GRAMMAR OWL 1
PART I: NOUNS a. A noun is a word that names a person, a place,
f.
or a thing.
Mass Nouns: name things that cannot be counted. This is why they are also called non-
b. A noun that names only one person, place, or
countable nouns.
thing is called a singular noun. c. A noun that names more than one is called a
Abstract Common
plural noun.
dentists (plural)
Place
Thing
New York (singular)
pears (plural)
sister (singular)
zoo (singular)
fan (singular)
Julio (singular)
towns (plural)
notebook (singular)
Collective Mass
car
Mercedes Benz
army
love
dog
Caracas
family
milk
honesty
beach
Angela
team
salt
peace
people
Venezuela
group
water
time Person
Proper
sugar
g. Possessive Nouns i. show belonging.
children (plural)
beaches (plural)
buses (plural)
ii. a noun always follow a possessive noun. iii. add an apostrophe (‘) + s to a
d. There are five kinds of nouns in English: i. Abstract Nouns: name things that cannot be touched or measured. They name ideas, sensations, emotions and beliefs. ii. Common Nouns: name things, places and people in general, without making distinctions. 
Proper Nouns: name things,
places and people in particular. e. Collective Nouns: are names that suggest the idea of plural, although they are written in singular. They represent a group by itself.
singular noun to show possession. iv. add an apostrophe (‘) + s to a plural noun ending in s to show possession.
PART II: PRONOUNS iv.
a. A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a
Reflexive Pronouns: express the
noun and functions in most ways as a noun.
reflection of an action. The subject of the
There are several types of pronouns and each of
sentence receives the action.
them performs a different function. i.
Personal
Pronouns:
substitute
the
subject of a sentence; this is why they are also called subject pronouns. They perform the action of the verb.
Ex: The students came to class today. They came to class
ii.
Object Pronouns: substitute the object
Ex: The student teaches himself how to use the computer. Personal Pronouns
Object Pronouns
Possessive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
I
me
mine
myself
You
you
yours
yourself
He
him
his
himself
She
her
hers
herself
It
it
its
itself
We
us
ours
ourselves
You
you
yours
yourselves
They
them
theirs
themselves
of the sentence which receives the action of the verb.
Ex: The students asked the teacher about the exams. The students asked him
iii.
Possessive Pronouns: refer to the thing possessed and not to the possessor.
Ex: These are my books These are mine
PART III: ADJECTIVES a. Adjectives are words that modify a noun or a pronoun. To modify means “to limit, qualify,
or
Adjectives
make can
partial be
What Kind
How Many
changes”.
descriptive
or
We have a large dog.
Our dog has five puppies.
Our dog has tiny, brown spots.
Many dogs love children.
possessive. i.
A descriptive adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. An adjective can tell what kind or how many.
ii.
A possessive adjective refers to the possessor and not to the thing possessed. When using a possessive adjective, a noun will always follow.
Possessive Adjective my your his her its our your their
A man’s house is his house, and a woman’s house is her house
b. In English, adjectives do not take an “S” in the
iii.
A future tense verb shows action that will happen.
plural; they do not change. c. Adjectives are used in a certain order in English. When a number of adjectives are used
Present Tense
Past Tense
Future Tense
together, the order depends on the function of the adjective. The usual order is: Value/opinion: delicious, lovely, charming Size: small, huge, tiny
Bats hunt at night.
The bats hunted last night.
The bats will hunt tonight.
The bats fly quickly.
The bats flew overhead.
The bats will fly later.
Age/Temperature: old, hot, young Shape: round, square, rectangular Color: red, blonde, black Origin: Swedish, Victorian, Chinese Material: plastic, wooden, silver
b. When a verb connects the subject with a word that describes or explains it, it is called a linking verb. Present Tense
Past Tense
Future Tense
Peter is sad.
Peter was sad.
Peter will be sad.
Ex: a lovely, old, red post-box
They have a dog.
PART IV: VERBS
They had a dog.
They will have a dog.
c. Subject-Verb Agreement: A singular subject demands a singular verb; a plural subject
a. A verb is a word that can show action. When a verb tells what people or things do, it is called an
demands a plural verb. That is the simple principle behind subject-verb agreement.
action verb. Action verbs express mental or physical action. i.
A present tense verb shows action that is happening now.
ii.
A past tense verb shows action that has already happened.
When the subject of a sentence is
composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
PART V: ADVERBS Ex: Hapu and his father are poor people.
a. An adverb is a word that describes a verb. b. An adverb can tell how, when, or where. c. An adverb modifying an adjective or another
When two or more singular nouns or
adverb is sometimes called intensifier.
pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
How / How often
Ex: Hapu or his father arrives early every morning.
Do not get confused by a phrase that
comes between the subject and the
When
Where
I read books quickly.
I read books often.
I keep my books upstairs.
I read newspapers slowly.
I always read the newspaper.
I buy my newspaper there.
verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase. d. It is possible to derive adverbs from adjectives Ex: One of Cleopatra’s guards has a big sword.
by the process of adding –ly to the adjective we want to transform.
Collective nouns are words that
Adjective
Adverb
imply more than one person but that are considered
singular
and
take
a
He drives a slow car.
He drives the car slowly.
I am quick reading the newspaper.
I read the newspaper quickly.
singular verb, such as: group, team, committee, class, and family.
Ex: Cleopatra’s family has a long history.
I sing
PART I: HOW DO WE MAKE THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE subject
+
auxiliary verb do
+
main verb base
a. There are three important exceptions: i. ii. iii.
For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main verb like:
Subject + ?
I, you, we, they He, she, it I, you, we, they He, she, it Do Does
Auxiliary verb
Main verb
do does I, you, we, they he, she, it
like likes like like like like
not not
coffee. coffee. coffee. coffee. coffee? coffee?