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ICSE 9 Grammar: Verbs, Joining and Transformation

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English LanguageICSE Class 9 · Functional Grammar

ICSE Class 9 Functional Grammar: Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation

Updated 18 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Question 5 has four compulsory parts: verb forms in a passage, one-word blanks (mostly prepositions), joining sentences without and, but or so, and transformation without changing the meaning. Fix the time frame before choosing verb forms, learn fixed preposition pairs, link sentences by relationship using relatives, participles or subordinators, and use the exact pattern for reported speech, passive and special structures.

Understand Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9)

Layout. The chapter page gives 20 marks: verb forms (4), one-word blanks (4), joining sentences (4) and transformation (8).

Verb forms. Read the passage first and fix its time frame. Use the past perfect (had + past participle) for an action finished before another past action: "When we reached, the train had left." Use the past continuous for an action in progress.

Prepositions. Many are fixed pairs: afraid of, good at, different from, insist on, depend on, prevent from.

Joining. Find the relationship. Time: when, after, as soon as. Cause: because. Contrast: although. Condition: if, unless. A person or thing: who, which, whose. A participle can also join: "Having finished her work, she went out."

Reported speech. After a past reporting verb the tenses shift back: is to was, will to would, can to could, have done to had done. Change pronouns, and words like today to that day, tomorrow to the next day, here to there, now to then.

Passive voice. The object becomes the subject, with the right be-form and past participle: is repaired, was repaired, has been repaired, is being repaired.

Special structures. "As soon as he arrived, it rained" becomes "No sooner had he arrived than it rained". "Too weak to walk" equals "so weak that he cannot walk". "Unless" equals "if not". Degrees of comparison are changed without altering the meaning.

Accuracy. Each item has one right answer, so check agreement, tense and spelling.

Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9): key facts

Layout
  • Verb forms 4
  • Prepositions 4
  • Joining 4
  • Transformation 8
Per the chapter page, 20 marks.
Past perfect
had | past participle
For the earlier of two past actions.
Reported speech shifts
  • is to was
  • will to would
  • can to could
  • now to then
  • here to there
After a past reporting verb.
Special patterns
  • No sooner had
  • than
  • too ... to
  • so ... that
  • unless = if not
Fixed forms.

How to answer Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9) questions

Use this for a transformation or joining item.

  1. 1Read the whole sentence or passage and decide the meaning to keep.
  2. 2Identify the instruction: speech, voice, structure or degree.
  3. 3Apply the rule step by step (tense shift, pronoun, word order).
  4. 4Read the new sentence aloud and compare its meaning with the original.
  5. 5Check spelling, agreement and punctuation.

Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9) in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Passing on a message

Suppose a student says, "I will come tomorrow," and her friend later tells the teacher what she said.

How does the sentence change in reported speech?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The reporting verb is in the past.
  2. will changes to would.
  3. tomorrow changes to the next day.

Answer: She said that she would come the next day.

Memory hook: Back one step.

Tricks to remember Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9)

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • One step back

    In reported speech after a past verb, tenses go one step back.

    Use it when: Reported speech.

  • Of, at, from

    afraid of, good at, different from.

    Use it when: Prepositions.

  • No sooner, then than

    No sooner had ... than.

    Use it when: Special pattern.

Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9): solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Fill the preposition · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

He is very fond ___ music.
(a) at (b) of (c) in (d) to

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Fond takes of (1).

Answer: (b) of.

Example 2: Past perfect (2 marks) · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Fill in the correct form: When the police arrived, the thief (escape) ____.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Earlier action (1)
  2. had escaped (1).

Answer: had escaped.

Example 3: Join the sentences (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Join without and, but, so: "The boy was tired. He kept walking." Write two versions.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Contrast with although (1)
  2. Participle or other (1)
  3. Correct meaning (1).

Answer: Although the boy was tired, he kept walking. / Tired though he was, the boy kept walking.

Example 4: Reported speech (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Change to reported speech: The teacher said to Anil, "Submit your notebook tomorrow."

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Reporting verb told or ordered (1)
  2. tomorrow to the next day (1)
  3. Pronoun change (1).

Answer: The teacher told Anil to submit his notebook the next day.

Example 5: Transformation (4 marks) · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Rewrite as instructed: (i) As soon as the bell rang, the pupils ran out. (No sooner) (ii) The road is being repaired by the workers. (active)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. No sooner had the bell rung (1)
  2. than the pupils ran out (1)
  3. Active subject workers (1)
  4. Tense kept (1).

Answer: (i) No sooner had the bell rung than the pupils ran out. (ii) The workers are repairing the road.

Where students lose marks in Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9)

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Wrong tense after a past reporting verb

    The tense is not shifted.

    Wrong working

    She said that she will come.

    Right working

    She said that she would come.

    Do this: Move one step back.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Wrong preposition

    The pair is not learnt.

    Wrong working

    afraid from

    Right working

    afraid of

    Do this: Learn fixed pairs.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Changing the meaning

    The rewrite differs from the original.

    Wrong working

    Too tired to walk becomes tired but walked

    Right working

    so tired that he cannot walk

    Do this: Check the meaning.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

Exam tips

  • Read the whole passage before filling verb blanks.
  • Learn adjective and verb preposition pairs.
  • Use no sooner had ... than.
  • Backshift tenses and change time words in reported speech.
  • Do not change the meaning in a transformation.

Practice questions on Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9)

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Which sentence means the same as "He is too tired to walk"?
    (a) He is so tired that he cannot walk. (b) He is so tired that he can walk. (c) He is tired but walks. (d) He is not tired.

    Hint

    Same meaning, different pattern.

    Answer

    (a) so tired that he cannot walk.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Fill in: She is good ___ painting and responsible ___ the art club. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Fixed pairs.

    Answer

    at; for.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Change the voice: The committee has chosen a new captain. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Present perfect passive.

    Answer

    A new captain has been chosen by the committee.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Change to reported speech: "Where are you going?" asked the guard. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Question to statement order.

    Answer

    The guard asked where I was going.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Join using a relative pronoun: "I met a woman. Her son won the quiz." (3 marks)

    Hint

    Use whose.

    Answer

    I met a woman whose son won the quiz.

  6. Q6 · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

    A student writes "No sooner the teacher entered than the class became silent." Find the fault, correct the sentence and explain the rule. (4 marks)

    Hint

    No sooner needs inversion.

    Answer

    The auxiliary is missing and word order is wrong. Correct: No sooner had the teacher entered than the class became silent. After No sooner the auxiliary comes before the subject, followed by than.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Marks for the grammar question?Show answer

    20 in the board layout.

  2. 2.How many marks for transformation?Show answer

    8.

  3. 3.Past perfect form?Show answer

    had + past participle.

  4. 4.Passive of "is repairing"?Show answer

    is being repaired.

  5. 5.Unless means?Show answer

    if not.

  6. 6.Which words may not be used while joining?Show answer

    and, but, so.

Verb Forms, Prepositions, Joining and Transformation (ICSE Class 9): frequently asked questions

Is every item compulsory?

Yes, per the syllabus on the chapter page.

Can I change words in a transformation?

Yes, other necessary changes, but not the meaning.

Who sets Class IX?

The school.