1. Wait here ………………………. I return.

a) till                b) until             c) either could be used here

2. I will visit you ……………………. I have time.

a) when           b) if                 c) either could be used here

3. We will have finished the work …………………… Monday.

a) by                b) before          c) either could be used here

4. I will have prepared dinner ………………………. the time you get back.

a) by                b) when           c) before

5. We will start ……………………….. you are ready.

a) when           b) as soon as    c) either could be used here

6. I will be relieved …………………….. it’s finished.

a) when           b) before          c) either could be used here

7. You must complete the work ………………………. you leave.

a) before          b) till                c) either could be used here

8. I cut myself ………………….. shaving this morning.

a) while           b) as                 c) either could be used here

9. I will call you ……………………… I have time.

a) if                  b) while           c) either could be used here

10. I will not pay you ………………………. you finish the work.

a) if                  b) unless          c) either could be used here

Answers

1. Wait here till/until I return.

2. I will visit you when/if I have time.

3. We will have finished the work by/before Monday.

4. I will have prepared dinner by the time you get back.

5. We will start when/as soon as you are ready.

6. I will be relieved when it’s finished.

7. You must complete the work before you leave.

8. I cut myself while shaving this morning.

9. I will call you if I have time.

10. I will not pay you unless you finish the work.

It is important that she should behave.

It is important that she should learn the importance of being punctual.

It is essential that she should talk to the manager.

It is necessary that she should be informed.

It is important that the meeting should start on time.

I am anxious that nobody should get hurt.

Verbs expressing similar meanings can also be followed by that-clauses with should.

She insisted that she should be paid at once.

She suggested that I should consult a doctor.

He recommended that we should increase our productivity.

Should is also used in subordinate clauses after words expressing personal judgments and reactions.

It is astonishing that she should behave so rudely.

I was shocked that she should say that sort of thing to her mother.

In American English, would is more common in this case.

It is astonishing that she would behave so rudely.

Should can also be used in if-clauses, after in case, so that, in order that and lest.

If you should see Kathy, give her my love.

He turned the music down so that he shouldn’t disturb his neighbors.

I have bought a bottle of wine in case Peter should come.

This use of should, too, is more common in British English than in American English.

1. We went out ………………………….. the rain.

a) in spite of       b) however c) although

2. We went out …………………………. it rained.

a) despite            b) although         c) however

3. She went on working ……………………….. she was tired.

a) although         b) despite           c) either could be used here

4. She went on working ………………………….. the fact that she was tired.

a) despite            b) however        c) although

5. …………………….. she is a nice girl, I don’t quite like her.

a) although         b) despite           c) however

6. ………………………. expensive, it was a good watch.

a) however         b) although         c) despite

7. I didn’t like the film. …………………………., everybody else seemed to enjoy it.

a) however         b) despite           c) either could be used here

8. ………………………. I didn’t like the film, everybody else seemed to enjoy it.

a) although         b) however        c) either could be used here

9. We managed to do it …………………………….. he wasn’t there.

a) however         b) although         c) either could be used here

10. We managed to do it, ………………………….. the fact that he was not there.

a) although         b) despite           c) however

Answers

1. We went out in spite of the rain.

2. We went out although it rained.

3. She went on working although she was tired.

4. She went on working despite the fact that she was tired.

5. Although she is a nice girl, I don’t quite like her.

6. Although expensive, it was a good watch.

7. I didn’t like the film, however, everybody else seemed to enjoy it.

8. Although I didn’t like the film, everybody else seemed to enjoy it.

9. We managed to do it although he wasn’t there.

10. We managed to do it despite the fact that he wasn’t there.

Selfless service to humanity is the best thing (that) a man can do. (Here the relative pronoun that is optional.)

This is the girl (whom) I love most. (Whom is optional in this case.)

It is easy to find out whether a relative pronoun is the object or the subject of its clause. If it is the object it will be immediately followed by another noun.

Compare

The girl who won the first prize is my neighbor’s daughter. (Here the relative pronoun who is the subject of the relative clause ‘who won the first prize’.)

The girl who you are talking about is my neighbor’s daughter. OR The girl whom you are talking about is my neighbor’s daughter. (Here the relative pronoun who/whom is the object of the clause ‘who you are talking about’. It is followed by the subject – you.)

The antecedent (the noun the relative pronoun refers to) may be omitted in some sentences.

(He) who laughs last laughs best. (Here the antecedent he can be omitted.)

(Those) whom the gods love, die young. (Here the antecedent those can be omitted.)

The position of preposition in a relative clause

The preposition can be placed either before the relative pronoun or at the end of the relative clause. The former method is considered very formal.

The boy to whom I spoke is my friend. (Very formal)

The boy whom I spoke to is my friend. (Informal)

In an informal style, the same sentence can also be written as:

The boy who I spoke to is my friend. (Who instead of whom)

The boy that I spoke to is my friend. (That instead of who/whom)

The boy I spoke to is my friend. (Omission of relative pronoun)

1. My mother loves ……………………….. me.
a) with b) to c) no preposition is necessary

2. We reached ………………………….. the station.
a) at b) to c) no preposition is necessary

3. What is the time ………………………. your watch?
a) with b) by c) on

4. The girl was stabbed …………………………. a knife.
a) by b) with c) for

5. He is angry ……………………….. me.
a) on b) upon c) with

6. Wash your face ………………………….. water.
a) with b) by c) in

7. We went to Agra ………………………… train.
a) in b) by c) with

8. She covered her face ………………………….. a kerchief.
a) with b) in c) by

9. Open your book …………………………… page six.
a) at b) by c) on

10. Why did you laugh …………………………… the beggar.
a) with b) at c) on

11. My father spent a lot of money ………………………. my wedding.
a) on b) at c) for

12. Susie is married ……………………… Jake.
a) with b) to c) for

Answers

1. My mother loves me. (No preposition is necessary in this case.)

2. We reached the station. (No preposition is necessary in this case.)

3. What is the time by your watch?

4. The girl was stabbed with a knife.

5. He is angry with me.

6. Wash your face with water.

7. We went to Agra by train.

8. She covered her face with a kerchief.

9. Open your book at page six.

10. Why did you laugh at the beggar?

11. My father spent a lot of money on my wedding.

12. Susie is married to Jake.

Hint: While is a conjunction. It is used to connect two clauses. During is a preposition. It is followed by a noun.

1. I was in hospital …………………………. the summer.

a) during              b) while                                c) either could be used here

2. It rained ………………………… the night.

a) during              b) while                                c) either could be used here

3. She learned Italian ………………………… working in Italy.

a) while                                b) during              c) either could be used here

4. We will be on holiday …………………………… May.

a) during              b) while                                c) either could be used here

5. ………………………… they were sleeping, somebody broke into the house.

a) while                                b) during              c) either could be used here

6. ………………………….. he was in Spain, he got to learn some Spanish.

a) while                                b) during              c) either could be used here

7. The incident happened ………………………………. I was out.

a) while                                b) during              c) either could be used here

8. I fell asleep ……………………….. the conference.

a) during              b) while                                c) either could be used here

9. ……………………….. you were playing, I was working.

a) during              b) while                                c) either could be used here

10. We had a strange experience ………………………… the journey.

a) while                                b) during              c) either could be used here

Answers

1. I was in hospital during the summer.

2. It rained during the night.

3. She learned Italian while working in Italy.

4. We will be on holiday during May.

5. While they were sleeping, somebody broke into the house.

6. While he was in Spain, he got to learn some Spanish.

7. The incident happened while I was out.

8. I fell asleep during the conference.

9. While you were playing, I was working.

10. We had a strange experience during the journey.

Examples are: anybody, one, all, both, some, any, none, everybody, nobody, anyone etc.

Do you know anybody here?

One must do one’s duty.

Nobody knows where he lives.

Somebody will have to take the lead.

Everyone praised him for his good deed.

Notes

When an indefinite pronoun is followed by a noun, it becomes an indefinite adjective.

We must die one day.

All men are mortal.

Few people know his whereabouts.

Any child can solve this problem.

To refer back to an indefinite pronoun, we use he or she.

Each one of the boys occupied his seat.

Each one of the girls raised her hand.

When the sex of the person is not clear, we use they to refer back to an indefinite pronoun. In a more formal style, we use the expression he or she.

Nobody likes to lose his or her credit. (Formal)

Nobody likes to lose their credit. (Informal)

Anybody who tries his or her best can do this. (Formal)

Anybody who tries their best can do this. (Informal)

Everybody is unhappy with his or her lot. (Formal)

Everybody is unhappy with their lost. (Informal)

The indefinite pronouns anybody, anyone, each, every and none are singular and should be followed by singular verbs.

Nobody was impressed with his performance. (NOT Nobody were impressed with his performance.)

The indefinite pronouns all, some and few are plural and should be followed by plural verbs.

Some are born great; some achieve greatness; some have greatness thrust upon them.

When we change an imperative sentence into the passive, we use a verb like request, order, suggest, advice etc. The choice of verb depends upon the exact nature of the order or request.

Active: Please lend me your pen.

Passive: You are requested to lend me your pen.

Active: Please do this work.

Passive: You are ordered to do this work.

Active: Please bring me a glass of water.

Passive: You are requested to bring me a glass of water.

Active: Work hard to pass your examination.

Passive: You are advised to work hard to pass your examination.

Active: Do it.

Passive: Let it be done.

Active: Let me do it.

Passive: Let it be done by me. OR Let me be allowed to do it.

Active: Consult a doctor.

Passive: It is suggested that you should consult a doctor.

Active: Do not pluck the flowers.

Passive: Let the flowers not be plucked. OR You are forbidden to pluck the flowers.

As you can see, we use an infinitive or a that-clause to change an imperative sentence into the passive voice.

Not all verbs can be followed by an infinitive. Some verbs are followed by that-clauses. Suggest is one of them. It is followed by a that-clause, not an infinitive.

1. Each of ……………………….. has problems.

a) us      b) we    c) either could be used here

2. …………………….. new day is different.

a) each b) each of            c) either could be used here

3. I enjoyed ………………………. moment of my holiday.

a) each b) each of            c) either could be used here

4. I call …………………… my children every day.

a) each b) each of            c) either could be used here

5. They have ……………………… been invited.

a) each b) each of            c) either could be used here

6. Each of us ………………………….. the world differently.

a) see    b) sees                                 c) either could be used here

7. She kissed ……………………… them on the forehead.

a) each b) each of            c) either could be used here

8. ………………….. these plans has certain advantages and disadvantages.

a) each b) each of            c) either could be used here

9. I bought each of …………………………. an ice cream.

a) they  b) them                                c) either could be used here

10. Each ……………………….. gave her own version of the story.

a) girl     b) girls                   c) either could be used here

Answers

1. Each of us has problems.

2. Each new day is different.

3. I enjoyed each moment of my holiday.

4. I call each of my children every day.

5. They have each been invited.

6. Each of us sees the world differently.

7. She kissed each of them on the forehead.

8. Each of these plans has certain advantages and disadvantages.

9. I bought each of them an ice cream.

10. Each girl gave her own version of the story.

The relative pronouns most often used to introduce an adjective clause are: who, which, that, whom and whose. The relative adverbs used to introduce an adjective clause are: when, why, how and where.

Study the following example.

This is the house that Jack built.

Here ‘this is the house’ is the main clause. ‘That my father built’ is the adjective clause which modifies the noun ‘house’. ‘That’ is the relative pronoun and ‘house’ is the antecedent.

More examples are given below.

This is the girl who won the first prize.

Here the adjective clause ‘who won the first prize’ modifies the noun girl.

Time which is lost is lost forever.

Here the adjective clause ‘which is lost’ modifies the noun time.

Examples of relative adverbs

This is the house where James was born.

In this sentence ‘this is the house’ is the main clause. ‘Where James is born’ is the adjective clause. It qualifies the noun ‘house’ which is its antecedent. ‘Where’ is the relative adverb which introduces the adjective (relative) clause.

More examples are given below.

This is the reason why she didn’t come.

Here the adjective clause ‘why she didn’t come’ modifies the noun ‘reason’.

I cannot forget the day when we met for the first time.

Here the adjective clause ‘when we met for the first time’ modifies the noun ‘day’.