Maharashtra Board of Education has included appeal writing in the syllabus of std 12. Students should prepare the appeal writing not only for the exam but as a part of future career option. Working in different position one has to prepare appeal for the institution or organization. The skill learn in school/ college life can be useful in further life. One should acquire skills beyond the examination point of view.
9 Steps for appeal writing
Title : Cyclone Relief And You (CRY)
Heralding : Dear Friends Listen To Call ; Come one Come All
Statement of the Problem : Cyclone claims 1000 lives in Orissa
Consequences : No food ……. No Clothe… No shelter
Remedial Solution : We need YOU _____ Remember, little help can work wonders
Appeal : Do all the good you can, …… Join us for the noble cause.
Contact Address : Students Relief Fund , Lokmanya Vidyalaya , Warora
Logo Mark : CRY
Signature Line : Service to Mankind is Service God
Required Skills for Appeal Writing
Use of imperative sentences to appeal
Good and effective adjectives to describe
Use of Metaphor
Poetic Creativity
Make an appeal
Prepare an appeal to help the affected ones by natural calamities.
Let every step you take whisper life into the Earth.
Let every choice you make bloom into hope for tomorrow.
Protect the trees that stand like silent guardians of breath.Conserve water, for it is the silver vein of life running beneath our feet.
Reduce plastic, that stubborn shadow choking our oceans.Plant new saplings, tiny green poems that grow into forests.
Keep your surroundings clean and let purity shine like morning sunlight.
Earth is not just a planet;it is our mother,our only home,our living heartbeat circling the sun.
Let us rise—Act now. Care now. Restore now.
Your one effort can become a ripple,and your ripple can become a wave of change.
Save Environment. Save Earth.
The future is in your hands—shape it green.
Appeal for Eye Donation
Open your eyes to someone’s darkness—and help them see the sunrise again.
Donate your eyes. Gift sight. Restore a life.
Let your vision live beyond you.
Let your eyes become a lamp in someone’s night.
Let your last act become someone’s first glimpse of hope.
Pledge your eyes and allow your kindness to shine through another’s world.
Inspire your family to follow your noble choice.
Spread the message so no one waits in endless darkness.A pair of eyes can becomea window to dreams,a doorway to dignity,a bridge to a brighter tomorrow.
In India many students prepare for competitive exams Staff Selection, BITs, MPSC, UPSC, probationary officer etc. These students should prepare English Grammar for competitive exams separately so that they get edge over the ranking. In competitive exams sets MCQ type questions on Basic English Grammar and vocabulary which we study as do as directed in our school and college.
Directions (Qs. 1-15): Read each of the following sentences to find out if there is any error in it. The error if any will be in one part, (A), (B), (C) or (D) of the sentence which you have to mark. If there is no error mark ‘E”. Find the error is an important aspect in English Grammar for Competitive Exams.
1. She has gone(A)/to the market(B)/to buy(C)/a scissor.(D)/No error(E).
Ans: She has gone(A)/to the market(B)/to buy(C)/a scissor.(D)/No error(E). Correct one is ‘ a pair of scissors’
2. The child(A)/broke his(B)/ father’s spectacle(C)/ while playing. (D)/No error(E).
Ans: The child(A)/broke his(B)/ father’s spectacle(C)/ while playing. (D)/No error(E). Correct one is ‘spectacles’. 3. During the past year(A)/a series of (B)/lectures were(C)/delivered. (D)/No error(E).
Ans: During the past year(A)/a series of (B)/lectures were(C)/delivered. (D)/No error(E). Correct one is ‘lectures was’
Nouns are classified as the singular nouns and the plural nouns regarding their number. A noun which denotes one thing is said to be in the singular number whereas that which denotes more than one thing is said to be in the plural number. The Most Common Rules For Forming Plural Nouns have been given below:
Plural Nouns are formed By adding ‘s’ to the singular:
Singular Nouns
Plural Nouns
Book
Books
Pen
Pens
table
tables
friend
friends
girl
girls
element
elements
By adding ‘es’ at the end of a singular noun if it ends in s, sh, x, ch, z:
Singular Nouns List
Plural Nouns List
bus
buses
brush
brushes
box
boxes
torch
torches
topaz
topazes
By adding ‘s’ to a singular noun if it ends in ‘y’ and if there is a vowel before the ‘y’:
Singular Nouns
Plural Nouns
toy
toys
boy
boys
holiday
holidays
guy
guys
key
keys
Plural Forms of Nouns ending in ‘f’ or ‘fe’ : ‘f’ or ‘fe’ turns into ‘ves’
Singular
Plural Forms of Nouns
wife
wives
life
lives
knife
knives
thief
thieves
leaf
leaves
calf
calves
Exception to the rule
But there are exception to the rule : proof-proofs; chief-chiefs; safe-safes; fife-fifes; puff- puffs; pouf- poufs, roof-roofs
There are still other singular nouns ending in ‘f’ which form their plural by following both the above methods and both the plurals thus obtained are correct.
Singular
Singular Nouns
Plural Nouns Accepted Two Ways
hoof
hoofs / hooves
scarf
scarfs / scarves
wharf
wharfs / wharves
turf
turfs / turves
Singular nouns ending in ‘o’ and have a consonant before that ‘o’, form their plural nouns by adding ‘es’ to the singular:
Singular nouns ending in ‘o’ and having a vowel before that ‘o’, form their plural by adding ‘s”:
Singular
Singular Nouns
Plurals
studio
studios
radio
radios
audio
audios
cuckoo
cuckoos
folio
folios
Some nouns form their plurals by changing the vowel sound of the singular:
Singular Nouns
Plural Nouns
man
men
tooth
teeth
foot
feet
woman
women
mouse
mice
child
children
goose
geese
louse
lice
Compound nouns get their plural by adding ‘s’ to the main or the principal word.
(a) In some cases it is the first word that forms the plural:
Daughter-in-law
Daughters-in-law
Hanger-on
Hangers-on
Sister-in-law
Sisters-in-law
Commanders-in-chief
Commanders-in-chief
Brother-in-law
Brothers-in-law
Son-in-law
Sons-in-law
Looker-on
Lookers-on
Passer-by
Passers-by
(b) Examples where the second word forms the plural:
Singular Compound Nouns
Plural Compound Nouns
Book-case
Book-cases
Class-fellow
Class-fellows
Grand-father
Grand-fathers
Grand-mother
Grand-mothers
class-mate
class-mates
Race-horse
Race-horses
Step-son
Step-sons
(c) Examples where both words make the plural:
Maid-servant – Maids-servants
Man-servant – Men-servants
Woman-servant – Women-servants
Lord-justice – Lords-justices
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NOUNS – One of the Eight Parts of Speech
1. ‘Cousin’ is never followed by ‘brother’ or ‘sister’.
2. We do not write a man. We write to a man.
3. Boarding is a wrong use. It should be ‘boarding house’.
4. ‘Poor people’ is a slang use. It should be ‘the poor’.
5. ‘Signature’ should be used in place of the abbreviation ‘sign’.
6. Food taken once is ‘meal’ and not ‘meals’. Meals means both lunch and dinner’ and we cannot take them together.
7. ‘Vacation’ is one term. Hence it is singular.
8. ‘Tickets’ mean ‘the number of tickets’. “Ticket’ means ‘the mode of entry’.
9. ‘Alphabet’ is generally used in the singular sense. But it can also be used in the plural sense when different languages are referred to at the same time.
10. ‘Inning’ is no word. The actual word is ‘innings and is always used in the singular sense.
11. English teacher’ is slang. It should be ‘the teacher of English’.
12. ‘Noun’ or ‘pronoun’ after ‘one of ‘should always be plural.
13. Agendum’ is not used in English. Agenda (Programme of a meeting) is treated as singular in English.
14. ‘Mankind’ is not used in the plural sense. 15. ‘Room’ in a compartment or on a bench, etc. means ‘unoccupied seat.”
16. ‘Witness’ means knowledge brought in proof. “Evi- dence’ denotes means of proving an unknown or disputed fact.
17. Family members’ is a slang use. The correct form is ‘members of the family’.
18. “Goodnight” is a parting salutation, but “Good evening” is a meeting salutation from evening till midnight.
19. If two singular nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same thing, the verb used with them should be singular.
20. ‘Wages’ when used in the singular form means ‘pun- ishment’ but when used in the plural sense, it means ‘charges for the labour’.
21. Jury’ and ‘Committee’ are collective nouns. When they are used to convey the oneness of their action, they get a singular verb but when used to express difference in their action, they get a plural verb.
22. The use of double possessive should be avoided. It is better to write the ‘son of my uncle’s friend’ than ‘my uncle’s friend’s son”.
23. The use of (‘s) is usually limited to living things, ‘Of is used in the case of lifeless things, e.g. The girl’s leg; but the leg of the table (and not the table’s leg).
24. When two nouns indicate common possession, (‘s) is added to the later one; when they indicate separate possession, (‘s) is added to each one of them; e.g. Mohan and Sohan’s father. Mohan’s and Sohan’s father.
25. Our’s, your’s, her’s their’s is wrong.
(One person) (Two persons)
Ours, yours, hers, theirs is correct.
26. The following nouns are always used in plural:
Candidates preparing English for competitive exams take undue tension. English appears to be problematic for them. So some of them neglect English Grammar. Here they fail to get into the rank. By studying basic but unique grammar and vocabulary, the candidates can overcome this fear of English. The 5 groups of nouns, singular plural nouns and verb forms going with them will boost your confident. Students studying in high school and Jr. colleges also should study grammar not for the school exams but for the competitive exams.
English is made compulsory in almost all competitive Exams. Exams like Banking, NDA, BITS, MPSC, UPSC, Staff Selection Commissions and SBI Probationary, Police Recruitment, Teacher Recruitment have English paper. English in Competitive exams is tricky. Questions based on subject verb agreement and singular plural nouns confuse the students.
Nouns always in Plural Forms
The following nouns are always used in plural forms. Use of these nouns as singular by removing ‘s’ or ‘es’ is incorrect. While using the verbs with them, one should consider this fact. These nouns follow the verbs like are, were, have, do and base form of verbs in Simple Present Tense.
1. Riches – Riches have wings
2. Premises – Our school premises are clean and green.
3. Spectacles – My spectacles have been broken.
4.Socks – We wear a pair of socks.
5. Fetters
6. Bowels
7. Shorts
8. Valuables
9. Pantaloons
10. Proceeds
11. Tidings
12. Alms
13. Mumps
14. Eatables
15. Billiards
16. Movables
17. Scissors – Kindly give me a pair of scissors.
18. Wages
19. Thanks
20. Stockings
21. Surroundings
22. Annals
23. Breeches
24. Measles
25. Trousers
26. Arms
27. Tongs
28. Goods
Examples:
(a) Riches have wings.
Riches in the above sentence means “wealth’ and not
‘many rich men’. In other words “Riches’ is not the plural of “Rich’. The word has its independent existence and is always used in plural. So, we have used a plural verb (have) with it.
(b) Kindly give me a scissor.(Incorrect)
Kindly give me a pair of scissors.(Correct)
Nouns Plural in Forms But Used in Singular
The following nouns seems to be plural as they end with ‘s’ but they are singular in form. We should consider this fact while using these nouns in sentences. These nouns follow the verbs like is, was, has, does.
1. Mathematics
2. Innings
3. Athletics
4. Statistics
5. Economics
6. Politics
7. Gymnastics
8. Gallows
9. Summons
10. Mechanics
11. Classics
12. Physics
13. News
Examples:
(a) Mathematics are a difficult subject. (Incorrect)
Mathematics is a difficult subject.(Correct)
Note: Mathematics looks like plural but, in fact, it is singular. So, we cannot use plural verb with it.
(b)Politics are a game of compromise.(Incorrect)
Politics is a game of compromise.(Correct)
(c) These news were broadcast from All India Radio only yesterday.(Incorrect)
This news was broadcast from All India Radio only yesterday.(Correct)
Nouns singular in form but used as plural.
1. Police
2. Clergy
3. People
4. Gentry
5. Folk
6. Mankind
7. Vermin
8. Public
9. Cattle
10 Poultry
11 Peasantry
Examples
(a) The police is looking into the matter. The police are looking into the matter
(b) The cattle is grazing in the field. The cattle are grazing in the field.(Incorrect)
(c) Peoples should be loyal to their nation. People should be loyal to their nation.
Nouns Generally used in the singular form.
Gram
Infantry
Poetry
Scenery
Offspring
Abuse
Stationery
Furniture
Advice
Information
Luggage
Issue
Machinery
Cavalry
Physics
Rice
Fuel
Mischief
Alphabet
Bunting
Hair
Bedding
Examples:
(a) I do not like poetries of Keats.
I do not like the poetry of Keats.
(b) The old furnitures were disposed of.
The old furnitures was disposed of.
(c) The sceneries of the Himalayas are excellent
The sceneries of the Himalayas is excellent
Unchanged Singular Plural Nouns
Sheep
Deer
Fish
Rice
Apparatus
Corps
Means
Heathen
Cod
yoke
species
Pan
Series
Amends
Cannon
Swine
Examples:
(a) A series of lectures were delivered on the subject. (Incorrect)
A series of lectures was delivered on the subject. (Correct)
(b) The fishes cannot live without water. (Incorrect)
The fish cannot live without water. (Correct)
Nouns preceded by numeral
There are some nouns that express length, measure, money, weight, number or counting. These nouns when preceded by a numeral remain unchanged in form. Such nouns are listed below:
“The New Dress” by Virginia Woolf is a short story about the character Mabel Waring. She is constantly thinking about her new dress negatively. For the party she wears an old fashioned dress thinking as original deliberately. May be that was affordable for her economic condition. On reaching the party and watching the other partygoers, she feels self-conscious and insecure. She worries that her new dress is not appropriate for the occasion. After greeting the hostess, she goes to look at herself in a mirror, immediately deciding that it’s not right. She imagines the other guests are looking at her mockingly.
She curses herself for wearing that yellow dress in the name of being original. She continues to condemn herself for wearing that old-fashioned dress. When Rose Shaw in the party praises her dress, she feels she is being mocked. Mabel tries to think of some way “to lessen this pain.” She describes her situation in agonized terms, as if she is not be mentally stable. Mabel compares herself with fly in the saucer and all other partygoers as beautiful butterflies dancing on the floor. She doesn’t take anything on positive note. She considers Robert Haydon’s remark as polite but insincere.
In her stream of consciousness she tries to think back to how happy and comfortable she felt at the dressmaker’s room. The kind Miss Milan pinned her hem, asked for her measurements, and tended to her pet canary. However, the world in the party is different. She expected Charles Burt commenting on her dress as charming. Instead he asks her to get a new dress. She rebukes herself for caring about what others think of her.
Mabel recalls growing up in her unremarkable family and her dreams of romance and adventure in far-away lands. She thinks about her reality, including her marriage. She thinks of special, lonely moments in her life, which she describes as delicious and divine. These were the only moments when she felt truly happy and fulfilled.
She wonders if these moments will become more and more infrequent as she gets older. She wants to find a way to be happy. She decides to pursue self-improvement and transformation through some helpful, astonishing book, or an inspirational public speaker. Having talked herself out of her internal crisis, she gets up to leave the party. Before she goes, she approaches Mrs. Dalloway, assuring the hostess that she enjoyed herself at the party.
Glossary
annul – reduce to nothing
appalling – very bad
archeology – scientific study of material remains of past human life an activities
botany -a branch of biology dealing with plant life
bulging – swollen
clamour – a loud continuous noise
cormorant – large diving seabirds
coy – bashful
creaking – making a harsh, high pitched sound
decrepit – elderly and infirm
detached – aloof
dignified – august, distinguished
dingy – gloomy and drab
dowdy – unfashionable
etymology – scientific study of the history of a linguistic form (words, grammar)
fretful – restless
fructify – to bear fruit
furbishing – to give a new look to
gesticulating – using gestures
grudgingly – in a reluctant manner
lolling – hanging loosely
misery – physical and mental distress or discomfort
odious – extremely unpleasant
orgy – excessive indulgence
paltry – inferior
pluming – profound
to indulge in pride
deep or intense
pucker – a small fold
puffed up – inflated, swelled
relentlessly
remorselessly – affectless
repulsive – arousing intense distaste or disgust
rigged – manipulated
satirical – sarcastic
scrolloping – possessing heavy floral ornament
simpered – smiled in an affectedly coy manner
slinking – moving quietly with gliding steps
slouched – stood or sat in a lazy way
sordid – unpleasant
squint – to look with eyes partly closed
vacillating – wavering between different opinions
vanity – excessive pride
weevils – small insects/beetles
wobbly – uncertain movement
Activity Set 1(Questions and Answers, New Dress class 12)
Read the extract and complete the activities given below:(12) Mabel had her first serious suspicion that……………………. came into Mrs. Dalloway‟s drawing-room.
A1. True or false: (02) i. Mabel was not happy with her dress. True ii. Mabel had an inferiority complex from her childhood. True iii. Mabel decided to wear new dress for Mrs Dalloway‟s party . True iv. Mabel was too much negative about her dress and approach in general. False
A2. Proofs / evidences: (02) Find out proofs or evidences that shows that Mabel is thinking too much of her dress . Ans: The following sentences proves that Mabel is thinking too much of her dress . “What‟s Mabel wearing? What a fright she looks! What hideous new dress!”
A3. Describe: Write down the reactions of Mabel and the people around her in the party when she appeared in The party. Ans : Mabel wears the dress willingly. But when she reached the party, she reacted as if she is inferior. She imagines that people around her are making fun of her. She remains aloof from the gathering in the party.
A4. Personal Response: (02) What would be your reaction if you realise that the dress you have chosen for a special occasion was not properly stitched and you are not comfortable in it. Ans: If I realise that the dress I have chosen for a special occasion was not properly stitched and I am not comfortable in it, I would change the dress if possible. Otherwise I will manage to be cool in the party.
A5. Language study: (02) a) She could not beat off. (Use “be able to” and rewrite) Choose the correct option and rewrite the sentence. i) she is not able to beat off. ii) She was not able to beat off. iii)She were able to beat off. iv) She could able to beat off. b) What a hideous new dress! (Make it Assertive) Choose the correct option and rewrite the sentence i) It is really a hideous new dress. ii) How hideous dress is it! iii) Wasn‟t it a hideous dress? iv) How was her dress?
A6. Vocabulary: (02) Find out words from the extract which mean the following. i. A strong belief – conviction ii. Cruelly – relentlessly iii. Very ugly – hideous iv. Lack of courage – cowardice
Activity Set 2
Read the extract from ‘The New Dress’
(Mabel had her first serious ……………………………………….. for young people to stick pins into.)
A1. Complete the web-chart.
A2. She did not dare to look in the mirror. Give reasons.
A3. Pick out the lines showing the inferior complex of Mabel.
A4 Write your attitude towards a person out of fashion.
A5. Language Study
She could not be fashionable. (Rewrite as affirmative.)
Why not be original ? (Rewrite as assertive.)
A6. Give the meanings of – 1. dummy 2. precisely 3. edge 4. endurable
