Technical Writing and Public

Speaking Course
Grammar refresher

Noun and its pluralization

Pronouns, its antecedent and proper
usage
Verbs and Tenses
Adjectives and adverbs
Conjunction, preposition and
interjection

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 Learning Outcomes:
Write grammatically
correct sentences,
speeches, letters, reports
and memoranda.

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Parts of Speech
Noun Adverb

Pronoun Preposition

Verb Conjunction

Adjective Interjection

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 Nouns
names something
such as persons,
places, things,
measures of time,
actions, and quality

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1. Common nouns name any one of a class of person,
place, or thing.
2. Proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing.
3. Compound nouns are two or more nouns that
function as a single unit. A compound noun can be
two individual words, words joined by a hyphen, or
two words combined.
4. Collective nouns name groups of people or things.

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Plural Nouns
English Grammar Rules
In general the plural of a noun is formed by adding -S to
the noun.

Singular Plural
car cars
house houses
book books
bird birds
pencil pencils

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However:
1. When the noun ends in SS, SH, CH or X, we add -ES to
the noun.
Singular Plural
kiss kisses
wish wishes
match matches
box boxes
fox foxes

I have a box in my bedroom.

I have three boxes in my bedroom
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2. When the noun ends in a VOWEL + Y, we add -S to the
noun.

Singular Plural
boy boys
holiday holidays
key keys
guy guys

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3. When the noun ends in a CONSONANT + Y, we remove
Y and add -IES to the noun.

Singular Plural
party parties
lady ladies
story stories
nanny nannies
city cities

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4. If the noun ends in F or FE, we remove the F/FE and
add -VES to the noun.

Singular Plural

life lives

leaf leaves

thief thieves

wife wives

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5. If the noun ends in IS, we change it to ES.

Singular Plural
analysis analyses
basis bases
crisis crises

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6. There are a number of nouns that don't follow these rules.
They are irregular and you need to learn them individually
because they don't normally have an S on the end.
Singular Plural
man men
woman women
child children
foot feet
tooth teeth
goose geese
mouse mice
There is a child in the park.
There are many children in the park.
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7. There are some nouns in English that are the same in
the singular and the plural.

Singular Plural
fish fish
sheep sheep
deer deer
moose moose
aircraft aircraft
I can see a sheep in the field.
I can see ten sheep in the field.
Sometimes you will hear the word fishes (especially in
songs) though it is grammatically incorrect.
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 Pronouns
words used in
place of nouns

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Pronouns
Vernadette has a ten-year-old niece
named Eunice. Eunice is a special child
but Eunice is now in Grade 4. Eunice
loves to watch TV and sing.

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Pronouns
I have a ten-year-old niece named
Eunice. She is a special child but she is
now in Grade 4. She loves to watch TV
and sing.

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Kinds of Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
Possessive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns Demonstrative
Pronouns
Intensive Pronouns
Relative Pronouns
Interrogative Pronouns
Indefinite Pronouns

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1. Personal Pronouns refers to a
specific person, place, thing or
object.
Person Singular Plural
First I, Me We, Us
Second You
He, Him, She,
Third They, Them
Her, It

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2. Possessive Pronouns show
ownership.

Person Singular Plural

First My, Mine Our, Ours

Second Your, Yours
His, Hers,
Third Their, Theirs
Its

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REMEMBER: Dont confuse possessive
pronouns with contractions.
Pronouns never have an apostrophe. Be
guided by the chart below:
Pronouns Contractions
yours youre (you are)
its its (it is)
their theyre (they are)
whose whos (who is)
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Examples of possessive pronouns
I didn't have my umbrella so Marta lent me hers.
(I didn't have my umbrella so Marta lent me her
umbrella).
Her car is faster than mine.
(Her car is faster than my car).
That food is ours and not theirs.
(That food is our food and not their food).
I know this drink is yours but I need to drink
something.
(I know this drink is your drink but I need to drink
something).

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3. Reflexive Pronouns add information to a
sentence by pointing back to a noun or
pronoun near the beginning of the sentence.
Reflexive pronouns end in self or selves.
4. Intensive Pronouns also end in self or
selves but they merely add emphasis to the
noun or pronoun.

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5. Demonstrative Pronouns direct attention to
a particular person, place, or thing. There are
only four (4) demonstrative pronouns.
6. Relative Pronouns begin a subordinate
clause. There are five (5) relative pronouns:
that, which, who, whom, those.

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Controversy: Who, Which and
That
Who refers to people or animals (only animals with names
or special talents, like Lassie).
That and which refer to things, groups, and unnamed
animals. The choice between which and that depends on
whether the clause introduced by the pronoun is restrictive
or nonrestrictive.

A restrictive clause is essential to the sentence.

A nonrestrictive clause adds extra meaning, is set off by
commas, and can be removed from the sentence.

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 7. Interrogative Pronouns ask a question.
They are: what, which, who, whom, whose.

8. Indefinite Pronouns refer to people, places,

things without pointing to a specific one.
Singular Plural Singular/Plural
another anyone both all
each everyone few any
everybody everything many more
much nobody others most
nothing no one several none
other someone some
something somebody
anybody anything
either neither
little one
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Controversy:
It is me. vs. It is I.
The "It is I" camp argues that forms of the verb to be,
such as is and was, should be followed by pronouns in
the nominative case, and is therefore, grammatically
correct.

The "It is me" camp counters with the argument the

pronoun case has become so weakened that the force
of word order now overrides the force of case, and has
therefore become an accepted, colloquial sentence.

Either way, both sentences are correct.

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Drill

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Verbs
action words

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Basic Types of Verbs
Action Verbs tell what the subject does.
Linking Verbs verbs to be, and verbs of the
senses like feel, grow, seem, smell, remain,
appear, sound, stay, look, taste, turn, become.
However, the verbs of the senses only
function as a linking verb if they are followed
by an adjective.

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Basic Types of Verbs
REMEMBER: To determine whether a verb is used as an
action verb or as a linking verb, substitute it for am, is or
are. If the sentence still makes sense, then the verb is used
as a linking verb.
Linking Verb: The kids looked hungry.
The kids are hungry. (This sentence makes sense.)
Action Verb: The police looked for more evidence.
The police are for more evidence. (This sentence does not
make sense.)
Hence, the verb looked in the sentence is used as a
linking verb.

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Basic Types of Verbs
3. Helping Verbs are added to another verb to
make the meaning clearer. Examples of helping
verbs are: does, did, have, has, had, shall, should,
will, would, can, could, may, might, must. Verb
phrases are made up of one main verb and one or
more helping verbs.

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Drill

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Verb Tenses
Tense Basic Form Progressive Form

Present look is looking

Past looked was looking

Future will look will be looking

Present Perfect have looked have been looking

Past Perfect had looked had been looking

Future Perfect will have looked will have been

looking
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Tenses of Verb
Present Tense
shows an action presently or habitually
happening, a fact or a general truth.
Past Tense
shows an action, state or condition that
occurred in the past.
Future Tense
shows that something will happen or
will be done in the future.
Formula: will/shall + base form of the verb

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Tenses of Verb
Present Perfect Tense
denotes action that is completed at the
time of speaking or writing
action that is continuing in the present
Formula: has/have + past participle of the verb
Past Perfect Tense
first of the two actions that was completed
before some definite time in the past
Formula: had + past participle of the verb

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Tenses of Verb
Future Perfect Tense
denotes action that will be completed at
some definite time in the future
seldom used in informal speaking and
writing
Formula: will have/shall have +
past participle of the verb

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Progressive Forms of Verb
Present Progressive Tense
shows continuing action, something that
is happening now
Formula: am/is/are + base form of verb + --ing
Past Progressive Tense
shows continuing action that was happening at
some point in the past
Formula: was/were + base form of verb + --ing

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Progressive Forms of Verb
Future Progressive Tense
shows continuing action that will happen
at some point in the future
Formula: will be/shall be +
base form of verb + --ing
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
shows a continuous action that has
been finished at some point in the
past or has been started in the past
and is still happening now.
Formula: has been/have been +
base form of verb + --ing
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Progressive Forms of Verb
Past Perfect Progressive Tense
shows a continuous action that was
completed at some point in the past
Formula: had been + base form of verb + --ing

Future Perfect Progressive Tense

shows a continuous action that will
be completed at some point in the
future
Formula: will have been + base form of
verb + --ing
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Using Verb Tense Correctly - Present
Tense Formula Use Example

Simple present Action that I drive a car.

Present form is presently
or
habitually
happening
Present am/is/are Continuing I am driving
Progressive + verb (-- action a car.
ing)
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Using Verb Tense Correctly - Future
Tense Formula Use Example
Simple Future will + base Future action I will drive the
form car.
Future Perfect will have + past Future action I will have driven
participle done before the car before he
another arrives.

Future will be + verb Continuous future I will be driving

Progressive (--ing) action that car.

Future Perfect will have been Continuing future I will have been
Progressive + verb (--ing) action done driving all month
before another before I buy a
new car.

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Drill

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Verb Voice
Active Voice

subject performs the action

Passive Voice
action is performed upon the
subject

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REMEMBER: Use Passive Voice

When you dont want to assign blame to

or emphasize who or what performed the
action.
When you dont know who did the action.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

Quiz

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Subject-Verb Agreement
When the subject and verb fit together
properly, they are said to agree with each other.
To make a subject and verb agree with each
other, you must make sure that both are
singular or that both are plural.
A verb must agree with its subject even if a
phrase or clause comes between them.

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Subject-Verb Agreement
Two or more subjects joined by or or nor must
have a plural verb.
If one or more singular subjects are joined to
one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the
subject closest to the verb determines
agreement.
If one or more singular subjects are joined to
one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the
subject closest to the verb determines
agreement.

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Subject-Verb Agreement
If one or more singular subjects are joined to
one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the
subject closest to the verb determines
agreement.
Exceptions compound subject equal to one
thing and when the word each or every is used
before the compound subject.

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Drill

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Subject-Verb Agreement

Theres and Heres, contractions of there is and

here is, contain the singular verb is and
therefore cannot be used with plural subjects.
Nouns that are plural in form but singular in
meaning agree with singular verbs.
Nouns that are plural in form but singular in
meaning agree with singular verbs.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

When words such as acoustics and ethics do not

name branches of knowledge but rather
indicate characteristics, their meanings are
plural.
Pronouns like both, several and many take the
plural form of the verb.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

The pronouns all, any, more, none and some

take either the singular or plural verbs
depending on their antecedent.
A title (books and other works of art) is always
singular.
A noun expressing an amount or measurement
is usually singular and requires a singular verb.
Exemptions - when the measurement pertains
to individual items or elements.

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Drill

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Adjectives
describes a noun
and a pronoun

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Kinds of Adjectives

Common adjectives describe nouns and

pronouns.
Proper adjectives are formed from proper
nouns.
Compound adjectives are made up of more
than one word.

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Kinds of Adjectives

The Articles A, An and The are special

types of adjectives.
A and An are called Indefinite Articles because
they refer to general things. Use a when the
word that follows begins with a consonant
sound and an with a vowel sound.
The, otherwise known as the Definite Article,
because it refers to a specific thing.

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REMEMBER: How to use Adjectives

Use an adjective to describe a noun or a pronoun.

Use vivid adjectives to make your writing more
specific and descriptive.
Use an adjective after a linking verb. The most
common linking verbs are: is, are, was, were, and
am.
Chicken cooked this way tastes more delicious.
(not deliciously)

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Drill

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 Adverbs
modify or expand
the meaning of a
verb, an adjective
or another adverb

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Drill

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Types of Adverb

Adverb modifies verb by giving us the following

information.

How the action occurs

Where the action occurs
How many times action occur
At which time the action occurs
Intensity of action

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Adverbs are categorized on the basis of it
information it gives, into the following
categories.

Adverbs of manner
Adverb of place
Adverb of time
Adverb of frequency

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Adverbs of Manner
These adverbs tell us that in which manner the
action occurs or how the action occurs or
occurred or will occur.

Examples.
She speaks loudly.
He was driving slowly.
You replied correctly.
He runs fast.
They solved the problem easily.
Listen to me carefully.
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Adverbs of Place
Adverb of place tells us about the place of action
or where action occurs/occurred/will occur.
e.g. here, there, near, somewhere, outside,
ahead, on the top, at some place.

Examples.
He will come here.
The children are playing outside.
He was standing near the wall.
They were flying kites on the top of hill.
He lives somewhere in New York.
She went upstairs.ICITAP Philippines
Adverb of time
These adverbs tell us about the time of action.
e.g. now, then, soon, tomorrow, yesterday,
today, tonight, again, early, yesterday.

Examples.
I will buy a computer tomorrow.
The guest came yesterday.
Do it now.
She is still waiting for her brother.
He got up early in the morning.
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Adverb of frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell us how many times the action occurs or
occurred or will occur.
e.g. daily, sometimes, often, seldom, usually, frequently, always,
ever, generally, rarely, monthly, yearly.

Examples.
He goes to school daily.
She never smokes.
He is always late for class.
They always come in time.
Barking dogs seldom bite.
The employees are paid monthly.
The employees are paid every month.

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Conjunctions

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Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions link words or group

of words.
Correlative Conjunctions also link similar
words or group of words, but they are always
used in pairs.
Subordinate Conjunctions link an independent
clause (complete sentence) to a dependent
clause (fragment).

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Drill

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Prepositions

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Prepositions

A noun always follows a preposition. A

prepositional phrase is a preposition and its
object.

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REMEMBER: Using Prepositions

Use in before seasons of the year, months and

years not followed by specific dates.
Use on before days of the week, holidays and
months, if the date follows.
Always use prepositional phrases as units

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 Interjections
-Express emotions

-They have no real grammatical value but

we use them quite often, usually more in
speaking than in writing

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Interjections
example meaning interjection
"Ah, that feels good." expressing pleasure
"Ah, now I expressing
understand." realization
ah
"Ah well, it can't be expressing
heped." resignation
"Ah! I've won!" expressing surprise
"Alas, she's dead expressing grief or
alas
now." pity
"Oh dear! Does it
expressing pity
hurt?"
dear
"Dear me! That's a
expressing surprise
surprise!"
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Interjections
example meaning interjection
"It's hot today."
asking for
"Eh?" "I said it's
repetition
hot today."
"What do you
expressing enquiry
think of that, eh?" eh
expressing
"Eh! Really?"
surprise
inviting
"Let's go, eh?"
agreement
"Lima is the
expressing
capital er
hesitation
of...er...Peru."
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Interjections
example meaning interjection

"Hello John. How expressing

are you today?" greeting
hello, hullo
"Hello! My car's
expressing surprise
gone!"

"Hey! look at that!" calling attention

"Hey! What a good expressing hey

idea!" surprise, joy etc
expressing
"Hi! What's new?" hi
greeting
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Interjections
example meaning interjection

expressing
"Hmm. I'm not so
hesitation, doubt hmm
sure."
or disagreement

"Oh! You're here!" expressing surprise

"Oh! I've got a

expressing pain
toothache." oh, o

"Oh, please say expressing

'yes'!" pleading

"Ouch! That hurts!" expressing pain ouch

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Interjections
example meaning interjection
"Uh...I don't know expressing
uh
the answer to that." hesitation

"Shall we go?" "Uh- expressing

uh-huh
huh." agreement

"85 divided by 5 expressing

um, umm
is...um...17." hesitation

"Well I never!" expressing surprise

"Well, what did he introducing a well
say?" remark
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Post-Test

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