Kasdi Merbah University Ouargla

1 year LICENCE Science and technology

2015-2016
st

Module: English 1.
Course: Nouns in English language.
Lesson one: Nouns

Definition: A noun is a word used to refer to people, animals, objects, substances, states, events and feelings.
Like: cats, women, Sally, England.. etc.

Ex: Samar and Nora made a cake (names of people + thing).

The moon is far away from the earth (names places).
His kindness was appreciated (name idea).

Noun Plurals:

We are going to explain some rules that will help you to form the plural forms of the nouns.
1) We add ( -s ) to the singular nouns to form plural:
Singular
Book
House
Chair
friend

Plural
Books
Houses
Chairs
friends

2) Nouns which end with (ch / sh / s / ss / z / x /o) we form their plural by adding )-es(
Singular
Sandwich
Match
Buzz
Class
fox

Plural
Sandwiches
Matches
Buzzes
classes
foxes

Singular
Brush
Potato
box
church
veto

Plural
Brushes
Potatoes
Boxes
churches
vetoes

*There's one omission to this rule. If the )-ch( ending is pronounced with a (K) sound, you add (-s) rather than es
E.g. Stomach - stomachs
Epoch epochs
3) Nouns ending in )-O( can add either )-s( or )-es( in the plural, and some can be spelled either way.
*Some nouns that end in "O'' add only )-s( to form the plural:
Singular

Plural

Solo
Solos
Avocado
avocados
Auto
Autos
*Those which have a vowel before the final )-O( always just add )-s(:
Singular
Zoo
Embryo
Studio
Tattoo
Video

Plural
Zoos
Embryos
Studios
Tattoos
Videos

*Some nouns that end in "O'' add either )-s( or )-es( to form the plural:
Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

Banjo
Cargo
Mango
volcano

banjos or banjoes
cargos or cargoes
mangos or mangoes
volcanos or volcanoes

Zero
Flamingo
Tuxedo
memento

zeros or zeroes
flamingos or flamingoes
tuxedos or tuxedoes
mementos or mementoes

*Here's a list of the most common nouns ending in )-O(that are always spelled with )-es( in the plural:
Singular

Plural

Domino
Echo
Hero

Singular

Dominoes
Echoes
Heroes

Potato
Tomato
veto

Plural
Potatoes
Tomatoes
vetoes

4) When the singular noun ends in "y", we change the "y" for "i" and then add "-es" to form the plural. But do not
change the "y" for "i" and then add "-es" to form the plural when the singular noun ends in "y" preceded by a vowel.
Singular
Nappy
Berry
Activity
Lady

Plural

Singular

Nappies
Berries
Activities
Ladies

Key
Day
Boy
Toy

Plural
Keys
Days
Boys
Toys

5( There are many Irregular Nouns which do not form the plural :
Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

Tooth
Teeth
Ox
Oxen
louse
Lice
Child
Children
foot
Feet
Mouse
Mice
woman
Women
Goose
Geese
man
men
analysis
analyses
6) With nouns that end in a consonant or a single vowel plus -f or -fe, change the (F) or (FE) to (VES):
Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

Leaf
Leaves
Calf
Calves
Loaf
loaves
Self
Selves
Sheaf
sheaves
Wolf
Wolves
Thief
thieves
Half
Halves
life
lives
knife
knives
*Nouns which end in two vowels plus -f usually form plurals in the normal way, with just an -s :
Singular
Belief
Chief
Spoof

Plural
Beliefs
Chiefs
Spoofs

7) Some nouns have the same singular and plural form :

Singular
Sheep
deer
swine
cattle
fish
species

Plural
Sheep
deer
swine
cattle
fish
species

Activity one: make singular noun plural.

Singular
flower

Plural

Singular
tree

Plural

Singular
child

Plural

Singular
life

Plural

box
flash
lunch
peach
waltz
blanket
dog
car
wish
apple
tool
kiss
house
spy
baby
tooth
Phone

church
truck
crash
tax
egg
beach
cloud
witch
gas
bus
city
elf
hoof
penny
sheep
student
sandwich

woman
man
person
goose
mouse
deer
knife
fish
aircraft
day
foot
toy
fly
army
photo
nurse
phenomenon

family
spoof
potato
tomato
cactus
stomach
epoch
chief
studio
zoo
motto
mango
piano
story
policeman
valley
criterion

Kinds of Nouns:

There are many kinds of nouns

1) PROPER NOUN
Definition: Proper Noun is a name of particular thing, person, animal and place. On the other hand, proper noun is
always written with a capital letter at the beginning of the word.
Example: New York, Cambodia, Ali Baba, Eiffel Tower, United Nations, King Kong, Saturday, Apriletc
2) COMMON NOUN
Definition: common noun refer to general, unspecific categories of entities.
* where Nebraska is a proper noun because it signifies a specific state, the word state itself is a common noun because
it can refer to any of the 51 states in the United States.
* Harvard refers to a particular establishment of higher learning, while the common noun university can refer to any
such institution.
Example: Man, teacher, zoo, dog, cat, house, chair.etc.
3) COLLECTIVE NOUN
Definition: Collective Noun is a name of number or collection of person, thing and animal taken together and spoken
as a whole.
Example: Army, committee, family, nation, community, Choir, Team , Jury .
4) ABSTRACT NOUN
Definition: An abstract noun refers to states, actions, concepts, feelings, qualities, etc., that have no physical existence,
as we cant touch, see, smell and taste.
Example: Friendship, peace, romance, humor, beauty, courage, truth , joy, pleasure, Advice, ambition, wish,
Goodness, kindness, darkness, Talking, movement..etc
5) PRONOUNS
Personal pronouns are types of nouns that take the place of nouns when referring to people, places or things. The
personal pronouns in English are I, you, he, she, it, we and they. They always play the role of a noun in a sentence.
James is the first choice for the post. He has applied for it twice already.
6) COMPOUND NOUNS

Definition: A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words. Most compound nouns in English are
formed by nouns modified by other nouns or adjectives.
Example: Classroom, grand-son, boyfriend, Policemen, moonlight, Strongman.etc.
7) MATERIAL NOUNS
Definition: These are the raw elements or objects existing in nature. These are called Material Nouns.
Material nouns can be grouped into the following categories:
Metals: iron, gold, platinum..etc.
Products measured in bulk: tea, sugar, rice, wheat.etc.
Gedogical bodies: mud, sand, rock...etc.
Natural phenomena: rain, dew, cloud, frast, mist..etc.

Activity two:
Underline the nouns in the following sentences and state their kind.
1. The book was lying on the table.
2. Love begets love.
3. We cannot live without water.
4. The jury has given its verdict.
5. Alcohol is injurious to health.
6. Smoking is a bad habit.
7. Wild animals live in forests.
8. The childhood of Peter was full of misery.
9. All the girls were singing.
10. Gold is a precious metal.
11. Rice is the staple food of South Indians.
12. The earth moves round the sun.
13. We get wool from sheep.
Answers
1. (book common noun; table common noun)
2. (love abstract noun)
3. (water material noun)
4. (jury collective noun; verdict abstract noun)
5. (alcohol material noun; health abstract noun)
6. (habit abstract noun)
7. (animals common noun; forests common noun)
8. (childhood abstract noun; Peter proper noun; misery abstract noun)
9. (girls common noun)
10. (Gold material noun; metal common noun)
11. (rice material noun; food common noun; Indians proper noun)
12. (earth common noun; sun common noun)
13. (wool material noun; sheep common noun)

Kasdi Merbah University Ouargla

1 year LICENCE Science and technology
2015-2016
Module: English 1
Course: verbs in English language.
st

Lesson two: the verbs

Basic sentence structure
1.Word order: In English word order is very important.
Subject + Verb + Objects.
Subject: the person or thing that does something.
Verb: a word that express an action, or state of being.
Object: a person or thing that receives the action of a
verb.
For example: She likes cats.
S

2.Basic sentence patterns: We have five patterns in

sentence:
a/ S + V.
E.g. She is eating.
b/ S + V + O.
E.g. She like eggs.
c/ S + V + Adj.
E.g. Laura is busy.
d/ S + V +Adv.
E.g. Sarah is here.
F/ S + V + N.
E.g. She is doctor.
A verb: We say that a verb is a part of speech (or word
class) which show action or state of something (a
movement of person, thing or animal).
Examples: Write, run, eat, drink, catch, clean, speak,
laugh, weep.etc.

A verb can express

- A physical action: (to swim, to write, to climb.)
-A mental action: (to think, to guess, to consider)
-A state of being: (to exist, to appear, to be (is, are, were,
was,..)..)

Forms of verb according to tense or time of

action: Verb has three forms according to tense.
Base form
Past Simple
Past participle
1st form
2nd form
3rd form
V1
V
V3
Go
went
gone
Note: ing is added to base form verb to make present
participle which can be used with auxiliary verb to be
in continuous tense, for example, gogoing, eateating,
laughlaughing.

Formation of past simple and past participle:

On the basis formation of past simple and past participle,
verb is divided into categories:
1.Regular Verbs:
Some regular verbs form their past simple and past
participle form by adding -ed to their base form.
Some examples:
Verb

Past
Base form Past simple
Present
participle or
or V1
or V2
participle
V3

To advise advise
To allow allow
To enjoy enjoy

advised
allowed
enjoyed

advised
allowed
enjoyed

Advising
Allowing
Enjoying

To smile smile
smiled
smiled
Smiling
2. Irregular Verbs:
Some Irregular Verbs form their past simple and
participle in different ways.
Some examples:
Verb

To know

Past
Base form Past simple
Present
participle or
or V1
or V2
participle
V3

know

knew

To drink drink
drank
To hold
hold
held
To write
write
wrote
Some verbs remain same in
participle. Some example:
Verb

known

Knowing

drunk
Drinking
held
Holding
written
Writing
past simple and past

Past
Base form Past simple
Present
participle or
or V1
or V2
participle
V3

To cut
To shut

cut
shut

cut
shut

cut
shut

Cutting
Shutting

To put
To read

put
read

put
read

put
read

Putting
reading

Dynamic Verbs, State Verbs and Verbs that are

Both:
We said that verbs describe action or state, so verbs in
English can be classified into two categories state and
dynamic verbs.

1.Dynamic verbs (action/activity verbs)

Dynamic verbs are verbs that describe a physical action
(we can see or hear) or means something moving or
changing. Most verbs in English language are dynamic.
For example:
Write, play, jump, talk, smile, eat, run, speak..are
dynamic verbs.
These verbs can be used in all tenses )the simple or
continuous tense(.
E.g. I eat dinner everyday ) the present simple tense(.
I am eating dinner everyday )the present continuous
tense(.

2.State verbs (stative verbs)

Stative verbs describe a status or quality of
something..not an action (not physical).
For example: Impress, please, believe, understand,
surprise, belong to, consist, seem..are stative verb.
Stative verbs can not used in continuous forms.
Verbs of perception, opinion, the senses, emotion,
possession, and state of being are often stative verbs.
Here are some examples:
A. Stative verbs of opinion / perception:

Example: know, believe, understand, recognize, prefer,

agree/disagree, suppose, suspect..........etc.
Ive known my best friend since childhood.
Ive been knowing my best friend since childhood.
We agree with you.
Were agreeing with you.
He doesnt understand the article.
Hes not understanding the article.
B. Stative verbs of possession:
Example: have, own, belong, possess, include,
owe..etc.
I have a bicycle.
Im having a bicycle.
This book belongs to the teacher.
This book is belonging to the teacher.
Our tour included a visit to the Modern Art
Museum.
Our tour was including a visit to the Modern Art
Museum.
C. Stative verbs of the senses:
Example: hear, smell, see, feel, appear, seem,
resemble..etc.
I hear some music playing.
Im hearing some music playing.
This perfume smells like roses.
This perfume is smelling like roses.
He seemed upset last night.
He was seeming upset last night.
D. Stative verbs of emotion:
Example: love, hate, like, want, need, desire,
wish.etc.
I love ice cream.
Im loving ice cream.
She has always hated jazz.
She has always been hating jazz.
They need some help.
Theyre needing some help.
F. Stative verbs of states/qualities:
Example: weigh, contain, consist, measure, cost, exist,
depend, deserve, involve, matter.etc.
This piece of meat weighs two pounds.
This piece of meat is weighing two pounds.
The box contained a pair of earrings.
The box was containing a pair of earrings.
This class will involve lots of research.
This class will be involving lots of research.
Verbs that can be both dynamic and stative verbs:
Some verbs can function as BOTH action verbs and
stative verbs.
Here are some examples:
To be
Stative: He is immature. (he is always immature)

Action: He is being immature. (he is temporarily

acting immature)
To have
Stative: always stative with possession
I have a car. He has a dog.
Action: expressions with have
Im having breakfast (eating breakfast).
Hes having fun (experiencing fun).
To see
Stative: perception with your eyes; understanding
E.g. I see some birds.
E.g. I see what you mean.
Action: meet; have a relationship with
E.g. Ill be seeing the doctor tomorrow.
E.g. Theyve been seeing each other for a month.
To look
Stative: appearance
E.g. That cake looks delicious!
Action: directing your eyes to something; phrasal
verbs
E.g. Hes looking at the computer screen.
E.g. Shes looking for (= seeking) a job.
E.g. Theyre looking after (= taking care of) my dog
for the weekend.
To smell / taste
Stative: the quality of smell or taste possessed by
something.
E.g. The bar smells of smoke.
E.g. This meat tastes like chicken.
Action: when a person uses their nose or mouth to
test something
E.g. Hes smelling the cookies.
E.g. Shes tasting the soup to see if it needs more
salt.
To think / feel
Stative: when talking about your opinion
E.g. I think thats a great idea!
E.g. I feel that this is not the best use of our time.
Action: when using your mind, or experiencing
emotions or health issues
E.g. Were thinking about moving to another city.
E.g. Ive been feeling unusually tired lately.
To weigh / measure
Stative: when talking about the quality possessed by
something.
E.g. The suitcase weighs 20 pounds.
E.g. The surfboard measures 2 meters by 55
centimeters.
Action: when a person performs the action of
weighing/measuring something.
E.g. The butcher is weighing the meat on the scale.
E.g. The architects were measuring the distance
between the pillars

How to Find a Direct Object

well here are the simple steps to finding that elusive direct object.
Step 1( Find the subject of the sentence. Do this by asking yourself who or what
the sentence is about. Alice baked her mother a cake. Who baked the cake? Alice.
Step 2( Determine if the sentence contains an action, linking or state of being
verb. Action verbs have the subject doing something (run, jump, skip). Linking verbs
link the subject to the rest of the sentence (am, is, are). State of being verbs show a
condition (seem, remain, feel). Our verb is an action verb, as Alice is doing something
(baked).
Step 3( Find the direct object by asking yourself whom or what is receiving the
action. What did Alice bake? A cake. Congrats! Youve found the direct object. Now
lets locate indirect object.
Step 4( Find the word between the action verb and the direct object that answers
one of four questions: to/for whom or to/for what. For whom did Alice bake a
cake? For her mother. Its as simple as that!
Step 5( Double check that the words you have chosen as the direct and indirect
objects are nouns or pronouns. If they arent, you should try again.

Subject

Indirect object
Alice baked her mother a cake
Verb

direct Object

Answers
1. Transitive verb expands ( object metals)
2. Intransitive verb expand
3. Transitive verb stopped (object car)
4. Transitive verb speak (object truth)
5. Intransitive verb speak
6. Transitive verb is flying (object kite)
7. Intransitive verb are flying
8. Transitive verb felled (object tree)
9. Transitive verb sank (object ship)
10. Intransitive verb sank
11. Intransitive verb fight; no object
12. Transitive verb stopped; object the train
13. Transitive verb kicked; object the boy
14. Intransitive verb rises; no object
15. Transitive verb blew; object his whistle
16. Transitive verb killed; object herself
17. Intransitive verb sang; no object
18. Transitive verb invite; Object Bob and Mary
19. Transitive verb surprised; Object me
20. Intransitive verb burns; no object

Kasdi Merbah University Ouargla

1 year LICENCE Science and technology
2015-2016
st

Module: English 1.
Course: English Sentence Structure
Lesson three: English Sentence Structure
A clause is a group of related words containing a
subject and a predicate.

Than/ rather
than/ whether/
as much as /
whereas.

A clause may stand as a simple sentence or may join

another clause to make a sentence. For that reason, a

after / until/
as long/ as/
while /as soon
as/ once /
before/ now
/that/ when/
since/ till.

if / only if /
unless/ until/
provided that
/assuming that/
even if / lest.

sentence consists of one, two or more clauses.

Conjunctions
Reason

Types of Clauses

Conjunctions
Manner

Conjunctions
Place

a. Independent clause (main clause):

Because /why
Since/ so that
in order (that)

Contains at least a subject and a verb.

Also known as simple sentence.

Can express a complete thought.

It is able to stand alone as a sentence (it makes a

how
as though
as if

where
wherever

Note: subordinating conjunctions

sense).
b. Dependent clause (Subordinate) clauses:

join two clauses

together, but in doing so, they make one clause

dependent (or "subordinate") upon the other.

Contains also a subject and a verb.

It is not a simple sentence.

Can't express a complete thought.

It is not able to stand alone as a sentence (it does

English Sentence Structure: 4 Types of English

Sentences
1.Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains only one independent

not makes a sense).

How do we know when we have a dependent

clause. There is no dependent clause.

Examples of simple sentences:

clause
A dependent clause is introduced by a subordinate
conjunction or a relative pronoun, but does not
express a complete thought and depends on another

I am happy.

My brother and I went to the mall last night.

This new computer has already crashed twice.

clause (main clause) to express complete idea

Notice that a simple sentence isnt necessarily short.

because it cant stand as a sentence.

A subordinating

conjunction joins

a subordinate

or it can be a double subject like my brother and I, or

clause to a main clause.

The following is a list of the most common

though
although
even
though
while
Conjunctions
Comparison

Relative
Adjective

That
Whatever
Which
Whichever
what
Conjunctions
Time

it can be multiple words describing a single

person/object, like This new computer.

subordinating conjunctions:
Conjunctions
Concession

The subject can be a single word like I or Robert,

Relative
Pronoun

who
whoever
whom
whomever
whose
Conjunctions
Condition

2.Compound Sentence

compound

independent

sentence

clauses

joined

consists
by

of

two

coordinating

conjunctions.

There is no dependent clause in compound

sentence.

There are seven main coordinating conjunctions can

4.Compound-Complex Sentence

be remembered with the mnemonic device that use

A compound-complex sentence contains 3 or more

to join two independent clauses:

clauses: 2 independent and one or more dependent

For
And
Nor
(FANBOYS)
But
Or
Yet
So
Independent clauses can also be joined by
a semicolon (;). A comma (,) may or may not be
used before the conjunction in compound sentence.
Examples of simple sentences:

My

brother

and

I went

to

the

mall

last

clause. It is also sometimes called compound-complex

Sentence.
Examples of compound-complex sentence
1. He went to college and I went to a market where I
bought a book.
In the first sentence of above sentence, there are two
independent clauses he went to college and I went to
a market, and one dependent clause where I bought a
book.
Practice: The following sentences are either a simple
sentence, a compound sentence, a complex sentence

night, but we didnt buy anything.

and compound-complex sentence. Identify the

This new laptop computer has already crashed

sentences telling what kind each is.

1.John went to school, but James remained at home

twice, and I have no idea why.

because he is sick (compound-complex)

I like an apple but my brother likes a mango.

I asked him a question; he replied correctly.

2.It's important to put your goals in writing, but you

must also be committed to achieving them. (compound)
3.You will be able to see better if you sit at the front of

Note that each sentence has TWO subjects and TWO

verb phrases.
3.Complex Sentence

the classroom, and you will also be able to hear better.

(compound)

A complex sentence consists of one independent clause

4.The dangers of smoking are well known, yet many

and

people continue to smoke anyway (compound)

one

or

subordinating

more

dependent

conjunction

or

clause joined
relative

by

pronoun.

5.John went home and stayed there (simple)

Examples of complex sentences:

6.If I do not get this job, I will start a business(complex)

I met the boy who had helped me.

7.John went to the movies although he had a lot of work

You cant pass the test unless you study for it.

to do (complex)
8.Michael Jordan is a basketball player who is known

If a complex sentence begins with an independent

clause, a comma is not used between clauses in a
complex sentence. If a complex sentence begins with
dependent clause then a comma is use after dependent
clause in a complex sentence. See the following
example.
He is playing well although he is ill.
Although he is ill, he is playing well.

all over the world (complex)

9. James waited for the train (simple)
10. The train was late (simple)
11. James waited for the train, but the train was late
(compound)
12. After I came home, I made dinner (complex)
13. Although I like books, I do not like novels, but my
friend loves them. (compound-complex)