English
English
English
Grammar
Nouns
Common nouns are names of people and objects. Proper nouns are actual names of
people and days and places, they always start with a capital letter. Collective nouns
are a group of people or objects
Abstract nouns
An abstract noun is a type of noun that refers to something with which a person
cannot physically interact. A noun is a person, place or thing. However, in many
cases, the 'thing' might be an intangible concept which means it is an abstract form
of noun. In this instance, abstract means to exist apart from concrete existence. A
noun that is abstract is an aspect, concept, idea, experience, state of being, trait,
quality, feeling, or other entity that cannot be experienced with the five senses.
Verb tenses
The three main tenses are present, past and future but there are different kinds of
past, present and future.
Simple present- I am jumping
Simple past- I jumped
Simple future- he will jump
Supply- noun
Sleep- verb
Spot- verb
Wash- verb
Refund- noun
Noun Verb
Enjoyment Enjoy
Behaviour Behave
Refused Refuse
Decision Decide
Apology Apologise
Revision Revise
Auxiliary verbs
The main verb tells you what is happening. The auxiliary verb will tell you what tense
it is, person or to turn it into a question
An auxiliary verb is a verb that adds functional or grammatical meaning to the clause
in which it appearsfor example, to express tense, aspect, modality, voice,
emphasis, etc. Auxiliary verbs usually accompany a main verb. The main verb
provides the main semantic content of the clause. An example is the verb have in the
sentence I have finished my dinner. Here, the main verb is finish, and the auxiliary
have helps to express the perfect aspect. Some sentences contain a chain of two or
more auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs, helper verbs, or
(verbal) auxiliaries.
Person To be To have To do
1 I am I have I do
Singular
1 We are We have We do
Plural
Verbs- infinitive
Verbs start with the infinitive
To + the basic form of the verb
Irregular verbs
Drink/drank, speak/spoke
Finite verbs
A finite verb has a subject and a tense and it operates as a verb in a sentence.
A non-finite doesn't operate as a verb in a sentence. They don't have a subject or
tense
A finite verb is a form of a verb that has a subject (expressed or implied) and can
function as the root of an independent clause; an independent clause can, in turn,
stand alone as a complete sentence. In many languages, finite verbs are the locus of
grammatical information of gender, person, number, tense, aspect, mood, and/or
voice.[2] Finite verbs are distinguished from non-finite verbs, such as infinitives,
participles, etc., which generally mark these grammatical categories to a lesser
degree or not at all, and which appear below the finite verb in the hierarchy of
syntactic structure.
Definition: A form of a verb that shows agreement with a subject and is marked for
tense. Contrast with nonfinite verb (or verbal).If there is just one verb in a sentence,
it is finite. Finite verbs are sometimes called tensed verbs
Non-finite verbs
The three non-finite verbs are: the gerund. This is when we use a present participle
verb as a noun
The past participle (especially when used as an adjective)
The infinitive
A nonfinite verb is any of several verb forms that are not finite verbs; that is, they
cannot serve as the root of an independent clause. Nonfinite verbs found in English
typically are infinitives, participles and gerunds. (They sometimes are called
verbalsalthough that term has traditionally applied only to participles and
gerunds.) Additional nonfinite forms found in some other languages include
converbs, gerundives and supines.
Nonfinite verbs typically are not inflected by grammatical tense; and they present
little inflection for other grammatical categories as well.[1] Generally, they also lack
a subject dependent. One or more nonfinite verbs may be associated with a finite
verb in a finite clause, composing the elements of a verb catena, or verb chain.
Because English to a large extent lacks inflectional morphology, the finite and
nonfinite forms of a verb may appear the same in a given context. In such a case, the
environment surrounding the verb must be examined to determine whether it is
finite or nonfinite.
A nonfinite verb is a verb that does not function as the predicate verb in a clause.
While some nonfinite verbs take the form of past or present participles, they are
generally not inflectedthat is, they dont have mood, tense, number, aspect,
gender, or person.
The opposite of a nonfinite verb is a finite verb, which does serve as a predicate
verbfor example, the verbs in She walks, He sings, and I went.
There are three main types of nonfinite verbs: gerunds, infinitives, and participles.
Definition: A form of the verb that does not show a distinction in tense and cannot
stand alone as the main verb in a sentence. Contrast with finite verb. The main types
of non-finite verbs are infinitives and -ing forms (also known as participles and
gerunds).
Gerunds
A gerund is an -ing verb that functions as a nounfor example:
Are you into reading?
Sailing is my favorite sport.
When the same words are used as adjectives, they are participles.
Participles
Participles are -ed and -ing verbs that function as adjectivesfor example:
The sleeping cat is brown.
The freshly picked tomatoes look delicious.
I am going to the store.
The kids were dropped off at school.
Nonfinite clauses
A nonfinite clause is a dependent clause whose main verb is nonfinite. It may
function as a noun, adjective, or adverb:
Your calling me was very considerate.
The firetruck, blaring its siren, sped down the road.
We wanted to bring you a present.
Phrase
Two or more words without a finite verb e.g. going out, it doesn't have a subject or
tense.
Clause
Two or more words without a finite verb e.g. I stood
(There are more types of clauses)
Sentences
A simple sentence has one finite verb. It makes complete sense on its own
I saw the man
Simple sentence
Remember, subordinate clauses are often introduced by a single word, such as: a
relative pronoun e.g. which, that, who; adverbs e.g. when, before or connectives e.g.
because or so
Ive spent all the money which you lent me
Subordinate clause
When I woke up, I remembered everything
Subordinate clause
After we had waited impatiently nearly an hour; the coach finally pulled away
Subordinate clause
She couldn't imagine were we has got to
Parts of speech
Noun: a noun is a thing, a name of something
Pronoun: a word that can replace a noun, such as, he she or it
Verb: a verb is a doing word, it is an action
Adjectives: an adjective is a describing a noun
Adverbs: an adverb is describing a verb
Prepositions: it is where something takes place, where the noun is
Conjunction: it joins two sentences
Interjection: an additional word thrown in to show emotion
Determiner: noun modifier, which contextualizes a noun, often in terms of quantity
and possession
Parsing sentences
Parsing refers to the activity of analysing a sentence into its component categories
and functions
I pronoun, subject (nominative)
Main am V present
clause Finite verb
planning V
early adverb,
from preposition
work noun
when conjunction, adverb
Subor pronoun, subject
I Finite verb
dinate V, present, finite verb
go
clause
on preposition
my determiner
holiday noun
Steps to success
1. Find the verbs
2. What is the tense
3. Find the subject
4. Find the object
5. Identify what is left
Types of noun
A common noun is the type that identifies a regular object or thing
E.g. chair, wood, glue stick, book, pencil case
A collective noun is the type that identifies group of individuals.
E.g. school of fish, flock, army, block, school
A proper noun is the type that names a particular person, place or
organisation. (They all start with a capital letter!)
E.g. Yusef, Arjan, Nishant, Birmingham, London
An abstract noun is the type that identifies an idea, feeling, concept
E.g. happiness, sadness, hate, love, fear, brave
Composition
Keep your tenses consistent. It is easier to follow work that is written in the
past tense. It is also easier to write
Write at least one side
Concentrate on your vocabulary it should represent your ability and age. (If
what your are writing sounds like a shell it is not good enough)
Use paragraphs; all ideas should be organised into paragraphs and flow
nicely, from one to the next
Ensure you use a range of sentences: you want to describe something?
Elongate your sentence with clauses and phrases: want to build to tension?
Start using those short sentences to break up the flow
Consider your use of literacy techniques similes, metaphors, onomatopoeias,
repetition, ect.