How to crack Verbal Ability Test

Verbal ability is a fundamental part of administration placement tests. The questions in this area extensively test capacities in word control, analogies, sentence revision and verbal thinking. This implies one must have a decent vocabulary and a solid command over English. In the course of the most recent couple of years, the nature of questions asked in Verbal Ability Test, especially in the Common Admission Test has changed from being immaculate vocabulary based to thinking and relationship.

Let us look at different aspects of preparing for Verbal Ability Test (for English language).

READ ENGLISH NOVELS

The best thing about reading novels is that you create a world of your own and you picture things from your point of view. In just one novel you will come across many different settings, different situations, different characters, etc. You will get to learn what to speak colloquially if you are in same situation as one of the characters of the novel you read…MORE

MORE= http://engtuto.com/learn-english

SING ALONG ENGLISH SONGS

Singing along to English songs will help you become more fluent. There are unlimited number of songs with lyrics on youtube and many other websites. All you have to do is the sing along and sing loud. Let the world know that you can sing in English too :)…MORE

WATCH ENGLISH MOVIES

Watching movies can be a very handy tool to learn English. A movie is a journey of many character from a certain point to a certain point. So, in just one movie you will come across many different settings, different emotions, different situations, different characters, etc. You will get to learn what to speak colloquially if you are in same situation as one of the characters of the movie you watch...MORE

READ ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS

One of the best ways to learn English is to read English as much as possible. Newspapers is s a great source of learning language as it has variety of material for variety of people especially for students i.e., sports column, education column,cultural activities column, historical and geographical columns as well. The language used in newspaper is day to day language with all idiomatic expressions of that culture, which is not found in textbooks. The real life events arouse one’s curiosity and they not only provide knowledge, but give a practical way of indulging students in learning language...MORE

WATCH DEBATES ON NEWS CHANNELS

Watching debates can help English learners practice a wide range of functions including agreeing and disagreeing, negotiating, collaboration with others and so on. While watching any debate you must be on one side, and within you must think of counter statements constantly…MORE

TALK TO YOURSELF IN FRONT OF A MIRROR

Whenever you’re at home (or alone somewhere else) you can practice your English speaking to yourself in a mirror. Think in English, try speaking your thoughts out loud, have a debate with yourself right in front of a mirror looking at yourself. Just the act of speaking out loud will help you become more comfortable speaking English...MORE

READ,WRITE, and NARRATE SHORT STORIES

One of the best ways to test how well your spoken English has developed is to narrate stories to your folks. Pick a story that you know by heart and translate it into English first of all for yourself and then narrate the same story to as many people as possible. While narrating the story your focus should be on your expressions and fluency, not on being grammatically correct….MORE

URBAN LINGO

Being colloquial is the most neglected segment by English Learners. Like everything else, the English language is evolving too with each passing day. With the emergence of Social Network, the style of communication has taken a big shift. These days, you would hardly find anyone who does not use shorthand language or slang. Use of abbreviation has taken a giant leap….MORE

BUILD VOCABULARY

The purpose of having a good vocabulary is not to use complicated, arcane or fancy words to impress people, or to sound smart. In order to be effective, communication has to be simple yet precise. When you have a good vocabulary,you have a choice to use the word that communicates your thought to the point....MORE

                                                MORE= http://engtuto.com/learn-english

i.e. Vs e.g. | Examples|Quiz |usage

i.e. vs e.g.

There is a huge difference between i.e. and e.g.   i.e. and e.g. are two very useful abbreviations in English, though they both have their roots in Latin language. Both i.e. and e.g. come very handy as long as they  are no mixed up, confused with one another. Other than being abbreviations of Latin phrases, they share no common ground. The abbreviation  i.e.—short for the Latin id est—which means that is, namely, or in other words. It is widely different from e.g.—short for the Latin phrase exempli gratia—means for example.

Both i.e. and e.g. are used in writing in English language, they are never used in spoken English. Have you ever heard anyone saying i.e. or e.g. out loud. They are meant to be used in writing. If you are talking, you just say ‘for example’ or ‘ that is’ but if you are writing you can use the abbreviation e.g. or i.e. Always remember that they are always written in lower case, without italics.

Some common mistakes-i.e. vs e.g.

Incorrect: I want to drink something cold, i.e., cold coffee, lemonade.

Correct: I want to drink something cold, e.g., cold coffee, lemonade.

Incorrect: I like only outdoor sports, i.e., football, cricket, lawn tennis .

Correct: I like only outdoor sports, e.g., football, cricket, lawn tennis .

Incorrect: Frog is an amphibian creature, e.g. ,it can live both in water and land.

Correct: Frog is an amphibian creature, i.e., it can live both in water and land.

Incorrect:  John loves listening to all types of music on the radio, e.g., classical, country western and reggae.

Correct:  John loves listening to all types of music on the radio, e.g., classical, country western and reggae.

How to remember the difference between i.e. and e.g.

One of the easiest ways to memorize the difference between these two is by employing a simple mnemonic device: think of the i at the beginning of i.e. as standing for the first word in the phrase “in other words,” indicating that the clause that follows will rephrase or explain what precedes the term.  It is little more easier to memorize  e.g.  Memorize e as in “example.”

Things to make a note of

1: Do not italicize the abbreviations. They are considered standard English even though they are Latin in origin.

2: Use a period after each letter of the abbreviation.

3: Use a comma after the abbreviation, as most official style guides require or prefer the use of one.

4: Use a comma before the abbreviations unless it begins the sentence.

5: If a sentence begins with “i.e.” or “e.g.,” use a comma after the abbreviation.

6: If “i.e.” or “e.g.” are used in parenthesis, use a comma after the abbreviation.

7: If “i.e.” or “e.g.” are used within a sentence without parenthesis, use a comma before and after the abbreviation.

8: Do not use “etc.” or “and so on” at the end of a list following “e.g.” because it implies the list is incomplete.

What is the Oxford Comma- Explained

What is the Oxford Comma?

The Oxford Comma, also called a serial comma or series comma, is a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction (usually and or or) in a series of three or more things. For example, a list of three beverages might be punctuated either as “tea, coffee, and lemonade” (with the Oxford Comma), or as “tea, coffee and lemonade” (without the Oxford Comma).

The opinion on whether the Oxford comma should be used is divided. Although it is called Oxford comma, it is relatively less used in British English than in American English. A majority of style guides in American English mandate use of the serial comma including the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual.  Some British style guides require it, including The Oxford Style Manual.

Whether the Oxford Comma should be used.

-Many writer and editors are for its use.

Reason: It resolves ambiguity.

-Many writers and editors are against its use.

Reason: It creates ambiguity.

How in some cases the oxford comma brings in ambiguity, and also how in an many cases it resolves the ambiguity surrounding a statement.

Examples:

Resolving Ambiguity

To my friends, John and Ricky.

Some people may interpret the above mentioned statement as ” John and Ricky are the friends of the writer, and he is addressing to them.”

Some people may interpret the above mentioned statement as “the writer is addressing to his friends along with John and Ricky”.

If we place a comma right after JOHN, all ambiguity shall disappear.

To my friends, John, and Ricky.

It is now clear that the writer is addressing to his friends along with John and Ricky.

Creating Ambiguity

To my friend, John, and Ricky

Some people may interpret the above mentioned statement as “the writer is addressing to his friend John along with someone called Ricky .”

Some people may interpret the above mentioned statement as “the writer is addressing to his friend along with two other people named John and Ricky .”

So, in order to avoid any ambiguity, some legends advocate to construct the statements like:

To Ricky, John, and my friends.

Unless you’re writing for a particular publication or drafting an essay for school, whether or not you use the Oxford comma is generally up to you. However, omitting it can sometimes cause some strange misunderstandings.

Who’s against and for its Use

Generally, the Oxford comma has been neglected mostly by newspapers , magazine and tabloids, where strict character breaking points are required in the restricted bounds of printed segments. There is no consistency in its utilization or exclusion when taking a gander at authentic writings (it's been utilized for a considerable length of time, however individuals have likewise been discarding it for a considerable length of time), yet today, its utilization is for the most part more regular among American style guides than it is among British ones. The Times and The Economist, for example, are both against its utilization. Some outstanding American aides, for example, The Chicago Manual of Style support it, however there are remarkable exceptional cases, for example, the Associated Press Stylebook. Others, for example, The Guardian, are more adaptable, contending that it ought to be utilized just as a part of circumstances when it is required to stay away from equivocalness. Curiously, numerous dialects – including French, German and Italian – don't utilize the Oxford comma by any means.

Gerund- Types and Examples

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding “-ing.” The gerund looks exactly the same as a present participle, so it is important to understand the difference between the two. Although a gerund looks like a verb, it always has the same function as a noun. A gerund can be as a subject, complement, or an object of a sentence. Following are the some examples of different types of gerunds.

THE GERUND AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE

EXAMPLES

Painting is one of her hobbies.

Gaming is fun.

Getting a good job is not easy.

No smoking in this area.

Learning about other cultures makes people more tolerant.

THE GERUND AS THE COMPLEMENT OF THE VERB ‘TO BE’

EXAMPLES

One of his duties is cleaning the house.

The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the phrasal verbs.

One of life’s pleasures is taking spa in a good salon.

THE GERUND AFTER PREPOSITIONS

The gerund must be used when a verb comes after a preposition.

This is also true of certain expressions ending in a preposition, for example the expressions in spite of & there’s no point in.

EXAMPLES

Can you eat without using fork?

John is good at drawing.

She teased him by walking on the opposite side of the lane.

We will head to home only after driving all the way to the airport.

My doctor has advised me against swimming.

What’s the point in waiting?

In spite of leaving on time, we could not make it on time.

THE GERUND AFTER PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs are composed of a verb + preposition or adverb.

EXAMPLES

I don’t mind telling them my opinion.

We feel like having a cup of tea.

I gave up drinking.

John always puts off seeing the therapist.

He went on asking for money, I kept on denying.

John eventually thought of buying a new car.

There are some phrasal verbs that include the word “to” as a preposition for example to look forward to, to take to, to be accustomed to, to get around to, & to be used to. It is important to recognise that the word “to” is a preposition in these cases because it must be followed by a gerund. It is not part of the infinitive form of the verb. You can check whether “to” is a preposition or part of the infinitive. If you can put the pronoun “it” after the word “to” and form a meaningful sentence, then the word “to” is a preposition and must be followed by a gerund.

EXAMPLES

The coach called off practicing for the day.

John looked into finding a new job.

She will take forever to get over losing her dog.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I am not used to waiting for anybody.

John didn’t really take to studying Science.

When will you get around to moving the furniture?

THE GERUND IN COMPOUND NOUNS

In compound nouns using the gerund, it is clear that the meaning is that of a noun, not of a continuous verb.

For example, with the word “Walking Stick” it is a stick to help elderly people to walk, it is not a stick that walks.

EXAMPLES

I am taking a reading session.

That’s a walking stick of my grandfather.

The fridge is not in working condition.

They have a swimming pool in their back yard.

Sunday is not a working day.

Don’t hold the steering wheel tightly.

We had dinner in living room.

I am on sleeping pills.

THE GERUND AFTER SOME EXPRESSIONS

The gerund is necessary after the expressions might be, can’t help, can’t stand, to be worth, & it’s no use.

EXAMPLES

He had some problems reading without his glasses.

She had an easy time selling the delicious cookies.

John had no difficulty translating the letter by himself

The train might be getting late.

The had fun dancing.

It was not easy explaining him.

It is hard describing it.

Prefix- Meaning, List and Usage

Learn English                                             

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Thousands of millions of people are putting in their heart and soul to learn English these days. Each tutor teaches differently, each student learns differently. We, at engtuto.com, do not discard the fact that learning English Grammar is essential to learn English, but at the same time we believe that no native speaker of any language has had to learn grammar of his/her native language. So, we believe that learning Grammar is of as much importance as practicing the language.

Ask yourself if you ever felt the need to learn the grammar of your mother tongue? If not, then how come you speak your native language so confidently and so fluently. It’s probably because of the fact that you were raised in the atmosphere wherein your native language was one of the most used languages to communicate; which means you learnt your native language by practice not by literally learning.

In order to learn any foreign language, learning grammar does not suffice, one has to have an atmosphere wherein most of the communication happens in the language you want to learn. Is it practically feasible? if yes, great! If not, you must try things listed below to learn English. We are sure it will work for you.

                                     

LEARN GRAMMAR:

Grammar is the system of a language. Grammar of any language is not as complex as we think of it. Engtuto.com is a complete English grammar guide. Each grammatical rule is explained with several examples, and at the end of each chapter we have some interesting tests to make you iron out the essence of each chapter….MORE…

(MORE= http://engtuto.com/learn-english/     Also Read -> Prefixes)

START THINKING IN ENGLISH

If you want to get rid of translating your thoughts from your native language to English, you have to start thinking in English. Once you get habituated to think in English, rest of the learning is a cake walk….MORE

PHRASES AND IDIOMS

It is essential to know idioms of the respective language for sounding Like a Native. No matter how much time you spend learning the grammar, the rules, or enhancing your vocabulary, you are not going to have a strong mastery in the language until you learn things from the real world. In real world, in English language, idioms and phrases are used quite often. So if you’re really serious about learning English well, your major area of concern should be learning idioms, because they’re used a lot in conversational native English speech. The biggest problem with learning idiom is that one cannot deduce the meaning of idiom despite knowing the meaning of each word the idiom consist. So, it is very important to know that almost all idioms are based on some analogy or metaphor, so one has to understand the subtext. You must spend some time focusing on English idioms to have a command in English language. MORE

READ ENGLISH NOVELS

The best thing about reading novels is that you create a world of your own and you picture things from your point of view.  In just one novel you will come across many different settings, different situations, different characters, etc. You will get to learn what to speak colloquially if you are in same situation as one of the characters of the novel you read…MORE 

SING ALONG ENGLISH SONGS

Singing along to English songs will help you become more fluent. There are unlimited number of songs with lyrics on youtube and many other websites. All you have to do is the sing along and sing loud. Let the world know that you can sing in English too :)…MORE

WATCH ENGLISH MOVIES

Watching  movies can be a very handy tool to learn English. A movie is a journey of many character from a certain point to a certain point. So,  in just one movie  you will come across many different settings, different emotions, different situations, different characters, etc. You will get to learn what to speak colloquially if you are in same situation as one of the characters of the movie you watch...MORE 

READ ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS

One of the best ways to learn English is to read English as much as possible. Newspapers is s a great source of learning language as it has variety of material for  variety of people especially for students i.e., sports column, education column, cultural activities column, historical and geographical columns as well. The language used in newspaper is day to day language with all idiomatic expressions of that culture, which is not found in textbooks. The real life events arouse one’s curiosity and they not only provide knowledge, but give a practical way of indulging students in learning language...MORE

WATCH DEBATES ON NEWS CHANNELS

Watching debates can help English learners practice a wide range of functions including agreeing and disagreeing, negotiating, collaboration with others and so on. While watching any debate you must be on one side, and within you must think of counter statements constantly…MORE

TALK TO YOURSELF IN FRONT OF A MIRROR

Whenever you’re at home (or alone somewhere else) you can practice your English speaking to yourself in a mirror. Think in English, try speaking your thoughts out loud, have a debate with yourself right in front of a mirror looking at yourself. Just the act of speaking out loud will help you become more comfortable speaking English...MORE

READ,WRITE, and NARRATE SHORT STORIES

One of the best ways to test how well your spoken English has developed is to narrate stories to your folks. Pick a story that you know by heart and translate it into English first of all for yourself and then narrate the same story to as many people as possible. While narrating the story your focus should be on your expressions and fluency, not on being grammatically correct….MORE

URBAN LINGO

Being colloquial is the most neglected segment by English Learners. Like everything else, the English language is evolving too with each passing day. With the emergence of Social Network, the style of communication has taken a big shift. These days, you would hardly find anyone who does not use shorthand language or slang.  Use of abbreviation has taken a giant leap….MORE

BUILD VOCABULARY

The purpose of having a good vocabulary is not to use complicated, arcane or fancy words to impress people, or to sound smart. In order to be effective, communication has to be simple yet precise. When you have a good vocabulary, you have a choice to use the word that communicates your thought to the point....MORE

Love Quotes- Easy to Share-Huge Collection

We all know love is the best and purest feeling in the world. But it is not always very easy to express love, no matter how intense your love is.  So, what do you do when you are stuck between – whether I should say it all and hold back? You must communicate your feelings without worrying about the response.  If you are hesitant about verbalizing your feelings, you must text him/her a beautiful love quote followed by three magical words and stay calm.

Some examples of love Quotes:

"Some people care too much. I think it’s called love. LOVE" - A. A. Milne

"Promise you won’t forget me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred." - A. A. Milne

"When you are with somebody you love the smallest, smallest things can be so important, so amusing because love transforms the world, everything. And was that what had happened?" - Alexander Mccall Smith

"Love removes the world for you, and just as surely when it's going well as when it's going badly." - Alice Munro

"If I had but an hour of love,if that be all that is given me,an hour of love upon this earth,I would give my love to thee." - Alice Sebold

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” – A. A. Milne

 Amelia atwater-rhodes

Some example of Friendship Quotes

“We’ll be friends until forever, just you wait and see.” – A. A. Milne

“I’ll tell you a big secret, my friend. Don’t wait for the Last Judgment. It takes place every day.” – Albert Camus

“How can sincerity be a condition of friendship? A taste for truth at any cost is a passion which spares nothing.” – Albert Camus

“Who ne’er knew joy but friendship might divide, Or gave his father grief but when he died.” – Alexander Pope

“True friendship’s laws are by this rule express’d, Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.” – Alexander Pope

“No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.” – Alice Walker

“I cannot concentrate all my friendship on any single one of my friends because no one is complete enough in himself.” – Anaïs Nin

“What I cannot love, I overlook. Is that real friendship?” – Anaïs Nin

“What men call friendship is only social intercourse, an exchange of favours and good offices; it comes down to a commercial dealing in which self-esteem always expects to profit.” – André Maurois

“Well fitted for friendship is he whom men have not disgusted with mankind, and who, believing and knowing that there are a few noble men, a few great minds, a few delightful souls scattered through the crowd, never tires of searching for them, and loves them even before he has found them.” – André Maurois

 “When people are friends, they have no need of justice, but when they are just, they need friendship in addition.” – Aristotle

“Friendship is essentially a partnership.” – Aristotle

Rumi Quotes- Share the pearls of wisdom

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī popularly known as Rumi was a 13th-century persian mystic poet whose writings have never ceased to influence the word to this date.

Rumi's father was Bahā ud-Dīn Walad, a scholar, legal adviser and a spiritualist from Balkh, who was additionally referred to by the adherents of Rumi as Sultan al-Ulama or "Sultan of the Scholars".The most imperative impacts upon Rumi, other than his father, were the Persian artists Attar and Sanai. Rumi communicates his appreciation:  "Attar was the spirit, Sanai his eyes twain, And in time thereafter, Came we in their train"

He further appreciates the two in another sonnet: "Attar has traversed the seven cities of Love, We are still at the turn of one street".

Rumi's works are written mostly in Persian, but occasionally he also used Turkish, Arabic, and Greek in his verse.  His Mathnawī, composed in Konya, is considered one of the greatest poems of the Persian language.

He is regarded as one of the most popular and accomplished poets of all times, and he has been best selling poet in the United States of America. Rumi’s work is so relevant to the modern day world that it trends on internet even to this date. Here are some Rumi Quotes which still trend on the internet.

“A craftsman pulled a reed from the ree bed, cut holes in it, and called it a human being. Since then, it’s been wailing a tender agony of parting, never mentioning the skill that gave it life as a flute”

“A wealth you cannot imagine flows through you. Do not consider what strangers say.Be secluded in your secret heart-house, that bowl of silence.”

“Be quiet now and wait. It may be that the ocean one, the one we desire so to move into and become, desires us out here on land a little longer, going our sundry roads to the shore.”

“Dear soul, don’t set a high value on someone before they deserve it; You either lose them or ruin yourself…!”

“Die! Die! Die in this love! If you die in this love, Your soul will be renewed. Die! Die! Don’t fear the death of that which is known If you die to the temporal, You will become timeless.”

“Do not seek water, get thirst.”

“Everything you possess of skill, and wealth, and handicraft, wasn’t it first merely a thought and a quest?”

“For the thirst to possess your love, is worth my blood a hundred times.”

“I will soothe you and heal you, I will bring you roses. I too have been covered with thorns.”

“I know you’re tired but come, this is the way.”

“For without you, I swear, the town Has become like a prison to me. Distraction and the mountain And the desert, all I desire.”

“If I could repeat it, people passing by would be enlightened and go free.”

“If there were no way into God, I would not have lain in the grave of this body so long.”

“Love calls – everywhere and always. We’re sky bound. Are you coming?”

“Like a sculptor, if necessary, carve a friend out of stone. Realize that your inner sight is blind and try to see a treasure in everyone.”

“Love isn’t the work of the tender and the gentle; Love is the work of wrestlers. The one who becomes a servant of lovers is really a fortunate sovereign. Don’t ask anyone about Love; ask Love about Love. Love is a cloud that scatters pearls.”

“Lovers find secret places inside this violent world where they make transactions with beauty.”

More Rumi Quotes