My Blue Book of Grammar for Class 6: A Series Based on the Functional Approach

GRAMMAR

1. Types of Clauses – Let’s Recall

2. Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

3. Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement

4. Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

5. Auxiliaries and Modals – Revision

6. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

7. Reported Speech or Indirect Speech

8. Future Continuous Form

9. Future Perfect Form

10. Future Perfect Continuous Form

11. Types of Adjectives

12. Hyphens in Compound Adjectives

13. Adjectives vs Adverbs

14. Colon

15. Punctuating Addresses

Test Paper 1

1

Types of Clauses – Let’s Recall

You have already learnt about independent and dependent clauses in grade 5. Let us learn more about types of clauses.

Independent Clauses

Dependent Clauses

Subordinate clauses or dependent clauses are further divided into three types:

A. Underline the noun clauses in these sentences.

I am not sure whether we should leave the resort after dark.

Do you know who is the governor of Gujarat?

Sami promised that he’d be on time for the party.

The old woman knew where the treasure was kept.

Whoever sent us this New Year card forgot to sign his or her name.

Their excuse was that they didn’t receive the assignment.

I’ll never forget what happened on our way to the jungle safari.

James mentioned that he’d be late for the party.

Lara told me that she would pick up the papers.

Please tell me who sent the SMS to the whole class.

B. Underline the adjective, noun or adverb clause in each of the sentences below. Circle the word it describes.

There is the dress that I would like to buy.

Take a walk until lunch is ready.

I can swim better than Jessica can.

Anu took a nap while her children went out to play.

Whoever stays with us will be assured of comfortable rooms.

I knew that the box was behind the wardrobe.

Over there is the hospital that my father built.

Who your ancestors were makes no difference to me.

I think that I am not late for class.

Phone me when you arrive in Delhi.

Is this the gift that you were expecting?

Although I have never eaten a pie I will try one today.

C. Create two sentences for each of the dependent words below, putting the dependent clause at the beginning of one sentence and at the end of the other.

Example: When you go to school, you must work hard.

You must work hard when you go to school.

after

because

although

if

while

2

Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

Simple Sentences

Here are a few more examples of simple sentences.

My sister cleaned and polished her shoes.

The cheetah runs very fast.

The students and the teachers read and wrote stories together.

Compound Sentences

Complex Sentence

Now read the sentence below.

The thief tried to escape when the guard opened the door.

A. State whether the sentences below are simple, compound or complex sentences.

When I was eating, my friend came in.

Simple

Compound

Complex

The barber cuts hair.

Simple

Compound

Complex

The car stopped, but nobody stepped out.

Simple

Compound

Complex

If he comes, he will have tea first.

Simple

Compound

Complex

I am not going to the party.

Simple

Compound

Complex

She offered to help when I was in need.

Simple

Compound

Complex

Before copying the answer, I asked for my teacher’s permission.

Simple

Compound

Complex

We have cows and goats.

Simple

Compound

Complex

B. Join the two simple sentences to form a compound sentence using a coordinating conjunction.

You can go by bus. You can go by train.

You must work hard. You will not win the match.

It was a cold night. We went out for a walk.

Noah was annoyed. He said nothing.

Jude woke up late. Jude made it to the school on time.

Make sure to call. You will have to wait at the bus stop for an hour.

I can paint a picture. I can sing a song.

Anuja likes basketball. Pratiksha likes football.

I have a hundred rupees. I still can’t afford that new game.

You can have vanilla ice cream. You can have chocolate ice cream.

Amar needs to study hard. Amar won’t graduate this year.

Crystal skinned her knee. She bumped her head.

I will draw the map. Robin will colour it.

3

Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement

The word ante in Latin means before.

Look at the following examples:

Jim moved to mountains, where he built a cottage.

Jim and Joe moved to mountains, where they built a cottage.

In the first sentence, Jim is the antecedent and he is the pronoun that replaces it. Similarly, in the second sentence, the pronoun they replaces the antecedent Jim and Joe.

Common Mistakes

With Correlative Conjunctions

A sentence with correlative conjunctions will have two subjects.

The one closer to the pronoun determines whether a singular or a plural pronoun will be used.

Not only the flowers but also the homemade cake won her over with its thoughtfulness.

Not only the cake but also the hand-picked flowers with their thoughtfulness.

With Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Singular indefinite pronouns such as someone, everyone and anyone take singular pronouns.

However, many people, especially in spoken English, consider the use of plural pronouns to be correct with these pronouns.

Someone has left his or her bag here.

Someone has left their bag here.

The first sentence is technically correct, but it sounds unnatural.

The second sentence is the preferred usage these days, even though some traditionalists may believe that it is not technically correct. To make the speech more natural and less pretentious, the second usage is employed by many speakers.

With Indefinite Pronouns that Can Be Both Singular and Plural

Indefinite pronouns such as all, any, none, more, most and some can be both singular and plural. The noun following them is the antecedent which decides whether a singular or plural pronoun will be used later in the sentence.

Look at the following examples:

Some of the clothing smells because it has not been washed.

Some of the clothes smell because they have not been washed.

With Articles

Read these sentences.

A lot of papers were scattered in the room.

The lot of papers that was kept here has been taken out.

A. Choose the correct pronouns according to their antecedents to fill in the blanks.

Before the students take the test, _________________ should study hard.

they

he

If anyone has any objection,