English Grammar for Class 10

Overview

• This resource simplifies English grammar for Class 10, aiming for exam mastery.
• The approach makes complex grammar concepts easy to grasp and apply.
• It provides the core, essential information ("juice") for class 10th grammar.
• The goal is to transform grammar from a weakness into a strength.

Grammar Syllabus for Class 10

• The syllabus generally includes:
  • Tenses
  • Active and passive voice
  • Determiners
  • Models
  • Direct and indirect speech (narration)
  • Error detection
  • Subject-verb agreement

The Twist in the Syllabus

• Active/passive voice may not be explicitly in the CBSE syllabus but appears in exams through error detection.
• Error detection covers a range of topics, including prepositions and active/passive voice.

Strategy to Cover Syllabus

• Tenses are the priority because direct/indirect speech, models, and active/passive voice rely on them.
• Mastering tenses is key to covering much of the grammar syllabus.

The Three Elements of Sentences

• Sentences generally consist of subject, verb and object
  • Subject: The noun or pronoun that performs the action or is being discussed
  • Verb: The action word
  • Object: The noun or pronoun that receives the action

The Concept of Tenses

• Tenses are grammatical rules indicating the time of an action.
• Time is categorized into past, present and future.
• English requires additional rules to indicate if work is ongoing, completed, or a habit.

Divisions of Tenses

• Indefinite: Indicates uncertainty about the work
• Continuous: Indicates work is ongoing
• Perfect: Indicates work is complete
• Perfect Continuous: A combination of perfect and continuous

Present Indefinite Tense

• This tense is significant for exams as questions often originate from it.
• It is used to describe habits or routines.
• The basic structure is Subject + Verb + Object.
• "Do" and "does" are used as signifiers.
• The first form of the verb is used, with "s" or "es" added to the main verb in sentence construction.
• The addition of "s" or "es" happens when the subject is "He, She, It," a name, or a singular noun.
• For interrogative sentences, start with "Do" or "Does," followed by the subject and the main verb in its first form.
• "Does" is used with "He, She, It," names or singular nouns, and "Do" is used with the rest.

Present Continuous Tense

• The auxiliary verb indicates tense and is used with the first form of the main verb followed by "ing."
• The "ing" shows workflow

Present Perfect Tense

• Expresses completed actions.
• "Has" / "have" are the auxiliary verbs used.
• The 3rd form of the main verb is used.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• Continuous Tense shows workflow.
• Shows the time of the workflow.
• The auxiliary verb used is "Has been".
• "Since" and "For" are used along with it:
  • "For" is used with indefinite time periods, not visible on a clock (e.g., for 2 hours)
  • "Since" is used with definite times, visible on a clock (e.g., since 2 o'clock)

Past Indefinite Tense

• The 2nd form of the main verb is used, indicating a completed action.
• The auxiliary verb "Did" is used in negative sentences before "Not."
• The first form of the verb comes after "did not."
• It directly connects with direct-indirect speech, which can be easily addressed with this rule.

Error Detection

• Find the main verb form used in the sentence.
• Determine what the verb form actually should be.
• Some questions are easier than tense-related questions.
• Consider examples like "water was essential" vs. "water is essential" to differentiate past and present.
• For example, in "The autumn breeze cradle your thoughts and leaves," "cradle" indicates the present indefinite tense; using "share" would require "shares" for singular agreement.

Reported Speech

• Reported Speech is deemed relatively easy.
• Sentences spoken by someone and relayed to another require minimal changes.
• The past form needs to be used consistently, which involves changing only the tense to the past form.
• Words like now, here, this, ago, thus, today, tonight, last night, yesterday, or tomorrow will change to then, there, that, before, so, that day, that night, the previous day, and the following day, respectively.
• In interrogative sentences, if "Do" is present, start with "if" or "whether."
• If "What," "How," or "Where" is already at the beginning, use them and construct your statement.
• Example: "(what are you doing)" becomes "what I was doing" (construct from this phrase) and then write the full answer.

Determiners

• Determiners generally determine, measure, or define something

Articles (A, An, The)

• A and An:
  • Used to mention a single item.
  • "An" is used before words starting with vowel sounds like "a, e, i, o, u." -"A" is used otherwise
• The:
  • "The" is used to mention a specific item, brand, or place. -It is not used with names or countries.

Quantifiers

• Much: uncountable -Example: I love you very much
• Many: countable -Example: Many students are watching me right now.
• Fewer: countable
• Little: uncountable
• Fewer and a little:
  • Positive for both, showing presence.
• Few and a little:
  • Showing some negativity.

Others

• Each and Every:
  • Singular verb is used with these.
• This and That:
  • "This" is used for things at front.
  • "That" is used with something being talked about or not at front.
• Those:
  • Used for plural
• These:
  • Used at front
• Some: -Used like "I have some notes."
• Any:
  • Used in questions or for anything

Subject Verb Agreement

• Some words mostly use singular verbs (advice, information, furniture, etc.).
• Example: Her hair is white; the information is fake.
• Plural verbs are used with mostly plural nouns (scissors, trousers, congratulations).
• Some words mostly use singular verbs: each, either, neither, everyone.
• Example: "Each of the boys are" should be "Each of the boys was".
• Identify the words in use and then find the agreement.

Voice

• "Has been," "have been," and their forms indicate the passive voice.
• The 3rd form of the verb after these words often indicates a passive sentence.
• Focus on recognizing these words.

Models

• Show ablility

Examples:

• Can: shows ability and permission - Example: I can sing. - Asking: Can I take your pen or notebook?
• May: formality + permission
  • Mostly used in formal situations.
• Could: Could be the past tense of "can," but mostly shows a request or high possibility.
  • Used to say you can do that (high priority)
• Might: less priority or suggestion
• Should: used to suggest something to someone
  • "Must" is used if the situation is urgent.
• Must:
  • No option; very serious
  • To be more specific on something
• Has to, have to, had to: shows compulsory action or something that must be done
• Need:
  • Shows requirement of something
  • Can be used both as a model and a main verb.
  • "To" can be used as a main verb, or it can be used without it for a model.
• Would: used for request (very formal), can show past habbit, not done (mostly -Mostly used for polite request , like in restaraunt