INTRODUCTION TO

GRAMMAR
 What is grammar?
Which is a Which is correct?
sentence? 1. Who she is?
1. Come! 2. Dr. come
2. Cry babies. yesterday.
3. Birds fly. 3. She paints it blue.
4. I don’t know 4. He don’t like you.
where she is.
 Definition of Grammar

 Grammar may be defined as the

rules of a language, governing the
way in which words are put
together to convey meaning in
different contexts.
 An utterance (in speech) or a
sentence (in writing) is considered
grammatical if it follows the rules of
grammar and ungrammatical, if it
does not.
 Definition of Grammar
 Knowledge of grammar enables
language users to put words
together in the correct order to
communicate ideas and intention
efficiently.
 Definition of Grammar
 If a person can produce
perfectly correct sentences but
not able to explain the rules of
grammar, he has implicit
knowledge of grammar i.e.
knows grammar at the level of
use.
 Definition of Grammar
 One needs to have explicit
knowledge of grammar to be
able to describe and explain
the rules.
 Word Classes
Parts of Functions Examples
Speech
Noun Names a person, Ali lives in Ipoh. He
place, thing, studies plants and
quality state or enjoys nature.
action.
Pronoun Used in place of a Jane is a nurse. She
noun. takes care of her
patients. They like
her.
Verb Says what It whistles.
people /things do Tim was stunned.
or what happens
to them.
 Word Classes
Parts of Functions Examples
Speech
Adjective It describes They are naughty.
a noun or The angry teacher
pronoun. shouted.
Adverb It gives Raj answers
information correctly. He is
about a unusually
verb, an intelligent. He
adjective or thinks very
an adverb. clearly.
 Word Classes
Parts of Functions Examples
Speech

Preposition It shows Sit on a chair.

the
relationship Run after her.
bet. a noun
or pronoun.
Conjunction It joins two Coordinating conj.-
words or for,and,nor,but,or,yet,
two groups so; Jill and Mimi are
of words. kind.
Subordinating conj.-
who,that,which,etc.,
I don’t trust Tom
because he lies.
 Word Classes
Parts of Functions Examples
Speech
Determiner Words which Definite & indefinite
determine or articles-
limit the A man, An egg, The
meaning of highway
the nouns
that follow. Possessive adj. –
my hat, her /his bag,
their class, its fur,
every boy
Demonstrative adj.-
This/that box, Those
cars
 Word Classes
Parts of Functions Examples
Speech
Interjection It expresses a Hurrah! I’m first.
strong feeling Big deal!
such as joy, pain
or horror and is
usually said
loudly and
forcefully.

Reference:
Kam, C. A. & Kam K. H. (1994) Dictionary of Grammar Usage,
Singapore, Longman