ENGLISH
: GRAMMAR AND CORRECT USAGE
1. When a noun does not end in s, fom the singular and sometimes the plural possessive by adding
an apostrope s (‘s).
Examples:
the boy =
the boy’s hat the children
= the children’s toys
2. When a noun already ends in s, form the singular
possessive by adding an apostrophe s (‘s) and form the plural possessive by
adding only an apostrophe (‘).
Examples
the boss =
the boss’s car the boys = the
boys’ hats
Charles =
Charles’s pen the ladies =
the ladies’ umbrellas
3. This indicates that something is
near us: that indicates that it is
at a distance.
This pencil is in my hand. That book is over there on the table.
The plural
of this is these; the plural of that is those.
Examples
These pencils are in my hand. Those
books are over there on the table.
4. Adjectives
modify nouns.
Examples: a big animal an open window a red
apple
5. Adverbs modify verbs. They
tell us how we do something.
Examples: John speaks
slowly. The birds sing beautifully.
6. We can form many adverbs by adding ly to an adjective.
Examples: soft = softly easy = easily
7. We can use a few
words like fast, hard, late, and low as either
adjectives or adverbs without any changes in form.
Examples: Marie is
a hard worker. ( as an adjective)
Marie
works hard. (as an adverb)
8. Good is an adjective and must modify a noun.
Example: James is
a good singer.
9. Well is usually used as
an adverb.
Example: Tom
speaks well.
Well is occasionally used as an adjective
only when it means to be in good health.
Example: Amanda was ill, but now she is well.
10. Who refers to PEOPLE. Which refers to SPECIFIC
animals or things. That refers to animals, things as a CLASS. The object (direct
or indirect) form of who is whom.
Which
and that
both have the same form whether subject or object.
Examples:
a. Was it Gino who said that?
b. This is the report that the president wanted.
c. The motorcycle which Harry used belongs to her
brother.
d. To whom did you give the pizza?
e. The native inhabitants that lived in Batanes
were called Ivatans.
f. It is the little things in life that count.
11. A and an are indefinite articles. They
refer to objects that have not been specifically identified. A or
an
is used only with singular nouns.
Examples:
a. A magazine is on the chair.
b. Do you have a cigarette?
c. Irma bought an umbrella.
12. The is a definite
article. It refers to a PARTICULAR object. It is used with both singular and
plural nouns.
Examples:
a. The book which gave me the greatest
pleasure was Huckleberry Finn.
b. The new books which I bought
yesterday in National Book Store arrived this morning.
13. Much is used with nouns
that cannot be counted and do
not add s to show plurality.
Examples: much
sugar much rain much coffee
14. Many is used with plural
countable nouns.
Examples: many
balloons many cups of tea many students
15. A lot of is the most
commonly used term of these three.
a lot of sugar a lot
of books a lot
of love
16. Also and too
change to EITHER in NEGATIVE sentences.
I want to dance too. I don’t want to dance either.
We also want this pencil. We don’t want this pencil either.
17. Use any
in NEGATIVE sentences; use some in AFFIRMATIVE sentences.
Maribel took some vegetables home with her.
Manolo does not take any books home with him.
18. Use anybody,
anyone,
anything,
and anywhere
in NEGATIVE sentences.
There isn’t anyone at the door. Bobby didn’t go anywhere with his boss
last night.
They did not hear anything in the dark.
19. Use somebody,
someone,
something,
and somewhere
in AFFIRMATIVE sentences.
She knows something about the plan. Tim lost his watch somewhere downtown.
There is someone at the kitchen.
20. For shows the LENGTH of
TIME of the action.
Mary has worked in SM for five months. Joan has not eaten anything for two
days.
21. Since shows the TIME that
the action BEGAN.
Nancy has been absent since Monday. It has been raining since last night.
22. Yet means so far; it is used
in NEGATIVES and questions.
Sean hasn’t arrived yet. Are
we there yet?
23. Already means by this
time or previously; it is used in AFFIRMATIVE statements and questions.
The plane has already left the airport. Has John gotten his new suit already?
24. If the MAIN VERB of
a sentence is in the PAST TENSE, ALL other dependent verbs are usually in the
PAST TENSE too.
The
students say they will bring their projects tomorrow.
The
students said they would bring their projects tomorrow.
The
meteorologist predicts that it may snow on Monday.
The
meteorologist predicted that it might snow on Monday.
Note the irregular past tense forms of the
following auxiliaries:
will = would can = could
may = might have = had
25. Have to and must express necessity or strong obligations.
Have to is the more commonly used term.
You
must
study your lesson. You have
to study your lesson.
Rolly
must
work tonight. Rolly has
to work tonight.
26. Must has no past or future tense
forms. Use have to to expess obligation or necessity in the past, future,
and present perfect tenses.
I
have
to attend the meeting.
I
had
to attend the meeting.
I
will
have to attend the meeting tomorrow.
I
have
had to attend the meeting every
day this week.
27. Would rather followed by the simple
form of the verb means to prefer. Note the position
and use of than.
I
would
rather drive a small car than a big one.
I
would
rather live in a small town.
Edgard
would
rather read a book than see a movie.
28. Had better with the simple form of the
verb means it would be better or it would be advisable. Note that this term
expresses a FUTURE thought even though it is in a PAST FORM.
You
had
better rest a while. They
had
better come back later.
29. Place adverbs of time
(yesterday, last week, next month, etc.) at the BEGINNING or END of a sentence.
We
saw Mr. Santos yesterday. On
Thursday you are due in court.
30. Place adverbs of frequency (often,
usually, generally, rarely, ever, etc.) BEFORE the MAIN VERB except when the
main verb is a form of TO BE.
She
always
comes to class early. Does
he always
come to class late?
They
are never
late for class. He has always
prepared his lessons.
31. Word order is very important in English
sentences. The normal word order for an English statement is SUBJECT, VERB,
INDIRECT OBJECT, DIRECT OBJECT, ADVERBIAL MODIFIERS.
Be
careful not to separate a verb and its direct object with an adverbial
modifier.
Wrong: I saw yesterday my friend.
Correct: I saw my friend yesterday.
Wrong; He is studying now Spanish at Madrid
University.
Correct: He is now studying Spanish at
Madrid University.
Wrong: She said that he had had already
three drinks.
Correct: She said that he had already
had three drinks.
32. Still means even up to the present time. It indicates some continuing action.
Still usually comes BEFORE the MAIN verb.
They
are still
working in that company.
He
still attends the same church.
33. Anymore indicates that an action
that went on in the past has been discontinued. We usually place anymore at the
END of a NEGATIVE sentence.
He
isn’t working in that agency anymore.
We
never see you at the school dances anymore.
34. Form the PAST tense of should
and
ought to with have and the past participle of the main verb.
Present: You should
study more.
Past: You should have studied more.
Present: They ought to finish their projects.
Past: They ought to have finished
their projects.
35. A conditional sentence has two clauses, a
DEPENDENT CLAUSE beginning with IF and a MAIN CLAUSE.
In
a FUTURE possible conditional sentence, the dependent clause is in the PRESENT
TENSE and the MAIN CLAUSE is in the FUTURE tense.
If
I have
enough money, I will fly to Boracay.
If
you don’t
hurry, we will be late for class.
