English Grammar Basics

General English Language Concepts

• Nouns represent people, places, things, or ideas, for example, student, school, book, and freedom.
• Pronouns replace nouns, for example, he, she, it, they, we, you, and I.
• Verbs show action or a state of being, for example, run, walk, is, are, and were.
• Adjectives describe nouns, for example, red, big, beautiful, and interesting.
• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, for example, quickly, very, and well.
• Prepositions show the relationship between a noun/pronoun and other words in the sentence, for example, in, on, at, to, from, and with.
• Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses, for example, and, but, or, so, and because.
• Interjections express strong emotion, for example, Wow! Ouch! Help!.

Sentence Structure

• The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb.
• The verb is the action or state of being.
• The object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.
• A simple sentence contains one independent clause, for example, The cat sat on the mat.
• A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, for example, The cat sat on the mat, and the dog slept on the floor.
• A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses, for example, Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
• A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Verb Tenses

• Present Simple is for habits, routines, general truths, for example, I eat breakfast every morning.
• Present Continuous is for actions happening now or around now, for example, I am eating breakfast now.
• Past Simple is for completed actions in the past, for example, I ate breakfast yesterday.
• Past Continuous is for actions in progress at a specific time in the past, for example, I was eating breakfast when he arrived.
• Present Perfect is for actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have a result in the present, for example, I have eaten breakfast already.
• Past Perfect is for actions that were completed before another action in the past, for example, I had eaten breakfast before he arrived.
• Future Simple is for predictions or future plans, for example, I will eat breakfast tomorrow.
• Future Continuous is for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future, for example, I will be eating breakfast at 8 am tomorrow.

Reading Comprehension Strategies

• Skimming is reading quickly to get a general idea of the text.
• Scanning is looking for specific information in the text.
• Identifying the main idea means determining the central point of the passage.
• Understanding vocabulary in context means figuring out the meaning of unfamiliar words based on surrounding words and sentences.
• Making inferences means drawing conclusions based on information presented in the text.
• Identifying the author's purpose means determining why the author wrote the text, for example, to inform, persuade, or entertain.

Writing Skills

• Brainstorming is generating ideas before writing.
• Outlining is organizing ideas in a logical order.
• Developing a thesis statement means stating the main argument of the essay.
• Writing clear and concise sentences means using precise language.
• Using transitions means connecting ideas between sentences and paragraphs.
• Providing evidence to support claims means using examples, facts, and statistics.
• Editing and proofreading means checking for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Speaking and Listening Skills

• Pronunciation means saying words correctly.
• Fluency means speaking smoothly and naturally.
• Vocabulary means using a wide range of words.
• Grammar means using correct grammar.
• Active listening means paying attention to the speaker.
• Asking clarifying questions means asking for more information when needed.
• Summarizing means restating the main points of a conversation or presentation.
• Participating in discussions means sharing ideas and opinions.

Vocabulary Development

• Learning new words regularly is important.
• Use a dictionary and thesaurus to build your vocabulary.
• Pay attention to word families, for example, happy, happiness, and happily.
• Learning synonyms and antonyms will expand your understanding of word meanings.
• Use new words in sentences to practice and reinforce learning.
• Reading widely to encounter new vocabulary in context can help you learn new words effectively.

Common Grammar Mistakes

• Subject-verb agreement means making sure the verb agrees with the subject in number, for example, He runs vs. They run.
• Incorrect verb tense means using the wrong verb tense for the context.
• Misplaced modifiers means placing modifiers in the wrong place in the sentence.
• Pronoun agreement means making sure pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender.
• Use of articles (a, an, the) means using the correct article or no article when necessary.
• Prepositions: Using the correct preposition.

Types of Writing

• Narrative writing tells a story.
• Descriptive writing describes a person, place, or thing.
• Expository writing explains a topic.
• Persuasive writing argues a point of view.

Literary Devices

• Metaphor: A comparison without using "like" or "as".
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as".
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.
• Hyperbole: An exaggeration.
• Irony: Saying one thing but meaning another.

English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

• Focuses on the language skills needed for a particular profession or field, for example, English for business, English for medicine, English for tourism.
• Tailored vocabulary and grammar instruction is provided.
• Authentic materials relevant to the specific field are used.
• Development of communication skills needed in the workplace is a key goal.