English Grammar Class-X

Grammar 10 Marks

Syllabus:
 Determiners
 Tenses
 Modals
 Subject – verb concord
 Reported speech
o Commands and requests
o Statements
o Questions
The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of grammatical
items and levels of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar in context
willbe assessed through Gap Filling/ Editing/Transformation exercises. Ten out of 12
questions will have to be attempted.

Very Short Summary of Topics:

1. Determiners

Determiners are words placed before nouns to clear up what the noun refers to (e.g., which one, how many, or whose).

Types of Determiners:

• Articles: a, an (indefinite – general), the (definite – specific).
• Demonstratives: this, that (singular), these, those (plural).
• Possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
• Quantifiers: some, any, much, many, few, little, each, every.

Key Rules to Remember:

• A vs. An: Use a before consonant sounds (a European, a unit). Use an before vowel sounds (an hour, an honest man).
• Few vs. Little:
  • Few / Many = Countable nouns (e.g., books, friends).
  • Little / Much = Uncountable nouns (e.g., water, patience).
• Some vs. Any: Use some in positive sentences and any in negative/interrogative sentences.

2. Tenses

Tenses show the time when an action takes place (Past, Present, Future).

Tense Aspect	Structure	Example
Simple Present	Subject + V_1 (s/es)	She reads every day.
Present Continuous	Subject + is/am/are + V_1+ing	She is reading a book right now.
Present Perfect	Subject + has/have + V_3	She has read three chapters today.
Present Perfect Cont.	Subject + has/have + been + V_1+ing + since/for	She has been reading since morning.
Simple Past	Subject + V_2	She read a book yesterday.
Past Continuous	Subject + was/were + V_1+ing	She was reading when I arrived.
Past Perfect	Subject + had + V_3	She had read the book before sleeping.
Simple Future	Subject + will/shall + V_1	She will read the book tomorrow.

Key Rules to Remember:

• Since vs. For: Since denotes a specific point in time (since 2010, since 9 AM). For denotes a duration (for 3 hours, for 5 years).
• Past Perfect Combo: When two past actions happen, the earlier action takes Past Perfect (had + V3) and the later action takes Simple Past (V2).
  • Example: The train had left (1st action) before I reached (2nd action) the station.

3. Modals

Modals are auxiliary (helping) verbs used to express ability, permission, obligation, possibility, or advice.

• Ability: can (present), could (past).
• Permission: may (formal), can (informal).
• Possibility: may (stronger possibility), might (weaker possibility).
• Advice / Obligation: should (advice), must (strong obligation/compulsion), ought to (moral duty).

Key Rules to Remember:

• Modals are always followed by the base form of the verb (V_1). Never use V_2, V_3, or verb+ing right after a modal verb.
  • Correct: You must submit the work.
  • Incorrect: You must submitted the work.

4. Subject-Verb Concord

The verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular/plural) and person with its subject.

• Singular Subject → Singular Verb (he runs, she is)
• Plural Subject → Plural Verb (they run, we are)

Essential Rules for CBSE Class X:

1. And: Two singular subjects joined by and take a plural verb (Raman and Sita are coming).
   • Exception: If both nouns express a single idea, use a singular verb (Bread and butter is a wholesome breakfast).
2. Either…or / Neither…nor: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
   • Example: Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
   • Example: Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
3. Indefinite Pronouns:Each, every, everyone, nobody, someone always take a singular verb.
   • Example: Each of the boys was given a medal.
4. Collective Nouns: Take a singular verb when acting as one unit (The jury has reached a verdict).

5. Reported Speech (Direct & Indirect)

Reported speech is used to report what someone else said without using exact words.

General Rules for Conversion:

1. Remove quotation marks ("...") and use a connector (that, if, etc.).
2. Change of Tenses (if the reporting verb is in the past tense, e.g., said):
   • Simple Present → Simple Past
   • Present Continuous → Past Continuous
   • Present Perfect → Past Perfect
   • Simple Past → Past Perfect
   • Will → Would
   • Can → Could
   • May→ Might
3. Change of Pronouns:
   I → he/she
   we → they
   you → I/he/she/they
4. Change of Time/Place Words:
   now → then
   today → that day
   here → there
   tomorrow → the next day

Sentence Types:

• A. Statements:
  • Use connector that.
  • Direct: He said, “I am writing a letter.”
  • Indirect: He said that he was writing a letter.
• B. Commands and Requests:
  • Change reporting verb to ordered, requested, advised, or commanded.
  • Use to + V1 (infinitive) instead of that.
  • Direct: The teacher said to us, “Sit down.”
  • Indirect: The teacher ordered us to sit down.
  • Direct: She said to him, “Please help me.”
  • Indirect: She requested him to help her.
• C. Questions:
  • Change reporting verb to asked or enquired. Change question order to statement order (subject comes before the verb).
  • Yes/No Questions: Use connector if or whether.
    • Direct: He said to me, “Are you hungry?”
    • Indirect: He asked me if I was hungry.
  • Wh- Questions: Retain the Wh- word (what, where, why, how) as the connector.
    • Direct: She said to him, “Where do you live?”
    • Indirect: She asked him where he lived.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with appropriate Determiners, Modals, or Verbs.

1. There isn’t _________ (much / many) sugar left in the jar.
2. Neither of the two answers _________ (is / are) correct.
3. You _________ (must / can) follow the traffic rules strictly; it is a legal requirement.
4. Bread and butter _________ (is / are) his daily breakfast.
5. He has been living in this house _________ (since / for) ten years.

Exercise 2: Complete the following reported speech passages.

1. Direct: Father said to me, “Where are you going so late?”
   • Indirect: Father asked me ______________________________________.
2. Direct: The doctor said to the patient, “Take this medicine twice a day.”
   • Indirect: The doctor advised the patient ______________________________________.
3. Direct: Rohan said, “I have completed my science project.”
   • Indirect: Rohan said that ______________________________________.

Answer Key & Solutions

Exercise 1:

1. much (Sugar is uncountable)
2. is (‘Neither of’ takes a singular verb)
3. must (Indicates strong legal obligation)
4. is (Refers to a single combination/idea)
5. for (Refers to a duration of time)

Exercise 2:

1. Father asked me where I was going so late.
2. The doctor advised the patient to take that medicine twice a day.
3. Rohan said that he had completed his science project.