English Grammar — Class 9 & 10

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Board Exam Cards

Class 9 — English Grammar

Parts of Speech · Tenses · Sentences · Voice · Narration · Punctuation

Parts of Speech Noun & Pronoun Adjective & Adverb Preposition & Conjunction Tenses (12) Types of Sentences Active & Passive Voice Direct & Indirect Speech Punctuation 🌸 Figures of Speech ✍️ Writing Skills

🔤 1. Parts of Speech Class 9

The 8 Parts of Speech

Part of Speech	Definition	Example
Noun	Name of a person, place, thing or idea	Ram, Mumbai, book, honesty
Pronoun	Word used in place of a noun	he, she, they, it, we
Verb	Shows action or state of being	run, eat, is, seem
Adjective	Describes or modifies a noun	tall, red, three, beautiful
Adverb	Modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb	quickly, very, here, always
Preposition	Shows relationship between noun and other words	in, on, at, under, beside
Conjunction	Joins words, phrases or clauses	and, but, or, because, although
Interjection	Expresses strong emotion (independent)	Oh! Wow! Alas! Bravo! Hurrah!

⭐ Tip: One word can act as different parts of speech depending on its use. Ex: well — "She is well." (adj) / "She sings well." (adv) / "She welled up." (verb)

🏷️ 2. Noun & Pronoun Class 9

Types of Noun

Type	Definition	Examples
Proper Noun	Name of a specific person, place or thing	Sachin, Delhi, Ganga, India
Common Noun	General name for a class of things	boy, city, river, country
Collective Noun	Name for a group of persons or things	team, flock, army, class, fleet
Abstract Noun	Name of quality, feeling or idea (cannot be seen/touched)	love, honesty, bravery, joy
Material Noun	Name of material or substance	gold, water, iron, wood
Countable Noun	Can be counted; has singular and plural	pen → pens, book → books
Uncountable Noun	Cannot be counted; no plural form	milk, air, sugar, advice, news

📌 Proper nouns always start with a Capital Letter. Uncountable nouns do not take a/an and have no plural — never say "advices" or "informations".

Types of Pronoun

Type	Examples
Personal	I, we, you, he, she, it, they / me, us, him, her, them
Possessive	mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs, its
Reflexive	myself, ourselves, yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves
Demonstrative	this, that, these, those
Interrogative	who, whom, whose, which, what
Relative	who, whom, whose, which, that
Indefinite	someone, nobody, everyone, all, each, both, either, neither
Reciprocal	each other, one another

🎨 3. Adjective & Adverb Class 9

Types of Adjective

Type	Examples
Qualitative / Descriptive	tall girl, hot tea, kind man, beautiful flower
Quantitative	some rice, much water, little sugar, enough time
Numeral	three boys (cardinal), first rank (ordinal), double portion (multiplicative)
Demonstrative	this book, that pen, these bags, those houses
Interrogative	which class?, what colour?, whose bag?
Possessive	my bag, your answer, his result, their house
Proper	Indian food, French wine, American accent

Types of Adverb

Type	Examples
Manner	quickly, slowly, well, badly, carefully
Time	now, then, yesterday, soon, already, still, yet
Place	here, there, inside, outside, away, everywhere
Frequency	always, never, often, usually, seldom, sometimes
Degree	very, too, quite, almost, enough, so, rather
Reason	therefore, hence, so, thus

⭐ Most adverbs of manner are formed by adding -ly to adjective: quick → quickly, careful → carefully, happy → happily (y→ily)

📍 4. Preposition & Conjunction Class 9

Prepositions — Types & Use

Type	Prepositions	Example
Place	in, on, at, under, above, below, beside, between, among, behind, in front of	The book is on the table.
Time	at (time), on (day/date), in (month/year), since, for, during, before, after, until	School starts at 7. It's on Monday.
Direction	to, into, towards, from, through, across, along, up, down	She walked towards the door.
Manner/Cause	by, with, of, for, due to, because of, owing to	He came by bus.

Conjunctions

Type	Words	Use
Co-ordinating	and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so	Joins two equal clauses. She sings and* dances.*
Subordinating	because, since, although, if, when, unless, until, after, before, while, as	Joins main clause + sub clause. Although it rained, we played.
Correlative	either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also, whether…or	Used in pairs. Either she or her sister will come.

⚠️ Never use but with although, and never use so with because in the same sentence.

⏰ 5. Tenses — All 12 Class 9

Present Tenses

Tense	Structure	Signal Words	Example
Simple Present	S + V1(s/es) + O	always, usually, every day, often, never	She eats an apple daily.
Present Continuous	S + is/am/are + V-ing	now, at this moment, look, listen	He is reading a book.
Present Perfect	S + has/have + V3	just, already, yet, ever, never, recently	I have finished my work.
Present Perfect Continuous	S + has/have + been + V-ing	since (point), for (period) — still continuing	She has been studying for 2 hours.

Past Tenses

Tense	Structure	Signal Words	Example
Simple Past	S + V2 + O	yesterday, ago, last, in [year]	He went to school.
Past Continuous	S + was/were + V-ing	while, when, at that time	She was sleeping when I called.
Past Perfect	S + had + V3	before, after, already, by the time	He had left before she arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous	S + had + been + V-ing	for, since (+ past reference)	They had been waiting for an hour.

Future Tenses

Tense	Structure	Signal Words	Example
Simple Future	S + will/shall + V1	tomorrow, next, soon, shortly	I will come tomorrow.
Future Continuous	S + will + be + V-ing	at this time tomorrow, at [time] tomorrow	She will be working at 9 AM.
Future Perfect	S + will + have + V3	by, by the time, by next [time]	I will have finished by Monday.
Future Perfect Continuous	S + will + have + been + V-ing	for + a future time point	She will have been teaching for 10 years.

⭐ V1/V2/V3 — Irregular Verbs to Know: go/went/gone · write/wrote/written · take/took/taken · speak/spoke/spoken · eat/ate/eaten · see/saw/seen · give/gave/given · buy/bought/bought · bring/brought/brought · break/broke/broken · know/knew/known · teach/taught/taught

✍️ 6. Types of Sentences Class 9

Type	Meaning	Example
Assertive / Declarative	States a fact (positive or negative)	The sun rises in the east. / She did not come.
Interrogative	Asks a question	Where are you going? / Did he come?
Imperative	Gives order, request or advice	Please sit down. / Don't make noise.
Exclamatory	Expresses strong emotion	What a beautiful day! / How brave he is!
Optative	Expresses wish or prayer	May you live long! / God bless you!

Based on Structure:
Simple Sentence — one subject + one predicate (one clause). She went home.
Compound Sentence — two or more main clauses joined by co-ordinating conjunction (and/but/or/so). She studied hard so she passed.
Complex Sentence — one main clause + one or more subordinate clauses. Although it rained, the match continued.

🔄 7. Active & Passive Voice Class 9

4-Step Method to Change Active → Passive

Step 1: Object of active sentence → New Subject of passive sentence.
Step 2: Choose the correct form of be (is/am/are/was/were/has been/have been/will be…) based on tense.
Step 3: Change the main verb → V3 (past participle).
Step 4: Subject of active → "by + object pronoun" at the end.

Passive Voice — All Tenses

Tense	Active	Passive
Simple Present	She writes a letter.	A letter is written by her.
Simple Past	He ate the food.	The food was eaten by him.
Simple Future	They will do the work.	The work will be done by them.
Present Continuous	She is writing a letter.	A letter is being written by her.
Past Continuous	He was eating food.	Food was being eaten by him.
Present Perfect	She has written a letter.	A letter has been written by her.
Past Perfect	He had finished the work.	The work had been finished by him.
Imperative	Open the door.	Let the door be opened. / You are requested to open the door.

Pronoun Changes — Active to Passive

Active Subject	→ Passive "by ___"	Active Subject	→ Passive "by ___"
I	by me	We	by us
He	by him	She	by her
They	by them	You	by you

⚠️ Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be made passive. Intransitive verbs like run, sleep, arrive, die CANNOT be made passive.

🗣️ 8. Direct & Indirect Speech Class 9

Rules for Changing Direct → Indirect (Narration)

Step 1: Remove inverted commas. Use the correct joining word (that / to / if / whether / wh- word).
Step 2: Change pronouns — 1st person acc. to subject of reporting verb; 2nd person acc. to object; 3rd person stays same.
Step 3: Backshift the tense (if reporting verb is past).
Step 4: Change time and place words.

Tense Backshift Table

Direct Speech	→ Indirect Speech
Simple Present	→ Simple Past
Present Continuous	→ Past Continuous
Present Perfect	→ Past Perfect
Simple Past	→ Past Perfect
will	→ would
can	→ could
may	→ might
shall	→ should
must (obligation)	→ had to

Time & Place Word Changes

Direct	Indirect	Direct	Indirect
now	then	today	that day
tomorrow	the next day	yesterday	the previous day
here	there	this	that
these	those	ago	before
last night	the previous night	this week	that week

Sentence Types in Narration

Type	Joining Word	Reporting Verb	Example
Statement	that	said, told, replied, informed	"I am happy." → He said that he was happy.
Yes/No Question	if / whether	asked, enquired, wanted to know	"Are you ready?" → She asked if I was ready.
Wh- Question	same wh- word	asked, enquired	"Where do you live?" → He asked where I lived.
Command / Order	to + V1	ordered, told, commanded, warned	"Go away!" → He ordered me to go away.
Request	to + V1	requested, begged, implored	"Please help me." → She requested me to help her.
Exclamatory	that (convert to statement)	exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise	"How beautiful!" → She exclaimed that it was very beautiful.

✏️ 9. Punctuation Class 9

Mark	Use	Example
. Full Stop	End of a statement; abbreviations	She went home. / Mr. Sharma / Dr. Rao
, Comma	Pause in sentence; separating items in a list; after introductory clause	I bought apples, mangoes, and bananas. / When I arrived, she left.
? Question Mark	End of a direct question	Where are you going?
! Exclamation Mark	Strong emotion; exclamatory sentences	What a lovely gift! / Hurrah!
" " Inverted Commas	Enclose direct speech; titles	He said, "I am fine."
' Apostrophe	Show possession; show missing letters in contractions	Ravi's book. / don't = do not / it's = it is
; Semicolon	Links two closely related independent clauses	He came early; she came late.
: Colon	Introduces a list, explanation or quotation	Bring these: pen, pencil, eraser.
- Hyphen	Joins compound words or word parts	well-known, twenty-one, self-respect

⭐ Board Exam Tips — Class 9: In Tenses, always find the signal word first. In Passive, follow the 4 steps. In Narration, identify the sentence type before changing. Capital letter rule: proper nouns, start of sentence, pronoun 'I' — always capitals.

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Board Exam Cards

Class 10 — English Grammar

Tenses · Voice · Narration · Clauses · Transformation · Word Forms · Degrees · Conditionals

Tenses Voice Narration Clauses Transformation Word Forms Degrees Conditionals Common Errors 🌸 Figures of Speech ✍️ Writing Skills

⏰ 1. Tenses — Complete Reference Class 10

Tense	Formula	Key Signal Words	Example
Simple Present	S + V1(s/es)	every day, always, usually, often, never, sometimes, rarely	She reads books.
Present Continuous	S + is/am/are + V-ing	now, at present, currently, at this moment, look, listen	She is reading a book.
Present Perfect	S + has/have + V3	just, already, yet, ever, never, recently, lately, so far	She has read the book.
Present Perfect Cont.	S + has/have + been + V-ing	since (point in time), for (duration) — still going	She has been reading for an hour.
Simple Past	S + V2	yesterday, ago, last, in [year], once, in those days	She read the book.
Past Continuous	S + was/were + V-ing	when, while, at that time, all day yesterday	She was reading when I came.
Past Perfect	S + had + V3	before, after, already, by the time, as soon as	She had read it before we arrived.
Past Perfect Cont.	S + had + been + V-ing	for, since — with a past reference point	She had been reading for hours.
Simple Future	S + will/shall + V1	tomorrow, next, soon, in future, shortly	She will read the book.
Future Continuous	S + will + be + V-ing	at this time tomorrow, at [time] tomorrow	She will be reading at 8 pm.
Future Perfect	S + will + have + V3	by, by the time, by next [time]	She will have read it by evening.
Future Perfect Cont.	S + will + have + been + V-ing	for [duration] by a future time point	She will have been reading for 2 hrs.

🔄 2. Active & Passive Voice — Complete Class 10

All Tenses — Passive Formula

Tense	Passive Formula	Active	Passive
Simple Present	is/am/are + V3	She writes stories.	Stories are written by her.
Pres. Continuous	is/am/are + being + V3	He is making tea.	Tea is being made by him.
Present Perfect	has/have + been + V3	We have completed the task.	The task has been completed by us.
Simple Past	was/were + V3	She wrote a letter.	A letter was written by her.
Past Continuous	was/were + being + V3	He was making tea.	Tea was being made by him.
Past Perfect	had + been + V3	She had written the letter.	The letter had been written by her.
Simple Future	will + be + V3	They will build a bridge.	A bridge will be built by them.
Future Perfect	will + have + been + V3	She will have written it.	It will have been written by her.
Modals	modal + be + V3	You should help the poor.	The poor should be helped.
Imperative	Let + object + be + V3	Open the door.	Let the door be opened. / You are requested to open the door.

⚠️ Stative verbs that generally do NOT take passive: know, contain, have, suit, resemble, lack, fit. | Omit "by ___" when subject is unknown (someone), obvious (the police), or unimportant.

🗣️ 3. Direct & Indirect Speech — Complete Class 10

Sentence Type	Joining Word	Reporting Verb	Example
Statement	that	said, told, replied, answered, informed, admitted, remarked	"I am tired." → He said that he was tired.
Yes/No Question	if / whether	asked, enquired, wanted to know	"Can you help?" → She asked if I could help.
Wh- Question	same Wh- word	asked, enquired, wanted to know	"Why are you late?" → He asked why I was late.
Order / Command	to + V1	ordered, commanded, told, directed, warned	"Go away!" → He ordered me to go away.
Request	to + V1	requested, begged, implored, urged	"Please help me." → She requested me to help her.
Advice	to + V1	advised, suggested, recommended	"You should rest." → He advised me to rest.
Exclamatory	that (make statement)	exclaimed with joy/sorrow/surprise, cried out	"Bravo! You won." → He exclaimed with joy that I had won.
Wish / Optative	that	wished, prayed, blessed	"May you succeed!" → She prayed that I might succeed.

Pronoun Change Rule:
📌 1st person (I/we/me/us/my/our) → changes acc. to subject of reporting verb.
📌 2nd person (you/your) → changes acc. to object of reporting verb.
📌 3rd person (he/she/it/they) → no change.

No tense change when: Reporting verb is in present/future tense. | Reported speech is a universal truth/fact. | Reported speech is a historical fact.

🔗 4. Types of Clauses Class 10

Clause Type	Function	Introduced by	Example
Noun Clause	Works as subject or object of main verb	that, what, who, which, when, where, how, whether, if	I know that she is honest. / What he said was wrong.
Adjective Clause (Relative)	Describes / modifies a noun or pronoun	who, whom, whose, which, that	The girl who scored highest won. / The book that I bought is torn.
Adverb Clause of Time	Tells when the action happened	when, while, after, before, since, until, as soon as	She left before he arrived.
Adverb Clause of Cause	Tells reason / cause	because, since, as	He failed because he was careless.
Adverb Clause of Condition	Tells under what condition	if, unless, provided that, in case	I will come if you invite me.
Adverb Clause of Contrast	Shows contrast / concession	although, though, even though, whereas	She smiled although she was sad.
Adverb Clause of Result	Shows result / effect	so…that, such…that	He was so tired that he slept at once.

⭐ Quick Test: Noun clause → can replace with "it/this". Adjective clause → identifies which noun? Adverb clause → answers when/where/why/how/under what condition?

✂️ 5. Transformation of Sentences Class 10

1. Affirmative ↔ Negative (same meaning)
He is always late. → He is never early.
All students passed. → Not a single student failed.
She is too weak to run. → She is so weak that she cannot run.
As soon as he came, she left. → No sooner had he come than she left.
Both Ravi and Raj came. → Neither Ravi nor Raj was absent.

2. Assertive ↔ Interrogative (same meaning)
Everyone loves their motherland. → Who does not love their motherland?
Nobody can deny this truth. → Can anybody deny this truth?
He is the best player. → Is he not the best player?

3. Simple ↔ Compound ↔ Complex
Simple: Despite being sick, she attended school.
Compound: She was sick but she attended school.
Complex: Although she was sick, she attended school.

4. Exclamatory ↔ Assertive
Exclamatory: What a beautiful garden! → Assertive: It is a very beautiful garden.
Exclamatory: How bravely he fought! → Assertive: He fought very bravely.
Rule: What + a/an + adj + noun → It is a very + adj + noun. | How + adj/adv → S + V + very + adj/adv.

5. Too…to → So…that
He is too weak to walk. → He is so weak that he cannot walk.
She is too young to drive. → She is so young that she cannot drive.

📖 6. Word Forms Class 10

Noun	Verb	Adjective	Adverb
beauty	beautify	beautiful	beautifully
success	succeed	successful	successfully
strength	strengthen	strong	strongly
decision	decide	decisive	decisively
education	educate	educational / educated	educationally
creation	create	creative	creatively
imagination	imagine	imaginative	imaginatively
courage	encourage	courageous	courageously
happiness	—	happy	happily
anger	anger / enrage	angry	angrily
patience	—	patient	patiently
bravery	—	brave	bravely
knowledge	know	knowledgeable	knowledgeably
pollution	pollute	polluted	—

📊 7. Degrees of Comparison Class 10

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
tall	taller	tallest
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
good / well	better	best
bad / ill	worse	worst
little	less	least
many / much	more	most
far	farther / further	farthest / furthest
old	older / elder	oldest / eldest

Transforming Degrees — Same Meaning:
Superlative: Sachin is the greatest batsman in India.
Comparative: Sachin is greater than any other batsman in India.
Positive: No other batsman in India is as great as Sachin.

Pattern: Superlative → "more/___er than any other [noun]" | Positive → "No other [noun] is as ___ as [subject]"

🎯 8. Conditional Sentences Class 10

Type	Meaning	If-clause (condition)	Main clause (result)	Example
Type 0 (Zero)	Universal truth / Scientific fact	Simple Present	Simple Present	If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
Type 1 (Real)	Possible future condition (likely)	Simple Present	will + V1	If it rains, we will stay home.
Type 2 (Unreal Present)	Imaginary / unlikely present situation	Simple Past	would + V1	If I were rich, I would help the poor.
Type 3 (Unreal Past)	Imaginary past — expressing regret	Past Perfect	would have + V3	If he had studied, he would have passed.

⚠️ In Type 2, always use "were" (not "was") for all persons in formal/exam writing. If I were you… / If she were here… | Never use "will" in the if-clause of Type 1.

❌ 9. Common Errors to Avoid Class 10

❌ WrongHe didn't went.

✅ RightHe didn't go. (use V1 after did not)

❌ WrongShe is more taller.

✅ RightShe is taller. (never double comparative)

❌ WrongI have seen him yesterday.

✅ RightI saw him yesterday. (yesterday = simple past)

❌ WrongHe suggested me to go.

✅ RightHe suggested that I should go.

❌ WrongAlthough he was tired, but he worked.

✅ RightAlthough he was tired, he worked.

❌ WrongOne of my friend.

✅ RightOne of my friends. (use plural after "one of")

❌ WrongThe news are good.

✅ RightThe news is good. (news is always singular)

❌ WrongHe is more intelligent than any student.

✅ RightHe is more intelligent than any other student.

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Board Exam Cards

Figures of Speech

Class 9 & 10 — Identify, Define & Write Examples

Class 9 Class 10

Simile Metaphor Personification Alliteration Hyperbole Oxymoron Onomatopoeia Apostrophe Irony Antithesis Repetition/Anaphora Rhyme & Rhythm

📋 All Figures of Speech — Quick Reference

#	Figure of Speech	Definition	Example
1	Simile	Comparison using as or like	"Her voice is like music." / "Brave as a lion."
2	Metaphor	Direct comparison — says one thing IS another (no as/like)	"Life is a journey." / "The world is a stage."
3	Personification	Giving human qualities to non-human things	"The sun smiled down on us." / "Opportunity knocked at the door."
4	Alliteration	Repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words	"Peter Piper picked a peck." / "She sells sea shells."
5	Hyperbole	Deliberate extreme exaggeration for emphasis	"I've told you a million times." / "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
6	Oxymoron	Two opposite/contradictory words placed together	"Living death." / "Deafening silence." / "Sweet sorrow."
7	Onomatopoeia	Words that imitate the sound they describe	"The bees buzzed." / "The clock ticked." / "The fire crackled."
8	Apostrophe	Addressing an absent person, abstract idea or inanimate object	"O Death, where is thy sting?" / "O Solitude, where are thy charms?"
9	Irony	Saying the opposite of what is meant; meaning and words differ	"What a lovely day!" (said during a storm) / "Oh great, another Monday."
10	Antithesis	Two contrasting ideas placed in balanced parallel phrases	"To err is human, to forgive, divine." / "Man proposes, God disposes."
11	Anaphora / Repetition	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis	"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the seas, we shall fight in the air."
12	Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words	"The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."
13	Euphemism	A mild/indirect expression used instead of a harsh one	"Passed away" (instead of died). / "Between jobs" (unemployed).
14	Transferred Epithet	Adjective transferred from the noun it actually describes to another noun nearby	"He spent a sleepless night." (night is not sleepless — he is)

⭐ Board Exam Tip: When asked to identify a figure of speech — first look for the key signal: like/as = Simile | is/are (comparison) = Metaphor | human quality to non-human = Personification | same start sound = Alliteration | exaggeration = Hyperbole | opposites together = Oxymoron | sound word = Onomatopoeia.

1. Simile Class 9 & 10

Definition: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as.
Purpose: Makes descriptions vivid and imaginative.

Example	What is compared
"Her cheeks are like roses."	Cheeks compared to roses (rosy, beautiful)
"He is as brave as a lion."	His bravery compared to a lion's
"The stars shone like diamonds."	Stars compared to diamonds (bright, sparkling)
"She sings like a nightingale."	Her singing compared to a nightingale
"Life is like a race."	Life compared to a race

⚠️ Simile vs Metaphor: "She is like a rose." = Simile (uses like). "She is a rose." = Metaphor (direct, no like/as).

2. Metaphor Class 9 & 10

Definition: A direct comparison between two unlike things, stating one thing IS another — without using like or as.
Purpose: Creates a strong, vivid image; more powerful than a simile.

Example	Meaning
"Life is a journey."	Life has stages, ups/downs, a destination — like a journey
"The world is a stage."	People play roles in life like actors on stage
"Time is money."	Time is as precious and valuable as money
"He has a heart of stone."	He is cold, unfeeling and hard-hearted
"Books are mirrors of the soul."	Books reflect inner thoughts and feelings
"The mind is an ocean."	The mind is vast, deep and full of hidden things

3. Personification Class 9 & 10

Definition: Giving human qualities, feelings or actions to non-human things (animals, objects, ideas, nature).
Key signal: A non-human thing is doing something only humans do.

Example	Human quality given to
"The sun smiled down on us."	Sun — smiling (human expression)
"The wind whispered through the trees."	Wind — whispering (human speech)
"Opportunity knocked at the door."	Opportunity — knocking (human action)
"The flowers nodded their heads."	Flowers — nodding (human gesture)
"Death crept up on him silently."	Death — creeping (human movement)
"The sea roared in anger."	Sea — anger (human emotion)

4. Alliteration Class 9 & 10

Definition: Repetition of the same initial consonant sound in two or more nearby words.
Purpose: Creates a musical rhythm; used in poetry for sound effect.

Example	Repeated sound
"She sells sea shells by the sea shore."	S sound
"Peter Piper picked a peck."	P sound
"The fair breeze flew, the foam flew."	F sound
"Big black bugs bleed blue blood."	B sound

⭐ Note: Alliteration is about sound, not spelling. "King" and "Cat" alliterate (both 'k' sound), but "Cellar" and "Ship" do not (different sounds despite C/S start).

5. Hyperbole Class 9 & 10

Definition: A figure of speech that uses deliberate exaggeration (overstatement) for emphasis or effect. Not meant to be taken literally.
Purpose: Creates strong emphasis or a humorous effect.

Example	What it really means
"I've told you a million times."	I've told you many times (not literally a million)
"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."	I'm very hungry
"He ran faster than the wind."	He ran very fast
"Her smile could light up the world."	She has a very bright, beautiful smile
"I have a mountain of homework."	I have a lot of homework

6. Oxymoron Class 9 & 10

Definition: A figure of speech in which two contradictory or opposite terms are placed together to create a special effect.
Purpose: Highlights paradox; shows complexity of an idea.

Oxymoron	Meaning / Effect
"Deafening silence"	A silence so total it feels overwhelming
"Sweet sorrow"	Parting that is both painful and tender
"Living death"	A state of existence that feels like death
"Bitter sweet"	Something that is both sad and pleasant
"Cruel kindness"	Harsh treatment given out of good intention
"Dark light"	A light that illuminates darkness but feels grim

7. Onomatopoeia Class 9 & 10

Definition: Words that imitate or suggest the natural sound of the thing they describe.
Purpose: Makes writing lively; the reader can almost hear the sound.

Example Sentence	Sound Word
"The bees buzzed around the flowers."	buzzed
"The clock ticked loudly."	ticked
"The fire crackled in the fireplace."	crackled
"The stream murmured gently."	murmured
"The thunder rumbled in the distance."	rumbled
"The snake hissed."	hissed

8. Apostrophe (Figure of Speech) Class 9 & 10

Definition: Directly addressing an absent or dead person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object as if it could hear and respond.
Key signal: Often starts with "O" or the thing being addressed is non-present.

Example	What is addressed
"O Death, where is thy sting?"	Death (abstract, personified)
"O Solitude! where are the charms?"	Solitude (abstract idea)
"Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour."	Milton — dead poet
"O Nature! I do not aspire to be the highest."	Nature (inanimate)

⚠️ Do not confuse with punctuation apostrophe ('). In grammar, apostrophe (') is a punctuation mark. As a figure of speech, Apostrophe means addressing something/someone absent.

9. Irony Class 9 & 10

Definition: A figure of speech in which the literal meaning is opposite to the intended meaning. The words say one thing but mean another.
Types: Verbal Irony (saying opposite of what you mean) | Dramatic Irony (audience knows what character doesn't) | Situational Irony (outcome opposite to what is expected).

Example	Actual Meaning
"What lovely weather!" (said during a storm)	The weather is terrible
"Oh great, I failed again."	It is not great at all — it is bad
"As clear as mud."	Very confusing, not clear at all
"A fire station burns down."	Situational irony — the expected protector is destroyed

10. Antithesis Class 9 & 10

Definition: A figure of speech in which two contrasting or opposite ideas are placed side by side in a grammatically parallel structure.
Purpose: Creates emphasis through contrast; makes a statement memorable.

Example	Contrast
"To err is human, to forgive divine."	human vs divine
"Man proposes, God disposes."	man's plan vs God's will
"Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice."	listening vs speaking
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."	best vs worst
"Speech is silver, silence is golden."	silver vs golden, speech vs silence

11. Repetition / Anaphora Class 9 & 10

Repetition: Deliberate use of the same word or phrase more than once for emphasis or effect.
Anaphora: Repetition of a word/phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses.
Epistrophe: Repetition at the end of successive clauses.

Example	Type
"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the seas, we shall fight in the air."	Anaphora — "we shall fight" repeated at start
"The horror, the horror."	Simple Repetition for emphasis
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people."	Epistrophe — "the people" repeated at end

12. Rhyme & Rhythm Class 9 & 10

Rhyme: Repetition of similar end sounds in lines of poetry.
End Rhyme: Last words of lines rhyme. Ex: "Twinkle twinkle little star / How I wonder what you are."
Internal Rhyme: Words within the same line rhyme. Ex: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary."

Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry — gives it a musical beat.
Common meters: Iambic (da-DUM), Trochaic (DUM-da), Anapestic (da-da-DUM)

⭐ Rhyme Scheme: Pattern labeled with letters. Ex: ABAB (alternate rhyme) | AABB (couplet) | ABBA (enclosed rhyme). In board exams you may be asked: "What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?"

❓ Important Questions — Figures of Speech (Board Exam)

Q. Identify the figure of speech:	Answer	Reason
"Her smile is like sunshine."	Simile	Comparison using like
"The world is a stage."	Metaphor	Direct comparison, no like/as
"The trees danced in the wind."	Personification	Human action (dancing) given to trees
"She sells sea shells by the seashore."	Alliteration	Repeated 'S' sound
"I've told you a million times!"	Hyperbole	Extreme exaggeration
"Deafening silence."	Oxymoron	Two opposite words — deafening + silence
"The bees buzzed."	Onomatopoeia	Word imitates the sound
"O Death, where is thy sting?"	Apostrophe	Addressing absent/abstract — Death
"What lovely weather!" (during a storm)	Irony	Saying opposite of what is meant
"To err is human, to forgive divine."	Antithesis	Two contrasting ideas in parallel structure

✍️

Board Exam Cards

Writing Skills

Class 9 & 10 — Formats, Tips & Model Answers

Class 9 Class 10

Formal Letter Informal Letter Essay Writing Notice Writing Report Writing Story Writing Speech Writing Email / Telegram

1. Formal Letter Class 9 Class 10

Types: Letter of complaint · Letter of request · Letter to editor · Letter to authority (Principal, Municipal Officer, etc.) · Application for job/leave

Format of a Formal Letter

              Sender's Address:   House No., Street, City – Pin code

              Date:                  DD Month YYYY

              Receiver's Address:  The Principal / The Editor / The Officer

                                           Name of school / Newspaper / Office

                                           Address

              Subject:               Regarding ___________________

              Salutation:            Respected Sir / Dear Sir or Madam

              Body:

                Para 1 — Introduction / Purpose of the letter

                Para 2 — Main content / Details / Complaint / Request

                Para 3 — Conclusion / What you expect / Hope for action

              Closing:             Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely

              Signature:            (Your full name)

⭐ Yours faithfully — when salutation is "Dear Sir/Madam" (name not known). Yours sincerely — when you address by name (Dear Mr. Sharma). Never use "Yours lovingly" in formal letters.

Sample Opening Lines:
• "I beg to state that…" / "I am writing to draw your attention to…"
• "I wish to bring to your kind notice that…"
• "Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to…" (Letter to Editor)
Sample Closing Lines:
• "I hope you will take necessary action at the earliest."
• "I shall be highly obliged for the same."

2. Informal Letter Class 9 Class 10

Written to: Friend, relative, classmate, cousin, pen-pal — people you know personally.
Tone: Friendly, warm, conversational — not too formal.

Format of an Informal Letter

              Sender's Address:   Your Address

              Date:                  DD Month YYYY

              Salutation:            Dear [Name] / My dear [Name]

              Body:

                Para 1 — Opening / Hope you are well

                Para 2 — Main content / What you want to say

                Para 3 — Closing / Best wishes / Regards

              Closing:             Yours lovingly / With love / Yours affectionately

              Signature:            Your name (first name only, usually)

⭐ No receiver's address in informal letter. No subject line. Use Yours lovingly / affectionately / sincerely — choose based on relationship. Never "Yours faithfully" for friends.

3. Essay Writing Class 9 Class 10

Types of Essays:
• Descriptive — describes a person, place or thing in detail
• Narrative — tells a story or describes an event
• Expository / Informative — gives information and explains a topic
• Argumentative / Persuasive — argues for or against a point of view

Structure of an Essay

Part	What to Write	Length
Introduction	Define the topic; state your main idea; hook the reader with a quote or question	1 paragraph
Body	Develop each main point in a separate paragraph; use examples and facts; connect ideas with linking words	2–3 paragraphs
Conclusion	Summarise the main points; give your final opinion; end with a strong closing sentence	1 paragraph

Useful Linking Words:
To add: Furthermore, Moreover, In addition, Also, Besides
To contrast: However, On the other hand, Nevertheless, Although, Despite
To conclude: In conclusion, To sum up, Finally, Therefore, Thus
To give examples: For instance, For example, Such as, To illustrate

⭐ Board Exam Tips: Write in paragraphs — never as bullet points. Aim for 200–250 words (Class 9) / 250–300 words (Class 10). Use a variety of sentence structures. Avoid repetition of same word — use synonyms.

4. Notice Writing Class 9 Class 10

Purpose: To announce an event, inform about a change, issue a warning, or give instructions to a specific group of people.
Key features: Short, clear, formal, specific. Written in third person. No personal pronouns (I/we).

Format of a Notice

              NAME OF SCHOOL / ORGANISATION

              NOTICE

              Date: DD/MM/YYYY

              HEADING / TITLE IN CAPITALS

              Body of the notice — Who, What, When, Where, Why.

              Keep it brief. All essential details must be mentioned.

              Name of Issuing Authority

              Designation (Secretary / Head Boy / Principal)

⭐ Must include: Who (issuing authority) · What (event/information) · When (date & time) · Where (venue) · Why (purpose if needed). Box the notice in board exams. Word limit: 50–80 words.

5. Report Writing Class 10

Purpose: To give a factual account of an event that has already taken place (past event). Written in third person, passive voice, past tense.
Types: Newspaper Report · School Event Report

Format of a Report

              HEADLINE (in bold/capitals — summarises the event)

              By [Your Name] / Our Staff Reporter

              Place, Date — (City, DD Month YYYY)

              Opening paragraph: What happened? When? Where? Who was involved?

              Middle paragraphs: Details — How did it happen? Key highlights. Quotes from participants/witnesses.

              Closing paragraph: Outcome/conclusion. Future plans if any.

Language to use in reports:
"The event was inaugurated by…" / "A large number of students participated in…"
"It was reported that…" / "According to the sources…"
"The programme concluded with…" / "Prizes were distributed by…"

⭐ Use passive voice and past tense throughout. Never use "I" — use "this reporter" if needed. Include 5 W's + H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How. Word limit: 100–150 words.

6. Story Writing Class 9 Class 10

Types in board exam:
• Story from a given beginning / outline / hints
• Story based on a moral (proverb given)

Structure of a Story

Part	Content
Title	Give a creative, relevant title
Introduction	Introduce characters, setting (time & place), situation
Rising Action	Build the problem or conflict; keep reader engaged
Climax	The turning point — most exciting/tense moment
Resolution	How the problem is solved
Moral (if asked)	Write clearly: "Moral: Honesty is the best policy."

⭐ Tips: Use vivid, descriptive language. Give characters names. Use dialogues to make the story lively. Write in past tense. Stick to word limit (150–200 words). End with a clear moral if asked. Avoid abrupt or unfinished endings.

7. Speech Writing Class 9 Class 10

Purpose: To write a speech to be delivered on a specific occasion — school assembly, debate, prize distribution, etc.
Tone: Formal but engaging. Address the audience directly.

Format of a Speech

              Title / Occasion

              Salutation: Respected Principal, dear teachers and my fellow students…

              Introduction: Good morning everyone. Today I stand before you to speak on… / It is my honour to…

              Body:

                Main points — organised in paragraphs

                Use facts, examples, quotes

                Address audience: "As you all know…" / "Friends, let us consider…"

              Conclusion: I would like to conclude by saying… / Let us all pledge to…

              Thank you.

⭐ Always start with a greeting. Use rhetorical questions to engage audience: "Have you ever wondered…?" Use "we" and "our" to include audience. End with a call to action or inspiring thought. Word limit: 150–200 words.

8. Email & Telegram Class 9 Class 10

Format of an Email

              To: recipient@email.com

              From: sender@email.com

              Subject: Brief description of purpose

              Salutation: Dear Sir / Dear [Name]

              Body: (same as formal/informal letter — keep concise)

              Closing: Regards / Yours sincerely

              Name + Designation

Format of a Telegram

Telegrams are brief, urgent messages. No articles (a/an/the), no conjunctions, minimum words — charged per word.
Write in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: "REACHED SAFELY. TRAIN DELAYED BY TWO HOURS. WILL CALL TONIGHT. — RAVI"
Compare with: "I have reached safely. The train was delayed by two hours. I will call tonight." → Condensed to 10 words from 19.

⭐ Telegram tips: Remove all articles, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions possible. Keep only key words. Should be clear despite brevity. Word limit usually given (10–15 words).

📋 Writing Skills — Quick Comparison Table

Type	Person	Tense	Salutation	Closing	Word Limit
Formal Letter	1st person	Any	Respected Sir / Dear Sir	Yours faithfully / sincerely	150–200
Informal Letter	1st person	Any	Dear [Name]	Yours lovingly / affectionately	150–200
Essay	3rd (usually)	Any	—	—	200–300
Notice	3rd person	Future/present	—	Name + Designation	50–80
Report	3rd person	Past	—	By-line (Reporter name)	100–150
Story	3rd / 1st	Past	—	Moral (if asked)	150–200
Speech	1st person	Any	Respected / Dear…	Thank you	150–200
Email	1st person	Any	Dear Sir/Name	Regards / Sincerely	100–150
Telegram	Minimal	Omitted	—	— Sender name	10–15 words

📋 Grammar at a Glance — Class 9 & 10

Topic	Class	Key Rule
Parts of Speech	Class 9	8 parts — identify by function in sentence, not by the word alone
Tenses (12)	Both	Find signal word → identify tense → apply formula (structure)
Active & Passive Voice	Both	Object→Subject, correct 'be' form, V3, Subject→"by object"
Direct & Indirect Speech	Both	Identify sentence type → correct joining word → backshift tense → change pronouns + time words
Types of Sentences	Class 9	Simple (1 clause), Compound (co-ordinating conj.), Complex (subordinating conj.)
Types of Clauses	Class 10	Noun / Adjective (Relative) / Adverb — test: what question does it answer?
Transformation	Class 10	Meaning must stay the same — only structure changes
Degrees of Comparison	Class 10	Positive: No other…as…as \| Comparative: more/___er than any other \| Superlative: the most/___est
Conditionals	Class 10	Type 0: PP+PP \| Type 1: PP+will \| Type 2: Past+would \| Type 3: PerfPast+would have V3
Punctuation	Class 9	Apostrophe for possession & contraction; inverted commas for direct speech only

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English Grammar 📘

📋 Grammar at a Glance — Class 9 & 10

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