Answers to the quiz on articles
1) We need a Daniel to judge our case. [ A proper noun that is name of an individual when takes a article it would always have an implied meaning.In this sentence it refers to the biblical character Daniel a wise person.If the above sentence was written as 'We need Daniel to judge our case.' it would refer to a person named Daniel.]So the answer for this question is both 1 and 4
2) The Bacchans have promised to visit me this weekend. [ Proper nouns those are names of individuals being generic never take the article 'the'.But we do use a 'the' to refer to a proper noun in a specific case.In this sentence we are saying from all the Bacchan families this particular Bacchan family has promised to visit me]
3) He has completed his graduation from the University of Mumbai.[ Many a time country names are eponyms;since individual names do not take an article country names that are eponyms or seem to be eponyms do not take any article.So is the case with city names,continent names,state,district names etc]
4) Save the Earth;Save life !!!!! [ earth would mean soil and the Earth refers to our planet.Since here we refer to our planet the above sentence would take the article 'the']*
5) I have already spent the few rupees left with me.[ few means not many,a few means some and the few means zero and hence the answer in the above case]
Note : * planet names do not take an article,the reason being they are all names of Roman gods and goddesses.Since individuals are named after gods and goddesses,planet names derived from the same do not take any article
The only area in the usage of Proper nouns that is normally tested in entrance exams is their use with articles.
There are two types of articles : Definite (the) and Indefinite (a,an).A noun which is specific will always take the article 'the' and the one which is generic will take either 'a' or 'an' depending on the pronunciation of the word.
Many modern grammarians feel that articles should be included as one of the parts of speech.Hence according to modern English grammar there are nine parts of speech.
Be a budding etymologist,come fall in love with words and the English language
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Vocab Quiz-II ( Greek humours)
Medicine that is allopathy was invented by the Egyptians but was studied for the first time by the Greeks.Hippocrates is called the father of modern medicine.Since medicine was studied by the Greeks most of the words related to medicine are from the Greek language.This quiz is based on the four humours that the Greeks believed the human body was made of.They felt that the imbalance among these humours led to all diseases in humans.
These humours were as follows:
Blood called as 'sang' in Greek language (words from this root: sanguine [optimistic],sanguinary[bloody],sangfroid[cold blooded],sang real [royal blood])
Yellow bile known as 'chole' in Greek language (words from this root : choleric [irritant],cholera)
Black bile known as 'melan' in Greek language (words from this root : melancholy [dejected],melanin,melodrama)
Heat known as 'phlegm' in Greek language (word : phlegmatic)
Answers to the quiz :
1) life
2) bloodshed
3) both 1 and 2
4) calm and composed
5) chole - yellow bile
These humours were as follows:
Blood called as 'sang' in Greek language (words from this root: sanguine [optimistic],sanguinary[bloody],sangfroid[cold blooded],sang real [royal blood])
Yellow bile known as 'chole' in Greek language (words from this root : choleric [irritant],cholera)
Black bile known as 'melan' in Greek language (words from this root : melancholy [dejected],melanin,melodrama)
Heat known as 'phlegm' in Greek language (word : phlegmatic)
Answers to the quiz :
1) life
2) bloodshed
3) both 1 and 2
4) calm and composed
5) chole - yellow bile
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Grammar Quiz: Common nouns
Answers
1) hundredweight [many nouns have their singular and plural alike;as,sheep,swine,bread,aircraft,pair,dozen,score,thousand]
2) passers-by [compound nouns generally form their plural by adding -s to the principal word : commanders-in-chief,coats-of-mail,lookers-on,men-of-war]
3) peoples [peoples as a common noun means a nation,while people is a collective noun]
4) crises [many nouns from foreign languages keep their plural form;one needs to be careful of their singular forms:eg criterion/criteria,basis/bases,axis/axes,radius/radii]
5) experiences [some nouns have different meanings in the singular and plural form eg advice {counsel}/advices {information},air {atmosphere}/airs {affected manners}]
Note: A noun is a name given to any entity [it is derived from a Latin word nomen].A noun has three aspects which determines its usage.These aspects are number,gender and case.We would discuss these aspects in detail with our pronouns quiz.
In the usage of common nouns the only aspect tested is number i.e.the singular and plural aspect of a noun.
1) hundredweight [many nouns have their singular and plural alike;as,sheep,swine,bread,aircraft,pair,dozen,score,thousand]
2) passers-by [compound nouns generally form their plural by adding -s to the principal word : commanders-in-chief,coats-of-mail,lookers-on,men-of-war]
3) peoples [peoples as a common noun means a nation,while people is a collective noun]
4) crises [many nouns from foreign languages keep their plural form;one needs to be careful of their singular forms:eg criterion/criteria,basis/bases,axis/axes,radius/radii]
5) experiences [some nouns have different meanings in the singular and plural form eg advice {counsel}/advices {information},air {atmosphere}/airs {affected manners}]
Note: A noun is a name given to any entity [it is derived from a Latin word nomen].A noun has three aspects which determines its usage.These aspects are number,gender and case.We would discuss these aspects in detail with our pronouns quiz.
In the usage of common nouns the only aspect tested is number i.e.the singular and plural aspect of a noun.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Vocab Quiz : Root quiz
1) good [ other words from the same prefix: euphoria,utopia,euphemism,eulogy]
2) dog [ other words from the same root : cynosure,cynophilia]
3) scared [ this can be easily confused with become stone like but in this word it is an implied meaning rather than a literal meaning.other words from the same root : petrol,petrology,petrichor]
4) pathos [meaning : feelings]
5) anthropos [meaning : mankind]
2) dog [ other words from the same root : cynosure,cynophilia]
3) scared [ this can be easily confused with become stone like but in this word it is an implied meaning rather than a literal meaning.other words from the same root : petrol,petrology,petrichor]
4) pathos [meaning : feelings]
5) anthropos [meaning : mankind]
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Grammar Quiz (usage of collective nouns)
1) The police are still looking out for the whereabouts of the fugitive.
2) The mob has gathered outside the ShivSena office.[ please not a mob is always used in a negative connotation while a crowd is a positive word]
3) The team have decided to share the burden among themselves
4) Analogy : a business of ferrets (a ferret is an albino mammal)
5) Analogy : a army/colony/swarm of ants
Note on Collective nouns
A collective noun is one identity given to a group of similiar objects.A group of similair common nouns will make a collective noun.They can take a singular or a plural verb.The verb they take depends on the activity they perform.
If they perform a collective action they would take a singular verb and would be replaced by a singular pronoun.If they perform a split action they would take a plural verb and would be replaced by a plural pronoun.
eg. The crew is in the cabin. [crew is a group of sailors;here the action they perform is collective and hence takes a singular verb]
The crew are searching every nook and cranny of the ship.[here the collective noun is performing a split action and hence the verb it takes is plural]
For more information on the history of collective nouns check this url: http://cafezika.blogspot.com/2010/02/collective-nouns.html
Additional note (a reply to the comments posted): some collective nouns do not work on the above logic.They always take a plural verb.Here are few of them : police,people,public,cattle,audience
2) The mob has gathered outside the ShivSena office.[ please not a mob is always used in a negative connotation while a crowd is a positive word]
3) The team have decided to share the burden among themselves
4) Analogy : a business of ferrets (a ferret is an albino mammal)
5) Analogy : a army/colony/swarm of ants
Note on Collective nouns
A collective noun is one identity given to a group of similiar objects.A group of similair common nouns will make a collective noun.They can take a singular or a plural verb.The verb they take depends on the activity they perform.
If they perform a collective action they would take a singular verb and would be replaced by a singular pronoun.If they perform a split action they would take a plural verb and would be replaced by a plural pronoun.
eg. The crew is in the cabin. [crew is a group of sailors;here the action they perform is collective and hence takes a singular verb]
The crew are searching every nook and cranny of the ship.[here the collective noun is performing a split action and hence the verb it takes is plural]
For more information on the history of collective nouns check this url: http://cafezika.blogspot.com/2010/02/collective-nouns.html
Additional note (a reply to the comments posted): some collective nouns do not work on the above logic.They always take a plural verb.Here are few of them : police,people,public,cattle,audience
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Grammar Quiz-1 (use of the Apostrophe)
The dog wagged its tail [ it's means it is]
I have kept the books in Keats'/Keats's bag.[though in British English only the first form is accepted;the second form is also accepted widely today provided the speaker and reader are both comfortable with the hissing sound produced in the second case]
Please call the carpenter to mend the legs of the table.[inanimate objects do not have the ability to possess and hence they never take an apostrophe]
Raj and Ravi's bakery is just round the corner.[since it is only one bakery which is owned by both of them the apostrophe goes only by one noun]
My father is staying at my sister-in-law's house.[since in compound nouns the plural is indicated by the first noun the apostrophe goes with the second noun]
Note on usage of the Apostrophe
An apostrophe is always an indicator of a word missing.
e.g. it's = it is (here the apostrophe stands for the letter 'i' missing)
I'm = I am (here it stands for a missing 'a')
2 o'clock = 2 of the clock (here it stands for a missing 'f')
Therefore in case of Advika's bag it actually means (Advika her bag).Since 'her' is a possessive pronoun an apostrophe with a noun is used to indicate a possessive case of the noun.
I have kept the books in Keats'/Keats's bag.[though in British English only the first form is accepted;the second form is also accepted widely today provided the speaker and reader are both comfortable with the hissing sound produced in the second case]
Please call the carpenter to mend the legs of the table.[inanimate objects do not have the ability to possess and hence they never take an apostrophe]
Raj and Ravi's bakery is just round the corner.[since it is only one bakery which is owned by both of them the apostrophe goes only by one noun]
My father is staying at my sister-in-law's house.[since in compound nouns the plural is indicated by the first noun the apostrophe goes with the second noun]
Note on usage of the Apostrophe
An apostrophe is always an indicator of a word missing.
e.g. it's = it is (here the apostrophe stands for the letter 'i' missing)
I'm = I am (here it stands for a missing 'a')
2 o'clock = 2 of the clock (here it stands for a missing 'f')
Therefore in case of Advika's bag it actually means (Advika her bag).Since 'her' is a possessive pronoun an apostrophe with a noun is used to indicate a possessive case of the noun.
neologism : mythonym
Hey guys this is a new word I coined on my way to a class at Andheri.I was attending a demo session by an aspirant English trainer.I asked her the meaning of eponym and she said there were words derived from mythology.That time a thought struck me: there is no word for words derived from mythology.
So I decided to coin one.The process was as follows:
synonym,antonym,toponym,eponym,acronym (are all words with some or the other meaning);so onym is a word.Since these are words coined from mythology (myhtos:story) I decided to join the two roots to derive a new word: mythonym
The details of the word are as follows:
Word: mythonym
Meaning:words derived from mythology
POS:noun
Usage:Pandora's box is an example of a mythonym.
Origin: mythos (story)+onoma (word/name)
Cheers !!!!!
So I decided to coin one.The process was as follows:
synonym,antonym,toponym,eponym,acronym (are all words with some or the other meaning);so onym is a word.Since these are words coined from mythology (myhtos:story) I decided to join the two roots to derive a new word: mythonym
The details of the word are as follows:
Word: mythonym
Meaning:words derived from mythology
POS:noun
Usage:Pandora's box is an example of a mythonym.
Origin: mythos (story)+onoma (word/name)
Cheers !!!!!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Answers to the Logic Puzzle-I
A gentleman was trying to tease a mathematician. He wanted to find out if the mathematician really knew anything. So he decided to give a puzzle the mathematician to test his knowledge.
He asked the mathematician to identify the ages of his three daughters. He gave him the following information.
1. The product of their ages is 36
The mathematician was unable to find the answer. So the gentleman gave him one more clue.
2. The sum of their ages is today’s date.
The mathematician was still unable to find the daughter’s age. So the gentleman gave him one more clue:
3. The youngest daughter has blue eyes.
The mathematician smiled and gave the answer.
Can you find the ages of the three daughters and also why the mathematician failed to give the answer after the second clue?
Also the third clue seems irrelevant but it still enabled the mathematician to give the answer. How and why?
Answer
The possibilities of getting the product of 3 nos. 36 are as follows:
• 36*1*1
• 18*2*1
• 9*4*1
• 6*6*1
• 6*3*2
• 9*2*2
• 12*3*1
The sum of their ages is today’s date:
• 36+1+1 =38
• 18+2+1=21
• 9+4+1=21
• 6+6+1=13
• 6+3+2=11
• 9+2+2=13
• 12+3+1=16
It would have been possible to get the ages if the sum of two combinations would not have been the same (13) since the mathematician knew that day’s date.
So when the third clue that the youngest one has blue eyes was given the mathematician got the answer. Reason there can be only one youngest daughter. Hence the answer (6, 6, 1)
So mathematicians do have logic was proved once again
He asked the mathematician to identify the ages of his three daughters. He gave him the following information.
1. The product of their ages is 36
The mathematician was unable to find the answer. So the gentleman gave him one more clue.
2. The sum of their ages is today’s date.
The mathematician was still unable to find the daughter’s age. So the gentleman gave him one more clue:
3. The youngest daughter has blue eyes.
The mathematician smiled and gave the answer.
Can you find the ages of the three daughters and also why the mathematician failed to give the answer after the second clue?
Also the third clue seems irrelevant but it still enabled the mathematician to give the answer. How and why?
Answer
The possibilities of getting the product of 3 nos. 36 are as follows:
• 36*1*1
• 18*2*1
• 9*4*1
• 6*6*1
• 6*3*2
• 9*2*2
• 12*3*1
The sum of their ages is today’s date:
• 36+1+1 =38
• 18+2+1=21
• 9+4+1=21
• 6+6+1=13
• 6+3+2=11
• 9+2+2=13
• 12+3+1=16
It would have been possible to get the ages if the sum of two combinations would not have been the same (13) since the mathematician knew that day’s date.
So when the third clue that the youngest one has blue eyes was given the mathematician got the answer. Reason there can be only one youngest daughter. Hence the answer (6, 6, 1)
So mathematicians do have logic was proved once again
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Answers to the quiz on roots (sent to all wordoful subscribers)
1) loqu
2) ology
3) volacano
4) lexeme
5) dictographer (this word does not exist)
2) ology
3) volacano
4) lexeme
5) dictographer (this word does not exist)
difference between populace and population ......
Populace refers to people or general public.
Population would refer to the total no. of such people
In other words we can say that
people and public would be synonyms for populace while population would be a sum total of these people.
(as asked by Harit Dhariwal (Andheri A2 batch student)
Population would refer to the total no. of such people
In other words we can say that
people and public would be synonyms for populace while population would be a sum total of these people.
(as asked by Harit Dhariwal (Andheri A2 batch student)
difference between advice and advise....
This is a query asked by Harit Dhariwal (Andheri A2 student)
advice is a noun: She did not pay any heed to his advice.
advise is a verb:She advised me to sleep on time.
advice is a noun: She did not pay any heed to his advice.
advise is a verb:She advised me to sleep on time.
Neologism: another portmanteau
Hey guys,
another portmanteau I tried to create with Santacruz (A2 batch)[voted for beautelligent]
additions by the morning Churchgate batch (A3)[voted for beautigent]
a word which means both beautiful and intelligent
possible words : beauintel
beautigent
beaugent
beautelligent
beauint
beautint
The poll is still on : vote for the word you would like to use to mean the above.You can create your own word and post it in the comment section of this blog.
Please remember in a portmanteau the word that is created has to be easy to use and should reflect the origin of the word.
another portmanteau I tried to create with Santacruz (A2 batch)[voted for beautelligent]
additions by the morning Churchgate batch (A3)[voted for beautigent]
a word which means both beautiful and intelligent
possible words : beauintel
beautigent
beaugent
beautelligent
beauint
beautint
The poll is still on : vote for the word you would like to use to mean the above.You can create your own word and post it in the comment section of this blog.
Please remember in a portmanteau the word that is created has to be easy to use and should reflect the origin of the word.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
root of the word fastidious
For IIT Powai students (Com 3-5)
The root of the word fastidious:fastus (pride)+ taedium (disdain)[Latin]
Meaning: difficult to please/meticulous
Usage:•I'm normally very fastidious about citing my sources on this blog.
The root of the word fastidious:fastus (pride)+ taedium (disdain)[Latin]
Meaning: difficult to please/meticulous
Usage:•I'm normally very fastidious about citing my sources on this blog.
Answers for vocab crossword (vocab game 3):Down
1A: vertigo
2H: reverberate
3A: verbose
5C: intransigent
5Q: toxin
7C: turbulent
7N: aver
10H: protuberance
11A: iota
12G: motto
13A: urbane
13O: tenuous
15C: lock
15L: vital
17C: tutelage
17P: carnal
19G: variegated
19R: curt
20C: oust
21N: drab
22B: contravene
23L: umbrage
2H: reverberate
3A: verbose
5C: intransigent
5Q: toxin
7C: turbulent
7N: aver
10H: protuberance
11A: iota
12G: motto
13A: urbane
13O: tenuous
15C: lock
15L: vital
17C: tutelage
17P: carnal
19G: variegated
19R: curt
20C: oust
21N: drab
22B: contravene
23L: umbrage
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Answers for vocab crossword (vocab game 3)
ACROSS 6A:voracious 16A:verity
1B:ewe
5C:intractability
20C:oboe
1D:tab
5E:turbid
13E:niceties
20F:tart 7G:urn
5H:nil
10H:plod 21H:ivy 15I:vagary 2J:vision
7K:tortuous
15L:visage
2M:brunt
10M:bout
15N:tainted
1O:grin
70:vagrant
15P:lucid
2Q:tout
21Q:bag
8R:vacuous
4S:axe
15S:vanquish
11T:maul
1U:invincible
15U:volition
1B:ewe
5C:intractability
20C:oboe
1D:tab
5E:turbid
13E:niceties
20F:tart 7G:urn
5H:nil
10H:plod 21H:ivy 15I:vagary 2J:vision
7K:tortuous
15L:visage
2M:brunt
10M:bout
15N:tainted
1O:grin
70:vagrant
15P:lucid
2Q:tout
21Q:bag
8R:vacuous
4S:axe
15S:vanquish
11T:maul
1U:invincible
15U:volition
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Answers for vocab game 2 (homophones)
usage of double conjunction: scarcely...
Does scarcely take a when or before as a double conjunction pair? This is a question posted by Rajhansa Sridhara from the IIT-Powai batch.
As a double conjunction pair scarcely takes a when.But the usage with before is not incorrect.
eg. Scarcely had he reached the mountain top when/before it began to rain.
However the usage of scarcely with than is not acceptable in standard English usage.
As a double conjunction pair scarcely takes a when.But the usage with before is not incorrect.
eg. Scarcely had he reached the mountain top when/before it began to rain.
However the usage of scarcely with than is not acceptable in standard English usage.
I don't know nothing about it.....
This is a question posted by Nikhil Bale from the Dadar evening batch.Is the usage of double negation in the sentence grammatically correct.
As per standard English usage it is incorrect on the grounds of redundancy.The logic being where there is a not we do not require the word nothing.
Though this usage is quite common in movies and novels it would be inappropriate to use this in formal communication.
The correct sentence would be : I know nothing./I don't know anything.
As per standard English usage it is incorrect on the grounds of redundancy.The logic being where there is a not we do not require the word nothing.
Though this usage is quite common in movies and novels it would be inappropriate to use this in formal communication.
The correct sentence would be : I know nothing./I don't know anything.
Answers for Vocab game 1 (www.wordoful.com)
Words from the root Mis/Mit (send)
disciple/follower:missionary
aim or task to be performed:mission
projectile:missile
letter or note:missive
disciple/follower:missionary
aim or task to be performed:mission
projectile:missile
letter or note:missive
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)