singular verb and noun and phrase and clause

singular verb and noun:

a. Read the following sentence:

1. The book is open.                The books are open.

2. The kite is beautiful.            The kites are beautiful.

3. The bird is in the sky.          The birds are in the sky.

In the first sentence the singular verb is used for the singular noun. In the second sentence the plural verb is used for the plural noun.


Fill in the blanks with the correct noun or verb forms.

1. The bird __________in the sky.

2. The ________ are in the sky.

3. The doors __________ open.

4. The buses _________ full.

5. The train __________ long.



phrase and clause:

Read the following sentence.

1. In spite of illness, kala went to school

A B

There is a group of words both in A and B. What is the difference between them?

There is no finite verb in A - It is a phrase.

There is a finite verb in B - It is a clause.


2. On seeing the elephant, the child was happy

A B

Phrase - on seeing the elephant

Clause - the child was happy

Note: ‘seeing’ is not a finite verb. It is non finite.

Read the following sentences and tabulate the phrases and clauses. The first one is done for you.

1. On account of Pongal, tomorrow will be a holiday.

2. I saw the sunrise, walking along the road.

3. The match was cancelled, owing to rain.

4. In the event of a good monsoon, we will get better yield.

5. She fell ill due to overwork.

6. In case of war, there will be a shortage of oil.

Phrase                                                                  Clause

1 On account of Pongal                                       1 tomorrow will be a holiday

2                                                                             2

3                                                                             3

4                                                                             4

5                                                                             5


6                                                                             6

How to use Adjectives and adverbs etc...

Adjectives and adverbs

Business is going from bad to worse. (deteriorate further)

They always do things in a big way. (on a large scale)

The government has taken a very hard line (not giving in) against illegal quarrying.

Orders for the new product are coming in thick and fast. (in large numbers)


Nouns

How can any one make ends meet (manage with the money) with just Rs.2000/- a month?

Your son’s behaviour is a matter of concern. (something to worry about)

The name sounds familiar but I can’t call her face to mind. (recall something from memory; recognise)



Nouns and adjectives

My uncle loves to tell us how to play cricket. He is an armchair expert.
(one who gives advice in an area in which he was not actively involved)

Ravi is our sincere employee. He has had a clean slate (a past record without discredit) for over twenty years.



Idioms and Prepositions 

The policeman went near the damaged car to have a look at close quarters. (very near)

r. Jacob is at the helm (in charge) of affairs in this hospital.



Verbal Idioms

No one can make a break even (make no profit or loss) in the first year of business.

Because of the steep rice in prices, people living on pension feel the pinch. (feeling unpleasant change in one’s standard of living)



Idiomatic Pairs

Let us settle the bill for the damage fair and square. (in a fair way)

I can hear you over phone loud and clear. (very clearly)

By and by (as time goes by) he will realise that my going to Delhi was the right decision.