Grammar Hand Book Concise
Grammar Hand Book Concise
Grammar Hand Book Concise
When we add ‘ing’ to a verb in the continuous tense (present, past & or future),
we treat it as a verb.
Example:
I am listening to the radio.
Mom was washing dishes.
We will be making Biryani tonight.
However, outside the continuous tense when we add ‘ing’ to certain verbs they
become nouns, such words are called Gerunds.
Examples:
Swimming is a good exercise.
Dr Ayman Likes reading magazines in her spare time.
We will go fishing on the weekend.
Let’s go for shopping after lunch.
Mike fell on the track at the beginning of the race.
Rita Scolded Maria for calling her so late.
I go for jogging in the evenings.
Janet enjoys cooking on Sundays.
I prefer traveling by road than by air.
Peter doesn’t mind making everyone’s breakfast in the morning.
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Collective nouns are used to describe a group of persons, animals, or things.
Example:
A team of players A flock of birds
A fleet of ships A herd of elephants
A litter of kittens A school of fish
A swarm of bees A bed of flowers
A Pack of wolves A gang of thieves
A cast of a actors A crowd of people
A bunch of grapes A band of musicians
A flight of stairs A string of pearls
A cluster of stars A pride of lions
A gaggle of geese A stack of books
A batch of cookies A troop of monkeys
A Pair of glasses A choir of singers
A brood of hens A panel of experts
Use in Sentences:
The wood cutter is collecting a bundle of sticks to light a fire.
The circus is travelling towards the city on a caravan of camels.
The picnickers were attacked by an army of ants at the park.
Conjunctions are joining words. They help join two different thoughts in a
sentence.
Conjunction help explain the cause, purpose, condition, and time of an action.
Example:
I am sick. I won’t be able to go to school today.
I am sick, so I won’t be able to go to school today.
Conjunctions Examples
And I’m going to the shop to buy milk and eggs.
But Dana doesn’t like to work at the museum, but she has
no other choice at the moment.
Or Please speak up or be quiet.
When Tina wears gloves when she drives.
While Bob cooked dinner while Nina was at work.
So I am very tired, so please don’t make a noise.
If We will go to see the match if it doesn’t rain today.
Although My brother got me a book for my birthday although I
had told him that I wanted a video game.
because Zuni can’t wear high heels because she has a spinal
problem.
Unless I will come to your party unless my relatives come for
dinner.
After Josh passed out after the game.
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives are ‘describing word’. They help describe nouns.
Examples:
Mr. Wendon drives a long car.
Tom’s room is clean.
Your pillow is soft.
Joseph’s baby is cute
We use comparative adjectives when we compare two nouns. Comparative
adjectives end in ‘er’. We use the word ‘than’ with comparative adjectives.
Examples:
Mr. Wendon drives a longer car than Mr. Thompson.
Tom’s room is cleaner than Jim’s.
Your pillow is softer than mine.
Joseph’s baby is cuter than Sam’s.
We use Superlative adjective when we compare more than two nouns.
Superlative adjective end and in ‘est’.
Examples:
Mr. Wendon drives the longest car in the family.
Tom, s room is the cleanest in the house.
Your pillow is the softest.
Joseph’s baby is the cutest.
Example:
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE
Cold Colder Coldest
Old Older Oldest
Short Shorter Shortest
Nice Nicer Nicest
Young Younger Youngest
Dirty Dirtier Dirtiest
Hot Hotter Hottest
Long Longer Longest
Happy Happier Happiest
Clean Cleaner Cleanest
Proud Prouder Proudest
Heavy Heavier Heaviest
Tasty Tastier Tastiest
Kind Kinder Kindest
High Higher Highest
Easy Easier Easiest
Wet Wetter Wettest
Sweet Sweeter Sweetest
Hard Harder Hardest
Lazy Lazier Laziest
Silly Sillier Silliest
Cute Cuter Cutest
Soft Softer Softest
Loud Louder Loudest
Healthy Healthier Healthiest
Sad Sadder Saddest
Fast Faster Fastest
Poor Poorer Poorest
Funny Funnier Funniest
Rich Richer Richest
Clever Cleverer Cleverest
Dark Darker Darkest
Wide Wider Widest
Narrow Narrower Narrowest
Light Lighter Lightest
Sharp Sharper Sharpest
There are some comparative and Superlative adjectives that do not end in ‘er’
and ‘est’. Instead, when they transform into comparative and superlative forms
their spelling changes into another word. Such adjective is called irregular
adjectives. There are very few irregulars in the English language.
Examples:
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE
Good Better Best
Bad Worse Worst
There are some Adjectives that do not change into comparative or superlative
forms at all. For such Adjectives we have to use the words ‘’more’’ & ‘’most’’ to
show their comparative and superlative degrees.
Examples:
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE
Beautiful More Beautiful Most Beautiful
Dangerous More Dangerous Most Dangerous
Worried More Worried Most Worried
Careful More Careful Most Careful
Boring More Boring Most Boring
Difficult More Difficult Most Difficult
Important More Important Most Important
Delicious More Delicious Most Delicious
Powerful More Powerful Most Powerful
Convenient More Convenient Most Convenient
Modern More Modern Most Modern
Graceful More Graceful Most Graceful
Damaged More Damaged Most Damaged
Use of Sentences:
Ayman’s Computer is more modern than Yours.
Katherine Hepburn was the Most graceful Actress in Hollywood.
The road to the lake is more dangerous than the road to the hill.
Ayman’s Khan makes the most delicious cupcakes in town.
AUXILIARY VERBS
Auxiliary Verbs are helping Verbs which come before main verbs and help in
determining their mood, tense, and characteristic in a sentence. We make
questions, negative sentences and sentences and sentences in the perfect
tense, continuous tense, and passive voice, etc. with the help of auxiliary verbs.
There are three main auxiliary verbs in English:
Auxiliary Present Past Continuous Perfect
Verb Form form Form Form
Be Is Was being Been
Am Were
Are
Do Do did Doing
Does
Have Have Had Having
Has
Examples:
I am watching television.
He is going to the park today.
They are preparing for the exams.
The large fish was caught by my cousin.
The boys were playing football.
Frank does not like eating beans.
Where do they work?
We have seen that film before.
You had eaten all the cookies.
MODAL VERBS
Modal Verbs help us better understand verb. They appear before main
verbs and express ability, possibility, permission, and obligation in a
sentence.
Modal Verbs remain the same with all nouns and pronouns.
Following are a few modal verbs commonly used in the English Language:
Modal Usage Example Other Usage Example
verb Forms
Can Ability I can Drive Could Past tense She could
a car. of ‘can’ for skate
ability when she
was
young.
Possibility We can go Substitute They
there for ‘can’ in could go
tomorrow. present on their
tense for own.
possibility
Permission You can Request Could You
work on look after
my my cat?
computer.
Request Can you
tell me the
way?
May Wish May you Might Past tense Kate
succeed in of ‘may’ Might
life. (Always have
followed by come
‘have’) over if she
had time.
Permission May I see Permission Might I
this book? (Considered use your
You may politer than kitchen?
use my ‘may’)
bathroom.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Normal sentences are positive sentences. Sentences that have the word not
in them are negative sentences.
If a positive sentence has the auxiliary verb ‘be’ (am, is, are, was, were,) &
‘have’ (has, had) in it, then we add the word not after it change it into a
negative sentence.
Examples:
Positive: This is a coat.
Negative: This is not a coat.
Positive: We have seen that film.
Negative: We have not seen that film.
However, if a positive sentence has a main verb instead, then we use the
words do not or does not before the main verb to change if into a negative
sentence. In such negative sentences the base from of the verb is always
used.
We use do not with pronouns I, we, you, & they: & we used does not with
pronouns he, she & it.
Example:
Positive: John enjoys horse riding.
Negative: John Doesn’t enjoy horse riding.
Positive: They wash their clothes.
Negative: They don’t wash their clothes.
If the positive sentence with a main verb is in the past tense, then we use the
words did not before it to change it into a negative sentence (with all nouns
and pronouns)
Example:
Positive: He cleaned his room.
Negative: He did not clean his room.
If a positive sentence is in the future tense, then we use the words will not
change it into a negative sentence (with all nouns and pronouns)
Example:
Positive: Ayman will stitch the dress tonight.
Negative: Ayman will not stitch the dress tonight.
If a positive sentence has other modal verbs, such as may, can, should, or
must, then the word ‘not’ is simply added to change it into a negative.
Example:
Positive: You may eat the cake.
Negative: You may not eat the cake.
Positive: He must go now.
Negative: He must not go now.
In negative sentences we can either contract the word not with the auxiliary
verb or with the noun/ pronoun in the sentence.
Examples:
I’m not running in the race.
She won’t come to the party.
Susan’s not wearing earrings today.
Ayman wasn’t paying attention.
CONDITIONALS
Conditionals are sentences that describe a ‘condition’ and thus have an ‘if’
Clause.
Some conditionals that are commonly used in English are explained below.
Condition Form Example
Routine or habit If + simple present, If the weather is nice, I
simple present. go to the Beach.
Future Possibility If + Simple present, If I go to Jhang, I will
Simple future. post the parcel to him.
Hypothetical If + Simple past, would If I had a bigger house, I
+ Infinitive. would invite more
guests.
Not Possible Now If + past perfect, Would If I had passed the
have + past participle. Exam, I would Have
become an engineer by
now.
When a conditional begins with ’if’, a comma usually separates the condition
(first art of the sentence) form the result (second part of the sentence).
However, when the result appears at the beginning and the condition comes
at the end, then a comma is not use at all.
Example:
If nobody Is at home, I play loud music. (With comma)
I play loud music if nobody is at home. (Without comma)
The word ’then’ may or may not be used in conditionals. It is not necessary
and is completely Up to the user’s discretion. It is usually not used in modern
everyday speech & writing.
Example:
If you lend you watch, then I will land you, my shoes.
(with ‘then’)
If you lend me your watch, I will lend You, my shoes.
(Without ‘then’)
Some more examples of conditionals:
If our teacher is absent, we play in the school ground.
If dad comes late, we stary the dinner.
If I get good grades, Mom will buy me a video game.
If sara goes to the supermarket, she will get me some eggs.
If plan to stop over at Grandma’s I would let you know.
If I were bad at my job, I would have given her your message.
I lock the doors if I am alone.
We will call you if we have a vacancy.
If we are near your house, then we will call you.
COLLOCATIONS
Collocations are a pair or group of words that are often used together in
combination in the English Language. Using Collocations in speech or writing
makes the language seem more natural and fluid.
However, native speakers of the English language seem to know and use
collocations naturally and habitually, whereas non-native speakers must be
careful in its usage. The slightest difference in a collocation can change the
sense of the entire sentence. No word in a collocation can be replaced with
another synonyms, or it will modify the meaning and gist of what is being said.
Example:
Correct Collocation Incorrect Collocation
Fast food Quick food
Tall man High man
Great man Big man
Strong tea Powerful tea
Burst into tears Blow up into tears
It should also be remembered that certain collocation is always used in
particular circumstances & not used elsewhere, as they do not seem natural
otherwise.
Example:
Correct Collocation Incorrect Collocation
Excruciating pain Excruciating joy
Feel free Feel bound
Catch a cold Catch a hot
The best way to learn correct collocation is to read & listen to native writers use
them.
Collocations can begin with adverbs, adjectives, nouns, or verbs. Here are some
common everyday collocations that begin with verbs.
Verb Collocations
Make Make a mistake, male a promise,
make a wish, make a difference, make
one’s bed.
Catch Catch a bus, catch a cold, catch a
thief, catch a ball, catch fire, catch
someone’s attention.
Pay Pay attention, pay the price, pay a
visit, pay one’s respects.
Save Save money, save energy, save time.
Take Take a bus (or train, flight, taxi), take a
look, take a break, take a picture.
Keep Keep calm, keep in touch, keep quiet,
keep the change, keep a promise.
Get Get ready, get on, get off, get lost, get
angry, get in, get out.
Do Do the dishes, do the laundry, do
one’s homework, do a favor.
Feel Feel free, feel comfortable, feel happy
(or proud, nervous, sleepy)
Have Have a bath, have faith, have
breakfast (or lunch, dinner), have fun,
have a party, have an excuse.
Here are some common everyday collocations that begin with adjectives.
Adjective Collocation
Deep Deep thought, deep sleep, deep
trouble.
Heavy Heavy rain (or snow), heavy traffic,
heavy smoker, heavy duty.
High (or low) High (or low) cost, self-esteem,
energy, expectations
Strong Strong willed, strong smell, strong
taste, strong tea, (or coffee), strong
feeling.
Tall Tall order, tall building, tall man, tall
glass.
Care should be taken to always use right collocation in the right situation. If the
collocation is used correctly but out of place, it is going to seem as strange as if
it were used incorrectly.
The use of the right collocation in the right situation can only come from
practice.
Use of a few collocations in sentences:
I will not give you breakfast until you make your bed.
Don’t disturb john. He seems to be in a deep thought.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any further queries.
He married Sharon against everyone’s advice and now he’s paying the
price.
I will do the dishes if you do the laundry.
INTERJECTIONS
An interjection is an exclamation, that expresses emotions like happiness, anger,
shock, excitement, desperation, or sorrow, etc.
Interjections usually come at the beginning of a sentence and are followed by
an exclamation mark”!”.
Happy Interjections
Yes! I passed the exam.
Congratulations! I wish both of you a long and happy marriage.
Yum! The cake tastes terrific.
Hey (or Hello)! How’s it going?
Happy Birthday! May you have many more.
Excellent! I am impressed with your work.
Hurray! We won the match.
Well done! We’re all very proud of you.
Thank! I am appreciating your support.
Superb (or amazing, etc.)! what a fine piece of art.
Wow! The sunset looks beautiful.
Bravo! That was a great performance.
Great! We will all go to the lake for a picnic this weekend then.
Astounding Interjections
(Includes shock, Desperation, anger, sorrow & Excitement)
Oh no! The ship is sinking.
Watch out! The falcon is headed your way.
Stop! You just ran over a cat.
Oops! I think I’ve dropped Bob’s engagement ring somewhere.
Ouch! The ball just hit my mouth and broke my tooth.
Aha! I knew that I would find you hiding here.
Oh dear! George doesn’t look well at all.
Help! My hand is stuck in the door.
Damn! I wish I had the money to go to the concert.
Be quiet! This is a classroom, not a fish market.
Come on! Do you really expect me to believe that you only have one pair
of shoes?
Goodness! Why has this road still not been replied?
At last! My turn has finally arrived.
Phew! That was a close call.
Goodbye! We’ll see you again next summer.
DISCOURSE MARKERS
Discourse markers are ‘word (or phrase) tags’ that are used at the beginning of
sentences (few times they can even be used in the middle) to help them seem
clearer and more understand able. They help join ideas and act as a connection
or link between sentences & paragraphs.
Discourse markers are effective in both speech as well as in writing. They help
give a conversation or a piece of text a proper shape & assist in making it appear
more fluent & logical. They allow the writer or speaker to use them as ‘fillers.
Since they are ‘word tags’ & act only as a link between two thoughts, they are
separated from the main sentence by a comma. Therefore, a sentence still
retains its structure even if the discourse marker is removed from the beginning
of the sentence.
Different discourse markers are used in different situations. It is very important
to use them in the right situation or they will seem completely out of place.
Given below are a few common discourse markers used in everyday English. It is
important to learn their correct usage.
Discourse Markers
For adding For showing For Sequencing For giving
cause & effect examples
Also, moreover, Therefore, thus, Firstly, at first, For example, for
Furthermore, consequently, first of all, in the instance, such as,
additionally, hence, as a first place, to namely, in other
besides, in result. begin with, in the words.
addition beginning, once
upon a time,
secondly, thirdly,
subsequently,
earlier,
meanwhile, later,
afterwards.
For Comparing For Contrasting For Emphasizing For concluding
Similarly, However, Above all, In conclusion,
Likewise, in the although, specially, in finally, to sum it
same way, whereas, despite particular, up, in the end,
this fact, on one specifically, as a lastly, in short,
hand, on the matter of fact, eventually.
other hand, on more
the contrary, still, importantly.
nonetheless,
instead,
alternatively, in
contrast.
For generalizing For indicating For Repeating
time
On the whole, in In the past, not Again & again,
general, broadly so long ago, over & over,
speaking, as a recently, once again, as
rule, in most stated.
cases
Here is an example of how a few discourse markers can be used in writing:
Once upon a time, there was a boy called Tom. He lived on a hill & picked
berries for a living. He would save some berries for himself & his family & sell
rest to a fruit seller in a nearby town. The fruit seller was very happy with
Tom because he would bring him a wide variety of berries. For instance, he
would bring him strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries
& mulberries. Furthermore, he would throw away the rotten once & wash &
clean the good ones before giving them to the fruit seller. Therefore, as a
reward the fruit seller would give Tom one dozen bananas & mangoes each
month for free. As Tom grew older, he grew tired of picking berries. He
wanted to become a woodcutter like his father. However, His father insisted
that Tom continued to do his old work for some time. Tom had two elder
brothers, Jack & Mark. Jack was a cobbler in the town, whereas Mark made
bread in a bakery there. Similarly, Tom’s mother also worked as a seamstress
at the tailoring shop in the town.
Days went by as Tom’s urge to pick up an axe grew stronger. One morning
Tom hid behind his house & waited for his father, mother & brothers to leave
for work. When every one left, he went inside, got his father’s spare axe &
walked into the woods. He came upon a small tree which he thought would
be easy to cut, but just as he swung the axe, it flew from his hands & hit a
bird that was perched on the lower branch of the tree. The bird was badly
injured and started to bleed. Tom froze in shock at what had happened.
Meanwhile, his father, who had forgotten his lunch at home & was walking
back to get it, saw him standing like a statue in the nearby woods. He
approached the scene & quickly assessed what had happened. He took out
his handkerchief, wrapped the bird in it & rushed it to the stable, where the
town veterinarian worked.
When Tom’s father returned home that evening, he was quiet but upset. He
couldn’t believe his son had disobeyed him like this. Nonetheless, he called
Tom before going to bed & explained why he had not allowed him to cut
wood. He told him that he was neither strong enough nor ready for such a
responsibility at that age. He promised that if Tom was patient for just a few
more years, he would teach him to cut wood himself.
In the end, Tom reflected on his actions as he went to sleep that night &
decided that he would rather wait for a while & e his father’s wood cutting
partner than be hasty & hurt his father, as well as the animals in the woods.
PUNCTUATION
Apostrophe
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark that is used for two purposes.
a. To show Possession
b. To punctuate contractions
a. To show Possession
We use an apostrophe to show possession when we either want to show that
something belongs to someone or want to describe a relation between two
people.
Example:
This is Gino’s hat.
That is Mary’s sister.
The following rules must be kept in mind when using an apostrophe to
show possession.
Rule Example
An apostrophe comes before ‘S’ if the This car’s design seems modern.
noun is singular.
An apostrophe comes after the ‘S’ if The girls’ dresses look nice.
the noun is plural.
An apostrophe comes before the ‘S’ if Let’s go to the children’s nursery.
the noun is an irregular plural.
Some more Examples:
A giraffe’s neck is very long.
The bottle’s labels have worn out.
David’s cousin is my friend.
The men’s clothes have gotten wet in the rain.
b. To punctuate Contractions
We also use an apostrophe to shorten or contract two words together.
Here are a few examples:
I am Becomes I’m
We are Becomes We’re
You are Becomes You’re
He is Becomes He’s
He has Becomes He’s
She is Becomes She’s
She has Becomes She’s
It is Becomes It’s
It has Becomes It’s
They are Becomes They’re
Is not Becomes Isn’t
Are not Becomes Aren’t
Was not Becomes Wasn’t
We’re not Becomes Weren’t
Let us Becomes Let’s
Must not Becomes Mustn’t
I would Becomes I’d
Will not Becomes Won’t
Would not Becomes Wouldn’t
Does not Becomes Doesn’t
Do not Becomes Don’t
Did not Becomes Didn’t
Can not Becomes Can’t
Could not Becomes Couldn’t
Shall not Becomes Shan’t
Should not Becomes Shouldn’t
Comma
A comma is a punctuation mark that is used in many ways.
Given below are some common uses of a comma.
Use Example
The listing comma Ayman is a kind, patient, responsible
Used to separate adjectives or nouns and caring girl. Please get some eggs,
in a list. bread, milk, and butter from the shop.
The bracketing Comma My wallet, which is brown & made of
These can be used instead of a leather, has been stolen.
bracket in a sentence.
The joining Comma I tried talking to Bob, but he yelled at
It comes before a conjunction and me & told me to leave.
joins two sentences together.
The Introductory Comma Sadly, the picnic turned out to be a
Used at the beginning of a sentence after huge disappointment.
an adverb or a discourse marker to Furthermore, the trip back from the
separate it from the rest of the sentence.
picnic proved to be a nightmare.
The conditional comma If I visit Jhang, I’ll Buy your handbag.
Used with conditionals to separate
the condition from the result.
The Quotation Comma The postman said, “I don’t have any
Used in Direct speech mail for you today”.
“That’s a nice dress you’re wearing,”
said Jack with a smile.
The typographical Comma Betty White, 12 Cougar Lane,
Used in addresses to separate names Manchester, United Kingdom
of buildings, street, cities & countries. Friday, October 29, 2005
Used in dates to separate days, 100,000
months & years. 12,654
Also used in numbers beyond 1000.