There is nothing to English

[Sagittarius Peri]

For a lot of people, English Grammar is difficult, even for those whose first language is English. Grammar has a lot of complex rules that are difficult to keep track of, such that some eventually just don’t mind grammar rules and speak the language without any regard for them.

Learning a language is a continuous process, and this includes the English language! The English language is one that has gone through hundreds of years of growth, and still keeps on growing. With so many words, idioms and rules, there really is still room for learning and improving your knowledge of it. For tips on how to improve your English, read on below.

Read English newspapers, books, and magazines. Reading is an active process that requires your brain to work. When learning a language, much is achieved by speaking, listening and writing. But reading is also a great help. When you read, you encounter new words and will be able to use them.


Keep a news diary. After reading the daily papers, write down your thoughts about the days’ headlines. Choose one or two that stood out among all those that you read, and write down your reactions to it. Read what you wrote afterwards, and check if you made any grammatical errors or would like to improve how you phrased your sentences.


Take note of the lyrics to a song. Listening to songs can help you improve your English, but more than this, taking the time to read the lyrics of the song will help your brain work more towards mastering the English language.


Read the book version of a movie that you have already seen. If you are not a serious book reader, reading a story that you are already familiar with will help you move along page by page. Reading the book version means you will find it easier to understand and guess vocabulary, and you can remember it easily since the story is already familiar to you.


Teach English to children or friends. The best way to improve something is by teaching it to others. This also holds true for the English language. When you share and teach English to others, you are able to practice by explaining, fixing your knowledge in your brain, and getting more experience. At the same time, you become more aware of your weak areas and have to work hard at improving them.


Use English every day. Whatever you are doing, from washing the dishes or taking out the trash to going to work or to the gym, use English. Take out those new words that you learned and use them. Bring out those new idioms you came across and use them. If this new stuff stays inside your head and in your notebooks, it won’t come to life. Learn how to use them in your daily life.


English is both easy and difficult. There are rules and words and idioms that are complicated. But as you try to improve your English day by day, you will surely see improvements that are going to “make your day.”

[Sagittarius Peri]

I have started this thread for students like me, who are almost done with their degrees, have quite a better know how about English but still in a fix about the standard of language demanded by FPSC.

I will try my best to post useful things here.

Seniors and fellows are all welcomed for corrections and suggestions.



Regards
Peri

[shezzdp]

Originally Posted by Sagittarius Peri

I have started this thread for students like me, who are almost done with their degrees, have quite a better know how about English but still in a fix about the standard of language demanded by FPSC.

I will try my best to post useful things here.

Seniors and fellows are all welcomed for corrections and suggestions.



Regards
Peri

Hello, Peri its very good step for everyone but my question is that which is very essential requirement for me. I'm very keen interested in learning english and since last 5 years i'm also remained in, reading Dawn and a few magazines too, but whenever i remember some difficult words then i wrote them in my notebook, use them but after some time i m totally unknown to these difficult words. Kindly give me some exact tips and suggestions for this problem.

[exclusively]

Great dear..


Kindly tell me how to tackle idioms and Precis?

Thanks in anticipation..

[J Hussain]

Originally Posted by exclusively

Great dear..


Kindly tell me how to tackle idioms and Precis?

Thanks in anticipation..

Learn and conceptualize idioms on daily basis. You can do around 20 idioms per day.

Regarding the précis, this has been my strategy:
1. Read the passage twice (or thrice if it's still incomprehensible to you)
2. Divide it into paragraphs for your convenience and precise it accordingly.
3. Connect the précis of all the sub-passages. There should be coherence in your writing
4. Write it on the neat page as carefully as possible. Avoid cutting/over-writing in your final draft
5. Pick a suitable title which sums up the central theme of passage
6. Practice as much as you can before exams

Good'luck!

[Sagittarius Peri]

@Shezzdp

Most students persist with this method of remembering vocabulary (as you said) and may even be successful and memorise them, but then how does one get memorized lists of words into one’s WORKING vocabulary. That is not often talked about…just assumed that once you memorise them, bingo, you will be able to use them. Well, for the vast majority of people that is far from the truth!
So what is a good method? To understand that, we need to have a fundamental understanding how our brain works.
Memory works best when we are dealing with things that are important to us, there and then. The second thing to note is that there were links made to our life, to what was already in our brain. From all the research we know that memory works best when the new item is hooked in to what we already know. So the more the hooks, or the links, the more likely that we are going to recall the item… and the more personal and immediate are the links, the more chance we are going to remember it.

Use "Hear, echo and associate" technique
When you first encounter a word, the first thing to do is to listen intently at the right way of pronouncing it. Then, repeat it to yourself loudly (you can whisper if you’re in public and feel self-conscious). Most people stop there and that’s wrong — it’s very easy to forget a vocabulary item if you simply parrot it. You need to associate it to something that is meaningful to you. That way, the word has a PERSONAL meaning that makes it memorable, rather than just being a bunch of syllables and sounds strung together.

1.Pick an unfamiliar word.
Let's say "cajole." What is that first thing that comes to mind when you hear the pronunciation of the word? Eg. caJOLE, which sounds like Joules, unit for energy

2.Relate and lock.
Cajole means to convince by flattering. As previous step, we related caJOLE to JOULES, imagine that you need energy to be able to convince someone by flattering. Relating doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to make some sense to "connect the dots."

3.Solidify your foundation.
Look for sentence examples. Then make one that is actually related to you - this is an important part of the step. Let's say there is a student in your class who cajoled you to do him/her a favor, make a sentence on that.

•Try using the words in your day to day life with people you come across every day. It will make you even more confident.

•Do not make your word association too complicated, use what comes first to your mind.

*This process might seem cumbersome at first ( and it is for a time! ) but once you get the hang of it, you will learn to do it so fast that you will be hardly aware that you are doing it.

may ALLAH bless you

[exclusively]

Originally Posted by J Hussain

Learn and conceptualize idioms on daily basis. You can do around 20 idioms per day.

Regarding the précis, this has been my strategy:
1. Read the passage twice (or thrice if it's still incomprehensible to you)
2. Divide it into paragraphs for your convenience and precise it accordingly.
3. Connect the précis of all the sub-passages. There should be coherence in your writing
4. Write it on the neat page as carefully as possible. Avoid cutting/over-writing in your final draft
5. Pick a suitable title which sums up the central theme of passage
6. Practice as much as you can before exams

Good'luck!

How many past papers are prepared for the composition paper to get through. I mean should I attempt last 10 years or 30 years papers?

[MBA]

Originally Posted by Sagittarius Peri

I have started this thread for students like me, who are almost done with their degrees, have quite a better know how about English but still in a fix about the standard of language demanded by FPSC.

I will try my best to post useful things here.

Seniors and fellows are all welcomed for corrections and suggestions.



Regards
Peri

Good initiative, lets see how one can improve the understanding, speaking and listening skills of English well.

Watching English movies can improve one's language to greater extent, they have smooth dialogues, new and practical words, perfect pronunciation and so on, and if one is reluctant to watch movies just because of its fast-speech, subtitles plays an important role here.

Gone were the days when we friends in University/college used to chit chat in English but nowadays you rarely find people around, except few at workplace, who are comfortable with fluent and consistent speaking, people are less interested, unless; you develop an elite circle of friends around for the purpose.

Communicating via SMS and Talking over phone and keep your self on the track of using language, don't divert your sentences to urdu or regional languages when it comes to hard-to-find words. I have witnessed, texting also increase your vocab as well as English language to some extent if you have habit or texting and discussing issues of interest, no matter Its abour routine life, knowledge, or the gossips, because we are talking about the Communication in English here, regardless of topic.

These above things, can and will improve language in positive manner, and doesn't require any specific or special study for the purpose, while you can continue preparation, reading newspapers and books which are obviously in English.

Regards

[Sagittarius Peri]

@Exclusively
for Precis I second J Hussain's tips, I'll just add one thing that practice makes a man perfect. Do as much practice as much possible.

for Idioms I'll suggest these points

*don't try to swallow all the stuff at once
*to memorize idioms I'll suggest you to relate the idioms with something or some event or make an imaginary picture of the said idiom like if you are confronting an idiom "to burn one's fingers" imagine a person who is burning his fingers himself, setting himself on fire or loss, by himself. for "An apple of one's eye" imagine a mother with one apple in place of one of her eye and her son's picture in the second eye. I know it feels quite stupid to imagine such things but trust me it really works. I hope you will never forget your idioms by using this technique.
*make sure to revise your "done idioms" at least once a week

may ALLAH bless you

[Sagittarius Peri]

Punctuation:
Picture

The word Punctuation, derived from the Latin word Punctun, a point, means the right use of putting in Points or Stops in writing.

Proper Punctuation is very important and can make all the difference between communicating your message and creating a communication gap. It serves the purpose of improving the clarity of a sentence (through the use of a full stop, comma, colon, semi-colon and brackets), indicating words that are not a statement (question mark, exclamation mark, quotation mark), showing how words relate to one another (apostrophe, hyphen) and indicating that a group of letters is an abbreviation (full stop) or that letters are missing (apostrophe).

History records that improper punctuation has even made the difference between life and death.

The following are the principle Punctuation marks:


1. Full Stop

2. Comma

3. Semicolon

4. Colon

5. Question Mark

6. Exclamation Mark

7. Quotation Mark

8. Hyphen

9. Apostrophe

10. Dash

11. Parentheses

These are the most common Punctuation signs that new English readers would encounter on the highway to mastering English. Once you master the usage of these Punctuation marks, the written words would flow faster and more easily.




1. Full Stop:
* The Full Stop is also referred to as a period or point or full point. The primary use of this punctuation mark ( . ) is to make the end of a declarative sentence (one that states a fact) or an imperative sentence (one that gives a command or states a request).

Examples:

Declarative sentence:

• People stopped visiting theaters after the rates were nearly doubled.

Imperative Sentence:

• Please pass me the salt.


* Full Stops are also used in few abbreviations: Sept., i.e., etc. and et al. among others.

The Full Stop can be used in abbreviation, but this practice is omitted in modern style.

Examples:
• He has completed M.A.

* If a sentence ends with a question mark or an exclamation mark, one does not use a Full Stop after this, as the question mark or the exclamation mark already contains a Full Stop within itself.




2. Comma:
* The Comma ( , ) is meant to add detail to the structure of sentences and to make their meaning clear by indicating words that either do or do not belong together. The Comma usually represents the natural break and pauses that a person makes while speaking and it operates at phrase level and word level.

Phrase level:
A Comma should be used to make off parts of a sentence that are separated by conjunctions (and, but, yet, etc.). The use of a Comma is particularly important when there is a change in or a repetition of the subject.

Example:
• He was a habitual liar, which is why people never believed what he said.

Word level:
A Comma is almost always used to separate adjectives having the same range of reference coming before a noun.

Examples:
• It was dark, cold, moonless night.



The Comma is also used

a. To separate the series of words in the same construction:

Examples:
• England, Italy, Germany and Spain formed an alliance.


b. To separate each pair of words connected by and:

Examples:
• We should be devout and humble, cheerful and serene.

NOTE:
A Comma is generally not used before the word preceded by and.


c. To mark off a noun or phrase in Apposition:

Examples:
• Paul, the apostle, was beheaded in the reign of Nero.


d. To mark off words used in addressing people:

Example:
• Come into the garden, Maud.

NOTE:
But when the words are emphatic, we ought to use the Note of Exclamation.

Example:
• Monster! By thee my child is devoured.


e. To mark of two or more adjectives or adverbs coming together:

Example:
• The girl, beautiful and intelligent, did not turn up for the examinations.


f. To mark of the direct quotation from the rest of the sentence:

Example:
• ‘Exactly so’, said Alice.




3. Semicolon:
* Semicolon is one of the trickiest signs to use for writers, which is why you will find its usage the least. However if properly used, the it can be one of the most useful and significant punctuation marks.

The Semicolon ( ; ) is basically a Punctuation mark that indicates a more pronounced pause than that indicated by a Comma but less important than that of a Full Stop. In essence, it divides two parts of a sentence that balances each other, and could stand independently too.

• He seemed in a foul mood. So, I fled the scene.

The above sentence make perfect sense by themselves. However, we could use a Semicolon to join these conveniently.

• He seemed in a foul mood; so, I fled the scene.



a. Semicolon is used to separate the clauses of Compound sentence, when they contain a comma.

Example:
• He was brave, large hearted man; we all respected him.

b. Semicolon is used to separate the series of loosely related clauses.

Examples:
• Her court was pure; her life serene.




4. Colon:
* Unlike its cousin-the semicolon, the Colon ( : ) is used more often in formal print, but not as frequently in daily writing. The Colon is a Punctuation mark that is used to precede a list of items, a quotation or an expansion or explanation.


For Example, consider the following sentence:

• The tour operator said his package included: to and fro air fair, a complimentary drink on arrival, breakfast, evening snacks and dinner, hotel accommodation.


It is used sometimes to indicate more emphasis in indirect speech.

Example:
• The madman screamed: “I am not mad! The voice of God commanded me to slay.”

Besides, in American English, it is used in the initial greeting of a letter.

Example:
• Dear Mr. Shakeel:

However, in British or Indian English, a Comma is used:

• Dear Mr. Shakeel,

But by far, the most common use of a Colon is to indicate to the reader that a list of items follows:

Example:
• The schoolchildren were told to bring the following items for the picnic: a torch, a sleeping bag, two sets of night clothes, three panties/underwear, water bottle, three hankies and a lunch box.



It is used to divide the title of the book from the subtitle.

Example:
• Communication: Oral Communication

It is used to make a difference between the hours and minutes when writing the time.

Example:
• Now the time is: 02: 25 pm

It is used in differentiating the chapter and verse in the Bible or The Bhagavad-Gita and other similar instances.

Example:
• Bible: The Book of Nehemiah

Colon is used to introduce a quotation.

Examples:
• Bacon says: “Reading makes full man, writing an exact man, speaking a ready man”

Before enumeration :

Examples:
• The principle parts of English are: present tense, past tense and past participle.




5. Question Mark:

* A Question Mark ( ? ) is mainly used to indicate a direct question.

Example:
• Are you reading this book?


It can also be used in a sentence that ends with a question.

Example:
• You are involved in crime too, aren’t you?

It is sometimes also used when a question is worded like a statement.

Example:
• I wonder if it’s worth calling him?

In instances where there is doubt or uncertainty about a name, date or word,it is used to indicate this.

Example:
• Mullah Nasruddin (? 1208-1284) was one of the world’s most loved tricksters.

The Question mark, preceding the year of birth indicates that Mullah Nasruddin’s year of birth is uncertain.

And although it may seem like an error, a series of questions that are not complete should have this mark after each fragment.

Example:
• Can you believe that he is an inveterate liar? Or that he is not working? Or that he had never taken up a job in the first place? Or that he never ever has any money?






6. Exclamation Mark:

* The Exclamation Mark ( ! ) is simply a punctuation mark that indicates an exclamation. The statement could also be one expressing shock or surprise. In essence, this mark indicates in writing what one would verbally say by shouting or speaking strongly, either to attract attention or to emphasis a point.

There are quite a few ways to use this mark:


For instance, a parents warning the child and trying to enforce discipline might say:

• Behave yourself!

Or you could indicate the expression of a strong feeling of surprise, absurdity, approval, disapproval, regret and a host of other emotions.

• What a terrible thing to do!

• How crazy of him to have done such a thing!







7. Quotation Mark:

* The Quotation Mark ( “…”) & ( ‘…’) is also called an Inverted Comma. It consists of the double and the single quotation marks as shown above. This mark is used either to mark the beginning and the end of quotation or title or to indicate slang usage or words that are jargon.

The most common use is to tell the reader the exact words spoken by a person, which is called direct quotation.

For Example:

• He told me, “I will come to work an hour late today”.

The above sentence is direct quote. As an indirect quote, it would be stated in this way.

• He told me that he would come to work an hour late today.

In the above example, the quotation marks are not used since it is an indirect statement. Although both sentences convey exactly the same meaning, in the first instance it is said that the person quoted has spoken directly.






8. Hyphen:

* A Hyphen ( - ) is a sign that is used to join words to indicate that they have a combined meaning or that they are grammatically linked, or to indicate a word that has been split up at the end of the line.
In print, this mark is half the length of a dash. In actual writing, though, there is a little noticeable difference between a Dash and a Hyphen. However, the purpose of both these signs is exactly the opposite.
The dash is used to separate words or a group of words, while Hyphen mark is used to link words or parts of words.


This is used to join two or more words in order to form a single word (called a compound word):

• Good-for-nothing

• Free-for-all



Or to join words that have a grammatical relationship which form a compound:

• Point-blank

• Load-bearing






9. Apostrophe:
* The Apostrophe ( ’ ) is a punctuation mark that is used to indicate either possession (e.g., Rajah’s book) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g., can’t, August ’04).

This is used more in Contractions.

Singular nouns indicate the possessive by adding ‘s:

• The tiger’s roar – indicating one tiger

Plural nouns indicate the possessive by adding this mark after the s’:

• The tigers’ roar- indicating more than one tiger

If the plural noun ends in an alphabet other than s, the possessive is indicated by adding ‘s:

• The kitten’s meowing – indicating more than one cat



This is also used in contractions (can’t for can not), which is where people also tend to get confused.

The most common confusion is with the possessive whose with who’s.

Who’s is simply a contraction of who is.

Example:
• Who’s fault is it?

* The above sentence is incorrect. The correct usage is:

• Whose fault is it?


Another problem the users face is with names that end with an s.

Example:
• Thomas
• Charles

The confusion here has much to do with the awkward sound that results. In such cases, you could either write the names:

• Thomas’ or Thomas’s
• Charles’ or Charles’s

However, it is preferable to use the second option in such cases.


* Apostrophes should not be used in the pronouns hers, its, ours, yours and theirs.

This would be incorrect way to end the letter:
• Your’s truly

The correct way would be:
• Yours truly


Likewise, watch out for: it’s and its

Its (without an apostrophe) is a possessive that denotes belonging to it.

Example:
• The dog is expecting its dinner.

It’s (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of it is.

Example:
• The dog is expecting it’s dinner.

In the above two examples, the first sentence is correct.






10. Dash:

* A Dash ( - ) allows a writer to introduce informality in writing or to add emphasis, by allowing a sudden change in thought or tone.

For example:

• Let us go to the market and do some shopping. I’ve run out of hankies and could do with a set of new-oops! I just recalled- today is Monday and the markets this side of the town are closed.

This sign indicates to readers that the speaker’s train of thought has been suddenly interrupted by something important that he’s just recalled.






11. Parentheses:

* The Brackets that are almost always used in writing are the round Brackets or Parentheses (…).

Round Brackets are used when the writer wants to indicate explanations and additional information or commends.

• Hamish was upset with Deepak and felt like giving him a piece of his mind (to cut him down to size) in the presence of the others. However, he refrained from doing so (he did not wish to precipitate matters).

Or they are used to show optional words that imply doubt or caution:

• There are many (hidden) dangers on the road ahead, and he knew this for sure.

The round brackets are also used to give statistical information or reference.

• The Second World War (1939-1945) was the bloodiest conflict in human history.

Square brackets […] are used very rarely. The usage is restricted to occasions when some additional information has been provided, often by some one other than the writer (usually an editor) of the original text, to clarify an obscure point or to add extra information that facilitates better understanding or ease of reading.

• Anil Ambani claims that Ambani brothers are not inheritors [of Dhirubhai Ambani’s legacy] but partners.

Parentheses are used to separate from main part of the sentence, a phrase or a clause which does not grammatically belong to it.

Examples:

• He gained from heaven (it was all he wished) a friend.

• He gave me his book (Born to win) two days back.

These are the most common Punctuation signs that new English readers would encounter on the highway to mastering English. Once you master the usage of these Punctuation marks, the written words would flow faster and more easily.