Grammar and Usage Rules, Summary and Quiz
as well as spelling and punctuation rules, are important and necessary to a language. They help us maintain the uniformity in language that needed in order for us to express our ideas precisely. Without such rules, communication would indeed de difficult. Rules demand a consistency that guarantees universality of meaning.
NOUNS : SUMMARY OF RULES
I/ CARDINAL AND ORDINAL NUMBERS:
Cardinal numbers are used to give the number of things while ordinal numbers are used to give the exact order or classification of things:
A. Clara has two books.
B. Clara has the second book.
C. Clara has book two.
In sentence “A” the word twois used to show the number of the books. However in both sentences “B” and “C” we have only one book but it’s the second one not the first or the third, so the words “the second” and “two” are used only to show the order of this book.
II/ MODIFIERS AND DETERMINERS:
There are some modifiers that may be used only with count nouns (nouns that may be counted and made plural). There are some other modifiers that can be used only with non-count nouns (nouns that can not be counted or made plural). The third category are the modifiers that may be used with both types; count and non-count nouns:
√ Bob needs some money. He decided to ask some friends to give him few dollars.
√ I need plenty of moneyto buy a number of T- shirtsand several blue Jeans.
FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR/ NOUNS
TYPES OF NOUNS:
We can classify nouns as types. Sometimes a nounmay fit into more than one type or class, depending on how it is used:
- Concert nouns: They name physical objects that our senses can perceive (table, war, poverty,..)
- Abstract nouns : They're words for ideas, concepts, processes or feeling (peace, war, poverty,..)
- Count nouns : A count noun is one that can be counted and be made plural (student, students)
The following words are count - nouns:
child foot mouse person tooth
children feet mice people teeth
- Non - count nouns: Non - count nouns are nouns that can not be counted, they can be divided into three groups:
* Actual masses such as: water, oil, gas, earth, metal, cheese, butter, bread,
* Abstract nouns such as peace, war, poverty, health,
* Concert objects grouped under more general names such as furniture, clothing, underwear, equipment, ‘’non - count noun’’ (a glass if milk-two glasses of milk-)
The following words are non - count nouns:
air - economics - food - homework – information - mathematics - measles - meat - money - news - physics - politics - sand – soap.
- Proper nouns : They are used for individual persons, places, or thing.
- Common nouns: They're used for members of a large class of similar items (a man, a river,.)
- Compound nouns : They're made up of two nouns. (Bedroom, bookcase, airport, catbird...)
- Collective nouns : They're made of words representing a group of people, animals, or objects considered as a single unit. ( family, team, crowd, herd of cattle, flock of sheep, kit of tools, set of dishes, pack of gum,...)
FORMING THE PLURALS OF NOUNS :
Most plurals are formed by adding « s»
Examples :
- phone / phones
- basket / baskets ).
But there are some exceptions :
1) Nouns ending in s, sh, ch, z, or x form plurals by adding ‘’es’’
Examples :
- glass / glasses
- tax / taxes.
2) Add ‘’s’’ to form plurals of letters and numbers
Examples:
- M / M's
- 8 / 8's
3)Nouns ending in ‘’y’’ or ‘’o’’ form plurals in two ways :
a) If a consonant precedes the ‘’y‘’ or the ‘’o’’ add ‘’es‘’, and change the ‘’y‘’ to ‘’i‘’:
Examples :
-baby / babies
- tomato / tomatoes ......).
b) If a vowel precedes the ‘’y‘’ or the ‘’o’’ add only ‘’s‘’ :
Examples :
- monkey / monkeys
- radio / radios....).
1) The plurals of proper nouns are formed by adding ‘’s’’ or ‘’es‘’ for the nouns that ends already in ‘’s’’ and the article ‘’The‘’ :
Examples :
- Mary / the Mary’s
- Jones / The Joneses
2) Some nouns are always used in their plural forms ( requiring plural verbs ) : ( clothes - pants - trousers - surroundings - tongs - scissors - shorts - jeans - pliers + ARE ).
Examples :
- My pants are in the drawer.
- The scissors are dull.
6) Some nouns are plural in form but singular in construction (requiring singular forms):
(electronics - mathematics - genetics - gymnastics - news -
7)Some nouns have the same plural and singular forms :
Examples :
- swine / swine
- salmon / salmon
- sheep / sheep
- moose / moose ...).
8)Some form the plural by applying the plural forming rules of the language form Which the Word originated ( usually Latin ): ( datum / data - crisis / crises - alumnus / alumni - index / indices - antenna / antennae ..).
9)Some are irregular and must be memorized :
Examples :
- child / children - mouse / mice
- foot / feet - tooth / teeth
- goose / geese - wife / wives
- loaf / loaves - woman / women....)
ARTICLES
« A » and « AN » are indefinite articles and are used only with singular nouns (a bird - an item ) they mean not a particular one, but any one.
When I say,« I want an apple » I mean that I want one apple and not more, but, I also mean that I’m not saying which particular apple I want.
« The » is a definite article used with both singular and plural nouns ( the bird - the birds the item the items). It means a particular one. When I say, « I want the apple » I mean that apple in your hand, or on the desk, or that you promised me, a particular apple.
* Give me an apple (any apple).
* Give me the apple (a particular apple).
FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR- PRONOUNS
DEFINITION:
Pronouns are words that can take a place of the Noun, usually to avoid repetition. They must agree with their antecedents in number, gender and case.
Pronouns are usually divided into four main parts ‘’ sections ‘’:
PRONOUNS: SUMMARY OF RULES
Pronouns are words which are used to substitute or replace nouns to avoid repetition, emphasize or for other reasons. We have four main types of pronouns:
v Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject of a sentence ( the doer of the action ),
while Object pronouns substitute for the object of the sentence ( receiver of the action ).
v Possessive pronouns are used to show possession and ownership.
√ That’s my money, It’s not yours or hers.
v Reflexive or emphatic pronouns are used only to emphasize that the subject of the
sentence is the actual performer of the action. They can never be used as the main
subject of a sentence.
√ The president, himself, told me the truth.
N.B: Subjective pronouns are used to replace the subject of the sentence while objective
pronouns substitute for the receiver of the action which is the object.
Ø Clara visits Linda.
Ø She visits her.
So, when we want to use a subject pronoun we should look for the doer of the action in the sentence. However, to use an object pronoun we should search for the receiver of the action.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS :
They do not have complete meaning in themselves. They always refer to some nouns which we call the antecedents of the pronouns.
The following chart shows the personal pronouns arranged according to number (singular, plural), gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), case (subjective, objective, possessive) and person (first, second, third...).
Personal Pronouns are usually divided into three main parts:
# Subjective pronouns:
Example:
- Jack has a part time job. He works at a fast food restaurant.
# Objective pronouns:
Example:
- The teacher graded the student’s papers last night. She returned them during class the next day.
# Possessive pronouns:
Example:
- That book is mine. Those are yours.
Possessive:
- Pronouns are not followed immediately by a noun, they stand alone.
- Adjectives are followed immediately by a noun, they do not stand alone.
# My book is here, your books are over there.
Examples:
- Mr Bobhas just been promoted. He is a captain now. (Subjective)
- Tom, John, and Freed are good friends. We like them a lot. (Objective)
- He just bought a car. It's a new one (neuter)
III) REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:
They are used to refer back to the subject of a sentence or to give emphasis to someone or something mentioned. Examples:
- The engineer burned himself (subject)
- She herselfrepaired the computer (emphasis)
The reflexive pronouns are :
Example: - I did the job myself.
The reflexive pronouns may occur in any of the objective positions but they can never used as the subject of a sentence: Examples:
- Linda and myselfare eating lunch (wrong).
- Linda and I are eating lunch (correct).
RELATIVE PRONOUNS:
They not only refer to antecedents but also introduce dependent clauses.
Those relative pronouns are:
which : refers to animals or thing.
Who : refers to people.
That : refers to both people and things.
N . B :
* Whoseis the possessive form of who and it can refer to people or animals.
* Whom is the objective form of who and it refers only to people.
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS:
The demonstrative pronouns ‘’this, these / that, those‘’ refer directly to their nouns, but this and these usually refer to things near the speaker in space or in time, while that and those refer to things at a greater distance. Example:
- This is my coat.
- That is your shoe.
N . B : * The indefinite pronoun ‘’ ONE ‘’ means anyone or everyone or someone.
* The following pronouns are used with singular verbs:
anyone - everyone - someone - everything - something - anybody - everybody - somebody - no one - nobody - nothing - anything.
Example:
- Somebody is absent.
- Everyone is here.
NOTES:
- When pronounsare in apposition they are appositives and they must agree with the nouns or pronouns they name in number, gender, and case:
(poor) - They have asked for two volunteers, you and I.
(better) - They have asked for two volunteers, you and me.
(The object of asked is volunteers and the words in apposition to it must be in the objective case).
(poor) - Us girls are going shopping.
(better) - We girls are going shopping.
(Girls is the subject, so the pronoun in apposition to it must also be in the subjective case).
QUIZ ENGLISH GRAMMAR- NOUNS & PRONOUNS
1. The mother took…………...…..sick dog to the doctor.
a) her
b) its
c) those
d) his
2. Where is …………………………….….book?
a) me
b) an
c) these
d) my
3. I bought a new CD, but now I can’t find…..….
a) them
b) they
c) it
d) him
4. Please give the new books to……………….…
a) him and I
b) he and I
c) me and he
d) him and me
5. The commanding officer………………….will
inspect the barracks.
a) themselves
b) himself
c) ourselves
d) itself
6. My mother lost…………………………..keys.
a) hers
b) his
c) it’s
d) her
7. Give me that book! It’s………………………..
a) mine
b) himself
c) herself
d) ourselves
8. I don’t want to be in a class with ….…….
student who speaks Spanish all the time.
a) others
b) other
c) another
d) some others
9. My wife hurt………………………………
a) himself
b) sheself
c) ourself
d) herself
10. The car …………..I bought was a bargain.
a) who
b) which
c) whom
d) what
11. Mind your own business. This is an argument between………….……...…..
a) Joe and I
b) He and I
c) Him and I
d) Him and me.
12. He gave ………….bicycles for Christmas.
a) My brother and I
b) My brother and me
c) I and my brother
d) Me brother and I.
13. That is …………….……………..……car.
a) me
b) my
c) he
d) him
14. My father took……..car to the repair shop yesterday.
a) her
b) his
c) its
d) me.
15. The girls did this report all by…………….
a) herselves
b) theyselves
c) themselves
d) theirselves
16. I want to thank you for inviting my wife and……………………………to dinner.
a) I
b) me
c) we
d) he.
1. Tito was the only foreigner ……..…….I saw 9. Do you know the woman ………. was hurt
at the convention. in the accident?
(A) whom (A) which
(B) which (B) whom
(C) who (C) who
(D) what (D) whose
2. They forgot about …….…….them to join us 10. I would like to leave a message for ……… if
for lunch. I may.
(A) us to ask (A) they
(B) us asking (B) them
(C) our asking (C) their
(D) we asking (D) theirs
3. Our host family always invites my roommate 11. A few of …………….. are planning to drive
and ………..….to their house on Sundays. Florida during spring break.
(A) me (A) who
(B) my (B) us girls
(C) I (C) girls we
(D) mine (D) girls
4. Because they usually receive the same score 12. This is the woman …….….…. the artist said
on standardized examination, there is often posed as a model for the painting.
disagreement as to ……………..is the better (A) who
(A) who (B) whom
(B) which (C) which
(C) whom (D) whose
(D) whose
13. Of those who took the exam with Jane and
5. I really appreciate ……. to help me, but I am …………….. I am the only one who studied
sure that I will be able to manage by myself for it.
(A) you to offer (A) he
(B) your offering (B) his
(C) that you offer (C) him
(D) that you are offering (D) himself
6. Let you and …………….. agree to settle our 14. Two of notebooks ………... Tom had lost on
differences without involving any of the the bus were returned to the main desk at his
other students. dormitory.
(A) I (A) what
(B) myself (B) who
(C) me (C) which
(D) my (D) whose
7. If you had told us earlier ………….. he was, 15. He didn’t seem to mind ………………… TV
we could have introduced him at the meeting. while he Was trying to study.
(A) who (A) their watching
(B) which (B) that they watch
(C) whom (C) them watching
(D) whoever (D) them to watch
8. I always ask my sister and ……... for advice.
(A) her
(B) she
(C) hers
(D) herself
Exercise I: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words to complete the following sentences:
1. Most people want……………………..…….
a. the freedom
b. many freedom
c. freedom
d. lots freedom
2. I want to buy………………...….…cigarettes.
a. a
b. some
c. an
d. a few of
3. The teacher gives……….………..homework.
a. too much
b. many
c. lot
d. a
4. Please may I have……….………..…..coffee.
a. any
b. both
c. some
d. much.
5. I lost ………………………….…..….money.
a. all
b. my all
c. all of me
d. all of my
6. I want a picture of……….…….…..elephants.
a. the three
b. those three
c. them three
d. this three
7. There are ………….....cars in the parking lot.
a. too much
b. some much
c. too many
d. some many
8. I bought……………………...……..…..book.
a. some old
b. old
c. these old
d. an old
9. The police said they captured…….….robbery suspects.
a. both of
b. the both
c. one
d. both of the
10. To get 100 on the ECL test is extremely difficult. ……….students manage to do that.
a. few
b. a few
c. some
d. many
11. I bought …………….….pies for the buffet.
a. a
b. one
c. an
d. several
12. Tell ………………..students that they will
take the test.
a. all of five
b. the all five
c. all five
d. all the of five.
13. The kids ate………….candy before supper.
a. too many
b. some of
c. lot
d. too much.
14. I bought …….……….roses for my mother.
a. severals red beautiful
b. beautiful red several
c. beautiful several red
d. several beautiful red.
15. I like studying.……..……kind of exercise.
a. this
b. these
c. those
d. many.
16. People in some countries don’t have…..……
a. same freedoms
b. those freedom
c. the freedom
d. freedom.
17. I don’t like………….…..…...….exercises.
a. this
b. these
c. those
d. them.
1. Please go to ……….……. pick up your ID card. 9. It’s shame that you have …..…….. time in New
(A) third window York on the tour.
(B) the window three (A) so few
(C) window third (B) so little
(D) the third window (C) a few
(D) a little
2. May I have two …………….... instead of beans, 10. We haven’t had ……….news from the disaster
please? since the earthquake.
(A) corn’s ear (A) many
(B) ear of corns (B) quite a few
(C) corn ears (C) much
(D) ears of corn (D) some
3. If you want to find good information about
graduate programs in the United States, look 11. Bob F. Kennedy was …..…….. of the U.S.A.
in ……………..….. of the College Blue Books. (A) he thirty-five president
(A) volume two (B) the thirty-fifth president
(B) volume second (C) the president thirty-fifth
(C) the volume two (D) president the thirty-five
(D) a few dollar
4. Let’s buy our tickets while I still have………….. 12. I’ll have a cup of tea and ……………………..
left. (A) two toasts
(A) a few money (B) two piece of toasts
(B) a few dollar (C) two piece of toast
(C) a few dollars (D) two pieces of toast
(D) few moneys
|
5. The assignment for Monday was to read
…………………………….. in your text books.
(A) Chapter tenth 11. The ticket agent said that the plane would be
(B) the chapter ten boarding at_________
(C) chapter the tenth (A) the gate six
(D) the tenth chapter (B) sixth gate
(C) gate six
6. I always put my best ……….. ...in a safe-deposit (D) the six gate
box.
(A) jewelries
(B) jewlry’s pieces
(C) pieces of jewelry
(D) piece of jewelries
7. I will need ……...….. about the climate before I 14. The Chicago bus is parked at________
make a final decision. (A) the lane two
(A) a few informations (B) the two lane
(B) a few information (C) lane two
(C) a little informations (D) lane the two
(D) a little information
15. We
8. Sending ……...… express mail” costs about ten (A) many s
times as much as sending it “regular delivery.” (C) many (A) mails (D) much homework
(B) a mail
(C) a piece of mail
(D) pieces of a mail
