English Grammar Rules

Syllable Division

• A syllable is a unit of sound in a word
• Words can be divided into syllables to help with pronunciation and reading
• Rules for dividing words into syllables:
  • Divide between two vowels that make a separate sound
  • Divide before a consonant that comes between two vowels
  • Divide after a consonant that comes before a vowel
• Examples:
  • Cat (1 syllable)
  • Running (2 syllables: run-ning)
  • Banana (3 syllables: ba-na-na)

Verb Agreement Rules

• Verb agreement refers to the correct form of a verb that matches the subject of a sentence
• Rules for verb agreement:
  • Singular subjects (he, she, it) take singular verbs
  • Plural subjects (we, they) take plural verbs
  • If the subject is a noun, use the same form of the verb as the noun
  • If the subject is a pronoun, use the same form of the verb as the pronoun
• Examples:
  • He eats breakfast. (singular subject, singular verb)
  • They eat breakfast. (plural subject, plural verb)

Prefix

• A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning
• Examples of prefixes:
  • Un- (meaning "not" or "opposite of")
  • Re- (meaning "again")
  • De- (meaning "remove" or "opposite of")
• Examples of words with prefixes:
  • Unhappy (un- + happy)
  • Rewrite (re- + write)
  • Defrost (de- + frost)

Suffix

• A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning
• Examples of suffixes:
  • -ly (meaning "in a manner of")
  • -ful (meaning "full of")
  • -less (meaning "without")
• Examples of words with suffixes:
  • Quickly (quick + -ly)
  • Hopeful (hope + -ful)
  • Helpless (help + -less)

Preposition

• A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence
• Examples of prepositions:
  • Words of location: in, on, at, by, with
  • Words of direction: to, from, up, down, in
  • Words of time: at, on, during, before, after
• Examples of sentences using prepositions:
  • The book is on the table. (showing location)
  • I'm going to the store. (showing direction)
  • We'll meet at 5 o'clock. (showing time)

Syllable Division

• A syllable is a unit of sound in a word, and dividing words into syllables helps with pronunciation and reading
• Rules for dividing words into syllables include:
  • Divide between two vowels that make a separate sound
  • Divide before a consonant that comes between two vowels
  • Divide after a consonant that comes before a vowel
• Examples of syllable division include:
  • Cat (1 syllable)
  • Running (2 syllables: run-ning)
  • Banana (3 syllables: ba-na-na)

Verb Agreement Rules

• Verb agreement refers to the correct form of a verb that matches the subject of a sentence
• Rules for verb agreement include:
  • Singular subjects (he, she, it) take singular verbs
  • Plural subjects (we, they) take plural verbs
  • If the subject is a noun, use the same form of the verb as the noun
  • If the subject is a pronoun, use the same form of the verb as the pronoun
• Examples of verb agreement include:
  • He eats breakfast. (singular subject, singular verb)
  • They eat breakfast. (plural subject, plural verb)

Prefixes

• A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning
• Examples of prefixes include:
  • Un- (meaning "not" or "opposite of")
  • Re- (meaning "again")
  • De- (meaning "remove" or "opposite of")
• Examples of words with prefixes include:
  • Unhappy (un- + happy)
  • Rewrite (re- + write)
  • Defrost (de- + frost)

Suffixes

• A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning
• Examples of suffixes include:
  • -ly (meaning "in a manner of")
  • -ful (meaning "full of")
  • -less (meaning "without")
• Examples of words with suffixes include:
  • Quickly (quick + -ly)
  • Hopeful (hope + -ful)
  • Helpless (help + -less)

Prepositions

• A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence
• Examples of prepositions include:
  • Words of location: in, on, at, by, with
  • Words of direction: to, from, up, down, in
  • Words of time: at, on, during, before, after
• Examples of sentences using prepositions include:
  • The book is on the table. (showing location)
  • I'm going to the store. (showing direction)
  • We'll meet at 5 o'clock. (showing time)