IELTS series-7: What or Which?

IELTS series-7:    WHAT and WHICH?

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?” She asked me in the overcrowded mall. We came here to select a cotton shirt for me. Hundreds of shirts just opposite to us inside the shop!

 I knew well that I could not choose any one on my own because she was ready with her choice from among the 20 shirts  hanging colorfully in front of us. If I chose anyone, surely it was going to be rejected at the first instance. So, I kept mum.

“Don’t you know what your taste is?” she continued with her AK47.

At last, she came with two-one with long stripes and another with plain light blue color.

“WHICH...ONE  DO YOU LIKE?” Again the same nagging question! Please, go through the second paragraph above. I need not repeat the same words.

Then, in a low voice I told “The blue one.”

“NOoo...it won’t suit you. You take the stripes.” Like any wife, her preference was just the opposite. But, here I know, she wants me to look younger.

Points to IELTsians:

You can use “WHAT” when there are many choices before you.

 For example, there are hundreds of shirts when my better half asked me “What do you want to choose?”

You can use “which” when there are only a few options in front of you.

There are only three flowers. Then, “Which one do you prefer?” is the correct usage.

What is ‘Custom’ and ‘Habit’?

IELTS series-6

Beware IELTsians: 

It was a compact air-conditioned room with dim lights and cool air.

The interviewers welcomed me with artificial smiles.

“Please ...take your seat. Why are you sweating...Take some water.” The lady in the middle said in a soft tone. I could not talk. I nodded and tried to appear comfortable but in vain.

Suddenly I remembered that I did not even make the customary greetings of saying ‘Good morning’. I felt sad for me.

‘Tell me about your habits which other people don’t like?” The third man came with a salvo.

What is there to tell about my habits? Everybody in my home scold me for continuously watching television or reading novels, even when there is an examination next day.

“...I do not have any such habit that people criticize about.” This unexpected sudden spurt of a lie from my mouth emboldened my posture and I felt like managing the interview satisfactorily. After all ... we, people like me, need a small first success! It is the spring board of further launch of successive wins.

“What is the relationship between habit and custom?”

I believed firmly that I was going to manage this missile too. “Yes ...sir....habits become customs. The seed is habit and the plant is custom.” First time, a smile crossed my dry lips.

It was a wonderful feeling at that time. I strongly believe that you might have also felt like that if you started confidently replying for the future-job.

At home, I tried to analyze the words ‘habit and custom’, because it is always my practice to probe things. (Effect of detective novels and films) Next time I should be clear about these things and should not manage things. Don’t you feel so?

HABIT:

Habit is something a person often does unconsciously...so naturally that it is part of his personality.

EX.:Ramesh kumar bunks his college whenever a new film is released.

 Custom:

 Customs are practices of a certain group, sect, religion or people belonging to a certain ethnicity.

  EX.:1.Indians say ‘namasthe’ whenever they meet each other.(instead of ‘good morning’)

         2. People decorate Christmas trees with lights during Christmas Eve.

So, let us be careful in understanding ‘custom or habit’ and their usage in IELTS examination or in other examinations. Be sure. There should be no confusion! 

If you get confused, it may become your habit. Beware!

IELTS series-5: Difference between 'its' and it's

It is all about “Its and It’s”

 I asked my son “How is it?”  I looked at him very eagerly; even though, I knew well that he would never give me a pass mark in this test. It is all about my cooking.

He quietly replied “Do you want my reply seriously...Okay....as usual it’s bland.” My excitement melted down. This is a regular ritual  between us at least once in a day. Do you know what the ingredients of my chutney are? (It’s a mix of Indian gooseberry, coconut, green chilies, ginger, pepper, coriander leaves, salt and a lot other good things.) Its taste may not be fine to him.

Yesterday I prepared our breakfast.

I followed the same ritual. His retort came fast “It’s unbearable”

Puppy, our pet dog, came to my rescue wagging its tail. I gave it to her. It took away the food to its place very happily. I threw a look of pride at my son, but his eyes were brimming with a pity and he muttered “Poor Puppy...”

Let us go into “IT”

Have you noticed these sentences: 1. it’s bland; it’s a mix; it’s unbearable?

                   Here    ‘It with apostrophe‘s’ means ‘IT is’

                        It is bland. It is a mix, it is unbearable.

  Now have a look at these :        2. Its taste may not be fine; its tail, its 

                                              Place...

              On the other hand,  ‘it’ without apostrophe‘s’ means possession like his book, his place...its tail stands for -the dog’s tail and 

                                ‘its place’ indicates -the dog’s place.

 Is it okay about 'its' and  "it’s"? 

Also I hope that this explanation is not at all so bland like my curry.

REPUTABLE or REPUTED?

IELTS SERIES-2

REPUTABLE or REPUTED?

My friend, a learned one, visited UK and US last month. He was looking for a bank in one of the busiest streets of the city.

.

He asked a good looking English man “Hello, I’m Naresh Sharma from India. Would you please, help me in locating my bank.”  The Englishman threw a suspicious look at my friend.

“Where is this ... this...this... Bank’s branch?”  My friend continued without identifying the bank’s name.

He usually forgets names when they are more than ever needed. Again there was a strange look from the other side.

My friend struggled to add more to his description “It is a REPUTED international bank. ...I often forget names. Very sorry”

Again the local man intensified his distrustful look “What? Reputed...?”

Suddenly there was a flash in Naresh’s confused eyes “Yes. Now ... I remember. It is Barclays”

“Oh...Barclays! Go around that corner. You will find it opposite to McDonalds” he went away showing the road and also tossing a question “What is the word REPUTED? Did you mean REPUTABLE?”

My friend, on his return, asked about usage of the word ‘reputed’.

I also verified. I also asked my Teacher Mrs. Grass teaching English in a reputable British Foundation.

“Yes.... in most of the countries, especially, in US and UK we make use of ‘REPUTABLE’. We don’t use ‘reputed’, though some of the Dictionaries have included this word”

Further she added “It is OK within your country. But don’t use this in International examinations like IELTS or TOFEL and other interactions abroad.”

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