There is no doubt that for anyone who is trying to learn a second language, the pronunciation of that language will be a major source of concern and they will have to face up to its shortcomings,Some of the basic structures of English grammar are quite simple, They can be described in short as sentence types, structural components, types of sentences and elements of the clause. From this article, we will focus on the four main components of English grammar that a beginner must know. They are sentence, subject and verb (parts of), tense, construction, and cases including the usage of punctuation.
1. Grammar basic activity: Sentence grammar
A defining characteristic of English grammar is that its basic structure is sentences. It means that a sentence is a set of words which together have a meaning. It has been defined that a sentence must contain two major components and these are an operational subject and a verb of a predicate. a. "Whom" in this context is a standalone phrase or word. This will help to be clear about the verb as well as the operational subject of the sentence.
For example, in sayings such as: John is reading a book. 'John' as the subject serves on behalf of the audience in the sentence. Primarily it is the focal point of a book and audience. Moreover, a person sitting, physically present but has no reference point or itself, or as one single prominent individual does not work, this is in reference to people who are not physically present.
Furthermore, the wording is also limited in terms of verbs. In other words: what is happening to it or what he/she/it is doing.
2. Parts of Speech
It is generally accepted that eight parts of speech exist in the English language. Knowing these will allow you to construct sentences in an appropriate manner.
Nouns
Nouns are words that are used to identify people, places, objects or abstract concepts.
- General nouns : Refers to common things such as dog, city, car.
- Perspective nouns : Identifies individuals or geographical places such as John or Paris.
- Example: The dog is barking.
Pronouns
They include words such as he, she, it, I, you and others used instead of nouns so as to refrain from repeating the same one.
- They can also be noted in a different way I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
- Example: He is playing football.
Verbs
Verbs are the words that represent action, events or a state of existence.
- Doing words : Expresses physical and mental doing words like run, jump, think respectively.
- Example: They run every morning.
- Being words : Words that show a situation like am, is, are.
- Example: She is happy.
Adjectives
Adjectives are words which add detail to or describe nouns.
- Example: There is a red apple which is sweet.
Adverbs
Adverbs are words that qualify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs and which usually answer the questions which, how, when, where and to what extent.
- Example: She runs quickly.
Prepositions
Prepositions are words that depict a noun or pronouns in relation to another word or words in a sentence. Examples of prepositions are: on, in, at, by, for, etc.
- Example: The book is on the table.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions perform the linking function in the sentence, whether it be between words, phrases or clauses. The common and the most frequently used conjunctions are 'and', 'but', or 'or'.
- Example: I like both coffee and tea.
Interjections
Interjections are words that are used to convey a certain feeling. They usually come with exclamation marks.
- Example: Wow! That's awesome!
3. Basic Tenses
Tenses in English are used to denote the time of the occurrence of an action by the use of three basic tenses which are present, past and future.
Present Tense
The present tense accounts for any action being performed is to be done currently or repeatedly.
- Simple present : General rule. This is used to describe common customs or regular statistics.
- Example: She reads books every day.
- Present continuous : Refers to the aspect that seeks for activities being undertaken at the time.
- Example: She is reading a book now.
Past Tense
The actions in past tense were performed in already gone time period.
- Simple past : This refers to the form that describes actions that has been done.
- Example: She read a book yesterday.
- Past continuous : Actions that were in progress at a certain time in the past.
- Example: She was reading a book when I called her.
Future Tense
The action yet to perform in future can be identified with the future tense.
- Simple future : Address all those expected actions that one intends to undertake sometime in the future.
- Example: She will read a book tomorrow.
- Future continuous : The future tense that is used to indicate or describe ongoing activities that will take place at a future time.
- Example: She will be reading a book at this time tomorrow.
4. Articles
There are several articles used in the English language that help to clarify whether something is being made specific or remains general.
Definite Article (The)
The article "The" is used when the attention is being paid to the specific object that is already known by both interlocutors.
- Example: The dog is barking outside.
Indefinite Articles (A/An)
A and an are used to indicate that the subject is away in terms of qualities or is broad. A is pronounced before words with a consonant while an is pronounced before words with a vowel.
- Example: She has a dog.
- Example: He is an artist.
5. Plural Nouns
Nouns in plural refer to two or more individuals, location, animals, things or places. To create plural nouns, the adding of –s or –es to the end of the words is adopted.
- Regular plurals :These rules apply to most countable nouns: when consonants are concerned -s can usually be added.
- Example: book→books, car→cars.
- Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, or sh : –es must be affixed.
- Example: bus→buses, box→boxes.
- Irregular Plurals : It is possible that other nouns may not follow the general rules set by the regular nouns.
- Example: child — children, man — men, foot — feet.
6. Subject-Verb Agreement
In English grammar, the subject and verb must agree with respect to number which means the singular must have a singular verb and the plural should have a plural verb.
- Singular subject : Use a singular verb.
- Example: She likes ice cream
- Plural subject : Use a plural verb.
- Example: They like ice cream.
For present tense verbs, you will most likely add an -s or an -es for third person singular subjects (he, she, it).
7. Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
A pronoun is a substitute for a noun so as to avoid repeating the noun over and over again. Possessive adjectives introduce the idea of possession or ownership.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns change in form according to their function in the sentence.
- Subject pronouns : I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
- Example: She is a teacher.
- Object pronouns : Me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
- Example: I gave the book to her.
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives designate the possessor of the noun modified by the adjective.
- My, your, his, her, its, our, their.
- Example: This is my book.
8. Formation of Questions
The English language contains a common set of words called the wh- words that are used to frame questions that seek particular information.
- Who : Is used in relation to a person and more than one person.
- Example: Who is your teacher?
- What : Is used in relation to an object, an idea or a course of action.
- Example: What is your favorite color?
- Where : Is used in relation to a location or place.
- Example: Where do you live?
- When : Is used in relation to the time.
- Example: When is your birthday?
- Why : Is used in relation to the cause.
- Example: Why are you late?
- How : Is used to ask questions relating to the manner or the way something is performed.
- Example: How do you make a cake?
- In case of yes/no queries, the order verb-subject-predicate is used.
- Example: Are you ready?
