English Grammar

Present progressive tense.

1) Used for temporary actions or actions that are in progress. 2) Used for actions happening right now. 3) Uses the verb "be" for all the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms. 4) Used with action verbs only.

Follow these rules when using transition words

1: Check that there are two separate but linked sentences. 2: Then add a transition word, followed by a comma, to the beginning of the second sentence. 3: Alternatively, join the sentences: place a semicolon at the end of the first sentence and a transition word, followed by a comma, at the beginning of the second sentence. Do not capitalize the transition word.

Clause

A clause contains a subject and a verb. Independent: An independent clause expresses a complete idea and can stand by itself. Dependent: a dependent clause does not express a complete idea. It is part of a sentence and cannot stand by itself. A dependent clause needs an independent clause to complete it. A dependent clause begins with either a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at leas tone dependent clause. The dependent clause comes before the independent clause, the clauses are separated by a common. Ex: When Mary moved the sofa, she found the wallet.

Compound Nouns

A compound noun is formed by combining two or more words. Ex: Post office, grandchild, grown-up.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses. It joins a minimum of two complete ideas. Three Types: 1: Clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. Ex: Mary saw the wallet on the floor, and she picked it up. 2: Clauses joined by a semicolon Ex: Mary saw the wallet on the floor; she picked it up. 3: Clauses joined by a semicolon and a transition word. Ex: Mary saw the wallet on the floor; then, she picked it up.

Paired Conjunctions

A paired conjunction consists of two coordinating conjunction used together for emphasis. The same grammatical structure follows each conjunction. They always link together equal elements, for example, two nouns, two adjectives, two verbs, or two independent clauses. Common P.C.: as. . . as, either . . . or, both. . . and, neither . . . nor, not only . . . but also, whether . . . or

Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or two prepositions or adverbs that changes the meaning of the verb. Ex: I called off my date with Alyssa today.

Prepositions

A preposition is a word that usually comes before a noun or pronoun to show time, place, and direction. Ex: at, before, by, during, for, in, on, since, to/until, above, across, against, at, behind, below, beneath, between, by/next to/ beside, from, in/inside, into, near, on, outside, over, to, under, underneath, up/down.

Reflexive Pronouns

A reflexive pronoun refers to the person who does an action. It ends in -self in the singular form or -selves in the plural form. Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.

Relative pronouns

A relative pronoun introduces a clause that adds information bout a noun or pronoun. Ex: that, who, whoever, whom, whomever, which, whichever, whose.

Simple Sentence Structure

A simple sentence contains only one independent clause and can be a short as one word. Ex: Joey parked his clause.

Subordinating conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause in a complex sentence. Can be used to introduce information that is less important in the sentence. Ex: Since I prefer math, I did my math exercises first. Most common S.C.: after, before, although, even though, as, just as, because, since, so that, even if, if, unless, until, when, where, wherever, whether, while

Nouns

A word that indicates a person, place, or thing. Most have singular and plural forms.

Adjectives ending in 'ing' and 'ed'

Adjectives ending in 'ing' (present participle adjectives) have an active meaning. The noun described is doing something. Adjectives ending in 'ed' (past participle adjectives) have a passive meaning. The noun described is the object of the action.

Adjectives

Adjectives give additional information about nouns and pronouns. They can describe, identify, or quantify people, places, or things. Adjectives always remain the same. Ex: a young girl / two young girls

Types of Dependent Clauses

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. It always starts with a relative pronoun such as that, which, or who. Ex: the wallet that Mary found is on the table. An Adverb Clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It almost always starts with a subordinating conjunction such as because or when. Ex: Joey Parked his care as if nothing was wrong. A noun clause is a clause which takes the place of a noun. What Joey discovered shocked him.

Adverbs

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or even another adverb. An adverb tells you how, where, or when something is done.

Adverbs of degree and intensity:

Answer "How much?" or "How little?" they help us understand the strength or intensity of something. Ex: almost, extremely, really, so, too, very.

Comparative adjectives

Are used to compare two nouns or pronouns. They indicate that someone or something has more or less of a quality than another person or thing. Ex: Older, taller, ect.

Homophones

Are words that have the same pronunciation but different spelling and meanings. Ex: to, two, too / ad, add / ate, eight.

Superlative adjectives

Compare three or more nouns or pronouns. Superlative adjectives indicate that someone or something has the most or the least of a quality. Ex: Oldest, tallest

Superlative adverbs

Compare three or more verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. Ex: the most quietly, the fastest.

Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences describe an action and its results. Conditional sentences have two parts: the if clause (condition) and the result clause (independent clause).

Conjunctions

Conjunction are words that connect words, phrases, and clauses. There are three kinds of conjunctions: 1) Coordinating conjunctions 2) Subordinating conjunctions 3) Paired conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions

Connects the following: 1) Words that have the same function, for example, two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives. Ex: my sister wants a doll and a truck for her birthday. 2) Two independent clauses in a compound sentence. Ex: I can lend you the money, but you must pay me back. Seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet.

Count Nouns

Count nouns have both a singular and plural form. They refer to people or things that you can count. Ex: I have to buy some eggs.

Comparative adverbs

Describe the difference between two verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. Ex: faster than, more quietly than, etc.

Homonyms

Different words that sound alike. Two Types: Homophones and Homographs.

Non-Count Nouns

Do not have a plural form. They refer to things that usually cannot be count. Ex: I have to buy some coffee.

Imperative Sentences

Expresses instructions, warnings, suggestions, or advice. Uses base form of the verb without the subject as the subject is understood. Ex: Open your books to page 11, please.

Non Action Verbs (Stative verrbs)

Expresses state, sense, desire, possession, or opinion. No action occurs when you use them, and they cannot be used in the present progressive tense. Example: I believe in you.

Possessive Form

Form of a noun that indicates something belong to somebody. The apostrophe ( ' ) shows possession.

Gerunds

Gerunds are verbs ending in 'ing' that are used as nouns. They can be the subject or the complement of a verb or the object of a preposition. Gerund are formed with the base form of the verb + ing. CAREFUL: Do not confuse a gerund with the progressive tense. Progressive tense: right now, I am swimming in the lake. Gerund: I enjoy swimming in the lake.

Common nouns

Identify a person, place, or thing in general.

Active vs Passive Voice

In the active voice, the subject is doing the action: Subject - verb - direct object Victoria Threw the ball. In the passive voice, the subject is not doing the action. The subject is passive. The agent is the person or thing doing the action. Subject - verb - agent. The ball was thrown by Victoria.

There is / There are

In the simple present tense, use there is (there are if plural) to present a person, an animal, or an object, usually in a specific place.

Infinitives

Infinitives are verbs that can be used as nouns. They can be the subject or complement of a verb. Formed with 'to + base form of the verb'. Ex: To travel is important in life.

Modals

Modals are auxiliaries that are used with verbs in their base form and which add another meaning to the sentence. Most modal auxiliaries have more than one meaning. Ex: ALex can ride a bike Can, could, may might, must, have to, should, ought to, shall, will, and would are modals.

Ordinal Number

Numbers refer to the position of something in a series. Ex: 1'st, second, etc.

Cardinal Number

Numbers used in simple counting. Ex: 1, 2, 3.

Adjective Order

Opinion / size / age / shape / colour / origin (nationality) / Material / Purpose Ex: Beautiful / big / new / round / red / Italian / plastic / rocking

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns take the role of subject or object in a sentence. Ex: She always smiles at you. : She and you are personal pronouns.

Prefixes

Prefixes are letters that are added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.

Pronouns

Pronouns are words that replace nouns or other pronouns.

Punctuation marks

Punctuation marks are symbols that help make sentences clear. Punctuation tells the reader how to interpret the message. Ex: Periods . , comma , , question mark ? , exclamation mark ! , semicolon ; , colon : , parentheses ( ) , apostrophe ' , quotation marks " " , single quotation marks ' ' , Hyphen - , ellipsis . . . , dash -- , brackets [ ]

Indefinite articles

Refers to a common noun. "A", "an'.

No Article

Refers to non-specific plural nouns. No article. Ex: on our trip, we saw lakes, mountains, and beaches.

Reported Speech

Reported speech states what someone said without using quotation marks. The verbs used to report speech are generally 'say' or 'tell'. Ex: He said he was leaving the following week.

Proper Nouns

Represent a specific person, place, or thing. They always begin with a capital letter.

Present Participle

The base form of a verb ending is -ing.

Irregular present tense verbs

The verbs "be" and "have" are irregular.

Adverbs of frequency and time

These answer the question When? and How Often? Ex: Frequency: always, frequently, never, occasionally, often, rarely, usually. Time: Already, eventually, finally, lately, now, recently, soon, today, tomorrow, yesterday.

Adverbs fo place and distance

These answer the question where? Ex: above, below, far, nearby, here, there, inside, outside, upstairs, downstairs.

Adverbs of Manner

This is the largest group of adverbs. They answer the question: How. Ex: Badly, carefully, dangerously, happily, quickly, simply, terribly.

Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

This, that, these, and those can be demonstrative adjectives or demonstrative pronouns. Demonstrative adjectives precede a noun and point to a specific person or thing. Ex: this pen writes well. Demonstrative pronouns identify the substitute for a noun or person. This is my pen.

Verbs, Progressive Tenses

Use for the following situations: 1) Actions that are happening at the moment. 2) Actions that are happening during this period of time and are temporary 3) An irritation, something that is bothersome. 4) A definite future event, a fixed future arrangement.

Future Perfect Progressive Tense.

Use for the following situations: 1) Actions that will be in progress in the future. 2) Actions that will continue up until they are interrupted in the future. Ex: We will have been working for hours by the time Mika arrives.

Future Perfect Tense

Use in the following situation. 1) An action int he future preceding another action in the future. 2) Duration of an action preceding another action in the future. Ex: The train will have already left when you arrive at the station.

Perfect Verb Tenses

Use in the following situations: 1) Actions that started in the past and continued in the present. 2) Repeated actions that happened before now (and may be repeated again). 3) Past actions that happened at an unspecified moment, whether because the time is unknown or because it is unimportant. 4) Actions that take place during an incomplete period of time. 5) News of recent events, recent actions. Ex: I've mailed my application.

Simple Future Tense

Use in the following situations: 1) Actions that will happen in the future. 2) Predictions about the future. 3) Willingness (spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking). 4) Promises Example: Madeline will come tomorrow.

Informational Questions

Use information questions to ask for specific information. information questions start with a question word (what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why, how, how far, how long, how many, how much, how often).

Past Perfect Progressive Tense

Use to express a continuous action that started int he past and was completed or interrupted at some point in the past. Ex: I had been cycling all afternoon when I got a flat tire.

Past Perfect Tense

Use to express an action that happened before another past action or point in time. ex: Sam had cooked dinner by the time Megan arrived home from work.

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

Use to express the duration of an action that started in the past and is still going on in the present. Ex: We have been living in Ottawa for a year and we love it.

Yes/No Questions

Use yes/no questions when the answer you are looking for is a short statement starting with yes or no.

Past Progressive Tense

Used in the following instances: 1) Actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. 2) Simultaneous actions happening in the past. 3) Gradual development 4) Annoying actions (with always, constantly) 5) Interrupted actions. Ex: Joshua was repairing his car from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday.

Simple Present Tense

Used in the following situation: 1) A habit, routine, or repeated action. 2) A general truth, or permanent action. 3) Likes and dislikes. 4) facts. 5) A scheduled action in the future. 6) How a person feels; his or her state of mind. Ex: She lives in Paris.

Simple Past Tense

Used in the following situation: 1) Actions that began and ended at a specific time in the past. 2) Actions that were often done in the past (habitual actions) 3) A series of completed actions in the past. Ex: He played baseball with his friends last Sunday.

Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns

Used to indicate ownership. Possessive Adjectives (place before noun): My, your, his, her, its, our, your, their, Possessive Pronouns (replaces a noun): Mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs.

Object Pronoun

Used to replace the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition.

Homographs

Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and may be pronounced differently. Ex: bow (like bow and arrow), bow (like to bow) ; desert (noun), desert (to abandon)

Antonyms

Words that have opposite meanings.

Synonyms

Words that have the same or similar meanings.

Indefinite pronouns

indefinite pronouns refer to unspecified people or things in the singular or plural form. They can express the idea of all, any, some, or none. Ex: Anybody / anyone, everybody / everyone, anything, everything, nothing, each, either, neither, one, etc.

Transition words

link two complete ideas either in two separate sentences or in two independent clauses separated by a semicolon.

Definitive article

refers to a specific person, place, or thing. "The".

Suffixes

suffixes are letters that are added to the end of the word to change its meaning.

Future Progressive Tense

use in the following situations: 1) Actions that will be in progress in the future. 2) Actions that are scheduled to happen. 3) Predictions 4) Simultaneous actions. 5) Interrupted actions in the future.