Use of Homophones

Target Audience: First Year Polytechnic English teachers and students in Tamilnadu.
Subject: Communication English-1, M scheme, I semester

Objective: To enable the students recognize and use words with same pronunciation but different spellings and meanings.Question pattern in Exam: I.3. Fill in the blanks with the suitable word from the homophones given in brackets.(3 marks).

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What do you mean by homophones?
Words which are pronounced with same sound but have different spellings and meanings are called homophones.  For instance, the words peace and piece are pronounced with same sound as /piːs/ but both differ in meaning : the first word refers to a state of tranquility whereas the second one stands for 'a part of the whole'. Look at the spelling - both have different spelling.

In the exam, three sentences with blanks will be given and you should choose the suitable homophone from those given in brackets.  As per guideline for setting question paper, the words may be taken from textbook since it is a vocabulary based question.  Students should learn the meaning of given homophones in textbook and practise to use them in sentences. The homophones in textbook are given below with meanings for your ready reference:

1. Be - to exist, to remain
    Bee- an insect gathering nectar

2. Blue - one of the colours
    Blew- past form of the verb blow

3. Board - a flat piece of wood, etc
    Bored - uninterested

4. Cell -  a prison, battery cell
    Sell -   to offer for sale

5. Die - to stop living
    Dye - to colour a cloth, hair, etc.

6. Days - during day time
    Daze- to dazzle

7.  Foul - unclean
     Fowl -  bird

8. Fair - pleasing appearance
    Fare - money paid for travel

9. Fore-  before, former
    Four - number next to three
    For - a preposition pointing duration,etc.

10. Great - super, superior
       Grate - pleasing, gratifying, agreeable
     
11. Heel - a portion of foot behind ankle
       Heal - cure
      He'll - short form of he will

12. Hear - to notice a sound with ear
      Here - in this place

13. Hour - a period of 60 minutes
      Our  - belonging to us

14. I - the speaker, ego
      Eye - an organ to see

15. Eight - number next to seven
      Ate - past form of the verb eat

16. Knight - a medieval soldier
       Night -  Night time

17. Knot - a looping of rope, etc.
       Not. - no

18. Key - object for opening a lock
      Quay - structure to load/unload ships

19. Loan - money lent
      Lone - isolated, without companion

20. Or - otherwise
      Awe - a feeling of fear and respect

21. One - first number
      Won - past form of the verb win

22. Pause - stop
      Paws - foot of an animal

23. Peal - loud sound
       Peel - to remove the skin of banana, etc.

24. Peace - free from war, being quiet
      Piece - a part of the whole

25. Quiet - being silent
       Quite - completely

26. Rows - a line of objects, etc.
       Rose - a fragrant flower

27. Rain - water from cloud
      Reign - to rule

28.  So - therefore
       Sew - to stitch
      Sow - to scatter seeds for growing

29. Stair - a step in staircase
       Stare - to look fixedly

30. Seem - appear, look like
      Seam - a folded fabric

31. Sail - to begin a sea travel
      Sale - selling, exchange goods for money

32. See - look
      Sea - a large body of salt water

33. Source - origin/ root of something
       Sauce - substance served with food

34. Sun - a star that our earth revolves
      Son - male offspring

35. Sunday - a day next to Saturday
      Sundae - a dish of ice cream with fruits

36. Serial - TV serial, produced in series
      Cereal- grains such as wheat and corn

37. Seen - past participle of the verb see
       Scene- something seen by a viewer

38. Tale - story
      Tail - the appendage of animal

39.  Two - the second number
        To - preposition, in the direction of
        Too- also

40. waste - to use carelessly
       Waist - body part between ribs and hips

41. Way - path, road
      Weigh - to measure the weight

42.  Weather - atmosphere at given time
        Whether - conjunction showing alternative

43. Plain - without pattern, just one colour
      Plane - a flat surface, aeroplane

44. Hi - an informal greeting
      High - above, elevated position

45. Their - belonging to them
       There - in that place
        They're- short form of they are

46. Pail - a bucket
      Pale - light in colour, bloodless

47. Right - correct, right side
      Rite - a religious custom

48. Male - pointing masculine gender
      Mail- letter, to send

49. Through - by means of
       Threw - past form of throw

50. Weight - being heavy
       Wait - to delay for someone

51. Tied - fastened
       Tide - sea wave

52. Herd - collection of animals
      Heard- past tense of hear

53. Read - past tense of read
       Red -a colour as in stop signal

54. Road - a path for vehicles
       Rode- past tense of ride

55. Rote-  memorize without understanding
       Wrote- past tense of write

Exercises for you:

 Fill in the blanks with the suitable word from the homophones given in brackets.

1. His face was looking _________ (pale / pail) and he was completely upset.

2. The __________ (foul / fowl) was so beautiful with pink and yellow colours.

3. He doesn't believe in the _________ (rite / write) performed by his orthodox family.

4. Students submitted ___________ (their / there) assignments two days in advance.

5. Children enjoyed the _________ (tail / tale) told by the grandma.

6. To __________ (sale / sail) on a boat is a matter of pleasure for everyone.

7. He left his purse at home and was unable to pay the _________ (fair / fare).

8. She ________ (tied / tide) the animal to the nearby post and rested for sometime.

9. I don't know__________  (weather / whether) he will come or not.

10. The old lady would always ________ (stair / stare) at the particular picture for a long time.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci – Questions & Answers

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to interpret and explain a poem in English. 
Question Pattern in Exam: IV. Answer any THREE questions in a paragraph  each in 100 words : (3 x 5=15)
Four questions from 4 poems will be given in the exam and students should answer three questions, each in 100 words.
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1. How does Keats suggest the season in his ballad?
The season in the poem is late autumn or early winter season.  Keats describes this season through dry grass, squirrel's granary, harvest, and absence of birds.  The grass on the bank of lake is dry.  The squirrel keeps its storage full with grains because if the winter grows, it cannot go out for collecting food.  The harvest is also over.  No birds sing here because they have moved some other place with favourable climate. Thus Keats describes the season that indirectly points out the unfavourable condition of the knight.

2. Narrate the sad tale of the knight at arms.  Describe how the knight fell in love with the beautiful lady and declared the love and passion for her.
The knight met a beautiful lady in a meadow.  He made a garland of flowers and bracelets for her. He put her on his moving horse.   She gave him delicious roots, wild honey and the heavenly food manna.  She told that she loved him truly.  She took him to her cave and wept out of grief.  But he kissed her eyes and consoled with his love.  She then lulled him to sleep.  In the dream, he was warned by dreadful pale kings, princes and warriors about the lady.  They told that the beautiful lady had made him a slave mercilessly.  He woke up and found him alone on the hill side.  Since then, he has been walking aimlessly here.

3. What happened at the elfin grot?
Elfin grot refers to a cave occupied by little angel-like super natural beings called elfs.  In Keats' poem, the beautiful lady takes the knight to such a cave.  There the lady started weeping out of grief.  He kissed her eyes and consoled with his love.  She then lulled him to sleep.  In the dream, he was warned by dreadful pale kings, princes and warriors about the lady.  They told that the beautiful lady had made him a slave mercilessly.  This is what happened at the elfin grot.  The introduction of such cave, elf and dream element add more charms to medieval theme of the poem.  It is also assumed that the lady has already cheated many kings, princes and warriors who appear in the dream.

4. Bring out the ballad features in the poem.
Ballad is a narrative form of poetry.  It often begins with a question and the answer comes in the form of story.  Keats has written “La Belle Dame Sans Merci" in ballad form.  It begins with the question why the knight is so worried and walks alone on this hill side.  Then the answer comes in the form of knight's sad story of love affair with a beautiful lady. A ballad is generally rhythmic in four line stanza, second and fourth line rhyming.  This poem is also musical and lines end with - Child, wild – long, song- wide, side.  Ballad also uses refrain – some lines are repeated.  In this poem, for example, the line – “O, what can ail thee, knight-at-arms”  is repeated.  The poem also uses medieval elements that is common with ballad.

5. Bring out the romantic, medieval and supernatural elements in the poem?
The poem “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” has romantic elements.  The story itself is a love story.  The knight falls in love with a beautiful lady. Usually lovers will exchange gifts.  The knight gives her a garland of flowers and bracelets.  The lady also gives him wild honey and manna.  The poem is highly romantic when she says, “I love thee true" and he kisses her eyes four times.  The story also has medieval elements.  Knight is commonly found only in medieval period.  Again, in medieval period, people believed in supernatural elements such as ghost and elfs.  The lady in the poem appears to be a ghost. She, the elfs and the cave all suddenly disappear.  Thus the poem is rich with romantic, medieval and supernatural elements.

George Herbert's "Pulley or, The Gift of God"

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to interpret and explain a poem in English. 
Question Pattern in Exam: IV. Answer any THREE questions in a paragraph  each in 100 words : (3 x 5=15)
Four questions from 4 poems will be given in the exam and students should answer three questions in 100 words.
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1. What is the gift of God to man?
When God created man, He had a lot of blessings for man.  He contracted all his blessings into a glass.  He started pouring his gifts on man –strength,  beauty, wisdom, honour and pleasure all came to man one after another. However when bottom was reached, God stopped his pouring for sometime. At the bottom, He noticed that there was peace, the most valuable of all his gifts.  He did not give it to man at once intentionally. The gift of God has a close connection with the statement of St. Augustine's “Gift of God” in the Bible.

2. What is the jewel of God’s blessings? Why does God not to bestow it on man? (Or) Why does God intend to make man seek him?
The jewel of God’s blessings is “rest".  He blessed man with strength, beauty, wisdom, honour and pleasure.  But He kept rest at the bottom.  If He also gives rest, then man will admire his gifts, in stead of him.  He will remember all things in Nature but will not remember God who created all in Nature. God will miss him and man will miss God.  So both God and man will be losers if the last gift “rest" is given to man. Man will be tired of his worldly riches one day, will long for rest and return to God at least to receive this gift -' peace'. 

3. Which is the real gift of God to man – the blessings he granted or the blessings he denied?
The blessings granted by God are strength, beauty, wisdom, honour and pleasure.  The blessing denied by God is rest.  According to me, the real gift of God to man is rest.  Because all other gifts not permanent and valuable.  Strength and beauty will be only at the young age. When we grow old, these gifts will go away from us.  Similarly the honour will go away when the power and money leave us.  When we indulge in pleasure, wisdom will disappear. It is only the rest that makes man understand the power of God.  It is only in rest that man realises how much God has gifted him and loved him.

4. Examine the title of the poem, the Pulley.  (Or) How does Herbert play with the word 'rest'?

A pulley is a wheel used for pulling up weights.  It signifies the method God uses to lift man to himself. Pulley is also used to hoist a bucket full of water from well.  Pulley should be in motion to bring out the water from bottom of the well. Hence it refers to the effort of man to attain rest.  Beauty, strength and honour (other gifts) may come to man without effort. But the gift 'rest' will come from the bottom to man only through his efforts in prayer and meditation towards God.  Herbert playfully uses the word 'rest' by saying that except the gift rest, man may keep the rest of the gifts with “ripening restlessness”.

Questions and Answers - If You are Wrong, Admit It

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to interpret and explain a content in English. 
Question Pattern in Exam: II. Answer any FIVE questions  each in 30 words : (5 x 2=10)
Eight questions from 4 lessons will be given in the exam and students should answer FIVE questions in 30 words.
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1. Why did the author not muzzle his dog or keep it in a leash?
The author took his dog Rex without a muzzle or leash in Forest Park.  It was against law in America.  He gave reasons to defend him - There was nobody in the park and the dog was also harmless.

2. What was the warning of the policeman?
The author took his dog Rex without a muzzle or leash in Forest Park.  It was against law in America.The policeman got angry and warned him that if he repeated, he would be taken to the judge in court.

3. "I was in for it. I knew it." - What was the author in for? What did he know?
The phrase "in for something" means "going to experience something unpleasant". When the author let the dog run loose again on another occasion, he knew that he was going to experience something unpleasant from the policeman. He knew that the policeman would scold and punish him.

4. Why did Harvey go to his boss? or Why did Harvey's boss treat him with respect?
Harvey had wrongly authorized full payment to an employee on sick leave.  The employee was ready for repayment now but on installments only.  Harvey knew that his Supervisor would explode over this error. But he handled this tense situation differently and solved the problem.  He started by saying that it was his fault.  Instead of getting angry, the supervisor treated him with respect.

5.How was the problem of the Chinese father rooted in tradition? ( Or) How did an extraneous factor block the Chinese father from admitting his mistakes? How did he overcome it?  
There is a Chinese tradition that the elders should not stoop down to the youngsters.    A Chinese father was an opium addict that separated his son from him.  For many years the father was longing to be with his son, daughter-in-law and grand children but the tradition prevented him.  At last the father overcame the tradition by admitting his fault to the son.

6. How would Hubbard handle irritated readers?  Or Bring out the contrary aspects of the character of Hubbard?
Hubbard's stinging statements irritated his readers.  However he had the contrary aspect in his character to change his enemies into friends.  He would write to his angry reader that he did not agree with himself first. But he was glad to learn what his reader's thought on the subject. He also ended the conflict by inviting him his home.

Essay on "If You are Wrong, Admit It"

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to interpret and explain a content in English. 
Question Pattern in Exam: IV. Answer any one of the following in 200 words: (1 x 10 = 10 marks)
Three questions out of 4 lessons will be given in the exam and students should answer a question in 200 words.
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Preface:
Dale Carnegie is a well-known trainer in corporate training and interpersonal skills.  “If you are wrong, Admit it" is an extract from his famous book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” Here the author gives examples to prove the benefits of admitting one’s wrong.

His Experience with a Policeman
Once the author took his dog Rex without a muzzle or leash in Forest Park.  It was against law in America.  He gave reasons to defend him - There was nobody in the park and the dog was also harmless.  The policeman got angry and warned him not to do it again.  But on another occasion, when the author let the dog run loose again, he admitted his fault. This made the policeman behave in a soft and graceful way, even to let him run the dog loose.

The Experience of Warren with an Art Editor
Warren is a commercial artist.  He was often criticised by a particular art editor even for small errors.  This time Warren applied the principle- “If you are wrong, admit it.”  He started criticising himself.  He said that he committed an unpardonable blunder.  He said that he was ashamed of himself.  This made the art editor behave psychologically the other way.  He said that it was just a slight error.  He offered even lunch and another work to do.

Harvey's Experience with his Supervisor
Harvey from New Mexico came to know of an error that he had wrongly authorized full payment to an employee on sick leave.  The employee was ready for recovery now but on installments only.  Harvey knew that his Supervisor would explode over this error. But he handled this tense situation differently and solved the problem.  He started by saying that it was his fault.  Instead of getting angry, the supervisor defended him by saying that it was the fault of personnel or accounting department.

General Lee and Picket's Charge
Picket's Charge(1863) is a part of American civil war (1861-65) that took place between northern states (unions) and southern states (confederates).  General Picket was so confident of victory but General Lee’s fault of ordering infantry resulted in failure of the war.  The enemies started attacking from behind a stone wall and 4000 Picket's men had a fall.  General Lee can say reasons such as late coming of cavalry  but he admitted  his fault and even resigned his post.

Thus the author gives examples of public, commercial, professional and war issues to prove the value of admitting one’s fault.

Use of Appropriate Adjectival Form

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to use adjectives in English in their day-to-day life.
Question Pattern in Exam: I.(j) Fill in the blanks using appropriate adjectival form of the word given in brackets: (3 marks) 
Three sentences will be given with blanks in the exam and students should use the correct adjective form of the noun or verb  given in bracket.
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What is an adjective?

A word that adds quality to a noun is called an adjective.  For instance, in the phrase "a brilliant student", the word 'brilliant' adds quality to student (noun).  So "brilliant" is an adjective.

How to make appropriate adjectival form?

In the exam, the given word in bracket would be either a noun or verb.  Students should know the ways for changing a verb or noun into adjective.  Most of such words will become adjectives if suitable suffixes are added to them.  The common ways for changing verb/noun into adjective are as follows:

1.  Adding "-ful"

Beautiful, doubtful, colourful, careful, harmful, peaceful, delightful, helpful, painful, powerful, thankful, useful, wonderful, fruitful,skilful, faithful, tasteful, hopeful  and so on.

2.  Adding "-less"

Examples: careless, harmless, helpless, powerless, thankless, useless, merciless, restless, noiseless, flawless, motionless, fearless, endless, tasteless, hopeless, needless, homeless and thoughtless.

3.  Adding "-y" or "-ly"

Examples: risky, cloudy, flimsy, hasty, homely, lovely, leaky, skinny, sleepy, stealthy, sunny, tasty, thirsty, friendly, likely, lively, weekly, costly, speedily, slowly, heavenly and yearly.

4.  Adding "-ive"

Examples: attractive, collective, connective, creative, declarative, defensive, elective, formative, massive, narrative, objective, preventive, productive, qualitative, quantitative, receptive, relative, sportive, suggestive, talkative, submissive, intuitive and inventive.

5.  Adding "-able or -ible"

Examples: readable, lovable, visible, breakable, bearable, acceptable, advisable, desirable, fashionable, reliable, noticeable, measurable, payable, transferable, accessible, eligible, feasible, flexible, contemptible, reversible, responsible, convertible, capable, understandable.

6.  Adding "-ial or al"

Examples: commercial, official, facial, social, experimental, departmental, functional, monumental, mathematical, influential, chemical, renewal, typical, vocal and arrival.

7.  Adding "-ic or ical"

Examples: comic, commercial, diplomatic, academic, magical, mechanical, graphic, technical, dramatic, economic, economical, optimistic, pessimistic, artistic, rustic, terrific,  energetic, romantic and musical.

8.  Adding "ant"

Examples: brilliant, distant, fragrant, ignorant, important, relevant, reluctant, significant, tolerant, vacant, abundant and extravagant 

9.  Adding "ent"

Examples:absent, competent, confident, , convenient, decent, different, excellent, frequent, obedient, patient, permanent, present, transparent and violent.

10.  Adding "ish"

Examples:foolish, childish, selfish, greenish, feverish, bookish, reddish, stylish, boyish, Spanish and Scottish

11.  Adding "ous or eous"

Examples: advantageous, dangerous, adventurous, disastrous, ambitious, cautious, conscious, erroneous, injurious, luminous, marvelous, momentous, prestigious, prosperous, ridiculous and suspicious.
12.  By using past particible/ present particible

Examples: spoken, stolen, rotten, learned, drunken, baked, mistaken, running (commentary), writing ( board), bored, interested, frightened, boring, interesting, frightening, depressed, excited, exciting and so on.

Exercises with Answers:
Fill in the blanks using appropriate adjectival form of the word given in brackets:
1.  I could see _________ (home) Indians on the platform sleeping at night.
2. He is ______ (like) to invite troubles from the stranger.
3. She was __________ (obedience) to her father just to satisfy him.
4. The _________ (error) entry found on the online portal was never corrected by the webmaster.
5. All teachers appreciated her _________ (academy) excellence. 
Answers: 1. homely, 2. likely, 3. obedient, 4. erroneous, and 5. academic.

More Exercises for you to practice:
1. Hitler's Aryan superiority theory was really ___________ (child).
2. The committee tried at its best to be ___________(transparency) in all matters.
3. He was actually selling _________ (steal) articles in his shop.
4. The books I purchased were not really ________ (use) for me.
5. Parents want their children to be ________ (creativity) and send to summer classes.
6. Nowadays even medication and education has become _________ (commerce).
7. Police arrested all the _______ (suspicion) persons connected with the murder.
8. It is _________ (need) to say that modern youngsters know the better use of mobile than the elders.
9. The shareholders were not satisfied with the _______ (year) result of the company.
10. The journey by private bus was so ________ (expense) in comparison to the Govt. bus. 

Questions & Answers - My Greatest Olympic Prize

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to interpret and explain a content in English. 
Question Pattern in Exam: II. Answer any FIVE questions  each in 30 words : (5 x 2=10)
Eight questions from 4 lessons will be given in the exam and students should answer FIVE questions in 30 words.
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1. Why were nationalistic feelings running high during the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games?
Adolf Hitler believed in Aryan Superiority theory.  He thought that his German athlets belong to a master's race and they would perform better than other participants in the 1936 Olympics, Berlin.  So nationalistic feelings were running high.

2. "I was no exception." - Explain. (Or) Why did Owens kick the pit in disgust? (Or) Why did Jesse Owens foul the first two jumps in the trail?
An angry athlete will commit mistakes.  Jesse Owens was no exception to this. He was hot under the collar (angry) with Hitler's childish Aryan theory.  So he committed mistakes.  His performance in trial was very poor. He kicked the pit in disgust.   But the German Luz Long performed well.  

3. Describe Luz Long. (OR) How did Owens manage to qualify for the finals with a foot to spare? (Or) How did Luz Long help Jesse Owens?
Luz Long is a tall German long jumper.  Though he is trained by Hitler, he does not believe in Hitler's theory.  Jesse Owens is his opponent player but he is friendly with him and even helps him to get qualified for final.  He suggests to draw a line behind take off board and then to jump. Because of him, Jesse managed to qualify for final.

4. How did Long respond to Jesse winning the gold? (Or) Why did Hitler glare at Luz and Jesse?
Luz Long broke his past record in long jump. However it is Jesse Owens who won the gold medal by jumping 26 feet 5, 5/16 inches.  Luz Long congratulated him by shaking his hand. Hitler didn't like the defeat of Luz, so he glared at both of them.

5. What according to Coubertin is the true spirit of the Olympics? 
Coubertin is the founder of modern Olympic games.  According to him, the true spirit of Olympic is not winning but taking part. It is not winning but fighting well that matters. Luz Long did not win. But he was a good example of Olympic spirit.

Essay on My Greatest Olympic Prize

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to interpret and explain a content in English. 
Question Pattern in Exam: IV. Answer any one of the following in 200 words: (1 x 10 = 10 marks)
Three questions out of 4 lessons will be given in the exam and students should answer a question in 200 words.
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Introduction :
The lesson "My Greatest Olympic Prize" is the  heart-touching experience of Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens.  Adolf Hitler believed in Aryan Superiority theory.  He thought that his German athlets belong to a master's race and they would perform better than other participants in the 1936 Olympics, Berlin.  So nationalistic feelings were running high.  The American Negro athlete Jesse Owens took 6 years of painful practice, purposely to break the theory of Hitler. He had already made a world record in long jump just in the last year. So he expected to win the gold medal easily this time.

Jesse' s  Poor Performance: 
An angry athlete will commit mistakes.  Jesse Owens was no exception to this. He was hot under the collar (angry) with Hitler's childish Aryan theory.  So he committed mistakes.  His performance in trial was very poor. He kicked the pit in disgust.   But the German Luz Long performed well.  He was qualified for the final.  This disturbed Jesse Owens very much.

The Help by Luz Long:
Luz Long is a tall German long jumper.  Though he is trained by Hitler, he does not believe in Hitler's theory.  Jesse Owens is his opponent player but he is friendly with him and even helps him to get qualified for final.  He suggests to draw a line behind take off board and then to jump.   He is not as emotional as Jesse.

Who won the gold medal?
Luz Long broke his past record in long jump. However it is Jesse Owens who won the gold medal by jumping 26 feet 5, 5/16 inches.  Luz Long congratulated him by shaking his hand.  Hitler glared at both of them.

Jesse's Greatest Olympic Prize:
Coubertin is the founder of modern Olympic games.  According to him, the true spirit of Olympic is not winning but taking part. It is not winning but fighting well that matters. Luz Long did not win. But he was a good example of Olympic spirit. To Jesse Owens, the greatest Olympic prize is not the gold medal but his new and noble friendship with Luz Long.

How to frame questions in English?

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to frame questions in English in their day-to-day life.
Question Pattern in Exam: I.(i) Frame suitable question to the following: (3 marks) 
Three sentences will be given in the exam and students should frame a question to each sentence.
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What is a Question?
An interrogative sentence that seeks information or confirmation is called a question.

Two types of questions:
i) Yes/No type question:  A question for which the expected answer is yes or no is called 'yes or no' type question.  For example:  Have you seen her before?  Answer: Yes, I have seen her before. or No, I haven't seen her before.  So, here the answer is either yes or no.  Such questions are called yes or no type questions.

ii) WH questions: A question for which specific or detailed answer is expected is called WH question.  For instance: When did you return home?  Answer: I returned home yesterday.  WH questions start with the letter either 'W' or 'H' and so they are called 'wh' questions.

The 'wh' words which are generally used to form 'wh' questions are as follows:  What, Where, Why, When, Which, Who, Whom, How, How much, How many, How far and How long

Guidelines:
How to frame yes or no type question or 'wh' question?
(a) If the given answer in the exam starts with yes or no, you will have to frame yes or no type question, following the structure: "Aux.verb + subject + main verb+ key word?" (Remove key words such as yes, no, and not. Interchange the subject and verb. )
Example: (given sentence)
Yes,  he is going to hostel.
Your answer: Is he going to hostel?

b) If the given sentence does not begin with "yes or no" or explains something, then you should frame a "wh" question following the structure: "wh-word"+ aux.verb+ subect+ main verb(optional)?

Don't forget:
* The key word or phrase in the given sentence should be removed.
* The main verb in the question should always be in the present form.
*The pronouns  I and we should be changed into you, and "my" into "your".
* If the given sentence has aux.verb, same aux.verb should be used. If there is only a main verb, then you should use the aux.verb "do" or "does" in present tense and "did" in the past tense.
* If subject is the key word  in the given sentence, then just remove the key word and apply "who" in that place.

Example 1: I go to Chennai.
Answer: Where do you go?

Example 2: I went to Chennai yesterday.
Answer: Where did you go yesterday? Or
 When did you go to Chennai?

Example 3: Pooja is in Chennai.
Answer: Where is Pooja?

Example 4: Tagore received the Noble prize.
Answer: Who received the Nobel prize?

More examples with answers:
1. His name is Sivakumar.
Ans: What is his name?

2. Uma ran fast to catch the last bus?
Ans: Why did Uma run fast?

3. I generally watch dance programs.
Ans: Which programs do you generally watch?

4. She meets her friend at the weekend.
Ans: Whom does she meet at the weekend? (Or) When does she meet her friend?

5. They lived luxuriously.
Ans: How did they live?

6. This book is Rs. 450/-
How much is this book?

7.  I sent two messages.
Ans: How many messages did you send?

8. We have been waiting here for the last one hour.
Ans: How long have you been waiting here?

9. LIC office is two miles away from here.
How far is LIC office from here?

10. This is Latha's bag?
Whose bag is this?

Exercises for you to practice:
Frame suitable question to the following:
1. Semester exam starts in October.
2. I get up early in the morning.
3. She completed her record note work last week itself.
4. Priya secured Centum in Maths.
5. She is working at Infosys.
6. This is Ranjith's idea.
7. My friends were dog tired.
8. Due to power cut, I didn't finish the work.
9. They will come back by six in the morning.
10. Yes, I can meet the boss on your behalf.