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Parts of speech in grammar, also known as word classes, categorise words into types such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
Nouns represent people, places, things, and concepts.
- Verbs depict actions.
- Adjectives describe nouns.
- Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
- Pronouns stand in for other nouns to save time.
- Auxiliary verbs (helper verbs) support conjugation tasks.
- Prepositions indicate relationships of direction, time, location, and space.
- Determiners specify characteristics of a noun and are crucial in certain grammar instances.
- Conjunctions link words, phrases or clauses together.
- Interjections convey sudden emotions to imitate spoken language in writing (used informally).
- Example: Wow! He has rapidly developed into a stunning and healthy cat!
Understanding Sentence Structure: Start with Clauses
- Complete sentence needs independent clause (verb + subject)
- Dependent clause also has subject, verb, subordinating conjunction
- Four types of sentences based on clauses: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
- Join clauses correctly for complete sentences
- Dependent clauses need subordinating conjunctions; independent clauses use semicolon or coordinating conjunctions
- Incorrect conjunction use leads to run-on sentences
- Correct word order important (subject before verb, adjectives before noun)
- Syntax rules can be complex; refer to the guide for more information
Punctuation and Capitalisation Rules are Essential for Improving Grammar Skills.
- Period: end statements and most commands.
- Question mark: end questions.
- Exclamation mark: end emotional statements.
- Comma: shows pauses in sentences and separates clauses, phrases, and series items.
- Quotation marks: indicate direct quotes or titles of short works.
- Apostrophe: forms possessive nouns or contractions.
- Colon: introduces related information or lists examples.
- Semicolon: joins independent clauses or separates series items with commas already used.
- Parentheses: set aside words, phrases, or sentences as an aside.
- Hyphen: combines words into one; Ellipsis indicates omitted information or speech pause.
- Em dash sets off parenthetical info; en dash shows range in numbers/dates or clarifies compound adjectives.
- Capitalization rules are crucial for English grammar:
- Capitalise the first word in a sentence, specific names (proper nouns), pronoun I, nationalities/languages, historical eras, days/months/holidays names. Initials/acronyms, family/job titles when used as names, major words in work titles (styles vary).
Sample Question:
Mr Wong completed his project before the deadline. His students assisted him.
With the help of his students, Mr Wong completed his project before the deadline.
Source: 2023 P6 English Prelim Pei Chun
- Singular: I
- Plural: we
- Singular: you
- Plural: you
- Singular: he/she/it
- Plural: they
- Singular: me
- Plural: us
- Singular: you
- Plural: you
Sample Question:
Mr Ahmad has asked my brother and ______ to water plants as he will not be at home for the next few days.
1) I
2) me
3) mine
4) myself
Examples of Verb Tenses Include:
- Simple tense: Describes typical actions in the past (I helped my neighbour yesterday), present (I help my neighbour every day), or future (I will help my neighbour tomorrow).
- Perfect tense: Indicates past actions that continue into the present or have current relevance (e.g., I had helped my neighbour clean his attic before I fixed his car).
- Continuous tense: Highlights ongoing or extended actions using a combination of being and the present participle.
- Perfect continuous: Depicts an action that began in the past and is still ongoing through a combination of have/has been and the present participle.
Sample Question:
1) help
2) helping
3) be helping
4) helped
1) swept
2) sweep
3) sweeps
4) sweeping
Source: 2023 P6 English Prelim Catholic High
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