Dear Students, Our today’s topic in English Grammar series is ‘use if/unless’. If and unless are used for conditions in the statements. Unless means if…not.
Look at the sentences carefully and observe how we have changed from one sentence to another.
‘USE Unless’
If you do not work hard, you will fail. Ans: Unless you work hard, you will fail.
If you work hard, you will pass. Ans: Unless you work hard, you will not pass.
If you work hard, you will not fail. Ans: Unless you work hard, you will fail.
If you do not work hard, you will not pass. Ans: Unless you work hard, you will not pass.
If you do not pay your bill, Your electricity will be cut. Ans: Unless you pay your bill, your electricity will be cut.
‘USE If‘
List will not be considered unless the nominated site was first included on the Tentative List. Ans: List will not be considered if the nominated site was not first included on the tentative list.
You will never know unless you try. Ans: You will never know if you do not try.
I feel sure enough to take her to Chinon unless you stop me. Ans: I feel sure enough to take her to Chinon if you do not stop me.
I couldn’t possibly eat anything more unless they had some of those giant asparagus. Ans: I couldn’t possibly eat anything more if they had not some of those giant asparagus.
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Our today’s topic is ‘use able to and unable to’. Able to / Unable to is an important grammar lesson which is frequently asked in the Maharashtra board exams.
so Lets start with the lesson.
First we have to remember the rules of helping verb for using able to and unable to.
Can : is, am, are able to
Can not : is not, am not , are not able to / is , am, are unable to
Could : was, were able to
Could not: was not, were not able to / was, were unable to
Examples:
1. I can do it tomorrow. Explanation: Here, can is used so we will remove can and according to the above rule we have to use is, am, are and then able to. Since Subject of the sentence is I and we use ‘am’ for the subject I, the answer of the sentence will be : Ans: I am able to do it tomorrow.
Use the explanation above to change the following sentences.
2.She can work hard. Ans: She is able to work hard.
3.They can not play well in the game. Ans: They are not able to play well in the game.
4. I could manage well enough Ans: I was able to manage well enough.
5. I knew I could not afford caviar. Ans: I knew I was unable to afford caviar.
6. She could not read, and it terrified her Ans: She was unable to read and it terrified her.
7. It is possible for her to join us for tomorrow’s party. Ans: She can join us for tomorrow’s party.
8. It is possible for us to play cricket tomorrow. Ans: We can play cricket tomorrow
9. Hawking could not attend a conference in Arizona. Ans: Hawking was unable to attend a conference in Arizona.
10. An old and experienced Cuban fisherman could not catch any fish for eighty-four days. Ans: An old and experienced Cuban fisherman was unable to catch any fish for eighty-four days.
11. Police and judges can not protect our children. Ans: Police and judges are unable to protect our children.
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In an interview to a media channel, Education minister of Maharashtra government confirms that Schools in Maharashtra would be reopened from November 23, 2020 for students of classes 9 to 12.
She also confirmed that Board Exams of SSC and HSC would now be conducted in May 2021.
Addressing the concerns of students and parents, Varsha Gaikwad asserted that due to covid19 pandemic, There has been a significant loss in the studies of the students and therefore it’s not possible to held exam in February or March.
Earlier Gujrat board and Andhra Board had decided to postpone the Class 10,12 Board Exams 2021 to a later date.
Gaikwad pointed out that the students have not had any physical classes this year. She also said that normally the exams are conducted earlier. The State Government, hence, would want to conduct classes first. Also, there are no alternatives and that the Maharashtra SSC, HSC board examinations 2021 should be postponed.
Maharashtra Government has already reduced the syllabus for SSC and HSC examinations by 25 per cent to compensate for the time lost. While online classes are being conducted, the reopening of schools, especially for senior classes is being seen as important, especially from the perspective of board examinations.
Details guidelines and SOPs regarding reopening of schools in the state from Nov 23 is expected to be released soon. As per the central guidelines, as released by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, attendance for students would be strictly voluntary and with written consent from the parents.
Though, Although and Even though are used to express contrast ideas in the sentence.
While for normal contrast we use though or although, we use even though for the sentences where there are high contrasts in the sentence.
Though and although are the same in meaning.
Remove ‘but’ and use comma(,) at the place of but while using though or although in the sentence.
Use though, although, even though as per the instruction in the question given.
Examples:
1. The hermit listened to the king but said nothing. (use Though) Ans: Though The hermit listened to the king, he said nothing.
2. You are fortunate and yet you cannot understand your fortune.(use Though) Ans: Though You are fortunate, you can not understand your fortune.
3. I was only 15, but an experienced and fairly successful hand. (use Though) Ans: Though I was only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand.
4. He is strong, but he is timid (use Although) Ans: Although he is strong, he is timid.
5. He was very tired but completed the work. (use Though) Ans: Though he was very tired, he completed the work.
6. The policemen ran fast, but couldn’t catch the thief. (use Although) Ans: Although the policemen ran fast, they couldn’t catch the thief.
7. She was 40 years old but looked younger. (use Although) Ans: Although She was 40 years old, she looked younger.
8.I love you a lot, but can’t marry you. (use Although) Ans: Although I love you a lot, I can’t marry you.
9. we don’t agree but I think she’s a brilliant speaker. Ans: Even though we don’t agree, I think she’s a brilliant speaker.
10. CSK played very badly but still won the match. Ans: Even though CSK played very badly, They still won the match
The poem, ‘the height of ridiculous’ is based on the happy mood of the poet that shows his happiness
The poem is a humorous one written for enjoyment, with plenty of funny expressions. The main purpose of the poet is to simply entertain the reader.
Word meaning
Ridiculous : Too funny to believe
Merry : cheerful and lively
Exceeding: be greater in number or size than
Queer : strange , Odd
Albeit : though
sober : clear headed, Serious
Slender: slim, lean
trifling jest : a small simple joke, of no Importance
Grin : smile broadly
Chuckling : laugh quietly
Tumbled : having fallen or collapsed
Wretched: in a very unhappy or unfortunate state.
There’ll be the devil to pay: There will be a huge amount of trouble
Appreciation
The poem “The Height of the Ridiculous’ is by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is abcb. There are many figures of speech, like Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, Tautology, Alliteration, etc. but the one that stands out is Transferred Epithet. In the line Ten days and nights, with sleepless eye’, the adjective ‘sleepless’ should be for the man and not for the eye.
The poem is a humorous one written for enjoyment, with plenty of funny expressions. The main purpose of the poet is to simply entertain the reader.
Figures of speech
Lines
Figures of Speech
Explanation
In wondrous merry mood
Tautology
Here, The words wondrous and merry mean the same thing.
They were so queer, so very queer.
Repetition
Here, The word ‘queer’ is repeated two times for poetic effect.
And saw him peep within
Tautology
Here, The words saw and peep means the same thing.
The grin grew broad.
Alliteration
Her, The sound ‘g’ is repeated twice for poetic effect.
And shot from ear to ear
Hyperbole
Here, the wideness of the grin is exaggerated to show that servant found the poem to funny.
He broke into a roar
Onomatopoeia
Here, the word roar denotes the sound of laughter.
Ten days and nights with sleepless eye
Transferred Epithet
Here the eye has not bee said to be sleepless. The adjective or the modifier ‘sleepless‘ describes the type of eye the speaker has been experiencing
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Other poems from the textbook of SSC Maharashtra Board
Social responsibility of business organisation towards employees
The survival and success of an organization largely depend on the efficiency of its workforce.
Social responsibility of business organizations towards employees can be briefly explained as follows:
1. Job Security : The organisation should provide job security to its employees. The workers should not be kept temporarily for a long time. They must be given permanent jobs. Keeping workers temporarily is an insult to the workers and they may not be willing to work with commitment and dedication.
2. Monetary Factors: Workers should be paid adequate wages and other incentives like a bonus, medical allowance, travelling allowance, etc. Prompt payment often results in higher motivation to the workforce. There should be increment and revision in wages.
3. Working Conditions: The workers should be provided with good working conditions. There should be adequate lighting and ventilation. Noise, dirt and dust pollution should be avoided. There should be proper working hours with rest pauses.
4. Healthy and Safety Measures: The company should take adequate measures to protect the health of its employees. They should be provided with canteen facilities and medical facilities. Proper maintenance of machines and building must be done to prevent accidents.
5. Proper Personnel Policies: There must be proper personnel policies in respect of transfers, promotions, recruitment, training, etc. For instance, there should be sound promotion policy. 1. Promotion by Seniority at lower levels. 2. Promotion by Merit at higher levels.
6. Grievance Procedure:There should be a proper grievance procedure to handle employees complaints. Any complaint of the employee must be immediately sorted by following a suitable grievance procedure.
7. Employees Welfare: Large Organizations must provide proper welfare facilities to the employees such as : * Canteen facilities * Creche facilities * Recreation facilities * Restrooms
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The poem ‘Night of the Scorpion’ is written by Nissim Ezekiel. It is about an old incident of the poet’s life that he still remembers.
The poem is about a night when a scorpion bit his mother and how it exposed the superstitions of the villages and tried to do all irrational things rather than helping her. It also beautifully expresses love as a mother for her child at the end of the poem.
Watch this video to understand the poem. Go through the word meanings, Appreciation and Figures of speech. It covers everything that you need for your board exams.
Word meaning
Stung : bite
Steady : Constant
Diabolic : Showing wickedness typical of a devil.
Peasants : farmers, Villagers
buzzed: To whisper;
Diminished : to become smaller.
Groaning: moan, making unpleasant sound
Sceptic : Someone who is undecided as to what is true and enquires after facts.
Rationalist : Logical, a person who bases their opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response
groaning : a mournful sound conveying pain or grief
sceptic : one who doubts general beliefs
rationalist: a person who believes in reason and knowledge than opinion and belief
incantation : the chanting of words that claim to have magical power
Appreciation
The poem ‘Night of the Scorpion’ is by Nissim Ezekiel
The poem is written in free verse without any rhyme scheme metre. There are many figures of speech e.g. Onomatopoeia- ‘and buzzed the name of God a hundred times’. Here, we feel we can actually hear the buzzing of the prayers of the many peasants. The other figures of speech are Metaphor, Simile, Alliteration, Antithesis etc.
The poem depicts not only the superstitions of the peasants but also the selflessness and unconditional love of a mother who is stung by a scorpion. It also explains the care and affection of the villagers and their efforts to comfort the pain of the mother.
Figures of speech
Parting with his poison – flash Figures of speech: Alliteration Explanation: Here, the sound P is repeated twice for poetic effect.
he risked the rain again. Figures of Speech: Alliteration Explanation: Here, the sound R is repeated twice for poetic effect.
The peasants came like swarms of flies. Figures of Speech: Simile Explanation: Here, there is a direct comparison between the swarm of flies and peasants.
and buzzed the name of god a hundred times. Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia Explanation: Here, the word ‘buzzed’ denotes a whispering sound cause by many peasants.
To paralyse the evil one. Figures of Speech: Metaphor Explanation: Here, Evil is indirectly compared to the scorpion.
with candles and with lanterns. Figures of Speech: Repetition Alliteration: Here, the word with is repeated for poetic effect.
More figures of speech from this chapter will be updated later.
Question and Answers
What does the phrase ‘to paralyse the evil’ mean in stanza 3? Ans: The phrase ‘to paralyse the evil’ means to stop the scorpion’s venom from spreading throughout the body of the poet’s mother.
Who are ‘they’ in stanza 4? Ans: In stanza 4 they mean “Peasants”.
Whom does the word ‘him’ refer to in line no 3? Ans: Him refers to the scorpion in line no 3.
Why does the poem begin with the poet’s remembering the night? Ans: This poem is about how the scorpion stung the poet’s mother and the mother’s love for her children. … The speaker specifically remembers this night due to this event- namely, the mother getting bitten.
What forced the scorpion to take shelter in the poet’s house? Ans: Ten hours of steady rain forced the scorpion to take shelter in the poet’s house.
When did the mother find relief? Ans: After twenty hours of suffering in pain, the poison finally subsided, and the mother got relief.
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Other poems from the textbook of SSC Maharashtra Board
The poem “All the World’s a Stage” has been penned by William Shakespeare.
This poem is taken from his play ‘As you like it’. Here he compares the world to a stage, where the drama of human life is enacted
Watch this video to understand the poem. Go through the word meanings, Appreciation and Figures of speech. It covers everything that you need for board exams.
Word meaning
merely: only, simply players: actors infant: newborn baby Mewling: cry feebly puking: Vomiting whining: complaining satchel: Bag furnace: heater woeful ballad: miserable song oaths: promises pard: leopard bubble reputation: short fame cannon’s mouth: facing great danger to life. with good capon lined: with excess fat from careless eating habits severe: hard saws: sayings instances: examples, cases youthful hose: Closefitting covering for legs shrunk: to become smaller, narrowed shank: leg treble: three times weaker Second childishness: a return to the helpless, ignorant state of the child. oblivion: the state of being unaware sans: without
Appreciation
The poem All the World’s a Stage’ by William Shakespeare taken from Shakespeare’s play ‘As you like it. It is a monologue (a loud speech to oneself) by one of the characters in the play.
The poem is written in blank verse i.e. there is no rhyme scheme. but there is a steady rhythm of five beats (i.e. iambic pentameters each line. There are many figures of speech, like Simile, Alliteration and Repetition, but the one that stands out is Metaphor. In the lines, All the world’s a stage, And all men and women are merely players there is an implied comparison between two different things.
In this poem, Shakespeare compares life to a stage. He has divided life into seven stages each having its own varied qualities and features. The theme of the poem is the cycle of life. It tells us how one starts out as an infant, helpless, without understanding and ends the same way, without being aware of what is happening around one.
Figures of speech
All the world’s a stage. Figures of Speech: Metaphor Explanation: Here, The poet has indirectly compared the world to the stage of the theatre.
And all the men and women are merely players. Figures of Speech: Alliteration Explanation: Here, the sound of a is repeated for poetic effect.
And one man in his time plays many parts. Figures of Speech: Inversion Explanation: Here, the order of the words has been changed. The correct order is “And one man plays many parts in his time”.
They have their exits and entrances. Figures of Speech: Metaphor Explanation: Here, The poet has indirectly compared deaths and life to exits and entrances.
At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia Explanation: Here, The word mewling denotes the sound of the cry of an infant.
creeping like a snail Figures of Speech: Simile Explanation: Here, the Poet has used a direct comparison between the schoolboy and snail.
Sighing like a furnace Figures of Speech: Simile Explanation: Here, the Poet has used a direct comparison between the deep breath and furnace.
Sighing like a furnace Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia Explanation: Here, the word sighing denotes the sound of a lover’s deep breath which is similar to that of the furnace.
Sighing like a furnace with a woeful ballad Figures of Speech : Transferred epithet Explanation: The epithet ‘woeful’ has been transferred from the lover to the ‘ballad’.
with eyes severe and beard of formal cut. Figures of Speech: Inversion Explanation: Here, the order of the words has been changed for poetic effect. The correct order is “with severe eyes and formal cut beard.”.
His youthful hose well saved a world too wide. Figures of Speech: Transferred Epithet. Explanation: Here, the epithet “youthful” has been transferred from the old main to hose.
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. Figures of Speech: Repetition Explanation: Here, the word ‘sans’ has been repeated for poetic effect.
Question and Answer
What do exits and entrances refer to? Ans: The term exits and entrances refer to death and birth.
Why is reputation like a bubble? Ans: Reputation is like a bubble because one does useless things to create one’s reputation but it is short-lived can burst like a bubble.
Details about seven stages of Man’s life :
Age Of Man
Role
Qualities/Action
1
Infant
1. Crying 2. puking in the nurse’s arms.
2
Schoolboy(childhood)
1. Shining morning face 2. Unwilling to go to school
3
Lover(teenage)
1. Sighing like a furnace because of being in love. 2. write a woeful ballad for his mistress.
4
Soldier(Young Man)
1. bearded like a leopard 2. seeking the bubble reputation.
5
Justice(Middle aged man)
1. fair round belly, severe eyes and formal cut beard. 2. full of wise sayings and modern instances.
6
An elderly man
1. lean, slippered pantaloon, spectacles on nose and pouch on side 2. big manly voice which turns weaker into the treble.
7
An old man
1. Second childishness, oblivion 2. lost his teeth, eye-sight, taste. lives in a state of oblivion.
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Other poems from the textbook of SSC Maharashtra Board
The poem “Animals’ has been penned by Walt Whitman.
In the poem animals, the poet says that he sometimes wants to change and become an animal because he thinks animals are far better than human beings. Poet is impressed by the calmness and the purity of the animal’s mind.
Watch this video to understand the poem. Go through the word meanings, Appreciation and Figures of speech. It covers everything that you need for your board exams.
Word meaning
turn: transform placid: not easily upset self-contained: self-sufficient sweat: (here) they tighten and become smaller condition: Situation make me sick: disgust me, disturb me, offend me demented: made, insane mania: craze, obsession, desire kneels: bow respectable: happy and satisfied tokens: qualities, virtues like(innocence, simplicity, contentment etc) evince: show, to display negligently: Carelessly
Appreciation
The poem “Animals’ has been penned by Walt Whitman.
The poet has broken away from the conventional use of a rhyme scheme and has written the poem in free verse. The chief figure of speech used in the poem is Repetition. Lines such as They do not sweat …, They do not lie awake …’, “They do not make me sick … make a strong impact, expressing the qualities that humans should possess, but do not. The other figures of speech are Alliteration, Tautology, Hyperbole, etc.
The theme of the poem is, Animals have preserved many virtues like innocence, simplicity but human beings have destroyed them over a period of time due to negligence. Animals today are better than humans, So the poet wishes to be like animals and be with them. It’s a revolutionary idea, expressed beautifully in the poem.
Figures of speech
I stand and look at them long and long. Figures of speech: Repetition Explanation: Here, the word ‘long’ has been repeated twice for poetic effect.
Figures of Speech: Tautology Explanation: Here, the words ‘sweat’ and ‘whine’ have similar meanings.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition. Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia Explanation: Here, the word whine denotes the sound of complaints made due to one’s unsatisfactory condition.
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God. Figures of Speech: Alliteration Explanation: Here, the sound of d is repeated thrice for poetic effect.
—- not one is demented with the mania of owning things. Figures of Speech: Tautology Explanation: Here, the word mania and demented mean the same thing, that is crazy.
They bring me tokens of myself. Figures of Speech: Alliteration Explanation: Here, the sound of T is repeated for poetic effect.
No one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth. Figures of Speech: Antithesis Alliteration: Here, two contrasting ideas respectable that means happy or satisfied and unhappy that means sad or dissatisfied are used in the same line.
Question and Answer
What craze do animals never display? Ans: Animals never show the craze of owning things. They are contented with their life.
What could have happened to the tokens of the poet’s self? Ans : Poet’s tokens were negligently dropped by poet and which was later picked up by Animals and today the tokens that should have been in poet’s possession are now in Animals possessions.
Match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
No
Words
Meaning
(i)
Whine
Complain in an annoying way
(ii)
Sin
an offence against the religious or moral law
(iii)
evince
Show
(iv)
mania
mental illness
(v)
negligent
failing to take proper care
refer textbook page no 47 for original question.
Complete the following. (a) The poet wishes he could turn and live with animals. (b) Animals do not complain about their conditions. (c) Animals do not merely discuss their duty to god. (d) Animals are not crazy about the mania of owning things.
State whether the following statements are true or false. (a) Animals are self-reliant. Ans: True
(b) Animals quarrel for their possessions. Ans: False
(c) Animals do not worship other animals. Ans: True
(d) Humans have given up many good qualities. Ans: True
(e) Animals suffer humiliation. Ans: False
(f) The poet has retained all his natural virtues. Ans: False
With the help of the poem find the differences between animals and human beings.
Human Beings
Animals
1. Always complain about their condition
Never complain about their condition.
2. lie awake at night and weep for their sins
do not worry about their sins
3. Always dissatisfied
Never dissatisfied
4. demented with the mania of owning things
No mania of owning things
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Other poems from the textbook of SSC Maharashtra Board
Voice is divided into 2 parts : Active voice and Passive Voice.
Active voice is used when the subject performs the action stated by the verb. In an active voice, the subject comes before the action. For example, I eat pizza
Passive voice is used when the subject is acted upon by the verb. In a passive voice, the object comes before the action. For example, Pizza is eaten by me.
Big Questions: How to identify whether the sentence is in the active voice or passive voice?
Simple Answer: If a sentence follows the rules of tense, It is an active voice else it is a passive voice.
There are a total 12 tenses, out of which only 8 can be changed from active voice to passive voice.
Simple Rules to Remember Helping verb while changing the voice.
Active Voice
Passive Voice
Indefinite
Continuous
Continuous
HV + Being
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
Perfect Continuous
No Change
Modal Auxiliary verbs(Can, could, may, might, should, would,must)
Verb + be
Note: Please Note Future continuous tense can not be changed from active voice to passive voice.
So What are the 4 tenses that can not be changed from active voice to passive voice?
