English Wallpapers

Tips to Remember Grammar

The Simple Present and the Simple Past Tense

 These Tenses are so very simple they do not use a helping verb ,they manage with their own verb.

                 So,do not use the helping verbs,'is' ,'are','was','were'.

                    ie.The cat drinks milk.

The Present Continuous and the Past Continuous
 
These Tenses  need a helping verb,so,use the helping verbs,'is,are,was,were,along with the 'ing' form of the verb.
                     ie.The cat is drinking milk. 
 

The Perfect Tenses
 All Perfect Tenses use the helping verb 'has,have and had' along with the 'Past Participle' form of the verb.

The Perfect Tense is very possessive of his helping verb,so,use the helping verbs,'has,have and had' only with the Perfect Tense.

                  ie.The cat has drunk milk.

 The Passive Voice

Be careful to check the 'Tense' of the 'Action Verb' when changing from 'Active to Passive',and then decide on the 'Helping Verb' according to the 'Tense'.
                    ie. The cat drinks milk.
                         Milk is drunk by the cat.

Be careful to check the 'Tense' of the 'Helping Verb' when changing from 'Passive to Active',and then decide on the 'Tense 'of the 'Action Verb'.
                     ie.Milk was drunk by the cat.
                         The cat drank milk.

                           A Kind Warning

                        Read your questions carefully before attempting.

                                   Best wishes for your examination.

 
 





 
 

Let's Revise Grammar

For Students of Grade 8 & 9
 Change the following sentences into the Passive Voice.

 1.Fiona is trimming the fence as instructed.
 2.Rita has written a letter to her friend in Germany.
 3.David swims the backstroke like a cute whale.
 4.We have painted the furniture in blue and white.
 5.The students must revise the Junior English lessons to score good marks.
 6.The grade  9 students will help the poor during the holiday.
 7.The station master was blowing the whistle for the train to leave.
 8.Maria sang a beautiful song at the party.

Change the following sentences into the Active Voice.
 1.The piano was played melodiously by Jennifer at the performance.
 2.The cute shoe was being eaten by the playful dog.
 3.The flowers had been arranged creatively by the talented florist.
 4.The lovely mare is  ridden by the handsome prince.
 5.The luscious apples are being attacked by ugly worms.
 6.The tasty fish will be fried by the maid.
 7.The hard sums  must be done by all students.

Fill in the blanks with the Conditional Double Present .
1.If you come to school everyday, you....................a merit certificate.[get]
2.If I do my homework as required,l .......................not fear punishment.[need]
3.If you ..........................fast everyday ,you keep fit.[walk]

Fill in the blanks with the Conditional Type 1.
1.If  we read books that give us knowledge,we...................educated children.[become]
 2.If we cut trees carelessly,we ....................... mother Earth in no time.[destroy]
 3.If David ......................his music examination ,his father will take him to Austria.[pass]

Fill in the blanks with Conditional Type 2.
 1. If Tony had listened to his father,he ...........not.............with that accident.[meet]
 2.If we ate  fresh vegetables ,we ..............................healthy than before.[look]
 3.If Dev .........................the bike slowly,he still would come on time.[rode]









































 

Grammar,Our Favourite.

For Students in Grade 6 and 7

Fill in the blanks with the Present Continuous Tense.
1.Dave -------------------- in the sea since morning.{swim}
2.We -------------------- to see the opera tomorrow.{go}
3.They -------------------- to the singing of the birds in the mountain.{listen}
4.Jennifer------------------- her torn cardigan.{sew}
5.Peter--------------------- in an aeroplane to Hollywood.{travel}

Fill in the blanks with the Past Continuous Tense.
1.The teachers ---------------------- the essays of the competition.( mark) 
2. John ---------------------------- his little puppy,Bouncy.(cuddle)
3.Vanessa ------------------------ her homework quietly.(do)
4.The farmers --------------------- the seed before the rain.(sow)
5.Everyone ------------------------ innocent Bouncy,for being playful.(blame)

For Students in Grade 7 and 8 

Change the following sentences into the Passive Voice.
1.The poor florist sells the pretty flowers in the street corner.
2.We took the injured boy to the sickroom.
3.Oliver played  the oboe sweetly at the concert.
4.They will weave the cane baskets before the end of the day.
5.Laura plays the role "Portia"in the drama excellently.

Change the following sentences into the Active Voice.
1.An  interesting  poem was read by Jim, on the Library Day.
2.Delicious oranges are grown in Isreal.
3.The broken chest of drawers was mended by the carpenter.
4.Beautiful butterfly wings are displayed at the exhibition by us.
5.The hall will be decorated for the party ,by the student


  


 

 

We are Part of Nature,Remember these Quotes,Love and Protect the Nature.

1."Let nature be your teacher."
                                  William Wordsworth

2."Land,then,is not merely soil; it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils,plants and animals.
                                                                                                      Aldo Leopold

3."When we see land as a community to which belong,we may begin to use it with love and repsect."
                                                                                                      Aldo Leopold

4.Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend;you cannot cherish his right and cut off his left."
                                                                                                      Aldo Leopold

5."A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete,but, dry list of the fauna and flora of a
     town."
                                                                                                       Henry David Thoreau
6."One can measure the greatness and the moral progress of a nation by looking how it treats its animals."
                                                                                                        Mahathma Gandhi

7."I feel like Iam nothing without wildlife.They are the stars.I feel awkward without them."
                                                                                                        Bindi Irwin

          (The above quotes were taken from a project given by the students,Dumindu Jayaratne and Disal
            Jayaratne of Grade 8D)

France Back to Normal

The monarchy was restored to France,with Louis 16 s younger brother becoming King Louis 18.(There was  no Louis 17 as a mark of respect to Louis 16 s son ,who died soon after his father.)

Louis 18 ruled carefully and with a moderate constitution.He kept Napoleon's civil code,his system of local government and the education system.

The privileges of the nobility were not restored.When Louis' successors, Charles 10 ignored the constitution and tried to rule as a despot, he was overthrown by another revolution in 1830.Charles was replaced by a more liberal monarch,Louis Phillippe,nicknamed

the 'Citizen King'

A Tribute for Our Mothers

                                                                  Mother of Mine
   
                                    Mother of mine you gave to me;
                                              All of my life to do as l please,
                                    I owe everything l have to you.
                                               Mother sweet mother of mine.


                                    Mother of mine,when l was wrong;
                                                You showed me the right way that things should be done,
                                     Without your love,where would l be?
                                                 Mother sweet mother of mine.

                                     Mother,you gave me happiness;
                                                  Much more than words can say,
                                     l thank the Lord,that He may bless you,
                                                  Every night and every day.

                                     Mother of mine,now Iam grown
                                                   And I can walk straight all on my own,
                                     I'd like to give you; what you gave me,
                                                   Mother sweet mother of mine.   

Learn About Napoleon Bonaparte

                                                                    Napoleon Bonaparte  

                                                                   

The Rise of Napoleon ( 1794 – 1799}

The reign of terror in France was over, the guillotine was also abolished.The middle classes now took firm control of the government. Paris were full of rich young people,dressed in fancy fashionable clothes.The French  army continued its conquests.Its career system allowed able young officers to rise quickly in the ranks and become generals.One of these was a young Corsican,Napoleon Bonaparte. He invaded and conquered northern Italy.Napoleon was ambitious,he had close links with one of the Directors,Paul Barrs.

A new government of three consuls was declared,with Napoleon as first consul.Within an year,the constitution was twisted to give Napoleon supreme power.

Napoleonic France

He devided France into forty-seven departments and each was controlled by a prefect,sub prefects and mayors.To achieve national unity he healed the religious divisions.Roman Catholism was made the recognized religion and he signed an agreement with Pope Pius in 1802.

Crowned as Emperor

Napoleon appeared as his best. A young ( he was barely thirty},vigorous,listening seriously to the advice of the ablest  men he could find.Napoleon became Emperor with the right to pass the title to his children after his death.He and his wife, Josephine were crowned at a spectacular ceremony in the Cathedral of Notre Dame,in Paris.

Stamping Out Opposition

In 1800,he suppressed sixty out of seventy three newspapers in Paris.By1811,strict censorship had reduced the number to four..A new ministry of police imprisoned opponents without trial.In 1809 ,he created the University of France,a government department to control all schools and make sure that loyalty to the Emperor was taught at all levels.

Napoleon’s European Empire

By 1802,France controlled Belgium,Holland,most of northern Italy and Switzerland.Spain became Napoleon’s ally.The only neighbour to remain independently was Britain.It was the main threat to him.

Two Thousand ships were gathered at Boulogne,ready to invade Britain.However in 1805,the British Navy led by Nelson,fought and destroyed the Spanish and French fleets at Trafalgar in sourthern Spain.

Other Major Victories

Napoleon defeated the armies of Russia and Austria at the battle of Austerlitz.He crushed the Prussian Army.At the end the Russian tsar and the Austrian Emperor made peace with France.

A Grand Dynasty

Napoleon placed his generals and members of his family as the heads of the conquered nations.

In Germany  -  Jerome Bonaparte – King of Westphalia.

In Naples – Joseph Bonaparte – King of Naples

In Holland – Louis Bonaparte – King of Holland

Northern Italy – Napoleon’s step son

The state was a disguised dictatorship

The Thorn in Napoleon’s Side

Britian remained the thorn in Napoleon’s side.He knew that Britian’s wealth came from seaborne trade.

He decided to destroy it and believed that the British would submit if he did so.In 1793 the French government forbid the import of British goods.The ban extended to Holland,Germany,Russia and Prussia.This blocade of trade was known as the “Continental System”.It indeed damaged the British trade,but they managed to smuggle goods via the Papal State,Spain and Portugal.Britian made trade with South America and USA.This made Napoleon very angry.He occupied the Papal State and made the Pope a prisnor and made his brother the king of Spain.

Opposition Within the French Empire

Napoleon’s struggle to enforce the “Continental System”aroused opposition within the French empire.In Spain local committees of priests and nobles called the “juntas”raised a rebellion.In Portugal the French army was defeated by the British Expeditionary Force.

Anti-French Feelings in Other Nations

Anti- French feeling began to stir in Germany and Austria.Austria declared war on France.The effects of the “Continental System “became worse and worse.In Holland and Germany all British goods were seized and burnt.Sugar,cotton and many goods were short supply.To pay for his war Napoleon imposed heavier and heavier taxation,and young men were taken from all over the empire,to fight whenever he wanted.Throughout Europe  people began to object to the high price of Napoleon’s government.

Napoleon’s Fall and His Legacy

From 1809,onwards,the French position in Spain got worse and worse.

The British Army occupied Portugal,the commander later to become the Duke of Wellington.

In Spain the French forces were continually troubled by bands of guerilla soldiers who attacked out posts,stores and roads.In1812,the British advanced and inflicted a crushing defeat to France.

France’s relationship with Russia too was bad,because Napoleon wanted to marry a Russian princess to which the tsar did not agree.The tsar  re opened his ports to British trade.

The Battle With Russia

Napoleon advanced to Russia in June 1812,with 450,000men,in a Grand Army.The Russians  retreated,burning their towns and crops.It was called the ‘Scorched Earth’ policy.The French could not replenish their supplies.At Borodino the two armies met in a desperate battle,Napoleon lost 30,000 men.Two weeks later he entered Moscow,only to find the city on fire and all the Russian officials fled.Napoleon had order the retreat from Moscow across barren  land,repeatedly attacked by Russian forces and soon floundered in the snow of the Russian winter.Thousands starved or froze to death.Of the Great Army ,only 40,000 managed to struggle back home.

Paris Surrendered

Finally when the allies invaded France,the country was exhausted and war-weary.Paris surrendered,.Napoleon abdicated,and a treaty with the allies made him ruler of Elba,a tiny island off the coast of Italy.

Has He Given Up…..?

Napoleon soon resolved to act.In Elba he raised a small army and in March 1815 escaped to the south of France with a thousand men,by 20 th March reached Paris and was reinstalled triumphantly at the Tuileries Palace.

On 15 th  June,Napoleon launched 120,000 men against Wellington,they met ay Waterloo,Belgium,and the French were defeated.He was sent as a prisnor to St.Helena, a tiny,remote island in the South Atlantic.He died there in 1812

             r

THE SIMPLE TRUTH ABOUT LYING

Nearly any adult will tell you that lying is wrong. But when it comes to avoiding trouble, saving face in front of the boss, or sparing someone’s feelings, many people find themselves doing it anyway. In fact, more than 80 percent of women admit to occasionally telling what they consider harmless half-truths, says Susan Shapiro Barash, author of Little White Lies, Deep Dark Secrets: The Truth About Why Women Lie (St. Martin’s Press, $15, amazon.com). And 75 percent admit to lying to loved ones about money in particular. The tendency to tell tales is “a very natural human trait,” explains David L. Smith, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at the University of New England, in Biddeford, Maine. “It lets you manipulate the way you want to be seen by others.” To pinpoint how people stretch the truth from time to time and the potential fallout from it, learn the six most common ways that people mislead.

Deception Points

Most lies aren’t meant to be hurtful to others; rather, they’re meant to help the one doing the fibbing. These are the six top ways people lie.

1. Lying to Save Face

What it sounds like: “Gosh, I never got the shower invitation!” “Sorry I’m late, but there was a huge pileup on the freeway.”

Why people do it: For self-preservation. While it may be instinctual, people who frequently cover up innocent errors may start to feel as if they have permission to be irresponsible. What’s more, it can become grueling for them to keep track of those deceptions. (“Now, why did I tell her I couldn’t cochair that event?”) Eventually those lies hinder people from having close connections, says Smith. “Of course, there are relationships in which it doesn’t matter as much,” he says.

How you can avoid it: Think long-term. When you’re tempted to be less than truthful, consider your ultimate goal: to have a happy marriage, say, or a solid friendship. Then, when torn between fact and fiction, ask yourself, “Which will put me closer to my goal?” Usually the choice is clear.

Keep it simple. Most of the time, a short apology is all that’s needed, and you can omit some details without sacrificing the truth. Something like “Sorry that I didn’t call you back sooner” is usually sufficient and effective.

 2. Lying to Shift Blame

What it sounds like: “It’s my boss’s decision, not mine.” “My husband never told me you called.”

Why people do it: “To effectively give away power and control,” says Smith. “When done habitually, this can diminish a person’s ability to deal with life’s bigger problems.” When someone constantly saddles other people with his responsibilities, others can grow resentful of carrying this burden. Also, eternally passing the buck is downright exhausting. The deceiver keeps fielding requests but is only postponing the inevitable. Eventually the issue will have to be dealt with.

How you can avoid it: Dig deep. In some cases, blame shifting can signal difficulty with accepting responsibility for your actions, says Joseph S. Weiner, chief of consultation psychiatry at North Shore University Hospital, in Manhasset, New York. Maybe you were criticized for making mistakes as a child, for example, and so now you’re afraid to own up because of what other people may think of you. Once you realize this is a behavior that can be changed, however, you can start to regain the power you may feel you don’t have. Flip it around. Before using a colleague or a loved one as a decoy in a minor deception, think of how the other person would feel in the same scenario. If the deception puts other people in an unfavorable light, it’s best to leave them out of it.

3. Lying to Avoid Confrontation

What it sounds like: “That’s a wonderful idea, Mom. I’ll make sure to get to the airport three hours before my flight.” “You’re doing a great job, but we can’t afford a housekeeper anymore.”

Why people do it: A believable excuse may help someone avoid an uncomfortable talk or keep that person from feeling guilty. But relying on nonconfrontation too often eventually does relationships―both personal and professional―a disservice. With people to whom one is deeply tied, it’s important to remember that “closeness is not always pleasant, and that interpersonal dealings, by their very nature, have highs and lows,” says Smith. “When you try to avoid the lows at all cost, it can have an overall deadening effect on these connections.” Even if the person on the receiving end of a lie isn’t closely tied to the fibber, the one deceiving still has to keep track of―and live by―those lies. What’s more, she may have to deal with the consequences of the lie anyway (for example, if the housekeeper finds out someone else was hired in her place).

How you can avoid it:  Consider the options. Before you tell a fib, it helps to make a list of all the ways you could handle the situation―from delivering a total fairy tale to telling the stark truth. If, after thinking it through, you still decide a fabrication is the best choice, “it may signal that you don’t value having an honest relationship, and that in itself is worth pondering more,” says Marlene Chism, a relationship expert in Springfield, Missouri, and the author of Success Is a Given (ICARE Publishing, $15, amazon.com). On the other hand, maybe there is an option that will allow you to tell the truth but that will still provide your desired outcome. Pair it with the positive. Look for the bright, true spot buried within the lie. Saying to your mother, “Your ideas are always appreciated―I called that tutor you recommended last week!―but this time I just don’t agree,” makes the truth easier to swallow for both of you.

4. Lying to Get One’s Way

What it sounds like: “I won’t be at work today. I caught that bug that’s going around.” “Officer, my speedometer must be broken.”

Why people do it: For personal gain. But when a lie like this is uncovered, the recipient is unlikely to be charitable. And the more hurtful the lie is to the person on the receiving end, the less it’s likely to be forgiven. “When getting what a person wants drives his every word and action, he will not earn people’s trust or love,” says Weiner.

How you can avoid it: Stop justifying. Maybe you think you deserved that day off. Or you figured it was late and there was no one on the road when you were speeding. While both rationalizations may be true, “that doesn’t make the lie any more acceptable in the end,” says Smith. If you have to convince yourself the lie is OK, chances are it’s not. Think of the alternative. Consider if honesty could still bring about a positive result. Example: “I know I don’t have any vacation left, but I’d be willing to come in Saturday or stay late every day next week if I could have Friday off.” Or admit to the police officer that you lost your concentration going down the hill and apologize. That may result in a warning instead of a ticket. You never really know until you try.

5. Lying to Be Nice

What it sounds like: “That dress looks fantastic on you.” “This is the best meat loaf I’ve ever tasted.”

Why people do it: In some cases, the little white lie is altruistic, says Smith, but when used excessively, it can make interactions with people less authentic. At its worst, others may feel that a person isn’t being genuine or trustworthy.

How you can avoid it: Walk in the other person’s shoes. People often underestimate the information that others can tolerate and even benefit from, particularly when the words are said out of friendship, says Weiner. For example, you would generally want someone to mention it if you had a piece of spinach stuck in your teeth, if your blouse had a stain, or if your pot roast could use a pinch of salt. Tone it down. If you feel that a certain amount of truth stretching is a vital social lubricant, the best thing to do is to avoid gushing. “That’s a great color on you” is a lot more plausible than “That’s the most stunning sweater I have ever seen in my entire life.” Track it. Keeping a tally of the tales you tell for a day or a week can help you distinguish between the instances where being truthful matters and where it doesn’t. Maybe you didn’t need to tell the supermarket checkout gal that you loved her (hideous) earrings. But it made you feel better to say it, plus you got a pleasant reaction from her. Most experts say there’s no huge harm in that.

6. Lying to Make Oneself Feel Better

What it sounds like: “Eating my kids’ French fries doesn’t count.” “I’ll charge this stuff now because I’m going to pay off the credit-card bill as soon as I get my bonus.” “I never watch television.”

Why people do it: To reassure themselves. But when people start to believe their self-deceptions, it can snowball, which is especially dangerous. A clean-your-plate habit can lead to an extra 10 pounds. One shopping spree can trigger can’t-pay-the-mortgage debt. And while denying hours spent in front of the TV isn’t a crime, it might cause a person to wonder where all her time is going―or get busted humming the Law & Order theme song.

How you can avoid it: Plan honesty ahead. Because self-deception can become almost automatic, “stopping isn’t simply a matter of just saying in the moment, ‘Hey, should I lie to myself right now?’” says Smith. Instead, pledging to face reality in the situations where you’re most likely to deceive yourself is a smarter tactic. Keep your goals in sight. Whatever you want to accomplish, from sticking to a healthy diet to keeping your bank account in the black to cutting down on those television marathons, lying about what’s really going on puts you one step farther from that objective. Instead, it’s a good idea to visualize, in full detail, what it will look, feel, sound, smell, or taste like when you attain your goal. “Painting a detailed picture in your mind will help you maintain your motivation, even in the face of temptation to sabotage yourself with deception,” says Weiner. Help others be accountable. When people who tend to deceive themselves spend too much time with frequent fibbers or even others who tolerate that type of mendacity, their destructive habits won’t be challenged or corrected. In the most serious situations, where lying is causing someone serious damage, it helps to be a particularly truth-conscious friend and lend support as well as a gentle, watchful eye.

Use Idioms and Enrich Your Vocabulary

                     #  To be over the moon.                                 # An old head in a young shoulder.      
                              To be  delighted.                                             Too wise for his age.
                                                                                                     
                     #  Let your hair down.                                   # My hands are tied.                                  
                               To relax and have fun.                                    Helpless.

                     #  To be a wet blanket.                                  # Being on the wrong track.  
                                To be a gloomy person.                                  Associating the wrong friends.

                     #  To bring the house down.                          # Keep your hair on.
                                To cause great amusement.                             Remain calm though angry.

                     #  To get into hot water.                                # Don't get on your high horse with me.      
                                 To get into trouble.                                         Don't try to dominate.  
                               

Do You Want to Know More About the French Revolution?

                                Read the"Tale of Two Cities"
                                                  By Charles Dickens

The French Revolution in a Nut Shell

                  History

         In 1774,Louis the 16th became king of France.He succeeded his grandfather

                  Louis the 15th and at the age of twenty he had become one of the most powerful
                  men in Europe.Yet, before the end of the century,this system of government was
                  to be swept away for ever in a bloody revolution.Louis lost both his crown and  
                   his head.

                  The Government Before the Revolution
                      -The First Estate - priests,bishops,monks and nuns who worked for the 
                                                        Catholic Church.
                      -The Second Estate -the nobility
                      -The Third Estate- poor peasants,the rich middle class,towns people
                                                         (lawyers,merchants etc.they called the "bourgeoisie"}

                    The first two estates had many privileges,they paid fewer taxes,though they
                     were the richest.The great bulk of taxes were paid by the French town 
                     people and the peasants. 

                     The Plight of the Peasants
                        Though the peasants were by far the biggest group in the French society,
                      they were the least privileged.They lived under a feudal system that remained 
                      from the Middle Ages.
                      - they farmed land owned by members of the nobility
                      - every year they had to give part of their harvest to their lord
                      - they had to grind their corn at their lord s mill,press their grapes at his
                         wine- press and bake their bread in his oven,all at a PRICE!
                      - they had to do unpaid work to maintain local roads and bridges.

                      The Third Estate Discontented
                          Life was hard to the peasants and the middle class.The towns people were 
                       unhappy too.They were envious of the nobility s privileges.Not only the 
                       nobles paid fewer taxes,but all the senior jobs in the Army,Navy and church
                       were reserved for nobleman.

                      The Fall of the King
                           Slowly but surely,Louis s government headed towards bankruptcy
                       The king,the queen,an Austrian Princess called Marie Antionette and 
                       many wealthy nobles lived lives of recklace luxury in the magnificient 
                       Palace of Versailles about ten kilometers outside Paris.They spent the 
                       most of the nation s wealth.

                      The National Assembly
                           By the year 1789 food was in short supply, and riots broke out across
                       the country.Angry demonstrates filled the streets of Paris.Army barracks 
                       were looted for weapons,the Third Estate got the control of the country 
                       to their hand.The king was no longer in control of the country.The Royal 
                       family tried to escape from Paris to the north-east frontier of France.
                       They traveled in disguise for twenty four hours,but were recognized at 
                       the village of Varennes and sent back to Paris.The Royal family was 
                       imprisoned in 1792.The victorious Revolutionary Committee declared
                       it self the new "Commune"or the "Town Council",of Paris.
         
                       A New Machine Introduced
                         "The Guillotine"a new machine was introduced for beheading criminals.
                        It was a popular spectacle at that time.
                               Louis was beheaded on the 21 January 1793
                               Marie Antionette in October 

                                          Bibliography
                                          Pratt Stephen - The French Revolution and Napoleon
                                                       
                     
                       


         
                                                           
-           

                    

 

                 

Write Your Own Poem

The Best Anybody Ever Said

                                                           Quotes to Remember



                                       "He who wants the rose must respect the thorn."
                                                                                         A Persian Proverb

                                       "Pride is the mask of a persons own faults.
                                                                                          A Jewish Proverb
                                   
                                       "Self confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings."
                                                                                          Samuel Johnson

                                       "I am a slow walker,but l never walk back.
                                                                                           Abraham Lincoln