English Grammar Basics

Grammar

Parts of Speech

• Nouns: person, place, thing, or idea
• Verbs: action or state of being
• Adjectives: describe nouns or pronouns
• Adverbs: describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
• Pronouns: replace nouns
• Prepositions: show relationships between words
• Conjunctions: connect words, phrases, or clauses
• Interjections: express emotions

Sentence Structure

• Simple sentences: one independent clause
• Compound sentences: two or more independent clauses
• Complex sentences: one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
• Compound-complex sentences: multiple independent and dependent clauses

Tense and Aspect

• Present tense: current action or state
• Past tense: completed action or state
• Future tense: planned or predicted action or state
• Aspect: continuous, perfect, or simple

Vocabulary

Word Types

• Homophones: words with same pronunciation but different meanings
• Homographs: words with same spelling but different meanings
• Synonyms: words with similar meanings
• Antonyms: words with opposite meanings
• Idioms: phrases with figurative meanings

Word Formation

• Prefixes: added to beginning of words to change meaning
• Suffixes: added to end of words to change meaning
• Root words: base words with prefixes and suffixes
• Compounding: combining words to create new words

Literature

Genres

• Fiction: novels, short stories, poetry
• Nonfiction: biographies, essays, histories
• Drama: plays, scripts
• Poetry: verse, lyrics, free verse

Literary Devices

• Allegory: symbolic representation of abstract ideas
• Alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds
• Allusion: reference to outside text or event
• Imagery: descriptive language to create vivid images
• Irony: contrast between expected and actual outcome

Literary Movements

• Renaissance: revival of classical learning and culture
• Romanticism: emphasis on emotion and individualism
• Realism: focus on everyday life and social issues
• Modernism: experimentation with form and language

Grammar

Parts of Speech

• Nouns classify into person, place, thing, or idea
• Verbs express action or state of being
• Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns
• Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
• Pronouns replace nouns
• Prepositions show relationships between words
• Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses
• Interjections express emotions

Sentence Structure

• Simple sentences contain one independent clause
• Compound sentences consist of two or more independent clauses
• Complex sentences combine one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
• Compound-complex sentences feature multiple independent and dependent clauses

Tense and Aspect

• Present tense describes current action or state
• Past tense refers to completed action or state
• Future tense outlines planned or predicted action or state
• Aspect can be continuous, perfect, or simple

Vocabulary

Word Types

• Homophones have the same pronunciation but different meanings
• Homographs have the same spelling but different meanings
• Synonyms share similar meanings
• Antonyms have opposite meanings
• Idioms are phrases with figurative meanings

Word Formation

• Prefixes alter word meaning when added to the beginning
• Suffixes change word meaning when added to the end
• Root words are base words with prefixes and suffixes
• Compounding involves combining words to create new words

Literature

Genres

• Fiction includes novels, short stories, and poetry
• Nonfiction encompasses biographies, essays, and histories
• Drama includes plays and scripts
• Poetry features verse, lyrics, and free verse

Literary Devices

• Allegory is a symbolic representation of abstract ideas
• Alliteration involves repetition of initial consonant sounds
• Allusion references outside texts or events
• Imagery employs descriptive language to create vivid images
• Irony contrasts expected and actual outcomes

Literary Movements

• Renaissance marked a revival of classical learning and culture
• Romanticism emphasized emotion and individualism
• Realism focused on everyday life and social issues
• Modernism experimented with form and language