GRAMMAR 12

I. Combine using so

Rule:

• When one sentence is the reason and the other is the result, we use so.

• Structure: Subject + verb + so + subject + verb.

 Examples:

1. It rained heavily. We stayed home.
    It rained heavily, so we stayed home.

2. He was tired. He went to bed early.
    He was tired, so he went to bed early.

3. The boy was ill. He could not go to school.
    The boy was ill, so he could not go to school.

4. I forgot my keys. I could not open the door.
    I forgot my keys, so I could not open the door.

5. She worked hard. She passed the exam.
    She worked hard, so she passed the exam.

6. The bus was late. We missed the train.
    The bus was late, so we missed the train.

7. He studied sincerely. He got good marks.
    He studied sincerely, so he got good marks.

8. I was hungry. I ate some food.
    I was hungry, so I ate some food.

9. She was angry. She did not talk to me.
    She was angry, so she did not talk to me.

10. It was raining. We carried umbrellas.
     It was raining, so we carried umbrellas.

 ii. Change into Positive Degree

Rule:

• Comparative: A is [adjective + er/ more] than B
   Positive: B is not as/so [adjective] as A.

 Examples:

1. Iron is heavier than wood.
    Wood is not as heavy as iron.

2. Gold is more precious than silver.
    Silver is not as precious as gold.

3. Mount Everest is higher than Kanchenjunga.
    Kanchenjunga is not as high as Mount Everest.

4. A car is faster than a bicycle.
    A bicycle is not as fast as a car.

5. Summer is hotter than winter.
    Winter is not as hot as summer.

6. English is easier than Mathematics.
    Mathematics is not as easy as English.

7. My house is bigger than yours.
    Your house is not as big as mine.

8. Today is better than yesterday.
    Yesterday was not as good as today.

9. She is more intelligent than her brother.
    Her brother is not as intelligent as she is.

10. This road is narrower than that one.
     That road is not as narrow as this one.

As soon as

No sooner … than

Hardly … had … when

1. AS SOON AS

 Rule / Structure:

As soon as + subject + verb (Present/Past), subject + verb (Future/Past).

 Shows that one action happens immediately after another.
 Common in daily English.

 

 No sooner … than
Hardly had … when

1.

As soon as she goes to the market, her friend comes home.

 No sooner does she go to the market than her friend comes home.

 Hardly had she gone to the market when her friend came home.

2.

As soon as the teacher entered, the students stood up.

 No sooner did the teacher enter than the students stood up.

 Hardly had the teacher entered when the students stood up.

3.

As soon as the rain stopped, the children went outside.

 No sooner had the rain stopped than the children went outside.

 Hardly had the rain stopped when the children went outside.

4.

As soon as I reached the station, the train left.

 No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.

 Hardly had I reached the station when the train left.

5.

As soon as the bell rang, the class became noisy.

 No sooner had the bell rung than the class became noisy.

 Hardly had the bell rung when the class became noisy.

6.

As soon as he opened the box, a mouse jumped out.

 No sooner had he opened the box than a mouse jumped out.

 Hardly had he opened the box when a mouse jumped out.

7.

As soon as I finished my work, I went to bed.

 No sooner had I finished my work than I went to bed.

Hardly had I finished my work when I went to bed.

8.

As soon as the sun set, it became dark.

 No sooner had the sun set than it became dark.

 Hardly had the sun set when it became dark.

9.

As soon as the meeting ended, the employees left the hall.

 No sooner had the meeting ended than the employees left the hall.

 Hardly had the meeting ended when the employees left the hall.

10.

As soon as I saw him, I called his name.

 No sooner had I seen him than I called his name.

 Hardly had I seen him when I called his name.

 2. NO SOONER … THAN

 Rule / Structure:

No sooner + had/did + subject + verb (past participle/base form) + than + subject + verb (past).

Inversion rule: Auxiliary verb (had/did) comes before the subject.
 Used in formal English.
 Meaning is same as “as soon as.”

Examples:

1. No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.

2. No sooner did she open the book than the phone rang.

3. No sooner had the teacher entered than the students stood up.

4. No sooner did the rain stop than the children ran outside.

5. No sooner had I sat down than the bell rang.

6. No sooner did the movie start than the lights went off.

7. No sooner had I closed my eyes than someone knocked at the door.

8. No sooner did we start eating than guests arrived.

9. No sooner had the baby slept than he woke up again.

10. No sooner did I call him than he appeared.

3. HARDLY … HAD … WHEN

 Rule / Structure:

Hardly + had + subject + past participle + when + subject + verb (past).

 Always in past tense.
 Used in formal English.
 Shows that one action happened just before another.

 Examples:

1. Hardly had I reached home when it started raining.

2. Hardly had she opened the door when the phone rang.

3. Hardly had the teacher entered when the students stood up.

4. Hardly had we begun the meeting when the electricity went off.

5. Hardly had I finished my meal when my friend came.

6. Hardly had the match started when it began to rain.

7. Hardly had I closed my eyes when the alarm rang.

8. Hardly had the baby slept when he woke up again.

9. Hardly had the train stopped when the passengers rushed out.

10. Hardly had he parked the car when it started raining.

 Quick Comparison Chart

Expression	Rule	Example
As soon as	As soon as + subject + verb, subject + verb	As soon as she opened the door, the cat ran out.
No sooner … than	No sooner + had/did + subject + verb + than + subject + verb	No sooner had she opened the door than the cat ran out.
Hardly … when	Hardly + had + subject + past participle + when + subject + verb	Hardly had she opened the door when the cat ran out.

 iv. Identify Clause

Sentence: He is the boy who has won the race.
 Underlined clause = Adjective Clause (Relative Clause) because it describes the noun boy.

Rule:

• A clause that qualifies a noun/pronoun is an Adjective Clause.

• Introduced by who, whom, whose, which, that.

• 
  

• 1. Ravi is my friend. He lives in Delhi.
      Ravi is my friend who lives in Delhi.

  2. This is the pen. I bought it yesterday.
      This is the pen that I bought yesterday.

  3. The girl is very clever. Her father is a teacher.
      The girl whose father is a teacher is very clever.

  4. I met a man. He helped me in trouble.
      I met a man who helped me in trouble.

  5. This is the book. You gave it to me.
      This is the book which you gave to me.

  6. The boy is playing cricket. He won the race.
      The boy who won the race is playing cricket.

  7. We visited the city. It is very clean.
      We visited the city which is very clean.

  8. I know the place. She was born there.
      I know the place where she was born.

  9. I still remember the day. We met on that day.
      I still remember the day when we met.

  10. This is the teacher. All students like him.
       This is the teacher whom all students like.

  
  

  • As soon as

  • No sooner did

  • No sooner does

  • No sooner do

  • No sooner had

  • Hardly had

  
  

   1. AS SOON AS

   Structure:

  As soon as + subject + verb (present/past), subject + verb (future/past).

   Examples:

  1. As soon as the teacher entered, the students stood up.

  2. As soon as she goes to the market, her friend comes home.

  3. As soon as I reached the station, the train left.

  4. As soon as the rain stopped, the children went outside.

  5. As soon as he opened the box, a mouse jumped out.

   2. NO SOONER DID

   Structure:

  No sooner did + subject + base verb + than + subject + verb (past).

   Used with Simple Past (action just happened).

   Examples:

  1. No sooner did I reach the station than the train left.

  2. No sooner did she open the book than the phone rang.

  3. No sooner did we start the exam than the bell rang.

  4. No sooner did the teacher enter than the students stood up.

  5. No sooner did he speak than the audience clapped.

   3. NO SOONER DOES

   Structure:

  No sooner does + subject + base verb + than + subject + verb (present/future).

   Used with Simple Present.

   Examples:

  1. No sooner does she go to the market than her friend comes home.

  2. No sooner does the bell ring than the class becomes noisy.

  3. No sooner does he reach home than the phone rings.

  4. No sooner does the sun set than it gets dark.

  5. No sooner does she finish cooking than her children start eating.

   4. NO SOONER DO

   Structure:

  No sooner do + subject + base verb + than + subject + verb (present/future).

   Used with I / we / you / they in present tense.

  Examples:

  1. No sooner do I sit to study than someone calls me.

  2. No sooner do we reach the park than it starts raining.

  3. No sooner do they see the teacher than they become silent.

  4. No sooner do you ask him a question than he replies.

  5. No sooner do we start the game than the ball gets lost.

  5. NO SOONER HAD

   Structure:

  No sooner had + subject + past participle + than + subject + verb (past).

   Used with Past Perfect (action already completed).

   Examples:

  1. No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.

  2. No sooner had the rain stopped than the children went outside.

  3. No sooner had the teacher entered than the students stood up.

  4. No sooner had I closed my eyes than someone knocked.

  5. No sooner had he parked the car than it started raining.

  HARDLY HAD

  Hardly had + subject + past participle + when + subject + verb (past).

   Also used with Past Perfect (similar to No sooner had).

   Examples:

  1. Hardly had I reached home when it began to rain.

  2. Hardly had she opened the door when the phone rang.

  3. Hardly had the teacher entered when the students stood up.

  4. Hardly had the match started when it began to rain.

  5. Hardly had I finished eating when the guest arrived.

  Summary of Uses

  Expression	Tense Used	Example
  As soon as	Present / Past	As soon as the bell rang, the class became noisy.
  No sooner did	Simple Past	No sooner did she open the book than the phone rang.
  No sooner does	Simple Present (he/she/it)	No sooner does the sun set than it gets dark.
  No sooner do	Simple Present (I/we/you/they)	No sooner do we start the game than it rains.
  No sooner had	Past Perfect	No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.
  Hardly had	Past Perfect	Hardly had I finished my work when the guest arrived.

  
  
•  Structure:

 v. Change the Narration

Sentence: He said to me, “You have been selected.”

Rule:

• Direct → Indirect: Remove quotes, change pronoun, tense, and word order.

• Reporting verb “said to” → “told”.

• Present Perfect (have been) → Past Perfect (had been).

 Indirect: He told me that I had been selected.

 Examples:

1. She said, “I am busy.”
    She said that she was busy.

2. He said to me, “I will help you.”
    He told me that he would help me.

3. They said, “We are playing cricket.”
    They said that they were playing cricket.

4. I said, “I have done my homework.”
    I said that I had done my homework.

5. He said to her, “Do you like music?”
    He asked her if she liked music.

6. The teacher said, “Be quiet.”
    The teacher told them to be quiet.

7. She said, “I went to the market yesterday.”
    She said that she had gone to the market the previous day.

8. He said, “I can swim.”
    He said that he could swim.

9. They said, “We have seen the movie.”
    They said that they had seen the movie.

10. He said, “I shall return soon.”
     He said that he would return soon.

 vi. Unless → If

Sentence: Unless you work hard, you can’t win the match.
If you do not work hard, you can’t win the match.

Rule:

• Unless + positive = If + negative.

 Examples:

1. Unless you run fast, you will miss the bus.
    If you do not run fast, you will miss the bus.

2. Unless she studies, she will fail.
    If she does not study, she will fail.

3. Unless it rains, the crops will dry.
    If it does not rain, the crops will dry.

4. Unless he apologises, I won’t forgive him.
    If he does not apologise, I won’t forgive him.

5. Unless you respect elders, no one will like you.
    If you do not respect elders, no one will like you.

6. Unless the teacher comes, we will not start.
    If the teacher does not come, we will not start.

7. Unless you eat food, you will fall sick.
    If you do not eat food, you will fall sick.

8. Unless he works hard, he will not succeed.
    If he does not work hard, he will not succeed.

9. Unless they invite me, I will not go.
    If they do not invite me, I will not go.

10. Unless we save money, we cannot buy a car.
     If we do not save money, we cannot buy a car.

1. Rule: If + subject + do not + V1 (for plural subjects or “I/you/we/they”)

This is equal to Unless + subject + V1.

Examples:

1. If you do not study, you will fail. (= Unless you study, you will fail.)

2. If they do not help us, we cannot finish the work.

3. If I do not eat breakfast, I feel weak.

4. If we do not leave now, we will miss the train.

5. If you do not speak the truth, no one will trust you.

6. If they do not water the plants, they will die.

7. If I do not call you, don’t wait for me.

8. If you do not follow the rules, you will be punished.

9. If we do not practice daily, we cannot win.

10. If they do not arrive on time, we will start without them.

2. Rule: If + subject + does not + V1 (for singular subject “he/she/it”)

This is equal to Unless + subject + V1.

Examples:

1. If he does not study, he will fail.

2. If she does not cook, we will order food.

3. If it does not rain, the crops will suffer.

4. If he does not wake up early, he will miss the bus.

5. If she does not take medicine, she will not recover.

6. If he does not drive carefully, he may meet with an accident.

7. If the teacher does not explain, we won’t understand.

8. If the shop does not open, we will go elsewhere.

9. If she does not listen, she will make mistakes.

10. If the machine does not work, call the mechanic.

3. Rule: If + subject + did not + V1 (Past tense)

This is equal to Unless + subject + V2 (past).

Examples:

1. If he did not study, he failed. (= Unless he studied, he failed.)

2. If they did not come, we started without them.

3. If I did not call you, you got worried.

4. If she did not cook, we ate outside.

5. If it did not rain, we played cricket.

6. If he did not attend class, he missed the lesson.

7. If I did not see it, I would not believe it.

8. If they did not work hard, they did not succeed.

9. If the teacher did not explain, we could not solve the sum.

10. If she did not try, she failed.

Summary of Rules

If + do not + V1 → for plural subjects → means "Unless + V1"

If + does not + V1 → for singular subjects → means "Unless + V1"

If + did not + V1 → past form → means "Unless + V2"