In man’s life, some time comes when we are left flabbergasted and don’t know what to do. Corona pandemic is one such instance when the whole world is caught by fear and uncertainty. Some are scared, some are casual and some are serious, but there are always people who know the art of making the best out of the worst.

These are the people who know how to respond to different situations by learning what is valuable out of the bag. They focus and learn lessons.

I learnt three lessons in the age of Corona:

Saving money is critical
Saving is one of the best personal habits that people must develop. Today’s economy is uncertain. People get laid off suddenly without reasons.

There’s no job security; business is in doldrums.

In this dire situation, saving is the only way that you can rely on when you are passing through the rainy days. The question is how to save and how much to save. Try to save as much as you can, but the simple rule of thumb is to

set aside at least 10% of your salary or income

in a separate bank account which must remain untouchable. Don’t touch this account because this is a sacred account. This account will incredibly grow over time and will pay you off in the form of financial security or investment.

Divine power at work
In the age of Corona, people must come to realize that there’s a greater power in the world. The power of Allah is greater than any other power in the world. Nothing is permanent; anything can be washed out in seconds. The world can become a deserted place in no time. Human beings become helpless.

Human civilization and advancement can be reduced to the cipher at the command of one super power.

Nature takes its course. Flowers bloom, gardens grow, winds, birds chirp, the sun smiles, the moon glows and the valleys shine,

but humans are confined like animals in their homes,

fettered to their very best things they were once proud of and which they began to hate now.

Learning opportunities
With problems come opportunities. Some will watch Netflix and waste their time, others will curse politicians and their environment but very few will sit down with a good book and improve their skills or join an online learning opportunity because they have awareness and their awareness came from learning. Learning means behaviour change. More learning; more awareness and vision. Learning is the solution to your financial problems.

Your money can be lost but your learning can bring it back.

It’s only due to learning that we can fight untoward situations in our lives. Learning will give you new meaning in life. Learning will teach you that human body can be destroyed but human spirit remains victorious even in the worst conditions. It doesn’t matter what happens to you; what matters the most is what you are going to do about it.

Victor Frank proved this in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.”

We are in the age of Corona. The effects are long-lasting. Life will never be the same after Corona. Personal will become dangerous and online will become the norm. The solution is only learning for self-awareness.


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How many times have you felt this?

• Imagine how many opportunities you have lost just because you suffered from anxiety.
• A job interview which could have been much better and procured job for us was rendered waste because of your lousy state of mind.
• The perfect moment when you could have saved your relationship but it fell apart just because you were focused on your anxiety more than the relationship.

Anxiety is negative
Anxiety is the word that fills my blood with tremors when I stand up to speak before a group of people. And it has been with me since I have been in this world.

Much of anxiety that I have felt came from negative perception of the situation that I am confronted with and those negative feelings captured my brain so much that I could not perceive that success comes from anxiety.

Speaking in my school days
It was back in my school days when my teacher looked at me affectionately and asked me to prepare for a welcome speech to the New Year students, not realizing my psychological state of mind about speaking. He handed in the topic and hurriedly went school upstairs leaving me in a “What do I do?” state. Only God and I know how I spent the whole night in my bed trembling for the speech that I was destined to make the next day.

The faces of all my class fellows doubled and enlarged to scare me to death. 

I stayed awake in sheer insomnia until the small hours. Then I shifted my focus on the moving ceiling fan to let myself resigned to fate and slumber.

How I overcame anxiety
The morning opened with a sense of freshness and I went to school and stood before my class fellows.

I thought if making speech would hurt me; not making the speech would hurt me more. 

So, I walked to the stage. The faces looked normal. I uttered a few words hesitatingly to check to see if somebody would laugh. That nobody laughed helped me muster up my courage to speak a few more and then a few more sentences. This created cohesion of thoughts and started making the whole maiden speech of my life. The reaction of my audience was neutral. However, it was not as bad as those of other students who came to the stage after me. The situation ended but provided food for thought.

Divert your attention
Anxiety is devastating if you allow it to get on your nerves. It destroys the very fabric of your being. It shatters your muscles. It renders your talent worthless. But the very moment you ignore it and divert your attention to something positive, it melts down from which success can be built.

Anxiety is energizing
When situational anxiety like the one I mentioned of my school days hits you, it creates vibrations in your nervous system, it stirs excitement in your mind and soul and it keeps you alert so you become ready for something novel to take place. That’s when anxious state can be capitalized by putting in your best positive thoughts. You just need to tweak your brain into thinking that the groundwork for action is ready and the battlefield for success is prepared because you have physically become charged up to create success for yourself.

Action fights anxiety
Anxiety is optimism, excitement and confidence. It all depends on whether you fight or flight it. Once, you become committed to doing what anxiety stops you from, it becomes success for you. Thus your life’s most cherished success comes from anxiety, not confidence.

New Amendment in IELTS Listening

How will this change affect you?

A: Reported Speech is the technique of reporting a speaker’s words in one’s own speech by making necessary changes of time, place, person and perspective. As in he said, ‘I phone him’ > He said that he phoned him. Look at the following examples:

• ''I like this jumper'          She said that she liked that jumper.
• 'Do you live here?'          She asked me if I lived there. 
• 'Where will you live?'    She asked me where I would live. 
• 'Please come tomorrow' She asked me to come the next day.

B: Examples of Reported Speech has been bold in the paragraph below.

Ahmed introduced me to Peter who said that he was pleased to meet me. I replied that it was my pleasure, and that I hoped Peter was enjoying his stay in Seattle. He thought that Seattle was a beautiful city, but that it rained too much. He said that he had been staying at the Bay view Hotel for three weeks, and that it hadn't stopped raining since he had arrived. Of course, he said, this wouldn't have surprised him if it hadn't been July! Ahmed replied that he should have brought warmer clothes. He then continued by saying that he was going to fly to Karachi the following week, and that he couldn't wait to enjoy some sunny weather. Both Ahmed and I commented that Peter was a lucky person indeed.

C: Usually, we change our pronouns or persons according to our perception of the situation. The first person in the reported speech normally changes according to the subject of the reporting speech.

1. He says, “I will come back.”
2. She says, “I am ready to go.”
3. You say, “I have done it.”
4. They say, “We are forced. ”
5. I say, “I am not guilty.”
6. We say, “You are hasty.”

D: Tense, in the reported speech, is changed in the following pattern: if there are Present tenses; nothing changes. If there are Future tenses; still no changes. Past changes:

Present indefinite > Past indefinite
Present Progressive > Past Progressive
Present perfect >Past perfect
Present perfect progressive >Past perfect progressive
Past indefinite >Past perfect
Past progressive > Past(perfect) progressive
Past perfect > Past perfect
Past perfect progressive > Past perfect progressive

E: All present indicators change into past. See: can>could, will>would, shall>should, must> had to, now, then, come>go, ago>before and tomorrow> the next day. In Imperative sentences, the reporting verb can take many forms as order, request, advise, suggest, propose, pray etc. The same is with questions where If/whether is introduced. 

NeoTip
Option B in the above example is correct because Must is replaced by Had to. He said that I must wear a uniform is incorrect.

Exercises

1. Change the following sentences. 

1. He said, “I don't smoke now.”
2. She said to me, “ I have to come here daily.”
3. He said, “guests will come here tomorrow.”
4. The doctor said, “ the man died one hour ago.”
5. I said to him, “I will never meet him again.”
6. The boy said, “I can play the piano.”
7. You said, “I returned the loan last night.”
8. The player said, “This is not fair.”
9. The men said to me, “I will leave next week.”
10. The man said, “”Go away!”
11. I said to him, “Please bring me some water.”
12. He said to me, “Work hard to pass the exam.”
13. The girl said, “ We should help her.”
14. The porter said, “Shall I carry your luggage?”
15. I said to him, “let me listen to music.”
16. The boy said to the man, “ Don't come here!”
17. The teacher said to me, “Are you English ?”
18. She said to me, “Do know English ?”
19. They said to us, “Were you going home?”
20. I said to a stranger, “Where is the post office?”
21. We said to the clerk, “Why does he come late?”
22. You said to me, “When will I reach Lahore?”
23. She says to me, “Do you live around?”

2. Change into Reported Speech.

1. My father said to me, “May you succeed!”
2. The old man said, “I wish the boy were here!”
3. He said to me, “Alas ! I have been ruined.”
4. The People said, “May Pakistan progress!”
5. The boy said, “Sir, I am sorry I am late.”
6. The angry woman said, “May God strike you!”
7. She said to her, “Would that we were rich!”
8. I say to my teacher, “Sir, I can't come today.”
9. The girl said, “What good weather!”
10. I said, “What a nice teacher he is! ”
11. The boys said to us, “Yahoo! We have won it.”

A: Modals are auxiliary or the helping verbs which help add functions to sentences and also carry additional concepts. Modals have the following properties: 

• Negation: Auxiliaries take not or n't to form the negative, eg. cannot, don't, wouldn't. 
• Inversion: Auxiliaries invert with what precedes them when we form questions: [I will] see you soon ~ [Will I] see you soon? 
• Code: Auxiliaries may occur "stranded" where a main verb has been omitted: John never sings, but Mary does. 
• Emphasis: Auxiliaries can be used for emphasis: I do like cheese. Modality: they also express concepts such as possibility, obligation, certainty, anticipation and capability.

NeoTip
Option B is correct because 'Must' is used for logical conclusion while 'Will' is not used. 'Roads are wet. It will have rained last night' is wrong.

B: Lexical Verbs are the main vocabulary words while Auxiliary Verbs are the function words. Below, Auxialiary Verbs are bold and Lexical Verbs are underlined for quick understanding.

Her pace slowed and an ache spread from between her shoulders. Vapours swirled and banked; the light of on-coming headlights drained out of the car. [...] Sodium street lamps burned phosphorescent holes in the fog, but as she turned off Main Street to the cottage she noticed the one which illuminated the alley was out. She must be going fast to catch up with time. She looked tired and she must have walked a mile or so. She cannot go any where at the moment. She shouldn’t be alone on the roads like that. The roads can be dangerous. They will envelop her in their dark corners. She may be lost or she might be forced into a wrong turn. There is no time to think about these dangers. She has to go and dare go alone to find her lost mate. She must search and search for the dear one lost something.

C: Modal verbs are used for their modality serves different functions.

1. He must have missed the bus. Logical Conclusion
2. I must wash my hair.  Obligation
3. You must do as you are told. Obligation
4. You must be delighted. Logical Conclusion
5. He might win. Possibility
6. He can open the window. Capability
7. He can't come in.  Permission
8. He can't be in, there's no reply. Logical Conclusion
9. You can't know her very well.  Logical Conclusion
10. You mustn't do that. Moral duty
11. You've done it before, so it should be easy.  Obligation
12. You should do as you are told. Obligation
13. I'll open the door. Decision
14. That will be the postman at the door. Possibility
15. That may not be true. Possibility

Exercises

Correct the following sentences.
1. He is in trouble. I think, we will help him.
2. I use to play truant when I was a child.
3. Can I come in, sir?
4. May you come with me today for the movie?
5. Mr. President, can you comment on the present situation?
6. He can speak English well when he was six.
7. May I live a thousand years?
8. It is almost impossible. You may get this job.
9. What will I do now?
10. Her admission is okay. He should leave today.
11. Will I come along and help you?
12. His room light is off. He can have gone out.
13. We need to respect law.
14. I must wear a uniform at the office.
15. She says that you must go and see him off.
16. I think I have to go and see him.
17. They had better to leave early.
18. I always played football when I was ten.
19. Could he speak English when he was abroad?
20. Will we offer something?
21. This is a bad thing. They will give it up soon.
22. Have you better to do that again?
23. There is a message for me and I must go now.
24. You needn’t talk to elders like that.
25. He is a lawyer. He can be good at using words.

A: Conditional sentences condition the action of the sentence to some other action. Conditionals have the following types:

• The Zero Conditional (Type 0) "Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air." 
• First Conditional (Type I) "If I have the money, I will buy this car." 
• Second Conditional (Type II) "If I were you, I would not talk to him." 
• Third Conditional (Type III) "If had studied harder, I would have aced the test." Wish Sentences "I wish I hadn't said that to him."

B: Function of Conditional Sentences

1. I'll do your homework if you do mine.  Bargain
2. If you do that again, I'll hit you. Threat
3. If I were you, I'd buy the blue one. Advice
4. I'd do it better if I were Prime Minister. Blame
5. If I'd worked harder, I'd have passed the test. Regret
6. We wouldn't have crashed if you'd slowed it. Hypothesis

NeoTip
'If I were you, I would make peace with her'  is a correct sentence. Option B is correct but 'If I was you, I will make peace with her' is incorrect.

Exercise

1. Read and provide the correct forms.

Ray: We're not going to get a better offer than that. If you .......... my advice, you'll accept it.
Dave: I'm not so sure. If we .......... a few more days, I think we'll get other offers.
Ray: Perhaps you are right. If you .......... , I'll tell Jagger that we need time to think it over. When he .......... that, he'll be a bit impatient but I'm sure that if I .......... to him sweetly enough he'll hold on and not look elsewhere. If things are looking a bit dicey, I .......... to you. Dave: So, if I .......... from you, I'll assume everything is fine.
Ray: Yep. I'll only call you if I .......... there is a problem. Dave: So unless I .......... from you, I .......... no need to worry.

2. Fill in the sentences with proper forms.

1. If I (to be) you, I would apologize to her.
2. If I run into her, I (to tell) her about you.
3. If you (to do) that again, I will call the police.
4. If you were her, what (to do)?
5. If it doesn't start snowing, we (to go skiing).
6. If I lose my job, I (to look) for a new one.
7. If she hadn't told me to stay, I (to go).
8. If I were him, I (to take) that job.
9. He will never speak to me again if he (to find out) what happened.
10. I (to tell) you if I hadn't thought it important.
11. If I were you, I (to go) to the beach instead of going to work.
12. If he had lived near, he always (come) to meet.
13. If I went there, I (give) him your message.
14. If he had started earlier, It (finish) in time.
15. He will return when he (do) his work.
16. No body (succeed) unless he (try).
17. Unless you (not care) you (not be) healthy.
18. If it (not rain) today, we (go) home.
19. They (win) the match yesterday if they (try).
20. We (reach) the station if we (leave) earlier.
21. I (call) you when I (be) free.

3. Correct the following sentences.

1. If you don't let me go, I shout.
2. He will have succeeded if you had tried hard.
3. If it snow, we go to Murree.
4. He will pass the election if he attempted it.
5. If you didn't stop this , we will call the police.
6. She would have recover if she had had pills.
7. We will call on you when he come back.
8. I will give you a treat when I learn English .
9. He will inform you when he have information.
10. Unless we don't stay united, he cannot break us.