1 Copyright © 2013 Tata Consultancy Services Limited 9/30/2016 The Basics of Grammar

2 Introduction to the Basics of Grammar Grammar involves the rules about how words change their form and combine with other words to make sentences. In this course, we will discuss: ● Basic Sentence Patterns ● Subject-Verb Agreement ● Types of Sentences: Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative Simple, complex, Compound Active and Passive voice Question Tags The Three Persons ● Parts of Speech

3 Your sentence must always have A Subject and a Verb. ● John went to school. ● Where will you be going this summer? ● The plane took off. ● The book is expensive. ● The lady is an Indian. Basic Sentences

4 Basic Sentence Patterns

5 Subject- Verb agreement In any sentence the subject has to agree with the verb. A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb. Examples: A dog is a faithful animal. Dogs are faithful animals. She sings very well. The birds make a lot of noise Jack speaks very fast. They are going to a party. The verb takes ‘s’ in the third person singular.

6 Examples of Subject- Verb agreement Everyone associated with the project is proud to be part of the effort. One of the boxes is open. Two-fifths of the grain is ruined. One-half of the students were convinced that there would be no final exams this year. Of all the returns we have counted so far, fifty percent are in favor of the referendum. Paul, as well as his friends, was called to the Principal’s office. A wholesome diet, along with regular exercise, is good for health.

7 Contd.. A majority of the student body is in favor of asking the Dean to stay another year. Neither of these choices appears to be satisfactory. My friend asked me if I would like a book or a paint set for my birthday. Either is fine with me. Neither the principal nor the teachers are at fault. Either the teachers or the principal has to be responsible for the year- end festival.

8 Subject Verb Agreement- Contd.. -When an expletive construction (there is, there are, here is, etc.) begins a sentence, the subject (which determines the number of the verb) comes after the verb. Examples: There are several explanations for the Civil War. There is a good book on photography. Here is the bus.

9 Subject Verb Agreement- Contd.. -Certain words like trousers, stairs, premises, police, staff, etc. are always considered plural and take a plural verb. The police have issued a warrant for Chopra’s arrest. The premises are located away from the city. -Certain words like bread and butter, research and development are considered singular as they have a close association. Research and development is an integral part of this organization. However, when the words are preceded by “a pair of ”, they take a singular verb…. A pair of jeans is quite costly in that shop. The pair of scissors is on the table.

10 Types of Sentences Affirmative ( Sub + Verb +….) I like cake. Nina is intelligent. He dances well. Mary can sing. Negative( Sub + aux verb + not +verb +….) I don’t like cake Nina isn’t intelligent He doesn’t dance well Mary can’t sing. Interrogative ( Aux verb + Sub + main verb +….) Do you like cake? Is Nina intelligent? Does he dance well? Can Mary sing?

11 Types of Sentences- Contd... Sentences may be simple, compound or complex. For example: ● I like to walk. (Simple) ● I get up at 7 a.m. and go for a walk. (Compound) ● As soon as I get up, I go for a walk. (Complex)

12 Active Voice boyball The boy kicked the ball. SubjectObject Subject + Verb + Object

13 ballboy The ball was kicked by the boy. Subject Object Object + be+ past participle of verb + by + subject Passive Voice

14 Question Tags Question tags are short additions to sentences, asking for agreement or confirmation. For example: It’s Suzie’s birthday, isn’t it?

15 Question Tags Question tags are short additions to sentences, asking for agreement or confirmation. For example: It’s Suzie’s birthday, isn’t it?

16 Question Tags- Contd.. A Positive statement takes a Negative tag: + - A negative tag = aux verb + n’t + pronoun of subject cancan’t Mary can swim, can’t she?

17 Question Tags- Contd... A Negative statement takes a Positive tag: - + is not is The book is not interesting, is it? A positive tag = aux verb + pronoun of subject

18 If the sentence does not have an auxiliary verb in it, then add “Do” to form the question tag. The school bus comes on time, doesn’t it? The boys like playing football, don’t they? Question Tags- Contd...

19 The Three Persons in English

20 The Three Persons- Possessive

21 Parts of Speech It refers to the classification of words according to their function in a context.

22 ● Ensure SV agreement. ● Frame sentences carefully – there are different types! ● Question tags are not questions. ● Don’t mix up the three persons! Let's Recall-

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