1. What is Grammar?

Here’s an old children’s rhyme about the eight parts of speech of English grammar. It gives you an idea of
what grammar is about. Read and remember it.
Every name is called a noun,
As field and fountain, street and town.
In place of noun the pronoun stands,
As he and she can clap their hands.
The adjective describes a thing,
As magic wand or bridal ring.
Most verbs mean action, something done,
To read and write, to jump and run.
How things are done the adverbs tell,
As quickly, slowly, badly, well.
The preposition shows relation,
As in the street or at the station.
Conjunctions join, in many ways,
Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase.
The interjection cries out, “Heed!
An exclamation point must follow me!”

2. The Capital Letter

The capital letter is also called a big letter or upper-case letter, or sometimes just a capital.
A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
When do you use a capital letter?
 Use a capital letter for the first letter in a sentence:
The dog is barking.
Come here!
 Always use a capital letter for the word I:
I am eight years old.
Tom and I are good friends.
 Use a capital letter for the names of people:
Alice, Tom, James, Kim, Snow White
 Use a capital letter for the names of places:
National Museum, Bronx Zoo, London, Sacramento
 Use a capital letter for festivals, holidays, days of the week, months of the year:
 New Year’s Day, Christmas, Labor Day, Mother’s Day, Sunday, Monday, Friday, January, May, July,
October.
EXERCISE 1
Circle the letters that should be CAPITALS. Then write the correct letter in the space above them.
1 peter and i are good friends.
2 we are going to chicago during our summer
vacation.
3 there is an interesting football game on sunday.
4 jason lives on thomson avenue.
january is the first month of the year.
EXERCISE 2
Look at the signs on the left. Can you find the mistakes? Write the names correctly.
hopkins hotel lincoln school
newton roadorchard street
botanic gardens national library
shea stadium

3. Nouns
Common Nouns
Nouns are divided into common nouns and proper nouns. Common nouns are words for
people, animals, places, or things.
These are words for people. They are common nouns.
Artist, clown, acrobat, astronaut (Another word for astronaut is spaceman or spacewoman).
 Word File
These are words for people. They are common nouns.
Here are more words for people:
actor cook lawyer police officer
aunt dentist judge singer
baby doctor man soldier
baker giant nurse teacher
 Word File
These are words for animals. They are common nouns.
bird cat goose
crocodile cow hen
deer dog horse
Here are more words for animals:
dolphin mouse zebra
duck parrot eagle
fish shark bear
goat whale

 Word File
These are words for places. They are common nouns.
shop park
beach library
Here are more words for places:
airport market
cave mountain
church playground
farm restaurant
hill school
hospital seashore
hotel stadium
house supermarket
island temple
mall zoo

 Word File
Here are more words for things:
bag kite
box ladder
bread lamp
can picture
chair radio
cot television
cup train
desk truck
door watch
egg window
EXERCISE 1
Underline the common nouns in these sentences.
1 There’s a little bird in the garden.
2 Who is your teacher?
3 Don’t eat that rotten apple.
4 Kate has a lovely doll.
5 I like reading stories.
6 My father is a doctor.
7 Every child has a dictionary.
8 Rudy hates bananas.
8 The phone is ringing.
10 Here’s a book for you.
EXERCISE 2
Here’s a mixed bag of words. Put each word under its correct heading.
swimmer snail fire engine clown
letters flag river barber
mountain fox hotel parrot
granny taxi gardener camel
People Animals Places Things
Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are names for particular people, places or things. They always begin with a
capital letter.
Your own name and the names of your friends are proper nouns too.
Beethoven, Omar, Lisa, Santa Claus, Kim Lee
 Word File
Here are some more names of people:
Ali Baba Patrick
Florence Nightingale Harry Potter
Derek Jeter Pinocchio
Pauline Robin Hood
Johnny Depp

The names of countries and their people are also proper nouns.
American Indian Thai Korean Filipino
Egyptian Italian Japanese Malay Pakistani
Country People Country People
America Americans Korea Koreans
Egypt Egyptians Malaysia Malaysians
India Indians Pakistan Pakistanis
Italy Italians France the French
Japan the Japanese Thailand Thais
The names of towns, cities, buildings and landmarks are proper nouns.
Hong Kong the Statue of Liberty
the Great Wall of China
Egypt Sydney
Tokyo

Bangkok New Delhi

London Denver the Grand Canyon
New York Central Park the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Paris the Eiffel Tower Brooklyn Bridge
Beijing Big Ben Pike’s Peak
The days of the week and months of the year are proper nouns.
Days
Sunday Tuesday Thursday Saturday
Monday Wednesday Friday

Months
January April July October
February May August November
March June September December
January is the first month of the year. Sunday is the first day of the week.
The names of mountains, seas, rivers and lakes are proper nouns.

the Thames Lake Michigan

Mount Everest the Alps the Himalayas
Niagara Falls the Dead Sea the Pacific Ocean
Lake Michigan Mount Fuji
the Alps the Yellow River

You often use “the” before names of oceans, rivers, seas and ranges of mountains.
Mount means mountain. It is often used in the names of mountains.
For example: Mount Everest, Mount St. Helens
The written short form for Mount is Mt.
For example: Mt. Everest, Mt. Fuji

The names of festivals, some special events and holidays are proper nouns, too.
Valentine’s Day Halloween
Father’s Day New Year’s Day
Word File
Here are more names of festivals and holidays:
Christmas Memorial Day Labor Day Independence Day
Mother’s Day April Fool’s Day Thanksgiving Day St. Patrick’s Day
EXERCISE 1
Underline the proper nouns in the following sentences.
1 July is often the hottest month in summer.
2 One day Ali Baba saw the forty thieves hiding in a cave.
3 Shawn and Ashley are going to the beach for a swim.
4 Mr. Lee is reading a book.
5 “I am your fairy godmother,” said the old woman to Cinderella.
6 Uncle Mike is a lawyer.
7 Next Tuesday is a public holiday.
8 Many children enjoyed the movie Lion King.
EXERCISE 2
Look at the words in the box. Which ones are common nouns and which ones are proper nouns? Put each
word under its correct heading.
Lisa bank President Hotel United Bank
January beach White Sand Beach hotel
doctor month Dr. Wang girl
Common Nouns Proper Nouns
EXERCISE 3
Write C for common or P for proper on the blank before each noun.
1 ______ the White House
2 ______ the green dress
3 ______ the tall building
4 ______ the Empire State Building
5 ______ the Yellow River
6 ______ the muddy river
7 ______ the governor
8 ______ Governor Parker
9 ______ the Oregon Trail
10 ______ the winding trail
EXERCISE 4
Underline the nouns that should be capitalized. Circle the nouns that should not be capitalized.
1 Robert louis Stevenson wrote treasure island.
2 The Capital of illinois is Springfield.
3 My Friends and I prefer Glittergums toothpaste.
4 Their Family visited Yellowstone national Park.
5 Juan and maria attend kennedy Middle school.
6 We had a Surprise Party for aunt Helen.
7 spring and Fall are my favorite Seasons.
8 The Manager scolded his lazy Employees.

Singular Nouns
Nouns can be singular or plural. When you are talking about one person, animal, place, or thing, use a
singular noun.
an owl a woman a train
a flower a ship
 Word File
These are also singular nouns:
an airplane a comb a map a swing
a bicycle a girl a photograph a van
a boy a key a refrigerator
a bus a letter a slide

 Use a or an before singular nouns.

 Use an before words beginning with vowels (a, e, i, o, u). For example, say:
an axe an igloo
an egg an orange
an envelope an umbrella
an ice cream an uncle
 But some words don’t follow this rule. For example, use a (not an) before these words that begin
with u:
a uniform a university
  Use a before words beginning with the other letters of the alphabet, called consonants.
For example, say:
a basket a rainbow
a bowl a monster
a car a pillow
a hill a watch
a house a zoo
 But some words don’t follow this rule. For example, use an (not a) before these words that begin
with h:
an heir
an honor
an hour

Plural Nouns
When you are talking about two or more people, animals, places, or things, use plural nouns.
Most nouns are made plural by adding -s at the end.
star stars
bat bats
mug mugs
fan fans
cap caps
 Word File
Singular Plural Singular Plural
bird birds game games
broom brooms lamb lambs
camel camels nest nests
desk desks pen pens
doll dolls photo photos
egg eggs shirt shirts
flower flowers spoon spoons
fork forks

Some plural nouns end in -es.

bus glass
brush buses
brushes glasses
fox foxes
watch watches
When the last letters of singular nouns are ch, sh, s, ss or x, you usually add -es to form the plural.
Some plural nouns end in –ies.
butterfly butterflies
canary canaries
candy candies
lily lilies
 Word File
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

baby babies fairy fairies library libraries

cherry cherries family families puppy puppies
diary diaries fly flies story stories
dictionary dictionaries lady ladies strawberry strawberries

Nouns like these are made plural by changing y to i, and adding -es.
What if there is a vowel before the y? In that case, add -s to form the plural.
key keys
tray trays
 Word File
Singular Plural Singular Plural
chimney chimneys kidney kidneys
cowboy cowboys monkey monkeys
day days toy toys
donkey donkeys trolley trolleys
jersey jerseys valley valleys

If a noun ends in -f, you often change f to v, and add -es.

Singular Plural Singular Plural
calf calves loaf loaves
elf elves shelf shelves
half halves thief thieves
leaf leaves wolf wolves
Often nouns that end in -f, just need -s to form the plural.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
chef chefs handkerchief handkerchiefs
chief chiefs roof roofs
cliff cliffs sheriff sheriffs
For some words that end in -f, the plural can be spelled in two different ways.
Singular Plural
dwarf dwarfs or dwarves
hoof hoofs or hooves
scarf scarfs or scarves
With some words that end in -fe, you change f to v, and add -s
Singular Plural
knife knives
life lives
wife wives
If a noun ends in -f, you often change f to v, and add -es.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
calf calves loaf loaves
elf elves shelf shelves
half halves thief thieves
leaf leaves wolf wolves
But you only add -s to giraffe to form the plural.

If a noun ends in -o, you just add -s to form the plural.

a rhino rhinos
a kangaroo kangaroos
 Word File
Singular Plural
a hippo hippos
a video videos
a zoo zoos
But with some nouns that end in -o, you add -es to form the plural.
a flamingo flamingos
  Word File
Singular Plural
a tomato tomatoes
a potato potatoes
a hero heroes
With some nouns that end in -o, you can add either -s or -es to form the plural.
Singular Plural Plural
a mango mangoes mangos
a mosquito mosquitoes mosquitos
a zero zeroes zeros
a buffalo buffaloes buffalos
Some plural nouns don’t follow the -s rule. They don’t end in -s, -es, -ies or -ves. Instead, the word changes
form.
mouse mice goose geese
foot feet
 Word File
Singular Plural
child children
man men
ox oxen
tooth teeth
woman women
The plural of the mouse that you use with your computer is either mice or mouses.
Some plural nouns are the same as the singular noun.
sheep sheep
fish fish
reindeer reindeer

You can use fishes as the plural of fish when you are talking about different kinds of fish: all the fishes of
the Pacific Ocean.
 Word File
Singular Plural
bison bison
deer deer
Some nouns are always plural.
Binoculars, goggles, jeans, pliers, spectacles
Another word for spectacles is glasses.
 Word File
Pants, scissors, pajamas, sneakers, shorts, slippers, trousers, stockings, sandals
You can make these plural nouns singular by using a pair of:
a pair of binoculars
a pair of spectacles
a pair of goggles
a pair of jeans
a pair of shorts
a pair of pliers
EXERCISE 1
Look at the words below. Do you know which ones are singular and which are plural ? Put a checkmark (✓)
in the correct box.
Singular Plural
word
pencils
books
fan
hat
children
kites
people
crab
foxes

EXERCISE 2
Do you add -s or -es to these singular nouns to make hem plural? Write your answers on the lines.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
1 desk 6 basket ___________
2 class 7 peach ___________
3 comb 8 belt ___________
4 mug 9 taxi ___________
5 bus 10 box ___________
EXERCISE 3
Do you change -y to -ies, or just add -s to make these singular nouns plural? Write your answers.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
1 key 6 toy
2 city 7 baby
3 butterfly 8 party
4 monkey 9 chimney
5 fly 10 lady

EXERCISE 4
All these singular nouns end with -o. Add either -s or -es as you write the plurals on the line.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
1 video 6 radio
2 piano 7 hippo
3 mango 8 zoo
4 kangaroo 9 zero
5 rhino 10 photo

Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are words for groups of people, animals or things. These are nouns for groups of people.
a family, a crew, an orchestra
 Word File
Here are some more groups of people:
an audience a gang
a band a group
a choir a team
a class
Many collective nouns can be used with a singular or plural verb.
For example:
My family was happy to see me.
or
My family were happy to see me.
But the following collective nouns always take a plural verb:
cattle people the police
Here are more collective nouns that are used for groups of people, animals or things.
a band of musicians, a brood of chickens, a school of fish, a team of players, a flight of steps
 Word File
Here are some more collective nouns:
a bunch of keys a fleet of ships a herd of cattle a pride of lions
a class of pupils a flock of sheep a litter of cubs a set of stamps
a collection of books a gaggle of geese a pod of whales a swarm of bees
a deck of cards a gang of robbers a pack of wolves a troupe of actors
EXERCISE
Farmer John had several different kinds of animals on his farm. Write the correct collective noun for
each group of his animals.
Farmer John had:
a of geese a of cattle
a of sheep a of horses
One day a …………………….of coyotes tried to attack his animals. Farmer John yelled and waved a
pitchfork to frighten them away.

Masculine and Feminine Nouns

Masculine nouns are words for men and boys, and male animals.
Feminine nouns are words for women and girls, and female animals.
Bride, bridegroom, hen, rooster, lioness, lion, queen, king
 Word File
Masculine Feminine
boy girl
man woman
prince princess
steward stewardess
waiter waitress
Here are some more masculine and feminine nouns for people.
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine

actor actress man woman

brother sister master mistress
emperor empress nephew niece
father mother prince princess
gentleman lady son daughter
 grandfather grandmother steward stewardess
grandson granddaughter uncle aunt
headmaster headmistress wizard witch

Masculine nouns belong to the masculine gender. Feminine nouns belong to the feminine gender.
Here are some masculine and feminine nouns for male and female animals.
Animal Male Female
chicken rooster hen
cattle bull cow
deer buck doe
donkey jack jenny
duck drake duck
fox fox vixen
goose gander goose
horse stallion mare
lion lion lioness
sheep ram ewe
tiger tiger tigress

Nouns that end in -ess and -ress often belong to the feminine gender. For example:
actress stewardess
lioness tigress
princess waitress
Many nouns are used for both males and females.
dancers, doctors, hairdressers, scientists
 Word File
Nouns like these are used for both males and females:
accountants parents
artists managers
designers pupils
engineers singers
lawyers teachers
We call these nouns common-gender nouns.
Words for things that are neither male nor female are called neuter nouns.
bench, fire, leaves, mirror, waterfall
  Word File
Here are some neuter nouns:
ball forest
building gymnasium
broom playground
cake rock
computer sky
card socks
floor wind
EXERCISE 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct masculine or feminine nouns.
Masculine Feminine
1 master …………………..
2 uncle …………………..
3 ……………………. niece
4 …………………… lioness
5 tiger ………………......
6 ………………….... empress
7 husband …………………...
8 son …………………...
9 ……………………. mother
10 …………………... madam
EXERCISE 2
Fill in each blank with a suitable masculine or feminine noun.
1 The host and the ____________ welcomed their guests.
2 The steward and the ____________ look after the passengers on the plane.
3 My uncle and ________ lived in Nebraska.
4 The king and the _________ had two children, a boy and a ________. The prince was eight and the
_____________ was five.
5 Ladies and ______________ , welcome to our party this evening.
EXERCISE 3
Look at the words in the box. Write each word under its correct heading.
children sun witch king boy son father
girl mother queen file teacher lamp doctor
dancer wizard ram rooster elf fish
Masculine Feminine Common Gender Neuter
……………… …………………. ………………… ………………..
……………… …………………. ………………… ………………...
……………… …………………. ………………… ………………...
……………… …………………. ………………… …………………
……………… …………………. ………………… …………………
……………… …………………. ………………… …………………
……………… …………………. ………………… …………………

4. Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a common noun or a proper noun. There are different kinds of
pronouns.

Personal Pronouns
The words I, you, he, she, it, we and they are called personal pronouns. They take the place of nouns and
are used as the subject of the verb in a sentence.
My name is David. I am the youngest in the family.
This is my father. He is a teacher.
This is my mother. She is a lawyer.
I have a brother and two sisters. They are Peter, Sharon and Jenny.
I have a dog. It is called Lucky. Lucky, you are a good dog.
Good morning, children! You may sit down now.
My family and I live in a big city. We have an apartment.
The subject of a sentence is the person, animal, place or thing that does the action shown by the verb.

The words me, you, him, her, it, us and them are also personal pronouns. They also take the place of
nouns.
These pronouns are used as the object of the verb in a sentence.