English Grammar Quick Recap: Selected Topics
for ICSE and ISC Exams.
Edited by: Jayanta Kumar Maity, M.A.
Published by: Englicist Learnings LLP, Kolkata
1st Edition 2021 (Version 1.0)
This book is not a complete grammar course. As the name suggests, this is just a
quick recap of common rules and formulas on selected topics.
In case you find any error in this book, please inform us by email at
contact@englicist.com or englicist@gmail.com for rectification. Any suggestion for
improvement or feedback is welcome.
NOTICE
Copyright protected material.
Please don’t redistribute.
Copyright © 2021 Englicist Learnings LLP
English Grammar Quick Recap
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
Chapter 1: Joining of Sentences
Section 1: Simple, Complex & Compound Sentence
Section 2: Joining into a Single Sentence
01
05
Chapter 2: Transformation of Sentence
Section 1: Simple – Complex – Compound
Section 2: Negative – Affirmative
Section 3: Assertive – Interrogative – Exclamatory
Section 4: Degree of Comparison
Section 5: Interchange of Parts of Speech
Section 6: Active & Passive Voice
Section 7: Direct & Indirect Speech
Section 8: Miscellaneous Transformations
06
07
09
10
11
12
15
19
Chapter 3: Prepositions & Phrasal Verbs
Section 1: Appropriate Prepositions
Section 2: Commonly used phrasal verbs
Chapter 4: Subject-Verb Agreement & Verb Forms
English Grammar Quick Recap
01
06
21
21
24
26
ii
CHAPTER 1: JOINING OF SENTENCES
SECTION 1: SIMPLE, COMPLEX & COMPOUND SENTENCE




Sentences are of three kinds according to their structure – Simple, Complex and
Compound.
A simple sentence has only one main clause.
A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more sub-ordinate clause
dependent on that main clause.
A compound sentence has at least two main or independent clauses (called coordinate clauses) and may or may not have sub-ordinate clause.
Comparison Table
Sentence
Main/Independent Clause
Sub-ordinate/ Dependent Clause
Simple
Only One
None
Complex
Only One
One or more
Compound
Two or more
Does not matter
Let’s have an example. Main clauses are in red and sub clauses are in blue.
Simple: Despite his illness, Rohit attended the class.
Complex: Though Rohit was ill, he attended the class.
Compound: Rohit was ill, but he attended the class.




“Despite his illness” is not a clause as it has no finite verb. It is a phrase.
“Though” is a sub-ordinate conjunction. A sub-ordinate conjunction connects a
sub-clause to the main clause. A sub-ordinate clause begins with a sub-ordinate
conjunction.
“But” is a co-ordinate conjunction. A co-ordinate conjunction connects two or
more similar clauses, but it not being part of clauses, remains independent.
So, whenever you need to make a complex sentence use a sub-ordinate
conjunction and to make a compound sentence use a co-ordinate conjunction.
Complex Sentence – Sub-ordinate conjunctions
Compound sentence – Co-ordinate conjunctions
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 1
CHAPTER 1: JOINING OF SENTENCES
SECTION 1: SIMPLE, COMPLEX & COMPOUND SENTENCE
Linkers to make Complex Sentence (Sub-ordinate Conjunctions):
That: We know that he is a good student.
Though: Though he worked hard, he failed to get a position.
Although: Although it was hard, he did it.
As (manner): Do as you like.
As (reason) As she worked hard, she got the reward.
As (after adjective, means ‘though’): Poor as he is, he is honest.
Because: He cannot join us because he is busy.
Since (reason): Since it’s raining, we cannot go out.
When: I was there when he came.
Where: This is the place where I met him.
Before: The train had left before we reached the station.
After: He came after I had left the place.
While: Make hay while the sun shines.
Till: Wait till 4pm.
Until: Do not go out until I return.
If: If you work hard, you’ll reap the benefit.
Unless: Unless you help us, the project would fail.
Lest: The man tried to walk faster, lest he be left behind.
If / Whether: She wanted to know whether (if) I was ready to accompany her.
So that: Keep the door open so that anyone can come.
In order that: He worked hard in order that he could pass the test.
So … that: This poem is so easy that it needs no explanation.
As … as: Subir is as strong as Prabir.
So … as: Subir is not so strong as Rohit.
As soon as: As soon as I saw the snake, I started screaming.
No sooner … than: No sooner did I see the snake than I started screaming.
Hardly … when: Hardly had we left the house when it started raining.
The more … the more: The more he gets, the more he wants.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 2
CHAPTER 1: JOINING OF SENTENCES
SECTION 1: SIMPLE, COMPLEX & COMPOUND SENTENCE
Linkers to make Compound Sentence (Co-ordinate Conjunctions):
And: He played well and got a prize.
But: She is sad but hopeful.
Or: Work hard or you will fail.
And so: He tried hard and so he won the game.
Yet: Life is full of tears, yet none wishes to die.
Still: He worked hard, still he failed.
Otherwise: Be attentive, otherwise you’ll miss the idea.
Or else: Be attentive or else you’ll miss the idea.
While: He failed while his brother passed.
Whereas: He is rich whereas his brother is poor.
Both … and: Both Rahul and his brother are intelligent.
As well as: Rina as well as his brother is honest.
Either … or: He is either a teacher or a doctor.
Neither … nor: He is neither a teacher nor a doctor.
Not only … but also: He is not only a teacher but also an author.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 3
CHAPTER 1: JOINING OF SENTENCES
SECTION 1: SIMPLE, COMPLEX & COMPOUND SENTENCE
Elements to make Simple Sentence:

Present Participle (Verb + ing):
o Opening the drawer, he took out the packet.
o Having our dinner, we went to bed.

Past Participle (Verb3):
o We were enjoying the song sung by the bauls.
o A book written by Ratanlal won the national award.

Perfect Participle (having/being + Verb3):
o Being punished by the principal, the boy left the school.
o Having finished my task, I went to sleep.

Infinitive (To + Verb):
o He is not afraid to speak the truth.
o He had been working hard to score big in the final.

Gerund (V+ing as a noun) / Preposition + Gerund:
o On hearing a noise, he woke up.
o Seeing is believing.

Preposition + Noun (or noun phrase):
o In spite of his illness, he attended the class.
o I couldn’t attend the class for my illness.
o Besides getting him a job, they also built a house for him.

Absolute Phrase (Noun + Participle):
o The sun having risen, the fox disappeared.
o The match being abandoned, we left the field disheartened.

Phrase in Apposition (two noun phrases side by side referring to the same person
or thing):
o Tom, my faithful dog, always accompanies me.
o Rimi, my sister, likes ice-cream.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 4
CHAPTER 1: JOINING OF SENTENCES
SECTION 2: JOINING INTO A SINGLE SENTENCE
Now, that you have learnt how simple, complex and compound sentences are
constructed, you can join two different sentences into a single simple, complex or
compound sentence.
Joining into Simple Sentence
o
o
o
o
The girls were singing. We enjoyed the song. – We enjoyed the song sung by the
girls.
Rahul is a good student. We know it. – We know Rahul as a good student.
The boy played well. He didn’t get the prize. – In spite of playing well the boy
didn’t get the prize.
The woman was ill. She could not walk. – Being ill, the woman could not walk.
Joining into Complex Sentence
o
o
o
o
The girls were singing. We enjoyed the song. – We enjoyed the song which the
girls were singing.
Rahul is a good student. We know it. – We know that Rahul is a good student.
The boy played well. He didn’t get the prize. – Though the boy played well, he
didn’t get the prize.
The woman was ill. She could not walk. – As the woman was ill, she could not
walk.
Joining into Compound Sentence
In ICSE exam, students are barred from joining into compound sentence using ‘and’, ‘but’ or ‘so’.
o
o
o
o
The girls were singing. We enjoyed the song. – The girls were singing and we
enjoyed the song.
Rahul is a good student. We know it. – Rahul is a good student and we know it.
The boy played well. He didn’t get the prize. – The boy played well but he didn’t
get the prize.
The woman was ill. She could not walk. – The woman was ill and so she could not
walk.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 5
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 1: SIMPLE, COMPLEX & COMPOUND SENTENCE
Now, that you have learnt in the previous chapter how simple, complex and compound
sentences are constructed, you can transform a simple sentence into complex, a
compound sentence into simple and so on.
Transform into Simple Sentence
o
o
o
As it was a rainy day, we did not go out. – It, being a rainy day, we did not go out.
The police were unable to control the mob and they opened fire. – Unable to
control the mob, the police opened fire.
The employee was dismissed as he was lazy. – The employee was dismissed for his
laziness.
Transform into Complex Sentence
o
o
o
Rohit put his weight on an old, rotten branch – It was an old, rotten branch on
which Rohit put his weight.
Our players were not serious and so they lost the match. – If our players were
serious, they wouldn’t have lost the match.
Teaching is also learning. – When we teach, we also learn.
Transform into Compound Sentence
o
o
o
Besides getting him a job, they also build a house for him. – They not only got him
a job, but also built a house for him.
If you don’t leave, you will be arrested. – You have to leave or else you will be
arrested.
Despite being intelligent, he is not fit for the job. – He is intelligent but not fit for
the job.
Please note that in most cases there won’t be direct instructions to transform
a sentence into simple, complex or compound sentence. Rather there may be
instructions like “Begin: Despite”, “Use: If”, “Begin with ‘It’” etc.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 6
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 2: AFFIRMATIVE & NEGATIVE SENTENCE
Sentences can be transformed from affirmative to negative and vice versa by using the
following elements depending on the given instance.
1) Only – none but
o
o
Only you are fit for this post. – None but you are fit for this post.
Only a fool would think that way. – None but a fool would think that way.
2) As soon as – no sooner than
o
As soon as we reached the station, the train arrived. – No sooner did we reach the
station than the train arrive.
As soon as we finished our dinner, we went to bed. – No sooner had we finished our
dinner than we went to bed
As soon as → No sooner + did + V1 / No sooner + had + V3
The comma (,) should be replaced by “than”.
3) Too…to – so…that
o
o
o
o
She is too weak to walk. – She is so weak that she cannot walk.
I was too shocked to speak. – I was so shocked that I could not speak.
This poem is too easy to need an explanation. – This poem is so easy that it does
not need an explanation.
It is raining too hard for us to go out. – It is raining so hard that we cannot go out.
too → so
to → that + sub + nega ve
4) If – unless
o
o
Unless he comes, I won’t go. – If he comes, I will go.
If you don’t work hard, you will fail. – Unless you work hard, you will fail.
Unless = if not
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 7
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 2: AFFIRMATIVE & NEGATIVE SENTENCE
5) Degree change
Affirmative Sentences can be transformed into negative and vice versa by changing the
degree of adjectives (Refer to Section 4).
o Bangalore is cleaner than Kolkata. – Kolkata is not so clean as Bangalore.
o All subjects are equally important. – No subject is more important than the other.
6) Using opposite word
o
o
He is a careless man. – He is not a careful man.
Please keep silence. – Please do not make sound.
7) Using interrogative
o
o
She is a good singer. – Isn’t she a good singer?
He was not present there. – Was he present there?
8) Using ‘not only’
o
o
He is both a teacher and a doctor. – Not only is he a teacher but also a doctor.
The restaurant serves both veg and non-veg dishes. – Not only does the restaurant
serve veg dishes but also non-veg dishes.
9) Miscellaneous
o
o
o
It is a pity he did not win the prize. – It is a pity he failed to win the prize.
Never again will we have class together. – This is the last time we are having class
together.
All young princes desired her hand. – There was hardly any young prince who did
not desire her hand.
Again, in most cases there won’t be direct instructions to transform a
sentence into a negative or affirmative sentence. Rather there may be
instructions like “Begin: None”, “Use: No sooner”, “Remove ‘too’ ” etc.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 8
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 3: ASSERTIVE, INTERROGATIVE & EXCLAMATORY
SENTENCE
Assertive (statement)
Interrogative (question)
We can use “yes-no” type questions and “wh” questions depending on the sentences to
make them interrogative without changing the meaning. In the process of transforming an
assertive sentence into interrogative and vice versa, an affirmative (positive meaning)
sentence generally becomes negative and the negative one becomes affirmative.
 Using “Yes-No” type questions:
o
o
o
o
o
It is. – Isn’t it?
No one can do this. – Can anyone do this?
It is not. – Is it?
Can I ever forget you? – I can never forget you.
He can. – can’t he?
He plays good cricket. – Doesn’t he play good cricket?
Isn’t Ritu a good student? – Ritu is a good student.
This is the best place to visit in summer. – Is there a better place than this to visit in
summer?
 Using “Wh” questions:
o Everyone knows Sachin. – Who doesn’t know Sachin?
o This is the best place to visit in summer. – Where would you get a better place to visit
in summer?
o You cannot say that to her. – How can you say that to her?
Assertive (statement)
o
o
o
o
o
Exclamatory (emotions)
What a fool you are! – You are a great fool.
How beautiful the night is! – The night is very beautiful.
Hurrah! We won the match. – It is a matter of happiness that we won the match.
Alas! The leader is no more. – It is very sad that the leader is no more.
Oh! If I were young again! – I wish that I were young again.
Use ‘great’ before a noun.
Use ‘very’ before an adjective.
Hurrah! – It is a matter of happiness that…
Alas! – It is very sad that…
If – I wish
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 9
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 4: DEGREE OF COMPARISON (OF ADJECTIVES)
Adjectives can be used in three different degrees.
Positive
Good
Bad
Clean
Tall
Less
Beautiful
Important
Comparative
better
worse
cleaner
taller
lesser
more beautiful
more important
Superlative
best
worst
cleanest
tallest
least
most beautiful
most important
a) Positive Degree – Rimi is a good student. / No other student in the class is as good
as Rimi is.
b) Comparative Degree – Rimi is better than all other students in the class.
c) Superlative Degree – Rimi is the best student in the class.
Positive degree:
Comparative degree:
Superlative degree:
as + adjective + as
adjective + than
the + adjective
 Comparison between two: (Positive to Comparative and vice versa)
Rohit is taller than Mohit. – Mohit is not so tall as Rohit.
Rohit is as tall as Mohit. – Mohit is not taller than Rohit.
 Comparison between many: (Superlative to Positive and comparative and vice
versa)
Type 1:
S – The Nile is the longest river in Africa.
C – The Nile is longer than any other river in Africa.
P – No other river in Africa is as long as the Nile.
Type 2:
S – The Nile is one of the longest rivers in Africa.
C – The Nile is longer than most other rivers in Africa.
P – Very few rivers in Africa are as long as the Nile.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 10
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 5: INTERCHANGE OF PARTS OF SPEECH
 Out of the eight parts of speech only noun, verb, adjective and adverb – these
four are interchangeable. Pronoun, preposition, conjunction and interjection
cannot be transformed in this way.
How to identify Noun, Verb, Adjective and Adverb?
• A Noun fits after ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’, ‘all’, ‘some’, ‘much’, ‘many’, ‘any’ etc. [an advice / much
enthusiasm / the success]
• A Verb generally comes right after the subject and denotes an action (do), possession (have)
or state (be). [He advised us. / She succeeded in the exam.]
• An Adjective always fits in “You are very ___” or “It is very ___”. [You are very enthusiastic.]
• An adverb generally ends with “ly”. If not, it comes right after the verb. [He did it
enthusiastically. / She sang well.]
 Noun – verb
o
o
o
The poet gives emphasis on this word. – The poet emphasises this word.
He gave us advice. – He advised us.
He did not get success. – He did not succeed.
 Noun – adjective
o
o
In all probability, it will rain today. – It is most probable that it will rain today.
The teacher punished the boy for disobedience. – The teacher punished the
disobedient boy.
 Noun – adverb
o
o
In all probability, he will pass this year. – Most probably he will pass this year.
She joined us with much enthusiasm. – She joined us very enthusiastically.
 Adjective – adverb
o
o
It is most probable that it will rain today. – Most probably it will rain today.
He was enthusiastic while going there. – He went there enthusiastically.
 Verb – adjective
o
o
Mr. Roy suspected his peon’s honesty. – Mr. Roy was suspicious of his peon’s
honesty.
Mr. Sen accepted my offer. – My offer was acceptable to Mr. Sen.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 11
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 6: ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
Verb forms in Active and Passive Voice
Tense
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Future Simple
Future Perfect
Active
verb1
am/is/are + verb+ing
has / have + verb3
verb2
was/were + verb+ing
had + verb3
shall/will + verb
shall/will + have + verb3
Passive
am/is/are + Verb3
am/is/are + being + verb3
has/have + been + verb3
was/were + verb3
was/were + being + verb3
had been + verb3
shall/will + be + verb3
shall/will + have been+ verb3
*** Passive voice is not in use for the remaining four tenses.
Examples:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
I do it. – It is done by me.
I am doing it. – It is being done by me.
I have done it. – It has been done by me.
I did it. – It was done by me.
I was doing it. – It was being done by me.
I had done it. – It had been done by me.
I shall do it. – It will be done by me.
I shall have done it. – It will have been done by me.
 Voice change of Questions
o
o
o
o
o
o
Do you see the bird? – Is the bird seen by you?
Did you finish your task? – Was your task finished by you?
Have you heard it before? – Has it been heard by before?
Who teaches you English? – By whom are you taught English?
What are you eating? – What is being eaten by you?
Why haven’t you finished your work? – Why hasn’t your work been finished
by you?
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 12
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 6: ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
 Voice change of Imperative sentence (order, advice,
request)
Passive formats for Imperative sentence
Order:
Advice:
Request:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Let + object + be + verb3
Object + should (not) be + verb3
You are requested (not) to + verb
Shut the door. – Let the door be shut.
Keep the book on the table. – Let the book be kept on the table.
Obey your seniors. – Seniors should be obeyed.
Do not hate the poor. – The poor should not be hated.
Please go there. – You are requested to go there.
Don’t smoke, please. – You are requested not to smoke.
 Voice Change of Modal Auxiliaries
Can, could, should, would, may, might, need, ought etc. + be + verb3
o
o
He can do this. – This can be done by him.
We should help her. – She should be helped by us.
 Voice change of Infinitives (to + verb)
to + verb – to + be + verb3
o
o
I have some work to do. – I have some work to be done.
I am going to pack the bag. – The bag is going to be packed by me.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 13
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 6: ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
 Different preposition in place of ‘by’
o
o
o
o
o
His manner shocked me. – I was shocked at his manner.
I know that. – That is known to me.
Rahul married Ritu. – Ritu was married to Rahul.
Tolstoy interests me. – I am interested in Tolstoy.
Light filled the room. – The room was filled with light.
 Miscellaneous voice change examples
o Honey tastes sweet. – Honey is sweet when it is tasted.
(quasi-passive voice)
o We know that Columbus discovered America. – It is known to us that
America was discovered by Columbus. (complex sentence)
o He laughed at the idea. – The idea was laughed at by him. (group verb)
o He killed himself. – He was killed by himself. (reflexive object)
o Tiger is called our national animal. – We call tiger our national animal.
(Introduce ‘we’ as the doer)
o My watch was stolen. – Someone stole my watch.
(Introduce ‘someone’ as doer is unknown)
o Gifts were exchanged. – People/ They exchanged gifts.
(Introduce ‘people’ as doer)
o The police arrested the man. – The man was arrested.
(‘by the police’ understood)
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 14
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 7: DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
 A direct speech can be transformed into an indirect one and vice versa using a
suitable reporting verb and a linker depending on the sentence.
o Tina said, “Are you busy now?”
[direct speech]
o Tina asked whether I was busy then. [indirect speech]
Direct Speech
Speaker
Reporting verb
Tina
Direct speech
Said
“Are you busy now?”
Indirect Speech
Speaker
Reporting verb
Linker
Reported Speech
Tina
asked
whether
I was busy then.
 Now look, if the reporting verb in direct speech (said) is in past tense, the
reporting verb in indirect speech (asked) would also be in past tense. ‘Whether’
is the linker added here as it is a ‘yes-no’ type question (Refer to list 1 below).
 ‘Are’ changes to ‘was’. As the reporting verb was in past tense, the verb in the
reported speech will also be in past. (Refer to list 2 below)
 ‘Now’ has become ‘then’. Time and place expressions change if the reporting
verb is in past tense. (Refer to list 3 below)
 The question mark (?) has changed to a full stop(.).
 Another important thing, the format of question (v + s + o) has changed to the
format of a statement (s + v + o). In indirect speech the pattern always comes to
subject + verb + object.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 15
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 7: DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
List of Reporting verbs and linkers (list 1)
Sentence
Reporting verb (past)
Linker
Assertive
Said, told
That
Interrogative
Yes-no question
Asked, wanted to know, enquired
If / whether
Asked, wanted to know, enquired
wh-word
Told, ordered, advised, requested, asked
to / not to
Suggested, proposed
that
Optative
Wished, prayed
that
Exclamatory
Exclaimed in joy / sorrow / wonder / fear / disgust etc.
that
Wh-question
Imperative
Without ‘Let’
With ‘Let’
Verbs in Reported Speech (if reporting verb in past tense) (list 2)
Direct speech
Indirect speech
Am / is / are
Was / were
Has / have
Had
Shall / will
Can
May
Must, should
Verb1
Verb2
was / were
had been
had
had had
would
could
might
must, should
verb2
had + verb3
Change of time and place expressions in past tense (list 3)
now – then
ago – before
today – that day
yesterday – the previous day
tomorrow – the next day
English Grammar Quick Recap
last night – the previous night
here – there
this – that
these – those
Page 16
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 7: DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
 Narration change of Assertive sentence
o Robin said, “I went to Delhi yesterday.” – Robin said that he had gone to Delhi
the previous day.
o She said to her husband, “I want to go with you.” – She told her husband that
she wanted to go with him.
 Narration change of Interrogative sentence
o He said to me, “Do you know English?” – He asked me whether I knew
English.
o She said to me, “Did you go there?” – She wanted to know whether I had
gone there.
o I said to him, “What are you doing?” – I asked him what he was doing.
o Rahul said to his mother, “How do you do all these things together?” – Rahul
asked his mother how she did all those things together.
 Narration change of Imperative sentence
o He said to me, “Go there right now.” – He ordered me to go there right then.
o My teacher said to me, “Obey your parents.” – My teacher asked me to obey
my parents.
o She said to me, “Please don’t go there.” – She requested me not to go there.
o He said to her, “Let’s go home.” – He suggested her that they should go home.
o His mother said, “Let him eat whatever he likes.” – His mother suggested that
he might be allowed to eat whatever he liked.
 Narration change of Optative sentence
o He said to the boy, “May god bless you.” – He prayed that God might bless the
boy.
o The girl said, “Had I the wings of a dove.” – The girl wished that she had the
wings of a dove.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 17
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 7: DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
 Narration change of Exclamatory sentence
o “How happy we are here!” said the children. – The children exclaimed in joy
that they were very happy there.
o The children said, “How happy we were there!” – The children exclaimed in
sorrow that they had been very happy there.
o He said to me, “Good bye!” – He bade me good bye.
o She said to me, “Good evening!”—She wished me good evening.
 Narration change of Vocatives
o Teacher said, “Robin, stand up.” – Teacher asked Robin to stand up.
o The Bishop said to the convict, “Always remember, my son, that the poor body
is the temple of the living God.” – The Bishop addressed the convict as his son
and advised him to always remember that the poor body is the temple of the
living God.
 Narration change of question tag
o He said to me, “You went to Kolkata, didn’t you?” – He asked me whether I
had gone to Kolkata and assumed that I had.
o I said to him, “Tina didn’t tell a lie, did she?” – I asked him if Tina had told a lie
and assumed that she had not.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 18
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 8: MISCELLANEOUS TRANSFORMATIONS
 Begin: ‘But for’ (means ‘without’)
o If people had not been generous, many would have died of hunger. – But for
the generosity of people, many would have died of hunger.
o If she hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t succeed. – But for her help, I wouldn’t
succeed.
 Subject-verb concord
o All the students were given a gift. (begin: ‘Each’) – Each of the students was
given a gift.
o The principal and the teachers were happy. (Use: ‘as well as’) – The principal as
well as the teachers was happy.
 Begin: Had (meaning ‘if’)
o The inspector fired when challenged. – Had they not challenged him, the
inspector would not have fired.
o In your place, I would have asked for a raise in salary. – Had I been in your
place, I would have asked for a raise in salary.
 Use ‘had better’ or ‘had’
had better + verb1
o It would be a good thing if you slept. – You had better sleep.
o It would be good if you do not come. – You had better not come.
 But – help
but + verb1 = help + verb+ing
o I cannot but comply with his desire. (Use: help) – I cannot help complying with
his desire.
o A poet could not but be gay in such a jocund company. (Remove ‘but’) – A
poet could not help being gay in such a jocund company.
 Begin: Should (meaning ‘If’)
o Please feel free to contact Englicist if you need any further help. – Should you
need any further help, please feel free to contact Englicist.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 19
CHAPTER 2: TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES
SECTION 8: MISCELLANEOUS TRANSFORMATIONS
 ‘The more’ type
o He got more and more but his desire only grew. (Begin: The more) – The more
he got, the more his desire grew.
o They tried harder and harder but achieved less and less. (End: … they
achieved.) – The harder they tried, the less they achieved.
 Use ‘Lest’ (meaning ‘in fear that’)
lest + subject + be/verb1/should
o Put away your toys from the floor, else someone might fall. – Put away your
toys from the floor, lest someone should fall.
o I will explain in more detail so you don’t get confused. – Lest you be confused,
I’ll explain in more detail.
 Question tag
Question tags are the short questions that we put at the end of sentences
assuming something or just to confirm, and not for getting an actual answer.
When you add a question tag to an affirmative statement, the question tag is
negative and vice versa.
He is, isn’t he? / I can’t, can I? / You know, don’t you? / They aren’t, are they?
o He went there yesterday. (Use question tag). – He went there yesterday, didn’t
he?
o You are not ready for the project yet. – You are not ready for the project yet,
are you?
 Use of appropriate preposition / Word replacement
o Rimi likes vegetarian food more than non-veg. (Use: prefers) – Rimi prefers
vegetarian food to non-veg.
o She does not like fish that much. (Use: fond) – She is not very fond of fish.
o My sister hates cat. (Use: aversion) – My sister has an aversion to cat.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 20
CHAPTER 3: PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS
SECTION 1: PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions come before a noun or pronoun to show its relation to some other
words in a sentence.
• There is a book on the table.
• There is a cat under the table
Now, I give you a simple and easy-to-understand list of common prepositions of
position for dummies.
Some Common usages:
Before time: at
Before date/day: on
Before month/year: in
Before a small place: at
Before a large place: in
at 6 am.
on Sunday / on 12th January
in 1980 / in May
at the Suri Bazaar / at the station
in India / in Maharashtra / in Europe
in the morning/afternoon/evening; but, at dawn/dusk/noon/night
by bus / by train; but, on foot / on cycle
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 21
CHAPTER 3: PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS
SECTION 1: PREPOSITIONS
There are many words which are generally followed by specific prepositions. This is
one area where you need to learn the common usages mostly by heart. At some
level you will develop an intuition for informed guess for the unknown ones.
For example: Rohit is absent __________ school.
In the above example, most students without knowledge of the appropriate usage
would guess ‘at’, ‘in’, ‘to’ etc. But the correct preposition here is ‘from’.
Ans: Rohit is absent
from
school.
So, here I give you two short lists of the commonly used prepositions and phrasal
verbs.
 List of Commonly Used Appropriate Prepositions
absent from
access to
according to
in accordance with
accuse of
accustomed to
adjacent to
affection for
affectionate to
afflicted by a disease
afraid of
agree to a proposal
agree with a person
aim at
ambitious of
annoyed at something
annoyed with someone
English Grammar Quick Recap
anxious about
appetite for
approve of
ashamed of
aware of
belong to
born of
capable of
close to
compare to dissimilar things
compare with similar things
complain against
conscious of
consist of
contrary to
deal in (business)
deal with (behave/describe)
Page 22
CHAPTER 3: PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS
SECTION 1: PREPOSITIONS
 List of Commonly Used Appropriate Prepositions
dedicate to
depend on
deprive of
die by poison
die for a cause
die from an effect
die of a disease
differ from
divide into
eat from a plate
eligible for
faith in
faithful to
familiar with
fond of
free from
get rid of
good at
grateful to
identical with
ignorant of
indifferent to
indulge in
interest in
junior/senior to
lack of
laugh at
listen to
lodge a complaint with the police
English Grammar Quick Recap
loyal to
made of
married to
occupied with
open to
part from a person
part with a thing
play on an instrument
prefer to
preside over a meeting
pride (verb) on
Take pride (noun) in
proud of
provide with
rely on
respond to
search for
shocked at one’s behaviour
similar to
stick to
suffer from
superior/inferior to
supply with
sure of
surprised at
sympathetic to
sympathy for
true to
yield to
Page 23
CHAPTER 3: PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS
SECTION 2: PHRASAL VERBS
Phrasal verbs are new verbs coined with a prepositions or adverbial added to a verb.
For example, ‘look’ is a verb. When you say ‘look after’, it means ‘take care of’ but
when you say ‘look into’, it means ‘investigate’.
 List of Commonly Used Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs
Act on/upon
Ask for
Bring out
Bring up
Call at/on
Call for
Call in
Call out
Call up
Carry on
Carry out
Come across
Come of
Come round
Cut down
Do away with
Fall out
Fall through
Give away
Give in
Give up
Go through
Keep up
Lay by
English Grammar Quick Recap
Meaning
affect
pray for /want
publish
rear
visit
demand
send for
shout
remember
continue
obey /execute
meet
to be born
recover from a disease
reduce
abolish
quarrel
fail
distribute
surrender
leave / abandon
read
maintain
save
Page 24
CHAPTER 3: PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS
SECTION 2: PHRASAL VERBS
 List of Commonly Used Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs
Look after
Look down upon
Look into
Make out
Make up for
Pass away
Put down
Put off
Put off
Put on
Put out
Put up with
Run after
Run away
Run over
Set in
Set out
Set up
Sit for
Take after
Turn down
Work out
English Grammar Quick Recap
Meaning
take care of
hate
investigate
understand
compensate
die
write
take off
postpone
wear
extinguish
tolerate
chase
flee / escape
knock and pass over
to begin something
start a journey
establish
appear in an exam
resemble
reject
solve (a sum)
Page 25
CHAPTER 4: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT & VERB FORMS
 Rules of Subject-verb Agreement
1) If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too.
o He is a good student
o She sings well.
2) If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
o They sing together
o They are good students
o There are many flowers in the garden.
3) When the subject is plural in form but expresses a single-whole in meaning, it
takes a singular verb.
o 5 million dollars is a big amount. (a single amount)
o 2 days is not enough for this task. (a single length of time)
4) When the subject consists of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by
‘and’, use a plural verb.
o Mr. Roy and Mr. Dubey are good friends.
o Two and two make four.
o A fool and his money are easily parted.
5) When the subject consists of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by
‘and’ but denotes the same person or thing, or expresses a single idea, use a
singular verb.
o The scholar and academician is known to all.
o Bread and butter is his favourite breakfast.
o Time and tide waits for none.
6) When the subject consists of two or more singular nouns or pronouns
connected by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, use a singular verb.
o The secretary or the president knows this.
o Neither he nor she was present there.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 26
CHAPTER 4: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT & VERB FORMS
 Rules of Subject-verb Agreement
7) When the subject consists of two or more nouns or pronouns with different
numbers connected by ‘or’, ‘nor’, ‘not only…but also’ etc. the verb agrees with
the part of the subject closest to the verb.
o The president or the committee members know this
o The committee members or the president knows this.
8) When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the
sentence must agree with the subject.
o The man is not only a good singer but also has a good sense of humour.
o Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain an indepth understanding of participants.
9) If a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, the verb still agrees with
the subject and not with the nouns or pronouns preceding the verb.
o The principal, as well as the teachers, is coming this way.
o The theory with all its shortcomings holds true even today.
o All characters of the play are static characters.
10) The words and phrases ‘each’, ‘each one’, ‘either’, ‘neither’, ’everyone’,
‘everybody’, ‘anyone’, ‘anybody’, ‘nobody’, ‘somebody’, ‘someone’, and ‘no
one’ are singular and require a singular verb.
o No one agrees with him.
o Everyone was present there.
o Each one of them was given a prize.
11) Collective nouns take singular verbs when they stand as a whole collection
without any sign of division. But they take plural verbs when there is a
division.
o The committee has elected him president.
o The jury were divided in their decision.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 27
CHAPTER 4: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT & VERB FORMS
 Quick Tips on Using Correct Verb Forms
 Whenever we have to use correct forms of verbs, we have to see whether it is
a whole paragraph or individual sentences. If it is a paragraph, we first need to
read the whole paragraph very carefully and try to understand each sentence
in its context.
 In case of a narrative in past tense, most of the verbs would be in simple past
tense (v2). But if something had happened before another action, remember
to use past perfect tense (had+v3).
 For the correct forms of verbs in different tenses, please refer to the chart
“Verb Forms in Active and Passive Voice” under topic “Active and Passive
Voice” in this book.
 Be sure to read the entire paragraph once again after you have written the
correct forms of verbs.
 There’s really no shortcut here, only practice can make you perfect.
Now, that you have learnt the topics, we suggest practising
the lessons from the books “Challenges Before ICSE” and
“Challenges Before ISC” by J. Mathew. You may also take quiz
tests on our website https://englicist.com.
All the best going forward.
English Grammar Quick Recap
Page 28