Basic English Grammar For Dummies - US
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English grammar is not a mystery; it's a set of traditions and patterns of language handed down through the ages. With a little practice, you can learn the rules of Standard English so you can express yourself confidently and correctly.

Sorting pronouns

Pronouns are handy words that take the place of the names of people, places, and things. Be sure to give every pronoun a proper job. Here is what you need to know about pronouns:

  • Singular subject pronouns (when one person or thing does the action or exists in the state of being): I, you, he, she, it, who, whoever.

  • Plural subject pronouns (when more than one person or thing does the action or exists in the state of being): we, you, they, who, whoever.

  • Singular object pronouns (one person or thing receiving the action): me, you, him, her, it, whom, whomever.

  • Plural object pronouns (more than one person or thing receiving the action): us, you, them, whom, whomever.

  • Singular possessive pronouns (showing ownership by one person or thing): my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, whose.

  • Plural possessive pronouns (showing ownership by more than one person or thing): our, ours, your, yours, their, theirs, whose.

Dealing with verb tenses

In English grammar, verbs change in form to tell the time period, or tense. You use different verbs to indicate whether an action has already happened, is currently happening, will happen in the future, and several different variations. Remember these tenses:

  • Present: happening at the current time (I talk, he talks, they talk)

  • Present progressive: in the process of happening (I am talking, he is talking, they are talking)

  • Past: happened before now (I talked, he talked, they talked)

  • Past progressive: happened over a period of time before now (I was talking, he was talking, they were talking)

  • Future: will happen after the present time (I will talk, he will talk, they will talk)

  • Future progressive: will happen over a period of time, after the present time (I will be talking, he will be talking, they will be talking)

  • Present perfect: started in the past and continues in the present (I have talked, he has talked, they have talked)

  • Past perfect: happened in the past before another event in the past (I had talked, he had talked, they had talked)

  • Future perfect: will happen in the future before a deadline (I will have talked, he will have talked, they will have talked)

Elements of a complete English sentence

Learning to write in complete sentences is a necessary skill. In order to fully understand the construction of a complete sentence, we need to define what a sentence actually is.

 

Sentences serve as a framework for people to clearly express their ideas in writing. There are several characteristics that must be met in order for a written thought to be considered a complete sentence. A complete sentence must: begin with a capital letter, end with a punctuation mark (period, question mark, or exclamation point), and contain at least one main clause. A main clause includes an independent subject and verb to express a complete thought.

As any English grammar teacher will tell you, a complete sentence has at least one main clause, or subject-verb pair. They’re a pair because they match. They match because, well, they work smoothly as a team. One half of the pair (the verb) expresses action or being, and the other half (the subject) is whatever or whoever does the action or exists in the state of being. Here are subject-verb pairs that match:

Eggworthy scrambled.

Ms. Drydock has repaired.

Just for comparison, here is one mismatch:

Eggworthy scrambling

When you’re texting or IMing (instant messaging), space is tight. Every character counts, including spaces. Therefore, many people opt for “sentences” that contain only verbs, when the meaning is clear. Check out this text: Went home. Fed cow. Cleaned barn.

Complete sentences may also include more than one subject-verb pair:

Dorothy fiddled while the orchestra pit burned. (Dorothy = subject of the verb fiddled, orchestra pit = subject of the verb burned)

Not only did George swim, but he also sipped the pool water. (George = subject of the verb did swim, he = subject of the verb sipped)

Complete sentences may also match one subject with more than one verb, and vice versa:

The lizard with a British accent appeared in three commercials but sang in only two. (lizard = subject of verbs appeared, sang)

Alice and Archie will fight endlessly over a single birdseed. (Alice, Archie = subjects of the verb will fight)

Complete sentences that give commands may match an understood subject (you) with the verb:

Visit Grandma, you little creep! (you-understood = subject of the verb visit)

What’s an incomplete sentence?

Simply put, an incomplete sentence is one that does not express a full thought (also referred to as sentence fragments which usually do not include both a subject and a verb). It’s the moment in the television show just before the last commercial. You know what I mean. The hero slowly edges the door open a few inches, peeks in, gasps, and . . . FADE TO DANCING DETERGENT BOTTLE. You were planning to change the channel, but instead you wait to see if the villain’s cobra is going to bite the hero’s nose. You haven’t gotten to the end, and you don’t know what’s happening.

 

A complete sentence is the opposite of that moment in a television show. You have gotten to the end, and you do know what’s happening. In other words, a complete sentence must express a complete thought.

Complete sentence examples and context

Check out these complete sentences. Notice how they express complete thoughts:

Despite Eggworthy’s fragile appearance, he proved to be a tough opponent.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to ride on top of a Zamboni.

Did Lola apply for a job as a Zamboni driver?

For comparison, here are a few incomplete thoughts:

The reason I wanted a divorce was

Because I said so

Yes, in context those incomplete thoughts may indeed express a complete thought:

Sydney: So the topic of conversation was the Rangers’ season opener?

Alice: No! “The reason I wanted a divorce” was!

and

Sydney: Why do I have to do this dumb homework?

Alice: Because I said so.

Fair enough. You can pull a complete thought out of the examples. However, the context of a conversation is not enough to satisfy the complete thought/complete sentence rule. To be “legal,” your sentence must express a complete thought.

In deciding whether you have a complete sentence or not, you may be led astray by words that resemble questions. Consider these three words: who knits well. A complete thought? Maybe yes, maybe no. Suppose those three words form a question:

 

 

Who knits well?

This question is understandable and its thought is complete. Verdict: legal. Suppose these three words form a statement:

Who knits well.

Now they don’t make sense. This incomplete sentence needs more words to make a complete thought:

The honor of making Fido’s sweater will go to the person who knits well.

When to use capital letters

In English grammar, you need to know when to capitalise words. Sometimes the capital letter signifies the part of a sentence or simply indicates someone’s name (proper nouns). Use capital letters for the following:

  • Specific names: Capital letters are used for the names of people, places, and brands. (Bill, Mrs. Jones, River Dee, Burberry). Lowercase letters are for general names (girls, mountains, clothing).

  • First word: The first word in a sentence, a title, or a subtitle is always capitalised.

  • Personal pronoun: The pronoun I, referring to the speaker or writer, should be capitalised.

  • Titles of full-length literary works: The first word in the title of a book, play, newspaper, or magazine, plus all the important words, should be capitalised. (God Save the Queen, The Times, A Tale of Two Cities). If you have a subtitle, capitalise only the first word, specific names, and the personal pronoun I.

  • Titles of songs, poems, and articles: Capitalise the first word, proper names, and the personal pronoun I.

  • Titles for people: When a title comes before a name, capitalise it (Reverend Ames). After the name, capitalise titles only when they refer to very important positions (Prime Minister, Secretary General of the United Nations).

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