A TRYST WITH ENGLISH

 Look at these sentences carefully. Change them as instructed in the brackets. 1. I cannot imagine she buying a necklace for me. (Begin: She buying a necklace for me is...) She buying a necklace for me is beyond my imagination / She buying a necklace for me is unimaginable. 2. Thirty students were present in the examination room. (Begin: The examination room...) The examination room had 30 students. 3. As soon as the garden was cleared of dry leaves, a snake was spotted in the corner.  (Begin: No sooner...) No sooner did we clear the garden of dry leaves than we spotted a snake in the corner. / No sooner was the garden cleared of dry leaves than a snake was spotted in the corner. 4. He arrived and the crowd went hysterical with joy. (ISC 2020) (Begin: Scarcely...) Scarcely had he arrived when the crowd went hysterical with joy. 5. I'm sorry I am unable to accompany you. (ISC 2020) (Begin: I regret my...) I regret my inability to accompany you. 6. Tea is one of the most consume...

                                                                                                                  

A précis is another word for a summary but unlike a summary it is specific. Writing précis gives training in careful reading as it develops one's capacity to discriminate between the essential and the non-essential details.  One needs to describe as accurately and briefly as possible the substance or main ideas contained in a text.  In the ICSE examination, you are to lift points from some specific parts of the passage. Remember, your précis has to be of 60 words only. Be careful in deciding which are the relevant parts and which not. Sometimes the question even mentions which paragraphs you are supposed to refer to. Prepare a draft with pencil in a grid of 60 cells (5 columns x 12 rows). Make necessary edits and corrections. Then make a final copy in ink. Remember not to exceed 60 words. Nor should it be fewer than 58 words. GUIDELINES 1. To write an effective précis, read the passage several times for a full understanding. 2. Note key points. It may, in fact...

(CLICK ON THIS FORMAT AND IT WILL OPEN AS A CLEAR PICTURE. RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE IT THEREAFTER.)  Keep in mind the following things. 1. The letter must begin with the sender’s address: a three-line address in the above format. (House no., Area, City.) Punctuation must be taken care of. 2. The date should be written as either July 8, 2016 or 8 th July, 2016. 3. The salutation should always be ‘Dear ____(first name of the receiver)’. In case of parents, ‘Dear Father’ or ‘Dear Mother’ must be used. 4. Write 3 to 4 paragraphs. The first paragraph must include an informal greeting and reference to the purpose of the letter briefly.          5. The second and third paragraphs must include the main content. One must strictly adhere to what has been asked in the question. There are marks reserved for closing sentence too. 6. The subscription could be one of these:         ...

1. No sooner did she finish cooking than her son shouted he was hungry. OR No sooner had she finished cooking than her son shouted he was hungry. 2. She asked John whom he had met the previous day. 3. Rohit exclaimed that he had done very/extremely well. 4. Nothing but hard work can help you achieve the best. 5. The movie was too bad to be sat through till the end. OR The movie was too bad for me to sit through it till the end. 6. Two final witnesses were heard by the judge before writing the sentence. 7. In all probability, it will rain today. 8. It is said that he is wrongly accused. 9. This bicycle is not only strong, but also stylish. 10. Few other diseases are as deadly as cancer. 11. Before adding the concentrate, (you should) stir the mixture well. 12. Steps for preserving the monuments are being taken by the government. OR Steps for preservation of the monuments are being taken by the government.

Solve this worksheet yourself: 1. Hardly had she finished cooking when her son shouted he was hungry. (No sooner...) 2. She said to John, "Whom did you meet yesterday?" (She asked...) 3. Rohit said, "How well I have done!" (Rohit exclaimed...) 4. Only hard work can help you achieve the best. (Write as a negative sentence) 5. The movie was so bad that I couldn't sit through it till the end. (Use 'too...to') 6. The judge heard two final witnesses before writing the sentence. (Two final witnesses...) 7. It will probably rain today. (In...) 8. People say that he is wrongly accused. (It...) 9. This bicycle is both strong and stylish. (This bicycle is not...) 10. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases. (Few...) 11. Add this concentrate after stirring the mixture well. (Before adding...) 12. The government is taking steps to preserve the monuments. (Steps for...) ******************** (Answers will be posted on the morning of 14.09.2017)