As a professional writer, it’s essential to have a good grasp of basic grammar rules when writing in English. This is especially important for those studying the language and seeking to improve their proficiency. In this article, we will explore some common grammar rules found in the New Concept English series, and provide exercises so you can practice and test your understanding.
Sentence Structure
In English, sentences typically have a subject and a predicate. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action, while the predicate is the verb that describes the action. A sentence can be either simple or compound.
Simple sentences contain only one independent clause (a clause that can make a complete sentence on its own). Take for example the sentence “I ate breakfast.” This is a simple sentence because it contains only one independent clause.
Compound sentences contain two or more independent clauses. They are joined together by a conjunction such as “and,” “but,” or “or.” For example, “I ate breakfast, and then I went to work.” Here, there are two independent clauses joined with the conjunction “and.”
Practice Exercise 1:
Identify whether the following sentences are simple or compound.
1. He drove to work, but he forgot his lunch at home.
2. The flowers in the garden are blooming.
3. The dog barks when someone knocks on the door.
Parts of Speech
In English, there are nine parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions, interjections, and determiners.
Nouns are words that refer to people, places, or things, such as “dog,” “house,” and “book.” Verbs are words that describe actions, such as “run,” “sing,” and “dance.” Adjectives are words that describe nouns, such as “red,” “happy,” and “tall.” Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, such as “quickly,” “very,” and “really.”
Pronouns are words that replace nouns in sentences. They include words like “he,” “she,” and “they.” Conjunctions are words that join two or more words, phrases, or clauses. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between nouns and other words in a sentence, such as “in,” “on,” and “about.” Interjections are words that express strong emotions, such as “wow,” “ouch,” and “yikes.” Finally, determiners are words that specify a noun, such as “the,” “a,” and “an.”
Practice Exercise 2:
Identify the part of speech of the italicized word in each sentence.
1. The cat sat on the mat.
2. I quickly ran to the store.
3. She bought a beautiful dress for the party.
Tenses
In English, there are twelve tenses that describe time. The present tense (e.g. “I am eating”) refers to actions happening in the present. The past tense (e.g. “I ate breakfast”) refers to actions that happened in the past. Future tenses (e.g. “I will eat breakfast” and “I am going to eat breakfast”) refer to actions that will happen in the future.
Practice Exercise 3:
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the following sentences.
1. I ___ (eat / ate / will eat) breakfast every morning.
2. They ___ (are going to leave / left / leave) for vacation next week.
3. The party ___ (starts / started / will start) at 6 pm tonight.
Conclusion
Having a solid understanding of basic grammar rules is crucial to improving your English language skills. By practicing with exercises such as those above, you can gain the confidence and knowledge to communicate more effectively in spoken and written English. As you progress in your studies, you will encounter more complex grammar rules, but mastering the basics will form a strong foundation upon which to build.