‘I shall be obliged if you will send me …’
‘Please dispatch the —– at your earliest convenience’

There are also certain phrases of business jargon that should be avoided.

Examples are: ‘Dispatch the same at once’.

Expressions of this kind are commonly used in business letters, but note that they are not good English. In many cases it is also possible to convey the meaning in simple, everyday English.

Avoid abbreviations as far as possible.
For instance, write advertisement, and not advt. Write examination, and not exam.

Also avoid the tendency to omit the subjects I and we.
Write ‘We have received’ instead of ‘Have received’

Directions for shipping (by rail, air, post etc.) should be given. Also clearly state the manner in which the payment will be made.

While ordering goods, give clear and exact descriptions of the articles in the letter. It is also a good idea to provide an itemized list of the articles wanted with the quality and quantity clearly specified.

In replying to business letters always quote the number of reference if there is any and the date of the letter you are answering. For example, ‘In reply to your letter no. 304/p, dated January 5th, 1010, I would like to say’

1.    He —————— my plan.

a)    Backed out
b)    Backed up
c)    Backed off
d)    Backed off

2.    We have —————- somebody to do the job.

a)    Disposed of
b)    Fixed upon
c)    Hit upon
d)    Bear out

3.    They are ——————-

a)    Well off
b)    Well of
c)    Well out
d)    Well on

4.    John ——————- the first prize in the quiz competition.

a)    Bore away
b)    Bore out
c)    Bore off
d)    Bore down

5.    At last the strikers ——————-

a)    Fell off
b)    Fell out
c)    Fell back
d)    Fell in

6.    The fire ——————- a dense smoke.

a)    Gave off
b)    Gave up
c)    Gave in
d)    Gave out

7.    The speaker ———————— in the middle of his speech.

a)    Broke off
b)    Broke in
c)    Broke with
d)    Broke into

8.    All the eyes were on him because he was the only person who could ———————- the impending disaster.

a)    Stick out
b)    Stave off
c)    Turn off
d)    Put off

9.    The new leader has been able to ———————- all opposition.

a)    Bear off
b)    Bear down
c)    Bear out
d)    Bear away

10.    The rope ————————- while they were hauling up the pillar.

a)    Gave in
b)    Gave way
c)    Gave off
d)    Gave out

11.    When will the meeting ————————

a)    Come out
b)    Come on
c)    Come off
d)    Come by

12.    Many persons were ———————- by Cholera.

a)    Carried away
b)    Carried off
c)    Carried out
d)    Carried on

13.    I have ——————— a good plan to get rid of him.

a)    Hit out
b)    Hit upon
c)    Come out
d)    Hit on

14.    I don’t know how these things ———————–

a)    Came about
b)    Came out
c)    Came off
d)    Came on

15.    This letter ———————— his involvement in the case.

a)    Bears off
b)    Bears out
c)    Bears away
d)    Bears down

Answers

1.    Backed up (supported)
2.    Fixed upon (chose)
3.    Well off (in comfortable circumstances)
4.    Bore away (won)
5.    Fell back (retreated, yielded)
6.    Gave off (emitted)
7.    Broke off (stopped suddenly)
8.    Stave off(prevent, avert)
9.    Bear down (overthrow, crush)
10.    Gave way (broke, snapped)
11.    Come off (take place)
12.    Carried off (killed)
13.    Hit upon (found)
14.    Came about (happened)
15.    Bears out (confirms)

1.    I met a man today ——————— I had heard is a great writer.
2.    Any of you may take the book. I don’t care ——————–
3.    ——————- did you give that prize to?
4.    The man ———————- I thought was my friend betrayed my trust.
5.    There was no doubt as to —————— he referred to.
6.    The prize was given to John ——————- the teacher said was very talented.
7.    The prize was given to John ——————— the teacher considered very talented.
8.    It is Alice ——————– I think is the prettier of the two.
9.    Peter is the man ———————- we want to be our next captain.
10.    ——————- do you think is the smarter of the two?
11.    Charlie, —————— his folks thought had died several years ago, suddenly reappeared.
12.    The boy ——————- I trusted proved worthy of my confidence.
13.    ——————- do you take me for?
14.    —————— are you talking about?
15.    ——————- did you say was there?
16.    I was the man —————– they thought was dead.
17.    There is Mr Mathews, —————– they say is the best painter in the city.
18.    He is the man —————– they have chosen to be their next leader.
19.    —————— do you think she is?
20.    That is the man —————– I talked about this morning.

Answers

1.    Who
2.    Who
3.    Who/whom
4.    Who
5.    Who/whom
6.    Who/whom
7.    Whom
8.    Who
9.    Who
10.    Who
11.    Who
12.    Whom
13.    Whom/who
14.    Whom/who
15.    Who
16.    Who
17.    Who
18.    Who
19.    Who
20.    Who/whom

The subject usually comes before the verb.

The dog bit the man. (Subject – dog, verb – bit, object – man)
He wrote a letter. (Subject – he, verb – wrote, object – letter)

The object usually comes after the verb.

He killed the spider. (Subject – he, verb – killed, object – spider)

When there are two objects – one direct object and one indirect object – the indirect comes before the direct.

Lend me your ears. (Indirect object – me, direct object – ears)
He gave me a book. (Indirect – me, direct – book)

Attributive adjectives come before the nouns they modify.

King Francis was a hearty king and loved a royal sport. (Here the attributive adjectives hearty and royal come before the nouns king and sport.)

When an adjective is used predicately, it comes after the verb.

The child fell asleep.
The dog became restive.

The adjective phrase comes immediately after the noun.

The tops of the mountains were covered with snow.

The adverb usually comes close to the word it modifies. But note that when an adverb is intended to modify the whole sentence it comes at the beginning of the sentence.

Certainly he made a fool of himself.

Qualifying clauses are generally placed as close as possible to the words which they modify.

He died in the village where he was born. (Here the qualifying clause ‘where he was born’ modifies the noun village.)
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (Here the clause ‘who live in glass houses’ modifies the noun people.)

Notes

The normal order of words in a sentence is sometimes altered for emphasis.

Sweet are the uses of adversity. (Here the subject ‘the uses of adversity’ comes at the end of the sentence.)
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. (Subject – the head that wears a crown)
Fallen, fallen is Babylon.
Blessed are the merciful.
Great is the struggle, and great is also the prize.

Double comparatives and double superlatives were once common in English, but now they are not used.

It was the most unkindest cut of all. (Shakespeare – Note the use of the double superlative)

The above sentence is incorrect in modern English.

Incorrect: Seldom had the little town seen a more costlier wedding.
Correct: Seldom had the little town seen a costlier wedding.

But lesser which is a double comparative is an exception to this rule.

Choose the lesser of the two evils.

Note also the use of preferable which has the force of a comparative and is followed by to. It is wrong to say more preferable or most preferable.

He has a plan of his own which he finds preferable to that of any other plan. (NOT He has a plan of his own which he finds more preferable than …)

Correct use of less

In informal English it is common to use less before plural nouns. Note that this is considered incorrect in a formal style.

No fewer than 50 children were present. (Formal)
No less than 50 children were present. (Informal)

Perfect adjectives

Certain adjectives do not admit of comparison because their meaning is already superlative. Examples are: perfect, ideal, unique, round, square, complete, extreme and universal. Nothing can be more complete or more perfect. It is therefore wrong to say: most unique, most ideal, or roundest.

But we still say, for instance:
This is the most perfect specimen I have seen.

The phrase two first is a meaningless expression. We should say, ‘the first two’.

The first two chapters of the novel are rather dull.

Verbal and Oral

Verbal means ‘pertaining to words’. Oral means ‘delivered by word of mouth’. The opposite of written is oral, not verbal.

Your written statement differs from your oral (not verbal) statement in several respects.

The photograph will give the reader a far better idea of the structure than any verbal description.

The expression ‘our mutual friend’ is not correct. We should say ‘our common friend’.

They were introduced to each other by a common friend. (NOT … by a mutual friend.)

An adjective can be used with a verb when some quality of the subject, rather than the action of the verb is to be expressed.
Read the sentences given below:

Roses smell sweet. (NOT sweetly)
Here what we are talking about is a particular quality of the subject (roses).
She looks smart. (NOT smartly)
The milk turned sour. (NOT sourly)
I feel sad. (NOT sadly)

Kind and Kinds

As a general rule the word kind is singular and should be used with that and this to modify a singular noun. Similarly, the word kinds is plural and should be used with these or those to modify a plural noun.

This kind of thing
These kinds of things
These sorts of apples
Those kinds of dogs

This rule, however, is not strictly followed. Expressions such as ‘this kind of things’ and ‘these kind of things’ are now used even by educated native speakers.

Comparison of Adjectives

When a comparison is made by means of a comparative followed by than, the thing that is compared must be excluded from the group of things with which it is compared. This is usually accomplished by using a word such as other.

Solomon was wiser than any other man. OR Solomon was wiser than all other men. (NOT Solomon was wiser than all men/any man.)

The Taj Mahal is more beautiful than all other mausoleums. OR The Taj Mahal is more beautiful than any other mausoleum.
The crocodile is larger than any other reptile. OR The crocodile is larger than all other reptiles.

When a comparison is made by means of a superlative, the thing that is compared must be a part of the group of things with which it is compared.

Solomon was the wisest of all men. (NOT … all other men.)
The crocodile is the largest of all reptiles. (NOT … all reptiles.)

Another very common error is exemplified in the following example:

Wrong: The population of Tokyo is greater than any other city in India.

The above sentence is wrong because it makes a comparison between the population of Tokyo and cities in India whereas the comparison should have been made between the population of Tokyo and the population of the cities in India.

Therefore we should say:
Right: The population of Tokyo is greater than that of any other city in India.

More examples are given below:

Incorrect: The quality of education provided by our school is better than any other school.
Correct: The quality of education provided by our school is better than that provided by any other school.

Grammarians formerly recommended that a pronoun used as the complement of the verb to be should be in the nominative case. Today the use of the nominative case in such cases is considered extremely formal and over-correct. Instead, we use the objective case.

It is me. (Formal: It is I.)
It was him. (Formal: It was he.)

A pronoun used as the object of a verb or a preposition should be in the objective case.

You can’t trust him. (NOT You can’t trust he.)
We have invited them. (NOT We have invited they.)

There is really no difference between you and him. (Here the pronouns you and him are used as the objects of the preposition between.)

He has given great trouble to us. (Here we use the objective case because the pronoun us is the object of the verb to.)

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, person and gender.

All students should bring their books. (Here the pronoun their agrees with its antecedent students in number and person.)
John has brought his book. (Here the pronoun his agrees with its antecedent John in number, person and gender.)
Each of the girls gave her own version of the story.
I am not one of those who believe everything they hear. (Here the antecedent of the pronoun they is those and not I.)

Some grammarians recommend that the pronoun of the masculine gender should be used to refer back to anybody, everybody, anyone, each etc., when the sex is unknown.

Everybody ran as fast as he could.
Anybody can do it if he tries.

In modern English it is more common to use plural pronouns to refer back to anybody, everyone etc.

Everybody should bring their books. (Less formal)
Everybody should bring his books. (Very formal)
Everybody ran as fast as they could.
Each of them had their share. (Less formal)
Each of them had his share. (Very formal)

Who and whom

Who is in the nominative case; whom is in the objective case.

I don’t know who (not whom) they were.
The student, whom you thought so highly of, has failed to win the first prize.

In modern English whom is unusual except in a formal style.

Who did you meet? (Less formal)
Whom did you meet? (Very formal)

Words like flower, book, tree, chair and pen are countable nouns because they refer to objects that can be counted. Countable nouns can have plural forms. They can also be used with numbers and the articles a/an.

There is a book on the table.
There are two books on the table.

She sat in a chair.
We need to buy some chairs.

Words like milk, water, knowledge and wisdom are uncountable nouns because they refer to objects or qualities that cannot be counted. Uncountable nouns do not normally have plural forms. They are also not used with the articles a/an.

Milk is rich in nutrients. (NOT A milk/milks …)
We subsist on rice. (NOT … a rice/rices.)
Water is essential for the existence of life.

Some common uncountable nouns are: furniture, advice, news, information, business, work, weather, traffic, scenery and bread. Note that many of these nouns are countable in several other languages and therefore ESL students often wrongly use them with articles and in the plural.

Wrong: He gave me an advice.
Right: He gave me a piece of advice. OR He gave me some advice.

We normally use a phrase like a piece of/ a bottle of to talk about a unit of an uncountable thing.

Examples are given below:

A bottle of water (NOT A water)
A piece of work (NOT A work)
A piece of/a bar of soap

Correct use of the possessive case

Possessive case should be used only with the following:

1.    Names of living beings

John’s house
My father’s spectacles

Possessive case is also used with personified objects:

The lion’s mane
Fortune’s favorite
Nature’s laws

2.    A few stereotyped phrases

Out of arm’s way
The ship’s crew
For conscience’ sake
For goodness’ sake
At one’s finger’s ends

3.    Nouns of space and time

Nouns of space and time denoting an amount of something can also be used with the possessive case.

In a year’s time
A day’s work

When two nouns in the possessive case refer to the same person or object, the apostrophe with s is added to the last only.

My brother John’s car (NOT My brother’s John’s car)
This is my uncle, the doctor’s clinic (NOT This is my uncle’s, the doctor’s clinic)

1. He fasted for a week.

a) Adjective
b) Verb
c) Adverb
d) Preposition

2. Muslims observe fast in the month of Ramzan.

a) Noun
b) Verb
c) Adjective
d) Adverb

3. He is the right man in the wrong place.

a) Adjective
b) Verb
c) Adverb
d) Preposition

4. God defend the righteous.

a) Adjective
b) Adverb
c) Verb
d) Noun

5. There is not much truth in what he says.

a) Adjective
b) Adverb
c) Preposition
d) Conjunction

6. I hate him because he boasts too much.

a) Adverb
b) Adjective
c) Verb
d) Preposition

7. Men who work hard enjoy life to the fullest.

a) Verb
b) Adverb
c) Preposition
d) Conjunction

8. Is she any better today?

a) Adjective
b) Adverb
c) Verb
d) Preposition

9. He is all for amusement.

a) Adjective
b) Adverb
c) Verb
d) Preposition

10. What most annoys me is his obstinacy.

a) Adverb
b) Adjective
c) Verb
d) Conjunction

11. Please call me early.

a) Adverb
b) pronoun

c) Verb
d) Noun

12. Little learning is a dangerous thing.

a) Adjective
b) Noun
c) Conjunction
d) Verb

13. He is well known all over the world.

a) Adjective
b) Adverb
c) Verb
d) Noun

14. We still live with our parents.

a) Conjunction
b) Preposition
c) Verb
d) Adverb

15. Take this parcel over to the post office.

a) Adverb
b) Verb
c) Preposition
d) Conjunction

Answers

1. Verb
2. Noun
3. Adjective
4. Adjective
5. Adjective
6. Adverb
7. Adverb
8. Adverb
9. Adverb
10. Adverb
11. Pronoun
12. Adjective
13. Adverb
14. Adverb
15. Adverb

1.    It is years since we —————-

a)    Talk
b)    Talked
c)    Would talk
d)    Had talked

2.    He has —————- his best days.

a)    See
b)    Seen
c)    Saw
d)    Sees

3.    The lot —————— upon him.

a)    Fell
b)    Fall
c)    Fallen
d)    Falls

4.    This custom —————— fallen into disuse over the years.

a)    Has
b)    Have
c)    Is
d)    Was

5.    English is ——————– in many parts of the world.

a)    Speak
b)    Spoke
c)    Spoken
d)    Speaks

6.    My patience ——————– out at last.

a)    Worn
b)    Wear
c)    Wears
d)    Wore

7.    In a fit of fury he —————— up the letter.

a)    Tear
b)    Tore
c)    Torn
d)    Tears

8.    He has been —————– by a scorpion.

a)    Sting
b)    Stung
c)    Stings
d)    Stinging

9.    We couldn’t have ——————— a better day to go skiing.

a)    Choose
b)    Chose
c)    Chosen
d)    Choosing

10.    You never ——————- me a chance to speak.

a)    Give
b)    Gives
c)    Giving
d)    given

11.    He fell off the ladder and —————— his ribs.

a)    Break
b)    Broke
c)    Breaks
d)    Broken

12.    His voice eventually ——————- to a whisper.

a)    Sink
b)    Sank
c)    Sinks
d)    Sunk

13.    Recently the price of essential food items ——————- gone up.

a)    Has
b)    Have
c)    Is
d)    Was

14.    Seeing the policeman he —————– a hasty retreat.

a)    Beat
b)    Beats
c)    Beaten
d)    Beating

15.    He has long —————— under suspicion.

a)    Lie
b)    Lain
c)    Lay
d)    Laid

Answers

1.    Talked
2.    Seen
3.    Fell
4.    Has
5.    Spoken
6.    Wore
7.    Tore
8.    Stung
9.    Chosen
10.    Give
11.    Broke
12.    Sank
13.    Has
14.    Beat
15.    Lain