BASICS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

ISFS – Campus Recruitment Training

 Subject + Verb + Object

Sentences I speak English.

The simple structure can be enhanced by the use

of other parts of speech.
 A noun is the name of a person, place or thing.
Eg. boy, school, market, chair, group (of people),
herd (of cattle), Peter, Anne, humour, decision

Nouns and An adjective describes a noun.

• A little boy
Adjectives • a popular school
• a busy market
• a brown chair
• a hasty decision
 A verb is an action word. Eg. Run, stand, speak,
jump, read.
• Auxiliary verbs: Also known as helping verbs
help modify the mood, tense or tone of a
sentence. Eg. To be, to have, to do, to want
to, to be able to, to have to.
Verbs and
An adverb describes a verb
Adverbs • To run fast
• To stand still
• To speak slowly
• To jump high
• To read fluently
 A pronoun substitutes for a noun. Eg. He, she, it,
they, myself, himself, to me, to him, someone,
anyone, who, what, which, this, that, these.

Pronouns Example: Peter likes to listen to music. He can also

play the guitar. He has a guitar which was gifted
to him by his parents for his birthday. They also
gave him a gift card to a bookstore that he is yet
to use.
 A conjunction links two ideas.

• I like music and painting.

• I do not like music or painting
Conjunctions • I like music but I do not like painting
• I like music so I want to learn to play the
guitar
• I learn the guitar because I enjoy music
 A preposition usually links verbs and object
nouns

• The pen is on the table.

Prepositions • I went to the park.
• My friend arrived before me.
• I will be at work till 7 pm.
• His apartment is above mine
 Interjections are words that convey feelings or
emotions.
Interjections • Oh no, it’s raining again!
• Oops, I slipped!
• Ouch, that hurts!
Articles
• Definite article: the
Example: The girl is sitting in the chair.

• Indefinite article: a, an
Example 1: A girl is sitting in the chair.
Example 2: Would you like to have an apple?

Note: Also possible “A girl is sitting in a chair”, “The girl is sitting in a chair”
Indirect objects
Some verbs need prepositions to link to the object noun

• We meet at college everyday

• My friend arrived from London this morning
• I listen to music
• The book is on the table
• The students are in the classroom
• The professor explained to the students that project would count for the final
grade
Direct objects
Some verbs link directly to the object noun

• I watch movies every weekend

• I speak English fluently
• I like music
• My sister made the cake
• My friend plays football
• The professor explained the concept clearly
Plurals
Plurals are formed by adding:

• ‘s’ car-cars
• ‘es’ tax-taxes
• Changing the last letters: knife-knives
• Changing the last letters: city-cities
• Some words remain the same as plurals: sheep-sheep, species-species
• Irregular plurals: man-men, person-people, child-children, tooth-teeth, foot-
feet
Apostrophes
It’s and its
• It’s is a contraction of ‘it is’ – “It’s cold today”, “It’s a great idea!”
• Its indicates belonging – “The milk is past its expiration date”, “The dog is in its
kennel”

You’re and your

• You’re is a contraction of ‘you are’ – “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re
saying”, “Are you sure you’re prepared for the presentation?”
• Your indicates belonging – “Is this your pen”, “I met your brother last evening in the
store”
Activity

Describe your
Describe your
routine for the
weekend routine
day
 Instead of Use
Avoid wordy
sentences is aware of knows
has knowledge of

is taking takes

are indications of indicates

are suggestive of suggest

 Instead of Use

Use a neutral You did not inform me I did not know about the
tone about the changes changes

You are not clear I’m not able to understand

you

Tell me when the Let me know when the

presentation starts presentation starts
 Instead of Use

Avoid negative
phrases You don’t understand I think you misunderstand

I’m not prepared yet I need some more time to

prepare

He was not on time He arrived late

Use structural transitions

Similar ideas Similarly, in the same way, likewise

Elaboration Moreover, also, additionally
Illustration For example, for instance
Condition If, in case of
Contradiction But, however, on the other hand, on
the contrary
Cause Because, since, as
Consequence Therefore, as a result, for this reason
Use the active voice
Active: The manager asked me to complete the report by 6:00
Passive: I was asked by the manager to complete the report by 6:00

Change the following to active voice:

• All the arrangements will be made by the organisation

• The gate was opened by the guard
• By whom was this done?
• The report will be written by him
• I was helped by my colleague in writing the report
Listening activity
Steve Jobs introducing the iPhone in 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4
Steve Jobs speech – questions
• How long was the phone under development?
• What was introduced in 1984?
• When was the iPod introduced?
• What was the outcome of the iPod launch?
• What are the 3 products that Jobs is introducing?
• What is a smartphone according to the speech?
• What are the problems of current phones?
• What is the limitation of smartphones?
• What are the advantages of the iPhone?