SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

A conjunction which connects a dependent clause to an independent clause is called a subordinating conjunction.

The common subordinating conjunctions are when, while, where, though, although, till, until, before, after, if, unless, as, since, because and that.

When it started raining they took shelter under a tree.

I was working while you were playing.

Put it where you can find it later.

Though he is rich, he is not arrogant.

Although I had invited him, he didn’t turn up.

Will you wait here till I return?

I waited until 10 o’clock and then I went home.

He always feeds the dogs before he goes to work.

He went to the US after he finished his studies.

If it rains, the match will be cancelled.

Unless you achieve your targets, you will not be promoted.

As he was not there, I couldn’t meet him.

Since he has apologized, we will not take any further actions against him.

My parents were happy because I had won the first prize.

I am glad that you have passed the test.

There are different kinds of subordinating conjunctions. They are:
Subordinating conjunction of time: when, while, before, after, till, since
Subordinating conjunction of place: where, wherever
Subordinating conjunction of cause or reason: because, since, as
Subordinating conjunction of condition: if, unless
Subordinating conjunction of concession: though, although
Subordinating conjunction of result or consequence: so…that, that
Subordinating conjunction of purpose: that, lest
Subordinating conjunction of comparison: than

PHRASES WORKSHEET

Identify the phrases in the following sentences and state their kind

1. He was a man of great wealth.

2. The principal was an old man of friendly disposition.

3. The workers belonged to a tribe dwelling in the hills.

4. There I met a boy with red hair.

5. Only a man with plenty of money can buy a car of such beauty and power.

6. He was a young man of great promise.

7. He wore a turban made of gold.

8. He ran with great speed.

9. You can buy it in all places.

10. He replied in a very rude manner.

11. How does he live without any worries?

Answers

1. He was a man of great wealth. (adjective phrase)

2. The principal was an old man of friendly disposition. (adjective phrase)

3. The workers belonged to a tribe dwelling in the hills. (adjective phrase)

4. There I met a boy with red hair. (adjective phrase)

5. Only a man with plenty of money can buy a car of such beauty and power. (adjective phrases)

6. He was a young man of great promise. (adjective phrase)

7. He wore a turban made of gold. (adjective phrase)

8. He ran with great speed. (adverb phrase)

9. You can buy it in all places. (adverb phrase)

10. He replied in a very rude manner. (adverb phrase)

11. How does he live without any worries? (adverb phrase)

SUBJECT-PREDICATE WORKSHEET

 identify the subject and the predicate IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

1. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

2. Borrowed garments never fit well.

3. She has been to all the continents.

4. A barking dog seldom bites.

5. On the top of the hill lives a hermit.

6. You never cease to amaze me.

7. We should profit from our experience.

8. Suddenly one of the wheels came off.

9. A dark figure appeared in the hallway.

10. Someone rose to speak.

11. When did she die?

12. Who told you this?

13. No man can serve two masters.

Answers

1. A rolling stone (subject) / gathers no moss (predicate).

2. Borrowed garments (subject) / never fit well (predicate).

3. She (subject) / has been to all the continents (predicate).

4. A barking dog (subject) / seldom bites (predicate).

5. On the top of the hill lives (predicate) / a hermit (subject).

6. You (subject) / never cease to amaze me (predicate).

7. We (subject) / should profit from our experience (predicate).

8. Suddenly one of the wheels came off. (one of the wheels – subject / suddenly came off – predicate)

9. A dark figure (subject) / appeared in the hallway (predicate).

10. Someone (subject) / rose to speak (predicate).

11. When did she die? (she – subject / when did die – predicate)

12. Who (subject) / told you this (predicate)?

13. No man (subject) / can serve two masters (predicate).

EXERCISE ON USING CONJUNCTION/PREPOSITION

Despite, in spite of, however, although

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate conjunction or preposition.

1. We went out …………………….. the rain.

a) in spite of
b) in spite
c) despite of

2. She went on working ……………….. it was raining.

a) although
b) despite
c) in spite of

3. She went to work ………………… the fact that it was a holiday.

a) despite
b) in spite of
c) Either could be used here

4. …………………. she didn’t like the cutlet, I enjoyed it very much.

a) Although
b) Despite
c) However

5. I had invited him; ………………….., he didn’t come.

a) although
b) despite
c) however

6. It was fun, ………………… dangerous.

a) though
b) however
c) in spite of

7. I was late; ………………. everybody else was on time.

a) although
b) however
c) despite

8. ………………… I was late, everybody else was on time.

a) Although
b) However
c) Though

9. They managed to do it, ………………….. I was not there.

a) although
b) however
c) despite

10. I went ………………… I had not been invited.

a) although
b) however
c) Either could be used here

Answers

1. We went out in spite of the rain.

2. She went on working although it was raining.

3. She went to work in spite of the fact that it was a holiday.

4. Although she didn’t like the cutlet, I enjoyed it very much.

5. I had invited him; however, he didn’t come.

6. It was fun, though dangerous.

7. I was late; however everybody else was on time.

8. Although I was late, everybody else was on time.

9. They managed to do it, although I was not there.

10. I went although I had not been invited.

Pi (π) Day

π

Pi (π) Day

March 14th (3/14)

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. March 14 is Pi Day, a day to celebrate the mathematical constant pi (π) and to eat lots of pie.

Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi’s infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.

Pi (π) is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same. The diameter of a circle is the distance from edge to edge, measuring straight through the center. The circumference of a circle is the distance around.

COMMON IDIOMS

Here are some common idiomatic expressions.

Give someone the benefit of doubt

To give someone the benefit of doubt is to believe something good about them, rather than something bad when you have the possibility of doing either.

• I really feel that we should give him the benefit of doubt.

Give someone the creeps

If something gives you the creeps, it induces the feeling of fear or revulsion in you.

• The eels gave me the creeps.

Give someone the cold shoulder

To give someone the cold shoulder is to treat them in an unfriendly way.

• Susie was upset with Michael and gave him the cold shoulder when she met him at the party.

Give the game away

To give the game away is to spoil the surprise or joke.

• I wanted to give my parents a special gift on their wedding anniversary, but my sister unwittingly gave the game away.

Give someone the green light

To give someone the green light is to give them the permission to do something.

• My parents have given me the green light to join the local soccer team.

Give someone the evil eye

To give someone the evil eye is to look at them in an angry or unpleasant way.

• My sister gave me the evil eye when I told our parents that she had let the cat in.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS OVERVIEW

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS OVERVIEW

Indefinite pronouns are used to talk about people or things in general. They don’t refer to any particular person. Examples are: all, none, any, some, one, someone, no one, nobody, somebody etc.

Study the sentences given below.

• One does not know what to do in such situations.
• One must be content with one’s lot.
• One cannot choose one’s parents.
• One must not boast of one’s achievements.
• One must put one’s best foot forward.
• One must not lose hope no matter what happens.
• None of these stories are worth reading.
• They say he has lost his marbles. (To lose one’s marbles is to go crazy.)
• None of them are here right now.
• All were drowned.
• Some are born great; some achieve greatness; some have greatness thrust upon them.
• Somebody has stolen my phone.
• Nobody was there to save the child from drowning.
• Few escaped unhurt.
• We didn’t see any of them again.

Most of these words can also be used as adjectives. Note that when they are used as adjectives, they are followed by a noun.

• Few people escaped unhurt.
• Some people are born great.

The pronoun he or she is used to refer to the indefinite pronounsanybody, everybody, anyone, everyone and each.

• Every one of the boys has submitted his work.

When the sex is not mentioned, the third person plural pronoun ‘they’ is used to refer to anybody, everybody etc.

• Everybody likes to have their way.

SIMILE

Simile

Read the sentences.

The wrestler was strong.
The wrestler was as strong as an ox.
He is very busy.
He is as busy as a bee.

The two sentences make the same statement. We are told that the wrestler was strong. But the second sentence expresses the same thing in a more interesting manner. The expression as strong as an ox is called a simile.

A simile is a phrase that describes something by making a comparison between one person or thing and another of a different kind using the word as or like.

Complete the following using suitable words from the box.

[bee, mule, bat, mouse, wolf, lamb, lightning, peacock, furnace, grass, lead, feather, fox, cucumber, honey, deer, peas, egg, fiddle, rock]

1. As light as a ………………………..

2. As sweet as …………………………

3. As bald as an ……………………….

4. As cunning as a ……………………….

5. As blind as a ……………………….

6. As busy as a ……………………….

7. As hungry as a ……………………….

8. As cool as a ……………………….

9. As steady as a ……………………….

10. As quick as ……………………….

11. As busy as ……………………….

12. As swift as ……………………….

13. As obstinate as ……………………….

14. As heavy as ……………………….

15. As like as two ……………………….

16. As timid as a ……………………….

17. As proud as a ……………………….

18. As gentle as a ……………………….

19. As hot as a ……………………….

20. As green as ……………………….

Answers

1. As light as a feather

2. As sweet as honey

3. As bald as an egg

4. As cunning as a fox

5. As blind as a bat

6. As busy as a bee

7. As hungry as a wolf

8. As cool as a cucumber

9. As steady as a rock

10. As quick as lightning

11. As busy as a bee

12. As swift as a hare

13. As obstinate as a mule

14. As heavy as lead

15. As like as two peas

16. As timid as a deer

17. As proud as a peacock

18. As gentle as a lamb

19. As hot as a furnace

20. As green as grass

REMOVE THE APOSTROPHE

REMOVE THE APOSTROPHE

 Rewrite the following sentences using the full forms of the words that have apostrophes.

1. He’s just gone out.

2. You’ll never find a better animal than this one.

3. She’s always been like that.

4. You’ve never helped me.

5. It’s raining.

6. This fellow’s out of his mind.

7. There’s nothing here.

8. What’re you doing there?

9. It’s easy to understand.

10. Isn’t there anyone to attend to that poor woman?

11. We’re all dying of hunger.

12. It’s taken much longer than I expected.

13. I can’t give an explanation.

14. If he doesn’t obey my orders, he’ll be killed.

15. Let’s start right away.

16. I’ve known him for ten years.

Answers

1. He has just gone out.

2. You will never find a better animal than this one.

3. She has always been like that.

4. You have never helped me.

5. It is raining.

6. This fellow is out of his mind.

7. There is nothing here.

8. What are you doing there?

9. It is easy to understand.

10. Is not there anyone to attend to that poor woman?

11. We are all dying of hunger.

12. It has taken much longer than I expected.

13. I cannot give an explanation.

14. If he does not obey my orders, he will be killed.

15. Let us start right away.

16. I have known him for ten years.

COMPARATIVES WORKSHEET

Make meaningful sentences using the hints given in the brackets. An example is given below.

Silver is …………………….. gold. (precious)
Silver is not as precious as gold.

Exercise

1. Mount Everest is ……………… than K2. (high)

2. The sun is …………………….. than the moon. (hot)

3. The moon is ………………………. the sun. (hot)

4. Iron is …………………………. wood. (heavy)

5. Wood is ………………………… iron. (heavy)

6. Dogs are ……………………….. cats. (faithful)

7. Cats are …………………………. dogs. (faithful)

8. The sparrow is ………………………. the crow. (small)

9. The crow is …………………….. the sparrow. (small)

10. The elephant is …………………………. of the land animals. (big)

11. Samuel …………………………. boy in the class. (smart)

Answers

1. Mount Everest is higher than K2.

2. The sun is hotter than the moon.

3. The moon is not as hot as the sun.

4. Iron is heavier than wood.

5. Wood is not as heavy as iron.

6. Dogs are more faithful than cats.

7. Cats are not as faithful as dogs. / Cats are less faithful than dogs.

8. The sparrow is smaller than the crow.

9. The crow is not as small as the sparrow.

10. The elephant is the biggest of the land animals.

11. Samuel is smarter than any other boy in the class. / Samuel isthe smartest boy in the class.