Idioms, Phrases and

Word Usage
 IDIOMS - DEFINITION

Idiom refers to a combination of two or more words that together mean something, instead of the
literal meanings of its individual words

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 IDIOMS - EXAMPLE

● Idiom: See eye to eye

● Meaning: When you agree with someone about something.
● Sentence Usage : Nancy is not going to argue with his brother, Jim. She feels that they just don't
see eye to eye on most of the topics.

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 IDIOMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

In the following questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase. Choose the alternative
which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

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 IDIOMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

1. The final result of the last entrance test dashed my hopes.

A. failed
B. kill someone
C. frustrate
D. bring great happiness

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 IDIOMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

2. Because of her misbehavior, she is bound to face the music.

A. have party time
B. accept unpleasant consequences
C. listen to the songs
D. Cheat

Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 IDIOMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

3. Shruti has the gift of the gab.

A. She is sincere
B. She is dedicated
C. She give gifts to everyone
D. She can speak fluently and confidently.

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 IDIOMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

4. Eat humble pie

A. feeling hungry
B. to enjoy
C. to eat quickly
D. to apologize

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 PHRASES
Improve your vocabulary

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 PHRASES - DEFINITION

● A phrase is a collection of words that stands together as a single unit, typically as part of a clause
or a sentence
● A phrase does not contain any subject or verb and hence it cannot convey any thought. .

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 PHRASES - TYPES

1. Noun Phrase

2. Verb Phrase

3. Prepositional Phrase

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 NOUN PHRASE

Noun Phrase: A group of words which consists of nouns or any modifiers.

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 NOUN PHRASE

Examples of Noun Phrases:

1. The black cap

2. Her mathematics professor
3. The dental clinic

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 VERB PHRASE

Verb Phrase: A group of words with a verb & its complements, objects, or other modifiers that
function logically as a verb. A verb phrase combines with a noun or noun phrase acting as subject to
form simple sentences.

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 VERB PHRASE

Examples of Verb Phrases:

1. Dress smartly
2. Has been trying very hard
3. Enjoyed

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 PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Prepositional Phrase: A group of words that begins with a preposition and helps to explain the
relationship between two things.

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Examples of Prepositional Phrases:

1. Under construction
2. After dinner
3. On paper

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 More Examples

● At the age of seven

● In detail
● By now
● At risk

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 PHRASES – PRACTICE QUESTION

1. Her sister has good __________ over English and French.

A. authority
B. command
C. knowledge
D. hold

Class 10
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 PHRASES - EXAMPLE

Find out the type of the bold part from the given options -

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 PHRASES – PRACTICE QUESTION

1. I have forgotten how to play this game.

A. Noun phrase
B. Verb Phrase
C. Preposition phrase

Class 10
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 PHRASES – PRACTICE QUESTION

2. She met Suzie last month.

A. Noun phrase
B. Verb Phrase
C. Preposition phrase

Point to ponder: Can it be both Noun/ Verb phrase? Think!

Class 10
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 PHRASES – PRACTICE QUESTION

3. Tom enjoys eating in Mexican restaurants.

A. Noun phrase
B. Verb Phrase
C. Preposition phrase

Class 10
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 PHRASES – PRACTICE QUESTION

4. Tell her not to worry.

A. Noun phrase
B. Verb Phrase
C. Preposition phrase

Class 10
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 MULTIPLE USAGE OF ONE WORD
Improve your vocabulary

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 HOMONYMS – DEFINITION

● Homonyms refer to those words that have the same spelling or what sound alike, but have
different meanings.
● The term Homonym can be used to refer both Homophones and Homographs.
● Homonym is called a Homograph when the spellings of both the words are same but the
meanings are different
● Homonym is called a Homophone when both the words sound alike but their meanings are
different
● Homo means “same”
● Phone means “sound”
● Graph means “write” i.e. same spelling

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 HOMOGRAPH– EXAMPLE

Same Spelling, Same Pronunciation, but

meanings are different
BAT and BAT
Bat :- An implement used to hit a ball
Bat:- A nocturnal flying mammal

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 HOMOPHONE – EXAMPLE

Different Meanings and Same Pronunciation

READ and RED
Read - past tense of the verb ‘read’
Red - color

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 HOMOPHONE – EXAMPLE

Different Meanings and Same Pronunciation

EYE and I
Eye - Body-part
I - A first person singular subject pronoun.

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 HOMOGRAPH – EXAMPLE

Same Spelling and Same Pronunciation, but

meanings are different
BEAR and BEAR
bear (the animal) and
bear (the verb meaning “to endure”).

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 HOMONYMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

1. _______ of you must participate in the event.

A. sum
B. some
C. same
D. son

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 HOMONYMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

2. We _______ several buses on the highway.

A. passed
B. past
C. Passing
D. post

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 HOMONYMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

3. I told her not to go too close to the monkeys, it might ________ her!
A. Byte
B. Bite
C. Bit
D. Beats

Class 10
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 HOMONYMS – PRACTICE QUESTION

4. Martin didn't ____ what Sheena said.

A. here
B. hire
C. hover
D. hear

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 ODD ONE OUT
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 ODD ONE OUT : DEFINITION

Odd words are those which are not related in any manner with other words of the group.

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 ODD ONE OUT : EXAMPLE

Choose the odd one out -

● Mango, Papaya, Apple and Orange,
Answer: Mango

Explanation: Fruits such as Papaya, Apple, and Orange have more than one seed whereas Mango has
only one seed in it.

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 ODD ONE OUT : PRACTICE QUESTION

1. Which of these is the odd one out?

A. Heart
B. Red blood cell
C. Skin
D. Liver

Explanation: The heart, skin and the liver are all organs. A red blood cell is not.

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 ODD – ONE OUT : PRACTICE QUESTION

2. Choose the odd one out.

A. tree
B. squirrel
C. pen (all other are living things.)
D. woman

Class 10
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 ODD – ONE OUT : PRACTICE QUESTION

3. Choose the odd one out.

A: Barley
B: Wheat
C: Cotton (Cotton is a fibre crop. Rest all are food crops.)
D: Rice

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 ODD – ONE OUT : PRACTICE QUESTION

4. Choose the odd one out.

A: Salt (All other are spices except salt)
B. Black pepper
C. Cumin
D. Coriander

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION
Improve your vocabulary

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 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION – DEFINITION

Find one-word for the following statement.

● A thing no longer in use
Answer: Obsolete

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION – PRACTICE QUESTION

In questions given below, out of four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for
the given word/sentence.

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Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION – PRACTICE QUESTION

1. That which cannot be corrected

A. Inedible
B. Indelible
C. Illegible
D. Incorrigible

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 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION – PRACTICE QUESTION

2. List of the business or subjects to be considered at a meeting

A. Schedule
B. Timetable
C. Agenda
D. Plan

Class 10
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 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION – PRACTICE QUESTION

3. The study or practice of dancing or composing ballets

A. Choreography
B. Epigraphy
C. Calligraphy
D. Cartography

Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose
 ONE-WORD SUBSTITUTION – PRACTICE QUESTION

4. Someone who does not honor the emotions and sentiments of others
A. Callous
B. Industrious
C. Vulturous
D. Doleful

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 In the next class, we will study

Parajumbles

Sentence Completion

Fill in the Blanks

Class 10 #90DaysofPurpose