1 Sem English Notes All Modules
1 Sem English Notes All Modules
Communication
- Imparting or exchange of information / ideas / feelings.
- Happens via speaking, writing, gestures, or some other media
- Usually involves 2 or more parties
Barriers to communication
Semantic barriers (language barriers): Eg. Lack of clarity, communicating in a complex way,
using too technical words.
Psychological Barriers: Eg. Inadequate attention to the message received, premature evaluation of
the information received.
Organisational barriers: Eg. Complexity of organizational structure.
Cultural barriers: lack of similarity or compatibility among different cultures.
Physical barriers: faulty equipment, noise, closed doors and cabins
Physiological barriers: like dyslexia, or nerve disorders that interfere with speech or hearing.
- Acknowledging any emotional responses the person has to what you have said.
- Don’t make any judgements / assumptions about what someone may be experiencing, always ask!
Types/Directions of communication
Upward Communication: Problems, reports, clarifications, attitudes, ideas, accomplishments, etc.
Downward Communication: Procedures, policies, directives, goals, assignments, etc.
Horizontal Communication: Coordinated efforts, problem-solving conferences, etc.
Diagonal Communication: Line problems, staff advice, etc.
Communicative English
- It is an approach to English teaching/ learning
- The student learns from real life interaction.
- It helps to reinforce the values of their studies
- Learns how to speak fluently with another English speaker.
- It involves the activities like roleplay, picture description, story narration, debate, etc.
Styles in Communication
1) Passive - Yielding to others
- “It really doesn’t matter that much.”
- “I just want to keep the peace”
2) Aggressive - issue commands, ask questions rudely and fail to listen to others
- “I’m right and you’re wrong.”
- “I’ll get my way no matter what.”
- “It’s all your fault.”
3) Passive-Aggressive - users appear passive on the surface, but building up a resentment and turns
aggressive later
4) Assertive - express their own needs, desires, ideas and feelings, while at the same time considering
the needs of others
14. Maintaining professional etiquette in oral and written business communication is of utmost
importance and must not be taken lightly.
A. true B. false C. possible D. may be
15. Communication is not indeed the very lubricant that makes the machinery of human relations
function smoothly.
A. true B. false C. possible D. may be
16. Proposals prepared for submission to the boss is ________ communication.
A. upward B. downward C. Horizontal D. Vertical
17. Letter from the CEO is _______ communication.
A. upward B. downward C. horizontal D. vertical
18. Counselling and training is _____ communication.
A. vertical B. horizontal C. Downward D. Upward
19. Chats, conversions, informal talks and the like are _______ communication.
A. grapevine B. horizontal C. upward D. vertical
20. No communication is complete without __________.
A. nose B. Semantic barrier C. Interpersonal D. Feedback
21. General communication may be _______
A. Formal B. Informal C. Both of these D. None of these
22. Gesture is an example for______
A. body language B. grammar C. speeches d. writing
23. Horizontal communication flows through ________
A. superior to superior B. subordinate to subordinate C. Both (A) & (B) D. None of the
above
24. Posters fall under ________ communication.
A. interpersonal B. Mass C. Intrapersonal D. Oral
25. Communication is the ________of business.
A. Backbone B. Blood C. Nerve D. Leg
26. Listening helps to make _____ effective.
A. Communication B. Report C. Look D. Expression
27. A written message which is conveyed over an electronic network is ________
A. notice B. circular C. post D. email
28. Communication is a ________
A. one way process B. Two way process C. Multi way process D. None of the above
29. Our dress code is an example of ______ communication.
A. verbal B. non-verbal C. written D. spoken
30. Interpersonal skills include _________
A. problem solving B. Emotional intelligence C. Team work D. All of these
31. In an organization, when a colleague shares official information with the other of an equal
hierarchical level, this kind of communication is _______
A. Horizontal B. Vertical C. Radical D. Informal
32. In communication, the observation of a receiver’s response is called _______
A. Survey B. Feedback C. Channel D. Message
33. This type of communication takes place within an individual:
A. Extra personal B. Intrapersonal C. Organizational D. Interpersonal
34. Which of the following is an oral communication?
A. Dictation B. Brochures C. Notice D. Letters
35. Who encodes a message in communication?
A. Sender B. Receiver C. transmitting medium D. Both (A) and (B)
36. Announcement of the changes of internals date is _______ communication.
A. radical B. vertical C. diagonal D. horizontal
37. Communication takes place between managers and workers located in different functional units, it
is ____
A. horizontal B. downward C. upward D. diagonal
Phonetics: The study of actual sounds that make up the words of a language.
- There are 44 sounds in English language.
- A phonemic chart gives different sounds shown with different symbols.
- The sounds are classified as vowels and consonants.
- vowels are classified as monothongs and diphthongs.
- consonants are classified as voiced and unvoiced sounds.
Vowels – The are speech sounds produced by humans when the breath flows out of the mouth without being
blocked by teeth, tongue or lips.
A distinct way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country or area.
1 Pronunciation
Sounds like: pruh-nun-see-AYE-shun
2 Cupboard
Sounds like: cuh-bud
3 Epitome
Sounds like: eh-PIT-oh-mee
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4 Salmon/almond
Sounds like: SAM-un, ARM-und
5 Library/February
Sounds like: lye-bruh-ree, feb-roo-air-ree
6 Definitely
Sounds like: DEF-in-ut-lee
7 Ask
Sounds like: arrsk
8 Wednesday
Sounds like: WENZ-day
9 Stomach
Sounds like: STU-muk
10 Clothes
Sounds like: clohthz
11 Especially/escape/espresso
Sounds like : es-PESH-ul-lee/es-CAYP/es-PRES-so
12 Probably
Sounds like: PROB-ub-blee
13 Yolk
Sounds like: yohk
14 Desert/ dessert
● desert (to leave someone or something and no longer help them) dizz-URT
● dessert (a sweet dish at the end of a meal) dizz-URT
15 Women
Sounds like: WI-min
16 Southern
Sounds like: SUTH-un
17 Iron
Sounds like: EYE-un
18 Specific
Sounds like: speh-SI-fik
19 Sixth
Sounds like: siksth
20 Crowd/cloud
Sounds like: k-Rowd/k-Lowd
Rules for pronouncing vowels
1) A Vowel is followed by a Consonant at the end of a word is pronounced as a short vowel. It means when
a word or syllable ends with a consonant and there is only one vowel, the sound made is of a short vowel.
Examples: bed, mat, lot, cat, fish
2) When a word ends with the vowel “e”, then it remains silent while pronouncing the word (do not read out
loud), and the vowel that comes before it, is a long vowel.
Examples: fake, bake, file, make, rope
3) When two vowels appear next to each other in a Syllable, the second vowel is generally short and the
first vowel is pronounced as a long vowel.
Examples: boat, beat, leaf, pain, grow, true, beat, train, load
4) If a Vowel is followed by two Consonants at the end of a word, it is pronounced as a short vowel.
Examples – bark, want, hand, wish
5) When a Vowel is a final letter in a Word (comes last), it is pronounced as a Long Vowel.
Examples – pi, go, be, he
The letter "g" comes close to following a phonics rule similar to the one for the letter "c." For example, it is
always pronounced /g/ unless it is followed by an "e," "i" or "y." Thus, we have game, got, and gum, as well
as glad, grand, and rugby. And, as with the "Rule of c," it's true that the letter "g" makes the /j/ sound only
when followed by "e," "i" or "y,." Unfortunately, however, you can’t be certain that it will be pronounced /j/.
In some such cases "g" still makes the /g/ sound.
The letter c represents /s/ before the letters e, i or y; otherwise it represents /c/.
At the beginning of words, 'th' is nearly always unvoiced: thick, theory. Exceptions the very common
'function words': the, this/that, these/those, then, there (and therefore), they/them/their and the older
thou/thee/thy/thine, thence, thenceforth.
At the end of words, 'th' is also unvoiced, except when it's followed by a silent -e. Bath (unvoiced); bathe
(voiced).
Between two vowels, 'th' is normally voiced: feather, rather. Exceptions: inflected forms of words ending in
unvoiced 'th'. So bathing < bath has unvoiced 'th'; bathing < bathe has voiced 'th'.
Spelling Rules
2. Changing -y to -ies or -s
When the word ends in a vowel + y just add ‘s’
key → keys
delay → delays
trolley → trolleys
company → companies
difficulty → difficulties
When a word has one syllable + 1 vowel next to 1 consonant we double up the final consonant with a vowel
suffix:
sit - sitter, big - biggest, tap - tapping, shop - shopper/shopping, fat - fatten, fattening, fatter, fattest...
This happens in longer words when the stress is on the final syllable:
begin (beGIN) - beginner, beginning
refer (reFER) - referring, referred
occur (ocCUR) - occurring, occurred, occurrence
We keep the 'e' if the word ends in –CE or –GE to keep a soft sound, with able/ous
courage + ous = courageous
notice + able = noticeable
7. -f to -ves or -s
When we add -ly to words ending in -ful then we have double letters
gratefully faithfully hopefully
Stress Shift
While pronunciation is important, sometimes it’s just as important to get the word stress correct . English
words always have one part (syllable) that is stressed more strongly than others, this is called the primary
stress. Correct primary stress helps the listener to understand your speech.
If you slightly mispronounce a word, but the primary stress is correct, you can often communicate it’s
meaning. So, stress is important, especially for words you use often.
Intonation
Intonation is primarily a matter of variation in the pitch of the voice. In such languages as English, it is often
accompanied by stress and rhythm to produce meaning.
Purpose of intonation
It allows the speaker to convey emotions and attitudes in speech, such as finality, joy, sadness, etc.
Intonation also allows the speaker to stress certain words. In addition, intonation can help the speaker
convey the grammar of the spoken words by pausing at certain points, for example, or by raising the voice to
ask a question. In addition, intonation can help the speaker convey what he or she expects of the listener(s)
in discourse by, for example, seeming to ask a question or by conveying when something is new information
in contrast to information the listener already knows.
Patterns of intonation
Statements
Nice to meet ➘ you. I’ll be back in a ➘ minute.
Commands
Write your name ➘ here. Show me what you’ve ➘ written.
Exclamations
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Yes/no Questions
Have you finished ➚ already? May I borrow your ➚ dictionary?
Questions tags that show uncertainty and require an answer (real questions).
We've met already, ➚ haven't we? You like fish, ➚ don't you?
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60. The COVID 19 pandemic has led to hospitalized patients with viral __neumonia.
A. kneemonia B. pneumonia C. Tsneumonia D. none of these
Verb action or state be, have, do, go, work, Cheetah is an animal.
think, can, will Cheetah runs fast.
Adjective describes a noun good, big, red, well, The sky is blue.
interesting, British
Pronoun replaces a noun I, you, he, she, they, Arvind is a manager. He works for
someone an MNC.
Preposition relates a noun to another from, to, at, after, on, We went to Mysore on Wednesday.
word but, above, below
Conjunction joins clauses or and, but, when, so, I like coffee and snacks.
sentences or words because I like coffee, but I don’t like soft
drinks.
Interjection short exclamation, oh!, ouch!, hi!, wow! Ouch! That hurts!
sometimes inserted into a Wow! The art work is superb.
sentence
Types of Nouns
Common noun- indicates the generalized names of people, places, things, and animals.
Boy, girl, mountain, tree, dog, pen, gate, city, park, crow, etc.
Proper noun- indicates the name of a particular person, place, thing, or an animal.
The Himalayas, The Ganges, India, The Taj Mahal, John, Rita, The USA, etc.
Material noun- indicates substances and materials that we can see and touch.
Gold, Silver, coal, rock, water, sunlight, leather, wood, sand, air, etc.
Abstract noun- indicates feelings, qualities, ideas, and concepts that we cannot identify with the help of
our senses.
Beauty, goodness, old-age, childhood, honesty, truth, wisdom, bravery, sadness, happiness, etc.
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Collective noun- indicates the group or collection of people, things and animals as a whole.
Class of students, a bar of chocolate, pile of leaves, bouquet of roses, bunch of keys, team of
players, band of musicians, pride of lions, herd of elephants, gaggle of geese etc.
Cases of a noun
The nominative case: marks the subject of a verb. Ex. The table bears the load.
The objective case: serving as the object of a transitive verb or a preposition. Ex. They clean the table.
The possessive case: denotes owner ship. Ex. It is Usha’s car.
The Vocative Case: used for the sake of address. Ex. Hasan, you must do your duty!
Types of Pronouns
Articles:
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Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a non-count noun when you mean "any," "in general."
• We believe in love (in general).
• He gave me information (not specific).
Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
• Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are
referring to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm
hospitality.")
• Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball
• Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science
Question Tags
Question tags turn a statement into a question. They are often used for checking information that we think
we know is true. Tag questions are made using an auxiliary verb and a subject pronoun (such as: I, you, she).
Negative question tags are usually contracted.
As a general rule, if the main clause is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the main clause is
negative, it's positive.
Examples:
He can finish it fast, can’t he?
They have not been at the hall yet, have they?
Rita must attend the function, mustn’t she?
I am experienced, aren’t I?
Let’s go out for dinner today, shall we?
There is a shoe post office nearby, isn’t there?
Ravi knows it, doesn’t he?
She attended the meeting, didn’t she?
Come on in, won’t you?
Help me arrange the books, can you?
Wait for a minute, would you?
Don’t be very fast, will you?
Don’t get upset, will you?
Choose whether the underlined nouns are common, proper, collective or abstract:
11. Honesty is the best policy. A. common B. proper C. collective D. abstract
12. Solomon was famous for his wisdom. A. common B. proper C. collective D. abstract
13. James is a bright student. A. common B. proper C. collective D. abstract
14. My family lives in that house. A. common B. proper C. collective D. abstract
15. A committee of five was appointed. A. common B. proper C. collective D. abstract
16. “Our blessings come from above.” The underlined word is
A. noun B. pronoun C. verb D. adverb
17. Which of the following noun is generally used as plural form?
A. Economics B. Furniture C. public d. news
18. “None but the brave deserve the best.” The underlined word is
A. preposition B. noun C. conjunction D. verb
19. The abstract noun of the verb “Go” is
A. Goit B. Glutton C. gone D. go
20. A _____ of birds flew high in the sky.
A. group B. pack C. flock D. none of these
21. They saw a________ of lions in the zoo.
A. school B. herd C. troop D. none of these
22. The farmer has a_______ of cattle on his farm.
A. troop B. school C. herd D. none of these
23. He ate a________ of grapes today.
A. chunk B. bar C. bunch D. none of these
24. The big_______ of fish would be arriving soon.
A. troop B. group C. school None of these
25. Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: Against all odds, she won.
A. verb B. pronoun C. preposition D. conjunction
26. Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: I will do it myself.
A. Demonstrative pronoun B. Relative pronoun
c. Reflexive pronoun D. Emphatic pronoun
27. Which is your book?
A. adjective B. pronoun C. adverb D. preposition
28. He looks as stupid as ______ owl.
A. a B. an C. the D. zero article
29. Honest men speak _______ truth.
A. a B. an C. the D. zero article
30. I first met him _______ year ago.
A. a B. an C. the D. zero article
31. He returned after _____ hour.
A. a B. an C. the D. zero article
32. This is _____ best book of elementary chemistry.
A. a B. an C. the D. zero article
33. I need ______ milk for this recipe.
A. a B. an C. the D. zero article
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A. for B. to C. by D. with
60. He ate apple _____ mango.
A. beside B. besides C. to D. for
61. As I approached ______ him, he turned and walked away.
A. to B. by C. beside D. no preposition needed
62. Woman is looking _____ her diamond ring.
A. to B. at C. in D. inside.
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Common Prefixes
Prefix Definition Examples
anti- against antinational
de- down, reverse devalue, decode
dis- not; opposite of disregard
fore- first in place, toward the front foreshadow, forearm
inter- between intercity
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Common Suffixes
Suffix Definition Examples
-able, -ible can be affordable, sensible
-al, -ial having the characteristic of, or related to universal, facial
-en made of earthen
-er, -or person connected with teacher, professor
-ful full of helpful
-ic having the characteristic of poetic
-less without hopeless
-ly the manner of something lovely
WORD FORMS
VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE ADVERB
Act Action Active Actively
Care Care Careful Carefully
Comfort comfort comfortable Comfortably
Consider Consideration Considerable Considerably
Craze Craze Crazy Crazily
Differ Difference Different Differently
Hate Hatred Hateful Hatefully
Hope Hope Hopeful Hopefully
Include Inclusion Inclusive Inclusively
Protect Protection Protected/protective Protectively
Quicken Quickness Quick Quickly
Rely Reliance Reliable Reliably
Sadden Sadness Sad Sadly
Secure Security Secured Securely
Strengthen Strength Strong Strongly
Succeed Success Successful successfully
Contraction:
a word made by shortening and combining two words
Eg.
are not --> aren't I have --> I've we are --> we're he will --> he'll
I am --> I'm there is --> there's do not --> don't she will --> she'll
that is --> that's did not --> didn't let us --> let's you will --> you'll
cannot --> can't is not --> isn't what is --> what's
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TENSE CHART
Tense Present Past Future
Simple He drives a car He drove a car He will drive a car
Continuous He is driving a car He was driving a car He will be driving a car
Perfect He has driven a car He had driven a car He will have driven a car
Perfect He has been driving a He had been driving a He will have been driving a
Continuous car. car. car.
Sequence of Tenses
Rule 1: If the verb in the principal clause is in the present, the verb in the subordinate clause may be
in any tense, depending upon the context.
He knows that he cooks.
He knows that he cooked.
He knows that he will cook.
Rule 2: If the verb in the principal clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause will be
in the corresponding past tense.
He said that he would come.
She told me that she had been working.
When we went to the platform, the train had left.
Exception to Rule 2: When the subordinate clause expresses some universal truth or all time facts or
the things that usually happen, it should be in simple present.
The officer told us that integrity matters.
Rule 3: If the main clause is in the present or future, use may in the subordinate class. If the main
clause is in the past, use might in the subordinate clause.
I work hard that I may succeed.
I will work hard that I may succeed.
I worked hard that I might succeed.
Rule 4: If the main clause is in future tense and the subordinate clause starts with “when”, “until”,
“before”, “after”, etc., the subordinate clause should be in simple present.
I will inform you when the report is ready.
I shall wait until they come.
Rule 5: Expressions such as “as if”, “if only”, “it is time” and “wish that” are usually followed by past
tenses.
I wish I was a bit easier.
It is time we started focusing.
He boasts as if he did everything.
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33. ____minister
A. over B. ex C. on D. bi
34. _____vegetarian
A. en B. an C. non D. un
35. ____editor
A. joint B. bi C. bye C. sub
36. _____post
A. age B. ne C. on D. out
Select the linkers and discourse makers from the given options to make meaningful sentences.
37. Women at the club kept gossiping, ______their husbands played cards.
A. while B. when C. where D. which
38. He talks to me _______ he were my boss.
A. as if B. as though C. though D. also
39. The application cannot be submitted now ______ the last date was 30th April 2022.
A. because B. so C. therefore D. thereafter
40. _______ when is your flight?
A. By the way B. By the bye C. By and large D. Bye and Bye
41. _______ you talk sense, ______ you keep your mouth shut!
A. Either…or B. Neither….nor C. Whether…or D. Both….and
Choose the correct suffixes to form words that can complete the sentences.
42. Happi____is a state of mind.
A. ness B. able C. ible D.ent
43. People speak loudly. You are barely aud____
A. able B. ible C. ity D. ful
44. She met his expect_____ gaze with a gentle smile.
A. ant B. able C. ful D. ible
45. The author submitted his final manu_____after a long delay.
A. script B. scribe C. sophic D. scopy
46. This is a hope_____ situation. I don’t know to get out of it.
A. est B. ily C. less D. able
Choose the appropriate adverbs from the given options:
47. They found it ____ to fill the vacant positions.
A. hard B. hardly C. appropriately D. scarcely
48. She was quite _______ dressed for the party.
A. nicely B. disastrously C. nice D. harmoniously
49. Before signing, the manger looked through the document quite ______.
A. confidently B. careful C. carefully D. care
50. Saina Nehwal played the last test ______ well and won the match.
A. rather B. gingerly C. quite D. appropriately
51. ______ that is the reason for his absence from office.
A. Magically B. possibly C. posthumously D. fastly
52. Which of the following spellings is correct?
A. argument B. argumente C. arguemint D. arguemintes
53. Choose the correct verb/tense form: Our holy books tell us that man _______ mortal.
A. is B. was C. will be D. are
54. Choose the correct verb/tense form: The teacher asked the boys whether they ____ the problems.
A. solve B. have solved C. had solved D. solves
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MTI – Mother Tongue Influence: While speaking English, some people’s pronunciation and accent is
highly influenced by their mother tongue with interference of sounds from the mother tongue.
Avoiding MTI
• Refer Oxford dictionary to know how words are pronounced phonetically.
• Practice language tongue twisters.
• Watch English news and English documentaries on the TV.
• Use artificial intelligence like google assistance
• Practise reading aloud.
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