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A synonym is a substitute of a word, similar in meaning and sense which has to perform the same function in a sentence as the original word does. Thus a noun must have a noun synonym; an adjective must be replaced by an adjective synonym, and so on e.g. I praise her form (verb) I admire her form (verb) This is exactly what he meant (adv) This is precisely what he meant. (adv)
EXERCISE
Find out the words nearest in meaning to the words underlined. A) he has amassed a lot of wealth 1.)saved 2)heaped 3) earned 4) hoarded B) The event was really spectacular 1) visible 2) extravagant 3) impressive 4) oracular. C) The beauty of the Himalayas arrested his breath. 1) choked 2)freshened 3) Interrupted 4) held.
EXERCISE Contd..
I appreciate the alteration suggested by the engineer 1) Improvement 2) Alternation 3)change4) adulteration. Provide a synonym to the words given. Calm Caution Barbarous Auspicious
ANTONYM
Antonym is a word which is opposite in meaning and sense. If exact opposite is not available, we select the nearest opposite. For e.g.
Antonym
Present Passive. Death Sweet Flowing Brief Dawn. Absent Active Birth Bitter Stagnant Elaborate Dusk
Word
HOMONYMS
Homonym is a word that has both the same sound and spelling as another but is different in meaning and origin. It is the context, in which a word is used, that gives a correct meaning to the word. For.e.g. The noun bear and the verb bear are homonyms (of each other.) A homonym can be used as different parts of speech.
EXERCISE
Use the following Homonyms in different contexts so that they convey different meanings. Arm stick Still Vice Arch rush Bark boot Last bridge. Bat Base Bear Boot Case Corporal Hamper Plot Pale
HOMOPHONES
Homophone is a word that sounds like another word but is different in spelling, meaning and origin. Knew and new are homophones (of each other) Homophones are sound- alikes ,when it comes to writing, their spellings confuse us thus resulting in mistakes. for e.g. Affect, Effect Addition, Edition Adapt, Adept Birth, Berth.
Complete the following sentences using the appropriate word from those given in the brackets.
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
He (lied ,lay ,laid) in his bed the whole night but could not sleep. In yoga, you learn to control your (breath, breathe, breadth.) I have been (waiting ,awaiting) a reply to my letter. Soon the crowd dispersed and it was all (quit, quiet, quite) again. Even before the (umpire ,empire) raised his finger, he had left the crease. He was caught by the first (slip, sleep)in both the innings.
PARONYMS
Paronyms are words derived from the same root but different in meaning. The root part of the word has resemblance of spelling and sound. E.g. .admission, Admittance Childish, Childlike Considerate, considerable.
Admit; confess Begin; start Cause; reason House; Home Sensitive; Sensible People; Person Possible; Probable Answer, Reply Hear, Listen
COMPOUND WORDS
Compound words are formed by combining two or more basic words. The compound word is treated as one unit. For e.g. Class + room =classroom air +lines = airlines washer + man= Washer man camera + man= camera man.
Brevity is a quality in communication, which can be achieved by using a single word which shall convey the meaning conveyed by a group of words. In other words a single word can replace the whole sentence. for e.g. some important substitutes can be One who does not believe in god--- atheist
Belonging to ones ancestors--- Ancestral Animals that live in water ---- aquatic The yearly return of a date--- Anniversary One who believes in keeping tradition conservative A speech made without preparation Extempore. A man who thinks highly only of himself Egoist That which cannot be heard--- Inaudible.
SYNTAX
It is through meaningful sentences that we communicate. So it is important to know how a sentence is formed. A sentence is a combination of words in a certain order. Syntax tells us about that order, it is the way words and phrases are to be put together to form meaningful sentences.
SYNTAX Contd
The art and science of putting words and phrases together to form sentences can be studied by examining function of words in a sentence. various combinations are possible giving rise to a variety of structures. The Sentence: a sentence is a combination of words that makes complete sense in itself. for e.g. 1. An aero plane flies in the air. 2. children play football regularly. 3. Reena is my sister.
KINDS OF SENTENCES
There are three kinds of sentences..
1.
2.
3. 4.
Statements: statements are the sentences that state or declare something. They are also called assertive or declarative sentences. For e.g. The earth moves round the sun (affirmative) .I will not go there (Negative) Interrogative sentences: Sentences of this kind are used to make enquiries. They always end with a question mark. Where do you live? For e.g.. Can I help you?
EXCLAMATIONS:
Sentences of this kind express surprise, admiration ,pity, sorrow and other feelings in an emphatic way. These sentences always end with an Exclamatory mark. For e g What a beautiful building! How hot it is!
Each of these has two parts. The first part (column A) is called the Subject. The second part (column-B) is called the Predicate.
The subject is the agent of action .Predicate tells what action the subject does. On an analysis of the subject (column-a), we find that it can be: _ name of person : Mr. Gupta -- a pronoun : he, it -- a noun with a possessive : his students ,the school Adjective or an article before it.
DEFINITION
Subject :The subject is a noun or a pronoun with or
without other words going with it.
THE PHRASE
The sun rises in the east The birds fly in the sky There was a knock on the door. In the above sentences, the group of words in italics make sense, but not complete sense. Such a group of words that makes sense, but not complete sense is called a phrase.
THE CLAUSE
She has a chain of gold She has a chain that is made of gold. In the first sentence of gold is a phrase. In the second sentence the group of words that is made of gold has a subject (that) and a predicate (is made of gold.) It is a clause.
PARTS OF SPEECH.
In a Sentence we all know, theres a subject part and a predicate part. In each part there are a number of smaller parts .Each of these smaller parts is a word which has a certain function in the sentence, that is it does work of a certain kind. Depending on this function, a word is said to belong to a particular part of speech. English words belong to 8 parts of speech. Noun, Pronoun, adjective, Verb, adverb ,preposition, Conjunction,& Interjection.
DEFINITION
Noun: The name of a person, place or a thing. e.g. India exports tea to
foreign countries. The words in italics are nouns
Pronoun: The words which stand for nouns are called Pronouns. e.g..
He, she, they, both, him ,me.
Adjectives: The words which qualify or describe the nouns are called
adjectives. e.g. Our team played a splendid game. A big crowd watched the game.
VERBS
Verbs tell us what the subject does; what the subject is, what the subject has. Main Verbs Dogs Bark Birds fly The child broke the glass. In these sentences the verbs bark, fly and broke do not have any helping verbs before them. They are called main verbs.
AUXILIARY VERBS
Some birds can fly long distances You may play for sometime The teachers will explain it again. In these sentences the main verbs take another verb before it (Can, may ,will) These verbs are called auxiliary verbs or helping verbs. Auxiliaries give a special meaning to the main verbs that go with it. The verb together with the auxiliary is called a verb phrase.
the number, person and the tense of the sentence. Such verbs are called finite verbs. When a verb is not modified by the number, the person and the tense in the sentence, it is called a non-finite verb. E.g. He wants to buy a new car Buying a new car needs money He is looking for a second hand car He found the car glass broken.
THE INFINITIVE
They want to go Birds love to sing The constable refused to listen To respect our parents is our duty. In the above sentences to +verb form is called the infinitive. Definition: An infinitive is a verb preceded by to
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
The present Participle a) The flying bird looks beautiful b) Everyone worships the rising sun c) The crying child gets milk. The words flying, crying and rising perform the function of an adjective as well as verb these words may be called verbal adjectives or participles.
GERUND
The Gerund and the present Participle have the same form i.e. verb +ing The Gerund is a non-finite verb having the force of a Noun and Verb
FUNCTIONS OF A GERUND
a)
b)
The Gerund may work as the subject of a verb Swimming is a good exercise Smoking is injurious to health The Gerund can be the object of a verb. He likes reading novels I hate waiting at bus stops.
ADVERB
Definition: An adverb is a word that modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb e.g. 1) Rita speaks loudly 2) Rita has a very sweet voice 3) Rita speaks quite clearly. In 1) loudly modifies the verb speak In 2) very modifies the adjective sweet In 3) quite modifies the adverb clearly.
KINDS OF ADVERBS
Adverbs of time Ad. Of frequency Ad. Of Place Ad. Of Manner Ad. Of Degree Ads. Of Affirmation & Negation Ad. Of reason.
PREPOSITION
Definition: A preposition is a word which is placed before a noun or a pronoun. It shows us in what relation the noun stands with regards to something else in the sentence. e.g. We waited at the bus stop The beggars sat along the road He sat down beside his sister.
CONJUNCTIONS
Definition: A conjunction is a word used to join words and sentence Kinds of Conjunctions: 1) Coordinating conjunctions 2) Subordinating Conjunctions
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
E.g. The function was attended by both boys and girls The girls came in black and white tops. Everybody walked smartly and elegantly. In the first sentence the conjunction and joins two nouns- boys and girls.
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
They help in connecting the subordinate clause to the main clause. Some subordinating conjunctions are: Although Than However While Until/till Whether Because Lest Since as if After As soon As As before
SIMPLE SENTENCES
Rita bought an expensive dress Rita was a student of Miranda house She wants to become an engineer Each of these sentences has a subject and one verb in the predicate part of the sentence. Such sentences are called simple sentences
2)
3)
The subject-it may be a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun. The verb-it is a finite verb (F. verbs change with the number and person of the subject.) An object if the verb is transitive e.g. He bought a pen.
VERB PATTERNS
Simple sentences fall into a number of patterns. knowledge of patterns is therefore, essential for structuring a sentence properly. Some key patterns are as follows: Pattern 1 This is the simplest of verb patterns. The subject is followed by an intransitive verb (which expresses complete sense without the help of any other word.) The structure would be Subject+Verb.
PATTERN 2
Subject+ Verb (be) +Compliment (noun)
E.g.. This is a pen. They are Cricketers He is an engineer These are mangoes.
PATTERN 3
Subject+ Verb (be) +Complement (adj.)
e.g. He is smart The food is delicious My father was strict The lady was gorgeous
PATTERN 4
Subject+ verb+ Compliment (adverb.)
E.g. Air is everywhere My son is here Your bag is there Players are out
PATTERN 5
Subject + verb (Intransitive) +Compliment (noun) E.g. He became the Managing director he looks a cheat Man Mohan Singh proved a capable administrator.
PATTERN 6
Subject +verb (Transitive)+ object e.g. I can speak French Franklin discovered electricity. My mother bought a computer. My father donated Kidney.
PATTERN 6
Sub. +verb (transitive) +Particle +object.
e.g. The soldiers carried out the orders. The umpire called off the game The student got back his mobile My mother called in the mechanic.
PATTERN 7
Sub + verb+ object + Particle.
The maid switched the light on. The umpire called the match off. He got this mobile back. Mother called the mechanic in.
PATTERN 8
Subject+ verb+ indirect object+ Direct Object e.g. I lent her my car The man told us the truth The teacher gave him a reward My mother promised me a new dress.
PATTERN 9
Sub+ Verb+ Direct object+ To+ Indirect Object e.g. He gave the pen to me The man told the truth to us I lent my car to her.
PATTERN 10
Sub.+ verb +Gerund (Verb +ing)
PATTERN 11
Subject+ verb+ Infinitive
The child wanted to sleep She is learning to drive He forgot to post the letter I am trying to help her.
PATTERN 12
Sub+ verb+ Object+ Infinitive
The team expected him to win He wanted me to speak His boss allowed him to take leave
COMPOUND SENTENCE
We bought the tickets and went in. Walk fast or you will miss the train Each of these sentences has two different clauses. Each sentence is a combination of two independent clauses joined by a conjunction. Each clause in the sentence above has one finite verb
COMPLEX SENTENCES
This is a place where he was born The man whom you helped is my neighbour The thief ran away when he saw us. This is the book that I wanted to read. Each of the above sentences has two clauses. The clause that is not italicized can stand by itself as a complete sentence. It is called the principal or the main clause. The clause that is italicized is the subordinate or the dependent clause.
SYNTHESIS
Two or more sentences can be combined to make a new sentence. This is called synthesis. Sentences may be combined to form A simple sentence A compound sentence A complex sentence.
SECTION B
PHONETICS
INTRODUCTION
Linguistics is a systematic study of language. Phonetics is a branch of linguistics and deals with the medium of speech. It deals with the production, transmission and reception of the sounds of human speech.
Vowels: They are the sounds during the production of which the air comes out freely through the mouth. Consonants: are sounds during the production of which there is a closure or narrowing of air passage which causes audible friction.
THE SYLLABLE
While analyzing speech, we see that there are individual speech sounds. The unit that is next in hierarchy to the speech sound is the syllable. If the syllable has more than one speech sound, one of them will be a vowel and the rest consonants.
DIPHTHONGS
There are eight vowel glides or diphthongs in R.P. In the articulation of diphthongs- the tongue starts in the position required for the articulation of one vowel and moves in the direction of the position required for the articulation of a different vowel. These Diphthongs are usually long vowels.