REVIEW OT GRAMMAR RULES

Topic SENTI,NCE vS. Sf,NTENCE FRAGMENT

The common ty?es of sentence ftagrnents and thoir solutions are:

1-

ftagmont that lacks a subject

Exanple: Laura ruined her new dress. Put it in the washing machine.
Solution: Add a subject to the fragment to make it a complete sentence.
Laura ruined her new dress. She put it in the washing rnachine.

2.

ftagment that lacks a complete verb

Exarnple: From the darkened room came a flickering light. The television set.
Solution: Add either a complete verb or helping verb to make the sente ce complele.
From the darkened room came a flickering light. The television sef was still on.

3.

fragment that is a subordinate clause

Example: Keyna wants to visit Kidapawan. Because her ancestors came fiom there.
Solution A: Combine the fragment with anolher sentence.
Keyna ]r/arrts to visit Kidapawan becauso her anogstors came from thore.
Solution B: Rewrite the fragmetrt as a complete sentence, eliminating the subordinating
coqiunction or the relative pronoun and adding a subject or other words necessary to make a
complete thought.
Keyna wants to yisit Kidapawan. Her ancestors came from therc.

4.

fragmeflt that lacks both a subject and a verb

Example: The new deparhnent store will open. Independence Day.
Solution: Combine the fragmenl with another sentence.
The new department store w.ill open on Independonce Day.

TOPIC: AGREEMENT OF SUBJECT AIID VERB

A verb must agree with its subject in person and number.
Rule

A singular subject requires a sirgular verb. A plural subject requires

plural verb

**o'"i

,ooo ,.,* is happy.

Good men are happy.

Rule

2,

singular verb.
milk, coffee, patience, advice, information, uusic, jewelry,
baggage, firmiture, gravel, generosity

'
Rule

Some nours (mass and abstract) have no plural fonn and demand a
ChaU(,

3.

Compomd subjects connected by "and ' demand

Laughter and tears are never apart.

plural verb.

Exception: When subjects refer to the same person or thing or express the
same ide4 the verb is singular.
The Pope and Bishop of Rome is Pope IV.
Rule

4.

Rule

5. A collective

Whor subjects are connected by "or"' or "nor" the verb agrees with thc nearest subject.
Either the boys or the coach is right.
Either the ooach or the boys are right.

verb

noun takes a singular verb if it names a group acting as a trnit and a plural
a group acting as individuals.

if it names

The committee has submitted its report.

The committee have disagreed on the kind ofreport needed.
Rule

6.

"None" and

*Alf'

take a plural verb when they indicale how mann and a singular verb

when they indicate how muoh.

Nnne ofrrs are nerfer:f rrre all maLe mictqLec

Rule

8,

Some

Rule

9.

Indefinite pronouns like everyone, anyone, someone, somebody, no ono,

noux

are plural in form and meaning and dernand plwal verbs^

A1l means have been utilized to insure the success of the project.
eaoh,

everybody, all (meaning everything), neither, either, take a singular verb.

Paula rejoiced when she read her father's letter. All was forgiven.
Someone is always ready to help.

Rule

10.

Rule I

Expessions like many 4 more than one, not one, the numbsr call for singular verbs.
Marry a sick man has a new home in mission.
The number of volmters is growing each year.
A mrmber means many, thus it dernands a plural verb.
A number of fresh graduates are without jobs.
For percentages and fractions, the verb agrees with the object of the preposition.
Three fourths ofthe donors are a{Iluent people.
Three fourths of the doctor's time is spent in hospitals and slums.

Rule 12. A plural noun that establishes a weight, measurement, period oftime, or '
arnomt of money nonnally takes a singular verb.
One hundred and frfteen pounds is a good weight for an eighteenYear-old girl.
Thirty-six inches is not only a yard but also an ideal in beauty
contests.

In the nineteenth century, two years was not considered too long

for an agreernent.

as

Rule 13. In a subordinate clause with a relative pronoun - who, which, that the subject, the
verb agrees in oumber with the antecedent of the relative pronoun.
Gloria Romero is one of the few remaining movie actresses who
still catch the faacy of the cormdess adoripg fans.
Rule 14. ln ar inverted sentence order, the verb agrees in number with the
after the verb.
Lined against the wall wore six spies awaiting execution,

subject which comes

TOPIC - TIELPING VERB + MAIN VERB

Formation of Tenses with Helping Verbs
The simple form (infinitive form) of the verb is used aftor the following:
may, might, can could, will, shall , should, must, do , does, did, to

Examples

go might go
go would go
shall go should go

go

may

can

will

must go
do

go

could go
does

go

did go

The past participle (d or ed form ofthe regular verb) is used in the passive voice (aftor all
forms of the verb to be) except in the progressive tenses.

Example

Active voice
Passive

A different lecturer presents each series of lectures.

Each series oflectures is presented by a different lecturer.

voice:

The past participle (d or ed ofthe regular verb) is used in the perfect tenses (after all

fonns ofhave).

Active
taken
has taken
hadtaken
shall have taken
will have taken
have

Passive
have beeri taken
has been taken
had been taken
shall have been taken
will have been taken .

TOPIC. TENSES OB VERBS

Simple Present Tense
Forms

Third Person singular

Plural simple form
Uses

-s

sees

see

1.

Expresses general truth

2.

Expresses present fact

I am your teacher
Expresses permanent oondition
Taal volcano lies in the middle ofTaal lake.
Expresses habitual or frequent action
He frequently stammers.

AII children love to play

3.
4.
Present Perfect Tense

Forms

Singular:

has + past participle

has eaten

Plural:

have + past participle form ofthe verb.

have eaten

fonn of the verb.

{lses

1.

2.
3.

expresses action in the past and is still going on in a period of time not yet ended.
I have conducted a review for two weeks now.
expresses an indefinite action
He has gone to Japan
expresses action just accomplished
He hasjust arrived.

Simple Past Tense

Fom:

Use:

d/ed for regulal verbs.

expresses time past and gone
He perfomred the expeliment last week.

Past Peltect Tense

Form:

Use:

had + past participle form of the verb (had eaten)

expresses time prior to some other past action in the same sentence or paragraph.
She had lain in bed for two days before I came.

Simple Future Tense

+ simple form of the verb (will visit)

time yet to come
go
to the park lomonow.
We will

Foffr: will

Use

: expresses

Future Perfect Tense

have or shall have + past participle form of the verb (will have
visited or shall have visited)

Form: will
Uses;

1.

2.

expresses the first of two future actions

Before I start, my brother will have retumed.
expresses an action that will be complete.d beforc a definite tirne in
the future.
We shall have reached the top of the mountain by sunrise tomorrow.

TOPIC. CO}IPARISON OF ADJECTT!'ES AND ADVERBS

\[-hen compaing tr*'o persons or things, use the comparative degree.
Example: Which hat do you like better, the blue or the brown hat?
E-hen corrryaring fuee or more, use the superlative degree.
Ex-mple: It was the shangest sight I have ever seen.

In forming the supedative degree, vse most ot est'

d*ample: P; is the tailest glrl I li;now (not the most tallest)
but
Do not use two negatives (not, never, hardly, only
clause.

meaning only) in the sarne

(not couldn't)
Example: We could hardly drag one foot after the other"
(not
never')
me'
about
worry
You dor't ever need to

or adverbs' which because of

Do not give comparative or superlative forms of adjectives
theii meuring cannot be compared'
It's a unique exhibit (not most unique' since unique means

Example'

single in excellence)
(not most unarrimous)
The aecisloi of ttre -iudges was unanimous
Do not omit than when it is needed to complete a comparison'
ExamPle:

Wrong * Your explanation is more convincing but altogether

different from his'
Right - Your explanalion is more convincing than' but altogether
different from his'

class' exclude from the group the thing

When comparing a thirg to members of its own
aading other or an equivalent word'
"ompa."a ExamPle:
Wrong - Lead is heavier than any metal
fught-- Lead is heavier than any other metal'
Lead is heavier than iron.

ti

TOPIC

- PARALLELISM -

express paratlet ideas

in the same grammstical form'

grammatical fonr!.paira noun with

To express
-iJn"i parallel ideas in the same

'-

iJ"

t. - verb) with an infiritivo,

a pluase with a pbrase' a clause

noun' an

with

a clause'

ExamPle:

checks
The prisoners were accused ofrobbery' assaulq and forging
night-- Ttre prisoners were accused ofrobbery' assault and

Wrong

forgery.

l.

idoas are equal in rank. They are joined by coCoordinate ideas are pardiJl.'- io-o.dit ate
most o{ien used in parallel structures ale a/r4
ordinate connectivos. Ttre coo.dinate connectives
but oh not.
ExamPle:

Wrong-Thesupervisorreconrmendedanincreaseinsalariesaldtlatother
expenses be decreased.
.Right_Th;6;;sotrecomrrrendedthatsalariesbeincreasedandihatother
expenses be decreased.

2-

Compared and contrasted ideas are parallel

ExamPle:

:- the
.L movies
---. in
to act
Wrong - He found acting in the theater more inspiring than
in the movies,
nignt-_ rte rountl actingt the theater more inspiring than acting

3.Correlativeconstructionsareparallel.Correlativeconshuctionsarefonnwiththerelative
"
neither nor-' not only* but also
either or
c-oniunctions D oth and
-'

-,
ExamPle:

-'

r -to .^-^^,L^:
force their way tn'

and
- To gain enrance, they tried both persuasionand
force'
persuasion
both
they
tned
nightl to giin entrance'

Wrong

4.

before the parallel items

Place correlative conjunctions in:mediately
ExamPle:

Wrong

The team both felt the satisfaction

defeat.

ofvictoly and the disappoiltrnent of

Right_Th;;feltboththesatisfactionofvictoryarrdthedisappointmentof
defeat
necessary to make
rcpeal an article' a prepositiorq or a pronoun whendver

A
Before the meeting, I talked with the secretary and treasurer'. (The setrtence may mean I talked with one
person. He holds dre double o{fice of the secretary and treasurer.)
Before the meeting, I talked with the secretary and the treasurer. (the sentence means I talked with two
persons.)

B
The weatler was a greater handicap to the invading afiny than
invaders would rather fight the enerny than the weather.)

tleir enemy. (This sentence

means that the

The woather was a greater handicap to the invading army than to their enemy. (This m6ans that the
invaders had the barder job.)

TOPIC . CONSTRUCTION OF'QUESTIONS

I

Tte first tlpe of question is the simpie question thal asks for a yes or no answer.
When your main verb is be put the verb befole the subject.
Example:
Disciplined people are happy.

Are disciplined people happy?

When your verb is a verb phrasg put the helping verb first, followed by the
Exarnple:
The students are studying.

subjec!

then the rnain verb.

Are the students studying?

When your verb is other than be, change the original velb into a phrase cornposed
the simple form of the verb and then put do, does or did before the subject.
Exarnple:

His speecL sounds witty and spontaneous.

of

do, does, or did and

Does his speeeh sound witty and

spontaneous?

2.

The tag question or conversation question is a short question added to the statement. Observe the fact
about conversation quesfi ons:

a.

When the statement is alErmative, the questiot is negative. When the statement is negative, the
question is a{Iirmative.

b-

When the verb in the stateme-nt is a single form of be, the verb in that question is the sarne form.

Example: Jim is ftom General Santos City, isn't he?

You're not a politician, are you?

c.

When the verb in the statement is a single form

the same form (simple, s, or past) of do.

of any velb except be, the verb in the question is

Exarnple: Mr. l,opez gos to his office early, doesn't he?

Mr. and Mrs. Lopez go to the ofEce eady, don't they?
Mr. Lopez wsnt to the office early, didn't he?

d.

In most other cases, the verb in the question is the frst fimction (auxiliary) verb of the verb
phrase.

Example: Jimmy's parents are visiting hinq aren't they?

They'll come another time, won't they?

e.

When the verb phrase in the statement is constructed vtith used to or have ra, the verb in the
question is do.

Exryle: Giia usd 16 5r.

in Madrid, didn't $e?

f.

The second word ofa conversatiol question is always a subject form of t]e personal pronoun or
the expletive there; it is never a noul or any other noun substitute.
Exarnple: This is hard lesson, isn't it?
Two boys worked outside, didn't they?

3.

Information question asks for specific information aad begins with one of the following question words:
who, whom, whose, what, whiclq where, why and how.
\Vho, whom, whose adk for persons.
Which for things, whose for ownetshipl
Where for place, when for time;
Why for reason, and how for manner or condition.

TOPIC. AGREEMDNT OF PRONOUN

AN[D ITS ANTECEDENT

The word phrasg or clause to which a pronoun refers is called its antecedent.
She is one person whom I

trust. (The antecedent ofwhom is the word, person)

He gave me a batch of papers, which he asked me to correct. (The antecedent

of

which is the

phrase, a batch ofpapers)

He is a good coolq whioh nobody can deny. (The antecedent of which is the clause, He
is a

good cook)

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person.

Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
First Person
Secood

Third

l.

Person

Person

The girl came witlr her parents. (feminine gender, third person)
The girls came with their parents. (Third person)
The man bought his samera. (Masculine gender', third person)
The men bought their camera. (Third person)

I wish you had told me earlier.

You should have brought it yourself.
The wornan revealed that she was over forty.

Singular Pronouns refer to singular antecedents.

Anyone may be absent ifhe has a good excuse.

Everyone finished his work before the end ofthe hour.
Every book is in its place

2.

A pronoun agrees with the nearer ofthe two antecedents.

He likes anything or anybody who can help him.
He likes anybody or anything which can help him.
Neither Ricky nor his companions would admit that they cared to come.

3,

When the antecedent of a pronoun is a collective noun, the pronoun is either" singular or plural
depending on the sense of the sentence.
The council postponed the date ofits meeting. (as a unit)
The counoil welcomed thoir guests. (as individual)

4.

Two or more nouns preceded by a singls article takes a singular verb.

The barber and surgeon was the same person in the Middle ages.
The barber and the surgeon are different individuals today
The President and Armed Forces commander-in chiefwas busy during the flood.

Example: If I went to the Udted States today, I would visit Washington.

Contrary+o-fact conditional sentence in the past tcnse:

If

Clause

If+

past perfecl

Result Clause

tense

would have )
could have ) + past participle form ofthe
should have

verb

might have )

IfI had gone to the United States last year, I would have visited
Washington.

Example:

Contrary-to-fact in mixed condifion:

Clause
If + past perfect
If

Result Clause

would )

could ) + simple form. of the

verb

should )

miSht )
Example:

IfI

had obeyed my parents' advice, I would not be in trouble now.

TOPIC. AVOIDING MISPLACED MODITIORS, DANGLING MODIX'IERS AND

REDUNDANCY

A.

Misplaced lVlodifiers.

Rule:

Place phrase and clause modifiers as near as possible to the

words they modifr.

Confusing: She was wearing a scarf around her neck which she bought irr Italy
Clarified: She was wearing around her neck a scarfwhich she bought in Italy.
Confusing

Clarified

B.

:
:

The milkmaid milked the cow sitting on a stool.

Sitting on a stool, the millanaid milked the cow.
The milkrnaid, sitting on a stool, rnilked the cow.

Dangling Modifiers

Rule: A riodifying

phrase or clause must clearly and sensibly modify a word in the

sentence. When there is no word that the phrase or clause can modify sensibly, the
modifier is said to dangle.

W.rong : Wtile in the bowling alley, the car was stolen.

Right : While we were in the bowling alley" the car was stolen.

Wrong

Reading in the library, the siren of a passing amtrulance distracted me.

in the library, the siren of a passing ambulance distracted

Right : While I was reading

me.

C.

Redundancy

Rule: Avoid wordiness by eliminating superfluous words and the unnecessary repetition ofideas.

Wordy: After descending

down to the odge of the river, we boarded a small raft which

was floating there on the surface ofthe water.

Better; After descending to the edge ofthe river,

we boardod a small raft.

is played with tiny, litde rouad balls" whioh in my opinion, I think are
made of steel.

Wordy: The game

-..-.
TOPIC - VOICE OF VERBS
The Passive Voice

Although in the usual order of the English language, the subject is the doer of the action, t}ere are some
ssntencis in which the subject is tle person or thiflg that receives the action. The part of the sentence
which indicated to the reader that the subject receives the action is the verb construction. Sentences ia the
passive voice always contain some form ofthe verb De which would not be present if the subject were the
actor. The rnain verb follows De and is in the past participle form of the verb.
When to use the passive voice:

l.

When we don't kno$/ tle perfoflner ofthe action.

His book was stolen.

2.

When

it is preferable not to mention

the performer.

Miss Santos was given some bad advice

3.

When we wish to emphasize the receiver rather than the performer.

Ben was assigned a Project

4.

In a situation of social and historical significance, when the work, resulting fiom action is as
well or better known tlan the perfonner, as in the case of famous music, writing, paintings
and inventions.

The electric light bulb was invented by Edison.

TOPIC. MOOD OF \/ERBS

Verbs express mood as well as tense and voice. A verb expresses one of the three moods: the indicative
mood, the imperative or the subjunctive mood.

you use the indicative mood to make a statement or ask a question. You use the imperative mood to
express a cornmand or make a request.

Indicative mood: He leal'es the house at 7:00 a.m.

Lnperative mood: Leave the house at 7:00 a m.
The subiunctive mood io English has two important frmctions in conternporary fornal English namely;

1.

To express, iudirectly, a dernand,

a recomrnendation, suggestion,

or statement ofnecessity.

ExartPlo:

We demand (ot recommsnd or suggest) that he leave the house at 7:00 a.m.
(The subjunctive mood &ops the -s ftom the third person sin!'ular.)

It is necessary that he bo here on time.

(The subjunctive mood uses be instead of am, is, or are.)

2.

To state a condition or a wish that is contrary to fact. This use of tlre subjunctive always
requires the Past tense.
ExamPles:

[f he were smart, he would leave t}e house by 7:00 a.m.

(The subjunctive mood uses were, not was )
They spoke to me as if I were a child.

r I wish I were the Secretary ofEducation.

Pattoms for contrary-to-fact conditional sentences:
Contrary-to-fact conditional sentencs in the present tense:

If Clause

Result Clause

If + past

would )

tense

could

+ simple form of the verb