Conjunctions or prepositions

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate conjunction or preposition.
1. …………………. I had a headache, I enjoyed the movie. (Although / Even if)
2. We were late …………………. the rain. (because / because of)
3. We managed to reach on time ……………………. the rain. (because of / in spite of)
4. She went to work ……………………… her illness. (despite / because)
5. …………………… his best efforts, he could not pass the test. (In spite of / Because of)
6. The car is parked …………………….. the post office. (in front of / before)
7. I have bought a chicken …………………… Peter comes. (if / in case)
8. ……………….. he hadn’t paid the fee, they cancelled his subscription. (Since / so)
9. ………………… his stellar performance, he could not advance to the next round. (In spite of / despite of)
Answers
1. Although I had a headache, I enjoyed the movie.
2. We were late because of the rain.
3. We managed to reach on time in spite of the rain.
4. She went to work despite her illness.
5. In spite of his best efforts, he could not pass the test.
6. The car is parked in front of the post office.
7. I have bought a chicken in case Peter comes.
8. Since he hadn’t paid the fee, they cancelled his subscription.
9. In spite of his stellar performance, he could not advance to the next round.

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Mistakes with prepositions

Incorrect: He is going to home.
Correct: He is going home.
The preposition ‘to’ is not normally used with ‘home’.
Incorrect: The children have been playing since two hours.
Correct: The children have been playing for two hours.
We use ‘for’ to indicate duration. ‘Since’ is used with the starting point of action.
Incorrect: An ordinary man’s life is different from a minister.
Correct: An ordinary man’s life is different from that of a minister.
Do not omit the words ‘that’ and ‘those’ in comparisons.
Incorrect: He hit me by a stick.
Correct: He hit me with a stick.
The preposition ‘by’ shows the agent – the person who performs the action. The preposition ‘with’ shows the tool with which the action is performed.
Incorrect: I need a pen to write.
Correct: I need a pen to write with.
Incorrect: Many people died by cholera.
Correct: Many people died of cholera.
Incorrect: India has been independent for 1947.
Correct: India has been independent since 1947.
Incorrect: I am ill since three weeks.
Correct: I have been ill for three weeks.
In expressions with ‘for’ and ‘since’, we normally use the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses.
Incorrect: This paper is inferior than that.
Correct: This paper is inferior to that.
After adjectives like inferior, superior, senior and junior, we use the preposition ‘to’ instead of the preposition ‘than’.
Incorrect: This is different to that.
Correct: This is different from that. / This is different than that.

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Adjective clauses used as co-ordinate clauses

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause which serves the same purpose as an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause.
Adjective clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun or relative adverb.
Examples are given below.
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. (Here the adjective clause ‘that wears the crown’ modifies the noun head.)
Winston Churchill was a great statesman who also wrote many books. (Here the adjective clause ‘who also wrote many books’ modifies the noun statesman.)
This is the house where I was born. (Here the adjective clause ‘where I was born’ modifies the noun house.)
The reason why she did it is obvious.
Sometimes a relative pronoun may introduce a coordinate clause.
Study the example given below.
I met James who gave me this book. (= I met James and he gave me this book.)
Here the clause ‘who gave me this book’ does not identify James. It is a co-ordinate clause that can stand on its own.
Now study the example given below.
He is the boy who stole the watch.
Here the adjective clause ‘who stole the watch’ identifies and describes the noun ‘boy’. Therefore, it is an adjective clause.
More examples of ‘who’ and ‘which’ used to introduce coordinate clauses are given below.
I called James who came at once. (= I called James and he came at once.)
The prisoner was taken before the General, who condemned him to death. (= The prisoner was taken before the General and he condemned him to death.)

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When to use some and any

The words some and any are determiners. They are used to modify nouns. Some and any can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. They show an indefinite quantity or number.

• There are some mangoes on the tree. (We don’t mention the exact number of mangoes on the tree.)
• I haven’t got any money.
• She has some friends in Hong Kong.

Some and any can be used with both singular and plural nouns.

• Have you got any friends? (Here ‘any’ is used to modify the plural noun ‘friends’.)
• We haven’t got any oil. (Here ‘any’ is used with the singular uncountable noun ‘oil’.)

Some and any are used to refer to an indefinite quantity or number.
Use ‘some’ in affirmative sentences. We can use some with both countable and uncountable nouns.

• I need some oil.
• There were some boys in the class.
• I need some help.

Use ‘any’ in negative and interrogative sentences.

• She hasn’t got any friends.
• Have you got any milk?

Exceptions
Some can be used in polite requests and offers.

• Would you like some cheese? (More natural than ‘Would you like any cheese?’)
• Could I have some more rice? (Polite request)

Common expressions with some include: somebody, someone, something and somewhere. They are all used in affirmative sentences.

• I need someone to help you.

Common expressions with any include: anybody, anyone, anything and anywhere. They are all mainly used in negative sentences and questions.

• I haven’t got anything to do.
• She hasn’t got anyone to help her.

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Common similes

A simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is compared with another things. Here are some common similes in English.
As crooked as a dog’s hind leg
If somebody is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, they are dishonest.
No one will trust you if you are as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
As fat as a pig
If somebody is as fat as a pig, they are very fat.
I must start dieting. I am as fat as a pig.
As gentle as a lamb
If somebody is as gentle as a lamb, they are very gentle.
The boy is as gentle as a lamb when his parents are around.
As gruff as a bear
If somebody is as gruff as a bear, they are very unsociable.
The lady next door is as gruff as a bear. She never invites people to her home.
As hungry as a bear
When you are as hungry as a bear, you are very hungry.
The boy was as hungry as a bear when he got home from school.
As innocent as a lamb
If someone is as innocent as a lamb, they are very innocent or naïve.
Everybody loves Julie. She is as innocent as a lamb.
As meek as a lamb
If somebody is as meek as a lamb, they are very quiet or docile.
As a teenager Frieda was as meek as a lamb. I still can’t believe that she has become an aggressive business woman.
As nervous as a cat
If somebody is as nervous as a cat, they are very nervous.
She was as nervous as a cat during the interview.

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