Grammar usage: Class 10 English

Key points

Grammar usage means applying the rules of English correctly in real sentences. At Class 10 level the main areas are tenses, modals, conditionals, non-finite verbs (gerunds, infinitives and participles), clauses and linking words.

Uses of the main tenses:

• Simple present: habits and general truths (She walks to school. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius).
• Present continuous: actions happening now or planned (They are playing. We are leaving tomorrow).
• Present perfect: past actions with a result now, or unfinished time (I have lost my pen. She has taught here for ten years).
• Present perfect continuous: an action that began in the past and is still going on (He has been reading since noon).
• Simple past: a finished action at a known time (We visited Swat last summer).
• Past continuous: an action in progress at a past moment (I was cooking when the bell rang).
• Past perfect: the earlier of two past actions (She had left before I arrived).
• Simple future: decisions and predictions (I will call you). Going to is used for plans already made (I am going to apply).

Time words guide the tense. Use the present perfect with already, yet, just, ever, never, since and for. Use the simple past with yesterday, last year and ago. Since is followed by a point in time (since 2020) and for by a length of time (for four years). Note the difference: 'I lived there for five years' means I no longer live there, while 'I have lived there for five years' means I still do.

Modal verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must and ought to. They are followed by the base form of a verb, have no s in the third person, and show ability, permission, possibility, advice or duty:

• Ability: can swim, could read at four.
• Permission: May I come in? You can leave now.
• Possibility: It might rain. She may be at home.
• Advice: You should rest. You ought to apologise.
• Necessity or duty: Students must wear uniform. Must not shows prohibition, while do not have to shows no need.

Conditional sentences have an if clause and a main clause. Three common types:

• Type 1 (real and likely future): If + simple present, will + base verb. If you work hard, you will pass.
• Type 2 (unreal or unlikely present): If + simple past, would + base verb. If I were a bird, I would fly over the mountains. Use were for all persons in this formal pattern.
• Type 3 (impossible past): If + past perfect, would have + past participle. If he had left earlier, he would have caught the train.
• Zero conditional (general truths): If + present, present. If you heat ice, it melts.

A gerund is the ing form of a verb used as a noun: 'Swimming is good exercise.' It follows prepositions and some verbs: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, practise, suggest. An infinitive is to plus the base verb and follows others: want, hope, decide, promise, refuse, learn. Some verbs take either with a change of meaning. 'I stopped to talk' means I paused in order to talk. 'I stopped talking' means I ceased talking. A participle is used as an adjective: a running tap, a broken window.

A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. A main (independent) clause can stand alone. A subordinate (dependent) clause cannot. A simple sentence has one clause. A compound sentence joins main clauses with and, but, or or so. A complex sentence has a main clause and at least one subordinate clause: 'I stayed home because it was raining.'

Subordinate clauses are of three kinds:

• Noun clause, doing the work of a noun: I know that he is honest.
• Adjective (relative) clause, describing a noun: The girl who won the prize is my cousin.
• Adverb clause, giving time, reason, condition, place or purpose: Call me when you arrive. He studied hard so that he could pass.

Relative pronouns link a clause to a noun. Use who for people, which for things and animals, and that for either. Whose shows possession. Defining clauses give necessary information and take no commas: 'The book that I borrowed is excellent.' Non-defining clauses add extra information and use commas: 'My uncle, who lives in Quetta, is a doctor.' Do not use that in a non-defining clause.

Linking words make writing smooth. To add: and, also, moreover. To contrast: but, however, although, yet. To give a reason: because, since, as. For a result: so, therefore, as a result. For sequence: first, then, finally. Although and but are not used together: write 'Although it was cold, he went out' or 'It was cold, but he went out.'

Common usage points: use fewer with countable nouns (fewer chairs) and less with uncountable nouns (less water). Use much with uncountable and many with countable nouns. Use a little (some) and a few in a positive sense, and little and few in a negative sense, as in 'He has few friends' meaning almost none.

Study tip: Learn each tense with one fixed time word and one example sentence. For conditionals, check the if clause first because it decides the main clause. In gap-filling questions look for words like since, already and yesterday, which point to the tense. Revise the three conditional patterns and the modal uses, as they are tested often.

Definitions and flashcards

Say the meaning first, then open the card to check.

Short questions with model answers

These are the kind of questions asked for 2, 3 and 5 marks. Try each one before opening the answer.

Common mistakes

• Using the simple past with since or for when the action continues, such as 'I lived here since 2010'.
• Putting will in the if clause, as in 'If it will rain, I will stay'.
• Adding to or an s after a modal verb, as in 'He can to swim' or 'She cans sing'.
• Using both although and but, or both because and so, in one sentence.
• Mixing up fewer and less, or many and much.

Practise this chapter

Practice questions and timed test Printable worksheet