Compulsory English: Grade XII:

Prescribed Books

 

Books                                                                       Full Marks

 

1.  The Heritage of Words                                                 25

2.  (a) Meanings Into Words (Student’s Book)                 25

     (b) Meanings Into Words (Workbook)

3.  Unseen Passage                                                             15

4. Compositions/Free Writing:                                          35

    a.  Letter writing:

         i) Application letters              ii) Personal letters

iii) Letter to the Editor      iv) Official letters

     b. Paragraph Writing

     c. Essay Writing

     d. Newspaper/Magazine Article Writing

...........…………………………………………………………………….........

Total 100

Meanings into Words: Grade XII

Unit 1 (Experiences)

The use of be +used to +ing or is/am/are +used to+ v4/noun

Follow-up structure:

Sub + is/am/are+ used to+v4+obj….

Some example sentences:

1. He often sleeps on the floor.

®He’s used to sleeping on the floor.

2. He’s often laughed at.

® He’s used to being laughed at.

3. He often has his photograph taken.

® He’s used to having his photograph taken.

4. They sing very informally.

® They’re used to singing very informally.

5. They’re invited to sing at social functions.

®They’re being invited to sing at social functions.

6. They often have things written about them.

® They’re used to having things written about them.

 

From Work Book: Ex—2: page—05 (Asking about experiences)

Question: Look at the example and write similar conversations between A and B:

1. fine/for a parking offence? (speeding)

A: Have you ever been fined for a parking offence?

B: No I haven’t, but I have been fined for speeding.

 

2.steal/wallet? (umbrella)

A:Have you ever had your wallet stolen?

B: No I haven’t, but I have had my umbrella stolen.

 

3. trap/in a lift? (toilet)

A:Have you ever been trapped in a lift?

B: No I haven’t, but I have been trapped in a toilet.

 

4. X-ray/chest (teeth)

A:Have you ever had your chest x-rayed?

B: No I haven’t, but I have had my teeth x-rayed.

 

5. throw/ out of the class? (library)

A:Have you ever been thrown out of the class?

B: No I haven’t, but I have been thrown out of the library.

 

6. mistake/for a rock star? (TV actor/actress)

A:Have you ever mistaken for a rock star?

B: No I haven’t, but I have mistaken for a TV actor/actress)

 

7. award/ for study? (discipline)

A:Have you ever been awarded for your study?

B: No I haven’t, but I have been awarded for maintaining discipline.

 

8. cut/finger? (break leg)

A:Have you ever cut your finger?

B: No I haven’t, but I have broken my leg.

 

9. write/novel? (poem)

A:Have you ever written a novel?

B: No I haven’t, but I have written some poems on nature.

 

10. steal/money? (motorbike)

A:Have you ever had your money stolen?

B: No I haven’t, but I have had my motorbike stolen.

 

From Work Book: Ex—4: page—07

(Be Used To)

Question: Continue the remarks below with a sentence using (not) used to +ing:

1. The traffic doesn’t wake him up at night…

® He’s used to sleeping in the street.

2. He’s going to find it hard work working on a building site…

®He’s not used to doing physical work/manual work.

3. She was quite surprised when I gave her some flowers…

® She’s used to forgetting her birthday.

4. He won’t mind if you stare at him…

® He’s used to being indifferent to others.

5. I get a bit lonely sometimes, now that she’s gone…

® I’m not used to living alone at home.

6. It’s quite hard work doing all my own washing and cleaning…

® I’m always used to having servants at my home.

7. I don’t think she’s ever opened a door herself…

® She’s used to having maids at home to do the housework.

8. You can bring as many friends as you like home to dinner…

® I’m used to welcoming guests.

9. I’m not surprised he’s out of breath…

®He’s used to suffering from asthma.

10. Ooh dear. I’ve got a stomach-ache…

® You’re used to eating spicy food.

 

From Student’s Book: Ex—1.6: page—05 (New Experiences)                

Follow-up structures:

a) It’s/this is the first time I’ve ever+v3+obj….

b) I’ve never+v3+obj…….

c) I’m (not) used to +v4+obj….

NB: If, in the given sentence I/my/you etc.are used as subject of the sentence, use “I” subject in your answer-sentence. For he/she/they etc. use these pronouns in your answer-sentence.Always use present perfect tense in your answers.

 

Example-sentences:

1. I can’t study well…

®a) It’s/this is the first time I’ve ever put on eye-glasses.

b) I’ve never worn eye-glasses.

c) I’m not used to wearing specs.

2. I can’t get to sleep..

® a) This is the first time I’ve ever slept in a tent.

     b) I’ve never flown at night before.

     c) I’m not used to having siestas (/siˈestә/--a rest or sleep taken in the early afternoon.

Question: Continue the remarks below in three different ways, as shown above:

1. My feet are killing me…

® This is the first time I’ve ever climbed Mt.Everest.

     I’ve never walked such a long distance before.

     I’m not used to walking on foot.

2. God, this is embarrassing!....

® This is the first time I’ve ever seen such shameless people around me.

     I’ve never confronted such a situation before.

     I’m not used to watching such a shameful dance.

3. Do you think you could slow down a little?...

®This is the first time I’ve ever travelled in a fast car.

     I’ve never been disturbed by the high radio sound.

     I’m not used to doing anything very fast.

4. She’s feeling terribly nervous…

®It’s the first time she’s ever attended an interview.

     She has never taught in the classroom.

     She’s is not used to being teased by the boys.

5. Hold my hand, will you? ….

® This is the first time I’ve ever felt terribly nervous.

     Nobody ever threatened me like this before.

     I’m not used to climbing steep mountain.

6. He’s absolutely delighted…

® It’s the first time he’s ever got an expensive gift.

     He’s never flown to foreign country by aeroplane.

     He’s not used to getting first position in the exams.

7. I hope they get there all right…

® This is the first time they’ve ever flown to foreign country.

     They’ve never travelled abroad.

     They’re not used to facing unnecessary obstacles.

 

From Work Book: Ex—5: page—08 (How many times)

Follow-up structures:

a) It’s/this is the first time I’ve ever+v3+obj….

b) I’ve never+v3+obj…….

c) It’s/this is the only first/ second/third/fourth etc. time+ I’ve ever+v3+obj….

 

Question: Express each of the sentences below in two other ways:

1.  I’ve visited Britain once before.

® a) This is only my second visit to Britain.

     b)  This is only the second time I’ve visited Britain.

2. This is my first night in a five star hotel.

® a) I’ve never slept in a five star hotel before.

     b) This is the first time I’ve slept in a five star hotel.

3. This is his third stretch in prison.

® a) He’s been stretched in prison twice before.

     b) This is the third time he’s been stretched in prison.

4. This is the first time I’ve worked in a travel agent’s.

® a) I’ve never worked in a travel agent’s before.

b) This is my first experience in a travel agent’s.

5. I’ve flown in Concorde four times before.

® a) This is my fifth flight in Concorde.

     b) This is the fifth time I’ve flown in Concorde.

6. This is only my third attack of flu.

® a) I’ve only been attacked by flu twice before.

     b) This is only the third time I’ve been attacked by flu.

The End of Unit 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanings into Words: Grade XII

Unit 2 (Appearance)

The uses of look, look like and look as if/look as though.

 

Points to remember:

a) A noun is a word that functions as the name of some specific thing or set of things such as living creatures, objects, places, actions, qualities, state of existence, or ideas. Linguistically, a noun is a member of a large, open part of speech whose members can occur as the main word in the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.

b) An adjective in linguistics, is a describing word, the main syntactic role of which is to

qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified.

c) A clause is a group of words that includes at least a subject and a verb that form a sentence or part of a sentence. e.g. They often go to Italy because they love the food.

Follow-up structures:
a) sub+look/looks+ (adv) adj.

b) sub+look/looks+like+ (adv) (adj) Noun

c) sub+ look/looks+as if/as though+clause

NB: look as if can be replaced by look as though everywhere. 

From Student’s Book: Ex—2.1: page: 11 (Judging from appearances)

Question: Make comments about the following expressions using look/look like or look as if/as though.

 

1. He needs a wash. ( a clause)

® He looks as if he needs a wash.

2. Rather aggressive (adj.)

® He looks rather aggressive.

3. A tramp (beggar) (noun)

® He looks like a tramp.

4. Angry (adj.)

® She looks angry.

5. He’s going to start a fight.

® He looks as if he’s going to start a fight.

6. Terribly complicated

® They look terribly complicated.

7. It cost a lot.

® It looks as though it cost a lot.

8. Very elegant (Refined and tasteful in appearance)

® She looks very elegant.

9. Something from outer space.

® It looks like something from outer space.

10. It gives excellent reproduction.

® It looks as if it gives excellent reproduction.

11. A honeymoon couple

® They look like a honeymoon couple.

12. They’re celebrating.

® They look as though they’re celebrating.

13. They’re in love.

® They look as if they’re in love.

14. Happy

® She looks happy.

15. They’ve just had some good news.

® They look as if they’ve just had some good news.

 

From student’s Book: Ex—2.2: page: 11 (look as if & look as though)

Question: what do the activities of the people below suggest to you? Write one sentence for each using look as if or look as though:

1. You see a girl standing on the seashore, staring into the water.

® She looks as if she’s going to commit suicide.

2. You see a man lying on the floor, laughing.

®  He looks as though he’s watching a comedy show.

3. You see a woman whose clothes are soaked, and she’s sneezing.

® She looks as if she’s got drenched in the rain.

4. You see a man lying underneath a car.

® He looks as if he’s repairing his car.

5. You see someone climbing through a window.

® He looks as though he’s a thief.

 

From Work Book: Ex—2: page—10: (Identifying with ‘like’)

Question: Continue the following remarks with look, sound, smell, feel or taste+like:

1. Surely he’s not a manual worker…...

® He looks like a businessman to me.

2. Are you sure this is tea?......

® It tastes like  coffee.

3. I wonder who wrote that music…..

® It sounds like Shambhujit Baskota’s.

4. He’s got a foreign accent…..

® It sounds like Chinese.

5. This material’s very soft….

® It feels like velvet.

6. What’s that you’re cooking? ………

® It smells like rice-pudding.

7. They’ve got very similar faces…

® They look like triplets.

8. This isn’t real leather, is it?....

® It feels like plastic.

9. I’ve got something in my shoe….

® It feels like a tiny stone.

10. I don’t think you made this cake yourself….

® It tastes like doughnut.

From student’s Book: Ex—2: page--11(look as if & look as though)

Now try these:

6. You can hear people singing next door.

® They sound as if they’re celebrating a party.

7. When you open the door of your flat, there’s a strong smell of smoke.

® It smells as though someone’s recently smoked cigarette here.

8. When you touch your writing desk, you notice it’ sticky.

® It feels as if someone’s spread gum on it.

9. When you drink a glass of water, you realize it certainly isn’t ordinary drinking water.

® It tastes as if it’s chemical-mixed water for washing.

 

From Student’s Book: Ex—2.3: page—12: (General Impressions: ‘Seem’)

The meaning of ‘Seem’:

1. Give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect; e.g. She seems to be sleeping.

2. Give the impression of being true, probable, or apparent; e.g. It seems that he is very gifted"

3. Appear to exist; e.g. There seems no reason to go ahead with the project now.

4. Appear to one's own mind or opinion; e.g.  I seem to be misunderstood by everyone; I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters.

General Structures for using ‘seem’:

a) Sub+seem/seems+ to+verb+obj. (for positive sentence)

b) Sub+ don’t/doesn’t+seem+ to+verb+obj. (for negative sentence)

NB: if the last word of the given sentence is adjective, follow the structure below:

i) Sub+ seem/seems+adj.

If the last word of the given sentence is a noun, follow the structure below:

ii) Sub+ seem/seems+tobe+Noun.

How to change: (look at the table below)

 

 

Sl. No.	Given verbs	Changed into
1	Is/am/are	Seem/seems (tobe)
2	Was/were	Seem/seems to have been
3	V1/v5	Seem/seems to+v1
4	V2	Seem/seems+to have+v3
5	Has/have+v3	Seem/seems+to have+v3

 

Question: Change the following sentences using ‘seem’: (Std. Book: page—12)

1. He’s very friendly

® He seems (to be) very friendly.

2. He isn’t very rich.

® He doesn’t seem (to be) very rich.

3. He’s happily married.

® He seems (to be) happily married.

4. He’s some kind of businessman.

® He seems to be some kind of businessman.

5. He doesn’t spend much time out of doors.

®He doesn’t seem to spend much time out of doors.

6. He watches television a lot.

® He seems to watch television a lot.

7. He has lived a very interesting life.

® He seems to have lived a very interesting life.

Practice: (Std. Book: page—12)

Question: What do the following activities suggest to you about Mr Harvey? Write about him using ‘seem’:

                             or

                         Continue the following remarks using 'seem':

1.  He never stops to chat with you if you’ve got your dog with you.

® He seems to be afraid of dogs.

2. His front garden always looks a bit neglected.

® He doesn’t seem to be very keen on gardening.

3. There’re African masks on the wall of his sitting room.

® He seems to have lived in Africa at some time in his life.

4. The postman always delivers a lot of letters with foreign stamps to his house.

® He seems to know a lot of people in different places.

5. You only see his children during the school holidays.

® His children seem to stay at boarding school hostel.

6. He usually carries a walking stick when he goes out.

® He seems to have injured his leg.

 

From Student’s Book: Ex—2.7: page—16 (Police Description)

Question: Write a police description of the person you’ve chosen.

® Here is the description of a boy whom the police wish to interview in connection with this morning’s fight in the campus. The boy is in his teens. He has a round face and pointed nose. His eyes are black. He’s is thin. He is about five feet tall. He has a fair complexion. His hair is black, long and a bit curly. He’s well-dressed, wears a gold ring and speaks with Bhojpuri accent. Police believe he’s still carrying a knife used in the fight. If anybody happens to see him, s/he is requested to inform the police immediately.

The End of Unit 2