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EXCISE ENGLISH CLASS 1 | By Sonia Arora Ma'am
ENGLISH WITH SONIA ARORA
Overview
This video lesson focuses on the topic of adjectives in English grammar, specifically for competitive exams like PPSC. The instructor, Sonia Arora, explains various concepts related to adjectives, including their usage, types, and common errors. The session covers determiners like 'each' and 'every', the nuances of 'few', 'a few', and 'the few', comparative and superlative degrees, and the correct placement of adjectives. The instructor uses examples from previous exam papers to illustrate the concepts and emphasizes the importance of practice and revision for achieving high scores.
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Chapters
- The video aims to cover all MCQs and questions from zero to exam level for the PPSC Excise pattern.
- Understanding today's concepts is crucial as direct questions are expected in the exam.
- Revision is essential to avoid confusion and retain concepts for the exam.
- PDFs of the sessions are available on the Sonia Arora app for revision.
This chapter sets the stage by highlighting the significance of the topic and the instructor's teaching methodology, motivating learners to pay close attention and engage actively.
The instructor mentions that students have previously scored 12 out of 12 in English, setting a target for the current students.
- 'Both' is incorrect with 'is' as it implies plurality, requiring 'are'.
- 'Any' is typically used in negative and interrogative sentences, not affirmative ones.
- 'Every' cannot be used with 'of' because it functions solely as a determiner or adjective, not a pronoun.
- 'Each' can function as both an adjective and a pronoun, unlike 'every' which is only an adjective.
This section clarifies common confusions between similar-sounding words, preventing errors in sentence construction and understanding grammatical rules.
The example 'Dash of the two sisters is coming to the party' is used to explain why 'both' or 'any' might be incorrect based on the verb and sentence structure.
- 'Much' and 'little' are used for uncountable nouns.
- 'Every' requires a singular noun following it (e.g., 'every boy', not 'every boys').
- 'Few' implies almost none, 'a few' implies a small positive quantity, and 'the few' refers to all that are available.
- All three ('few', 'a few', 'the few') are used with countable plural nouns and require a plural verb.
Understanding the subtle differences between 'few', 'a few', and 'the few' is crucial for accurately conveying quantity and meaning in sentences.
The examples 'I have few books, so I want to buy more' (implying not enough) versus 'I have a few books to read, so I do not want to buy more' (implying a sufficient small amount) illustrate the distinct meanings.
- Adjectives have three degrees: positive (fast), comparative (faster), and superlative (fastest).
- The structure 'The + comparative adjective + subject + verb, The + comparative adjective + subject + verb' is used for parallel growth or decline.
- 'Enough' can function as both an adjective (before a noun) and an adverb (after an adjective or before a verb).
- When comparing two items, the second degree of the adjective is used, often with 'than'.
This chapter delves into the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, essential for making accurate comparisons and understanding complex sentence structures.
The sentence 'The faster he completes the work given to him, the largest will be his profit' demonstrates the 'The + comparative... The + comparative' structure.
Mastering adjective order and the correct usage of 'enough' prevents awkward phrasing and ensures grammatical accuracy in descriptive sentences.
The example 'He is enough wise to understand this' is corrected to 'He is wise enough to understand this', illustrating the adverbial use of 'enough'.
- There are only two exceptions in English grammar where 'the' is used with the second degree of an adjective: when indicating parallel growth/decline or when selecting one from two.
- 'As...as' is used for positive comparisons, while 'so...as' is used for negative comparisons.
- Both 'as...as' and 'so...as' constructions always use the first degree of the adjective.
- When comparing two qualities of the same person, 'more + first degree adjective' is used, not the comparative form.
These specific grammatical rules, often tested in exams, help in constructing precise comparative statements and avoiding common errors.
The sentence 'This beautiful girl is more beautiful but not so cultured as her sister' is analyzed to explain the use of 'more' and 'as...as' in comparisons.
- Words like 'the poor', 'the rich', 'the honest' function as plural subjects when preceded by 'the' and an adjective.
- The word 'arms' (meaning charity/donations) is a plural noun and always takes a plural verb.
- Definite cardinal adjectives (like 'two') are not followed by 'of' when directly preceding a noun (e.g., 'two lakh people', not 'two lakhs of people').
- Indefinite numerical adjectives (like 'lakhs') can be followed by 'of' (e.g., 'lakhs of people').
This section clarifies the grammatical function of adjectives when used with determiners and the correct formation of plural nouns and numerical expressions.
The distinction between 'two lakh people' (correct) and 'two lakhs of people' (incorrect) is explained.
- An article ('a', 'an', 'the') is not placed before an adjective unless it is followed by a noun.
- 'Fast' can function as both an adjective and an adverb; 'fastly' is not a standard English word.
- When multiple adjectives are used, they must follow a specific order (Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose).
- Comparisons involving two qualities of the same person use 'more + adjective', not the comparative '-er' form.
Identifying and correcting common errors in adjective usage and placement is vital for constructing grammatically sound and clear sentences.
The sentence 'I saw a black small cute dog' is corrected to 'I saw a cute small black dog' based on the established adjective order.
Key takeaways
- Adjectives describe nouns and follow specific rules for placement and comparison.
- Understanding the difference between 'each', 'every', 'any', 'few', 'a few', and 'the few' is crucial for accurate sentence construction.
- The degrees of adjectives (positive, comparative, superlative) and their correct usage with articles and prepositions are essential for comparisons.
- There are specific grammatical structures ('The + comparative...', 'as...as', 'so...as') that must be used correctly for comparisons.
- Adjectives have a preferred order (OSASCOMP) when multiple adjectives modify a noun.
- Determiners and articles have specific rules for their use with adjectives and nouns.
- Recognizing and avoiding common errors, such as incorrect adjective degrees or article usage, is key to exam success.
Key terms
AdjectiveDeterminerEachEveryAnyFewA FewThe FewDegrees of AdjectivesComparative DegreeSuperlative DegreeArticlePrepositionNounAdverbOSASCOMP
Test your understanding
- What is the difference in meaning and usage between 'few', 'a few', and 'the few'?
- How does the placement of 'enough' change its grammatical function (adjective vs. adverb)?
- What is the correct order of adjectives when multiple adjectives modify a noun, and why is this order important?
- Under what specific circumstances can 'the' be used with the second degree of an adjective in English grammar?
- Explain the difference between using 'as...as' and 'so...as' in comparative sentences.