English Grammar
Prof. M. Basanna.
*****
A Word …
Some of us find it difficult to read and write English. Learning English is as easy as learning any other language. In learning a language, we must know two things.
1. Vocabulary –A rich collection of words.
2. Basics of Grammar – Agreement of verb and Order of words.
头顶长痣代表什么The first one can be acquired by regular reading of news paper and books. Whenever we come across new words, we must find their meaning and usage (noun or verb etc.) immediately using a good dictionary. While lecting books to read, we must also choo the books of our interest. If we are interested in science or humanity or religion we must lect books in that field. This will help in reading the book with interest and learn the language easily. Attending lectures, debates and the like conducte
d by various organizations may add to this. Talking to friends in English will be an added advantage. In all we must have a zeal to learn the language.
Basics of grammar are briefly covered in this article. Examples wherever necessary are given by suitable indent. Detailed coverage - such as changing singular number to plural number, masculine gender to feminine gender, prent ten to past ten etc - has been skipped. (For this a good book on grammar may be referred.) It is enough if we know whether the noun is singular or plural, masculine or feminine and whether the verb is prent ten or past ten, etc. This will help in writing good and correct English.
A good dictionary and grammar text book will certainly be uful. Dictionary will give you the meaning and usage (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.) of the words in English. Grammar will amplify your knowledge and depth of understanding.
Sentence
A ntence is a group of words which gives clear and full meaning.
Black is beautiful.
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Hill is tall.
Chat is not hot.
Sentences are of four kinds:
Declarative ntence, makes a statement.
(a) A ntence making a positive statement is called affirmative ntence.
<, Mangoes are sweet.
(b). A ntence making a negative statement is called negative ntence.
<, Water is not pure.
Interrogative ntence, asks a question. (ends with ? mark)
What is in the bag?
Who goes there?
Imperative ntence, makes a request or command.
Give me a pen.
Open the door.
Exclamatory ntence, express joy, sorrow or feeling.
Oh, what a beautiful sight ! (ends with ! mark)
Alas ! the cup is broken. (us ! mark)
Subject and Predicate
A ntence has two parts – Subject and Predicate.
The part which we speak about is called subject.
The part which tells about the subject is called predicate.
In the ntence:
The boy goes to the school.
“The boy” (which we speak about) is the subject.
“goes to the school” (which tells about the boy) is the predicate.
Note: 1. Usually subject of a ntence comes first.
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Sometimes, after the predicate.
The man comes here. Here comes the man.
Note: 2. In imperative ntence, the subject is understood.
Eat the fruit. Do not go late.
Phra and clau
A group of words which makes n but not complete n is called phra.
The moon shines in the sky. (in the sky is a phra)
A group of words which makes complete n and contains subject and predicate of its own is called clau.
The moon which is in the sky shines. (which is in the sky is a clau)
Parts of speech
Words are classified into eight class known as parts of speech. This is bad on the function the words could do. They are
1. Noun
2. Pronoun
3. Verb
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4. Adjective
5. Adverb
6. Preposition
7. Conjunction
8. Interjection
Noun – A noun is a word ud to denote a person, place or thing.
The ro is red.
The milk is white.
Pronoun – A pronoun is a word ud instead of a noun.
He is a tall boy.
It is a mango tree.
Verb – A verb is a word ud to express an action or state.
The man went to hill.
The tree is big.
Adjective – An adjective is word ud to describe or add some thing to the meaning of noun.
That is a white cat.
She is a brave girl.
航海王壁纸Adverb – An adverb is word ud to modify or add some thing to the meaning of verb, adjective or another adverb.
He walked slowly. (slowly modifies verb walked)
吃夜宵的危害The garden is very beautiful. (very modifies adjective beautiful)
You speak very clearly. (very modifies adverb clearly)
Preposition – A preposition is a word ud to show the relationship between persons or things.
The book is on the table.
Milk is in the glass.
Conjunction – A conjunction is a word ud to join words or ntences.
He and I are good friends.
I worked hard, but failed to reach the goal.
Interjection – An interjection is a word ud to express sudden feeling.
Alas! He misd the train.
Hey! We won the game.
Noun
Name of a person, place animal or thing is called noun.安徽中考试卷
Man, park, tiger, chair are some examples.
Nouns are of five kinds. 1. Common noun, 2. Proper noun, 3. Collective noun, 4. Abstract noun, 5. Material noun.
Common noun – Name common to every person, place or thing.
Boy, city, cow, tab le are some examples.
Proper noun – Name of a particular person or place.
John, Bangalore are some examples.
Collective noun – Name of a group (or collection) of persons or things.
Crowd , herd, bunch are some examples.
Abstract noun – Name of quality, action or state.
Truth, theft, beauty, youth are some examples.
Material noun – Name of things that cannot be counted. They have
no plural forms.
Milk, water, steel, sand are some examples.
Noun – Number
Two types of number: 1. Singular number and 2. Plural number.
Singular Number – Denotes one person or thing.清明节是每年几月几日
Boy, class, mango, baby, wife, man, etc.
Plural Number – Denotes more than one person or thing.
Boys, class, mangoes, babies, wives, men, etc.
Note: Obrve how plurals are formed.
Plurals can be recognized by the nouns ending in -s, -es, -ies, -ves.
Noun – Gender
Four types of gender: 1. Masculine, 2. Feminine, 3. Common and 4. Neuter. Masculine gender – Denotes male person or animal.
Father, husband, boy, cock, etc.
Feminine gender – Denotes female person or animal.
Mother, wife, girl, hen, etc.
Common gender – Denotes either male or female person or animal.
Parent, spou, child, chick, etc.
Neuter gender – Denotes neither male nor female person or animal.
Tree, stone, book, pencil, etc.
Feminines can be recognized by the nouns ending in -ess, -ine, -trix.
Noun – Ca
A noun can be ud as the subject or object of a verb. The difference between subject and object can be understood clearly by asking the questions who and what before the verb. The noun answering the question who will be the subject and the noun answering the question what will be object. In the example,
The boy is reading a book.
Who is reading the book? Answer is boy, which is the subject.
What the boy is reading? Answer is book, which is the object.
Sometimes, there will be two objects in a ntence. Consider
Father gave money to son.
Here are three nouns – father, money and son.
Who gave money? Father –> Subject.
What father gave? Money –> Object.
Whom father gave money? Son – Another object.
The noun that answers the question what is called Direct Object.
The noun that answers the question whom is called Indirect Object.
Three cas:1. Nominative ca, 2. Objective (Accusative) ca, 3. Posssive (Genitive) ca.
Nominative ca – Noun ud as the subject of the verb is said to be in nominative ca. In example above, father is in nominative ca.
Objective ca – Noun ud as the object of the verb is said to be in objective ca. In example above, money and son are in objective ca.
Posssive ca – Noun ud to show posssion or ownership is said to be in posssive ca.
The boy’s book is torn. (Boy’s – Posssive ca, singular)
This is boys’ school.(Boys’ – Posssive ca, plural)
To find nominative ca, ask question who or what before verb.
To find objective ca, ask question whom or what before verb.
To find posssive ca, ask the question who before verb.
Note: Same noun may be ud as the subject, object or to show posssion.
Mango is sweet. (Subject – Nominative ca)
He ate a mango.(Object – Objective ca)