Basic of Grammar
1. Nouns
1.1 Definition
A noun is the name of a
person, an animal, a thing, a place, an action, an idea, feeling, a quality, or
a state of being.
1.2 Kinds
of nouns
1. Common
nouns: A common noun names a class or group of persons places, thing, ideas, or
feelings.
Examples
·
There will be many delegates in August.
·
You can afford a villa.
2 Proper nouns:
A proper noun names a particular person, place, or thing. It is always
capitalized.
Examples
·
Cambodia is my beloved country.
·
To work in Japan is my wish.
3 Abstract
nouns: An abstract noun doesn’t attempt to represent external or recognizable
reality.
Examples
·
My aunt usually raises money for charity.
·
We want to live in peace, freedom, and harmony.
4 Collective
nouns: A collective noun is a count noun that denotes a group of individuals.
Examples
·
Congress has initiated a new
plan to combat inflation.
·
Our team is going to
win the game.
2. Singular and Plural
Nouns
A noun
names a person, place, thing, or idea.
Usually, the first page of a
grammar book tells you about nouns. Nouns give namesof concrete or abstract things in
our lives. As babies learn "mom,"
"dad," or "milk" as their first word, nouns should
be the first topic when you study a foreignlanguage.
For the plural form of most nouns, add s.
- bottle – bottles
- cup – cups
- pencil – pencils
- desk – desks
- sticker – stickers
- window – windows
For
nouns that end in
sh, ch, x,
z, s, or s sounds, add es.
- box – boxes
- watch – watches
- moss – mosses
- bus – buses
For
nouns ending in f or fe, change f to v and add es.
- wolf – wolves
- wife – wives
- leaf – leaves
- life – lives
Some
nouns have different plural forms.
- child – children
- woman – women
- man – men
- mouse – mice
- goose – geese
Nouns
ending in vowels like y or o do not have definite rules.
- baby – babies
- toy – toys
- kidney – kidneys
- potato – potatoes
- memo – memos
- stereo – stereos
A few
nouns have the same singular and plural forms
- sheep – sheep
- deer – deer
- series – series
- species – species
Quiz
1.1
Choose the correct form of the noun in each
sentence.
1)I have three (child, children).
2)There are five (man, men) and one (woman,
women).
3)(Baby, Babies) play with bottles as toys.
4)I put two big (potato, potatoes) in the lunch
box.
5)A few men wear (watch, watches).
6)I put a (memo, memos) on the desk.
7)I saw a (mouse, mice) running by.
8)There are few (bus, buses) on the road today.
3.
Count
Nouns vs. Non-Count Nouns
2.1 Count nouns
Can be counted as one
or more.
- pen,
computer, bottle, spoon, desk, cup, television, chair, shoe, finger,
flower, camera, stick, balloon, book, table, comb, etc.
Take an s to form the plural.
- pens,
computers, bottles, spoons, desks, cups, televisions, chairs, shoes,
fingers, flowers, cameras, sticks, balloons, books, tables, combs, etc.
Work with expressions such as (a few, few, many,
some, every, each, these, and the number of).
- a
few pens, a few computers, many bottles, some spoons, every desk, each
cup, these televisions, the number of chairs, a few shoes, a few fingers,
many flowers, some cameras, every stick, each balloon, these books, the
number of tables, many combs, etc.
Work with appropriate articles (a, an, or the).
- a
pen, the computer, a bottle, the spoon, a desk, the cup, a television, the
chair, a shoe, the finger, a flower, the camera, a stick, the balloon, a
book, the table, a comb, etc.
Do NOT work with much (for example, you would never say much pens or much
computers).
2.2 Non-count nouns
Cannot be counted. They
usually express a group or a type.
- water,
wood, ice, air, oxygen, English, Spanish, traffic, furniture, milk, wine,
sugar, rice, meat, flour, soccer, sunshine, etc.
Generally cannot be pluralized.
Work both with and without an article (a, an,
or the), depending on the context of the sentence.
- Sugar
is sweet.
- The
sunshine is beautiful.
- I
drink milk.
- He
eats rice.
- We
watch soccer together.
- The
wood is burning.
Work with expressions such as (some, any, enough,
this, that, and much).
- We
ate some rice and milk.
- I
hope to see some sunshine today.
- This
meat is good.
- She
does not speak much Spanish.
- Do
you see any traffic on the road?
- That
wine is very old.
Do NOT work with
expressions such as (these, those, every, each, either, or neither).
Quiz
2.1
Choose all of the non-count nouns in the
following list:
wine, student, pen, water, wind, milk, computer,
furniture, cup, rice, box, watch, potato, wood
4.
Possessive
Nouns
Possessive
nouns are used to indicate ownership.
Possessive nouns usually are formed by adding an
apostrophe (') and s.
- John's book
- Kerry's car
- Grandma's mirror
When a
noun is plural and ends in s, just add an apostrophe (').
- The kids' toys
- My parents' house
- The teachers' lounge
If two
people own one thing, add the apostrophe and s to the second person only.
- John and Mary's new house
- David and Sue's wedding
- Tom and Doug's car
If two
people own separate things, add the apostrophe and s for each person.
- Susan's and Beth's books
- Jean's and Dan's pants
- Ben's and Jim's offices
Quiz
3.1
Which of the following is not correct?
1)Dr. Hunts has a new computer.
2)Dr. Hunts's new computer is working well.
3)Dr. Hunts' computer is new.
5.
Pronouns
A pronoun takes the
place of a noun.
Example story:
Mary is one of the heads of the ToJi
Corporation. Mary works with Mr. James and Mr. James' son Tom. Mr. James and
Mr. James' son Tom are experts in biochemistry. Mary, Mr. James, and Tom
researched and invented a drug for cancer treatment.
If the story above is written using pronouns:
Mary is one of the heads of the ToJi
Corporation. She works with Mr. James andhis son Tom. He and his son Tom are experts in biochemistry. They researched and invented a drug for
cancer treatment.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns refer
to a person:
- I go to school.
- You are a student.
- They are Koreans.
- He works here.
- We gave her food.
The word ‘it' refers to an object:
- I
drank it.
- It is big.
- They
cut it into halves.
Memorize the personal pronouns:
|
First
|
Second
|
Third
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Neutral
|
|
Singular Subject
|
I
|
you
|
he
|
she
|
it
|
|
Singular Object
|
me
|
you
|
him
|
her
|
it
|
|
Singular Reflexive
|
myself
|
yourself
|
himself
|
herself
|
itself
|
|
Plural Subject
|
we
|
you
|
they
|
|
Plural Object
|
us
|
you
|
them
|
|
Plural Reflexive
|
ourselves
|
yourselves
|
themselves
|
Quiz
4.1
Write the correct pronoun in each blank.
1)I ate an apple.
was
delicious.
2)You look tired.
should
rest.
3)She is a teacher. I gave
a book.
4)They are my friends. I like
very
much.
5)He saw the movie.
was
fun.
6.
'Be'
Verbs
|
A verb shows action or a state of being.
I go home. Home is my place to rest. I like the
smell of my house. I feel totally relaxed. Home refreshes me.
At home, I get ready for a new day.
"Be" verbs indicate a state of being.
Verbs must match subjects.
- I am a
doctor.
- He is sleepy.
- We are here.
Negative sentences need ‘not' after the verb.
- I am not a doctor.
- He is not sleepy.
- We are not there.
The verb comes first in interrogative
sentences.
- Am I a doctor?
- Is he sleepy?
- Are we there?
"Are not" (is not) can be shortened
to "aren't" (isn't).
- He isn't sleepy.
- We aren't there.
Remember the variations of "be"
verbs:
|
Present
|
Negative
|
Interrogative
|
|
I am
|
I am not
|
Am I?
|
|
You are
|
You are not (aren't)
|
Are you?
|
|
He is
|
He is not (isn't)
|
Is he?
|
|
She is
|
She is not (isn't)
|
Is she?
|
|
It is
|
It is not (isn't)
|
Isn't it?
|
|
We are
|
We are not (aren't)
|
Are we?
|
|
You are
|
You are not (aren't)
|
Are you?
|
|
They are
|
They are not (aren't)
|
Are they?
|
Quiz 5.1
Which of the following sentences are written correctly?
1)I am thirsty.
2)You are kind.
3)He am not sad.
4)She are not tall.
5)It is not moving.
6)We aren't tired.
7)Is they running?
8)Are you ready?
|
7.
Action
Verbs
Action
verbs express action and are the most common verbs.
Action verbs need s at the end with
third-person, singular subjects.
- He eats bread.
- She walks to
the station.
- It floats on
the sea.
Negative
sentences need do not, does not, or did not.
- I do not eat bread.
- He does not eat bread.
- You did not walk to the
station.
- It does not float on the sea.
Interrogative
sentences begin with do, does, or did.
- Do you eat bread?
- Does he eat bread?
- Does she walk to the station?
- Did they finish it?
Do not
can be shortened to don't, does not to doesn't, and did not to didn't.
- I don't eat bread.
- She doesn't walk to the
station.
- It doesn't float on the sea.
- They didn't finish it.
Remember
the variations of action verbs:
|
Affirmative Sentence
|
Negative Sentence
|
Interrogative Sentence
|
|
I sing a song.
|
I do not (don't) sing
a song.
|
Do I sing a song?
|
|
You sing a song.
|
You do not (don't)
sing a song.
|
Do you sing a song?
|
|
He (she) sings a song.
|
He (she) does not
(doesn't) sing a song.
|
Does he (she) sing a
song?
|
|
We sing a song.
|
We do not (don't) sing
a song.
|
Do we sing a song?
|
|
They sang a song.
|
They did not (didn't)
sing a song.
|
Did they sing a song?
|
Quiz
6.1
Correct the verb errors in the sentences below.
Some sentences may be correct as is.
1)I runs a marathon.
2)You look sleepy.
3)She do not dance.
4)Does you leave today?
5)We don't stay here.
6)It come with rice.
8.
Adjectives
Adjectives
describe or modify nouns.
I like fairy tales. A fairy tale is an imaginary story
that has unrealistic characters in a fantastic background.
It makes me forget about the real world and refreshes my tired mind.
Adjectives generally appear immediately before
the noun.
- A pretty girl
- Red flowers
- A long stick
- Heavy boxes
- Warm weather
Commonly,
adjectives of opposite meaning are formed by adding a prefix such asun, in,
or dis.
- clear – unclear, important –
unimportant, predictable – unpredictable, believable – unbelievable,
common – uncommon, aware – unaware, ambiguous – unambiguous, conventional
– unconventional, certain – uncertain
- definite – indefinite, correct
– incorrect, comparable – incomparable, complete – incomplete, evitable –
inevitable, expensive – inexpensive
- able – disable, assemble – disassemble,
content – discontent, similar – dissimilar
When
using a string of adjectives, they should appear in a set order: size/shape +
age + color + origin + material.
- A big brown house
- A small old English desk
- A beautiful black Italian
leather purse
- Delicious Chinese food
The + adjective describes a
class or group of people and acts as a noun.
- the old, the young, the poor,
the rich, the oppressed, the homeless, etc.
- This popular TV show is loved
by the old.
Quiz
7.1
Write opposite adjectives using the appropriate
prefix.
1) Clear –
2) Definite –
3) Correct –
4) Expensive –
5) Complete –
Quiz
7.2
Underline all adjectives in the following
sentences.
In the spring, red roses blossom in my cute
small garden. The beautiful birds also sing in the big oak tree.
9.
Comparative
and Superlative Adjectives
Comparative
adjectives compare two things. Superlative adjectives compare more than two things
Commonly, adjectives that contain only one
syllable or end in 'y' use 'er' to form comparatives and 'est' to form
superlatives. For adjectives ending in y, change the 'y' to 'i' before adding
the 'er' or 'est'.
- old – older – oldest
- young – younger – youngest
- pretty – prettier – prettiest
- long – longer – longest
- short – shorter – shortest
- bright – brighter – brightest
- close – closer – closest
- happy – happier - happiest
Adjectives
with two or more syllables do not change but instead add more to
form comparatives and most to form superlatives.
- respectable – more respectable
– most respectable
- beautiful – more beautiful –
most beautiful
- preferable – more preferable –
most preferable
- hardworking – more hardworking
– most hardworking
Some
adjectives have different forms of comparatives and superlatives.
- good – better – best
- bad – worse – worst
- little – less – least
- much (many) – more – most
- far – further - furthest
The
word than typically appears in comparative sentences.
- Amy is smarter than Betty.
- Chad is stronger than Dan.
- Greg is more diligent than his
brother.
- I have more apples than he.
- She likes him more than me.
Superlatives
are typically accompanied by the word the.
- Tom is the oldest man in town.
- Paul is the tallest boy in the
neighborhood.
- That shade of blue is the most
beautiful color.
- This is the longest song that I
have ever heard.
Quiz
8.1
Write the appropriate comparative or superlative
form of the word cold in each blank.
Yesterday was a cold day. Today is than
yesterday. Tomorrow will be the day
yet.
Quiz
8.2
Which of the following sentences is incorrect?
1)Mary is shorter than Jane.
2)The moon is more closer to the earth than the
sun.
3)I have the best score on the exam.
Quiz
8.3
Fill in the blanks.
1)My friend has a pretty purse, but I have
a one.
2)The weather
is yet to come!
3)Today's sunshine is beautiful
than yesterday's.
10.
Adverbs
Adverbs
modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
An adverb tells more about a verb in the
sentence.
- The fire engine runs fast.
- Listen to his speech carefully.
- I browse the web frequently.
- It rained hard.
An
adverb describes more about an adjective in the sentence.
- The news is very
surprising!
- The coffee is extremely hot,
so be careful.
- Nature is really amazing!
An
adverb modifies another adverb in the sentence.
- It rains very hard.
- Computers run much
faster these days.
- I clean my room less
frequently because I am busy.
Commonly,
adjectives can be changed to adverbs by adding 'ly'.
- slow – slowly
- quick – quickly
- comfortable – comfortably
- loud – loudly
To
change adjectives ending in 'y' into adverbs, change the 'y' to 'i' and add
'ly'.
- happy – happily
- easy – easily
Quiz 9.1
Choose the correct word form in the following
sentences.
1)I spoke to you (careful, carefully) last time.
2)We talked about it (clear, clearly).
3)I sat on the (comfortable, comfortably) sofa.
4)My dog runs very (fast, faster).
5)Let’s install the new program (quick,
quickly).
11.
Simple
Tense
Verb
tense tells you when the action happens. There are three main verb tenses:
present, past, and future. Each main tense is divided into simple, progressive,
perfect, and perfect progressive tenses.
|
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
|
Simple
|
finish
|
finished
|
will finish
|
|
Progressive
|
am/is/are finishing
|
was/were finishing
|
will be finishing
|
|
Perfect
|
have/has finished
|
had finished
|
will have finished
|
|
Perfect Progressive
|
have/has been finishing
|
had been finishing
|
will have been finishing
|
Things to remember about simple tense:
a. Present tense
is the original verb form.
b. Past tense has
a few patterns.
c. Future tense
needs will (shall) + verb.
run
- I run a marathon twice a year.
(present)
- I ran a marathon last year.
(past)
- I will run a marathon next
year. (future)
eat
- I eat lunch in my office.
- I ate lunch an hour ago.
- I will eat lunch in one hour.
see
- I see a movie once a week.
- I saw a movie yesterday.
- I will see a movie tomorrow.
know
- I know it.
- I knew it the day before
yesterday.
- I will know it by tomorrow.
learn
- I learn English.
- I learned English the last two
years.
- I will learn English next year.
cook
- I cook my supper every night.
- I cooked our dinner already.
- I will cook breakfast tomorrow.
Quiz 10.1
Fill in the blanks with appropriate verb forms.
1)I a
song at the concert yesterday.
2)He a
letter to his girlfriend tomorrow.
3)I to
the library to borrow some books this weekend.
12.
Progressive
and Perfect Tense
11.1 Progressive
Tense
The progressive tense
involves action that is, was, or will be in progress at a certain time. In the
progressive tense, verbs are formed with a "be" verb + ing.
run
- I
am running a marathon right now. (present progressive)
- I
was running a marathon at this time last year. (past progressive)
- I
will be running a marathon next Sunday. (future progressive)
eat
- I
am eating lunch now.
- I
was eating lunch when you saw me.
- I
will be eating lunch in the meeting.
learn
- I
am learning English at my desk.
- I
was learning English the last two years.
- I
will be learning English then.
cook
- I
am cooking my supper now.
- I
was cooking our dinner when you called me.
- I
will be cooking breakfast by the time you come home.
11.2 Perfect Tense
The present perfect
tense describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present
time. Use has/have + the past participle form of the
verb.
The past perfect tense describes an action that
started and ended in the past. Usehad +
the past participle form of the verb.
The future perfect tense describes future
actions that will occur before some other action. Use will have + the past participle form of the
verb.
run
- I
have run several marathons this year. (present perfect)
- I
had run many marathons in the past. (past perfect)
- I
will have run a marathon by the time I turn 30. (future perfect)
learn
- I
have learned a lot about English grammar this semester.
- I
had learned the basics of English grammar in elementary school.
- I
will have learned a lot about English grammar when I finish college.
know
- I
have known her since I was young.
- I
had known her until she passed away.
- I
will have known her for 20 years next month.
cook
- I
have cooked supper every night this week.
- I
had cooked supper every night until the stove broke.
- I
will have cooked supper every night by the time this diet ends.
Quiz
11.1
Using the following sentence and create three
more sentences using the present, past, and future progressive tenses.
I sing a song on the big stage.
Quiz
11.2
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the
verb given.
1)He (exercise) hard since last year.
2)I (study) math as my major since high
school.
13.
Perfect
Progressive Tense
The
perfect progressive tense describes actions that repeated over a period of time
in the past, are continuing in the present, and/or will continue in the future.
The present perfect progressive tense tells you
about a continuous action that was initiated in the past and finished at some
point in the past; however, the action has some relation to the present time.
Use have/has + been + ing.
- It has been raining, and the
street is still wet.
- I have been running, and I am
still tired.
- She has been practicing the
piano, and she is much better now.
The
past perfect progressive tense illustrates a continuous action in the past that
was completed before another past action. Use had + been + ing.
- It had been raining, and the
street was still wet.
- I had been running, and I was
still tired.
- She had been practicing the
piano, and she had gotten much better.
The
future perfect progressive tense indicates a continuous action that will be
completed in the future. Use will + have + been + ing.
- By tonight, it will have been
raining several hours, and the street will be very wet.
- By next summer, I will have
been running for almost a year, and I will be fit and healthy.
- By the time of the concert, she
will have been practicing the piano for several months, and she will be
much better.
Quiz
12.1
Choose the incorrect sentence from the following.
1)I have been sleeping all day today.
2)They will have been walking for almost an hour
by the time they arrive at their destination.
3)She have been eating a lot recently.
14.
Irregular
Verbs
Regular
verbs form their past and past participle by adding ed (d).
|
Base Verb
|
Past
|
Past Participle
|
|
learn
|
learned
|
learned
|
|
study
|
studied
|
studied
|
|
cook
|
cooked
|
cooked
|
|
solve
|
solved
|
solved
|
|
ask
|
asked
|
asked
|
|
watch
|
watched
|
watched
|
|
listen
|
listened
|
listened
|
Irregular verbs do not have definite rules, but
there are a few patterns.
|
Base Verb
|
Past
|
Past Participle
|
|
grow
|
grew
|
grown
|
|
know
|
knew
|
known
|
|
begin
|
began
|
begun
|
|
draw
|
drew
|
drawn
|
|
drive
|
drove
|
driven
|
|
fly
|
flew
|
flown
|
|
give
|
gave
|
given
|
|
speak
|
spoke
|
spoken
|
|
swim
|
swam
|
swum
|
|
go
|
went
|
gone
|
|
take
|
took
|
taken
|
|
find
|
found
|
found
|
|
spend
|
spent
|
spent
|
|
teach
|
taught
|
taught
|
|
pay
|
paid
|
paid
|
|
feel
|
felt
|
felt
|
|
buy
|
bought
|
bought
|
|
meet
|
met
|
met
|
|
have
|
had
|
had
|
|
feed
|
fed
|
fed
|
|
keep
|
kept
|
kept
|
|
cut
|
cut
|
cut
|
|
hit
|
hit
|
hit
|
|
set
|
set
|
set
|
|
shut
|
shut
|
shut
|
|
fit
|
fit
|
fit
|
Quiz
13.1
Find the past and past participle forms of the
following verbs using your dictionary:
bring
drink
think
tell
eat
make
beat
15.
Gerunds
A gerund (verb + ing) acts like a noun in a
sentence.
- Seeing is believing.
- Running a marathon is not an easy thing to do.
- Watching TV is sometimes harmful.
- Eating is always fun.
- My hobby is painting.
- She loves babysitting her sister.
- I like listening to music.
- I wasted all my afternoon by taking a nap.
- I am afraid of singing a song on a stage.
Often, a possessive noun or pronoun comes before
a gerund.
- I hope that you don’t mind my using your pen.
- Don’t be mad about my leaving early.
- I don’t want you misunderstanding.
- You will be amazed by my writing.
Quiz 14.1
Fill in the blanks.
1)I enjoy (draw)
as a hobby.
2)She likes (buy)
clothes.
3)Children are fond of (play)
with water.
4) (dance)
is my favorite thing to do.
5)I am upset at his (break)
the rule.
16.
Infinitives
Part 1
An
infinitive is a verb combined with the word to. Most often, an infinitive acts
as a noun in the sentence. Less frequently, it acts as an adjective or an
adverb.
- I want to go home early today.
- I hope to be chosen as a
member.
- I prefer to go there earlier.
- You need to consider various
rules in writing sentences.
- You have to explain your
reasoning in detail.
- You might wish to act as a
teacher.
- To leave for a vacation is my
only wish at this time.
- A common mistake in a
relationship is not to trust the other person.
- Help me to save the trees!
- To be mentally healthy, you
must read books.
- Do you want me to fill out this
form?
- Here is our to-do list.
- It was nice to meet you.
- It is time to move on.
- I am young enough to change my
habits.
- Don’t forget not to make
grammar mistakes.
- You are required to leave all
your belongings here.
- I need to take three more
classes to finish my graduate study.
- I got closer to the speaker to
listen clearly.
- Be sure to check if you have
tickets.
- I am going to buy the new
computer.
Generally,
it is not common to split to and the verb except for when you want to emphasize
the verb.
- I want you to immediately stop
doing that.
- You have to seriously work hard
to succeed.
- You need to definitely explain
your reasoning in detail.
Quiz 15.1
Fill in the blanks.
1)I am going (learn)
English.
2)It is common (make)
a grammar mistake.
3)Did you come (clean)
my house?
17.
Infinitives
Part 2
Commonly,
an infinitive is used with the subject it. The sentence structure is "It
is +
infinitive.…" It refers to the infinitive. This expression is used in many
ways.
- It is time to do math.
- It is common to think that way.
- It is appropriate to keep a low
profile.
- It was nice to see you.
- It was my pleasure to meet you.
- It was my honor to have dinner
with you.
- It is good to see you.
- It was great to go on a trip
with them.
Both
gerunds and infinitive phrases can function as nouns, in a variety of ways.
Gerunds and infinitives can follow certain verbs but not others. You need to
remember which verbs can be followed by only a gerund or only an
infinitive.
Verbs that can precede only gerunds:
consider, suggest, enjoy, deny, avoid, miss,
mind, practice, postpone, resist, finish, quit, give up, put off
Verbs that can precede only infinitives:
offer, decide, hope, attempt, promise, agree,
afford, deserve, refuse, undertake, learn, fail, seem, appear, tend, pretend,
choose, demand, desire, guarantee, claim, manage, determine, expect, want, wish
Verbs that can precede either gerunds or
infinitives without changing meanings:
continue, like, love, begin, start, propose,
neglect, stand, hate
Verbs that can precede either gerunds or
infinitives but change meanings:
forget, remember, stop, try
- I stopped watching the movie.
(I no longer watched the movie.)
- I stopped to watch the movie.
(I stopped what I was doing to watch the movie.)
Quiz 16.1
Fill in the blanks.
1)I decided (leave)
the job.
2)She pretended (know)
me.
3)He desires (be)
a professor.
4)The company considered (sell)
its main building.
5)I expect (win)
at this game.
6)Do you enjoy (take)
care of your pet?
18.
Active
Voice and Passive Voice
Verbs
are either active or passive in voice. In the active voice, the subject and
verb relationship is straightforward: the subject is a do-er. In the passive
voice, the subject of the sentence is not a do-er. It is shown with by + do-er
or is not shown in the sentence.
Passive voice is used when the action is the
focus, not the subject. It is not important (or not known) who does the
action.
- The window is broken. (It is
not known who broke the window, or it is not important to know who broke
the window.)
- The class has been canceled.
(The focus is on the class being canceled. It is not important to know who
canceled it.)
- The passive voice is often
used. (The focus is on the passive voice. It is not important to explain
who the writer is.)
Passive
voice should be avoided when you want more clarity in writing. However, in some
cases, you need to use passive voice to stress the action, not the actor. Also,
passive voice can be considered more polite, as it sounds less aggressive or
dramatic.
- That building was built in
1990.
- The car was invented about a
hundred years ago.
- I was told that Mary moved to a
different country.
- Your business is appreciated.
- She was elected to city
council.
- It was rumored that the company
would lay off a few people soon.
- It is recommended that the
billing process be shortened.
You can
easily rewrite an active sentence to a passive sentence. The object in the
active sentence becomes a subject in the passive sentence. The verb is changed
to a “be” verb + past participle. The subject of the active sentence follows by
or is omitted.
- Sam wrote a letter to Jamie.
- A letter was written to Jamie
by Sam.
- The government built a new
bridge.
- A new bridge was built by the
government.
- I recommend that you apply for
this position.
- It is recommended that you
apply for this position.
Quiz 17.1
Rewrite the following sentence in passive voice.
John gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.
Quiz
17.2
Choose the sentences written incorrectly in the
passive voice.
1)I was eaten an ice cream.
2)The song was sung by a singer.
3)I was deceived by the TV program.
4)The concert was finished at 12 p.m.
5)He was written a novel.
6)The tennis match was aired on TV.
7)He was treated kindly.
8)I have been managed a company since 2004.
19.
Auxiliary
Verbs "Be," "Do," "Have"
An
auxiliary verb helps the main (full) verb and is also called a "helping
verb." With auxiliary verbs, you can write sentences in different tenses,
moods, or voices. Auxiliary verbs are: be, do, have, will, shall,
would, should, can, could, may, might, must, ought, etc.
- I think I should study
harder to master English.
- I am having a
cup of coffee.
- You have been practicing
hard.
- It was written
by a petitioner.
- You may choose
what you like.
The
verb forms of be, do, and have can be used either as a main
(full) verb or an auxiliary verb. The following examples show these verbs used
as auxiliary verbs.
1. "Be" as an auxiliary verb
a.Used in progressive sentences:
- I am taking a bath.
- She is preparing dinner for us.
- They have been studying all
night.
b.Used
in passive sentences:
- I was given a free meal.
- He was seen by fans at the
airport.
- This song has been sung by all
nations.
2."Do"
as an auxiliary verb
a. Used in negative sentences:
- I do not know the truth.
- She doesn’t agree with me.
- They didn’t arrive here yet.
b.Used
in questions:
- Do you want to have another
one?
- Did he finish his homework?
- Do we need to keep going
straight?
3."Have"
as an auxiliary verb
a. Used in perfect sentences:
- I have been following you for a
mile.
- We have done a lot so far.
- She had been queen of the town.
Quiz 19.1
Identify all auxiliary verbs in the following
paragraph.
I have just heard that you didn’t attend the
meeting yesterday. Did you have a conflict with that time? I must ask that you
explain the reason.
Quiz
19.2
Which of the following sentences does not show
any auxiliary verbs?
1)I didn’t have any reason to go there.
2)Have we practiced this song enough?
3)Three seats have been reserved for us.
4)I am a professor in the economics department.
20.
Auxiliary
Verbs "Will/Would" and "Shall/Should"
The
verbs will, would, shall,
should, can, could, may, might, and must cannot
be the main (full) verbs alone. They are used as auxiliary verbs only and
always need a main verb to follow.
8.1 Will
Used
to express desire, preference, choice, or consent:
- I will take
this duty.
- Will you
stop talking like that?
Used
to express the future:
- It will
rain tomorrow.
- The news
will spread soon.
Used
to express capacity or capability:
- This bucket
will hold two gallons of water.
- This
airplane will take 200 passengers.
Used
to express determination, insistence, or persistence:
8.2 Would (past form of
will)
Often
used in auxiliary functions with rather to express preference:
- I would rather
go shopping today.
- We’d rather
say something than stay quiet.
Used
to express a wish or desire:
- I would
like to have one more pencil.
Used
to express contingency or possibility:
- If I were
you, I would be so happy.
Used
to express routine or habitual things:
- Normally,
we would work until 6 p.m.
8.3 Shall
Mainly
used in American English to ask questions politely (it has more usages in
British English). For the future tense, will is more frequently used in
American English than shall.
- Shall we
dance?
- Shall I go
now?
- Let’s
drink, shall we?
Often
used in formal settings to deliver obligation or requirement:
- You shall
abide by the law.
- There shall
be no trespassing on this property.
- Students
shall not enter this room.
8.4 Should (past form of
shall)
Often
used in auxiliary functions to express an opinion, suggestion, preference, or
idea:
- You should
rest at home today.
- I should
take a bus this time.
- He should
be more thoughtful in the decision-making process.
Used
to express that you wish something had happened but it didn’t or couldn’t
(should + have + past participle):
- You should
have seen it. It was really beautiful.
- I should
have completed it earlier to meet the deadline.
- We should
have visited the place on the way.
Used
to ask for someone’s opinion:
- What should
we do now?
- Should we
continue our meeting?
- Should we
go this way?
- Where
should we go this summer?
Used
to say something expected or correct:
- There
should be an old city hall building here.
- Everybody
should arrive by 6 p.m.
- We should
be there this evening.
Quiz 20.1
Fill in the blanks using an appropriate auxiliary verb.
1)I leave
now. It is too late.
2)You have
seen him. His dance was amazing.
3) we
have lunch together?
4)I like
a cup of tea, please.
5) we
read the email?
21.
Auxiliary
Verbs "Can/Could" and "May/Might/Must"
19.1 Can
Used to express ability
(to be able to do something):
- I
can make jewelry.
- He
can’t speak French.
- Can
you open this jar?
Used to ask for permission:
- Can
I use your bathroom?
- Can
I leave now?
- Can
I raise the volume?
Used to make requests or suggestions:
- Can
I have more napkins?
- Can
I have the bill?
- You
can take this spot if you like.
- You
can do whatever you want.
19.2 Could (past form
of can)
Describes an ability
that someone had in the past:
- I
could swim when I was young.
- You
could see the boat sinking.
- They
could tell he was nervous.
Often used in auxiliary functions to express
permission politely:
- Could
I take this jacket with me?
- You
could borrow my umbrella.
- Could
you please let me pass you?
- Could
I get you more water?
Used to express possibility:
- All
of them could ride in the van.
- You
could always stay at our house.
- Could
it be true?
- This
plan could really work out.
19.3 May
Used to ask for formal
permission:
- May
I come in?
- May
I say something now?
- May
I ask one question?
Used to suggest something that is possible:
- She
may agree with this plan.
- They
may not be happy about what happened.
- It
may shower tonight.
19.4 Might (past form
of may)
Used to suggest a
smaller possibility than may does (actually, might is more common than may in
American English):
- He
might have finished it.
- I
might go see a doctor.
- I
might not come this time.
- It
might be right.
- You
might have lost it.
- The
store might have been closed today.
19.5 Must
Used to express
something formally required or necessary:
- I
must complete the project by this week.
- The
government must provide health care for everybody.
- Everyone
must save the natural resources of the earth.
- The
building must have a fire alarm.
- You
must answer my question right now.
Used to show that something is very likely:
- He
must be a genius.
- You
must be joking!
- There
must be an accident.
- She
must be very tired.
Quiz
21.1
Choose the right word for each blank.
1)She (can, could, may, might, must) have
practiced a lot. Her performance was amazing.
2)I can’t find my watch anywhere. I (can, could, may, might, must) have
lost it.
3)Professor, (can, could, may, might, must) I ask a
question?
4) (can, could, may, might, must) you
please lower your voice?
5)You (can, could, may, might, must) be
kidding! How is that possible?
6)I (can, could, may, might, must) speak
both English and Chinese fluently.
22.
Prepositions
"On," "At," and "In"
A preposition is a word
that links a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to some other part of the sentence.
Prepositions can be tricky for English learners.
There is no definite rule or formula for choosing a preposition. In the
beginning stage of learning the language, you should try to identify a
preposition when reading or listening in English and recognize its usage.
- to
the office
- at
the desk
- on
the table
- in
an hour
- about
myself
A preposition is used to show direction,
location, or time, or to introduce an object.
Here are a few common prepositions and examples.
20.1 On
Used to express a
surface of something:
- I
put an egg on the kitchen table.
- The
paper is on my desk.
Used to specify days and dates:
- The
garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.
- I
was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.
Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a
phone or computer:
- He
is on the phone right now.
- She
has been on the computer since this morning.
- My
favorite movie will be on TV tonight.
Used to indicate a part of the body:
- The
stick hit me on my shoulder.
- He
kissed me on my cheek.
- I
wear a ring on my finger.
Used to indicate the state of something:
- Everything
in this store is on sale.
- The
building is on fire.
20.2 At
Used to point out
specific time:
- I
will meet you at 12 p.m.
- The
bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.
Used to indicate a place:
- There
is a party at the club house.
- There
were hundreds of people at the park.
- We
saw a baseball game at the stadium.
Used to indicate an email address:
- Please
email me at abc@defg.com.
Used to indicate an activity:
- He
laughed at my acting.
- I
am good at drawing a portrait.
20.3 In
Used for unspecific
times during a day, month, season, year:
- She
always reads newspapers in the morning.
- In
the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.
- The
new semester will start in March.
Used to indicate a location or place:
- She
looked me directly in the eyes.
- I
am currently staying in a hotel.
- My
hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.
Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:
- This
painting is mostly in blue.
- The
students stood in a circle.
- This
jacket comes in four different sizes.
Used to express while doing something:
- In
preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.
- A
catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.
Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or
feeling:
- I
believe in the next life.
- We
are not interested in gambling.
Quiz 22.1
Identify all prepositions in the following
sentences.
After flying for many hours, we finally got off
the airplane. We walked out the exit and went to the baggage claim area. There
were hundreds of different bags on the conveyer belt. I almost picked up the
wrong one because it looked like mine.
Quiz 22.2
Choose a correct preposition in the sentence.
1)I want to lose 5 kilogram (on, at, in) one month.
2)Could you get me this pants (on, at, in) a larger size?
3)She seems to be interested (on, at, in) Psychology.
4)I will come to pick you up (on, at, in) 2 pm tomorrow.
5)This class will be held (on, at, in) Mondays.
23. Prepositions "Of,"
"To," and "For"
21.1 Of
Used for belonging to,
relating to, or connected with:
- The
secret of this game is that you can’t ever win.
- The
highlight of the show is at the end.
- The
first page of the book describes the author’s profile.
- Don’t
touch it. That’s the bag of my friend’s sister.
- I
always dreamed of being rich and famous.
Used to indicate reference:
- I
got married in the summer of 2000.
- This
is a picture of my family.
- I
got a discount of 10 percent on the purchase.
Used to indicate an amount or number:
- I
drank three cups of milk.
- A
large number of people gathered to protest.
- I
had only four hours of sleep during the last two days.
- He
got a perfect score of 5 on his writing assignment.
21.2 To
Used to indicate the
place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward, or the
direction of something:
- I
am heading to the entrance of the building.
- The
package was mailed to Mr. Kim yesterday.
- All
of us went to the movie theater.
- Please
send it back to me.
Used to indicate a limit or an ending point:
- The
snow was piled up to the roof.
- The
stock prices rose up to 100 dollars.
Used to indicate relationship:
- This
letter is very important to your admission.
- My
answer to your question is in this envelop.
- Do
not respond to every little thing in your life.
Used to indicate a time or a period:
- I
work nine to six, Monday to Friday.
- It
is now 10 to five. (In other words, it is 4:50.)
21.3 For
Used to indicate the
use of something:
- This
place is for exhibitions and shows.
- I
baked a cake for your birthday.
- I
put a note on the door for privacy.
- She
has been studying hard for the final exam.
Used to mean because of:
- I
am so happy for you.
- We
feel deeply sorry for your loss.
- For
this reason, I’ve decided to quit this job.
Used to indicate time or duration:
- He’s
been famous for many decades.
- I
attended the university for one year only.
- This
is all I have for today.
Quiz 23.1
Choose the correct preposition in each sentence.
1)I slept (of, to, for) only two hours last
night.
2)It was my first trip (of, to, for) Hawaii.
3)Turn off the TV and go straight (of, to, for) bed.
4)This book was written (of, to, for) the people who want to
learn how to play a guitar.
5)I was late (of, to, for) school.
6)Spencer is one (of, to, for) my best friends.
24.
Prepositions
"With," "Over," and "By"
22.1 With
Used to indicate being
together or being involved:
- I
ordered a sandwich with a drink.
- He
was with his friend when he saw me.
- She
has been working with her sister at the nail shop.
- The
manager will be with you shortly.
Used to indicate "having":
- I
met a guy with green eyes.
- Were
you the one talking with an accent?
- People
with a lot of money are not always happy.
Used to indicate "using":
- I
wrote a letter with the pen you gave me.
- This
is the soup that I made with rice and barley.
- He
cut my hair with his gold scissors.
Used to indicate feeling:
- I
am emailing you with my sincere apology.
- He
came to the front stage with confidence.
Used to indicate agreement or understanding:
- Are
you with me?
- Yes,
I am completely with you.
- She
agrees with me.
24.2.
Over
Used to indicate
movement from one place to another.
- Come
over to my house for dinner sometime.
- Could
you roll over?
- They
sent over a gift for his promotion.
Used to indicate movement downward:
- The
big tree fell over on the road.
- Can
you bend over and get the dish for me?
- He
pushed it over the edge.
Used to indicate more than an expected number or
amount:
- This
amount is over our prediction.
- Kids
twelve and over can watch this movie.
- The
phone rang for over a minute.
Used to indicate a period of time:
- I
worked there over a year.
- She
did not sleep there over this past month.
22.3 By
Used to indicate
proximity:
- Can
I sit by you?
- He
was standing by me.
- The
post office is by the bank.
Used to indicate the person that does something
in a passive voice sentence:
- The
microwave was fixed by the mechanic.
- The
flowers were delivered by a postman.
- The
branch office was closed by the head office.
Used to indicate an action with a particular
purpose:
- You
can pass the exam by preparing for it.
- I
expressed my feeling toward her by writing a letter.
- She
finally broke the record by pure effort.
Used to indicate a mean or method:
- Please
send this package to Russia by airmail.
- I
came here by subway.
Quiz 24.1
Choose the correct preposition in each sentence.
1)If she left at 4 p.m., she should be here (with, over, by) now.
2)Go (with, over, by) there and catch my
ball.
3) (With, Over, By) your determination,
you will be able to achieve your dream.
4)I just found it! It was (with, over, by) the radio on my desk.
5)I knocked him (with, over, by) accidentally.
6)She was (with, over, by) me when the accident
occurred.
25.
Coordinating
Conjunctions and Correlative Conjunctions
A conjunction joins
words or groups of words in a sentence.
- I
ate lunch with Kate and Derma.
- Because
it is rainy today, the trip is canceled.
- She
didn’t press the bell, but I did.
There are three types of conjunctions:
1.Coordinating Conjunctions
a.Connect words,
phrases, or clauses that are independent or equal
b.and, but, or,
so, for, yet, and not
2.Correlative Conjunctions
a.Used in pairs
b.both/and,
either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also
3.Subordinating Conjunctions
a.Used at the
beginning of subordinate clauses
b.although, after,
before, because, how, if, once, since, so that, until, unless, when, while,
where, whether, etc.
23.1 Coordinating
Conjunctions
1.And—means "in
addition to":
- We
are going to a zoo and an aquarium on the same day.
2.But—connects two different things that are not
in agreement:
- I
am a night owl, but she is an early bird.
3.Or—indicates a choice between two things:
- Do
you want a red one or a blue one?
4.So—illustrates a result of the first thing:
- This
song has been very popular, so I downloaded it.
5.For—means "because":
- I
want to go there again, for it was a wonderful trip.
6.Yet—indicates contrast with something:
- He
performed very well, yet he didn’t make the final cut.
23.2 Correlative
Conjunctions
1.Both/and
- She
won gold medals from both the single and group races.
- Both
TV and television are correct words.
2.Either/or
- I
am fine with either Monday or Wednesday.
- You
can have either apples or pears.
3.Neither/nor
- He
enjoys neither drinking nor gambling.
- Neither
you nor I will get off early today.
4.Not only/but also
- Not
only red but also green looks good on you.
- She
got the perfect score in not only English but also math.
Quiz 25.1
Write the correct conjunction in each
sentence.
1) my friend I are taking the geography class.
2)Do you want to go swimming golfing?
3)I studied grammar for a long time, I still make mistakes.
4) wood bricks can be used as
homebuilding materials.
5)I wasn’t feeling well this morning, I had to go to work.
26. Subordinating Conjunctions
24.1 Subordinating
Conjunctions
1.Although—means
"in spite of the fact that":
- Although
it was raining, I ran home.
- She
showed up, although she felt sick.
- Although
my mom told me to come home early, I stayed out late.
2.After—indicates "subsequently to the time
when":
- Please
text me after you arrive at the shopping mall.
- We
were forced to stop watching TV after the electricity went out.
- I
always tell my daughter that she can have dessert after she eats her
dinner.
3.Before—indicates "earlier than the time
that":
- He
had written a living will before he died.
- Before
he contacted me, I was going to call him.
- I
need to finish the dishes before my wife gets home.
4.Because—means "for the reason that":
- Because
he was smart and worked hard, he was able to make a lot of money.
- They
stopped building the house because it was pouring.
- I
love dogs because they are so cute.
5.How—means "the way in which":
- I
wonder how you did it.
- He
explained how he completed it in a few days.
- Can
you show me how you fixed the computer?
6.If—means "in the event that":
- If
it is sunny tomorrow, we can go to the beach.
- If
I receive a promotion, you will be the first to know.
- You
can watch TV if you finish your homework.
7.Once—indicates "at the moment when":
- Once
you see him, you will recognize him.
- Once
the light came on, we all shouted with joy.
- Call
me once you start having contractions.
8.Since—means "from the time when":
- I’ve
been a singer since I was young.
- Since
he graduated, he has been doing nothing.
- This
building has been remodeled three times since I lived here.
9.So that—means "in order to":
- So
that she could keep her position, she didn’t complain at all.
- He
finished his work as fast as possible so that he could leave early.
- He
worked harder for a raise so he could buy a nice car.
10.Until—means "up to the time that":
- Don’t
go anywhere until I come back.
- She
didn’t realize her talent in painting until her teacher mentioned it.
- They
won’t allow us to sit until everyone arrives.
11.Unless—means "except, on the
condition":
- You
will not pass the exam unless you get a score of 80 or higher.
- I
will not tell you anything unless you tell me what you know first.
- Unless
you ask her, you will never know.
12.When—means "at that time":
- When
I came in the room, everyone looked at me.
- I
woke up when my baby was crying.
- I
started looking for a gas station when my gas light went on.
13.While—means "during the time":
- Someone
called you while you were at the meeting.
- We
met while we were working at the University.
- My
dog started barking while I was talking on the phone.
14.Where—indicates "in the place":
- This
is where I came from.
- Please
tell me where you are going.
- I
need to know where John hid the present.
15.Whether—means "if it is true or not":
- We
will have a picnic whether it rains or not.
- It
is time to decide whether we should take action.
- You
need to decide whether or not you are hungry.
Quiz
26.1
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate
conjunction.
1)Could you email me you receive the offer?
2)I want to buy it it is expensive or not.
3)Don’t do that I allow it.
4) you are confident with it, you should
go for it.
5)I didn’t enroll this semester I could go backpacking in Europe.
6)My neighbor’s cat has been missing last Friday.
7) I own a house, I am required to pay
property taxes.
27.
Conjunctive
Adverbs
Conjunctive
adverbs are words that join independent clauses into one sentence. A
conjunctive adverb helps you create a shorter sentence.
When you use a conjunctive adverb, put a
semicolon (;) before it and a comma (,) after it.
- We have many different sizes of
this shirt; however, it comes in only one color.
Some
examples of conjunctive adverbs are: accordingly, also, besides,
consequently, finally, however, indeed, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover,
nevertheless, next, otherwise, still, therefore, then, etc.
- The due date for the final
paper has passed; therefore, I could not submit mine on time.
- There are many history
books; however, none of them may be accurate.
- It rained hard; moreover,
lightening flashed and thunder boomed.
- The baby fell asleep; then,
the doorbell rang.
- The law does not permit
drinking and driving anytime; otherwise, there would be many
more accidents.
Conjunctive
adverbs look like coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, so, for, yet, nor);
however, they are not as strong as coordinating conjunctions and they are
punctuated differently.
A conjunctive adverb is also used in a single
main clause. In this case, a comma (,) is used to separate the conjunctive
adverb from the sentence.
- I woke up very late this
morning. Nevertheless, I wasn’t late to school.
- She didn’t take a bus to work
today. Instead, she drove her car.
- Jack wants a toy car for his
birthday. Meanwhile, Jill wants a dollhouse for her birthday.
- They returned home. Likewise,
I went home.
Quiz 27.1
Choose the right conjunctive adverb for the
sentence.
1)Hurry up; ,
you will be late for the train.
2)I studied hard for the exam; ,
I failed.
3)Tom is a sportsman; ,
his brother Tom is athletic.
4)He didn’t go to college. ,
he started his own business.
5)He is not good-looking. ,
he is popular among girls.
28.
Indefinite
and Definite Articles
The words a, an, and
the are special adjectives called articles.
Indefinite
Articles—a, an
an—used before singular count nouns beginning
with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:
- an
apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange
a—used before singular count nouns beginning with
consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):
- a
stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book
Definite Article—the
Can be used before singular and plural, count
and non-count nouns
26.1. Indefinite
Article (a, an)
Used before singular
nouns that are unspecified:
Used before number collectives and some numbers:
Used before a singular noun followed by a
restrictive modifier:
- a
girl who was wearing a yellow hat
Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of
quantity, amount, or degree:
29.
2. Definite Article (the)
Used to indicate a noun
that is definite or has been previously specified in the context:
- Please
close the door.
- I
like the clothes you gave me.
Used to indicate a noun that is unique:
- Praise
the Lord!
- The
Columbia River is near here.
Used to designate a natural phenomenon:
- The
nights get shorter in the summer.
- The
wind is blowing so hard.
Used to refer to a time period:
- I
was very naïve in the past.
- This
song was very popular in the 1980s.
Used to indicate all the members of a family:
- I
invited the Bakers for dinner.
- This
medicine was invented by the Smiths.
Quiz
28.1
Choose the correct article in each sentence.
1)Did you bring (a, an, the) umbrella?
2)Are you looking for (a, an, the) shampoo?
3)I checked (a, an, the) mailbox again.
4)Can I have (a, an, the) spoon please?
5)I was born into (a, an, the) poor family.
6)She will come back in (a, an, the) hour.
7)Have you been to (a, an, the) Space Needle Tower in
Seattle?
8)I would love to talk to one of (a, an, the) managers.
30.
Interjections
An
interjection is a word that expresses some kind of emotion. It can be used as
filler. Interjections do not have a grammatical function in the sentence and
are not related to the other parts of the sentence. If an interjection is
omitted, the sentence still makes sense. It can stand alone.
- Ouch! That hurts.
- Well, I need a break.
- Wow! What a beautiful dress!
When
you are expressing a strong emotion, use an exclamation mark (!). A comma (,)
can be used for a weaker emotion.
Interjections do the following:
1.Express a feeling—wow, gee, oops, darn, geez,
oh:
- Oops, I’m sorry. That was my
mistake.
- Geez! Do I need to do it again?
- Oh, I didn’t know that.
2.Say
yes or no—yes, no, nope:
- Yes! I will do it!
- No, I am not going to go there.
- Nope. That’s not what I want.
3.Call
attention—yo, hey:
- Yo, will you throw the ball
back?
- Hey, I just wanted to talk to
you about the previous incident.
4.Indicate
a pause—well, um, hmm:
- Well, what I meant was nothing
like that.
- Um, here is our proposal.
- Hmm. You really
need to be on a diet.
27. Capitalization
Capitalization
means using a capital letter (for example, A instead of a). The use of capital
letters helps readers read your writing without confusion.
Always capitalize the following:
The first word in a sentence.
- I grew up in India.
- She left a message on my phone.
The
pronoun I.
- This country is where I dreamed
of.
The
first letter of a proper noun (specific name).
- David wants to play soccer with us.
- This letter is from Chang.
- I graduated from the University
of New York.
- I like Coca-Cola.
- She likes Godiva
chocolates.
The
first letter of months, days, and holidays (but not seasons).
- Today is June 8,
2011.
- Susie’s birthday is this Thursday.
- The shops are closed on Easter.
- This summer is going to be very
hot.
The
first letter of nationalities, religions, races of people, and languages.
- We often eat Italian
food.
- I want to master many
languages, such as Spanish, Korean, Chinese,
andRussian.
- There is one Christian
church in my town.
The
first letter in a person’s title.
- This is Dr. Simon.
- I got it from Mr.
Tom.
Geographic
areas: cities, states, countries, mountains, oceans, rivers, etc.
- My destination is Paris, France.
- Hawaii is in the middle of
the Pacific Ocean.
Historical
periods.
- The Renaissance
began in the 14th century.
- The Qing Dynasty
is the last dynasty in China.
The
first letter of each major word in the title of a book, movie, article, etc.
- Tolstoy’s War and Peace
is my favorite novel.
- I found the article “How
to Write a Good Cover Letter”
in this magazine.
Quiz
30.1
Correctly write each sentence using proper
capitalization.
1)i was born in shanghai, china, but grew up in
the united states.
2)mrs. ohana gave me the bible.
3)if you walk two more blocks, you will be able
to see mt. rocky.
4)my family will have a summer vacation in
hawaii.
5)I didn’t want to cook tonight, so I just
ordered thai food for dinner.
