You are here
I. Noun Forms
What is a noun form?
A noun names a person, place, thing, quality or idea. Some verbs can be changed into nouns.
Example:
observe (verb) → observation (noun).
Question 20
I
Complete the sentences by filling in the noun form of the textual words given in the brackets.
1. Some word games need a lot of thought and ________. (deduce)
2. We need to make close ________ of animals in order to understand their behaviour. (observe)
3. A detailed ________ of the documents shows a lot of errors. (scrutinise)
4. You should not make any false ________ against anyone. (accuse)
5. She was given an award in ________ of her contribution to literature. (recognise)
How to answer:
Change each verb in brackets into the noun that fits the grammar of the sentence.
View Answer
1.
Some word games need a lot of thought and
deduction
.
Reason:
deduction is the noun form of deduce.
2.
We need to make close
observations
of animals.
Reason:
observations is the noun form needed after “make close”.
3.
A detailed
scrutiny
of the documents shows errors.
Reason:
scrutiny is the noun form of scrutinise.
4.
You should not make any false
accusations
against anyone.
Reason:
accusations is the noun form of accuse.
5.
She was given an award in
recognition
of her contribution.
Reason:
recognition is the noun form of recognise.
II. Expressions and Their Meanings
What is an expression?
An expression is a group of words used together with one meaning.
Example:
“taken aback” means suddenly surprised; it does not mean physically taken backwards.
Question 21
II
Match the expressions in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. with all our hearts | (i) surprised |
| 2. to be precise | (ii) starts cheering together |
| 3. gain an audience with | (iii) hidden information that is not obvious |
| 4. catch his breath | (iv) exact and accurate |
| 5. erupts in applause | (v) meeting or hearing someone |
| 6. grand scheme of things | (vi) complete sincerity |
| 7. taken aback | (vii) to pause or rest for some time |
| 8. more than meets the eye | (viii) overall plan of life in a larger context |
How to answer:
Read the full expression and match its complete meaning, not just one familiar word.
View Answer
| Expression | Correct meaning and reason |
|---|---|
| 1. with all our hearts |
(vi) complete sincerity
The phrase means accepting or doing something with complete sincerity.
|
| 2. to be precise |
(iv) exact and accurate
It is used when giving an exact detail.
|
| 3. gain an audience with |
(v) meeting or hearing someone
To gain an audience means to obtain a formal meeting.
|
| 4. catch his breath |
(vii) to pause or rest for some time
A tired person pauses to breathe normally again.
|
| 5. erupts in applause |
(ii) starts cheering together
The whole group suddenly begins clapping.
|
| 6. grand scheme of things |
(viii) overall plan of life in a larger context
It means looking at one event as part of a much larger picture.
|
| 7. taken aback |
(i) surprised
The phrase describes sudden surprise.
|
| 8. more than meets the eye |
(iii) hidden information that is not obvious
Something has more meaning than we notice at first.
|
Question 22
Now, make sentences using any five of the expressions from Column 1.
View Sample Sentences
- I accepted the responsibility with all my heart .
- To be precise , the meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.
- The students hoped to gain an audience with the Principal.
- After running, Ravi stopped to catch his breath .
- The hall erupted in applause when the winner was announced.
III. One Word, Different Meanings
How can one word have different meanings?
The meaning of a word depends on how it is used in a sentence. A word can also act as a noun in one sentence and a verb in another.
Example:
“face” can mean the front part of the head, or it can mean deal with a problem.
Question 23
III
Match the different meanings of ‘face’ and ‘bear’ with the correct usage in the sentences given in the table.
| Word and meanings | Sentences to match |
|---|---|
|
face
1. front part of a person’s head 2. be positioned towards 3. deal with a difficult situation 4. front surface of a thing |
(i) Ravi turned to face his father.
(ii) The face of the clock was painted red and blue. (iii) She has a round, smiling face. (iv) We should be ready to face life’s challenges. |
|
bear
1. tolerate 2. accept 3. a large heavy mammal 4. produce |
(i) The trees that I planted in my garden took a long time to bear fruit.
(ii) I spotted a bear on a wildlife safari. (iii) Riya agreed to bear the responsibilities. (iv) I can’t bear the sound of vehicles honking. |
How to answer:
Read the whole sentence. Decide whether the word names a thing or shows an action, then choose the matching meaning.
View Answer
| Meaning | Correct sentence |
|---|---|
| face: front part of a person’s head | (iii) She has a round, smiling face. |
| face: be positioned towards | (i) Ravi turned to face his father. |
| face: deal with a difficult situation | (iv) We should be ready to face life’s challenges. |
| face: front surface of a thing | (ii) The face of the clock was painted red and blue. |
| bear: tolerate | (iv) I can’t bear the sound of vehicles honking. |
| bear: accept | (iii) Riya agreed to bear the responsibilities. |
| bear: a large mammal | (ii) I spotted a bear on a wildlife safari. |
| bear: produce | (i) The trees that I planted in my garden took a long time to bear fruit. |
IV. Modal Verbs and Their Functions
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are helping verbs such as can, could, may, must, shall, will, would and ought to .
They show ideas such as ability, possibility, command, advice, willingness, hope or necessity.
Question 24
IV
Match the highlighted words in the sentences in Column 1 with the functions they express in Column 2.
Use the NCERT list of functions: disbelief, imagined possibility, advice, challenge, logical conclusion, wish, necessity, prediction, willingness, command and possibility.
How to answer:
Read the meaning created by the highlighted modal in the full sentence.
View Answer
| Highlighted form | Function |
|---|---|
| 1. will gladly pay | (ix) willingness |
| 2. must have stolen | (viii) prediction |
| 3. shall come | (x) command |
| 4. could you possibly know | (i) expression of disbelief |
| 5. would recognise | (ii) imagined possibility |
| 6. would have fended off | (v) logical conclusion |
| 7. may tell | (xi) possibility |
| 8. May your wisdom shine | (vi) wish or hope |
| 9. ought to be united | (iii) moral obligation or advice |
| 10. need to devise | (vii) necessity |
| 11. dare to claim | (iv) challenge |
V. Choosing Modals from Their Functions
Quick recall
can/could can show ability; must/need to necessity or obligation; should suggestion; might weak possibility; may possibility.
Question 25
V
Complete the following story with modal verbs in the box by using the clues from the functions given within brackets.
may
must
should
can
might
could
need to
An old man, known for his wisdom, lived in a small village. One day, a young boy asked him, “How 1. _______ (ability) I become wise like you?” The old man smiled and said, “Wisdom 2. _______ (necessity) be earned through patience. You 3. _______ (suggestion) listen, more than you speak.” The boy replied, “It 4. _______ (weak possibility) take years, but I’ll try.” The old man nodded. “You 5. _______ (obligation) learn from your mistakes too. Wisdom 6. _______ (possibility) come slowly.” The boy knew he 7. _______ (ability) become wise if he followed the advice.
How to answer:
Use the function in brackets, then check whether the sentence sounds grammatically correct.
View Answer
1.
“How
can
I become wise like you?”
Reason:
can shows present ability.
2.
Wisdom
needs to
be earned through patience.
Reason:
“needs to” shows necessity. The word box gives the base form “need to”, which changes to “needs to” with the singular subject “Wisdom”.
3.
You
should
listen more than you speak.
Reason:
should gives a suggestion.
4.
It
might
take years.
Reason:
might shows weak possibility.
5.
You
must
learn from your mistakes.
Reason:
must shows obligation.
6.
Wisdom
may
come slowly.
Reason:
may shows possibility.
7.
He knew he
could
become wise.
Reason:
could shows ability in the past context.
VI. Rewriting with Modal Verbs
How to rewrite
Replace the long phrase with a modal that gives the same meaning.
It is advisable
→
should
. “It is advisable for you to think” becomes “You should think”.
Question 26
VI
Rewrite the following sentences using appropriate modal verbs. One example has been done for you.
- It is advisable for you to think before you speak. You should think before you speak.
- It is unnecessary to worry about things beyond your control.
- It is not possible for a person to gain experience without taking risks.
- It is essential to treat others with kindness, even when they disagree with you.
- It is not allowed to interrupt when someone else is speaking.
How to answer:
Keep the meaning unchanged: unnecessary → need not; not possible → cannot; essential → must; not allowed → must not.
View Answer
2.
You
need not
worry about things beyond your control.
Reason:
need not means it is unnecessary.
3.
A person
cannot
gain experience without taking risks.
Reason:
cannot shows that something is not possible.
4.
You
must
treat others with kindness, even when they disagree with you.
Reason:
must shows that something is essential.
5.
You
must not
interrupt when someone else is speaking.
Reason:
must not shows that something is not allowed.
