Grammar Basics

Definition of Grammar

Grammar refers to the set of rules that govern the structure of language, including syntax, morphology, and phonology.
It encompasses the rules that dictate how words are combined to form sentences, phrases, and clauses.

Parts of Speech

Nouns: Words that refer to people, places, things, and ideas.
- Proper nouns: Names of specific people, places, and organizations (e.g. John, London, Google).
- Common nouns: General terms for things (e.g. dog, city, company).
Verbs: Words that express action, occurrence, or state of being.
- Action verbs: Describe an action (e.g. run, jump, read).
- Linking verbs: Connect the subject to additional information (e.g. be, seem, appear).
Adjectives: Words that modify or describe nouns or pronouns.
- Quantitative adjectives: Describe quantity (e.g. three, five, many).
- Qualitative adjectives: Describe characteristics (e.g. happy, tall, blue).
Adverbs: Words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Manner adverbs: Describe how an action is performed (e.g. quickly, loudly, wisely).
- Time adverbs: Describe when an action occurs (e.g. yesterday, soon, recently).
Pronouns: Words that replace nouns in a sentence.
- Personal pronouns: Replace nouns referring to people or animals (e.g. I, you, he, she).
- Possessive pronouns: Show ownership or possession (e.g. my, your, his, hers).
Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.
- Words that indicate location (e.g. in, on, at, by).
- Words that indicate direction (e.g. to, from, up, down).
Conjunctions: Words that connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence.
- Coordinating conjunctions: Connect words or phrases of equal importance (e.g. and, but, or).
- Subordinating conjunctions: Connect a dependent clause to an independent clause (e.g. because, although, if).
Interjections: Words that express emotion or feeling.
- Express strong emotions (e.g. oh, wow, ouch).

Sentence Structure

Independent clauses: Contain a subject and a predicate.
Dependent clauses: Contain a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Complete sentences: Contain an independent clause or a combination of independent and dependent clauses.
Sentence types:
- Declarative sentences: State a fact or opinion.
- Interrogative sentences: Ask a question.
- Imperative sentences: Give a command or make a request.
- Exclamatory sentences: Express strong emotions.

Grammar Rules

Subject-verb agreement: The subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
Tense consistency: Verbs in a sentence or paragraph should maintain the same tense.
Modality: Express degrees of possibility, necessity, or obligation using modal verbs (e.g. can, should, must).
Clause order: Typically follows the subject-verb-object (SVO) order in English sentences.

Definition of Grammar

Grammar refers to the set of rules governing language structure, including syntax, morphology, and phonology.

Parts of Speech

Nouns: Words referring to people, places, things, and ideas, including:
- Proper nouns (names of specific people, places, and organizations)
- Common nouns (general terms for things)
Verbs: Words expressing action, occurrence, or state of being, including:
- Action verbs (describe an action)
- Linking verbs (connect the subject to additional information)
Adjectives: Words modifying or describing nouns or pronouns, including:
- Quantitative adjectives (describe quantity)
- Qualitative adjectives (describe characteristics)
Adverbs: Words modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, including:
- Manner adverbs (describe how an action is performed)
- Time adverbs (describe when an action occurs)
Pronouns: Words replacing nouns in a sentence, including:
- Personal pronouns (replace nouns referring to people or animals)
- Possessive pronouns (show ownership or possession)
Prepositions: Words showing the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence, including:
- Words indicating location
- Words indicating direction
Conjunctions: Words connecting words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence, including:
- Coordinating conjunctions (connect words or phrases of equal importance)
- Subordinating conjunctions (connect a dependent clause to an independent clause)
Interjections: Words expressing emotion or feeling.

Sentence Structure

Independent clauses: Contain a subject and a predicate.
Dependent clauses: Contain a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Complete sentences: Contain an independent clause or a combination of independent and dependent clauses.
Sentence types:
- Declarative sentences (state a fact or opinion)
- Interrogative sentences (ask a question)
- Imperative sentences (give a command or make a request)
- Exclamatory sentences (express strong emotions)

Grammar Rules

Subject-verb agreement: The subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
Tense consistency: Verbs in a sentence or paragraph should maintain the same tense.
Modality: Express degrees of possibility, necessity, or obligation using modal verbs.
Clause order: Typically follows the subject-verb-object (SVO) order in English sentences.