Extremely Interesting Speech

Extremely Interesting Speech Topics That are Meant for Kids

Speeches give you a platform to express yourself. Public speaking helps you get rid of stage fright and boosts confidence. An interesting topic is a prerequisite for an interesting speech. In this article, we give you interesting speech topics for kids.

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Interesting speech topics for kids
Speaking on stage is an opportunity in itself. It is a chance to express yourself, share your views with the audience and receive their feedback. An informative speech is an opportunity to educate or inform people about something you know or have researched on. Speaking on a funny speech topic is your chance to entertain the audience. A persuasive speech topic gives you the opportunity to influence the listeners while a demonstrative topic lets you explain something you know about in a way that the audience understands.
The bottom line of public speaking is to capture public interest. Your speech topic and speech delivery should be such that the listeners don't lose interest till the end of your speech. Whichever type of speech it is, choosing an interesting topic is essential.
When choosing a speech topic, take the following things into account.

The occasion
The audience
Your interest
Your strengths
Time

Informative Speech Topics

History of Barbie
Famous Inventors and their Inventions
Formation of Volcanoes (you could choose any other ecological phenomenon like formation of caves, formation of glaciers, etc.)
Endangered Animal Species
World-famous Artists
Leaders who changed the World
Evolution of Computers
Nutrients in Food

Impact of Technology
The Most Iconic Sports Figures
Famous People from your country/city
The Reality of Reality Shows
History of the English Alphabet
History of the Number System
Pros and Cons of Cloning
Alternative Sources of Energy and their Use

Informative speech topics

The Newest in Technology
Genetically Modified Food
A particular Period in History
A Favorite TV or Radio Show
A Favorite Cuisine
How a particular gadget Works
A particular Revolution or Movement in History
Tips/Advice on Investing in... choose from stocks, gold, silver, etc.

History of Chocolate
Effects of Pollution
Impact of Technology

Demonstrative Speech Topics

Flower Arrangement
Teach American Sign Language Alphabet
How to Make a Sand Castle
How to Make Ice Cream
Packing for a Trip
Making a Family Tree
How to Read Piano Music
How to Iron Clothes
Making a Halloween Mask

Decorating a Christmas Tree
How to Tie different Knots
How to Play a particular board game
How to Pack a Suitcase
How to Set up an E-mail Account
How to Play a particular Musical Instrument
Use of Contact Lenses
How to Iron Clothes
How to Plant a Tree
How to Eat using Chopsticks
The Right Way to Use a Spoon, Fork, and Knife
How to Apply Makeup

Demonstrative speech topics

How to Straighten or Curl your Hair (You could also choose to demonstrate a particular hairstyle.)
How to Set a Dinner Table
Steps to Draw a... (choose from flowers, cartoon characters, a particular animal/bird, etc.)

How to Make a... (choose from craft ideas like making a paper lantern, an origami rose, airplane, paper mache, playdough, gift bag, greeting card, etc.)
Fun things to do with... (choose from glue, waste paper, toilet paper, old cardboard box, buttons, old plastic bottles, old clothes. Here, you would be expected to suggest wealth-from-waste ideas and demonstrate innovative ways of using or making something creative out of old materials.)

How to Polish Shoes
How to Read Maps
Yoga Poses of Good Health

Persuasive Speech Topics

Zoos are good/bad for preservation of animals (go with the option you are convinced with)
The recess should be longer
Benefits of homework
Save the planet
Don't give in to peer pressure
Uniforms should/should not be made compulsory (go with the option you are convinced with)
Be a vegetarian
Treat obesity seriously

It's important to learn a second language
Athletic scholarships are fair/unfair (go with the option you are convinced with)
There should be a minimum age for plastic surgery
Entrance exam scores are not true indicators of a student's caliber

Persuasive speech topics

Drug addicts should be given medical treatment instead of legal punishment
The tax system is fair/unfair (go with the option you are convinced with)
Laws for gun control need to be stricter

Education is important
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Smoking is bad for health

Funny Speech Topics

Funniest pranks
My most embarrassing moment
How I was April fooled
Weird things to do on your birthday
How to drive someone crazy
Excuses for not doing homework
Funny voicemail messages
... and I couldn't stop laughing

Funny animal behavior
Snappy comebacks
Fun ways to order a pizza
Funny Internet terms
Coincidences
Crazy laws
My biggest blooper
Fun ways to remember names/faces
Funny questions for friends
The stupidest/silliest questions I have been asked
The dumbest questions I have ever asked
Jokes that make you laugh each time you listen to/read them

Funny speech topics

Meeting an alien
Why the world's a funny place
Why English is a funny language
Prank call ideas
Strange addictions
Weird world records

Other Interesting Speech Topics

Why do stars twinkle?
Causes of eclipses
Why is the grass green?
How birds know when to migrate
Why chameleons change color
Reasons why we overeat
Why do we have dreams when asleep?
Why do doctors wear white coats?
Why bats hand upside down
How honeybees make honey
How emotions affect memory
How animals communicate


How do we remember things?
What makes us addicted to things?
How the heart works
How the brain works
What makes a good leader
First day at school/college
My hobbies
My summer trip
My favorite sport
My house
Why I love my... (you could choose any close relation like mom, dad, sibling, or grandparents)
A food I won't mind eating everyday

My favorite subject in school
My greatest fear
My most favorite possession
The happiest day in my life
How to decorate your room
How to plan a surprise party
The best last-minute gifts to buy

What's the Occasion? Who's the Audience?
The occasion could be an event in school or a speech competition. In case of an event or celebration in school, your speech topic should pertain to the significance of that day. In case of a speech competition, you might be given a set of subjects to choose from. In this case, you should also consider the difficulty level of your speech topic. The audience could be students and teachers from your school or from other schools as well. Or it could be your parents. Choose a topic depending on the occasion and the kind of audience you have.
What You Like; What You Are Good At
The next most important things are your interest and strengths. You need to see which subjects interest you and what you are good at. If you know you cannot speak on a funny topic, no point choosing one. If you know you cannot speak convincingly, you may not be able to deliver a good persuasive speech. Similarly, if you are not interested in a particular subject, don't force yourself to choose it as your speech topic. There are less chances of being able to give an interesting speech on a topic you never liked.
The Time You Have
The next important factor is the time allotted to you. There are topics you can't cover in a five-minute speech and there are topics you can't stretch beyond three minutes. A speech on environmental problems, for example, can go long while you cannot speak about something like 'how volcanoes are formed' for more than say 3-4 minutes. Now, environmental problems are so many that you can talk about each of them elaborately. But 'how volcanoes are formed' is a very specific topic and in stretching the speech too long, you'll end up being repetitive. The complexity of your topic defines the length of your speech and that determines your preparation time too.
Interesting speech topics make you explore new subjects, experiment with new things, and present what you know in an interesting way. A speech reflects your eloquence and oratory skills as well as the research that has gone into making the speech. Especially so, when it's an informative or demonstrative topic. Different types of speeches demand different skills. A persuasive speech requires convincing skills while an informative one should be backed by thorough research. A demonstrative speech requires demonstration skills in the speaker while a funny speech demands sense of humor. Whichever topic you pick, make sure it is interesting and your speech also is. Choose one of the interesting speech topics for kids given here; give yourself enough time for preparation, and get ready to set the stage on fire!

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Power Yoga

Power Up with Power Yoga

Among the many styles of yoga, this dynamic practice gives you a challenging mind and body workout. It would be very apt to say that perspiration meets meditation.

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Power Yoga has its roots in Hatha Yoga.  Combined with pranayama, it is not for the rank beginner or faint hearted.  Power Yoga actually helps sculpt the body and also build muscle.  Students not only move dynamically through a series of postures but also work on strength and balance by staying in each pose to a breath count or even minutes. Learn more about yoga with our yoga tips by experts

What to expect: 

It is possible to work up to a power yoga class over time. The benefits from this style are stamina, flexibility and lower blood pressure to name a few.  Keep in mind that each instructor may have developed a slightly different routine with Power Yoga poses.   Some of them are universal.  Each one is performed to an inhalation and exhalation – this is very important.

Sequence of Power Yoga Poses:

Warrior 1: Standing on the mat, take the right foot back into a lunge.  Bring palms together and raise them over your head.  Keep the torso facing forward.  In the lunge, don’t let knee go over the toes. Repeat on left.

Warrior 2: From Warrior 1, rotate torso to face right and lunge right.  Make sure that the heel of the left foot lines up with the arch of the right foot.  Stretch arms so that they are parallel to the floor and look past the middle finger.  Hold for several breaths and repeat on left.
Warrior 3:  Face the narrow end of the mat. Place hands on hips and balance weight on left foot. Hinge forward from hips and make sure that the right foot and torso are in parallel to the floor.  Stretch arms in front and lace finger.  Hold this for several breaths. Lower arms and right leg.  From standing pose, repeat on left side.
Shoulder stand:  This power yoga pose requires a lot of practice before one can perform it without props.  Lie on your back on the mat with arms loosely at your sides, palms facing down.  Raise your legs into the air at a 90 degree angle from the body.  Push with your hands and raise hips off the floor and lower the legs over your head.  Bring legs slowly back so that they are in line with the back and perpendicular to floor.  Hold for 30 seconds – keep adding time till you can sustain the pose for up to 5 minutes.
Sun salutations:  This is a series of 12 poses performed dynamically on both the left and right sides.  It is repeated 3, 5 or more times to raise heart rate and also circulation.  This helps to loosen up all the muscles in the body.  The sequence is as follows – mountain, prayer forward bend, backward lunge with right foot, plank, chaturanga (chin to floor), upward facing dog, downward facing dog, forward lunge with right foot, forward bend, prayer and mountain. 
Sun salutations are always done at the beginning of a class to make sure that the body is warmed up to do more difficult poses.
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Feel alive with more tips on healthy living by clicking here.

Indian Women Entrepreneurs

5 Indian Women Entrepreneurs Who Inspire Us

Everyone knows the stories of successful men. Everyone sings songs of glory for them. But there are as many, if not more, stories of successful women entrepreneurs who overcame countless hurdles to achieve their success.

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The business world for the longest time was a male bastion. If at all, women from the family would participate on the side lines.
But times are changing; have changed, in fact. And women are leading the way in literally every field, carving a niche, following their dreams and making it big in what has been a male-dominated world.
Not to make the efforts of the opposite sex seem lesser in comparison, but women entrepreneurs do have to overcome a bit more to get to where they want. There is societal pressure to conform to a set role, there are kind and supposedly well-meaning words that talk about the stress and the cutthroat competition and cultural biases.
But nothing can hold back the Indian women entrepreneurs. Determined, creative, skilled and raring to go, there are stories of countless successful women entrepreneurs who have conquered large corners of sectors including education, social work, retail, and many more.
Unperturbed and unfazed by the limitations of the world, and that of their own bodies, especially during their monthly period, these women have gone on to #OwnThose5days and make a name for themselves.
Here are the stories of five such charismatic and well-known women. Whisper salutes them and thanks them for being role models for countless women to follow.

Suchi Mukherjee
Suchi Mukherjee gave women an e-commerce platform to call their own where they can get all that their heart desires. As the founder and CEO of LimeRoad, her hard work has taken a small idea and turned it into a bustling business with 600+ vendors and a high growth rate.

Aditi Gupta
Aditi Gupta used her skills and desire to educate women about menstrual health and hygiene to found Menstrupedia. She has helped women overcome the taboo associated with menstruation and given women a forum where they openly discuss their concerns.

Gloria Benny
Gloria, through her organisation MAD (Make a Difference), has brought education to thousands of children across India. She harnesses the enthusiasm of youth and uses their energy to realise her desire for working for the society.

MeenaBindra
Meena is testimony to the fact that age has nothing to do with success. The brain and hands behind Biba, she converted a hobby, begun at the age of 50, into one of India’s largest readymade ethnic clothing brands.

Pooja Dhingra
Pooja is a well-known name in the culinary field. Her macaroon store ‘Le 15 Patisserie’ in Mumbai is very popular. This chef also has a book - ‘The Big Book of Treats’ - under her name. And all this under 30 which saw her get featured in Forbes India’s prestigious list of ‘30 Under 30′.
India has been a hotbed for enterprises the last many years. And women have seized the opportunity to ride on this wave. They’ve shown that if there’s an idea and determination to go with it, anything is possible.

Learn how to develop the perfect personality.

For Easy Makeup Tips for Working Women , click here.

Why should we hire you?

Why should we hire you? Read answers and share your answer to the common interview questions.

Sir, as I am a fresher I don't have any previous experience with this kind of job but I have skills and I need a platform where I can put my skills and knowledge in to best use, if an opportunity is given I will definitely prove myself.
Maneesh Gupta

Sir, as I told you earlier being a quick learner, I can adjust in any environment. I have knowledge and skill required for the situation. I do work with full dedication given to me.

As I am fresher I have just theoretical knowledge, and I am looking for the platform which can provide me practical knowledge.
Also, I may be wrong sometimes in taking some decision, which can be the only reason being hired from your company. But I will try my level best that decisions taken by me are fruitful to your organisation.
Suyash .K

You should hire me because there are a lot of things to be proven about this job, and for that i can be a productive and a very competitive employee and I welcome the opportunity to develop my skills and ability.
Amithkumar .R

My resume speaks for itself. I am certified in my area. I have excellent recommendations from previous clients and most of my clients are considered Giants in their field. I am bringing with me the best practices from my last clients along with their satisfaction with my work. I have the ability to adapt. Each time I changed clients or changed project with the same clients - there is a tremendous amount of research/ learning involved to bring myself up to speed. I am used to getting out of my comfort zone whenever needed. I belong to the family of teacher and take great joy in sharing knowledge. Above all, I take great pride in what I deliver. The work I performed, the solutions I propose, the training I delivered all creates my legacy. I strongly believe that contributions of smart and hardworking employees makes the company great.
Mirza .A


I am the single person who adds the most value to the company - I am highly versatile and motivated to drive the project forward, and more importantly, I bring initiative to the company. I will go outside the requirements, and unite the company with my experienced leadership.
Dinesh .S

You should hire me because I am the best. I am reliable. I will do the task given to me to the best of my ability. I am not afraid to learn new things to further develop my ability and skills.
Subhashini .T

Are You Overqualified for This Job?

Are you overqualified for this job? Are you prepared to respond when an interviewer asks if you're overqualified? Career expert and author, Joyce Lain Kennedy, shares her best job interview answers to the question "Are you overqualified for this job?"

Keep in mind that you can customize these answers to fit your particular circumstances and the job you are applying for.

Overqualified? Some would say that I'm not overqualified but fully qualified. With due respect, could you explain the problem with someone doing the job better than expected?

Fortunately, I've lived enough years to have developed the judgment that allows me to focus on the future. Before we speak of past years, past titles and past salaries, can we look at my strengths and abilities and how I've stayed on the cutting edge of my career field, including its technology?

I hope you're not concerned that hiring someone with my solid experience and competencies would look like age bias if once on the job you decided you'd made a mistake and I had to go. Can I present a creative idea? Why don't I work on a trial basis for a month -- no strings -- which would give you a chance to view me up close? This immediately solves your staffing problem at no risk to you. I can hit the floor running and require less supervision than a less experienced worker. When can I start?

I was proud to be a charge nurse but I really like getting back to working with patients.
I'm flattered that you think I'm headhunter bait and will leap to another job when an offer appears. Not really. This job is so attractive to me that I'm willing to sign a contract committing to stay for a minimum of 12 months. There's no obligation on your part. How else can I convince you that I'm the best person for this position?

I'm here because this is a company on the move and I want to move up with you. With more than the minimal experience to just skim by, I offer immediate returns on your investment. Don't you want a winner with the skill sets and attitudes to do just that?

My family's grown. And I am no longer concerned with title and salary -- I like to keep busy. A reference check will show I do my work on time, and do it well as a team member. I'm sure we can agree on a salary that fits your budget. When can we make my time your time?

Downsizings have left generational memory gaps in the workforce and knowledge doesn't always get passed on to the people coming up. I could be an anchor or mentor -- calm, stable, reliable and providing day-to-day continuity to the younger team. For my last employer, I provided the history of a failed product launch to a new marketing manager, who then avoided making the same mistakes.

As you note, I've worked at a higher level but this position is exactly what I'm looking for. You offer opportunity to achieve the magic word: balance. I'm scouting for something challenging but a little less intense so I can spend more time with my family.

Salary is not my top priority. Not that I have a trust fund but I will work for less money, will take direction from managers of any age, will continue to stay current on technology and will not leave you in the lurch if Hollywood calls to make me a star. And I don't insist that it's my way or the highway.

Answering 64 Interview Questions: General Guidelines  

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Why do you want to work at our company?

Are you prepared to answer this question in an interview? Career expert and author, Joyce Lain Kennedy, shares her best job interview answers to the question.

During the 4 years I have experienced enough knowledge about my stream. So I need a platform to showcase my skills and knowledge and improve them. I have come to know that than other companies this company provide a better platform 2 grow, showcase and to improve skills. And I personally believe that A company's success is always because of its employees. So, I want to b a part of them, by which I cam improve my skills and eventually it will add values to the organization.

This is not only a fine opportunity, but this company is a place where my qualifications can make a difference. As a finance executive well versed in the new stock options law, I see this position as made to order. It contains the challenge to keep me on my toes. That's the kind of job I like to anticipate every morning.

I want this job because it seems tailored to my competencies, which include sales and marketing. As I said earlier, in a previous position I created an annual growth rate of 22 percent in a flat industry. Additionally, the team I would work with looks terrific.

I well understand that this is a company on the way up. Your Web site says the launch of several new products is imminent. I want be a part of this business as it grows.


Having worked through a college business major building decks and porches for neighbors, this entry-level job for the area's most respected home builder has my name on it.

As a dedicated technician, I like doing essential research. Being part of a breakthrough team is an experience I'd love to repeat.

This job is a good fit for what I've been interested in throughout my career. It offers a nice mix of short- and long-term activities. My short-term achievements keep me cranked up and the long-term accomplishments make me feel like a billion bucks.

I want this job selling theater tickets because I'd be good at it. I'm good at speaking to people and handling cash. I would like a job with regular hours and I'm always on time.

Although some companies are replacing Americans with imported low-wage workers, you are standing tall. This company's successful strategies, good reputation and values make it heads and shoulders above its competition.

I'd fit right in as a counter clerk in your fine drycleaners. I have observed that the counter clerk position requires competence at handling several activities in quick order -- customer service, payments, bagging and phones. I like multitasking and, as a homemaker, I have a lot of practice in keeping all the balls in the air.

The work I find most stimulating allows me to use both my creative and research skills. The buzz on this company is that it rewards people who deliver solutions to substantial problems.

What Has Been Your Greatest Accomplishment?

When you are applying for a retail or customer service job a typical interview question is "What has been your greatest accomplishment?" It's important to relate what you've accomplished to the position you're applying for. Here is a selection of sample answers you can use to respond to questions about what you have accomplished.

• I was able to streamline the number of products that we needed to keep on our shelves by implementing a new inventory system, which allowed us to track more closely the number and type of items sold seasonally.


• I increased the sales at my last position by 20% by organizing and rotating the stock on the selling floor regularly.


• One day at my last position, a young girl came in with her mother looking for a prom dress. She was a little heavy, and very self conscious. There was a lot of tension between them, trying to choose something that would be flattering. I was able to help them find a perfect dress, and the accessories to go with it, and they were both just beaming when they left.


• My biggest accomplishment was understanding the nature of humans and overcoming persecution with a positive attitude. I learnt to love, and to accept different personalities. I can now deal with difficult people

How do you handle stress and pressure?

 
A typical interview question, asked to get a sense of how you handle on-the-job stress, is "How do you handle pressure?" Examples of good responses include:
Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and productive.

I react to situations, rather than to stress. That way, the situation is handled and doesn't become stressful.
I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment.
From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting the gym every evening. It's a great stress reducer.
Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of what needs to be done when, has helped me effectively manage pressure on the job.
If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.
I find that when I'm under the pressure of a deadline, I can do some of my most creative work.
I'm not a person who has a difficult time with stress. When I'm under pressure, I focus, and get the job done.
I find it exhilarating to be in a dynamic environment where the pressure is on.
I find a past pace to be invigorating, and thrive when the pressure is on.

I've done some of my best work under tight deadlines, where the atmosphere was very stressful.
I'm the kind of person who stays calm under pressure, and handles stress fairly easily.
It's a good idea to give examples of how you have handled stress to your interviewer. That way, they get a clear picture how well you can work in stressful situations.

Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?

Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? Read answers and share your answer to this typical interview question.

Some experienced persons answers as follow:

Customer Service
I love to work in team because I learn lot from others, but if I have to work alone, then I am also fine. I enjoy working in both conditions -- I have no problems with either.

Both are Nice
Independent work sometimes seems desirable because you can manage your own time and also you have a chance to show all your talents and skills. Team work is different because you can learn from other people and learn some values and skills so you gain experience as well as learning to try to accept others' opinions.

I like both of them
Sometime i like to work on a team and sometimes I want to work independently.

Both are better in different cases
If the team components are supportable then I will prefer to work in the team otherwise it is better to complete the the job by myself, because if time is wasted in achieving a particular job the team is meaningless.

Working Independently
I prefer to work independently because when you work on a team all the compliments will be given to the team. there is no value given to your efforts, talent etc. If you work independently all your talents will be exposed.


Whatever the Position Requires
I am comfortable working as a member of a team and independently. Whatever my position requires, I'm comfortable with both.

Working On a Team
Both because I learn more working in a team and when I'm working indrpendently I enjoy completing the work alone because it gives me pride with my work.

What Major Problems Have You Encountered At Work? 

When you are applying for an entry level position a typical job interview question is "What major problems have you encountered at work and how did you deal with them?"

Here are sample interview answers which you can edit to fit your personal experiences and background:

I feel that the best way to deal with any challenges is to meet them head on. When I found that one of my colleagues was saying things that weren't true behind my back, I went to him and talked it through. It turned out that he had misunderstood what I had said, and I was able to set the record straight with him, and my supervisor.

Once I found a major flaw in the work of one of the most senior members of the department, which could have been very costly to the company if it had been overlooked. I went directly to him, and called it to his attention so he could fix it before it affected the final outcome.

One of the major problems I have found in this profession has been a lack of proper funding for the programs we are trying to implement. I think that I have a lot of creative ideas to help overcome some of the budget limitations inherent in this type of work.

Why Are You Leaving Your Job?

One of the questions that is typically asked in an interview is "Why are you leaving your job?" or "Why did you leave your previous job?" if you have already moved on. If you were fired from your job, use these answers to respond. If you left of your own accord, review these suggestions on how best to answer and tailor your response to meet your particular situation. Be direct and focus your interview answer on the future, especially if your leaving wasn't under the best of circumstances.

Regardless of why you left, don't speak badly about your previous employer. The interviewer may wonder if you will be bad-mouthing his company next time you're looking for work. I once interviewed a person who told me that her last employer was terrible. They didn't pay her enough, the hours were awful and she hated the job. That company happened to be my company's biggest, and most important, customer. And there is no way I would have hired someone who felt that way, justified or not, about our valuable client. So, she gave up any opportunity of getting the job as soon as she answered the "Why did you leave?" question. Prepare answers to typical job interview questions, like this one, in advance. Practice your responses so you sound positive, and clear, about your circumstances and your goals for the future.

Sample answers to the interview question
 "Why did you leave your job?

I found myself bored with the work and looking for more challenges. I am an excellent employee and I didn't want my unhappiness to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer.
There isn't room for growth with my current employer and I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.
I'm looking for a bigger challenge and to grow my career and I couldn't job hunt part time while working. It didn't seem ethical to use my former employer's time.
I was laid-off from my last position when our department was eliminated due to corporate restructuring.
I'm relocating to this area due to family circumstances and left my previous position in order to make the move.
I've decided that is not the direction I want to go in my career and my current employer has no opportunities in the direction I'd like to head.
After several years in my last position, I'm looking for an company where I can contribute and grow in a team-oriented environment.
I am interested in a new challenge and an opportunity to use my technical skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past.
I recently received my degree and I want to utilize my educational background in my next position.

I am interested in a job with more responsibility, and I am very ready for a new challenge.
I left my last position in order to spend more time with my family. Circumstances have changed and I'm more than ready for full-time employment again.
I am seeking a position with a stable company with room for growth and opportunity for advancement.
I was commuting to the city and spending a significant amount of time each day on travel. I would prefer to be closer to home.
To be honest, I wasn't considering a move, but, I saw this job posting and was intrigued by the position and the company. It sounds like an exciting opportunity and an ideal match with my qualifications.
This position seemed like an excellent match for my skills and experience and I am not able to fully utilize them in my present job.
The company was cutting back and, unfortunately, my job was one of those eliminated.

Tell Me About Yourself

Tell Me About Yourself

It’s the most feared question during any job interview: Do you think I would look good in a cowboy hat? Just kidding. The real question is: Can you tell me about yourself? Blecch. What a boring, vague, open-ended question. Who likes answering that? I know. I’m with you. But unfortunately, hiring managers and executive recruiters ask the question. Even if you’re not interviewing and you’re out networking in the community — you need to be ready to hear it and answer it. At all times. Now, before I share a list of 10 memorable answers, consider the two essential elements behind the answers: 

The medium is the message. The interviewer cares less about your answer to this question and more about the confidence, enthusiasm and passion with which you answer it. The speed of the response is the response. The biggest mistake you could make is pausing, stalling or fumbling at the onset of your answer, thus demonstrating a lack of self-awareness and self-esteem. Next time you’re faced with the dreaded, “Tell me about yourself…” question, try these: “I can summarize who I am in three words.” Grabs their attention immediately. Demonstrates your ability to be concise, creative and compelling. “The quotation I live my life by is…” Proves that personal development is an essential part of your growth plan. Also shows your ability to motivate yourself. “My personal philosophy is…” Companies hire athletes – not shortstops. This line indicates your position as a thinker, not just an employee. “People who know me best say that I’m…” This response offers insight into your own level of self-awareness. “Well, I googled myself this morning, and here’s what I found…” Tech-savvy, fun, cool people would say this. Unexpected and memorable. “My passion is…” People don’t care what you do – people care who you are. And what you’re passionate about is who you are. Plus, passion unearths enthusiasm.

 “When I was seven years old, I always wanted to be…” An answer like this shows that you’ve been preparing for this job your whole life, not just the night before. “If Hollywood made a move about my life, it would be called…” Engaging, interesting and entertaining. “Can I show you, instead of tell you?” Then, pull something out of your pocket that represents who you are. Who could resist this answer? Who could forget this answer? “The compliment people give me most frequently is…” Almost like a testimonial, this response also indicates self-awareness and openness to feedback. Keep in mind that these examples are just the opener. The secret is thinking how you will follow up each answer with relevant, interesting and concise explanations that make the already bored interviewer look up from his stale coffee and think, “Wow! That’s the best answer I’ve heard all day!” Ultimately it’s about answering quickly, it’s about speaking creatively and it’s about breaking people’s patterns. I understand your fear with such answers. Responses like these are risky, unexpected and unorthodox. And that’s exactly why they work. Otherwise you become (yet another) non-entity in the gray mass of blah, blah, blah. 

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

What are your greatest strengths?
This question seems like a softball lob, but be prepared. You don't want to come across as egotistical or arrogant. Neither is this a time to be humble.

BEST ANSWER: You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question #I you know how to do this.

Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have a specific example or two, which illustrates each strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements.
As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their executives are:
1) A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up with the
employer's greatest wants and needs.
2) Intelligence ... management "savvy."
3) Honesty ... integrity ... a decent human being.
4) Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team player who meshes well
with interviewer's team.
5) Likeability ... positive attitude ... sense of humor.
6) Good communications skills.
7) Dedication ... willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8) Definiteness of purpose . clear goals.
9) Enthusiasm... high level of motivation.
10) Confident ... healthy.a leader.

What are your greatest weaknesses?
PASSABLE ANSWER: Disguise strength as a weakness.
Example: "I sometimes push my people too hard. I like to work with a sense of urgency and everyone is not always on that same wavelength."

Drawback: This strategy is better than admitting a flaw, but it's so widely used, it is transparent to any experienced interviewer.

BEST ANSWER (and another reason it's so important to get a thorough description of your interviewer's needs before you answer questions): Assure the interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of your performing in this position with excellence. Then, quickly review your strongest qualifications.
Example: "Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've told me about this position, I believe I'd make an outstanding match. I know that when I hire people, I look for two things most of all. Do they have the qualifications to do the job well, and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my background shows I have both the qualifications and a strong desire to achieve excellence in whatever I take on. So I can say in all honesty that I see nothing that would cause you even a small concern about my ability or my strong desire to perform this job with excellence."

Alternate strategy: (if you don't yet know enough about the position to talk about such a perfect fit): Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what you like most and like least, making sure that what you like most matches up with the most important qualification for success in the position, and what you like least is not essential.

Example: Let's say you're applying for a sales position: "If given a choice, I like to spend as much time as possible in front of prospects selling, as opposed to shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of course, I long ago learned the importance of filing paperwork properly and I do it conscientiously. But what I really love to do is sell." (If your interviewer were a sales manager, this would be music to his ears.)

A scientist goes to kindergarten

I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at kindergartens. Not at random; that would be creepy. No, I’m on the roller coaster ride of information sessions, admissions counseling, and financial aid applications to identify the absolute perfect environment in which my soon-to-be-5-year-old daughter can make handprint turkeys.
It almost feels like I’m going on college tours, except they’re directed at a student who sometimes yells at uncooperative shoes. That alone makes it an insane experience—unless any admissions officers are reading this column, in which case it’s a beautiful experience, and I loved your art room.

After all, it’s the science classrooms of my youth that somehow nudged me toward a career as a molecular biologist.

It’s premature, to say the least, to imbue this decision with any long-term career implications. I have no illusions that a higher quality wood grain in her building blocks will push her toward a future as a successful civil engineer. But it’s also hard to deny that my daughter’s eventual vocation is some part of the endgame.
Not that she has to be a scientist. I mean, I love her, so I wouldn’t exactly wish a postdoc upon her. But whatever direction she ultimately chooses, I’d like her to have a firm foundation in science and math. And, unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea how to determine which school will provide that. Honestly, what metrics are available? Choice of mascot?
I can’t be the only one who feels so clueless. Yet the other mothers and fathers arrive at Saturday morning informational sessions in suits, carrying labeled manila folders and seeming perfectly at ease. They warmly shake the hands of school staff members and announce, “Hi, we’re the ones who’ve been emailing.” I find it hard to stay silent among the nodding parents when an assistant principal says something like, “At our school, we focus on educating the whole child.” I want to raise my hand and ask, “So, not just the legs?”

Invariably, the information sessions lead to tours, and the tours lead to science rooms, which is when I start to really pay attention. After all, it’s the science classrooms of my youth that somehow nudged me toward a career as a molecular biologist. I remember studying frog life cycles, viewing diatoms and rotifers in a drop of pond scum under the microscope, and learning about the epidemiology of infectious diseases modeled by the spread of dysentery in The Oregon Trail.
Today’s science classrooms—at least at the sort of schools that can afford to employ actual admissions departments to evaluate kids who play with mulch and berate uncooperative shoes—are pretty awesome. This is evident not only in what they show us, but in what they apologize for. “We’ve been meaning to upgrade from iPads to iPad Pros,” they’ll say, “but don’t worry, they’re coming!”
What I really appreciate, though, is how well the science teachers describe how each piece of what they teach complements the students’ lessons in their other classes. That has to be part of what pointed me toward a career in science: viewing it not just as an isolated subject, but as the most interesting component of everything else.
But I have also learned that if there’s anything modern schools hate more than conventional chalkboards, it’s rote learning. Every school is careful to emphasize that they teach kids how to learn rather than what to learn. So, instead of memorizing phyla in science class, they’re asked to investigate and explore, to ask questions they can address with experiments.
I ought to celebrate the shift from teacher-led drills to student-led investigation, from the lecture-and-quiz-and-grade-and-probably-buy-a-strawberry-phosphate-for-a-nickel-at-the-drugstore model to the one that more closely matches what real scientists actually do. After all, one of the hardest skills to teach—yet one of the most valuable to scientists—is how to apply rampant curiosity to a legitimate problem. It’s the difference between saying, “Draw this tadpole’s life cycle” and “What would you like to ask about the tadpole?” But even though I know it must be an improvement, every now and then, the new style of education starts feeling a little … I don’t know … feely.
The kids don’t practice addition and subtraction in the traditional way. For example, they stick together “unit blocks” and slide beads on abacuses to get an intuitive sense of numbers. Of course an intuitive sense of numbers is more valuable than memorized multiplication tables, so this is a good thing, right? I’m sure it must be, until I see little Caleb and Wyatt getting reprimanded for brandishing their unit blocks as swords.
And that’s where I get slightly nervous. Even though the new methodology seems like it would ultimately produce students who could become better scientists, it’s hard to accept such a sweeping change without some anxiety. What if my daughter gets to college and she’s never drawn a Lewis dot diagram, but she’s “explored” the general concept of how owls make her feel? What if she becomes the parody of progressive education, telling her physics professor that she never learned Newton’s laws of thermodynamics because her 12th grade “Science and You” teacher/facilitator spent that time showing clips of TED talks about microfinanced kale?
What if she goes to Burning Man?
The problem is, somehow I’m a practicing scientist who is a recipient, a proponent, and a practitioner of science education—yet I have no idea how science should be taught. Many of the tropes of my own elementary school experience in the ’80s are now taboo. For example, as early as first grade, I competed in math and science contests at the state level. (Then again, the state was Delaware, so pretty much any contest with at least three people was at the state level.) I even once earned a trip to Washington, D.C., for the 1992 MathCounts National Competition, which was the only time I’d ever seen a roomful of 200 eighth graders get excited about a lecture on fractals.
Those contests were an essential part of my identity, not because of an obnoxious need for external gratification, but because I enjoyed trying to win them. The nervousness, the studying, the problem solving, the anticipation at the awards ceremony—those qualities were fun to me. Nowadays, though, there’s nothing more abhorrent I could ask an admissions officer than, “Will my child have the opportunity to win trophies attesting to her intellectual superiority?”
Maybe the answer is that I need to do what a scientist does: calmly, rationally, objectively observe what happens. Choose a school based on the best data possible (or, failing that, whichever one has the best lunches) and then be vigilant. Make sure the foundation the school lays supports the principles of scientific inquiry, and if it ever doesn’t, make up the difference myself.
And maybe it’s beneficial to feel uneasy about my daughter’s education; skepticism encourages attentiveness. I’ll be paying closer attention, making sure she has all the tools necessary to not only become a scientist if she wants to, but to become a good one.
A whole scientist. Not just the legs.

Science made me a better parent

Chefs can cook delightful meals for their families. Musicians can enliven social gatherings with friends. And having medical doctors, mechanics, or lawyers on call can be a great help if you get into trouble. As a biochemist with a Ph.D. in molecular biology, however, I always felt that my professional skills were of little value outside the lab. Let’s face it: As fun as they can be, cutting and pasting DNA and growing cells are not things that you do very often when you’re home or out with friends. Until recently, I didn’t think anything I had learned in the lab could be used in the rest of my life. Since I became a father, though, my view has been steadily changing.

“I have found that parenthood is, in many ways, an extension of research.”

I have found that parenthood is, in many ways, an extension of research: overcoming unknowns, learning constantly, and holding both a big responsibility and a great privilege. And neither science nor parenting is an individual endeavor. Whether you are giving a baby a bath or isolating mitochondria, teamwork is essential, and the list of collaborators can be quite long—including, in the case of parenting, partners, parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and friends. As with the author list for a scientific paper, each of these players makes their own important contribution.

Advice from colleagues and mentors is also very important, although instead of conferences, parents have barbecues and get-togethers. These are usually not in distant and exotic places, but other than that, they are strikingly similar to scientific conferences: You get a chance to show your peers how your project—or baby—is progressing, exchange tips and experiences, and pave the way for future collaborations. And although learning about how others have handled similar situations or how they interpret certain signs is helpful, in the end, it is up to you to figure out how to solve each particular dilemma.

A slew of skills that I acquired while conducting my research—including being patient, learning how to do new things, and handling setbacks—are helping me more than I could have imagined in raising my baby. At a practical level, my experience learning new methodologies in the lab helped me unveil the secrets of diapering and bottle-feeding. The protocols are fairly simple and straightforward. The sterilization procedures are much more flexible than those used in the lab, and most of the items can be obtained over the counter. And I already knew how to open doors and work around the house with my hands full, because I often have to do it in the lab.

Of course, every time you start in a different field there is new vocabulary to learn (percentile, colostrum, meconium) and unfamiliar equipment to master—securing a car seat or folding a stroller can be more complicated than it seems. But that's also part of the fun. As for the vast literature devoted to parenting, discriminating reliable sources from misinformation can be daunting. Luckily, having spent a good number of hours with the scientific literature, I have learned to read everything with a healthy dose of skepticism.

But, without any doubt, the most useful thing that I've learned in the lab is the ability to cope with failure. When the baby is finally asleep in my arms and I put her in the crib and, holding my breath, leave the room on tiptoes, it feels almost natural to hear, a second later, a growing moan that turns into desperate sobbing. Knowing how to tame my frustration, make the best out of difficult situations, and get back on my feet are the things that I've found most helpful. That, and the conviction that the sum of what I've learned from all those small defeats is a valuable asset.

There is a Spanish proverb that says, 

“Patience is the mother of science,” and I think that I now understand how those three concepts—patience, parenting, and science—became so intertwined in the first place. Whether you are starting a Ph.D. or becoming a parent, patience and perseverance will serve you well. The rest will come, after a few sleepless nights.

Want a letter? You write it for me

A few years back, I asked two colleagues for letters of support for my grant proposal. One colleague drafted a letter personally. The other, citing heavy time pressures, asked me to draft the letter myself. I was sympathetic, but I felt queasy pretending to be someone else as I described my own work. To appease my conscience, I wrote as myself: “I” meant me and “you” meant my colleague. This was risky. If the colleague simply signed and sent the letter, neglecting the required pronoun switcheroo, the letter would instantly reveal its true originator. I am grateful that the colleague saved me that embarrassment, and even added authentic language to the letter.

ILLUSTRATION: ROBERT NEUBECKER

“This is an injustice to both the applicant and the responsible VIP.”

Later, at a workshop on winning grant-writing strategies, I asked the instructor about this practice, describing my discomfort. The response was, “Get over it.” The practice is common, after all. A letter from an established senior person—a VIP for short—can strengthen an application for school admission, a job, or a grant. To write an informed, original letter from scratch, however, would require more knowledge of the candidate and the project than the VIP has time to acquire. It would be a poor professional investment, with the VIP's own duties, articles, and grant proposals clamoring for attention. Furthermore, as a salary comparison would show, the VIP's time is far more precious than the applicant's. (But how valid is this? Who knows what the applicant might achieve years hence? What was an hour of young Einstein's time worth?)

So the VIP says, “Sure! Glad to help! Of course, I'm a busy person. Draft it for me.” The applicant may be startled. How awkward, trying to write words of praise about oneself while pretending that they are someone else's. How much flattery is too much, or too little? Besides, isn't this a deception that betrays academia's dedication to truth?

In fact, a reviewer can often detect words that originated with the applicant. The discovery correctly devalues the letter, harming the applicant's chances. When the VIP does write an original and well-informed letter, the reviewer may still assume that its authorship, like that of so many other letters, is partly misrepresented. This is an injustice to both the applicant and the responsible VIP.

Pity the applicant receiving two such requests, feeling doubly queasy trying to draft two different letters for the same committee. Facing time pressure, the applicant may give both VIPs similar drafts, hoping they will make the extra effort to customize their letters enough to disguise the common origin. On a committee reviewing one such applicant, I read two letters that were virtually identical. The applicant took the fall, but the fault lies with the two VIPs, whose indifference doomed the application.

The worst consequence of this practice is the message imprinted on a young applicant's mind: “Everybody does it.” Apparently, minor frauds like this are not just condoned but expected by academic leaders. Apparently, people rise in the system by offloading work to the less powerful. Apparently, the words of the more prestigious are not golden; sometimes they are not even their own. Perhaps around the corner a slightly larger fraud is acceptable, including those too-common courtesy authorships for the highly placed. Then that leads to larger ones: covering up data problems and, ultimately, falsifying data. Thus do we introduce young people to our system. Several students I know lost some respect for VIPs who had students writing letters that they should be writing themselves.

You can help fix this. If you are a VIP asked to write a letter of support and you write it yourself, just add a notation: “The content of this letter is original with the undersigned author.” Applicant, go ahead and encourage your VIP to add it. The readers will know to exempt the letter from the usual degraded valuation. If this practice catches on, our scientific culture may swing back toward reverence for integrity.

Learn to read between the lines of a job ad

Most companies in the recruiting business are experiencing a great start to 2016. It appears that the job market is finally picking up a bit of steam, at least across the world of commerce and industry. There will always be a fair amount of stress and uncertainty for scientists looking for Ph.D.-level jobs, but I believe you’ll see more job ads today than you did a year ago.As I’ve often discussed in this column, my advice is not to rely on job ads exclusively, because the odds are much better with more personal approaches. But savvy job seekers must include checking job boards and listings in their daily regimen of tasks—and, perhaps most importantly, recognize what certain language really means in order to optimize their job search results. Here are a few examples of how to read between the lines of common ad language.

“A minimum 2 years of industry experience is required.”

Read as, “We’ve been burned in the past by academics thinking that a move to our company would simply be like going on to the next postdoc.”
Why would employers put a minimum experience level like this into their job qualifications? They aren’t interested in helping an academic make the adjustment to industry; they want some other company to have taken that risk. Not everyone is a sure-fire success in industry; that’s why this column exists, as well as a great deal of the other advice offered at Science Careers.

[N]o company with this kind of ad gets more than 60% of all the requirements it is looking for, so don’t let this hold you back.

—David Jensen

But, is it a completely inflexible piece of the job requirements that a person have at least some industry experience? Absolutely not. Anyone with a couple of years of experience past the Ph.D. (a postdoc will do nicely) and the ability to write a convincing cover letter can make a good case to be considered for this job. That’s why my advice is to apply anyway. Hiring managers will be receptive as long as you appear to understand the differences in culture between academia and industry and have a few industry buzzwords at your command. Each niche you focus on—R&D or regulatory affairs, for example—has its own set of terms and acronyms, which you can learn about by conducting a few informational interviews with people in these areas.
The key success element when pushing past this job ad language is to write your cover letter using examples of problems you’ve solved. Consider the requirements of the job and what you know about the industry environment there. The manager has issues she wants to overcome with this hire, so choose a relevant accomplishment or two and come across as someone interested in helping her. Companies hire problem solvers, whether they have 2 years of industry experience or none at all.

“Seeking a Discipline A Ph.D. Scientist with experience in Disciplines B, C, and D, as well as hands-on experience with Techniques X and Y and a thorough knowledge of Technique Z.”

Read as, “We’re tossing in everything but the kitchen sink because we’re in no big rush, and we might as well reach for the moon because we haven’t really figured out the job yet.”
This happens frequently: A company that hasn’t completely thought through what it is looking for throws together an impossible-to-fill profile to test the market. This is all the more common these days, because companies can experiment with ads on various online boards for so little cost.
These laundry lists of skills result in what I call “pinpoint hiring.” Back when I got into the recruiting business, seeing an ad that said, “Ph.D. cell biologist needed for growing biotech company” (or “microbiologist,” “biochemist,” etc. …) would be fairly common. But in the years that have passed, employers have added skill after skill to their requirements so that the opening now exists on the head of a pin. Increasingly, there are no more broad areas of need in the sciences; there are only pinpoints.
So how do you fight pinpoint hiring? It’s tough. The recruitment process may start with the need to find someone to contribute, today, with an exact set of skills, but at the center of that job description lies one core area of expertise. Find out what that is by examining the ad or by talking to someone you know in industry. Then, focus your energies on providing a CV and cover letter that fit this theme. Most of the time, the company ends up hiring someone who has that core. I would guess that no company with this kind of ad gets more than 60% of all the requirements that it is looking for, so don’t let this hold you back.

“ABC Recruiting Company has a position to fill for a $50 billion market cap client in the pharmaceutical sector. Please forward your CV to us at . . .”

Read as, “We’re using a blind ad in hopes that referencing a company without name will allow our Internet trolling effort to pick up leads for our candidate database.”
This is a common ploy used by some recruiting firms to expand their universe. Think about it—why would employers not want to use their names in ads? I suppose some ultra-secret plans for research might require confidentiality, but those odds are low. Most of the time, employers want people to know that they are hiring—it is good PR!
When companies assign an opening to a single recruiting firm, the recruiters there are almost like consultants, and they generally use the names of their clients when they advertise. Sometimes, however, employers assign an opening to multiple recruiting firms on what is called a “contingency” basis. All these different recruiters want to get your CV and send it to the employers ahead of the pack. Keeping the names of the companies under wraps also prevents the candidates from sending their CVs directly to the employers, which would eliminate recruiters’ potential for commission.
Contingency recruiters can have some good assignments, so you can’t just forget that approach. But if you are considering dropping your CV into the black hole of a “blind” ad, consider using a one-page biosketch that will not be considered a resume or CV by an employer; this will force the headhunting firm to call you if it is interested. Include a few enticing paragraphs much like you’d use to describe yourself as a speaker in a conference. The caller will request a full CV, at which time you can ask for more details about this and other potential jobs. Then, if you decide to go ahead and submit a CV, clarify that you would like to retain control over the document by knowing where it has gone. Quality firms will be receptive to your request to get a call before it goes out to any employer in the future.

“Requirements include a Ph.D. with 5+ years experience in cell biology or biochemistry, or a M.S. degree with equivalent experience.”

Read as, “We’ve got a Ph.D. opening here, and that’s the way we’d like to fill it, but we’re required by human resources to show respect to those few Master of Science-level employees who have reached the scientist ranks at our company.”
I’m sorry to be sarcastic, but every time a client company sends me a Ph.D. scientist assignment that says “A master’s is OK, too,” I find out later—after hours of interviewing a few M.S.-level candidates—that this isn’t the case. Despite what those ads say, for an R&D leadership position, the master’s degree holder has to work her or his way up in the company, a process that differs at every employer but one that takes years and numerous hurdles. (Note that this is not the case in manufacturing operations, quality control and assurance, and other technical positions where M.S. degree holders go right to the top.)
Now, with what may first appear like a slight change of wording, this ad can mean a great deal more opportunity for the master’s graduate. For example, consider “M.S. or Ph.D. required, with emphasis on cell biology and biochemistry.” By rearranging the order of the preferred degrees, employers show that their intent to consider M.S. candidates is indeed serious. In fact, the “or” part of the statement says to me that the M.S.-level applicant is exactly what’s at the core of this need and that Ph.D. holders applying for this job could easily be seen as overqualified.

So what does the future hold for job ads?

One reason that job ads have been plentiful in the past is that they are cheap and easy. But they have also shown a declining value to employers, as more and more emphasis has been placed on social media for candidate recruitment. Human resources departments now have teams of people onboard to identify and recruit candidates directly within the social media platforms that we use every day, in almost every aspect of our lives.
Still, the business of finding a job requires attention to be paid to every single element in the process, and job ads will remain one of these elements for some time to come. So learn to read ads carefully and to understand the issues that they refer back to, however subtly. And then show those advertisers that you are a key player in their core theme and, most importantly, that you’ve been a problem solver since you first stepped into the lab all those years ago.

sir, I have been confused by the use of articles. Can you please explain where to use a, an, the?

• A/ an and the are called articles.A/an' must be used before countable singulars in English.

         Things we count like, one, two,

        three, etc. are countables.

           Eg: book, man, town, river, etc.
               Things we don't count but weigh or mea- 
               sure like oil, sugar, milk, etc., are uncounta-bles.
               No 'a/ an' before uncountables. 

★

A = an. However, before countable singu-

lars beginning with vowel sounds that is,

English words beginning with the Telugu

sounds,

Å, Ç, É, Ñ, Ö, Ü, á, à, â, ä, ã, å

,

'an' is used, and before words beginning

with consonant sounds, that is, sounds other

than '

Å

' to '

å

', 'a' is used.

Eg:

a bell, a cat, etc. an umbrella, an idea, an

owl etc. 

★ 

'A/ an' is used with the meanings of one,

someone, certain.

'The' we use, when we talk of

something we have already referred

to.

Eg:  a) I bought a

book yesterday.

The book is very interesting.

In the second sentence we talk

about the book we have already

mentioned in the first sentence. 
b) He met a man and the man told him that he

was from England.

There are other uses of 'the'. Any good

grammar book will give you the uses of 'the'.

Please refer to them.

Q: Sir please let me know the kinds of verbs/

Types of verbs.

A: There are mainly two types of verbs -

1) Transitive verbs and 2) Intransitive verbs.

Transitive verbs have objects. That is, if

you put the question 'What'/ 'Whom', you get

an answer.

Eg: a) He is eating a mango - The verb in the

sentence is 'is eating'. Put the question

'What' to the verb.

★

He is eating what? - You get the answer 'a mango'. So it is a  transitive verb.

b) She wrote a letter - The verb here is wrote.

Put the question: She wrote what? You get

the answer, a letter. So wrote (and so write) is a transitive verb.

c) Krishna helped Rama. The verb here is,

'helped'. Put the question, Krishna helped

whom? You get the answer 'Rama'. So

helped (and so help) is a transitive verb.

2) Intransitive Verbs:

Intransitive verbs do

not answer to the question, whom/ what

★

He goes there everyday. The verb here is, goes (that is, go). Put the question, go what go whom

No answer. So 'go' is an intransitive verb.

★

A good number of verbs have more than

one meaning. Such verbs may be transitive

with one meaning, and intransitive with

another meaning.

Eg: The verb, run. Run has more than one

meaning - the first one, of course, is move

very fast 

★

He runs very fast. The verb is runs - Put the question, runs

what , whom

- No answer. So with the meaning

'run' is intransitive

★ 

'Run' also means, managing

Eg: He runs a school. Put the question 'What?'

He runs what ? - Answer: a school, so runs,

here is a transitive verb.

Only transitive verbs have passive voice.

Intransitive verbs do not have passive voice,

except in imperative sentences (commands, requests, etc).

These are the two important kinds of verbs.

There are other kinds too, but to be able to

write and speak good English, we need not

know them

Q: Sir, how to use the word "Rather than".

Also please explain how to use the word

'"As such". 

Please explain the difference

between "left for" and "have been to" and

when to use these words with examples. 

A: 1) When we compare two things of differ-

ent kinds, we use rather than in the comparative degree. 

Eg: a) I would rather walk than go by bus.

             b) He is rather industrious than intelligent.

2) As such = as things are

3) Left for - The past tense of leave for = to start for a place. / to go to a place. 

★ 

He left for Delhi yesterday = He started for Delhi and is perhaps there now.

4) Have been to = visit / go to a place and stay there for some time. 

  I have been to Delhi a number of times


★ 
 

Kindly clarify the following:

Difference between the words and their usages:

1. Gist / Summary

2. Illustration / Example

3. Rein / Reign 

4. Bill / Invoice

A:   1) Gist = The central idea of a passage;

Summary = a brief statement of the

main points of a piece of writing. A gist

gives central idea of a passage and is

therefore very brief. On the other hand

a summary contains all the main points

in the passage. 

2) Illustration = example. An illustration how-

ever has other meanings too. 

3) Rein = The leather straps by which you

control a horse.

Reign = Rule by a king.

4) A bill shows the amount you pay for something you have bought.

An invoice shows the amount you have to

pay for things already delivered to you.