SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts

Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner

www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

Hi Students,

We are pleased to publish in this column the doubts raised by our Sriram students
on ENGLISH Grammar and the clarification provided by our professors to the
same. It will be beneficial for you to go through this section and understand the
concepts better.

Best wishes,

Team Sriram

1. Doubt raised by Anshuman Barua, Guwahati

Pages after pages (A) / of (B) / the Mahabarat (C) / were read (D)." The answer key describes the
correct answer as "A", saying that the correct answer should be "page after page". However, if that is
the case, then the sentence would become "Page after page of the Mahabarat were read." Here, "page"
doesn't agree with "were read". Is there another explanation?

Reply from our Professor:

The expression is “Page after page” – you read one page at a time, right? But if you choose the rather
dubious expression “pages after pages”, which a writer is free to, then this sentence is grammatically
correct. If it is “page after page”, the verb should definitely be “was”.

2. Doubt raised by Shritej, Mumbai

Question 28: The question states "If John works hard,(A) /he would get distinction(B) /in the exam(C)/
No error (D)", and the answer key describes the answer as A, saying the right answer is "If John worked
hard, he would get distinction in the exam." While this answer sounds right, is it also correct to say the
answer is B, to make it "If John works hard, he will get distinction in the exam"?

Reply from our Professor:

This is a conditional sentence starting with “If”. If a condition is met, there will be a consequence.
This particular sentence comes under Conditional Sentence Type 1 - It is possible and also very likely
that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, I will send her an invitation.

As I have told the students repeatedly, you do not meddle with the subject. Choosing the subject “John
– works hard” - is the writer's privilege. You keep it that way and check if the rest of the sentence
agrees with this.

So (B) is wrong. It should be “he will get distinction.”

1
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

3. Doubt raised by Riya, New Delhi

I also had one question regarding prepositions, though not part of any test per se. Do we say "Ramesh
sat under the shade of the tree" or "Ramesh sat in the shade of the tree"?

Reply from our Professor:

You cannot sit “under” the shade of a tree. You need to be a jinn/ghost/elf to do that. You
also have to dig the ground beneath the tree. You can only sit “in” the shade of a tree.

4. Doubt raised by Advait, Gurgaon

There is a good British library in the city/and anyone interested in books/can avail of the facility"

However, I feel that it should be "avail themselves of" and not "avail of". Please do clarify.

Reply from our Professor:

Avail has three meanings: (1) to make use of; (2) to be of use; and (3) benefit or advantage.
In the first sense, avail is always a reflexive verb, followed by a reflexive pronoun such
as myself, oneself, or herself, with the pronoun referring to the person or thing performing the action—
for example:
Residents visiting the library could avail themselves of the park district’s facilities and programs.
Cooper’s is not technically a defamation suit, although it does avail itself of some of the language used
in such suits.

Think of avail as a synonym of help. In the first example above, residents help themselves. In the
second, it helps itself. However, unlike help, the reflexive avail always takes the preposition of.
In Q-1, "themselves" is missing

5. Doubt raised by Sneha, Palakkad

Question 10 of the test - "In case of his dying without an issue his nephew would inherit all the
property".

Answer given is- "In case he dies without an issue his nephew would inherit all the property".

Reply from our Professor:

["In case of" is a preposition and needs an object to complete its sense. All prepositions need an
object. "his dying" is not considered a correct phrase because "dying" cannot be used as an object ["I
want his death" not "I want his dying"]. "him dying" is equally awkward. "his death" would be better.
We use "in case" to talk about things we should do in order to be prepared for possible future situations.
So, "In case he dies" is correct.

2
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

6. Doubt raised by Rasika, Chandigarh

This is the crux of the entire problem;(a) /everything centers on(b) /it being resolved(c) /No error(d).

Reply from our Professor:

this classic sentence gives you the answer. Yes, "c" should be "its being resolved".

What makes a screwdriver a screwdriver is no feature of the screwdriver itself. Its being a
screwdriver depends on its being used as such by an agent.

Another one: Your ability to handle conflict, however, depends on your being [not you being]
connected to these feelings.

"Being resolved" is taken as a noun (and an object), so the pronoun "it" changes to its adjective form
"its", as in "its mood".

What would you say? "Everything depends on "he being promoted" or everything depends on "his being
promoted"?

7. Doubt raised Ishani Sahai, Mumbai

He felt _ happiness that he had never felt before " What should be in the missing place?
Before superlative we always use "the"? Please help me in solving this question

Reply from our Professor:

Let's see where "the" is used and where it is not.

We use the to refer to nouns that have already been mentioned or when it is obvious what particular
thing is being referred to.

We are sorry to receive your letter of October 30 informing us of an error in carriage

changes. The error was due to an incorrect entry in our records which has now been rectified.
The letter hasn’t arrived yet.

It takes 45 minutes to get to the airport from our office.

Therefore the refers to things which are definite, specific or unique:
2. The is not used before a noun when the noun refers to something general and unspecific and is
uncountable or plural.

Time is money. Industry needs good graduates.

3. The is not used when the subject refers to a whole group and not to a particular section of the
group.
Consultants specialise in giving advice. She works in banking. Microchips are used to make computers.
You could say "He felt the happiness" but the article "the" is really not needed. You may say
it refers to a past happiness and is therefore specific, but that is not true since it is "happiness never
felt". We don't know which happiness, don't know the quantity or quality or the context of that
happiness.
So it is unspecified happiness, and does not need an article before it. Remember, as a general rule we
do not place an article before non-countable nouns.

3
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

8. Doubt raised by Trisha Singh, Mathura

Conditionals- 1] If you are looking for Sita, you would find her with Ram . provided explanation under
this ques. is -- If you are looking for Sita ,you will find her with Ram The above mentioned explanation
is according to which Rule ? Why it can't be -- If you look for Sita , you would find her with Ram . [Acc.
Rule - If +Simple Past + Modal + verb 1 form ] 2] If you boil water it..........to vapours (turns / will turn
) answer given - turns Why not " will turn

Reply from our Professor:

Conditionals- 1] If you are looking for Sita, you would find her with Ram . provided explanation under
this ques. is –

The rule here is simple. It is consistency of tense. Also, it talks of a possible future action.
It is not a conditional in the sense of cause and effect. ("if you waste your time, you will
be chucked out of your job." This is a condition.)

Why it can't be -- If you look for Sita ,you would find her with Ram . [Acc. Rule - If +Simple Past +
Modal + verb 1 form ]

The meaning of the clause "If you look for Sita" does not convey the same sense as "If you are looking
for Sita" at all. "If you look for Sita" has an implied threat. Why would you change the tense and
because of that, the intent?

And why is the "would" here taken as a modal? It is plain past tense of the helping verb "will". So there
is a clash of tenses here. Let's separate the past tense from a modal.

2] If you boil water it..........to vapours (turns / will turn ) answer given - turns Why not " will turn " ?

The simple present tense is used mostly for habitual happenings. In other words, we must
use the simple present tense to denote habitual happenings - things that happen regularly.
{My mother combs her hair twice a day.}

Read these two sentences for more clarity on this.

A cow gives milk.

This (or The) cow will give milk. See the difference in meaning?
So "If you boil water it turns to vapour" is fine. The meaning would change if the sentence were to be
"If you boil the water (this water) " and not "If you boil water"....

"Water" stands for all water. This is a universal happening.

9. Doubt raised by Sadhana, Patna

He asked me (a) / if I am ill and (b) / I answered that I was not (c) / No error. (d)
The answer is given as 'If I was ill". Shouldn't it be 'If i were ill"? or are both the usages correct?

Reply from our Professor:

Here the question is not whether it is "if I was ill" or "if I were ill". The "am" is not consistent with the
introductory verb "asked". So the error lies in segment [b].

4
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

10. Doubt raised:

The closure of the car factory (a) / has a knock-out effect (b) / on the tyre manufacturers. (c) / No
error. (d)
shouldn't part b actually be 'had a knock- out effect' instead of 'has a knock out effect'?

Reply from our Professor:

Yes, the error lies in segment [b].

11. Doubt raised Rohit, Hyderabad

His strong voice cut over (a) / the hum of conversation (b) / like a knife through butter (c) / No error.
(d)
The answer is given as “cut into” instead " is it okay to use "cut through"?

Reply from our Professor:

It is not. Then it should be "into".

12. Doubt raised by Vineeth, Bangalore

Now that my children are all grown up and gone out into the world, (a) / I would like to spend my old
age (b) / in the village I was born (c) / No error. (d)
Is there any error in the question given above?

Reply from our Professor:

Yes, in segment [c]. It should be "in the village in which I was born" OR "in the village I was born in."

You need a word or a phrase to connect the village and "I was born". The "in" in the "in the village"
answers the question "Where would I like to spend my old age?"

The next question is, "Which village?"

13. Doubt raised Anusha Srikumar, Calicut

One of our subscriber (a) / reads four or five detective stories every week (b) / besides others which
he gets from another library (c) / No error. (d)

Answer given: (a)

shouldn't part ‘ b’ be 'four to five' and part 'c' be 'besides the others ' instead of simply besides
others?

Reply from our Professor:

The error is in segment [a]. You always pick one from a group. Otherwise why would you say "one of"?
It is to state that "we have many subscribers, and one of them...." One of what? A group, right?

5
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

So the phrase should be "One of the subscribers."

Removing "others" would make the sentence incomplete.

14. Doubt raised by Indrakshi, Tripura

The mother, in spite of the protests from the child, (a) / made it to drink the medicine (b) / three times
a day (c) / No error. (d)
Isn't simply 'made it drink' correct?

Reply from our Professor:

Yes. The verb "made" is so comprehensive in its meaning that you don't need to add "to" to the
following basic verb "to drink". By the way, these basic verbs are used as nouns. They stand as subjects
and objects.

15. Doubt raised by Kanika Kumar, New Delhi

I am playing football for my school (a) / for the last three years (b) / without ever being dropped for
any important match (c) / No error. (d)
part c - Isn't it 'dropped from' instead of 'dropped for'?

Reply from our Professor:

The error is in segment [a] You cannot say "I am playing" when you refer to the last three years. It is
"I have been playing".

"Dropped for" in this context is fine.

16. Doubt raised Kshipra, Secunderabad.

They informed him that (a) / he will have to pay the bill (b) / when the goods arrived (c) / No error.
(d)
Please give a hint to support the answer.

Reply from our Professor:

The error lies in segment [b]. "will" is not consistent with the tense of the introductory verb "informed".
It should be "would".

Doubt raised by Sanjana Kumar, Pune [Answers highlighted]

CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPRIATE WORD:

1. He is a .......[d]....... of spelling reforms.

a) A protagonist
b) An advocate
c) An envoy
d) a champion

6
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

2. Negotiable : Cheque ::
a) Frozen: Asset
b) Inventory: Merchandise
c) Bank: Money
d) Trade: tariff

"a" - Adjective and noun as in the question.

3. Hedger: Shrubbery:: ........[a]...... : Stick

a) Whittler b) Stickler c) Cougher d) Snuffer

4. Honor: Governor :: .[d]........ : duke

a) Excellency b) Majesty c) Highness d) Grace

17. Doubt raised by Bhavana, Trivandrum

II. ERROR IDENTIFICATION

1. The running party stood (a) / for implementation of the Bill (b) / and was ready to stake their
political existence (c) / No error (d)

Reply from our Professor:

"c" - "their" does not agree with its antecedent "the running party".

2. If I were he (a) / I should not (b) / accept the offer (c) / No error (d)

Reply from our Professor:

"b" - There is a condition "If I were he" and it is accepted. What follows should be a
statement of certainty "would", not a vague "should". All such (hypothetical) conditional
sentences are followed by "would".

18. Doubt raised by Aditi Krishnan, Mysore.

For the following questions, select pair of words which mean the nearest to the original.
1. Frayed: Fabric
a) Watered: Garden b) Dilapidated: Building c) Frozen: Ice d) Crumpled: Paper
Ma'am, I come to an understanding that frayed refers to the wearing out of a cloth or a fabric. So, I
thought that the right answer would be crumpled: paper because the situations are similar ie when a
paper is considered to be damaged when it has been crumpled. But the solution says that the perfect
answer is option (b) Dilapidated: Building. I also understand that dilapidated means absolute ruin
which might also make option (b) right. But, why isn't (d) right?

Reply from our Professor:

A fabric is frayed because of long use or because it has not been used for a long time.
Similarly, a building gets dilapidated because of long use or neglect over a long period of
time.

7
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

Crumpling is done quickly by applying force.

19. Doubt raised Meghana Kumar, Hyderabad

2. Levitate: Magician
a) Cook: Mother b) Argue: Lawyer c) Float: Astronaut d) Sky jump: Parachutists
I come to an understanding that levitate means raising something to the air, purely by magical tricks.
I presumed that the answer would be (d) But the solution says that the answer is (c). But, I would
like to know why (c) is right and why not (d) because I find both options to be viable answers.

Reply from our Professor:

[2] The word "float" here is used in the same sense as "Levitate" - staying in air defying
gravitational pull. "Jump" is coming down because of that pull. So (c) is right.

20. Doubt raised by Shreya Nair, Kochi

Fill in the blanks with suitable words by Aparna Raju

1. Slavery was not done away.................. until the last century
a) with b) for c) too d) off

Reply from our Professor:

"with' - "done" is usually followed by the preposition "with".

21. Doubt raised by Sahana Kumar, Chennai

2. Does he not take................. his father?

a) after b) for c) before d) Like

Reply from our Professor:

"after" - in the figurative sense of "he is like his father".

22. Doubt raised by Sruthi Shankar, Bangalore

3. Mother takes everything in her .................

a) steps b) face c) stride d) work

Reply from our Professor:

"stride" - figuratively, "as she goes through life, she accepts".

23. Doubt raised by Janani Rao, Hubli

4. Sales has really taken .............. now

a) up b) on c) of d) off

8
 SRIRAM LAW ACADEMY Doubts
Training Organisation for CLAT & IIT HSEE Corner
www.sriramlawacademy.com ENGLISH

Reply from our Professor:

I suppose "sales" is used in the sense of "sales as an event". Otherwise, it has to be

"Sales have ".
The answer is "off". When two things are separated, or something moves free of a body,
surface, happening, use "off". He fell off the roof.

24. Doubt raised by Krishnapriya, Thrissur

I.
The bad news finally --------- the country to the danger of nuclear warfare. A. awoke B. awakened C.
woke D. waked up I would like to know the correct answer for this and explanation of usage of these
words. Thank you.

Reply from our Professor:

The answer is "awakened". The word "awaken" is used in both the direct and metaphorical
senses.
In its applied sense, it means "rouse", as in "rouse a feeling".
"Different images can awaken new emotions in us."

25. Doubt raised by Sidharth Khanna, New Delhi

What is the difference between expel and dispel? By Madusmitha Venkatesan

Reply from our Professor:

"Expel" is "throw out". Not a pleasant thing at all. It is used in a negative sense and only for
people. You cannot expel an idea or a smell. Also you cannot "expel" a dog.
"Dispel" is primarily used for inanimate or abstract things. It means "chase away" or "scatter"
and both these meanings can be used in a positive sense.
Dispel the notion that you are not capable of doing this job. Dispel the great man's teachings
among your friends.