Download - Guiding Rules of Grammar 1
Guiding rules of Guiding rules of English grammarEnglish grammar
Thousands of words divided into eight parts of speech
Nouns
Different types of nouns
Nouns in plurals‘f’/’fe’ endings – change to
‘s’/’ves’ endingsExample – beliefs, proofs,
knives, leaves. dwarfs/dwarves
Nouns in plurals ‘y’ endings – consonant + ‘y’
change to ‘ies’Example – ladies,ponies ‘y’ endings – vowel + ‘y’ – ‘s’ is
putExample – toys, guys
Nouns in plurals‘Quy’ endings – ‘y’ changes to
‘ies’Example – colloquies, soliloquies‘o’ endings – add either ‘s’ or ‘es’Example – tomatoes, volcanoes,
commandos, zoos, studios
Plurals for ‘s’ endings Many native English words
form plural by adding ‘es’Example - buses Some are always treated as
singular uncountableExample – news, billiards
Plurals for ‘s’ endings Some are singular or plural
according to meaningExample – economics, ethics,
wages, rabies
Plurals for ‘s’ endings Some plural nouns have no
singular formsExample – belongings, clothes,
congratulations, remains
Plurals for ‘s’ endings Some plural nouns have singular
forms only in set phrases or with different meaning
Example: spectacles/ a spectacle, trousers/ trouser press, scissors/ scissor movement
Plurals for ‘s’ endings Names of countries with ‘s’
endings are singular but treated as plural when the name denotes the country’s sports team
Example – Netherlands, United States
Plurals for ‘s’ endings Mountain ranges and groups
of islands – pluralExample – The Himalayas,
The alps
Old English pluralsChildren, women, men, feet,
teeth…
PluralsPlural – only nouns without ‘s’
are – police, cattle, people etc.
Zero pluralsSome have same singular and
plural forms – Example:sheepAnimals that you hunt or catch
have zero plurals – Example: deer, fish, duck
Zero plurals Measurement nouns have zero
plurals – Example: two dozen eggs, six foot tall man
Nationality nouns ending in a hissing sound have zero plurals – Example: Chinese, Japanese, Swedish
Problem plurals with foreign words Larva – larvae Alumna – alumnae Formula - formulas/formulae Stigma – stigmata Bacterium – bacteria Fungus - fungi(a list of such generally used foreign words
is given in the pdf file of your courseware)
Nouns from verb formsSwimming is a good exercise.To see is to believe./ Seeing is
believing.
Pronouns
Pronouns – caseSubjective or ObjectiveIt’s me or It’s I ?What comes after ‘to be’ is not a
subject – it’s a complement – so a confusion…
It is she who broke the rules.
Pronouns – caseSubjective or ObjectiveTwo together – between you
and I/ between you and meThe preposition between
requires the object formBetween you and me
Pronouns – caseSubjective or Objective
Let you and I/ let you and meAn object follows the word let…Let Tina and me handle this.
Pronouns – caseSubjective or Objective But me/ But I?But me/ But I? BUTBUT
I like that but I think it’s very I like that but I think it’s very expensive.expensive.
Nobody but me bought that.Nobody but me bought that.
CONJUNCTIONCONJUNCTION
PREPOSITION
Pronouns – caseSubjective or Objective Taller than me/I amTaller than me/I am As tall as me/ I amAs tall as me/ I amThan and as are conjunctions Than and as are conjunctions
here… so, a subject is neededhere… so, a subject is neededI’m not as clever as she is.I’m not as clever as she is.She is much taller than I am. She is much taller than I am.
Pronouns - orderWhile confessing a fault – I,
you and he…I and Raman have made a
mistake.
.
Pronouns - orderWhile expressing a positive
idea or praise – You, he and I…
You and I have scored the highest marks
Pronouns – self words
As emphatic pronouns – He himself will ask you.
To indicate ‘on one’s own’ – I arranged it myself.
As reflexive pronouns – I hurt myself while shifting the furniture.
Pronouns - ItIt’s /its
Even though it’s a new fan, its speed is not good.
Pronouns – who/whomWho – subjectWhom – objectWho else is coming for this
meet?Whom do you want to meet?
Pronouns – my/mineThis is my idea.This is mine idea. xThis idea is mine.
Pronouns - IndefiniteOne must do one’s duty.Everyone must do his/her
duty.
Pronouns - IndefiniteEach other for two personsOne another for more than two Either and neither when referring to
one out of twoAny, any one, none, no one when
referring to one out of more than two
Pronouns - Who/which/thatThis the type of dictionary that I
have been looking for.This the dictionary which I have
liked.This is the person who gave it
to me.
verbs
verbsIn English grammar, verbs are
the most complex and varied part of speech.
They can be categorized in different ways.
VerbsA doing verb tells you something
about the activities of its subject.Being and becoming verbs link
the subject with its complement or quality.
VerbsAuxiliary verbs and Modals are
used as part of a verb phraseThe government is considering
all the options.The government should
consider all the options.
Verbs – regular/irregular Regular verbs have –ed in their simple past
and past participle formsturn turned turned
Verbs – regular/irregular Irregular verbs give rise to lot of difficultybegin began begunput put putcome came cometell told told(please refer to the pdf file of irregular
verbs in your courseware)
Verbs – finite/non-finiteFinite forms are the verbs
used in normal way with a subject and tense – Reema writes legibly.
Verbs – finite/non-finiteNon-finite forms are the verbs
used as nouns, adjectives and adverbs – Writing should be legible. I need written documents. He is going out to write the quote on the wall.
Uses of finite verb formsBase form:I/You/We/They/The students,
etc. like fast food.
S form:He/She/The student/Everybody
wants to see a movie.Simple past form:I/You/She/We/They/The students/ everybody wanted to see a
movie.
Past Participle form: Mr Sharma has asked me to
contact you.The thief had escaped by
the time the police arrived.The road has been repaired.
Present Participle form:Leena is working on a
different project.
Verbs – non-finiteGerunds - nounsParticiples – adjectivesInfinitives – nouns, adjectives,
adverbs
Uses of non-finite verbs
Reading is a good habit.It was a fascinating performance.Everyone wants to see a movie.It is difficult to write with a broken
pen.
Problematic verbs Lie – lay, lain/ lied, lied Lay – laid, laid Was/were(were for a wish/ an uncertainty/
contrary to the fact Shall/will
Adjectives & Adverbs
Adjectives & Adverbs They function as modifiers.Adjectives modify nouns and
pronounsAdverbs modify verbs,
adjectives and other adverbs.
Adjectives & Adverbs Use comparative form when
referring to twoUse superlative form when
referring to more than twoSome adjectives and adverbs
allow no comparison
Adjectives & Adverbs Some adjectives and adverbs
allow no comparison unique, round, square, perfect,
perfectly, completely, universally, always, never, hardly etc.
Adjectives & Adverbs Use comparative and any other
When comparing one with a group of which it is a part
K2 is higher than any other mountain peak in India.
Srinagar is more famous than any other hill station in the north.
Adjectives & Adverbs Use Use moremore and not and not ‘-er’ ‘-er’ to form the to form the
comparative when comparing qualities of comparative when comparing qualities of the same person or thingthe same person or thing
Susan is more simple than honest.Susan is more simple than honest.
Adjectives & Adverbs Do not use double comparatives and
superlatives – She is more taller than her sister. (wrong) Mukesh Ambani is one of the most richest men of the world. (wrong)
Adjectives & Adverbs Many adverbs are formed by
adding ‘-ly’ to an adjective – neat/ neatly, careful/carefully
Some ‘-ly’ forms are only adjectives – leisurely, heavenly, friendly, motherly, lovely
Adjectives & Adverbs Sometimes, adjectives and
adverbs have the same form – hourly, monthly, yearly, fast
Be careful while using only to avoid ambiguity.
Adjectives & Adverbs Few refers to numbers and
less to quantityAs many as refers to numbers
and as much as refers to quantity
Adjectives & Adverbs Elder/eldest and older/oldest –
elder to, older thanNegatives – I barely knew no
one in the party. (wrong)I barely knew anyone in the
party.
Articlesa/an/the
Articles a/ an – indefinite Bring me a book.(any) I have a pen.(one) He is an honourable man. (one)This is a unique idea.
Use of the definite article ‘THE’
To particularly refer to: I have the pen that you gave me.
Before the names of holy books and news papers : The Geeta, The Times of India
Use of the definite article ‘THE’
Before the names of famous Buildings: The Tajmahal, The Red Fort
Before an adjective to represent a class (excluding man): The rich/The tiger …Man is a social animal.
Use of the definite article ‘THE’
Before the descriptive names of countries -The U.S., the U.K.
Before the Superlatives: the tallest, the most successful person
Use of the definite article ‘THE’
Before Ordinal numbers: the second answer, the third floor
Before the names of unique objects: The Universe, The World, The Earth
Use of the definite article ‘THE’Before directions: The sun rises in
the east.Before the names of musical
instruments: Rohit plays the guitar beautifully.
Before collective nouns: the news, the crowd, the audience
Use of the definite article ‘THE’Before names of Rivers, Seas,
Oceans, Mountain ranges: The Ganges, The Pacific Ocean, The Arabian Sea, The Himalayas.
Before other or others if the number after these words is specific.
Use of the definite article ‘THE’THE is not used before abstract
nouns, material nouns, common uncountable nouns and common plural nouns if they are used in general sense.
Water is vital for survival.The water in this glass is
contaminated.
Exam question(i) What kind of ______ animal is it?(ii) He will return in _____ hour.(iii) He is ______ richest man in our
street.(iv) Gold is not ______ useful metal.(v) While there is ______ life there is
hope.
Exam question(i) What kind of __x____ animal is it?(ii) He will return in _an_ hour.(iii) He is _the__ richest man in our
street.(iv) Gold is not _a__ useful metal.(v) While there is _x_ life there is hope.
Prepositions
What is a preposition?little words – to, in, on…typically come before nouns or
pronounstell something about place, time,
reason etc.
What is a preposition?at home, opposite my house,
until Saturday, by them etc.according to, in front of, apart
from
Compared to/withCompare to – ‘liken to’ – to note
similarities between dissimilar things
Compare with – ‘to examine side by side with’ – both for similarities as well as differences
Agree to/with/onagree to a thingagree with a personagree on/upon a point
Good/bad - at/inGood at somethingBad at somethingRefer to the pdf file in your
courseware for a list of words with their appropriate prepositions.
Common PrepositionsAmong , between, in, at, into, in
to, onto, on to, beside, towardWords that take to and not than
– junior, senior, prefer, prior, inferior, superior etc.
Common Prepositionsbetween…..andfrom….tosince/from – indicates a point
of time for – indicates duration of time
No prepositionWords such as outside, inside,
upstairs, downstairs, tomorrow, yesterday, last week, next week do not take prepositions before them.
Exam question1.He boasts his achievements
now and then.2.The Principal was angry upon
the boys.3.Character is more preferable
than intelligence.
Exam question1.He boasts of his achievements
now and then.2.The Principal was angry with
(upon) the boys.3.Character is more preferable
(than) to intelligence.
Conjunctions
What is a conjunction?Words such as and, but, or,
because, when which act as joining words are called as conjunctions.
Types of conjunctions1. Coordinating – and, but…2. Subordinating – when,
because, if…3. Co-relative – both….and..
either…or…not only….but also
Problematic correlativesUse a helping verb with a negative
correlative at the beginning of a sentence-
Not only was she……..but also…No sooner did the…………than…Scarcely did ……….when…
Exam question1. Han is so short that he cannot
touch the ceiling. (Replace so by too)
2.Hard as he worked, he failed in the examination. . (Use though)
Exam question1. Han is so short that he
cannot touch the ceiling. (Replace so by too)
2. Han is too short to touch the ceiling.
Exam question2.Hard as he worked, he failed
in the examination. . (Use though)
Though he worked hard, he failed in the examination.
Interjections
What is an interjection?Words like…..oh, well, hello,
wow, etc.They live on their own –
outside the main structure of the sentence
Wow! It sounds good.
Thousands of words…Notice their collocation while improving
your vocabulary.Notice how the prefixes and suffixes
change the meaning.Notice how the different parts of speech
are placed while framing sentences.
Please refer to the pdf file in your courseware for practice.