Grammar

Grammar

Modals

We have already learnt about Modals in Class IX. Now, let us revise.

A modal verb is used to indicate modality (that expresses a speaker’s general intention) i.e. likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestions, order, obligation, advice etc.

We use modals to show if we believe something is certain, probable or possible. Modals are,

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, need, used to & dare to.

A. Complete these sentences using appropriate modals. The clues in the brackets will help you.

1.    When I was a child, I used to climb trees easily but now I can’t. (ability in the past)      

2.    I will  win this singing contest. (determination)     

3.    You can / may buy this book. It is worth buying. (advice or suggestion)

4.    Poongothai can speak several languages. (ability in the present)

5.    I swear I will not / shall not  tell lies again. (promise)               

6.    My father used to  play badminton in the evenings when he was at college. (past habit)

7.    You  must / ought to / should  do as I say! (command)

8.   May  I have another glass of water? (request)

9.  Sibi has not practised hard but he  might  win the race. (possibility)

10. We  should / ought to  preserve our natural resources. (duty)  

B. Rewrite the following sentences by rectifying the errors in the use of modals.

1.           Would I have your autograph?

May / Can I have your autograph?

2.           I can be fifteen next April.

I will be fifteen next April.

3.           Take an umbrella. It should rain later.

Take an umbrella. It may rain later.

4.           The magistrate ordered that he might pay the fine.

The magistrate ordered that he should pay the fine.

5.           Make me a cup of tea, shall you?

Make me a cup of tea, will you?

6.           You may speak politely to the elders.

must speak politely to the elders.

7.           You will get your teeth cleaned at least once a year.

You must get your teeth cleaned at least once a year.

8.           We could grow vegetables in our kitchen garden but we don’t do it now.

We can grow vegetables in our kitchen garden but we cannot do it now.

9.           Must I get your jacket? The weather is cold.

May / Can I get your jacket? The weather is cold.

10.      Could the train be on time?

Will the train be on time?

C. Read the dialogue and fill in the blanks with suitable modals.

Dad: Shall we go out for dinner tonight?

Charan: Yes, Dad. We shall go to a restaurant where I will have some ice cream.          

Dad: OK. Then, I will be home by 7 p.m. Mom and you must / should be ready by then.

Charan: Sure. We will. My friend told me that there is a magic show nearby. Would you please take us there?

Dad: We may not have time to go for the magic show, I suppose. If we have enough time left, we would / will plan.

Charan: By the way, need we inform our gate keeper about our outing?       

Dad: Yes, we need so that he will be aware we aren’t at home.        

Charan: Shall / Need I call up Mom and tell her about our plan today?

Dad: You need to. Otherwise, we might be in trouble when she returns home.

Charan: Hmm… by the time you come home in the evening, we will be waiting for you. Hope you will not / won’t be late. Bye.

D. Read the following dialogues and supply appropriate modals.

Student : Can we leave our bags in the class during the break?

Teacher: Yes, you can but arrange them neatly.

Passenger: My child is 6 years old. Do I have to buy him a ticket?

Conductor: Yes, you should. It costs half of the price of an adult ticket.

Vani: Can we go for coffee after the meeting?

Yoga: No, I can’t. I have to go home.

Salesman: When will I receive my order?

Customer: I cannot assure you sir, the order will be delivered tomorrow.

Neela: Do you think I should write about my educational background in the resume?

Preethi: Yes, you should . You would get a better job.

Imagine you have been to Thanjavur recently. Based on your experience and the data given below about Thanjavur, suggest and guide your friend who wishes to visit Thanjavur and places nearby, using modals in your sentences.

 Answer:

1.  You can also go to Thiruvaiyaru which is famous for classical music.

2.   I would suggest you to go to Kallanai Dam.

3. You would be happy to visit Poondi Basilica noted for its scenic beauty around.

E. Here are a few sentences already done for you. The clues given would be helpful to  make more sentences on your own.

1.    I would suggest that you take the Uzhavan Express to Thanjavur from Chennai.

2.      You will be more comfortable if you could book 3 tier A/C.

3.    You could enjoy Brihadeeswarar Temple (Big temple) ..

4.    You should visit Saraswathi Mahal (Library) at the palace.  

5.    You mustn’t miss miss the museum.

6.    You can buy art plates and paintings there.

7. You could enjoy the palace there..

8. You can also go to Thiruvaiyaru which is famous for classical music..

9. I would suggest you to go to Kallanai Dam..

10.  You would be happy to visit Poondi Basilica noted for its scenic beauty around..

Active and Passive

In Class IX, we have already learnt about Active and Passive Voices. Now, we shall learn some more forms of the voice.

F. Change the following sentences to the other voice.

1.           The manager appointed many office assistants.

Many office assistants were appointed by the manager.

2.           You are making a cake now.

A cake is being made by you now.

3.           That portrait was painted by my grandmother.

My grandmother painted that portrait.

4.           Malini had bought a colourful hat for her daughter.

A colourful hat had been bought by Malini for her daughter.

5.           They have asked me to pay the fine.

I was asked to pay the fine by them.

6.           The militants were being taken to prison by the police.

The police was taking the militants to prison.

7.           His behaviour vexes me.

I am vexed by his behavior.

8.           Rosy will solve the problem.

The problem will be solved by Rosy.

9.           Our army has defeated the enemy.

The enemy has been defeated by our army.

10.      The salesman answered all the questions patiently.

All the questions were answered patiently by the salesman.

Passive Voice – Request

In Active Voice, a request begins with 'Please'. When we change a request from Active to Passive Voice, we should begin the sentence with ‘You are requested to’ in place of 'Please'. If the request is in negative form, the request in passive voice should begin with ‘You are requested not to’.

(e.g.) 1. Please assemble in the ground. (Active)

You are requested to assemble in the ground. (Passive

2. Please do not use mobile phones here. (Active)

You are requested not to use mobile phones here. (Passive)

Passive Voice – Advice

When we change an advice from active to passive voice, we should begin the sentence with ‘You are advised to’. If the advice is in negative form, it should begin with ‘You are advised not to’.

(e.g.) 1. Work hard (Active)

You are advised to work hard. (Passive)

Do not eat junk food. (Active)

You are advised not to eat junk food. (Passive)

Similarly, you can also use the following  for other imperatives.

 You are instructed to …

You are instructed not to …

 You are ordered to …

You are ordered not to …

Passive Voice – Omitting the agent

In the sentences beginning with someone/no one, omit the ‘agent’ (subject) in the passive voice.

(e.g.) 1.  Somebody has taken away my book. (Active)

My book has been taken away. (Passive)

2. No one has bought the tickets. (Active)

The tickets have not been bought. (Passive)

(Add ‘not’ to the verb for nobody, none, no one)

Passive Voice – Interrogatives

When sentences are changed to Passive, they begin with a verb (in ‘Yes/ No’ questions) or with a question word followed by the verb (in ‘Wh’ questions).

a. Questions beginning with Auxiliary verbs

(e.g.) 1. Did he write a letter? (Active)

Was  a  letter  written  by  him? (Passive)

2. Is he watching us? (Active)

Are we being watched by him? (Passive)

b. Questions beginning with ‘wh’ words

(e.g.) 1. Who will accept this? (Active)

By whom will this be accepted? (Passive)

2. Who has arranged this meeting? (Active)

By whom has this meeting been arranged? (Passive)

3. When will you finish the building? (Active)

When will the building be finished by you? (Passive)

(the agent ‘by you’ is optional)

4. How did they do this? (Active)

How  was  this  done  by  them? (Passive)

(the agent ‘by them’ is optional)

G. Change the following into Passive voice.

1.           Please call him at once.

Let him be called at once. (or) You are requested to call him at once.

2.           How did you cross the river?

How was the river crossed by you?

3.           No one is borrowing the novels from the library.

The novels are being borrowed by no one from the library.

4.           Will you help me?

Will I be helped by you?

5.           Go for a jog early in the morning.

You are instructed to go for a jog early in the morning.

6.           Why have you left your brother at home?

Why has your brother been left at home by you?

7.           Nobody should violate the rules.

The rules should be violated.

8.           Someone has to initiate it immediately.

It has to be initiated immediately.

9.           Have you invited Raman to the party?

Has Raman been invited by you to the party?

10.      Please do not walk on the grass.

You are requested not to walk on the grass.

11.      Cross the busy roads carefully.

You are advised to cross the busy roads carefully. (you can also use instructed)

12.      When will you book the tickets to Bengaluru?

When will the tickets to Bengaluru be booked by you?

Note: We need not mention Indefinite subjects in passive voice

Some Indefinite Subjects are…….

anyone : no one

any body : no body

every one : some one

every one : some body

H. In the following sentences the verbs have two objects namely Direct and Indirect objects. Change each of the following sentences into two passives using direct object as the subject in one and indirect in the other.

1. John gave a bar of chocolate to Jill.

a: Jill was given a bar of chocolate by John.

b: A bar of chocolate was given to Jill by John.

2. Pragathi lent a pencil to Keerthana.

a. Keerthana was lent a pencil by Pragathi.

b. A pencil was lent to Keerthana by Pragathi.

3. Sudha told the truth to her friend.

a. Sudha’s friend was told the truth by Sudha.

b. The truth was told by Sudha to her friend.

4. They offered the job to Venkat.

a. Venkat was offered the job by them.

b. The job was offered by them to Venkat.

5. The boss showed the new computer to Kaviya.

a. Kaviya was showed the new computer by the boss.

b. The new computer was showed to Kaviya by the boss.

I. Rewrite the following passage in Passive Voice.

A few days ago, someone stole Ambrose’s motorbike. Ambrose had left it outside his house. He reported the theft to the police. The police told him that they would try to find his motorbike. This morning, they found his motorbike. The police called Ambrose to the police station. The thieves had painted it and then sold it to someone else. The new owner had parked the motorbike outside a mall when the police found it. After an enquiry, the police arrested the thieves.

Answer

A few days ago, Ambrose’s motor bike was stolen. It had been left by Ambrose outside his house. The theft was reported by him to the police. He was told by the police that (the matter of) finding his motorbike would be tried by them. This morning his motorbike was found by them. Ambrose was called by the police, to the police station. It had been painted by the thieves, and it was sold. The motorbike had been parked by the new owner, outside a mall when its was found by the police. After an enquiry, the thieves were arrested by the police.

J. Write a recipe of your favourite dish in passive voice. Remember to list out the ingredients of the dish you have chosen and their quantity. Use Simple Present tense to write your recipe.

Carrot Kheer

Ingredients

¼ Kg of the carrot taken.

200 gms of sugar taken.

100 gms of cashew nuts

2 no elaichi (cardamom)

50 gms of ghee

Carrots are scrapped and cooked for 3 minutes. The boiled carrots are mashed nicely. The mashed carrots are taken in a pan. Simmer over low flame, 200 gms of sugar and 250ml of milk is added and stirred well. The cashew nuts and elaichi are roasted and added to the mix. The mixture is stirred again well still sugar gets dissolved properly. Now the ghee is added and stirred. Finally the carrot kheer is ready to be served.

K. Write a report of an event held at your school using Passive voice. Use Simple Past Tense to narrate the event.

National Science Day

Mahendra Varman R

28^th Feb, 2020

The National Science Day was celebrated in our school. It was presided over by the Principal of Government college, Chennai. The welcome speech was delivered by our Head master. A debate about the cause for the global warming was conducted. Many exhibits were displayed. The vote of thanks was delivered by the school pupil leader. Finally National Anthem was sung and the programme was concluded.