Parts of Speech
1. Noun: Names a person, place, thing
Example: Person – Radha, place- Bangalore, Animal- dog,
Thing-
Concrete Nouns refer to things that can be seen, touched, heard, smelled, or tasted.
They have a physical presence.
Examples: chair, Park, River, Rock, tree
Abstract Nouns refer to ideas, qualities, emotions, or concepts that cannot be
experienced through the senses. They are intangible.
Examples: News, hope, Freedom, Knowledge, Justice, Love, Anger, Happiness,
Bravery, Honesty, Kindness, humble
2. Pronoun: Replaces a noun.
Definite pronouns : he , him, she , her, it , they etc.
Indefinite pronouns : many, few, all, none, everyone, everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody,
anything, something etc.
3. Verb: Describes an action or state of being.
Example: run, is, think
4. Adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun.
Example: beautiful, tall, angry, lively, joyful, colourful, smart, strong, cheerful,
blissful, generous, peace loving etc.
5. Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Example: quickly, very, silently, strongly
6. Preposition: Shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word.
Example: on, under, before
7. Conjunction: Connects words, phrases, or clauses.
Example: and, but, because
8. Interjection: Expresses strong emotion or reaction.
Example:
Oh! - Surprise or Shock, Sudden Understanding, Happiness or Delight, Sympathy
Wow! - Admiration
Eureka!- signifying a moment of discovery or realization
Hey!- getting someone’s attention
Phew!- indicates relief
Oops !- acknowledges a mistake
Ugh !- conveys frustration or disgust
Ouch!- indicates pain or discomfort
Bravo !- Congratulates or praises someone
Hurray!- Celebrates joy or success
Alas!- Expresses sorrow or regret
Question Tags
1. Positive Sentence → Negative Tag
If the main clause is positive, the tag is negative.
Example: She is kind, isn’t she?
2. Negative Sentence → Positive Tag
If the main clause is negative, the tag is positive.
Example: He isn’t coming, is he?
3. Use "will you" with Imperatives
Example: Close the door, will you?
4. Use "shall we" for Suggestions
When the sentence is a suggestion with "let’s", use "shall we".
Example: Let’s go for a walk, shall we?
5. Use "won’t you" or "will you" for Polite requests.
Example: You will accompany me to the seminar, won’t you?
6. Use "didn’t" when the sentence has the phrase “used to”
Example: She used to play tennis, didn’t she?
Articles
Definite Article: "The"
"The" is used to refer to something specific or known to the speaker and listener.
When to Use "The":
Specific or Previously Mentioned Nouns:
Example: The book on the table belongs to Sarah.
Unique Things:
Example: The sun, the Earth.
2. Indefinite Articles: "A" and "An"
"A" and "An" refer to non-specific, singular nouns.
When to Use "A" and "An":
Before Singular, Countable Nouns:
Example: I saw a dog.
"An" Before Vowel Sounds:
Example: An elephant, an hour ("h" is silent).
3. No Article (Zero Article)
No article is used with:
1. Uncountable Nouns When Speaking Generally:
Example: Water
2. Proper Nouns: names of people , places
Example: I met John yesterday.
She lives in Bangalore.
3. Languages, Meals, and Subjects:
Example: He speaks Spanish. We had lunch. She loves math.
Synonyms
Definition: Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings.
Examples:
Obsolete ( no longer in use) Outdated, Archaic, Antiquated, Defunct
Flabbergasted (extremely surprised or shocked)
Synonyms: Astonished, Stunned, Speechless, Dumbfounded
Aura : Vibe, Presence
Explicit (clearly expressed)
Synonyms: Clear, Definite, Precise, Unambiguous
Candid
Synonyms: honest, Frank, Direct, Open, unposed
Apathy
Synonyms: Indifference, Unconcern, Detachment
Modest (humble, not boastful)
Synonyms: Humble, Unassuming, Reserved, Meek
Discretion (careful judgment or tact)
Synonyms: Prudence, Judgment, Circumspection, Tact
Sanity (soundness of mind)
Synonyms: Rationality, Mental Clarity, Soundness, Reason
Sober (serious, not intoxicated)
Synonyms: Serious, Clear-headed, Composed,
Antonyms
Definition: Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.
Examples:
Serene (calm, peaceful)
Antonyms: Anxious, Agitated, Chaotic, Turbulent, Disturbed
Callous (insensitive, unfeeling)
Antonyms: Compassionate, Sensitive, Kind, Tender
Sham (fake, fraudulent)
Antonyms: Genuine, Authentic, Real, Sincere
Sanity (soundness of mind)
Antonyms: Insanity, Irrationality, Madness
Discretion (careful judgment, tact)
Antonyms: Indiscretion, Recklessness, Carelessness, Impulsiveness
Avid (enthusiastic, eager)
Antonyms: Indifferent, Apathetic, Dispassionate, Uninterested
Alleviate (to ease or lessen)
Antonyms: Aggravate, Worsen, Intensify
Hassle (inconvenience, bother)
Antonyms: Convenience, Ease, Pleasure, Comfort
Hallucinate (see or sense things that aren't real)
Antonyms: Perceive Reality, Be Clear-headed, See Clearly
Resilient (able to recover quickly)
Antonyms: Fragile, Vulnerable, Weak, Inflexible
Wh- questions
What – asks about something
Where- asks about location
When – asks about time
Who – asks about a person
Whose – asks about possession
Which – asks about a choice
Why – asks about a reason
How – asks about a method
Yes-no questions- am, is , are, was, were, can, will, do, does, did etc.
LSRW skills
Read each scenario and identify which type of communication is being used (Verbal, Non-
verbal, Written, or Visual).
1. A student presents a research paper to the class, using slides to illustrate key points.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
2. A manager gives feedback to an employee face-to-face during a meeting.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
3. A job applicant fills out an application form and submits it to the employer.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
4. During a lecture, the professor uses hand gestures to explain complex ideas.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
5. A customer care representative speaks with a client on the phone, resolving an issue.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
6. A group of employees communicates through an email chain to organize a meeting.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
7. A manager uses facial expressions to show disapproval during a presentation.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
8. A teacher writes on the whiteboard during a class to help students understand a concept.
a) Verbal
b) Non-verbal
c) Written
d) Visual
Active Listening Skills
Read the statements below and determine whether the person is demonstrating Active
Listening or not.
1. Statement: John makes eye contact, nods his head, and asks follow-up questions to show
he understands what Mary is saying.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
2. Statement: Sarah listens to her friend, but is distracted by her phone and doesn’t make
any effort to respond.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
3. Statement: James listens carefully, restates what his colleague said to confirm
understanding, and provides thoughtful feedback.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
4. Statement: Emily hears her manager talking about a new project but doesn’t acknowledge
the information or show interest.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
5. Statement: Tom listens attentively during a meeting, nods, and makes notes to keep track
of important points.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
6. Statement: Amanda listens to a lecture while daydreaming and doesn’t take notes or ask
questions.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
7. Statement: Mike listens to his friend’s problem, shows empathy, and offers helpful advice.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
8. Statement: Laura listens passively and doesn’t give any verbal or non-verbal feedback
during the conversation.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
9. Statement: Peter listens carefully to his boss’s instructions, asks for clarification when
needed, and repeats the instructions to confirm understanding.
a) Active Listening
b) Not Active Listening (passive listening)
Non-Verbal Communication
Read each situation and choose the correct Non-Verbal Communication skill used in the
scenario.
1. A speaker uses a firm handshake when greeting someone.
a) Posture
b) Eye Contact
c) Facial Expressions
d) Gestures
2. A manager smiles and nods to encourage the employee to continue speaking during a
presentation.
a) Posture
b) Facial Expressions
c) Gestures
d) Eye Contact
3. A person sits back with arms crossed and leans away from the conversation, indicating
disinterest.
a) Posture
b) Facial Expressions
c) Gestures
d) Tone of Voice
4. A speaker points to a chart to highlight a key point during a presentation.
a) Eye Contact
b) Posture
c) Gestures
d) Facial Expressions
5. A manager frowns and raises an eyebrow when an employee presents a questionable
proposal.
a) Eye Contact
b) Tone of Voice
c) Facial Expressions
d) Posture
Improving Communication in Group Settings
Read each statement and choose the best approach for improving communication in group
settings.
1. During a group discussion, one member dominates the conversation without allowing
others to speak.
a) Ignore the person and continue the discussion
b) Politely ask the person to allow others to contribute
c) Ask others to leave the discussion
d) Let the dominant person continue speaking
2. Team members do not understand the tasks assigned to them, leading to confusion and
mistakes.
a) Ask team members to clarify the instructions among themselves
b) Hold a follow-up meeting to review the tasks and clarify the instructions
c) Ignore the confusion and hope it resolves itself
d) Assign new tasks to avoid confusion
3. A team member is shy and rarely speaks up during meetings, despite having valuable
input.
a) Ignore their silence and continue the meeting
b) Encourage the team member to share their thoughts and ideas
c) Criticize them for not speaking
d) Ask the team member to leave the meeting
4. A team member interrupts others during discussions, preventing smooth communication.
a) Ignore the interruptions and continue speaking
b) Politely ask the person to wait their turn to speak
c) End the discussion immediately
d) Let the team member dominate the conversation
5. A team is brainstorming ideas for a new product, but there is a lack of creative input from
members.
a) Wait for ideas to come naturally
b) Encourage everyone to contribute, and provide positive feedback for all ideas
c) Continue with the limited ideas already suggested
d) Stop the brainstorming session due to lack of input
6. In a virtual team meeting, participants are distracted and multitasking during the
discussion.
a) Ignore the distractions and continue the meeting
b) Address the distractions and encourage participants to stay focused
c) End the meeting early
d) Allow participants to multitask as they please
7. A team is facing a conflict due to differing opinions on the project approach.
a) Ignore the conflict and continue with the project
b) Facilitate a discussion to address the differing opinions and find common ground
c) Choose one approach and impose it on the team
d) Split the team into separate groups to avoid the conflict
