VIII Grammar 1

STD VIII GRAMMAR ASSIGNMENT

MARKS ALLOTMENT
TEXT [33]
WRITING SKILLS [14]
GRAMMAR [33]
GRAMMAR COURSE AND STYLE OF PAPER [ marks subject to minor adjustment]
Q.3.A.Transformation of sentences [without changing meaning] 10
A. Removal of the adverb too [either way]
B. Degree of comparison
C. Assertive to negative
D. Negative into assertive
E. Interrogative into assertive
F. Assertive into interrogative
G. Exclamatory into assertive
H. Assertive into exclamatory
Q.3.B. Idiomatic expression [match the idioms with meanings] 4
Q.3.C. Direct and indirect speech [sentences and dialogue] 8
Q.3.D. Kinds of sentences 3
Q.3.E. Textual grammar DO AS DIRECTED [ change the voice [MCQ], add a question tag
[MCQ] , use no sooner, hardly, as soon as, unless [MCQ] , name the parts of speech for the
underlined words [MCQ], direct into indirect speech 8
3.A. Rewrite the following sentences so as to remove the adverb too
1. It was too hot to work.
It was so hot that one could not work.
2. He is too weak to be promoted to the higher class.
He is so weak that he cannot be promoted to higher class.
3. The sun is too hot for us to go out at present.
The sun is so hot that we cannot go out at present.
4. He is too ill to go to church today.
He is so ill that he cannot go to church today.
5. The milk is too hot to drink.
The milk is so hot that it cannot be drunk.
6. He is too proud to confess his guilt.
He is so proud that he will not confess his guilt.
7. He will be too late to catch the train.
He will be so late that he will not catch the train.
8. I am afraid that this news is too good to be true.
I am afraid that this news is so good that it cannot be true.
9. He is too honest to be a successful businessman.
He is so honest that he cannot be a successful businessman.
10. I am too tired to walk any further.
I am so tired that I cannot walk any further.
11. It is never too late to mend.
It is never so late that one cannot mend.
12. He is too proud to beg.
He is so proud that he cannot beg.
13. My heart is too full for words.
My heart is so full that I cannot express my feelings.
14. He was too late to hear the first speech.
He was so late that he could not hear the first speech.
15. He is too ignorant for a postman.
He is so ignorant that he cannot be a postman.
B. Change the degree of comparison.

1. I am as strong as he. [pos]

He is not stronger than I.[comp]
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2. This razor is not as sharp as that one.[pos]

That razor is not sharper than this one. [comp]
3. Few historians write as interestingly as Joshi. [positive]
Joshi writes more interestingly than most historians.
4. No other metal is as useful as iron. [pos]
Iron is more useful than most other metals. [comp]
Iron is the most useful of all the metals. [superl]
5. Calcutta is the largest town in India. [superl]
Calcutta is larger than any other town in India. [comp]
No other town in India is as large as Calcutta.
6. Bombay is one of the richest towns in India. [super]
Bombay is richer than most other towns in India.[comp]
Very few towns in India are as rich as Bombay. [pos]
7. Abdul is as strong as his brother. [pos]
His brother is not stronger than Abdul. [comp]
8. Akbar was one of the greatest kings. [super]
Akbar was greater than most other kings.
Very few kings were as great as Akbar.
9. Some boys are as industrious as Karim. [pos]
Karim in not more industrious than some other boys.[comp]
Karim is not the most industrious boy.
10. No other bowlers in the eleven is so good as Rama.
Rama is better than any other bowler in the eleven.
Rama is the best bowler in the eleven.
11. Very few towns in India are as big as Madras.
Madras is bigger than most other towns in India.
Madras is one of the biggest towns in India.
12. No other story book is so popular as The Arabian Nights.
The Arabian Nights is more popular than any other story books.
The Arabian Nights is the most popular story book.
13. This pony is better trained than yours.
Your pony is not so well trained as this.
14. This church is the biggest in London.
No other church in London is as big as this.
This church is bigger than any other church in London.
15. This newspaper has a bigger circulation than any other morning papers.
No other morning paper has as big a circulation as this newspaper.
This newspaper has the largest circulation of all the morning papers.
16. Helen of Troy was more beautiful than other woman.
No other woman was as beautiful as Helen of Troy.
Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman.
17. Some beans are at least as nutritious as meat.
Meat is not more nutritious than beans.
18. Samudra Gupta was one of the greatest Indian kings.
Very few Indian kings were as great as Samudra Gupta.
Samudra Gupta was greater than most other Indian kings.
19. Australia is the largest island in the world.
No other island in the world is as large as Australia.
Australia is larger than any other island in the world.
20. He loves all his sons equally well.
He does not love any of his sons better than others.
C AFFIRMATIVE INTO NEGATIVE
1. I was doubtful whether it was you.
I was not sure that it was you.
2. As soon as he came, they made objections.
No sooner did he come than they he made objections.
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3. He is sometimes foolish.
He is not always wise.
4. Every man makes mistakes sometimes.
There is no man who does not make mistakes sometimes.
5. He failed to notice me when he came in.
He did not notice me when he came in.
6. This plan is practicable.
This plan is not impracticable.
7. Few women can keep a secret.
Not many women can keep a secret.
8. Everybody will admit that he did his best.
No one will deny that he did his best.
9. As soon as the police saw the policeman he ran away.
No sooner did the thief see the policeman than he ran away.
10. I was doubtful whether it was Ashok.
I was not sure that it was Ashok.
D. NEGATIVE INTO AFFIRMATIVE
1. Nobody was absent.
Everybody was present.
2. He did not live many years in India.
He lived only a few years in India.
3. No one could deny that that she was pretty.
Everyone would admit that she was pretty.
4. God will not forget the cry of the humble.
God will remember the cry of the humble.
5. I am not a little tired.
I am very tired.
6. Please do not be late for the appointment.
Please be early for the appointment.
7. He did not fail to reach in time.
He failed to reach in time.
8. None but the brave deserve the fair.
The brave alone deserve the fair.
9. There is nobody but believes in his honesty.
Everybody believes in his honesty.
10. There is no smoke without fire.
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
E. INTERROGATIVE INTO ASSERTIVE
1. Is he not a fool to do such a deed?
He is a fool to do such a deed.
2. Is not blood thicker than water?
Blood is thicker than water.
3. Can the leopard change its spots?
The leopard cannot change its spots.
4. Were we born simply to die?
We were not born simply to die.
5. Can you ever forget her kindness to us?
We can never forget her kindness to us.
6. Isnt this the house that we are going to buy?
This is the house that we are going to buy.
7. Who would not wish to be rich?
Everybody would wish to be rich.
8. Is there anything greater than love?
There is nothing greater than love.
9. When can their glory fade?
Their glory can never fade.
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F. ASSERTIVE INTO INTERROGATIVE

1. There is nothing better than a busy life.
Is there anything better than a busy life?
2. Prevention is better than cure.
Is prevention better than cure?
3. We shall never forget our national heroes.
Shall we ever forget our national heroes?
4. No one can surpass her in loveliness.
4. Who can surpass her in loveliness?
5. He was a villain to do such a deed.
5. Was he not a villain to do such a deed?
6. They are not rich enough to afford this car.
Are they rich enough to afford this car?
7. Nobody can deny that honesty is the best policy.
Who can deny that honesty is the best policy?
8. Everyone would cry when struck.
Who would not cry when struck?
9. No one can raise a house on sand.
Who can raise a house on sand?
10. No one can stand against a womans will.
Who can stand against a womans will?

G. EXCLAMATORY TO ASSERTIVE
1. O for a lodge in some vast wilderness!
I ardently wish for a lodge in some vast wilderness.
2. O what a fall was there, my countrymen!
That was a terrible fall, my countrymen.
3. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
The moonlight sleeps most sweetly upon this bank
4. What a piece of work is man!
Man is a wonderful piece of work.
5. Alas! That youth should pass away.
It is sad to think that youth should pass soon.
6. Alas! We have lost the match.
It is indeed unfortunate that we have lost the match.
7. A soldier and afraid to be death!
It is astonishing that a soldier should be afraid of death.
8. O that I had the wings of a dove!
I wish that I had wings of a dove.
9. What a horrible sight!
It is a very horrible sight.
H. ASSERTIVE TO EXCLAMATORY
1. I would give you anything to see you happy.
1. What would I not give to see you happy!
2. There was a wonderful sight.
2. Ah, What a sight was there!
3. Great things [0r wonderful things] might be done, if men were wise.
3. What might be done, if men were wise!
4. An elephant is a very wonderful creature.
4. What a wonderful creature an elephant is!
5. He manages his sword very awkwardly.
5. How awkwardly he manages his sword!
6. You have made a terrible mess of this dish.
6. What a terrible mess you have made of this dish!
7. I earnestly desire to see him.
7. If I could only see him!
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8. She dances very beautifully.

8. How beautifully she dances!
9. It was very stupid of me to forget her name.
9. How stupid of me to forget her name!
3.B . MATCH THE IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS WITH MENINGS [ TO STUDY FROM THE
TEXT BOOK]
3.C. SPEECH [FOR SENTENCES REFER FA4 ASSIGNMENT]
DIALOGUE
1 Rohan: Where will you meet me tomorrow?
Karan: I cant meet you tomorrow. Im going to Manali.
Rohan: When do you intend to return?
Karan: In a week or so.
Rohan: Please inform me when you come back.
ANSWER
Rohan asked Karan where he would meet him the next day. Karan informed him that he could
not meet him the next day as he was going to Manali. Rohan asked him when he intended to
return, Karan replied that he would return in a week or so. Rohan requested him to inform him
when he came back.

2 Attendant: Doctor, is my husband out of danger?

Doctor: He is improving but not that fast.
Attendant: How many days are required?
Doctor: It may take another two days,
Attendant: Thank you, doctor.
ANSWER
The attendant asked the doctor if her husband was out of danger. The doctor replied that he was
improving but not that fast. Showing concern, the attendant wanted to know how many days
were required. The doctor informed him that it might take another two days. The attendant
thanked the doctor for that.
3 Have you finished your lesson, George said Mr. Smith to his son.
No father, replied George, hanging down his head.
Why not, my son?
Because it is so difficult, father, I am sure I shall never learn it.
ANSWER
Mr. Smith asked his son George whether he had finished his lesson. George, hanging down his
head replied that he had not. His father inquired why he had not. George replied that it was
so difficult that he was sure he would never learn it.

Q.3.D. IDENTIFY THE SENTENCES. [SIMPLE, COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES ]

1. Seeing a bear coming, he lay on the ground.
2. He received praise and reward.
3. You must work very hard to win the first prize.
4. We heard of her failure
5. We all know the reason of his popularity
6. We heard that he failed.
7. He is a man of his word.
8. A liar is seldom trusted.
9. He returned home at sunset.
10. He confessed his guilt.

11. He took his hat and set off.

12. The sun rose and the fog disappeared.
13. He finished his work and returned home.
14. You must not be late or you will be fined.
15. You must work hard or you will not win the first prize.
16. He is very rich, but still he is unhappy.
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17. You must confess your fault or you will be dismissed.

18. He saw a bear coming, and he lay down.
19. Either you must apologize, or you will be punished.
20. Work hard or you will fail.

21. When he finished his work, he went out to play.

22. People who work hard prosper in the world.
23. We saw the place where Tagore was born.
24. This is the place where the rebels meet.
25. He ran that he might catch train.
26. I appointed him because you recommended him.
27. If you spare the rod, you spoil the child.
28. I have found the pen that I had lost.
29. He is more a preacher than a poet.
30. When he heard the news, he set off.

Q.3.E. TEXTUAL GRAMMAR

LESSON 1 WRITING ABOUT WRITING
TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES ]
Exercise no 1 Change the voice
1. He looked at the fence [change the voice]
A] The fence is being looked at by him.
B] The fence were looked at by him.
C] The fence was being looked at by him.
D] The fence was looked at by him.
2. I will get the water. [change the voice]
A] The water should be got by me.
B] The water will be got by me.
C] The water would be got by me.
D] The water can be got by you.
3] She wont hurt you. [change the voice / begin with You]
A] You wont be hurt by her.
B] You wont have been hurting her.
C] You wont be hurting her.
D] You wont hurt her.
4. He looks at it.
A] It is looked at by him.
B] It is being looked at by him.
C] It has been looked at by him.
D] Let it be looked at by him.
5. He took the plaything.
A] The plaything had been taken by him.
B]The plaything is taken by him.
C] The plaything was taken by him.
D] The plaything is being taken by him.
6. Ben was eating an apple.
A] An apple was being eaten by Ben.
B] An apple will be eaten by Ben.
C] An apple had been eaten by Ben.
D] An apple is being eaten by Ben.
7. He was making noises like those of a big river boat.
A] Noises like those of a big river boat are being made by Ben.
B] Noises like those of a big river boat have been made by Ben.
C] Noises like those of a big river boat had been made by Ben.
D] Noises like those of a big river boat were being made by Ben.
8. Tom is moving his brush.
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A] Toms brush is being moved by him.

B] Toms brush was being moved by him.
c] Toms brush had been moved by him.
D] Toms brush has been moved by him.
9. Ben watched it.
A] Let it be watched by Ben.
B] It was watched by Ben.
C] It must be watched by Ben.
D] It is watched by Ben.
10. Paint the fence.
A] The fence is being painted.
B] The fence had to have been painted.
C] Let the fence be painted by you.
D] Let you paint the fence.
LESSON 3 CHANGE THE VOICE.
11. We passed the orders properly.
A] The orders were passed properly by us.
B] The orders are passed properly by us.
C] The orders had been passed properly by us.
D] The orders were being passed properly by us.
12. The orders were passed only to complete the formalities.
A] They passed orders only to complete the formalities.
B] They were passing the orders only to complete the formalities.
C] They had been passing the orders only to complete the formalities.
D] They will pass the orders only to complete the formalities.
13. Use of the parking zone is mostly limited to the employees of the corporation and a few nearby
banks.
A] They limit the use of the parking zone to the employees of the corporation and a few nearby
banks.
B] They have been limiting the use of the parking zone to the employees of the corporation and a few
nearby banks.
C] They have limited the use of the parking zone to the employees of the corporation and a few
nearby banks.
D] They limited the use of the parking zone to the employees of the corporation and a few nearby
banks.
14. The parking areas were constructed on a build-operate-transfer basis.
A] They constructed the parking areas on a build-operate-transfer basis.
B] They construct the parking areas on a build-operate-transfer basis.
C] They have constructed the parking areas on a build-operate-transfer basis.
D] They had been constructing the parking areas on a build-operate-transfer basis.
ADD A QUESTION TAG
LESSON 1
1. A deep sadness settled upon his heart.
A] doesnt it? B] couldnt it? C] hadnt it? D] didnt it?
2. She wont hurt you
A] would she? B] wont she? C] wouldnt she? D] will she?
3. You should not be afraid of her.
A] should you B] shouldnt you? C] wouldnt you? D] would you?
4. Tom keeps on working.
A] didnt he? B] dont he? C] doesnt he? D] cant he?
5. He would shout loudly.
A] should he? B] shouldnt he? C] wouldnt he? D] wouldnt you?
6. Jim was singing happily.
A] isnt he? B] werent he? C] was he? D] wasnt he?
7. His hands moved more slowly.
A] did they? B] didnt his hands? C] dont they? D] didnt they?
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8. Aunt Polly talks about it.

A] doesnt Aunt Polly? B] Does she? C] does Aunt Polly? D] doesnt she?
LESSON 3 ADD A QUESTION TAG
7. We passed the orders properly.
A] couldnt we? B] did we? C] didnt we? D] hadnt we?
8. It is not our job to police the streets.
A]is it? B] isnt it? C] was it? D] wasnt it?
9. Rainak Bazaar and Dilkusha Market with their narrow lanes and heavy vehicular flow have
turned into a nightmare for the shoppers.
A] had they? B] havent they? C] didnt they? D] have they?
LESSON 1
EXERCISE NO.3 USE No sooner, hardly, as soon as, unless
1. He came close to Tom and stopped. [no sooner]
A] No sooner did he come closely to Tom than he stopped.
B] No sooner did he stop than he came close to Tom.
C] No sooner does he come close to Tom than he stops.
D] No sooner did he come close to Tom than he stopped.
2. Soon the other boys would come and laugh at him. [no sooner]
A] No sooner would the other boys come then they would laugh at him.
B] No sooner would the other boys come than they would laugh at him.
C] No sooner would the other boys come when they would laugh at him.
D] No sooner would the other boys laugh at him than they would come.
3. He took his brush and went quietly to work. [no sooner]
A] No sooner did he take his brush then he went quietly to work.
B] No sooner did he take his brush when he went quietly to work.
C] No sooner did he take his brush than he went quietly to work.
D] No sooner did he take his brush so he went quietly to work.
4. He took his brush and went quietly to work [use hardly]
A] Hardly had he gone quietly to work than he took his brush.
B] Hardly had he taken his brush than he went quietly to work.
C] Hardly had he taken his brush then he went quietly to work.
D] Hardly had he taken his brush when he went quietly to work.
5. He came closer to Tom and stopped.[USE hardly ]
A] Hardly had he come close beside Tom than he stopped.
B] Hardly had he come closer to Tom when he stopped.
A] Hardly had he come close beside Tom than he stopped.
A] Hardly had he came close beside Tom than he stopped.
6. He took his brush and went quietly to work. [ use as soon as]
A] As soon as he took his brush when he went quietly to work.
B] As soon as he took his brush then he went quietly to work.
c] As soon as he took his brush than he went quietly to work.
d] As soon as he took his brush, he went quietly to work.
7. I will get water, if you will paint. [use unless]
A] Unless you will get water, I will paint.
B] Unless you will not paint, I will get water.
C] I wont get water unless you will paint.
D] I will get water unless you will paint.
8. If it was the fence behind the house, you could help. [ use unless]
A] Unless it was not the fence behind the house, you couldnt help.
B] Unless it was the fence behind the house, you couldnt help.
C] Unless it was the fence behind the house, you could help.
D] Unless you couldnt help it was the fence behind the house.

EXERCISE NO 3 DO AS DIRECTED [name the parts of speech for the underlined words]
1. The vehicles were parked in a haphazard manner .
A] verb B] adverb C] adjective D] preposition
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2. The Tribune visited the parking area. [type of part of speech]

A] verb B] noun C] adjective D] preposition
3. The area is very busy.
A] verb B] adverb C] adjective D] preposition
4. People do not abide by the traffic rules
A] verb B] adverb C] adjective D] preposition
5. The parking area was constructed by the Corporation
A] verb B] adverb C] adjective D] preposition
6. A passing student told this reporter.
A] verb B] adverb C] adjective D] preposition
7. We have passed the orders properly.
A] noun B] adverb C] adjective D] preposition

EXERCISE 4 Change into indirect speech LESSON 1

1. Tom said, Jim, I will get the water, if you will paint the fence.
1. Tom told Jim that he would get the water, if he would paint the fence.
2. Jim said, No, I must get the water.
2. Jim disagreed and said that he had to get the water.
3. Tom said, Jim, are you afraid of Aunt Polly?
3. Tom asked Jim if/whether he was afraid of unt Polly.
4. Ben said, Hello Tom! You are in trouble here.
Ben greeted Tom and exclaimed that he was in trouble there.
5. Ben said, Hello Tom, must you work today?
Ben greeted Tom and asked if he should work that day.
6. Tom said, Oh Ben, I did not see you.
6. Tom told Ben with regret that he had not seen him.
7. Ben said, Tom, do you mean that you enjoy it?
7. Ben asked Tom if he meant that he enjoyed it.
8. Ben said, I am going swimming now. Do you wish you could go with me?
8. Ben said that he was going swimming then and asked if he wished he could go with him.
9. Tom said, What do you mean?
9. Tom asked what he meant.
10. Tom said, Does a boy have a chance to paint a fence every day?
10. Tom asked did a boy have a chance to paint a fence every day.
11. Ben said, Tom, let me paint a little.
Ben requested Tom to let him paint a little.
12. Tom said, No, Ben, Aunt Polly wants this fence to be perfect.
12. Tom disagreed with Ben and said that Aunt Polly wanted that fence to be perfect.
WRITING SKILLS
letter writing, diary entry, story writing, poem comprehensio
EXTRA SENTENCES [FOR MORE PRACTICE.]
REMOVAL OF ADVERB TOO
1 The boy was too old for a whipping.
2 This tree is too high for me to climb.
3 He speaks too fast to be understood.
4 He is too stupid for such a difficult post.
5 She was sobbing too deeply to make any answer.
6 The fact is too evident to require proof.
7 The work is too much for any man to do single handed.
8 Her dress is too striking not to attract to attention.
9 The house is too large not to be able to accommodate everybody.
10 These fruits are so costly that I cannot purchase them.
Degree of comparison

21. It is better to starve than beg.

22. There are few districts in Pakistan so hot as Sind.
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23. He is not so strong as Bali.

24. Solomon is not wiser than he is.
25. I have never seen such a beautiful picture as this.
26. No other metal is as heavy as lead.
27. Kalidasa is the greatest of Indian poets.
C AFFIRMATIVE INTO NEGATIVE

1 Everybody will admit that he did his best.

2 As soon as the police saw the policeman he ran away.
3 I was doubtful whether it was Ashok.

D. NEGATIVE INTO AFFIRMATIVE

8. None but the brave deserve the fair.
9. There is nobody but believes in his honesty.
10. There is no smoke without fire.

E. INTERROGATIVE INTO ASSERTIVE

7. Who would not wish to be rich?
8. Is there anything greater than love?
9. When can their glory fade?

F. ASSERTIVE INTO INTERROGATIVE

8. Everyone would cry when struck.
9. No one can raise a house on sand.
10. No one can stand against a womans will.

G. EXCLAMATORY TO ASSERTIVE
7. A soldier and afraid to be death!
8. O that I had the wings of a dove!
9. What a horrible sight!

H. ASSERTIVE TO EXCLAMATORY
7. I earnestly desire to see him.
8. She dances very beautifully.
9. It was very stupid of me to forget her name.

BEST OF LUCK