What is English Grammar? ✏️
Grammar is a part and parcel of a language. It is a very important aspect and element of a language.
By grammar we mean a set of rules of a language, which helps us to use the language in the correct form.
English language too has its own certain rules which must be followed. English Grammar helps us to learn the language correctly. The users of English language need to practise the language skills.
Contents of English Grammar ✏️
English Grammar includes items/contents on different topics. In the modern English Grammar books and guides, an index of English Grammar contains these items/contents chronologically or in a numerical order.
Generally the items/contents we learn in English Grammar are:
(This is a model index of English Grammar, taken from the A Passage to the English Language, by S M Zakir Hossain, A Bengali Writer.)
Contents of English GRAMMAR
Sentence
A. Definition and characteristics
B. Elements of the sentence
C. Subject and Predicate
The Phrase and the clause
A. The phrase
B. The clause
Parts of Speech
Classification and examples
Detailed discussion
Use of "There"
i. Introduction
ii. Types of uses
A. Introductory 'there'
Some interesting points
B. Expletive 'there'
C. Adverb 'there'
Exercise
Use of "it"
i. Introduction
ii. Uses
ii. Elaborate discussion
Grand exercise
The Classification of Nouns
i. Why a classification
ii. Elaborate discussion
A. 1. Concrete Noun
A. 1. a. Proper Noun
Some important notes
A. 1. b: Common Noun
Interesting point
A. 1. c. Collective Noun
A. 1. d. Material Noun
A. 2. Abstract Noun
Formation Abstract Nouns
B. 1. Countable Noun
B. 2: Uncountable Noun
Some rules (Countable and uncountable)
Use of one kind of Noun as another
iii. Functions of the Noun
Other words or groups of words used as Noun
Summary
Exercise
Number (of Nouns and Pronouns)
i. What is number
ii. Types of numbers
ii. Formation of plural numbers
Genders (of Nouns and Pronouns)
i. What is gender
ii. Types of genders
Discussion and examples
iii. Transformation of masculine into
feminine gender
iv. Some examples of common gender
v. Some exceptional-cases
vi. A word of caution
Pronoun
i. What is a pronoun
ii. Types of pronouns
iii. Discussion in details
Personal pronouns
Characteristics personal pronouns
iv. Use of 'it'
v. Some rules regarding the use of personal pronouns
Possessive of interest
Emphatic possessive
Interrogative pronouns
Uses of who, which, what
Distributive pronouns
Demonstrative pronoun
Use of this, these, that, those as pronouns
Use of 'such'
Use of 'the same'
Use of 'so'
Relative Pronouns
Use of 'who'
Use of 'which'
Use of 'that'
Use of 'what
Use of 'but
Use of 'as
Use of 'who and which
Continuative use
Adverbial use
Use of 'that'
Use of 'as' and 'so'
Antecedents
Omission of relative pronouns
Reciprocal pronoun
Reflexive and emphatic pronouns
A. Reflexive pronoun
Use of reflexive pronouns
B. Emphatic pronouns
Indefinite pronouns
(a) Any
(b) Some
(c) One
(d) Other
(e) They
(f) Many
(g) Few
The Case
i. What is case
ii. Types of Cases
ii. Explanation with examples
1. Nominative case
2. Objective case
3. Possessive case
iv. Types of the nominative case
a. Nominative of address or Vocative case
b. Nominative absolute
c. Complementary nominative
Position of the nominative
v. Objective case
Kinds of objects
vi. Position of the object
vii. Possessive case
Double possessive
Elliptical possessive
viii. Case in apposition
Framing WH-Questions
The Nature of WH Questions
Rules of Forming WH-Question
Practice Material
Adjectives
i. What is an adjective
Two uses of adjectives
ii. Classes of adjectives
ii. Elaborate discussion
A. Adjective of quality
B. Adjective of quantity
C. Numeral adjective
Types of numerals
D. Pronominal adjective
Classes of Pronominal adjectives
iv. Other parts of speech used as adjective
V. Adjective of quality used as nouns
vi. Position of adjectives
vii. Uses of some adjectives
i. Many a/an+sig. noun+sing. verb
ii. Many/a great many/a good many+ pl. noun + pl. verb
iii. few, a tew, the few, very few, not a few
iv. Little, a little, the little, very little,
not a little
v. Whole, the whole of, all
vi. Many, much
vii. Any, some
vii. Other, another, others, any other
Grand exercise
Comparison of adjectives
i. Degree ot Comparison
ii. Rules tor forming comparatives and superlatives
Grand Exercise
Articles
i. What is an article
A. Origin of a, an, & the
B. Kinds of articles
1. Indefinite article
2. Definite article
ii. Uses of indefinite articles
A. Use of a/an
B. Where a is used instead of an
C. Where an is used instead of a
iii. Uses of the definite articles the
iv. Position of articles
v. Omission of a/an
vi. Omission of 'the
vii. Repetition of articles
Viii. An interesting effect of articles
Grand exercise
Verbs
Different types of verbs
A. Finite verb and non-finite verb
B. Principal and Auxiliary verbs
C. Transitive and intransitive verbs
a. Transitive verb used intransitively
b. Intransitive verb used transitively
Some transitive verbs may have two objects
Verbs of incomplete predication
Intransitive verbs of incomplete predication
Transitive verbs of incomplete predication
Causative verb
Impersonal verb
Reflexive verb
Reciprocal verb
Prepositional verb
Cognate verb
Quasi-passive verb
Verbs ot perception
Inchoative verb
Non-conclusive verb
Grand Exercise
Irregular verb and Regular verb
Some auxiliary, defective, modal and semi-modal verbs
i. Introduction
ii. Elaborate discussion
A. Use of verb to be
Use of be as the principal verb
2. The use of be as an auxiliary verb
i. Auxiliary verb to form Continuous tense
Present continuous tense
Past continuous tense
Future Continuous tense
ii. Use of Be to form Passive voice
Present indefinite tense
Present continuous tense
Present perfect tense
Past indefinite tense
Past continuous tense
Past perfect tense
Future indefinite tense
Future continuous tense
Future perfect tense
iii. infinitive (be+to+verb)
B. The use of 'Have
The use of 'have' as an auxiliary verb
(a) Present perfect tense
(6) Past perfect tense
(c) Future perfect tense
(d) perfect conditional
(e) The use of have to
have to (negative)
had to
did not have to
need not have + verb (P.P)
(f) Have+object+verb (past participle)
(g) Had better+bare infinitive
(h) Have+object+present Participle
2. The use of have as the principle verb
C. Use of Do
1. Use of do as an auxiliary verb
Present indefinite tense
Past indefinite tense
2. Use of do as the principal verb
i. Present indefinite tense
ii. Present continuous tense
iii. Present perfect tense
iv. Present perfect continuous tense
v. Past indefinite tense
vi. Past continuous tense
vii. Past perfect tense
vii. Future indefinite tense
viii. Future continuous tense
ix. Future perfect tense
D. Use of may and might and can
E. Use of ought, should, must, need
Have to vs. Must
Deduction and assumption
Use of 'Need
Use of Need as the principal verb
F. Usee of Dare
Use of 'used to'
Verbals or Non-finite verbs
i. infinitives
Omission of to
Types of intinitves
a. Simple or Noun-infinitive
b. Gerundial or Qualifying infinitive
Perfect infinitive
Use of Perfect infinitive
Split infinitive
ii. Participles
1. Present participle
2. Past participle
3. Perfect participle
Characteristics of participles
Use of participles
Un-related or Mis-related or Dis-related participle
iii. Gerunds
Functions of the gerund
Gerund with possessives
Verbal Noun
Where to use the infinitive or the Gerund
iv. Sentence patterns with non-finite verbs
A. Sentence Patterns with infinitive
B. Sentence patterns with participles
C. Sentence patterns with gerunds
Grand exercise
Verbal group
The Nature of the Verb
The classification of Verbs
Lexical Verb
Auxiliaries Verb
Examples of Different Verbs
How this classification benefits you
The Tenses
Test yourself
The Phrasal Verbs
What it is?
Position of the adverbial particle
Phrasal verb versus Prepositional verb
Phrasal-Prepositional verbs
Some examples
Moods
i. What is the moods
ii. Types of mood
a. Indicative mood
b. Imperative mood
C. Subjunctive mood
Tenses
i. What is tense
ii. Classification of tenses
1. Present indefinite tense
2. Present continuous tense
3. Present perfect tense
4. Present perfect continuous tense
5. Past indefinite tense
6. Past continuous tense
7. Past perfect tense
8. Past perfect continuous tense
9. Future indefinite tense
10. Future continuous tense
11. Future perfect tense
12. Future perfect continuous tense
Grand exercise
The Voice
i. What is voice
ii. Types of voices
iii. Transformation of active voice into passive voice
1. Present indefinite tense
2. Present continuous tense
3. Present perfect tense
4. Past indefinite tense
5. Past continuous tense
6. Past perfect tense
7. Future indefinite tense
8.Future Continuous tense
9.Future perfect tense
iv. Passive voice of the verbs with double object
v. Passive voice of verbs preceded by can,
may, should, would etc.
vi. Passive voice of sentences with who,
which, when, how, why, whom
vii. Passive voice of intransitive verbs
used transitively
viii. Passive voice of imperative sentence
ix. Passive voice of reflexive verbs
x. Passive voice of quasi-passive verbs
xi. Passive voice of infinitives
xii. Two important notes
xii. When to use the pasSive voice
xiv. Passive voice of complex sentences
Grand exercise
Adverbs
What is the adverb
Kinds of adverbs
1. Simple or independent adverbs
a. Adverb of time
b. Adverb of place
c. Adverbs of manner
d. Adverb of frequency
e. Adverbs of quantity or degree
f. Adverb of affirmation and negation
g. Adverbs of cause and effect
h. Adverbs of order
2. Interrogative adverbs
3. Relative adverbs
Genitive adverbs
Introductory adverbs
Instrumental 'The'
Prepositional adverbs
Adverbial particles
Compound adverb
Sentence adverb
Quasi-adverbs
Other parts of speech used as adverbs
Adverbs used as nouns
Adverbs used as adjectives
The formation of adverbs from adjectives
Comparison of adverbs
Adverbial phrases
Formation of Adverbial phrase
Use of some adverbs
Inversion of the verb
Preposition
i. What is preposition
ii. Kinds of prepositions
1. Simple prepositions
2. Double preposition
3. Compound preposition
4. Phrase preposition
5. Participle preposition
6. Disguised preposition
Prepositional object
Detached preposition
ii. Other parts of speech used as prepositions
iv. Meanings and uses of some preposition
v. Distinctions between adverbs and prepositions
vi. Some examples using prepositions
vii. ldiomatic uses of some prepositions
vii. Verbs which do not take prepositions
Conjunction
i. Definition
ii. Kinds of Conjunction
A. Coordinating Conjunction
(a) Cumulative or copulative conjunction
(b) Alternative or Disjunction conjunctions
(c) Adversative conjunctions
(d) Ilative conjunction
B. Subordinating Conjunction
Classification
i. Time
ii. Cause or reason
iii. Purpose
iv. Condition
v. Effect
vi. Comparison
vii. Manner
viii. Concession or contrast
ix. Introductory sense
x. Apposition
Correlation Conjunction
i. Use of some conjunctions
Interjection
i. Definition
ii. An important characteristic of interjections
iii. Some commonly used interjection
iv. Interjection phrase
v. Other parts ot speech used as interjection
Social English
What It is
Feed-back
Expressing Opinions
Agreeing and Disagreeing
Likes and Dislikes
Digression
Attracting Others Attention
Thanking Some One
Greeting/Introducing Someone
Benediction/Well-wishing
Appreciation/Praise/Showing interest
Asking for Permission
Refusal
Giving Permission
Expressing gratitude
Farewell
EXclamation
People's Opinions
Bad feeling
Asking About a Situation
Kinds of sentences
i. Introductions
ii. Classification
iii. Elaborate discussion
A. Assertive sentence
B. Interrogative sentence
C. Imperative sentence
D. Optative sentence
E. Exclamatory sentence
Basic Sentence patterns
The Mystery of Structures
What is meant by Structure
The Components of the Structure
The Nominal Group
Determiners
What a Determinant is
Types of Determiners
Why Study Determiners
General rules for using determiners
Practice Material
Detailed and Specific rules for using
Determiners
Problems arising from lack of Article-Using-Knowledge
Other Determiners
Common nouns with no (Zero) Article
Practice Material
The uses of Some
The uses of Any
The uses of Another and 'Other
The uses of Few
The uses of Little
The uses of Certain Numerous and Various
Modification of determiners
Head word, Modifier
The structure ot the Phrase
The structure of the Noun Phrase
Types of Phrases
1. The Noun Phrase
2. The Adjective Phrase
3. The Verb Phrase
Some Important Rules
4. The Phrasal Verb
5. The Adverbial Phrase
6. The Participle Phrase
7. The infinitive Phrase
8. Prepositional Phrase
The Noun Phrase Revisited
Appositive
Techniques for structure Analysis
(for advanced students)
Practice Material
How Strong is your knowledge of
Structures
Food for thought (Structures)
Question tags and comment tags
introduction
A. Questions tags
B. Comment tags
Use of the Auxiliary verbs in short answers & agreements
Introduction
A. Short answers
B. Agreements
1. Agreement with affirmative remarks
2. Agreement with negative remarks
C. Disagreements
1. Disagreements with negative remarks
2. Disagreements with affirmative remarks
Kinds of phrases
i. What is a phrase
ii. Kinds of phrases
1. Noun phrases
2. Adjective phrases
3. Verbal phrases
4. Adverbial phrases
5. Prepositional phrases
6. Conjunctional phrases
7. Interjectional phrases
iii. Some important notes
iv. A useful display
Questions and answers
Kinds of Clauses
i. What is a Clause
ii. Classifications of clauses
1. Principal clause
2. Subordinate clause
a. Noun clause
b. Adjective clause
c. Adverbial clause
Some interesting examples
3. Coordinate clause
Kinds of Sentences: Simple, Complex,
Compound
i. Introduction
ii. Classification
iii. Elaborate discussion
A. Simple sentence
Some interesting examples
B. Complex sentence
An interesting point
C. Compound sentence
An interesting point
Double sentence
Multiple Sentence
Contracted sentence
iv. Some verb patterns
Change of Narration
i. What is narration
ii. Rules regarding the change of
narration
(a) Rules for changing person
(6) Rules tor changing tenses
Questions and answers
iii. Assertive sentences
iv. Interrogative sentences
v. Imperative sentences
vi. Exclamatory sentences
vii. Optative sentences
viii. Mixed types of sentences
ix. Conversation: Questions and answers
x. Change of Narration of passages
Grand exercise
Sequence of tense
i. Introduction
ii. Rules
iii. Grand exercise
Transformation of sentences
1. Introduction
Affirmative to negative & interrogative
From negative to affirmative
From assertive to interrogative
From assertive to exclamatory
From Positive to comparative and
Superlative
From complex to simple and from
simple to complex
From simple to compound and from
Compound to simple
From simple to complex & from
complex to simple
From complex to compound trom
compound to complex
An over all view
Other examples of transformation
Grand exercise
Analysis of sentences
i. Introduction
ii. Importance
iii. Broad out line
iv. Elaborate discussion
A. Some necessary concepts
1. Subject or subject word
2. Adjunct to the subject
3. Finite verb
4. Object
5. Adjunct to the object
6. Complement
7. Adverbial adjunct
B. Analysis of simple sentences
C. Analysis of complex sentences
D. Analysis of Compound sentences
Synthesis of sentences
i. Introduction
ii. Rules and examples
Exercise
Techniques of Advanced Writing
(General Rules)
Practice Material
Conditional sentence
i. Introduction
ii. Classification
iii. Elaborate discussion
A.
1. Probable conditional sentence
2. Variations of fhe basic torm
3. Variations of the if-clause
B.
1. Improbable conditional sentence
2. Use
3. Variations
4. Variations of the if-clause
a. It +Past continuous
b. If + Past perfect
c. 1. Impossible conditional sentence
d. Structure
5. Variation
v. Ins and outs of if-clauses
lf and In case
The Use of grammar in Communicative
English
1. Use of the Tenses
Present Simple ( do)
Past Simple (I did)
Creative exercise
Can, must, may, might, need, should, would
Syntax agreement : Subject-verb
i. Introduction
ii. Rules
Syntax agreement: Pronoun-antecedent
i. Introduction
ii. Importance
ii. Rules
Right form of the verb
i. Introduction
ii. Rules
Exercise
Phrasal verbs or group verbs
Appropriate preposition
Common idioms and phrases
Words of the same or similar meanings distinguished
Words in common use with different functions
Derivatives
i. Introduction
Prefixes
Suffix
A. Nouns from adjectives
B. Nouns from verbs
Formation of verbs
Formation of adjectives
Latin Adjectives
Rules for spelling
i. Introduction
ii. Rules of spelling
Common Error
i. Introduction
ii. Some important points
iii. Example and notes
A. Errors in the use of Nouns and
Pronouns
B. Errors of Number
C. Errors of Articles
D. Errors of Case
E. Errors ot Adjectives
F. Errors of Verbs
G. Errors of Adverbs
H. Errors of Preposition
I. Errors ot Conjunction
J. Errors of unnecessary words
K. Errors of Redundancy
L. Errors in the use of gerunds
M. Errors in the use ot Infinitives
N. Errors in the use of Negative
O. Errors of Faulty Parallelism
P. Errors in the use of Modal verbs
Q. Miscellaneous
iv. Conclusion
Uses of Capital letter
Punctuation
Introduction
Different punctuation Devices and Marks
Uses of the punctuation marks
Appendix
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Acknowledgement:
(This is a model index of English Grammar, taken from the A Passage to the English Language, by S M Zakir Hossain, A Bengali Writer.)
