by R. S. Karunaratne

Adverbial phrases with ‘because of’

At the outset, let’s make a distinction between an adverbial clause and an adverbial phrase. In adverbial clause has a finite verb whereas an adverbial phrase does not have a finite verb.

Sam could not read the book because he was sick. (Adverbial clause)

Sam could not read the book because of his sickness. (Adverbial phrase)

An adverbial clause or an adverbial phrase with ‘because’ answers the question ‘Why?’

Question: Why couldn’t he read the book?

Answer: Because he was sick (Adverbial clause)

Because of his sickness (Adverbial phrase)

An adverbial phrase beginning with ‘because of’ is followed by a noun.

Children could not play because of the rain.

People could not vote because of the bus strike.

Jagath failed the examination because of his poor handwriting.

Nobody could reach the peak of the mountain because of its height.

We could not revise our lessons because of the power failure.

The noun that follows ‘because of’ can have an article (a, an, the) or a possessive pronoun (my, our, his, her, their) before it.

Many students loved their teacher because of her kindness.

I could not attend his wedding because of my sickness.

Lal passed the examination with flying colours because of his hard work.

We learnt English well because of our dedication.

They were arrested because of their lawlessness.

[Activity]

Complete the following sentences with adverbial phrases using the correct noun given within brackets.

1. Some students do not like difficult subjects because of ................................. (challenge / the challenge)

2. We like our neighbours because of ...................... (loyalty / their loyalty)

3. Children respect their English teacher because of ..................... (her integrity / integrity)

4. We couldn’t hear anything because of ..................... (noise / the noise)

5. The open air musical show was cancelled because of ................. (rain / the rain)

6. My parents are unhappy because of ....................... (examination failure / my examination failure)

7. People lose their belongings because of ............... (carelessness / their carelessness)

8. Some people love elephants because of ..................... (intelligence / their intelligence)

9. Everybody loves Susila because of ......................... (beauty / her beauty)

10. The train was delayed because of ...................... (the strike / strike)

Key:

1. the challenge,
2. their loyalty,
3. her integrity,
4. the noise,
5. the rain,
6. my examination failure,
7. their carelessness,
8.their intelligence,
9. her beauty,
10. the strike

Words are wonderful raw material to make sentences. They help us to express ourselves eloquently. Here is a quiz to test your word power.

Tick off the meaning of the word in bold type in each sentence. Check your answers with the key.

1. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam consists of a group of quatrains by a Persian poet.

(a) a poem or stanza of four lines
(b) a poem or stanza of three lines
(c) a poem or stanza of five lines

2. Prejudice is the quintessence of falsehood.

(a) the established view
(b) the most perfect embodiment of something
(c) careful analysis of both sides of a problem

3. It is difficult to find a business organisation untrammelled by the rigidity of financial regulations.

(a) restrained
(b) governed
(c) unrestrained

4. The court will adjudicate the case before deciding on the amount of compensation.

(a) dismiss
(b) hear and settle
(c) postpone

5. The appellate court upheld the verdict of the High Court.

(a) lower
(b) higher
(c) having the power to hear appeals

6. The soldier was accused of acting in collusion with the enemy.

(a) secret agreement
(b) opposition
(c) accordance

7. In the deposition made to the judge, the accused confessed to the crime.

(a) testimony under oath
(b) affidavit
(c) evidence

8. Equity demands that a judge should listen to the prosecution and the defence.

(a) equality
(b) what is just, impartial and fair
(c) equation

9. The judge ordered the police to exhume the dead body.

(a) cremate
(b) bury
(c) dig out of the earth

10. The millionaire died intestate.

(a) suddenly
(b) young
(c) without making a last will

11. The cost of litigation has gone up rapidly.

(a) appeals
(b) legal action
(c) confinement

Key:

1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. ((b) 9. (c) 10. (c) 11. (b)

Starters:

‘Will’, ‘Shall’ and ‘Going to’ form

We use ‘will’, ‘shall’ and ‘going to’ form when we wish to indicate the future.

Johnson is a globe-trotter. Today he is in Sri Lanka. Tomorrow he will be in Malaysia.

Will you be at home this evening?

Don’t leave the fish on the floor. The cat will eat it.

I’ll probably visit the Taj Mahal when I go to India.

I won’t be (= will not be) here next year.

We often use ‘will’ with ‘I think’.

I think Daphne will pass the examination.

I don’t think that examination will be difficult.

Do you think that XYZ party will win the elections?

We do not, however, use ‘will’ for things we have already arranged to do or decided to do. In such cases, we use the ‘going to’ form.

We’re going to church on Sunday.

Are you going to sign the contract tomorrow?

She is going to apply for the post.

They are going to demolish the old building.

He is going to leave for Australia next week.

We use ‘shall’ with ‘I’ or ‘We’ to indicate the future.

I shall be 20 tomorrow.

I think we shall win the match.

We do not use ‘shall’ with ‘you, they, he, she, it.’ We use ‘I will’ when we offer or decide to do something.

I’ll help you financially.

I’ll bring the book tomorrow.

Sometimes, we use ‘I think I will’ when we decide to do something.

I’ve won a lottery prize. I think I will buy a car.

It’s a rainy day. I think I’ll stay at home.

It’s a nice day. I think I’ll go for a walk.

We ask questions with ‘shall I’ or ‘shall we’.

There are mosquitoes. Shall I close the window?

Shall I bring the camera tomorrow?

What shall I wear for the party?

Shall we go now? Where shall we go for a cup of tea?

What time shall we meet?

Activity :

State whether the following sentences are right or wrong. If the sentence is wrong, correct it. Check your answers with the key.

1. Your bag is very heavy. Shall I carry it for you? ................................................................................................

2. When I reach London I call you. ................................................................................................

3. I am hungry. I eat this mango. ..............................................................................................

4. Are you coming with me?

5. A: Did you call your mother?

B: No, I do it now. .................................................................................................

6. A: How do you use this mobile phone?

B: Give it to me, I show you how to do it. .................................................................................................

7. It’s raining. I don’t think I’ll go out. ..................................................................................................

8. I’m tired. I don’t think I’ll play cricket. ..............................................................................................

9. This shirt is too expensive. I don’t think I buy it. ..................................................................................................

10. I phone you tomorrow morning.

.................................................................

Key :

1. Right 2. Wrong. When I reach London I’ll call you. 3. Wrong. I’ll eat this mango. 4. Right 5. Wrong. No. I’ll do it now. 6. Wrong. Give it to me. I’ll show you how to do it. 7. Right 8. Right 9. Wrong. I don’t think I’ll buy it. 10. Wrong. I’ll phone you tomorrow morning.

One word for many

Give one word for each group of words and check your answers with the key. The first letter of each answer is given.

1. To breathe in : I ......................

2. To eat like an animal: D ...........................

3. To become less stiff: R .............................

4. To tell as a secret: C .............................

5. To spend the winter asleep: H ........................

6. To lay open: E ............................

7. To express regret: A ...................

8. To wipe out: E ............................

9. To try hard : S ...........................

10. To understand: C ....................

11. To make strong: F ...............................

12. To tear down: D ...............................

13. To irritate: P ............................

14. To stare in anger: G ..........................

15. To confuse: B ..........................

16. To think quietly: M ........................

17. To own up to a sin: C ..........................

18. To join together: U .........................

19. To talk over : D ........................

20. To regard with disgust: L ..........................

Key

inhale, 2. devour, 3. relax, 4. confide, 5. hibernate, 6. expose, 7. apologise, 8. extinguish, 9. strive, 10. comprehend, 11. fortify, 12. demolish, 13. pester, 14. glare, 15. bewilder, 16. meditate, 17. confess, 18. unite, 19. discuss, 20. loathe

American and British English spelling

Some words are conventionally spelt differently in American English (AE) and British English (BE). Here is a quiz to spot the difference between American and British spelling. Write AE or BE against each word and check your answers with the key.

1. Aesthetic ..................

Esthetic ..................

2. Aluminium .................

Aluminum .................

3. Anesthetic ..................

Anaesthetic ................

4. Analyze .....................

Analyse ....................

5. Axe ........................

Ax .........................

6. Behavior ......................

Behaviour ......................

7. Breathalyze .....................

Breathalyse ...................

8. Catalog .......................

Catalogue ..........................

9. Centre .....................

Center .......................

10. Cheque .....................

Check ........................

11. Color .......................

Colour ..........................

12. Defense ............................

Defence ...........................

Key:

Following words are used in British English.

1. Aesthetic 2. Aluminium 3. Anaesthetic 4. Analyse 5. Axe 6. Behaviour 7. Breathalyse 8. Catalogue 9. Centre 10. Cheque 11. Colour 12. Defence