(4.1.8) Difference between 'Before' and 'Ago'

What is the difference between 'Before' and 'Ago' ? Before और  Ago में क्या अंतर है ?

1. 'Before' means formerly (पहले  )
Examples :
He did that once before.
He never saw me before.
2. 'Ago' means from the present time dating backwards. (वर्तमान समय से पीछे की तरफ )
Examples :
His father died six years ago.
They came here three days ago. 

(6.9.1) Generic use of 'A', 'An' and 'The'

Generic use of A, An and The 

Generic means common to a whole group or class, not special.
Look at the following sentences -
1. A cow is a gentle animal.
2.The cow is a gentle animal.
These sentences have the same meaning. They do not refer to any particular cow but to the whole class. They mean the same as :
Cows are gentle animals.
Now look at the following sentences -
1. A dog is a faithful animal.
2. The dog is a faithful animal.
3. Dogs are faithful animals.
ऊपर के वाक्यों में  A तथा  The  का प्रयोग Generic reference  में है ; क्योंकि यहाँ किसी particular dog   की चर्चा नहीं की जा रही बल्कि पूरे कुत्ता   समुदाय ( whole community or class of  dogs )  की चर्चा की जा रही है। यहाँ तीनों वाक्यों के अर्थ में  कोई अंतर नहीं है। पूरे समुदाय या जाति  का बोध करने के लिए plural noun  के पहले "The " का प्रयोग नहीं किया जाता है।
Related posts -
(6.1.6) What is a determiner
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(6.1.8) What is an article 
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(9.1.2) Pronunciation of A, An and The 

(6.5.1) Prepositions have no fixed meanings

Why are mistakes made while using Prepositions , Prepositions  के प्रयोग करने में गलती क्यों होती है ?

Prepositions have no fixed meanings of their own but they get their meanings from the situation or the context they are used. A preposition can give different meanings in different situations. Because of this thing students make mistakes while using prepositions.
In the following sentences different prepositions have been used for the Hindi word 'में '
1. He is in the room. (in = में, स्थिति या स्थिरता दिखाने के लिये  )
2. It is five minutes to seven. (to = में, घड़ी में बजने में दिखाने के लिये  )
3. The boy went into the room. (into = में ' बाहर से अंदर की तरफ गति दिखाने के लिए )
4. He has  sold old car for eighty thousand rupees.(for = में ,कीमत दिखाने के लिये )
5. I bought this book for fifty rupees. (for = में , कीमत दिखाने के लिये )
6. What is the time by your watch? (by= में , घड़ी में समय दिखाने के लिये )
In the same way different prepositions are used for the Hindi word 'से '
(1) The boy is coming from school. (From = से )
(2) He has been teaching in this school for two years.(For = से )
(3) Ramesh has been doing this work since morning. (Since = से )
(4) He generally writes in blue ink. (In = से  )
(5) We see with our eyes. (With = से  )

(3.1.5) Special use of 'Matter'

What is the use of 'Matter' 

The following two special uses of 'Matter' are very common -
(A) Noun -
'What is the matter?' means 'What is the trouble?' or 'What is the difficulty?'
'What is the matter with your ears?' means 'What is wrong with your years?'
(B) Verb -
'It doesn't matter.' means 'It is not important.'
'It won't matter.' means 'It will do no harm.'

(3.1.4) The use of 'Just because'

What is the meaning of 'Just because' ? When is 'Just because' used ?

(A) 'Just because' is used to mean 'simply because'.
(B) 'Just because' is used for saying that even if one thing is true, this is not a reason for concluding that something else is true.
(C) 'Just because' का भाव होता है "यद्यपि एक बात सही है, तो यह आवश्यक नहीं है कि दूसरी भी सही हो "
Examples :
(1) Just because he is rich, it does not mean he is better than us.
(2) Just because I am your friend, it does not mean you always depend on me.
(3) Don't create problems for others just because you hold an office.

(4.1.7) Difference between 'Beside' and 'Besides'

What is the difference between 'Beside'and 'Besides' ?

Difference between ‘Beside’ and ‘Besides’

Beside /बिसाइड / का अर्थ होता है ‘पास में’ या ‘बगल में’ या ‘समीप’ यानि ‘By the side of’

और ‘Besides’ /बिसाइड्ज /का अर्थ होता है ‘के अतिरिक्त’ या ‘के अलावा’ यानि ‘in addition to’

अब इनका वाक्यों में प्रयोग देखिये –

Examples –

Ram came and sat beside me. राम आया और मेरे पास बैठ गया.

The baby was sleeping beside his mother. बच्चा उसकी माँ के पास सोया हुआ था.

He stood beside me. वह मेरे पास खड़ा हो गया.

Can you play any other game besides football ? क्या तुम फुटबॉल के अलावा कोई अन्य खेल भी खेल सकते हो ?

I can speak English besides Hindi. मैं हिन्दी के अतिरिक्त अंग्रेजी भी बोल सकता हूँ.

He gave me money besides moral support. उसने नैतिक समर्थन के अलावा मुझे धन भी दिया. 

अब इन वाक्यों को देखिये –

There is a pond -------   the school. (beside / besides)

We ate mangoes -----    apples. (beside / besides)

India exports tea --------   cotton. (beside / besides)

The dog was lying -----    the table. (beside / besides)

अब सही उत्तर जानिये –

There is a pond beside the school.

We ate mangoes besides apples.

India exports tea besides cotton.

The dog was lying beside the table. 

(5.1.3) Idioms

What is an idiom , List of important phrases

What is an idiom 
An idiom is a group of words with a special meaning, which cannot be understood by taking the meanings of the words one at a time.
शब्दों का वह समूह जिसका एक विशेष अर्थ हो तथा जिसे शब्दों को अलग  अलग अर्थ कर नहीं  समझा जा सके idiom कहलाता है।
List of some important idioms - 
All in all (करता धरता) The headmaster is all in all in this school.
Above all - (सबसे बढ़कर ) Above all , he is truthful and never tells a lie.
After all - (आखिरकार , अंततः )After all, you are my friend and I must help you.
Again and again - (बार बार )- I have advised him again and again but he does not acts upon it.
Against a rainy day -(बुरे दिनों के लिए) - Everyone must save some money against a rainy day.
At any rate -  (हर हालत में, चाहे कुछ भी हो) - I must finish this work today at any rate.