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Important Points in English Language exams - 8
POINT NO.57: The definite article the is used with things that are one of their kind.
For example, the moon, the earth, the sky, the North Pole
the Prime Minister, the President
in other words, nouns that single out one individual or thing.
POINT NO.58: Definite article the is used before superlatives as also before only when it is used as an adjective.
This is the best book on the subject.
This is the only reason.
This is the biggest blunder you have made.
This is the only purpose of my visit.
POINT NO.59: The is used before names of periodicals and newspapers, names of important buildings, before names of rare or unique objects, names of rivers, oceans, bays, mountains, religious groups, communities, institutions etc.
I have read this news in the Tribune. (newspaper)
The earth revolves round the sun. (heavenly bodies)
The Taj Mahal! is located at Agra in Uttar Pradesh. (important/ rare building)
The Ganges is the largest river in India. (river)
Similarly, the definite article the is used before the names of books (if they do not have the name of pers ons):
The Bible. The Autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi
The Two Faces of Indira Gandhi. The Kuran
but:
Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Mahatma Gandhi�s Autobiography
POINT NO. 60: The definite article the is used before words pointing out a class or kind of a thing. It is sometimes done by using it before an adjective to represent a whole class,
The crow is a clever bird. (means all the crows)
The young will have to shoulder the responsibility. (means all the young)
The brave deserve the recognition.
POINT NO.61: The is used before a proper, a material or an abstract noun when used as a common noun.
Shakespeare is the Kalidasa of English literature.
The gold of Argentina is now freely sold.
Problems In Tenses
POINT NO. . 62: Ensure that correct tense is used.
(a) Simple present tense is used to convey general or universal truth and habitual sentences.
(b) Present continuous tense is used to convey the continuity of the action
(c) Present perfect tense is used to convey the completion of an action that has some bearing on the present.
For example
The earth revolves round the sun, (a universal truth)
1 always brush my teeth after the meals. (habitual)
It has been raining for many hours. (an activity that has continued for quite some time)
POINT NO.63: The past tense in the principal clause must be followed by a past tense in the subordinate or dependent clauses.
1 felt that she was a little worried. (not is)
I forgot that they were coming today- (not are)
I saw that the machine had stopped. (not has)
I found that he was guilty. (not is)
I thought that she was absent. (not is)
Exceptions
(a) When a universal truth is expressed in the subordinate clause, its tense is not changed.
He said that the earth revolves round the sun. (not revolved)
I told him that honesty is the best policy. (not was)
Newton knew that the earth rotates.
He forgot that the earth rotates.
(b) When the subordinate clause begins with than or as, any tense may be used in the subordinate clause,
even if there is past tense in the principal clause:
I met her more frequently than I meet you.
I saw her oftener than I see you.
She loved you more than she loves me.
He cared for you more than he cares for his brother.
Problems in Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words used to join words, sentences and clauses together. Note the following conjunctions are words used to join words, sentences and clauses together. Note the following conjunctions:
As soon ... as
Both ... and
Either ... or
Neither ... nor
Lest ... should
Not only ... but also
Hardly ... before or when
Though ... yet
Whether ... or
Scarcely ... when or before
Point No.64: When a negative co-relative is used in the beginning of a sentence, a helping verb must be used before the subject (e.g. do, does, did, etc.)
Scarcely did she hear the news when she began to cry.
Not only was he accused of theft. but also of murder.
No sooner did she heard the news than she wept.
No sooner did the doctor came than she died.
Also, note that no sooner is followed by than and not then or when:
No sooner did the news reach him than he fainted. (not when or then)
No sooner did she see me than she started grumbling. (not when or then)
