Crash Course: Basic Grammar

​CRASH COURSE:

BASIC GRAMMAR

CHARLENE KRIS A. BORBE, LPT

• Basic Grammar Guide

  • Common vs. Proper Nouns

  • Articles

  • Subject Verb Agreement

• Redundancy

• Commonly Misused English Words/Phrases

• Practice Tests

​AGENDA

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

COMMON AND PROPER NOUN

COMMON NOUN

​

These are names of places, things, or ideas that are generic (general/non-specific).

These nouns aren’t naming anything specific, so they don’t need to start with a capital letter unless they begin a sentence.

PROPER NOUN

​

These are names of places, things, or ideas that are specific (particular).

These nouns are naming specific places, things, or ideas, they always begin with a capital letter, regardless of their location in a sentence. Sometimes, they contain two or more important words.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

COMMON AND PROPER NOUN

COMMON NOUN

​

school

city

country

instructor

department

classmate

PROPER NOUN

​

University of Nueva Caceres

Naga City

Philippines

Charlene 

College of Education

Kiezzel.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

ARTICLES: (THE, A, AN)

THE

​

The definite article is the word “the”. It limits the meaning of a noun to one (1) particular thing. The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.

A, AN

​

The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word “a” when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant sound (not necessarily a consonant letter). It’s the word “an” when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel sound (not necessarily a vowel letter). The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing. The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

ARTICLES: (THE, A, AN)

THE

​

the student

the learning facilitator

the LF

the hour

the university

the honest student

the herbal drink

A, AN

​

a student

a learning facilitator (/ˈlərniNG/)

an LF(/’ələf/)

an hour (/ˈou(ə)r/)

a university (/ˌyo͞onəˈvərsədē/)

an honest student (/ˈänəst/)

an herbal drink (/ˈ(h)ərbəl/)

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

ARTICLES: (THE, A, AN)

Article Before an Adjective

​

Sometimes, an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. The usual word order is article + adjective + noun. If the article is indefinite, choose “a” or “an” based on the word that immediately follows it.

​

Examples:

Can I bring a small dog on a plane?

“What an absurd statement!” he exclaimed.

BONUS:

'THE' PRONUNCIATION

​“THUH”

/T͟Hə/

​

Before consonants

​

The banana

​

“THEE”

/T͟Hē/

​

Before vowels

​

The apple

EMPHATIC “THEE”

/T͟Hē/

​

Emphasis

​

A: I met with the President of the University.

​

B: You met the [thee] President of the University? 

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

​Basic Rule:

A singular subject takes a singular verb , whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

What do you mean by:

​

​"subject"

​"predicate"

​"verb"

What's the difference between:

​

​"subject + predicate"

​vs

​"subject + verb"​

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Subject + Predicate

​

Subject: person, place, or thing.

Predicate: a state of being + extra information.

Subject + Predicate

​

Example:

​

I am a Master’s student.

Aldrin resigned after 5 years of working in the Senior High School.

They will attend the party.​

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #1:

Subjects and verbs must agree in number.

​Singular Subjects:

​

My dog (wait, waits) for the postal carrier.

​Plural Subjects:

​

Basketballs (roll, rolls) across the floor.

Multiple Choice

I _________ the assignment.

• understand

• understands

Multiple Choice

These clothes ____ too small for me.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The cats _____ at the door.

• meows

• meow

Multiple Choice

Peter _____ vegetables.

• like

• likes

• has likes

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #2:

Subordinate clauses that come between the subject and verb don’t affect their agreement.

​Subordinate clause:

a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it merely complements a sentence's main clause  thereby adding to the whole unit of meaning.

​Example:

The opera singer, who is performing, (smile, smiles) at me.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #2:

Subordinate clauses that come between the subject and verb don’t affect their agreement.

​Subordinate clause:

a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it merely complements a sentence's main clause  thereby adding to the whole unit of meaning.

​Example:

The opera singer, who was applauded by the audiences, (look, looks) familiar.

Multiple Choice

The man, who lives by the lake, ____ fond of fishing.

• are

• is

• were

• have been

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #3:

A verb form agrees with the subject whether the verb comes next to the subject or is separated from it by other words. Such words and phrases do not change the number of the subject. Therefore, be sure to make the verb agree in number with the subject, not with the intervening phrase.

​Example:

The president, together with all the cabinet members, (reject, rejects) your proposal.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Intervening Phrases = Pampagulo

​

​

including

​together with

​as well as

along with

in addition to

​like

accompanied by

plus

one of

Multiple Choice

The guest speaker, including all the visitors, _____ amazed by your performance last night.

• was

• were

• has

• had

Multiple Choice

The collection of antiquarian books ____ him happy.

• makes

• make

• has make

• had makes

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #4:

When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by “or”, “nor”, "either/or", "neither/nor" use a singular verb.

​Example:

​

The administrative assistant or the student assistant (collect, collects) the modules.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #5:

When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by “or”, “nor”, "either/or", "neither/nor" the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closes to the verb. This is called the rule of proximity.

​Example:

​

The administrative assistant or the student assistants (collect, collects) the modules.

Multiple Choice

The piano or the bookcase ____ to go

• is

• was

• have

• has

Multiple Choice

The piano or the tables ____ to go

• is

• was

• have

• has

Multiple Choice

Time nor tide ____ for no man

• had been wait

• waiting

• waits

• wait

Multiple Choice

A driving permit or a passport ____ required

• were

• is

• are

• have been

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #6:

Each

Each one

Either

Neither

Everyone

Everybody

​

​Example:

​​

Everyone (was, were) informed.

​Anyone

Anybody

Nobody

Somebody

Someone

No one

​these singular and require a singular verb.

Multiple Choice

Each of the dancers ______ well. 

• perform

• performs

• was performed

Multiple Choice

Nobody ____ around

• was

• were

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #7:

Non-countable nouns take a singular verb.

​

​Example:

​

Education (is, are) the key to success.

​

​This information (is, are) useful.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #8:

Some countable nouns in English are plural in form and take a plural verb.

​

Such as:

earnings

goods

odds

valuables

proceeds

​

​Example:

​

The proceeds from this project (go, goes) to the selected charity.

Multiple Choice

Research _______ to take a lot of time.

• tend

• tends

Multiple Choice

Gravity ____ an important force.

• are

• was

• is

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #9:

In sentences beginning with “there is” or “there are”, the subject follows the verb. Since “there” is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows the verb.

​

​Example:

​

There (is, are) a crying baby in the room.

Multiple Choice

There _____ an odd smell in the room.

• were

• was

• weren't

• have

Multiple Choice

There ____ three bonfires burning in the field.

• were

• was

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Here ____ the map.

• is

• were

• has

• are

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #10:

The only time the object of the preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like “some”, “half”, “none”, “more”, or “all” are followed by a prepositional phrase. Then the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #10:

The only time the object of the preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like “some”, “half”, “none”, “more”, or “all” are followed by a prepositional phrase. Then the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.

​Example:

​

All of the chicken (is, are) gone.

​

​All of the chickens (is, are) gone.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #11:

If two infinitives are separated by “and”, they take the plural form of the verb. 

​

Infinitives: Preposition “To” + “verb” (base form)

​

Remember: “To infinity, and beyond!”

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #11:

If two infinitives are separated by “and”, they take the plural form of the verb. 

​

Infinitives: Preposition “To” + “verb” (base form)

​

Remember: “To infinity, and beyond!”

​Example:

​

To sing and to dance (require, requires) great skills.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Rule #12:

Indefinite pronouns always require plural verbs. 

​

few

many

several

both

all

some

​Example:

​

Few (understand, understands) the lesson.

• Basic Grammar Guide

  • Common vs. Proper Nouns

  • Articles

  • Subject Verb Agreement

• Redundancy

• Commonly Misused English Words/Phrases

• Practice Tests

​AGENDA

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

REDUNDANCY

Redundancy is when you use more words than necessary to express something, especially words and/or phrases in the same sentence that mean the same thing.

​Example:

​

There were three teachers that taught each and every hour at school today.

Open Ended

She opened the envelope, which contained a confidential document inside. After reading it with close scrutiny, she discovered it was written in the exact same handwriting as the mysterious note she’d received before; the reason she knew this was because of handwriting studies in her past history.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

REDUNDANCY

​She opened the envelope, which contained a confidential document inside. After reading it with close scrutiny, she discovered it was written in the exact same handwriting as the mysterious note she’d received before; the reason she knew this was because of handwriting studies in her past history.

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

REDUNDANCY

Grammar Rules

end result

sit down

add up

anonymous stranger

ATM Machine

basic essentials/necessities 

past history

empty space

first and foremost

twelve midnight/noon

​regular routine

collaborate together

join/mix/merge/fuse together

brief moment

moral lesson

close proximity

​close scrutiny

current trends

different kinds

each and everyone

advance warning/planning

• Basic Grammar Guide

  • Common vs. Proper Nouns

  • Articles

  • Subject Verb Agreement

• Redundancy

• Commonly Misused English Words/Phrases

• Practice Tests

​AGENDA

BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE:

COMMONLY MISUSED ENGLISH WORDS/PHRASES

​all right vs. alright

push through vs. push on

cope up vs. cope

celebrator vs. celebrant

“Hello, Good morning!”

​"Good day!"

stuff vs. stuffs

​bowel

​"move the bowel" vs. "remove the bowel"

​viand​

"I’ll go ahead"

"for a while"

xerox vs. photocopy

condolence vs. condolences

fill up vs. fill out vs. fill in

​

• Basic Grammar Guide

  • Common vs. Proper Nouns

  • Articles

  • Subject Verb Agreement

• Redundancy

• Commonly Misused English Words/Phrases

• Practice Tests

​AGENDA

QUIZ UP!

SUBJECT-VERB

AGREEMENT

​CRASH COURSE:

BASIC GRAMMAR

CHARLENE KRIS A. BORBE, LPT