what is a noun.doc

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What is a Noun?

A noun is a word used to name a person, animal,place, thing, and abstract idea. Nouns are usuallythe first words which small children learn.The highlighted words in thefollowing sentences are all nouns:

Late last year our neighbours boughta goat.Portia White was an opera singer.The bus inspector looked at allthe passengers' passes.According to Plutarch,the library at Alexandria was destroyedin 48 B.C.Philosophy is of little comfort tothe starving.

A noun can function in a sentence as a subject,

a direct object, anindirect object, a subjectcomplement, an object complement,anappositive, an adjective or an adverb.

Noun Gender

Many common nouns, like "engineer" or"teacher," can refer to men or women. Once,many English nouns would change formdepending on their gender -- for example, a manwas called an "author" while a woman was calledan "authoress" -- but this use ofgender-

specific nouns is very rare today. Those thatare still used occasionally tend to refer tooccupational categories, as in the followingsentences.

David Garrick was a very prominenteighteenth-century actor.Sarah Siddons was at the height of hercareer as an actress in the 1780s.The manager was trying to write a wantad, but he couldn't decide whether he wasadvertising for a "waiter" or a "waitress"

Noun Plurals

Most nouns change their form toindicate number by adding "-s" or "-es", asillustrated in the following pairs of sentences:

When Matthew was small he rarely toldthe truth if he thought he was going to bepunished.Many people do not believethat truths are self-evident.As they walked through the silent house,

they were startled by anunexpected echo.I like to shout into the quarry and listen tothe echoes that return.He tripped over a box left carelessly inthe hallway.Since we are moving, we will needmany boxes.

There are other nouns which form the plural bychanging the last letter before adding "s". Some

words ending in "f" form the plural by deleting "f"and adding "ves," and words ending in "y" formthe plural by deleting the "y" and adding "ies," asin the following pairs of sentences:

The harbour at Marble Mountain hasone wharf.There are several wharves in HalifaxHarbour.

Warsaw is their favourite city because itreminds them of their courtship.The vacation my grandparents wonincludes trips to twelve European cities.The children circled around theheadmaster and shouted, "Are youa mouse or a man?"The audience was shocked when all fivemen admitted that they were afraidofmice.

Other nouns form the plural irregularly. If English

is your first language, you probably know most ofthese already: when in doubt, consult a gooddictionary.

Possessive Nouns

In the possessive case, a nounor pronoun changes its form to show that it ownsor is closely related to something else. Usually,nouns become possessive by adding acombination of an apostrophe and the letter "s."

You can form the possessive case ofa singular noun that does not end in "s" byadding an apostrophe and "s," as in the followingsentences:

The red suitcase is Cassandra's.The only luggage that was lost wasthe prime minister's.The exhausted recruits were woken beforedawn by the drill sergeant's screams.The miner's face was covered in coaldust.

You can form the possessive case of a singularnoun that ends in "s" by adding an apostrophealone or by adding an apostrophe and "s," as inthe following examples:

The bus's seats are very uncomfortable.The bus' seats are very uncomfortable.The film crew accidentally crushedthe platypus's eggs.The film crew accidentally crushedthe platypus' eggs.Felicia Hemans's poetry was once more

popular than Lord Byron's.Felicia Hemans' poetry was once morepopular than Lord Byron's.

You can form the possessive case of a pluralnoun that does not end in "s" by adding anapostrophe and a "s," as in the followingexamples:

The children's mittens were scattered onthe floor of the porch.
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The sheep's pen was mucked out everyday.Since we have a complex appeal process,ajury's verdict is not always final.The men's hockey team will be playing assoon as thewomen's team is finished.The hunter followed the moose's trail allmorning but lost it in the afternoon.

You can form the possessive case of a pluralnoun that does end in "s" by adding anapostrophe:

The concert was interrupted bythe dogs' barking, the ducks'quacking,and the babies' squalling.Thejanitors' room is downstairs and tothe left.My uncle spent many hours trying tolocate the squirrels' nest.The archivist quickly finished repairing

the diaries' bindings.Religion is usually the subject ofthe roommates' many late nightdebates.

Using Possessive Nouns

When you read the following sentences, you willnotice that a noun in the possessive casefrequently functions as an adjective modifyinganother noun:

The miner's face was covered in coaldust.

Here the possessive noun "miner's" is used tomodify the noun "face" and together withthe article "the," they make up the nounphrasethat is the sentence's subject.

The concert was interrupted bythe dogs' barking, the ducks'quacking,and the babies' squalling.

In this sentence, each possessive noun modifies

a gerund. The possessive noun "dogs"' modifies"barking," "ducks"' modifies "quacking," and"babies"' modifies "squalling."

The film crew accidentally crushedthe platypus's eggs.

In this example the possessive noun "platypus's"modifies the noun "eggs" and the noun phrase"the platypus's eggs" is the direct object ofthe verb "crushed."

My uncle spent many hours trying tolocate the squirrels' nest.

In this sentence the possessive noun "squirrels"'is used to modify the noun "nest" and the nounphrase "the squirrels' nest" is theobject ofthe infinitive phrase "to locate."

Types Of Nouns

There are many different types of nouns. As youknow, you capitalise some nouns, such as"Canada" or "Louise," and do not capitaliseothers, such as "badger" or "tree" (unless theyappear at the beginning of a sentence). In fact,grammarians have developed a whole series ofnoun types, including the proper noun, thecommon noun, the concrete noun, the abstractnoun, the countable noun (also called the count

noun), the non-countable noun (also called themass noun), and the collective noun. You shouldnote that a noun will belong to more than onetype: it will be proper or common, abstract orconcrete, and countable or non-countable orcollective.

If you are interested in the details of thesedifferent types, you can read about them in thefollowing sections.

Proper Nouns

You always write a proper noun with a capitalletter, since the noun represents the name of aspecific person, place, or thing. The names ofdays of the week, months, historical documents,institutions, organisations, religions, their holytexts and their adherents are proper nouns. Aproper noun is the opposite of a common noun

In each of the following sentences, the propernouns are highlighted:

The Marroons were transportedfrom Jamaica and forced to build thefortifications in Halifax.Many people dread Monday mornings.Beltane is celebrated on the first ofMay.Abraham appears in the Talmud and inthe Koran.Last year, I had a Baptist, a Buddhist,and a Gardnerian Witch as roommates.

Common Nouns

A common noun is a noun referring to a person,

place, or thing in a general sense -- usually, youshould write it with a capital letter only when itbegins a sentence. A common noun is theopposite of a proper noun.

In each of the following sentences, the commonnouns arehighlighted:

According to the sign, thenearest town is 60 miles away.All the gardens inthe neighbourhood were invaded

by beetlesthis summer.I don't understand whysome people insist on having sixdifferent kinds ofmustard intheir cupboards.The road crew was startled bythe sight of three large moosecrossingthe road.Many child-care workers are underpaid.
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Sometimes you will make proper nouns out ofcommon nouns, as in the following examples:

The tenants inthe GarnetApartments are appealingthe large and sudden increase in theirrent.The meals in theBouncing BeanRestaurant are less

expensive than meals in ordinaryrestaurants.Many witches refer to the Renaissance asthe Burning Times.The Diary of Anne Frank is often achild's first introduction to the history ofthe Holocaust.

Concrete Nouns

A concrete noun is a noun which namesanything (or anyone) that you can perceive

through your physical senses: touch, sight, taste,hearing, or smell. A concrete noun is the oppositeof a abstract noun.

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are all concrete nouns:

Thejudge handed the files to the clerk.Whenever they take the dog tothe beach, it spends hourschasing waves.The real estate agent urgedthe couple to buy thesecondhouse because it hadnew shingles.As the car drove past the park,the thump of a disco tuneoverwhelmedthe string quartet'srendition ofa minuet.The book binder replaced the flimsypaper cover with a sturdy, cloth-covered board.

Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun is a noun which namesanything which you can notperceive through yourfive physical senses, and is the opposite of aconcrete noun. The highlighted words in thefollowing sentences are all abstract nouns:

Buying the fire extinguisher wasan afterthought.Tillie is amused by people who arenostalgic about childhood.Justice often seems to slip out of ourgrasp.Some scientists believethat schizophrenia is transmittedgenetically.

Countable Nouns

A countable noun (or count noun) is a nounwith both a singular and a plural form, and itnames anything (or anyone) that you can count.You can make a countable noun plural and attachit to a plural verb in a sentence. Countable nouns

are the opposite of non-countable nouns andcollective nouns.

In each of the following sentences,the highlighted words are countable nouns:

We painted the table red andthe chairs blue.Since he inherited his aunt'slibrary,

Jerome spends everyweekend indexinghis books.Miriam found six silver dollars inthe toe of a sock.The oak tree lost three branches inthe hurricane.Over the course of twenty-seven years,Martha Ballad delivered just over eighthundred babies.

Non-Countable Nouns

A non-countable noun (or mass noun) is anoun which does not have a plural form, andwhich refers to something that you could (orwould) not usually count. A non-countable nounalways takes a singular verb in a sentence. Non-countable nouns are similar to collective nouns,and are the opposite of countable nouns.

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are non-countable nouns:

Joseph Priestly discovered oxygen.

The word "oxygen" cannot normally be madeplural.

Oxygen is essential to human life.

Since "oxygen" is a non-countable noun, it takesthe singular verb "is" rather than the plural verb"are."

We decided to sell the furniture ratherthan take it with us when we moved.

You cannot make the noun "furniture" plural.

The furniture is heaped in the middle ofthe room.

Since "furniture" is a non-countable noun, ittakes a singular verb, "is heaped."

The crew spread the gravel over theroadbed.

You cannot make the non-countable noun"gravel" plural.

Gravel is more expensive than I thought.

Since "gravel" is a non-countable noun, it takesthe singular verb form "is."

Collective Nouns


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A collective noun is a noun naming a group ofthings, animals, or persons. You could count theindividual members of the group, but you usuallythink of the group as a whole is generally as oneunit. You need to be able to recognise collectivenouns in order to maintain subject-verbagreement. A collective noun is similar to a non-countable noun, and is roughly the opposite of acountable noun.

In each of the following sentences,the highlighted word is a collective noun:

The flock of geese spends most of itstime in the pasture.

The collective noun "flock" takes the singularverb "spends."

Thejury is dining on take-out chickentonight.

In this example the collective noun "jury" is thesubject of the singularcompound verb "is dining."

The steering committee meets everyWednesday afternoon.

Here the collective noun "committee" takes asingular verb, "meets."

The class was startled by the burstinglight bulb.

In this sentence the word "class" is a collectivenoun and takes the singular compound verb "wasstartled."

What is a Verb?

The verb is perhaps the most important part ofthe sentence. A verbor compound verb assertssomething about the subject of the sentence andexpress actions, events, or states of being. Theverb or compound verb is the critical element ofthe predicate of a sentence.

In each of the following sentences, the verb orcompound verb ishighlighted:

Dracula bites his victims on the neck.

The verb "bites" describes the action Draculatakes.

In early October, Giselle will plant twentytulip bulbs.

Here the compound verb "will plant" describes anaction that will take place in the future.

My first teacher was Miss Crawford, but Iremember the janitor Mr. Weatherbeemore vividly.

In this sentence, the verb "was" (the simplepasttense of "is") identifies a particular person

and the verb "remember" describes a mentalaction.

Karl Creelman bicycled around the worldin 1899, but his diaries and hisbicycle were destroyed.

In this sentence, the compound verb "weredestroyed" describes an action which took place

in the past.

WHATISA PRONOUN?

A pronoun can replace a noun or anotherpronoun. You use pronouns like "he," "which,""none," and "you" to make your sentences lesscumbersome and less repetitive.

Grammarians classify pronouns into severaltypes, including the personal pronoun, thedemonstrative pronoun, the interrogativepronoun, the indefinite pronoun, the relativepronoun, the reflexive pronoun, and the intensivepronoun.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS

A personal pronoun refers to a specific personor thing and changes its form toindicate person, number, gender, and case.

SUBJECTIVE PERSONAL PRONOUNS

A subjective personal pronoun indicates thatthe pronoun is acting as the subject of thesentence. The subjective personal pronouns are"I," "you," "she," "he," "it," "we," "you," "they."

In the following sentences, each ofthe highlighted words is a subjective personalpronoun and acts as the subject of the sentence:

I was glad to find the bus pass in thebottom of the green knapsack.

You are surely the strangest child I have

ever met.

He stole the selkie's skin and forced her

to live with him.

When she was a young

woman, she earned her living as a coal

miner.

After many years, they returned to their

homeland.

We will meet at the library at 3:30 p.m.

It is on the counter.

Are you the delegates from Malagawatch?

OBJECTIVE PERSONAL PRONOUNS
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An objective personal pronoun indicates thatthe pronoun is acting as an object ofa verb, compound verb, preposition, or infinitivephrase. The objective personal pronouns are:"me," "you," "her," "him," "it," "us," "you," and"them."

In the following sentences, each ofthe highlighted words is an objective personal

pronoun:

Seamus stole the selkie's skin and

forced her to live with him.

The objective personal pronoun "her" is the directobject of the verb "forced" and the objectivepersonal pronoun "him" is the object of thepreposition "with."

After reading the pamphlet, Judy

threw it into the garbage can.

The pronoun "it" is the direct object of the verb"threw."

The agitated assistant stood up and faced

the angry delegates and said, "Our leader

will address you in five minutes."

In this sentence, the pronoun "you" is the directobject of the verb "address."

Deborah and Roberta will meet us at thenewest caf in the market.

Here the objective personal pronoun "us" is thedirect object of the compound verb "will meet."

Give the list to me.

Here the objective personal pronoun "me" is theobject of the preposition "to."

I'm not sure that my contact will talk

to you.

Similarly in this example, the objective personalpronoun "you" is the object of the preposition"to."

Christopher was surprised to see her at

the drag races.

Here the objective personal pronoun "her" is theobject of the infinitive phrase "to see."

POSSESSIVE PERSONAL PRONOUNS

A possessive pronoun indicates that thepronoun is acting as a marker of possession anddefines who owns a particular object or person.The possessive personal pronouns are"mine," "yours," "hers," "his," "its," "ours," and"theirs." Note that possessive personal pronounsare very similar to possessive adjectives like"my," "her," and "their."

In each of the following sentences,the highlighted word is a possessive personalpronoun:

The smallest gift is mine.

Here the possessive pronoun "mine" functions asa subject complement.

This is yours.

Here too the possessive pronoun "yours"functions as a subject complement.

His is on the kitchen counter.

In this example, the possessive pronoun "his"acts as the subject of the sentence.

Theirs will be delivered tomorrow.

In this sentence, the possessive pronoun "theirs"is the subject of the sentence.

Ours is the green one on the corner.

Here too the possessive pronoun "ours" functionas the subject of the sentence.

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

A demonstrative pronoun points to andidentifies a noun or a pronoun. "This" and "these"refer to things that are nearby either in space orin time, while "that" and "those" refer to thingsthat are farther away in space or time.

The demonstrative pronouns are "this," "that,""these," and "those." "This" and "that" are usedto refer to singular nouns or noun phrasesand"these" and "those" are used to referto plural nouns and noun phrases. Note that thedemonstrative pronouns are identicaltodemonstrative adjectives, though, obviously,

you use them differently. It is also important tonote that "that" can also be used as a relativepronoun.

In the following sentences, each ofthe highlighted words is a demonstrativepronoun:

This must not continue.

Here "this" is used as the subject of thecompound verb "must not continue."

This is puny; that is the tree I want.

In this example "this" is used as subject andrefers to something close to the speaker. Thedemonstrative pronoun "that" is also a subjectbut refers to something farther away from thespeaker.

Three customers wanted these.
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Here "these" is the direct object of the verb"wanted."

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

An interrogative pronoun is used to askquestions. The interrogative pronouns are "who,""whom," "which," "what" and the compoundsformed with the suffix "ever" ("whoever,""whomever," "whichever," and "whatever"). Notethat either "which" or "what" can also be used asan interrogative adjective, and that "who,""whom," or "which" can also be used as a relativepronoun.

You will find "who," "whom," and occasionally"which" used to refer to people, and "which" and"what" used to refer to things and to animals.

"Who" acts as the subject of a verb, while"whom" acts as the object of a verb, preposition,

or a verbal.

The highlighted word in each of the followingsentences is an interrogative pronoun:

Which wants to see the dentist first?

"Which" is the subject of the sentence.

Who wrote the novel Rockbound?

Similarly "who" is the subject of the sentence.

Whom do you think we should invite?

In this sentence, "whom" is the object of the verb"invite."

To whom do you wish to speak?

Here the interrogative pronoun "whom " is theobject of the preposition "to."

Who will meet the delegates at the trainstation?

In this sentence, the interrogative pronoun "who"is the subject of the compound verb "will meet."

To whom did you give the paper?

In this example the interrogative pronoun"whom" is the object of the preposition "to."

What did she say?

Here the interrogative pronoun "what" is thedirect object of the verb "say."

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

You can use a relative pronoun is used to linkone phrase or clauseto another phrase or clause.The relative pronouns are "who," "whom," "that,"and "which." The compounds "whoever,"

"whomever," and "whichever" are also relativepronouns.

You can use the relative pronouns "who" and"whoever" to refer to the subject of a clause orsentence, and "whom" and "whomever" to referto the objects of a verb, a verbal or a preposition.

In each of the following sentences,

the highlighted word is a relative pronoun.

You may invite whomever you like to the

party.

The relative pronoun "whomever" is the directobject of the compound verb "may invite."

The candidate who wins the greatest

popular vote is not always elected.

In this sentence, the relative pronoun is thesubject of the verb "wins" and introducesthe subordinate clause "who wins the greatestpopular vote." This subordinate clause acts asan adjective modifying "candidate."

In a time of crisis, the manager asks the

workers whom she believes to be the

most efficient to arrive an hour earlier

than usual.

In this sentence "whom" is the direct object of

the verb "believes" and introduces thesubordinate clause "whom she believes to be themost efficient". This subordinate clause modifiesthe noun "workers."

Whoever broke the window will have to

replace it.

Here "whoever" functions as the subject of theverb "broke."

The crate which was left in the corridor

has now been moved into the storage

closet.

In this example "which" acts as the subject of thecompound verb "was left" and introduces thesubordinate clause "which was left in thecorridor." The subordinate clause acts as anadjective modifying the noun "crate."

I will read whichever manuscript arrives

first.

Here "whichever" modifies the noun "manuscript"and introduces the subordinate clause "whichevermanuscript arrives first." The subordinate clausefunctions as the direct object of the compoundverb "will read."

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun referring toan identifiable but not specified person or thing.
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An indefinite pronoun conveys the idea of all,any, none, or some.

The most common indefinite pronouns are "all,""another," "any," "anybody," "anyone,""anything," "each," "everybody," "everyone,""everything," "few," "many," "nobody," "none,""one," "several," "some," "somebody," and"someone." Note that some indefinite pronouns

can also be used as indefinite adjectives.

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are indefinite pronouns:

Many were invited to the lunch but only

twelve showed up.

Here "many" acts as the subject of the compoundverb "were invited."

The office had been searched

and everything was thrown onto the

floor.

In this example, "everything" acts as a subject ofthe compound verb "was thrown."

We donated everything we found in the

attic to the woman's shelter garage sale.

In this sentence, "everything" is the direct objectof theverb "donated."

Although they looked everywhere for

extra copies of the magazine, they

found none.

Here too the indefinite pronoun functions as adirect object: "none" is the direct object of"found."

Make sure you give everyone a copy of

the amended bylaws.

In this example, "everyone" is the indirectobject of the verb "give" -- the direct object isthe noun phrase "a copy of the amendedbylaws."

Give a registration package to each.

Here "each" is the object of the preposition "to."

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

You can use a reflexive pronoun to refer backto the subject of the clause or sentence.

The reflexive pronouns are "myself," "yourself,""herself," "himself," "itself," "ourselves,""yourselves," and "themselves." Note each ofthese can also act as an intensive pronoun.

Each of the highlighted words in the followingsentences is a reflexive pronoun:

Diabetics give themselves insulin shots

several times a day.

The Dean often does the

photocopying herselfso that the

secretaries can do more important work.

After the party, I asked myselfwhy I had

faxed invitations to everyone in my office

building.

Richard usually remembered to send a

copy of his e-mail tohimself.

Although the landlord promised to paint

the apartment, we ended up doing

it ourselves.

INTENSIVE PRONOUNS

An intensive pronoun is a pronoun used toemphasise its antecedent. Intensive pronouns areidentical in form to reflexive pronouns.

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are intensive pronouns:

I myselfbelieve that aliens should abduct

my sister.

The Prime Minister himselfsaid that he

would lower taxes.

They themselves promised to come to

the party even though they had a final

exam at the same time.

WHAT IS AN ADJECTIVE?

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun bydescribing, identifying, or quantifying words. Anadjective usually precedes the noun or thepronoun which it modifies.

In the following examples,the highlighted words are adjectives:

The truck-shaped balloon floated over

the treetops.

Mrs. Morrison papered her kitchen walls

with hideous wall paper.

The small boat foundered on the wine

dark sea.

The coal mines are dark and dank.

Many stores have already begun to

play irritatingChristmasmusic.

A batteredmusic box sat on

the mahogany sideboard.

The back room was filled

with large, yellow rain boots.
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An adjective can be modified by an adverb, or bya phrase or clausefunctioning as an adverb. Inthe sentence

My husband knits

intricately patterned mittens.

for example, the adverb "intricately" modifies theadjective "patterned."

Some nouns, many pronouns, andmany participle phrases can also act asadjectives. In the sentence

Eleanor listened to the muffled sounds of

the radio hiddenunder her pillow.

for example, both highlighted adjectivesare past participles.

Grammarians also consider articles ("the," "a,""an") to be adjectives.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

A possessive adjective ("my," "your," "his,""her," "its," "our," "their") is similar or identicalto a possessive pronoun; however, it is used asan adjective and modifies a noun or a nounphrase, as in the following sentences:

I can't complete my assignment because I

don't have the textbook.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective "my"modifies "assignment" and the noun phrase "myassignment" functions as anobject. Note that thepossessive pronoun form "mine" is not used tomodify a noun or noun phrase.

What is your phone number.

Here the possessive adjective "your" is used tomodify the noun phrase "phone number"; the

entire noun phrase "your phone number" isa subject complement. Note that the possessivepronoun form "yours" is not used to modify anoun or a noun phrase.

The bakery sold his favourite type of

bread.

In this example, the possessive adjective "his"modifies the noun phrase "favourite type ofbread" and the entire noun phrase "his favouritetype of bread" is the direct object of

the verb "sold."

After many years, she returned

to her homeland.

Here the possessive adjective "her" modifies thenoun "homeland" and the noun phrase "herhomeland" is the object of the preposition"to."Note also that the form "hers" is not used tomodify nouns or noun phrases.

We have lost our way in this wood.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective "our"modifies "way" and the noun phrase "our way" isthe direct object of the compound verb"havelost". Note that the possessive pronoun form"ours" is not used to modify nouns or nounphrases.

In many fairy tales, children are neglected

by their parents.

Here the possessive adjective "their" modifies"parents" and the noun phrase "their parents" isthe object of the preposition "by." Note that thepossessive pronoun form "theirs" is not used tomodify nouns or noun phrases.

The cat chased its ball down the stairs

and into the backyard.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective "its"modifies "ball" and the noun phrase "its ball" isthe object of the verb "chased." Note that "its" isthe possessive adjective and "it's" isa contraction for "it is."

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

The demonstrative adjectives "this," "these,""that," "those," and "what" are identical tothe demonstrative pronouns, but are used as

adjectives to modify nouns or noun phrases, as inthe following sentences:

When the librarian tripped over that cord,

she dropped a pile of books.

In this sentence, the demonstrative adjective"that" modifies the noun "cord" and the nounphrase "that cord" is the object of the preposition"over."

This apartment needs to be fumigated.

Here "this" modifies "apartment" and the nounphrase "this apartment" is the subject of thesentence.

Even though my friend

preferred those plates, I bought these.

In the subordinate clause, "those" modifies"plates" and the noun phrase "those plates" isthe object of the verb "preferred." Intheindependent clause, "these" is the direct

object of the verb "bought."

Note that the relationship between ademonstrative adjective and a demonstrativepronoun is similar to the relationship between apossessive adjective and a possessive pronoun,or to that between a interrogative adjective andan interrogative pronoun.

INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES
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An interrogative adjective ("which" or "what")is like an interrogative pronoun, except that itmodifies a noun or noun phrase rather thanstanding on its own (see also demonstrativeadjectives and possessive adjectives):

Which plants should be watered twice a

week?

Like other adjectives, "which" can be used tomodify a noun or a noun phrase. In this example,"which" modifies "plants" and the noun phrase"which plants" is the subject of the compoundverb "should be watered":

What book are you reading?

In this sentence, "what" modifies "book" and thenoun phrase "what book" is the direct object ofthe compound verb "are reading."

INDEFINITE ADJECTIVES

An indefinite adjective is similar toan indefinite pronoun, except that it modifies anoun, pronoun, or noun phrase, as in thefollowing sentences:

Many people believe that corporations are

under-taxed.

The indefinite adjective "many" modifies the noun

"people" and the noun phrase "many people" isthe subject of the sentence.

I will send you any mail that arrives after

you have moved to Sudbury.

The indefinite adjective "any" modifies the noun"mail" and the noun phrase "any mail" is thedirect object of the compound verb "will send."

They found a few goldfish floating belly up

in the swan pound.

In this example the indefinite adjective modifiesthe noun "goldfish" and the noun phrase is thedirect object of the verb "found":

The title of Kelly's favourite game is "All

dogs go to heaven."

Here the indefinite pronoun "all" modifies "dogs"and the full title is a subject complement.

WHATISAN ADVERB?

An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective,another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverbindicates manner, time, place, cause, or degreeand answers questions such as "how," "when,""where," "how much".

While some adverbs can be identified by theircharacteristic "ly" suffix, most of them must beidentified by untangling the grammatical

relationships within the sentence or clause as awhole. Unlike an adjective, an adverb can befound in various places within the sentence.

In the following examples, each ofthe highlighted words is an adverb:

The seamstress quickly made the

mourning clothes.

In this sentence, the adverb "quickly" modifiesthe verb "made" and indicates in what manner(or how fast) the clothing was constructed.

The midwives waited patiently through a

long labour.

Similarly in this sentence, the adverb "patiently"modifies the verb "waited" and describes themanner in which the midwives waited.

The boldly spoken words would return to

haunt the rebel.

In this sentence the adverb "boldly" modifies theadjective "spoken."

We urged him to dial the number

more expeditiously.

Here the adverb "more" modifies the adverb"expeditiously."

Unfortunately, the bank closed at

three today.

In this example, the adverb "unfortunately"modifies the entire sentence.

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

You can use a conjunctive adverb to join twoclauses together. Some of the most common

conjunctive adverbs are "also," "consequently,""finally," "furthermore," "hence," "however,""incidentally," "indeed," "instead," "likewise,""meanwhile," "nevertheless," "next,""nonetheless," "otherwise," "still," "then,""therefore," and "thus." A conjunctive adverbis not strong enough to join two independentclauses without the aid of a semicolon.

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are conjunctive adverbs:

The government has cut university

budgets; consequently, class sizes have

been increased.

He did not have all the ingredients the

recipe called for;therefore, he decided to

make something else.

The report recommended several changes

to the ways the corporation accounted for

donations; furthermore, it suggested
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that a new auditor be appointed

immediately.

The crowd waited patiently for three

hours; finally, the doors to the stadium

were opened.

Batman and Robin fruitlessly searched the

building; indeed, the Joker had escaped

through a secret door in the basement.

WHATISA PREPOSITION?

A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in asentence. The word orphrase that the preposition introduces is calledthe object of the preposition.

A preposition usually indicates the temporal,spatial or logical relationship of its object to the

rest of the sentence as in the following examples:

The book is on the table.

The book is beneath the table.

The book is leaning against the table.

The book is beside the table.

She held the book over the table.

She read the book during class.

In each of the preceding sentences, a prepositionlocates the noun "book" in space or in time.

A prepositional phrase is made up of thepreposition, its object and anyassociated adjectives or adverbs. A prepositionalphrase can function as a noun, an adjective, oran adverb. The most common prepositions are"about," "above," "across," "after," "against,""along," "among," "around," "at," "before,""behind," "below," "beneath," "beside,"

"between," "beyond," "but," "by," "despite,""down," "during," "except," "for," "from," "in,""inside," "into," "like," "near," "of," "off," "on,""onto," "out," "outside," "over," "past," "since,""through," "throughout," "till," "to," "toward,""under," "underneath," "until," "up," "upon,""with," "within," and "without."

Each of the highlighted words in the followingsentences is a preposition:

The children climbed the

mountain without fear.

In this sentence, the preposition "without"introduces the noun "fear." The prepositionalphrase "without fear" functions as an adverbdescribing how the children climbed.

There was rejoicing throughout the land

when the government was defeated.

Here, the preposition "throughout" introducesthe noun phrase "the land." The prepositionalphrase acts as an adverb describing the locationof the rejoicing.

The spider crawled slowly along the

banister.

The preposition "along" introduces the nounphrase "the banister" and the prepositionalphrase "along the banister" acts as an adverb,describing where the spider crawled.

The dog is hiding under the porch

because it knows it will be

punished for chewing up a new

pair ofshoes.

Here the preposition "under" introduces theprepositional phrase "under the porch," which

acts as an adverb modifying the compoundverb "is hiding."

The screenwriter searched for the

manuscript he was certain was

somewhere in his office.

Similarly in this sentence, the preposition "in"introduces a prepositional phrase "in his office,"which acts as an adverb describing the location ofthe missing papers.

WHATISA CONJUNCTION?

You can use a conjunction to linkwords, phrases, and clauses, as in the followingexample:

I ate the pizza and the pasta.

Call the movers when you are ready.

CO-ORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

You use a co-ordinating conjunction ("and,""but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," or "yet") to joinindividual words, phrases, and independentclauses. Note that you can also use theconjunctions "but" and "for" as prepositions.

In the following sentences, each ofthe highlighted words is a co-ordinatingconjunction:

Lilacs and violets are usually purple.

In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction"and" links two nouns.

This movie is particularly interesting to

feminist film theorists,for the screenplay

was written by Mae West.

In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction"for" is used to link two independent clauses.
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11/33

Daniel's uncle claimed that he spent most

of his youth dancing on

rooftops and swallowing goldfish.

Here the co-ordinating conjunction "and" linkstwo participle phrases("dancing on rooftops" and"swallowing goldfish") which actas adverbsdescribing the verb "spends."

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

A subordinating conjunction introducesa dependent clause and indicates the nature ofthe relationship among the independent clause(s)and the dependent clause(s).

The most common subordinating conjunctionsare "after," "although," "as," "because," "before,""how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that,""though," "till," "until," "when," "where,""whether," and "while."

Each of the highlighted words in the followingsentences is a subordinating conjunction:

After she had learned to drive, Alice felt

more independent.

The subordinating conjunction "after" introducesthe dependent clause "After she had learned todrive."

Ifthe paperwork arrives on time, yourcheque will be mailed on Tuesday.

Similarly, the subordinating conjunction "if"introduces the dependent clause "If thepaperwork arrives on time."

Gerald had to begin his thesis over

again when his computer crashed.

The subordinating conjunction "when" introducesthe dependent clause "when his computer

crashed."

Midwifery advocates argue that home

births are safer becausethe mother and

baby are exposed to fewer people and

fewer germs.

In this sentence, the dependent clause "becausethe mother and baby are exposed to fewerpeople and fewer germs" is introduced by thesubordinating conjunction "because."

CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Correlative conjunctions always appear inpairs -- you use them to link equivalent sentenceelements. The most common correlativeconjunctions are "both...and," "either...or,""neither...nor,", "not only...but also," "so...as,"and "whether...or." (Technically correlativeconjunctions consist simply of a co-ordinatingconjunction linked to anadjective or adverb.)

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are correlative conjunctions:

Both my grandfather and my father

worked in the steel plant.

In this sentence, the correlative conjunction"both...and" is used to link the two nounphrases that act as the compound subject of thesentence: "my grandfather" and "my father".

Bring either a Jello salad or a potato

scallop.

Here the correlative conjunction "either...or" linkstwo noun phrases: "a Jello salad" and "a potatoscallop."

Corinne is trying to decide whether to go

to medical school orto go to law school.

Similarly, the correlative conjunction "whether ...or" links the twoinfinitive phrases "to go tomedical school" and "to go to law school."

The explosion destroyed not only the

school but also the neighbouring pub.

In this example the correlative conjunction "notonly ... but also" links the two noun phrases ("theschool" and "neighbouring pub") which actas direct objects.

Note: some words which appear as conjunctionscan also appear as prepositions or as adverbs.

WHATISAN INTERJECTION?

An interjection is a word added to a sentence toconvey emotion. It is not grammatically relatedto any other part of the sentence.

You usually follow an interjection with

an exclamation mark. Interjections areuncommon in formal academic prose, except indirect quotations.

The highlighted words in the followingsentences are interjections:

Ouch, that hurt!

Oh no, I forgot that the exam was today.

Hey! Put that down!

I heard one guy say to another guy, "He

has a new car, eh?"

I don't know about you but, good lord, I

think taxes are too high!
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12/33

The concept of time can be split into:

1. The Present - What you are currently doing.

I eat, I am eating

2. The Past - What you did some time back.

I ate, I was eating

3. The Future - What you will do later.

I will eat, I will be

eating

In the English language, tenses play an important role

in sentence formation.

The tense of a verb shows the time of an event or

action.

There are four types of tenses. Simple, Perfect,

Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous and each

of these has a present, past and future form.

PRESENT TENSES

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

In Simple Present, the action is simply mentioned and

there is nothing being said about its completeness.

I eat.

I sleep.

I play.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Present Continuous, the action is on-going/ still

going on and hence continuous.

I am eating.

I am sleeping.

I am playing.

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

In Present Perfect, the action is complete or has

ended and hence termed Perfect.

I have eaten.

I have slept.

I have played.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Present Perfect Continuous, the action has been

taking place for some time and is still ongoing.

I have been eating.

I have been sleeping.

I have been playing.

PAST TENSES

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

In Simple Past, the action is simply mentioned and

understood to have taken place in the past.

I ate.

I slept.

I played.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Past Continuous, the action was ongoing till a

certain time in the past.I was eating.

I was sleeping.

I was playing.

PAST PERFECT TENSE

Past Perfect is used to express something that

happened before another action in the past.

I had eaten.

I had slept.

I had played.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Past Perfect Continuous is used to express something

that started in the past and continued until another

time in the past.

I had been eating.

I had been sleeping.

I had been playing.

FUTURE TENSES

SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

Simple Future is used when we plan or make a

decision to do something. Nothing is said about the

time in the future.

I will eat.

I will sleep.

I will play.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

The future continuous tense is used to express action

at a particular moment in the future. However, the

action will not have finished at the moment.
http://www.englishleap.com/grammar/simple-present-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/present-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/present-perfect-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/present-perfect-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/simple-past-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/past-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/past-perfect-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/past-perfect-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/simple-future-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/future-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/simple-present-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/present-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/present-perfect-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/present-perfect-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/simple-past-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/past-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/past-perfect-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/past-perfect-continuous-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/simple-future-tensehttp://www.englishleap.com/grammar/future-continuous-tense


13/33

I will be eating at 9 a.m.

I will be sleeping when you arrive.

I will be playing at 5 p.m.

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Future Perfect expresses action that will occur in the

future before another action in the future.

I will have eaten before 10 a.m.

I will have slept before you arrive.

I will have played before 6 p.m.

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Future Perfect Continuous is used to talk about an on-

going action before some point in the future.

I will have been sleeping for two hours when youarrive.

I will have been playing for an hour when it is 5 p.m.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

In Simple Present, the action is simply mentioned and

there is nothing being said about its completeness. It

is used to talk about an action which happens on a

regular basis.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT VERBREST OF THE

SENTENCE

I study in Bal Bharti school.

You study in Bal Bharti school.

He studies in Bal Bharti school.

Mohan studies in Bal Bharti school.

The boy studies in Bal Bharti school.

She studies in Bal Bharti school.

Pooja studies in Bal Bharti school.

The girl studies in Bal Bharti school.

We Study in Bal Bharti school.

You Study in Bal Bharti school.

They Study in Bal Bharti school.

The children Study in Bal Bharti school.

Notice how we use study for the subjects I, You, We,

You and They and we use studies for the subjects

He and She.

Simple Present Exercise 1



NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT

DONT (DO

NOT) /

DOESNT

(DOES

NOT)

VERBREST OF THE

SENTENCE

I dont play football.

You dont play football.

He doesnt play football.

Mohan doesnt play football.

The boy doesnt play football.

She doesnt play football.

Pooja doesnt play football.

The girl doesnt play football.

We dont play football.

You dont play football.

They dont play football.

The men dont play football.
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14/33

Notice how we use dont for the subjects I, You, We,

You and They

and we use doesnt for the subjects He and She.

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.

INTERROGATIVE STATEMENTS / QUESTIONS

DO /

DOESSUBJECT VERB

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

Do I sleep in the afternoon?

Do you sleep in the afternoon?

Does he sleep in the afternoon?

Does Mohan sleep in the afternoon?

Does the boy sleep in the afternoon?

Does she sleep in the afternoon?

Does Pooja sleep in the afternoon?

Does the girl sleep in the afternoon?

Do we sleep in the afternoon?

Do you sleep in the afternoon?

Do they sleep in the afternoon?

Do the men sleep in the afternoon?

Notice how we use Do for the subjects I, You, We,

You and They

and we use Does for the subjects He and She. The

verb form remains the same for all subjects.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In the Present Continuous tense, the action is on-

going/ still going on and hence continuous. The

present continuous tense is used to talk about actions

that are happening at this curent moment.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT

AM /

ARE /

IS

VERB +

ing

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I am watching television.

You are watching television.

He is watching television.

Mohan is watching television

The boy is watching television.

She is watching television.

Pooja is watching television.

The girl is watching television.

We are watching television.

You are watching television.

They are watching television.

The

childrenare watching television.

Notice that we use

am with I,

is with He and She

are with You, We and They


Present Continuous Tense Exercise 1

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT

AM NOT

/ ARE

NOT / IS

NOT

VERB +

ing

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I am not playing chess.
http://www.englishleap.com/exercises/present-continuous-tense-1http://www.englishleap.com/exercises/present-continuous-tense-1


15/33

You are not playing chess.

He is not playing chess.

Mohan is not playing chess.

The boy is not playing chess.

She is not playing chess.

Pooja is not playing chess.

The girl is not playing chess.

We are not playing chess.

You are not playing chess.

They are not playing chess.

The men are not playing chess.

Notice that we use

am not with I,

is not with He and She

are not with You, We and They





AM /

ARE /

IS

SUBJECT VERBREST OF THE

SENTENCE

Am I reading a book?

Are you reading a book?

Is he reading a book?

Is Mohan reading a book?

Is the boy reading a book?

Is she reading a book?

Is Pooja reading a book?

Is the girl reading a book?

Are we reading a book?

Are you reading a book?

Are they reading a book?

Are the men reading a book?

Notice the structure of the interrogative statements.

We use

am with I,

is with He and She

are with You, We and They

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

In the Present Perfect tense, the action is complete or

has ended and hence termed Perfect. The exact time

when the action happened is not important and hence,

it is not mentioned in this tense.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECTHAVE /

HAS

VERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I have seen this movie.

You have seen this movie.

He has seen this movie.

Mohan has seen this movie.

The boy has seen this movie.

She has seen this movie.

Pooja has seen this movie.

The girl has seen this movie.
http://www.englishleap.com/exercises/present-continuous-tense-2http://www.englishleap.com/exercises/present-continuous-tense-3http://www.englishleap.com/exercises/present-continuous-tense-2http://www.englishleap.com/exercises/present-continuous-tense-3


16/33

We have seen this movie.

You have seen this movie.

They have seen this movie.

The

childrenhave seen this movie.

Notice that we use

have with the subjects I, You, We and They

has with the subjects He and She


NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT

HAVE

NOT /

HAS

NOT

VERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I have not eaten lunch.

You have not eaten lunch.

He has not eaten lunch.

Mohan has not eaten lunch.

The boy has not eaten lunch.

She has not eaten lunch.

Pooja has not eaten lunch.

The girl has not eaten lunch.

We have not eaten lunch.

You have not eaten lunch.

They have not eaten lunch.

The

childrenhave not eaten lunch.

Notice that we use

have not with the subjects I, You, We and They

has not with the subjects He and She



HAVE

/ HASSUBJECT

VERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

Have I finished the work?

Have you finished the work?

Has he finished the work?

Has Mohan finished the work?

Has the boy finished the work?

Has she finished the work?

Has Pooja finished the work?

Has the girl finished the work?

Have we finished the work?

Have you finished the work?

Have they finished the work?

Have the men finished the work?

Notice that we use



The verb form remains the same for all subjects.PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In the Present Perfect Continuous tense, the action

has been taking place for some time and is still

ongoing.The duration for which the action has been

going on is usually mentioned in the present perfect

continuous tense.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS


17/33

SUBJECT HAVE

BEEN/

HAS

BEEN

VERB +

ing

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I have

been

waiting for an hour.

You have

been


He has been waiting for an hour.

Mohan has been waiting for an hour.

The boy has been waiting for an hour.

She has been waiting for an hour.

Pooja has been waiting for an hour.

The girl has been waiting for an hour.

We have

been


You have

been


Theyhave

beenwaiting for an hour.

The

children

have

beenwaiting for an hour.

Notice that we use

have been with the subjects I, You, We and They

has been with the subjects He and She


NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT HAVE

NOT

BEEN /

HAS NOT

VERB +

ing

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

BEEN

I have not

been

living in Mumbai since

March.

You have notbeen

living in Mumbai sinceMarch.

He has not

been


March.

Mohan has not

been


March.

The boy has not

been


March.

She has not

been


March.

Pooja has not

been


March.

The girl has not

been


March.

We have not

been


March.

Youhave not

beenliving

in Mumbai since

March.

Theyhave not

beenliving

in Mumbai since

March.

The

children

have not

beenliving

in Mumbai since

March.

Notice that we use

have not been with the subjects I, You, We and

They

has not been with the subjects He and She



HAVE /

HASSUBJECT BEEN VERB + ing REST OF THE SENTENCE

Have I been working hard for the last three days?

Have you been working hard for the last three days?

Has he been working hard for the last three days?

Has Mohan been working hard for the last three days?

Has the boy been working hard for the last three days?

Has she been working hard for the last three days?

Has Pooja been working hard for the last three days?

Has the girl been working hard for the last three days?

Have we been working hard for the last three days?

Have you been working hard for the last three days?

Have they been working hard for the last three days?

Have the men been working hard for the last three days?


18/33

Notice that we use



The verb form remains the same for all subjects.SIMPLE PAST TENSE

In the Simple Past tense, the action is simply

mentioned and understood to have taken place in the

past. The action started and ended sometime in the

past but the time may or may not be mentioned.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECTVERB (in

past form)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I Played cricket yesterday.

You Played cricket yesterday.

He Played cricket yesterday.

Mohan Played cricket yesterday.

The boy Played cricket yesterday.

She Played cricket yesterday.

Pooja Played cricket yesterday.

The girl Played cricket yesterday.

We Played cricket yesterday.

You Played cricket yesterday.

They Played cricket yesterday.

The children Played cricket yesterday.

For making positive statements in the simple past

tense, notice how we use the verb in the past form for

all subjects.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECTDIDNT

(DID NOT)

VERB (in

base

form)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

You didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

He didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

Mohan didnt talk

to Mohit last

week.

The boy didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

She didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

Pooja didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

The girl didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

We didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

You didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

They didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

The men didnt talkto Mohit last

week.

For making negative statements in the simple past

tense, notice how we use didnt or did not and the

verb in the base form for all subjects.



19/33

DID SUBJECTVERB (in

base form)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

Did I complete the work?

Did you complete the work?

Did he complete the work?

Did Mohan complete the work?

Did the boy complete the work?

Did she complete the work?

Did Pooja complete the work?

Did the girl complete the work?

Did we complete the work?

Did you complete the work?

Did they complete the work?

Did the men complete the work?

For making questions in the simple past tense, notice

how we use did and the verb in the base form for all

subjects.PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

In the Past Continuous tense, the action was ongoing

till a certain time in the past. This tense is used to talk

about an action at a particular time in the past.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECTWAS /

WERE

VERB +

ing

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

You were sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

He was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

Mohan was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

The boy was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

She was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

Pooja was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

The girl was sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

We were sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

You were sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

They were sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

The children were sleepingat 11 p.m. last

night.

For making positive statements in the past continuous

tense, notice how we use

was for the subjects I, He and She and were for

the subjects You, We and They

And the verb +ing all subjects.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT

WAS

NOT/

WERE

NOT

VERB +

ing

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I was not listening to music at 4 p.m.


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yesterday.

You were not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

He was not listening to music at 4 p.m.yesterday.

Mohan was not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

The boy was not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

She was not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

Pooja was not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

The girl was not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

We were not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

You were not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

They were not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

The men were not listeningto music at 4 p.m.

yesterday.

For making negative statements in the past continuous

tense, notice how we use

was not for the subjects I, He and She and were

not for the subjects You, We and They

And the verb +ing all subjects.


WAS / SUBJECT VERB (in REST OF THE

WEREbase

form)SENTENCE

Was I eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Were you eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Was he eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Was Mohan eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Was the boy eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Was she eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Was Pooja eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Was the girl eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Were we eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Were you eating

breakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Were they eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

Were the men eatingbreakfast at 7 a.m.

yesterday?

For asking questions in the past continuous tense,

notice how we use

was for the subjects I, He and She and were for

the subjects You, We and They

And the verb +ing all subjects.PAST PERFECT TENSE


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The Past Perfect tense is used to express something

that happened before another action in the past.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT HADVERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I had finished the work.

You had finished the work.

He had finished the work.

Mohan had finished the work.

The boy had finished the work.

She had finished the work.

Pooja had finished the work.

The girl had finished the work.

We had finished the work.


They had finished the work.

The children had finished the work.

Notice that we use had and the past participle form of

the verb for all subjects.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECTHAD

NOT

VERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I had not talked to my brother.

You had not talked to my brother.

He had not talked to my brother.

Mohan had not talked to my brother.

The boy had not talked to my brother.

She had not talked to my brother.

Pooja had not talked to my brother.

The girl had not talked to my brother.

We had not talked to my brother.

You had not talked to my brother.

They had not talked to my brother.

The

childrenhad not talked to my brother.

Notice that we use had not and the past participle

form of the verb for all subjects.


HAD SUBJECTVERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

Had I seen the movie?

Had you seen the movie?

Had he seen the movie?

Had Mohan seen the movie?

Had the boy seen the movie?

Had she seen the movie?

Had Pooja seen the movie?

Had the girl seen the movie?

Had we seen the movie?


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Had you seen the movie?

Had they seen the movie?

Had the men seen the movie?

PAST PERFECT TENSE

The Past Perfect tense is used to express something

that happened before another action in the past.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECT HADVERB (past

participle)

REST OF THE

SENTENCE

I had finished the work.


He had finished the work.

Mohan had finished the work.

The boy had finished the work.

She had finished the work.

Pooja had finished the work.

The girl had finished the work.

We had finished the work.


They had finished the work.

The children had finished the work.

Notice that we use had and the past participle form of

the verb for all subjects.

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

SUBJECTHAD

NOT

V

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