(3.1.3) Use of 'Quite'

Quite / Use of 'Quite'

'Quite' means 'completely' when it is used with a word or phrase which can express the idea of completeness e.g.'full', 'empty', 'finished', 'wrong', 'right', 'all right', 'sure', 'certain', 'ready' etc. and when it is used with a (very)  strong adjective or adverbs such as 'perfect', 'amazing', 'horrible', 'extraordinary' etc.
Examples :
The box was quite empty.
She is quite wrong.
It is quite extraordinary, I cannot understand it all.

(4.1.6) Use of 'No' and 'Not' / Difference between 'No' and 'Not'

Difference between 'No' and 'Not'/ Use of 'No' and 'Not'

(1) 'No' is used as an adjective.
'Not' is used as an adverb.
'No' is used before a noun. This noun can be singular or plural.
'Not' is used to make a sentence negative.
(2) No = Not any
'No' is an adjective.
'No' is used before singular and plural nouns.
After 'No' articles (a, an, the ) and possessive pronouns (my, his, their) are not used.
Examples -
The boy has no money to buy new books.
I have no pen to write with.
There are no boys in the class now.
No news is good news.
No one knows what will happen tomorrow.
(3) Not = A word expressing denial or negation.
> 'Not' is used as an adverb.
There isn't any book on the table.
> When 'Not' is used after the verb 'to be' (is, am, are, was, were, etc.) , the following patterns are used -
(A) Subject + verb to be + not + a/an + singular countable noun
There isn't a boy in the room.
( in this sentence 'any' can be used in place of 'a'.) There isn't any boy in the room.
He isn't a teacher.
(B) Subject + verb 'to be' + not + plural noun or uncountable noun (without any article)
They aren't cows.
There isn't light in the room.
(C) Subject + verb 'to be ' + not + adjective ( In this pattern 'No' cannot be used because 'no' cannot qualify any adjective.)
This picture is not beautiful.
You are not bad.

(4.1.5) Difference between 'In Time' and 'On Time' /Use of 'In Time' and 'On Time'

What is the difference between 'In Time' and 'On Time' (Use of 'In time' and 'On time' )

'In time' means 'not late' or 'early enough' or before the appointed time.
On time means 'not late' punctually, or  at the scheduled time.
Examples :
I went to the station in time to receive the Director.
In time to receive the director 'means' early enough to receive the Director.
The train arrived on time means the train arrived punctually.

(4.1.3) 'Many and Many a' / Difference between 'Many' and ' Many a'

What is the difference between 'Many' and 'Many a' ( The use of 'Many' and 'Many a')

'Many' is used with plural nouns to mean ' a large number of'.
Examples :
Many people feel that the law must be followed rigidly.
It is one of our many errors.
Many soldiers are killed in wars.
I have many friends.
They have many cows.
There are not many books in the library.
Were there many books in the library ?
He worked for many years and at last got success.
'Many a' is used with a singular noun and verb to mean 'a large number of '.
Examples :
Many a good man suffers due to the faults of others.
Many a good man  = Many good men
Many a soldiers is killed in wars.
Many a soldier = Many soldiers
It was known by only a few persons for many a year.
For many a year= For many years.
Many a student comes here to solve their problems.
Many a student = Many students.
'Many an' can also be used in place of 'many a' if a vowel sound giving words comes after it.
Many an engineer can solve this technical problem easily.
(Many an engineer = Many engineers)

(4.1.4)Fairly and Rather / Difference between Fairly and Rather

What is the difference between Fairly and Rather

1. 'Fairly' and 'Rather' are adverbs. They are used to express' to a moderate degree.'
2. 'Fairly' is used with a positive or pleasant idea.
'Rather' is used with a negative or an unpleasant idea.
 Examples :
The crow was fairly clever, but the fox was rather foolish.
Hari is fairly rich.
Ram is rather poor.
I did fairly well in the examination, but he did rather badly.
3. 'Fairly' is used with the favourable adjectives, or adverbs, as : well, nice, good, clever, wise, pleasant.
This idea is fairly nice.
4. 'Rather' is used with the unfavourable adjectives or adverbs, as :
 ugly, bad, silly, foolish, stupid, cunning.
His hand writing is rather ugly.
5. With adjectives or adverbs such as 'fast', 'slow', 'thick', 'thin', 'hot', 'cold', etc. which are not in themselves 'favourable' or 'unfavourable', one can express approval by using 'fairly' and disapproval by using 'rather', as-
The tea is fairly hot. (The speaker likes such hot tea.)
The tea is rather hot. (The tea is a little too hot for the speaker.)
Some more examples  -
1. It is rather cold today, I must put on an overcoat.
2. Be careful. That knife is rather sharp.
3. I showed him a book and he was fairly interested.
4. We have had a fairly good holiday.
5. she is rather a foolish kind of girl.
6. You can speak English fairly well.
7. The film was rather bad.

(3.1.2) The Use of 'Only' / How to use 'Only'

How to use 'Only'?

Only: (adjective) sole, single. alone.
Only: (adverb) solely, exclusively.
Only: (conjunction) but, except.
Read the following sentences:
1. The old woman lost her only son.
2.Your son is only leaving now for the front.
In the sentence 1, the word 'only' means that the old woman had no other son except the son referred to.
In the sentence 2, the word 'only' emphasizes that the son is leaving now and did not leave earlier.
Some more uses of 'Only': 
(A) In the sense of 'exclusively' :
I want to buy only the latest edition of this book.
The TV is to be used for only educational purposes.
(B) In the sense of 'just', 'merely' :
He is only a child; how can he understand such a complex issue?
(C) When 'only' is used after 'can' or 'could', it stresses that there is no other option available than what has been said:
I can only sympathise with you.
We can only feel sorry for him.
(D) "Only' is used to emphasize the appropriateness of a certain course of action or behaviour:
Ramesh is your close friend. It is only natural that he rejoices at your victory.
Note:-
'Only' should be used immediately before the word that it modifies or refers to. Care should be taken in the use of 'only', else one may be misunderstood. Look at the following sentences:
1. Only Ram promised to give me a book. (i.e., Ram and nobody else.)
2. Ram only promised to give me a book.( i.e. Ram did not give it away.)
3. Ram promised to give me only a book. ( i.e. a book and nothing else.)
Some more examples -
Only Sita promised to help me.
Sita only promised to help me.
Only I saw her yesterday.
I saw only her yesterday.
I saw her only yesterday.

(4.1.2) Difference between People and Peoples

What is the difference between 'People' and 'Peoples'

The use of 'People' and 'Peoples'
1. 'People' is a collective noun which though singular in form, is used as plural; as,
Some people are mad after riches.
Many people were standing in a queue.
2. As a common noun 'People' means 'a nation', and is used in both singular and plural; as,
The Indians are a hard working people (nation).
There are many peoples (nations) in Europe.
3. 'Peoples' - the members of a particular nation or community or ethnic group.
The native peoples of Canada.
4. 'Peoples' - a body of persons sharing a common religion, culture or language.
The peoples of central Asia.

(7.1.1) Abbreviations

What is an abbreviation?
An abbreviation is a short form of a word or phrase.
A
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
AFMS : Air Force Medical Service
APEC : Asia Pacific Economic Corporation
ATS : Aviation Turbine Fuel
B
BARC: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
BDO : Block Development Officer
BHEL : Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
BBL : Big Bash League

C
CBEC: Central Board of Excise ad Customs.
COP : Conference of the Parties
CPEC : China Pakistan Economic Boarder
CIL : Coal India Limited

D
DSP : Deputy Superintendent of Police
DDCA : Delhi and District Cricket Association
DSC : Defence Security Corps

E


F
FAO: Food and Agriculture organisation.
FMS : Faculty of Management Studies
FSSAI : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

G
H
I
IETE: Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers.
ILO: International Labor Organisation.
IB : International Boarder
ICMR : Indian Council of Medical Research
IOC : Indian Oil Corporation
ICEX : Indian Commodity Exchange
IAF : Indian Air Force

J
K
L
LIC: Life Insurance Corporation
M
N
NAC : National Advisory Council
NSSO : National Sample survey Organisation
NSS : National Service Scheme
NEAT : National Exchange for Automated Trading
NDMA : National Disaster Management Force
O
ORF: Observer Research Foundation
ONGC : Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
P
PPP : Purchasing Power Parity
PBL : Premier Bedminton League

Q
R
S
SPC : Strategic Forces Command
SCS : South China Sea

T
TGT : Trained Graduate Teacher

U
V
W
X
Y
Z

(4.1.1) Difference between 'A number of' and 'The number of'

What is the difference between 'A number  of---' and 'The number of ---'

'A number of'' means 'many'.
'The number of' means 'a single figure'
"A number of ---" is treated as a plural subject so it takes a plural verb:
A number of books are lying on the floor.
A number of boys have already come here.
A number of students have got good marks in English.
A number of girls are absent today.
"The number of ----" is treated as a singular subject so it takes a singular verb:
The number of girls in the class is twenty.
The number of books missing is not known.

3.1.1 The use of 'Just'

What are the uses of 'Just'

The word 'Just' has various uses and meanings:
(1) 'Just' is used as an adverb of time with the present perfect tense:
The bell has just rung.
Here 'just' means 'a very short time ago.'
(2) Just = Exactly
This will be just the place.
The weather is just right, not too hot, not too cold.
(3) Just = Only
Just a minute.
There is just one apple left.
(4) Just = After a short time
The train is just going to start.
(5) Just = Approximately
It is just about ten o'clock.
Some more examples -
1. Every thing happened just as you said it would.
2. I was just leaving the house when you came.
3. Surely you are not serious. You are just joking.
4. This present is just what I was wanting.
5.My grandmother is just about ninety years old.