GOVT. OF TAMILNADUDEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION

BRIDGE COURSE 2011-2012

CLASS VIII – ENGLISH

GRAMMAR

EIGHT PARTS OF SPEECH

Nouns Pronouns

Adjectives Adverbs

Adverbs

ConjunctionsConjunctions

Prepositions

Verbs

InterjectionsInterjections

KINDS OF NOUNSKINDS OF NOUNS

Common Nouns boy girl

Proper Nouns John Mary

Singular Nouns boy girl

Plural Nouns boys girls

Singular Possessive boy’s girl’s

Plural Possessive boys’ girls’

EVERY SENTENCE MUST HAVEEVERY SENTENCE MUST HAVE

aa

KINDS OF VERBS Action verbs express

mental or physical action.

Linking verbs make a statement by connecting the

subject with a word that describes or

explains it.

He rode the horse to victory.

He has been sick.

Verb is a word which expresses action or being.

A linking verb joins the subject and predicate of a sentence.

examples of linking verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being,

beenexample of a linking verb in a

sentence: Jamie was at the park.

A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns.It may stand for a person, place, thing, or idea.A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns.It may stand for a person, place, thing, or idea.

Personal Pronouns

I, me, m

ine

you, your, yours

she, her, hers,

it, its

we,us, our, ours

they, them, th

eir,

theirs

myself

yourself

Indefinite Pronounsanybodyeacheithernonesomeone, one, etc.Interrogative Pronouns

whowhomwhatwhichwhose

Demonstrative Pronounsthisthatthesethose

Modifies or describes a noun or pronoun.

Is that a woollen sweater?

Just give me five minutes.

Did you lose your addressbook?

Answers these questions:

Modifies or describesa verb, an adjective,or another adverb.

Modifies or describesa verb, an adjective,or another adverb.

Answers the questions:Answers the questions:

How?How?He ran quickly.He ran quickly.

She left yesterday.She left yesterday.When?When?

We went there.We went there. Where?Where?

It was too hot!It was too hot! To what degree or how much?To what degree or how much?

InterrogativeAdverbsintroduce questions

How did you break your leg?

When does your plane leave?

How often do you run?

Where did you put the mouse trap?

EXAMPLES

She moved quietly. (Manner and tell how) I waited there for an hour. (Place and tell where) You may leave soon. (Time, tells when) I called you once. (Number, tells how many) He sat very still. (Degree, tells how much) When will you return? How is the trunk being sent?

A preposition introduces a noun or pronoun or a phrase or clause functioning in the sentenceas a noun. The word or word group that thepreposition introduces is its object.

They received a postcard from Bobby telling

about his trip to Canada.

The preposition never stands alone!

preposition nounpronoun

object ofpreposition

preposition object

can have more thanone object

object can have modifiers

You can press those leaves under glass.

Her telegram to Nina and Ralph brought good news.

It happened during the last examination.

Some Common Prepositions

aboardaboutaboveacrossafteragainst alongamongaround atbefore

behindbelowbeneathbesidebetweenbeyondbydown during except for

frominintolikeofoffonoverpastsincethrough

throughouttotowardunderunderneathuntilupuponwithwithinwithout

FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE RIGHT WORDS CHOOSING FROM THE WORDS GIVEN IN BRACKETS

The kings ____________ was away by the angry courtiers. (thrown; throne)

The soldier drew his ___________ . (sword; soared) The boy __________ a pencil away. (through; threw) The rabbit could not push its body through the little

__________. (whole; hole) The sailor took the boat and went ____________ to

the island. (strait; straight) Since the tourists slept long they could not enjoy

the _______ in the morning. (missed; mist) The old lady was very _________. (week; weak) He went to join a __________ in a university.

(course/coarse)

1. STATEMENT

HE SAIDHE SAID TO ME

HE TOLD ME

THAT REPORTED WORDS

STATEMENT EXAMPLE

DIRECTDIRECT They said to me: “we are They said to me: “we are

going to visit Borobudur going to visit Borobudur tomorrow.” tomorrow.”

Jeffry said: “I didn’t go to Jeffry said: “I didn’t go to school today. school today.

Anne told Agus: “My father Anne told Agus: “My father got angry with me last night.got angry with me last night.

INDIRECT They said to me that they were going to visit Borobudur the following day.

Jeffry said that he hadn’t gone to school that day.

Anne told Agus that her father had got angry with her the night before.

HE ASKED MEHE TOLD ME

TO INFIVITIVE

COMMAND EXAMPLE

DIRECTDIRECT The teacher asked me: The teacher asked me:

Open your book page Open your book page 65!” 65!”

Siska asked Manu: “give Siska asked Manu: “give me a piece of paper”! me a piece of paper”!

““Ronny told him: “call me Ronny told him: “call me tonight!tonight!

INDIRECT The teacher asked me to open my book page 65.

Siska asked Manu to give her a piece of paper.

Ronny told him to call him that night.

HE ASKED ME IF/WHETHER S + V + COMPLEMENT

B. WH- QUESTION EXAMPLE

DIRECTDIRECT The girl asked me: The girl asked me:

“Where Do you come “Where Do you come from?” from?”

My father asked my My father asked my brother: “Why did you brother: “Why did you arrive at home late last arrive at home late last night?”night?”

Handy asked the girl: Handy asked the girl: “what is your favorite “what is your favorite movie star?movie star?

INDIRECT The girl asked me where I came from.

My father asked my brother why he had arrived at home late the night before

Handy asked the girl what her favorite movie star was

COMPOSITION

POETRY COMPREHENSION

There lived a sage in days of yore And he a handsome pigtail wore; But wondered much, and sorrowed more, Because it hung behind him.

He mused upon this curious case, And swore he’d change the pigtail’s place And have it hanging at his face, Not dangling there behind him.

Says he, “The mystery, I’ve found -- I’ll turn me round” -- he turned him around; But still it hung behind him.

Then round, and round, and out and in, All day the puzzled sage did spin; In vain -- it mattered not a pin-- The pigtail hung behind him.

And right and left, and round about, And up and down, and in and out, He turned; but still the pigtail stout Hung steadily behind him.

And though his efforts never slack, And though he twist, and twirl, and tack, Alas! Still faithful to his back,

QUESTIONS

Why was the sage sad? How did he plan to solve his problem? Describe his efforts to achieve his goal. Did the sage finally succeed? Why? Pick out the words of movement in this

poem.

LETTER WRITING

The recent rains have really damaged the roads in your area. Write a letter of complaint to the editor of ‘The Mail,’ asking him to publish your letter in his newspaper.

You are a family of twelve members. You have recently moved into a new house in Anna Nagar. Place an order for a few basic needs from ‘Madarsha Textiles’, Chennai.

STORY TELLING – TESTING OF ORAL SKILL

Here is the beginning of a story. Develop it into an interesting story in about 200 words. Give a suitable title:

Alice woke up that cold winter morning and looked out of the window ……………………….

PLEASE DESCRIBE AND COMMENT ON THE SITUATION IN THE PICTURE BELOW

STORY TELLING – TESTING OF ORAL SKILL

TESTING OF VOCABULARY SKILL

COMPLETE THE CONVERSATION

COMPOSITION

FLYING A KITE NEAR OVERHEAD POWER LINES

Question: Why is this not a good place to fly a kite?Discussion: What are the dangers of flying a kite near

overhead power lines? If the girl in the picture let go of her kite and it

became entangled in the overhead power lines, what should she do?Activity: Draw and discuss what might happen next. If the girl was hurt, what would you do? If you saw someone playing with a kite near

overhead power lines, what would you do?

OVERHEAD POWER LINES

Question: What do these pieces of equipment do?Discussion: Why are overhead power lines dangerous? How would you keep yourself and others safe

if you were here? What activities are dangerous to do near

overhead power lines?Activity: Write a do’s and don’ts list to help someone

else stay safe near overhead power lines.

EXPAND THE FOLLOWING PROVERBS IN ABOUT 150 WORDS

All that glitters is not gold.

Empty vessels make the most noise.