases can be cured with its help. Atom bombs, hydrogen bombs,
missiles and other destructive war armaments are the valuable gifts of
sciences. Man has succeeded to reach the moon and explore its
mysteries. Science is trying to reach other planets in the near future.
Science has provided knowledge and power and affected our life in
various ways. But in doing so, science has also created a large number of
problems for the human race. Huge labour and time saving machines
have led to large-scale unemployment. Destructive weapons provided by
atomic energy are the threatening our existence. They can destroy
civilization, built up after centuries of hard and sustained labour. Science
has also created boredom, from which relief is found only in sex, drink and
drugs. Large-scale industrialisation has caused the concentration of
wealth in a few hands leading to the exploitation of labour. Better living
standard has caused competition. Man has acquired the material
possessions, but lost his soul.
Knowledge and power gained through science should be used for
creative and constructive aims. It is the duty of statesmen, humanists,
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INFLATION
At present, Pakistan is faced with a host of problem which are
extremely important and the problem of rising prices is one of the most
important, faced by our motherland. The problem is two-fold, first is to
check the rising prices and second, is to bring the prices down. The prices
are touching the sky.
The problem, on the face of it, may seem to be quite simple. But, in
fact, it is not. It is closely related to the welfare of the people. It owes
much to the administrative efficiency of the Government. The success of a
government depends largely on the behaviour of the prices in that
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visiting season charms the sight and enchants the soul of all who have
eyes to see. Nowhere else in the world1 does Nature bestow her gifts of
light and shade, of breeze and balm, of splendour and beauty so lavishly
as in our land, particularly Swat, which is traditionally known as the
sporting-ground of Nature.
Next in importance comes her economy which is, however, as bleak
as her Nature is lively. For several decades rural Pakistan was exposed to
ruthless exploitation by Zemindars, money-lenders and unscrupulous
officers. Freedom has swept them off to a large extent. Landlordism is no
more. Usury has been abolished. Other kinds of extortion also have
lessened. But her economy has not suffered any material change, except
for the worse. Production from land is on the decrease. Rural industry is
yet to be born and village commerce is struggling hard for life. The
principal source of income, in most cases, the only avenue of earning is
the land which due to various reasons, is yielding decreasing output.
Hence the economic condition of the villagers is rather deplorable. A small
percentage of the people are enjoying bare sufficiency, while the rest are
in perpetual want, their poverty increasing with the passing of every year.
Considered economically, life in rural Pakistan js too poor, too mean and
too insecure to be coveted Rural society, which one was a model of
beauty and grandeur is now in a similarly pitiable state. There is no doubt
a semblance of social structure but only at the exterior. The interior has
broken down long before. As a result, unending factionalism has replaced
perennial friendship mutual helpfulness has yielded place to crude
enmities and jealousy; litigation is flourishing at the cost of peace and
harmony. Rioting is a common feature at every harvesting season. Every
village is divided into as many factions as there are disputes. Sometimes
one clan is bifurcated or trifurcated on grounds of group interests. In a
word, there is now nothing like a village society which was once the pride
of cur country.
The only thing that has withstood the wear and tear of time is the
village customs and usages. Here our villagers remain where they were
centuries ago. Largely dominated by their respective religion, every
community has its own customs and usages which are being handed over
from generation to generation and are being fanatically preserved
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against any onslaught of modern civilization. These are so old and primitive that our rural customs are subjects of archaeological interest.
These customs testify how incurably conservative our people are. But
civilization is steadily making its inroad into the core of village-life and
are thereby breaking these customs too on an increasing scale. If they
go, the village-life will stand completely shorn of any stamp of the past, as
others have already disappeared.
In an equally pitiable condition are the village health and education.
Poverty is so extensive and crushing that most of villagers cannot send
their children to school though education is free up to the primary stage. A
-few that are receiving education, their percentage is small. For want of
mass support, new schools are not growing and old ones, resembling
dilapidated huts, are fast going out of existence. Similar is the condition of
health and sanitation. Most of the villagers have neither money nor
knowledge enough to eat good food. They eat to fill the stomach and
swallow whatever they get. They eat meat on rare occasions. They grow
vegetables only to sell them to the urban people. They tend cows to sell
their milk in the towns. Thus undernourished, they labour hard,
disproportionately hard to their bodily capacity. Naturally the general
health of the village is very poor. Diseases and epidemics occur frequently
and take heavy tolls of life every year. When attacked, most of them die
without treatment because there are no qualified doctors in the locality
nor have they mean enough to call in urban physicians. Here and there
charitable dispensaries may have been but without medicine and with one
doctor entrusted with the care of thousands of diseased persons. Rural
sanitation is in a worse state There is no drain anywhere. Water accumulates, petrifies and breeds germs of diseases. Unclean ditches and jungles
are found all about. There is hardly any lavatory and people leave their
nightsoil wherever they can. All these vitiate the air regularly and keep
the villages permanent dens of death and disease.
These conditionseconomic and educational in particular have
their influence on the general life of the villagers. Men and women go
about their daily round of duties with a calm resignation to fate. They rise
early, work the whole day and go to bed early. A couple of hours after
sunset, a village is indistinguishable from a graveyard. There is no
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which is considered unbecoming and wrong and how to form good habits.
Such a disciplined child will become a useful member of society.
The methods of training are patient instruction, example and
punishment. A child must be given proper instruction to discriminate
between right and wrong. It must be educated to distinguish between
good and bad. It must be told what to do and what not to do. But
sometimes all this preaching fails and a child is a born imitator and heroworshipper. It does what its teacher does; it practises what its parents
practise in daily life; it chooses its hero and imitates him. So the best
discipline for a child is through training and example. Fear of punishment
may keep him away from doing wrong but it will not make him do what is
right. In the same way domestic animals, such as a dog or a horse, have
to be trained before they can be of any use to man. Like the child, they
must first learn to obey. The horses must learn how to draw a carriage and
carry men and goods, and dogs how to guard the house, property and
look after flocks of sheep.
But the hardest task of all is to learn self-discipline. We must learn
how to control our passions and desires, how to check the evil
propensities of our nature and resist the temptations of the world. Selfdiscipline is the crown and glory of man's life.
"Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control These three alone lead
life to sovereign power."
Men cannot work together harmoniously in societies and companies,
if they do not agree upon certain rules of conduct Strict obedience to
these rules is called discipline. A society that has no rules or which does
not see that its rules are obeyed, will soon fall to pieces.
Discipline is necessary in every department of life. A home in which
there is no discipline among its members, where everyone acts according
to his whim can know no peace. It becomes the scene of disorder,
confusion and conflict without a system. Half of its peace will vanish for
want of discipline. Children must obey their parents, servants their
masters, and inferiors their superiors if it is to be an abode of peace.
No less important is discipline in schools and colleges. That school or
college cannot exist long where discipline is not enforced. If the boys can
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MY FAVOURITE SEASON
It seems to be a part of human nature to have favourites in every
walk of life. Consciously or unconsciously, we come to bestow our choice
on some particular thing, in preference to the rest and such choice is
called our favourites. Thus we have, at least many of us have, a favourite
game, a favourite poet, our favourite food and dress, 'en favourite pets,
whether of birds or animals. Similarly among the seasons of the year we
have our favourite season. Some are fond of Spring, some of the Rains,
others of the Autumn and some others of Winter. The general incidence of
choice is for the Spring but I like Winter and have my reasons for it.
Among the other likable seasons, the first place doubtless longs to
Spring. With its flowers, balmy breeze and the song of the cuckoo, it
makes an appeal far too deep to be ignored. But in our part of the world,
Spring is neither half as beautiful as the poet have described nor does it
last for a time to enable us to enjoy the little charm that it has. Spring
lasts here, if at all, for no more than a fortnight. But the intense heat,
want of drinking water and the outbreak of epidemics detract so much of
its appeal and charm Spring comes and goes without making its advent
felt in any considerable measure. So in our country Spring is a short
season.
The other season having claim on anybody's choice is the Rains. It is
both long and outstanding, making its existence felt both in her bounties
and in inflicting her punishment on us. But she always overdoes herself so
much that in my memory the rainy season is associated more with
sufferings than with joy. She brings in rainfall and in such heavy measure
that one of our heart's prayers becomes "God, no more rain". Then
comes flood and epidemicfamine and death were prevailing all around.
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