Class IX & X – GRAMMAR REVISION:

Do not rewrite the sentences:

I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:
1. The task was completed _______ 5 o’clock.
2. The mother prevented the child __________ going out in the rain.
3. You must conform _________ the rules of the game.
4. The boy who cried ‘wolf’, liked to make _____ stories.
5. The car battery ran _________. It needs repair.
6. Hercules struggled ____________ all obstacles.
7. She lost her purse __________ negligence.
8. The colonel congratulated the soldiers__________ their victory.
9. His services have been dispensed __________.
10. Many people prefer the new system __________ the old.
11. He has learnt many things __________ the experience.
12. The horse jumped ____________ the compound wall.
13. He has got enlisted ___________ the army.
14. Many emotional factors enter ___________ the relationship.
15. I shall deal __________ him at the appropriate level.
16. I moved myself __________ the fireplace.
17. My overwhelming impression ____________ America was its cleanliness.
18. There was nothing wrong __________ the player.
19. The special quality of a hotel is that it leaves you alone and promotes an air ________ peace
and calm.
20. She listens ________ music in her leisure.
21. She has acted _______ my advice.
22. The children started to act _______ the whole incident.
23. The medicine will act _______ the patient after some time.
24. Raul backed _______ of his commitment.
25. I backed him _______ in the election.
26. Seeing his intense anger, she backed _______.
27. She broke _______ at the news of her friend’s death.
28. The burglar broke _______ the shop last night.
29. She broke _______ tears when she heard that she had failed.
30. The team was elated with the joy ______ their victory.
31. The country is agog ______ rumours of a civil war.
32. His house is adjacent ______the town hall.
33. The poet was distinguished ______his great literary work.
34. He disliked being excluded ______ the school football team.
35. Your request is ______ consideration.
36. The temperature of Delhi is ______ 40 degrees Celsius.
37. The aeroplane flew ______ the clouds.

------------------------

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 1

II. In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the words given
in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate
to the blank space.

Example: (0) suffer

Today more people than ever _____0_____ (suffer) from sleep disturbances. Students should know
that sleep _____1______ (enhance) memory. This is because the brain needs rest to process and store
the information we have ____2_____ (feed) it. When we do not get the right amount of sleep, the
brain is too fuzzy _____3______ (retain) the information. So _____4______ (study) all night before
an exam is not a good idea.
Exercise promotes physical ______5______ (exert) and therefore, guarantees a good night’s sleep.
People who are very sedentary are more ______6______ (like) to suffer from sleep problems or
insomnia. Insomnia pushes many people to take _____7______ (sleep) pills that can further
______8______ (tamper) with natural sleep patterns.

III. In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given
in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order, the word or phrase appropriate
to the blank space.

Example 0 = working

Fleming was a Scottish farmer. One day while _____0_____ (work) in the field, he heard a cry for
help. ____1_____ (Follow) the sound, Fleming came to a deep bog in which a boy was stuck. Fleming
_____2_____ (pull) the boy to safety. The next day a carriage ____3____ (arrive) at Fleming’s
farmhouse. A well-dressed man ___4___ (step) out and introduced himself as the father of the boy
whom Fleming ___5____ (save). “You saved my son’s life,” said the man to Fleming. “How can I
repay you?”
“I don’t want any payment,” Fleming replied. At that moment, Fleming’s own young son appeared at
the farmhouse door. “Is he your son?” the man asked.
“Yes,” said Fleming proudly.
“I have an idea. Let me pay for your son’s education. If he’s like his father, he ___6____ (grow) to be
a man we’ll both be proud of.” And so the visitor did. The farmer’s son later became the world-
renowned Nobel Prize-winning scientist and discoverer of penicillin, Sir Alexander Fleming. It
____7_____ (say) that many years later, the grown up man who’d been saved from the bog as a boy,
was ____8_____ (strike) with pneumonia. Penicillin saved his life. He was Sir Winston Churchill, the
former Prime Minister of England.

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 2

IV. In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the words given
in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate
to the blank space.

Example 0 = teaching

While _____0_____ (teach) in the class, the teacher _____1_____ (look) outside the window of his
classroom. There he _____2_____ (see) a nine-year old boy, shabbily ______3_____ (dress) and
_______4______ (shiver) with cold. The teacher called him in. The poor boy ______5_____ (be) in
tears. “I have done nothing wrong,” he said. “I was just here to listen to your lesson and learn
something before ______6_____ (go) to the store; but if you don’t want me here I won’t come back.”
“Why don’t you go to school?” asked the teacher. “Because my father can’t afford to pay the school
fee every month,” sobbed the boy. “Well, let me see if you know anything. Tell me something about
what I _____7____ (teach) in class yesterday.” The boy remembered everything and the astonished
teacher said, “Don’t worry about the fees. I ______8_____ (speak) to your father.” Later, the boy
became a great scholar and an outstanding writer.

I. In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the
word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or
phrase appropriate to the blank space:

Example:
(0) disappeared

The sun (0)_______ (disappear) behind the clouds and the sky turned grey. The wind
(1)____(pick) up and a few drops of rain fell on the old tin roof. Jose (2)_____(run) inside and
(3)_____(close) the door and all the windows. Using what little light that (4)______(come) in
through the cracks in the door and the windows, he (5)_____(fumble) around until he found the
lamp and (6)_____(place) it on the table. With (7)_____(shake) hands, he (8)_____(light) a
match and held it against the wick. It took a moment to light up, but finally (9)_____(catch) on.
The wind (10)______(blow) in through the cracks caused the flame and the shadows it created,
to jump all around. Jose looked around the small room and then at the roof. The rain had
(11)_____(grow) stronger and together with the wind, made it sound as though it was about to
blow off.

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 3

IV. Choose the correct options to join the following sentences without using ‘and’, ‘but’ or ‘so’:

1. Mr Rao has quite forgotten me now. I once worked with him for five years.
a. Mr Rao, who I worked with for five years, has quite forgotten me now
b. Mr Rao, with whom I worked with for five years, has quite forgotten me now.
c. Mr Rao whom I once worked for five years, has quite forgotten me now.
d. Mr Rao, whom I once worked with for five years, has quite forgotten me now.

2. The source of the Ganges is in the Himalayas. The Ganges is one of the longest
rivers in India.
a. The source of the Ganges is in the Himalayas which is one of the longest rivers in India.
b. The Ganges is one of the longest rivers in India whose source is in the Himalayas.
c. The Ganges is one of the longest rivers in India with its source in the Himalayas.
d. The Ganges is one of the longest rivers in India and its source is in the Himalayas.

3. I have decided not to reply. It is the safest thing to do.

a. I have decided not to reply and it is the safest thing to do.
b. I have decided not to reply because it is the safest thing to do.
c. I have decided not to reply so it is the safest thing to do.
d. It is the safest thing to do so I have decided not to reply.

4. A man is wearing a blue tie. He is the president.

a. The man in the blue tie, is the president
b. The blue tie man is the president
c. The man with the blue tie, is the president.
d. A man who is wearing a blue tie, is the president.

5. She sells sea shells. She sells them on the sea shore.
a. She sells see shells on the sea shore.
b. She sells sea shells on the sea shore.
c. The sea shells which she sells are on the sea shore.
d. She sells sea shells which are on the sea shore.

6. Why are you upset? Did someone scold you?

a. You are upset having been scolded by someone.
b. She asked him why he was upset and if he had been scolded.
c. Are you upset because someone scolded you?
d. Does someone’s scolding upset you?

7. She has not seen the message. She may have chosen to ignore it.
a. Perhaps she chose to ignore the message which she had seen.
b. She may either have not seen the message or chosen to ignore it.
c. Neither did she see the message nor ignore it.
d. She has either not seen the message or may have chosen to ignore it.

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 4

8. I often wake up late in the mornings. I am never late for school.
a. Although I often wake up late in the mornings, I am never late for school.
b. I am sometimes late for school because I often wake up late in the mornings.
c. I am never late for school because I usually wake up on time.
d. I am never late for school because I wake up late in the mornings.

9. I saw a well. The well was deep.

a. I saw the deep well.
b. I saw a well which was deep.
c. I saw a well which was too deep.
d. I saw a well who was deep.

10. The bus is crowded. This is usual.

a. The bus is unusually crowded.
b. The bus is usually crowded.
c. The bus is usually mostly crowded.
d. The bus is usually overcrowded.

11. I met a man on the road. He was very wise.

a. I met a very wise man on the road.
b. I met a man on the road which was very wise.
c. I met a man who seemed to be very wise on the road.
d. I met a man on the road who seemed to be very wise.

12. The weather was pleasant. We went for a walk.

a. The weather was pleasant for a walk.
b. The weather being pleasant, we went for a walk.
c. The weather was too pleasant for us to go for a walk.
d. The weather was pleasant so we went for a walk.

Do as directed:
1. As soon as he finishes his work, he starts playing. (Use: hardly…)
a. Hardly his work is finished, he starts playing.
b. Hardly he finishes his work, he starts playing.
c. Hardly he has finished his work and he starts playing.
d. Hardly does he finish his work, when he starts playing.

2. He is in the library. He is in the classroom. Use: either…)

a. He is either in the library or in the bedroom.
b. He is either in the library or in the classroom.
c. Either he is in the library or either he is in the classroom.
d. Either he is in the library or classroom.

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 5

3. I couldn’t stop my teeth from chattering as it was very cold. (Use: ‘so’)
a. I couldn’t stop my chattering teeth, it was so cold.
b. It was so cold that I couldn’t stop my teeth from chattering.
c. It was so difficult to stop my teeth from chattering it being cold.
d. I couldn’t stop my teeth from chattering so it was very cold.

4. As soon as the vacation begins, my neighbour rushes to the seaside. (Begin: No sooner...)
a. No sooner does my vacation begin than the neighbour rushes to the seaside.
b. No sooner does the vacation begin than my neighbour rushes to the seaside.
c. No sooner did the vacation begin when my neighbour rushed to the seaside.
d. No sooner does the vacation begin and my neighbour rushes to the seaside.

5. “Will you lend me the book tomorrow?” Priya asked her classmate.
(Begin: Priya asked her classmate if...)
a. Priya asked her classmate if he would lend her the book the next day.
b. Priya asked her classmate if he would lent her the book tomorrow.
c. Priya asked her classmate if he will lend her the book the day after.
d. Priya asked her classmate if he will be lending her the book tomorrow.

6. But for Laila’s support, the woman would have lost her job. (Begin: Had...)
a. Had Laila supported her, the woman would not have lost her job.
b. Had Laila supported her, the woman would have lost her job.
c. Had it not been for Laila’s support, the woman would have lost her job.
d. Had it not been for Laila’s support, the woman would have not lost her job.

7. Herbert consulted his parents before accepting the job offer. (Begin: Herbert did not…)
a. Herbert did not forgot to consult his parents before accepting the job offer.
b. Herbert did not forget to consult his parents before accepting the job offer.
c. Herbert did not consult his parents before accepting the job offer.
d. Herbert did not consult his parents before losing his job.

8. The tornado had been raging for several hours before people were moved to safety.
(Begin: The people...)
a. The people were moved to safety before the tornado had been raging for several hours.
b. The people were moved to safety only while the tornado had been raging for several hours.
c. The people were moved to safety only after the tornado had been raging for several hours.
d. The people were moved to safety because the tornado had been raging for several hours.

9. Put your tools away, the children may fall over them. (Use ‘lest’)
a. Put your tools away, lest the children may fall over them.
b. Put your tools away, lest the children should fall over them.
c. Put your tools away children, lets fall over them.
d. Lest you put your tools away, the children may fall over them.

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 6

10. Unless you begin now, you will never finish. (Use ‘If’)
a. If you never finish, you must begin now.
b. If you do not begin now, you will never finish.
c. If you begin now, you will never finish.
d. Begin now and you will never finish.

11. I must finish this novel. There are still a few chapters. (Begin: I still…)
a. I still have a few chapters in this novel before I must finish it.
b. I still have a few chapters in the novel before I must finish it.
c. I still feel there are chapters left for me to finish the novel.
d. I still feel some chapters are left to be finished in the novel.

12. Mira's mother has given her Rs 1000/-. (Begin: Mira had....)
a. Mira had been given Rs. 1000/- by her mother.
b. Mira’s mother gave Mira Rs. 1000/-
c. Mira has been given Rs. 1000/ by her mother
d. Mira has 1000/- rupees.

13. To respect monuments is a sign of civilization. (Begin : It....)

a. It is a sign of civilization to respect monuments.
b. To respect civilization is a sign of monuments
c. To respect monuments we must be civilized.
d. It is a sign of respect to be civilized.

14. He is too old for work. ( Remove: "too")

a. He is so old that he still works.
b. He is so old and he still works.
c. He is so old, he should not work.
d. He is so old that he cannot work.

15. We hope for his better performance. (Begin: We hope that....)

a. We hope that he performs better.
b. We hope that he performs better in future.
c. We hope that his performance is better in future.
d. We hope that he perform better.

16. As soon as he came, he made objections. (Begin: No sooner....)

a. No sooner he came than he made objections.
b. No sooner did he come than he made objections.
c. No sooner when he came then he made objections.
d. No sooner he come and he makes objections.

17. For all his power he is still incompetent. (Begin: Although....)

a. Although he is powerful, he is incompetent.
b. Although he is powerful he is incompetent.
c. Although he is powerful still he is incompetent
d. Although he is powerful, yet he is incompetent.

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 7

18. I have no money that I can spare. (End.. to spare)
a. I have no money to spare.
b. I have no money so I can spare.
c. I can spare no money
d. I have no money, to spare.

19. It would be sensible to call the fire brigade, before the fire destroys everything. (Begin: We
had...)
a. We had to call the fire brigade before the fire destroys everything.
b. We had called the fire brigade or the fire destroys everything.
c. We had the fire brigade so that the fire did not destroy everything.
d. We had better call the fire brigade before the fire destroys everything.

--------------

GEORGE HILBERT: Grammar Revision 8