Grammar reference

Level 2

Name
______________________________
Class
________________
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

SENTENCE

 A sentence is a complete thought. We use it to convey a statement (declarative

sentence), to ask a question (interrogative sentence), to give a command (imperative
sentence), or to express our emotion (exclamatory sentence).

 To make a sentence, we need these following elements.

Verb (V) Complement Adverbial (A)

Subject (S) VTB (C) Where?
Object (O)
Noun VTH Noun When?
Direct Noun
Pronoun VTD Adjective Who?
Indirect Noun
Modal Verb Adverb Why?
Action Verb How?

 A simple sentence needs a subject, a verb, and anything that finishes it. The
structures of simple sentences are SV, SV-Object, SV-Complement, and SV-
Adverbial.

Structures Elements Simple Sentences

SV intransitive Zarif sleeps.
SV
SV transitive Alif plays football.
SV-O Zara paints a picture.
SV-Object
SV-O-OC Zara gave Zarif the picture.
SV-Noun Alif is Zarif’s friend.
SV-Complement
SV-Adjective He isn’t happy.
SV-Adverb Zarif slept soundly.
SV-O-When? Zarif plays football in the afternoon.
SV-O-Where? Alif and Zarif were at the field.
SV-Adverbial
SV-O-How? Zara went there by car.
SV-O-Why? Zara went to Mesra Mall to buy a cap.

Note: A complete sentence is called independent clause. the incomplete sentence is called
dependent clause. The dependent clause needs an independent clause to make sense.

 To make a compound sentence, we must join two ‘complete’ sentences (independent

clause) with any of these coordinating conjunctions.

for and nor but or yet so

(F) (A) (N) (B) (O) (Y) (S)

 The structure of a compound sentence is

Independent clause 1, coordinating conjunction – Independent clause 2

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Example:
Conjunctions Compound sentences
F Zara loves to watch Siti Nurhaliza, for she sings melodiously.
A Elena loves to watch Siti Nurhaliza, and she likes Shila Amzah too.
N Yusof doesn’t like Siti Nurhaliza nor Shila Amzah; he likes Aishah.
B Zara wants to watch Juara Lagu, but she has a tuition.
O Zara wants to watch Juara Lagu, or she misses her tuition.
Y Elena asked Zara to watch it later, yet Zara refused.
S Mother warned Zara, so she stopped watching Siti Nurhaliza.

 To make a complex sentence, we must join one ‘complete’ sentence with one or
more ‘incomplete’ sentences (dependent clause) using one of these subordinating
conjunctions or correlative conjunctions.

Subordinating conjunctions
than which before till although
rather than whichever by the time when even though
as much as after now that whenever who
that as soon as once while whoever
whatever as long as since though whom
whose provided that because how in order (that)
where even if since as though that
wherever in case so that only if unless
Correlative conjunctions
neither/nor either/or not/only
both/and whether/or not only/but also

 The structure of a complex sentence is either (1) or (2).

1. Independent clause, conjunction – dependent clause.

2. Conjunction – dependent clause, independent clause.
Example:
Conjunctions Complex Sentences
1. after After cleaning his room, Zarif slept.
2. although Zarif is friendly, although he’s rich.
3. As The mall was crowded, as I expected.
4. because Because I woke up late, I missed the bus.
5. when Zara was in the kitchen, when Mira came.
6. where Terengganu is a state where I live and work.
7. Now that Now that he is rich, he forgets his root.
8. while While I like Lee Chong Wei, I prefer Lin Dan.
9. before I ate lots of candies, before I had a tooth ache.
10. unless You should come to school, unless you’re sick.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

NOUNS

 Nouns name people, places, things, and ideas. In the table below, there are some
common names of nouns. Which noun refers to a person, a place, a thing, or an idea?

boy cat Egypt Cadbury apple success

pen Harry Potter teacher Perak Dania Putih
country Pilot chocolate ocean Nile Giant
mountain happiness river Everest Encik Ali Fuji apple
book flower girl Hibiscus Alif singer
class state 4 Cerdik shop Pacific Stacy

 A common noun may have its specific name. The specific name for a common noun
is called a proper noun.

People Places Things Ideas

Common Proper Common Proper Common Proper Common
noun noun noun noun noun noun noun
boy Alif country Egypt flower Hibiscus happiness
teacher Encik Ali state Perak pen Pilot success
girl Dania mountain Everest chocolate Cadbury honesty
singer Stacy ocean Pacific apple Fuji apple failure
brother Kamal class 4 Cerdik cat Putih frustration
mother Puan Siti shop Giant shoes Adidas honesty
doctor Dr. Sam river Nile toys Pokemon anger

 These are facts about nouns

1. Concrete nouns refer to something that we can touch, see, hear, taste, and smell.
2. Abstract nouns refer to ideas, qualities, or conditions of something.
3. Countable nouns are someone/ something that can be counted.
4. Uncountable nouns are someone/ something that you can’t count.
5. Collective nouns are a group of things taken as a whole.

 A countable noun is a noun that can be counted. Example:

People Places Things

singular plural singular plural singular plural
boy boys room rooms apple apples
girl girls city cities whale whales
man men shop shops box boxes
woman women lake lakes fish fish
doctor doctors river rivers book books
baby babies sea seas tooth teeth

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

 An uncountable noun is a noun that can’t be counted. Example:

1. Liquid milk water juice coffee

2. Ideas/ abstract happiness advice experience failure
3. Powder/ grain rice flour sand salt
4. Mass nouns furniture hair transportation tableware
5. State of being sleep stress childhood wake
6. Feelings anger happiness courage sick
7. Gas air smoke oxygen steam
8. Weather snow rain sunshine wind

Note: We take an uncountable noun as singular.

 A collective noun refers to a group of people or a collection of things. We take a

collection noun as singular.

People A regiment of soldiers A circle of friends A staff of teachers

A squad of soldiers A class of pupils A team of athletes
A persistence of parents A pack of thieves A team of players
An army of soldiers A panel of experts A troop of boy scouts
A roll of drummers A party of friends A troupe of artists
An audience of listeners A patrol of policemen A gang of prisoners
Things A piece of jewellery A tube of toothpaste A set of tools
A pile/set of money A fleet of ships A stack of chairs
A pinch of salt A flight of stairs A suite of rooms
A bar of soap A group of islands A slice of bread/cake
A grove of trees A library of books A bar of chocolate
A bunch of books A piece of furniture A bottle of milk
A bunch of keys A deck of cards A bowl of rice
A chest of drawers A ream of paper A box of cereal
A pair of shoes A series of events A carton of milk
A glass of water A packet of tea A cup of tea
Animals A shoal of sharks A rookery of penguins A bike of hornets
A school of fish A flight/flock of birds A flight of insects
A squad of squid A flock of swifts A clutter of spiders
A troupe of shrimp A murder of crows A fall of lambs
A glaring of cats A prattle of parrots A herd of cattle
A cluster of antelopes A pride of ostriches A drove of donkeys
A coalition of cheetahs A rafter of turkeys A parade of elephants
A zeal of zebras A run of poultry A horde of hamsters
A colony of ants A dray of squirrels A litter of kittens
A swarm of bees A pride of lions A leap of leopards
A rabble of butterflies A sloth of bears A mob of kangaroos
A school of dolphins A tower of giraffes A pack of wolves
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

 We can change singular nouns to plurals by using some spelling rules below.

Rule Singular  Plural Examples

Add ‘s’ at the end of a singular noun cat | cats, house | houses, ball | balls,
1
(most nouns) spoon | spoons
Irregular nouns – change spelling child | children, tooth | teeth, foot | feet
2
man | men,
zoo | zoos, kangaroo | kangaroos,
3 Add ‘s’ to the nouns that end with -o
photo | photos,
Add ‘es’ at the end of a noun that ends bus | buses, fox | foxes, bush | bush,
4
with -sh,-ch,-s,-z,-x bunch | bunches, glass | glasses, etc.
Add ‘ies’ to nouns that ends with -y, lorry | lorries, lady | ladies,
5
then eliminate the -y story | stories, baby | babies, etc.
chef | chefs, roof | roofs,
6 Add ‘s’ to noun that end with –f
curry puff | curry puffs,
Add ‘ves’ to the nouns that end with -f wife | wives, knife | knives,
7
or -fe, then eliminate the -f or -fe leaf | leaves, wolf | wolves, etc.
hero | heroes, potato | potatoes,
8 Add ‘es’ to nouns that end with -o
tomato | tomatoes, etc.
Spelling remains the same for some food | food, deer | deer, sheep | sheep,
9
irregular nouns fish | fish,
Note:
There are plural nouns that take singular despite being plural.
police | police, trousers | trousers, scissors | scissors, jeans | jeans, shorts | shorts, pants |
pants, pyjamas | pyjamas, slippers | slippers

 A noun can be used as the subject or the object of a sentence.

Object
Subject Verb Complemen Adverbial
t
Determine Noun Preposition
Helping Action
r Noun Adjective + Noun
verb verb
Quantifier Adverb Articles
The boy is sleeping on the sofa in the afternoon.
The bird - flew swiftly in the sky.
Zara and
- were - here this morning.
Yusof
The girl have eaten fried rice at the canteen.
She was walking home from school.
Greg is - American.
family
My - went to Port Dickson for a picnic.
and I
This cat is my cat.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

There - is his cat.

PRONOUNS

 Pronouns are words taking the place of nouns. We replace nouns with pronouns to
make the sentences clearer and less awkward. Example:

1. Elisa enjoys the book. 2. Elisa enjoys the book.

She enjoys the book. She enjoys it.

3. The cat is under the table. 4. Zarif and Zara are siblings.

It is under the table. They are siblings.

5. My family and I went fishing. 6. This is my book.

We went fishing. It is mine.

7. Zarif likes to play football. 8. Zara gave her parents a cake.

He likes to play football. She gave them a cake.

9. This is Amin’s book. 10. Cats and rabbits are in the cage.

It is his. They are in it.

 We can use pronouns in any part of the sentence.

Personal Possessive Possessive Object Reflexive

Noun
pronoun adjectives Pronouns pronoun pronoun
(1st speaker, singular) I my mine me myself
(2nd speaker, singular) You your yours you yourself
Alif /the boy
He his his him himself
(3 speaker, singular)
rd

Siti / the girl

She her hers her herself
(3 speaker, singular)
rd

The cat / the tree

It its its it itself
(refer to singular thing)
Alif and I
We our ours us ourselves
(1 speaker, plural)
st

You and your family

You your yours you yourselves
(2nd speaker, plural)
Alif and his family
They their theirs them themselves
(3rd speaker, plural)
Alif and Siti
They their theirs them themselves
(3 speaker, plural)
rd

The cats They their theirs them themselves

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

(plural for it)

THERE IS / ARE

 We use ‘there is’ and ‘there are’ to tell what we can see. ‘There is’ goes with a
singular noun, an uncountable noun, or a collective noun. ‘There are’ is used with a
plural noun. Example:

1. singular noun There is a bird on the tree.

There is a plate of rice on the table.
2. plural noun There are some monkeys in the zoo.
There are many countries in Asia.
3. collective noun There is a shoal of fish in the water.
There are two troupes of performers on the stage.

Affirmative

Subject be WH Sentences (short forms)

a cat under the chair. There’s a cat under the chair.
is a boy at the canteen. There’s a boy at the canteen.
a fox in the box. There’s a fox in the box.
There
two cats on the sofa. There’re two cats on the sofa.
are a lot of people at the beach. There’re a lot people at the beach.
many birds on the tree. There’re many birds on the tree.

Negative

Subject be WH Sentences (short forms)

a cat under the chair. There isn’t a cat under the chair.
isn’t any boy at the canteen. There isn’t any boy at the canteen.
a fox in the box. There isn’t a fox in the box.
There
any cats on the sofa. There aren’t two cats on the sofa.
aren’t much sugar in the jar. There aren’t much sugar in the jar.
many birds on the tree. There aren’t many birds on the tree.

Question

Be Subject WH Positive Answer Negative Answer

a cat under the chair? Yes, there is. No, there isn’t.
any boy at the canteen? Yes, there is. No, there isn’t.
Is
a fox in the box? Yes, there is. No, there isn’t.
there
any cats on the sofa? Yes, there are. No, there aren’t.
many people at the beach? Yes, there are. No, there aren’t.
Are
many birds on the tree? Yes, you are. No, there aren’t.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

THIS / THAT / THESE / THOSE

 ‘This’, ‘that’, ‘these’ and ‘those’ are demonstrative pronouns.

 We use ‘this’ and ‘these’ to tell someone or something that is near us. ‘That’ and
‘those’ are used when we specify someone or something that is far from us.

Near Far
With a singular noun This is my sister. That is my sister.
This is a cat. That is a cat.
This is my favourite food. That is my favourite food.
This is my favourite uncle. That is my favourite uncle.
With a plural noun These are my shoes. Those are my shoes.
These shoes are nice. Those shoes are nice.
These pens are his. Those pens are his.
These are my books. Those are my books.

Note: ‘This’ and ‘that’ is used singular nouns while ‘these’ and ‘those’ go with plurals

Affirmative

Subject be Complement Sentences (Full forms)

This is a cat. This is a cat. (near)
That is my father. That is my father (far)
These are my brothers. These are my brothers. (near)
Those are his children. Those are his children. (far)

Negative

Subject be Complement Sentences (Full forms)

This isn’t a cat. This isn’t a cat. (near)
That isn’t my father. That isn’t my father (far)
These aren’t my brothers. These aren’t my brothers. (near)
Those aren’t his children. Those aren’t his children. (far)

Question

Be Subject Complement Positive Answer Negative Answer

Is this a cat? Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.
Is that your father? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.
Are these your brothers? Yes, they are. No, they aren’t.
Are those his children? Yes, they are. No, they aren’t.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

DETERMINERS

 A determiner is a word that comes before a noun or noun phrase. It is used to identify
whether the noun is general or specific. It is also used to determine how many or how
much the noun is.

Articles a, an, the

Pronouns Possessive - my, yours, his, her, its, our, their.
Demonstrative - this, that, these, those, there, here.
Indefinite - anyone, anything, everyone, everything, someone, something,
no one, nobody
Quantifiers a few, a little, much, many, a lot of, most, some, any, several, enough,
plenty of, two, three, hundred, thousand, a ___ of (collective) etc.

 Articles and quantifiers are used in a sentence to determine quantity of a noun. The
table below helps you understand how to use articles and quantifiers in a sentence.

a  used before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound,

example: - b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z
 used before certain words beginning with a vowel letter but sounded
like consonant - ‘university’, ‘uniform’
Example:
1. There is a bird on the tree.
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
an  used before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound,
example: - a, i, e, o, u
 used before certain words beginning with a consonant letter but
sounded like vowel - ‘hour’, ‘honour’, and ‘honest’
Example:
1. Zarif gave me an apple this morning.
2. I need an hour to complete my job.
the  refer to a specific person, place, of thing
 Refer to people or thing of which there is only one
 Refer to the superlative adjectives
 Refer to names of certain countries, seas, places, building, things, etc
 Refer to a class of people, animals, or things
Example:
1. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
2. The boy, in the white T-shirt stole my pencil yesterday.
3. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
Zero  before a plural noun used in the general sense
article  before uncountable nouns or an abstract noun

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

 before names of person, place, or materials

 before countable noun used in a general sense
some  Used when we don’t know the amount
 Used with both countable and uncountable nouns
 Used in positive sentences, example: I have some money.
 Used in questions when offering/ requesting, example:
- Offering: Would you like some coffee?
- Requesting: Please give me some tea.
any  Used when we don’t know the amount
 Used with both countable and uncountable nouns
 Used in negative sentences, example: I didn’t eat any food today.
 Used in questions, example: Is there any milk in the fridge?
Example:
1. Is there any sugar in the jar?
2. I don’t have any pencils.
much  Used to show an amount of something
 Used with a noun or without a noun
 Used in all positive, negative sentences and questions
 Used with singular uncountable nouns
Example:
1. There isn’t much sugar in the jar.
2. How much is the pencil?
many  Used with plural (countable) nouns
Example:
1. Many pupils passed the English test.
A lot of  Used with both plural countable or singular uncountable nouns
lots of  Used in all positive, negative sentences and questions
Example:
1. I have a lot of friends.
2. Lots of friends came to my house yesterday.
Few,  A few, a little mean some.
a few  Few, a few: used with countable plural nouns.
little  Little, a little: used with uncountable nouns.
a little Example:
1. There are a few of pupils in the field.
2. I have few things to do
plenty  Plenty means sufficient
 Used with a singular noun or a plural noun
Example:
1. The chairs are plenty.
2. I have plenty of time.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

AM, IS, ARE

 ‘am’, ‘is’, and ‘are’ are verbs to-be in the Present Simple. We can use them in two
ways.

Usage Examples
1. As a linking verb 1. Alif is my friend. (noun)
Verb ‘be’ is used to link the subject of 2. Alif is afraid of ghost. (adjective)
a sentence with information about it, 3. Alif is eleven years old. (adjective)
for example a noun or an adjective. 4. The cat is under the chair (noun)
2. As a helping verb 1. I am going to school
Verb ‘be’ is used with a main verb to 2. Zarif is going to school.
show an action in the present 3. Zarif and Atif are going to school.
continuous tense. 4. They are playing football.

Affirmative
Subject be Complement Sentences (short forms)
I am lazy. (adjective) I’m lazy.
You are my friend. (noun) You’re my friend.
He is ten years old. (adjective) He’s ten years old.
She is from Australia. (noun) She’s from Australia.
It is a cat. (noun) It’s a cat.
We are hungry. (adjective) We’re hungry.
They are in the classroom. (noun) They’re in the classroom.

Negative
Subject be not Complement Sentences (short forms)
I am not lazy. (adjective) I’m not lazy.
You are not my friend. (noun) You aren’t not my friend.
He is not ten years old. (adjective) He isn’t ten years old.
She is not from Australia. (noun) She isn’t from Australia.
It is not a cat. (noun) It isn’t a cat.
We are not hungry. (adjective) We aren’t hungry.
They are not in the classroom. (noun) They aren’t in the classroom.

Question
Be Subject Complement Positive Answer Negative Answer
Am I lazy? Yes, you are. No, you’re not.
Are you my friend? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.
Is he ten years old? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.
Is she from Australia? Yes, she is. No, she isn’t.
Is it a cat? Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.
Are we hungry? Yes, you are. No, we aren’t.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Are they in the classroom? Yes, we are. No, you aren’t.

PRESENT SIMPLE

 We can use the present simple in three ways.

Usage Example
1. To show an action that happens 1. I always go to school on Sundays.
regularly 2. She usually reads a book on Mondays.
Keywords: Adverbs of frequency 3. They never eat lobsters.
always, often, usually, frequently, 4. We frequently play badminton.
seldom, normally, sometimes, never
2. To show the truth or facts 1. The sun rises in the East.
Note: Statements about the world 2. Wood floats on water.
and rules of nature. 3. Sahara is a desert.
3. Give commands. 1. Sit down!
Note: imperative sentence. 2. Close your eyes.

Affirmative
Subject Verb WH? Sentences
I play with my brother. (who) I play with my brother.
You play football at the field. (where) You play football at the field.
He plays with knives. (what) He plays with knives.
She slept all day. (when) She slept all day.
We play ourselves. (how) We play ourselves.
They play for fun. (why) They play for fun.

Negative
Subject Verb WH? Sentences
I don’t play with my brother. I don’t play with my brother.
You don’t play at the field. You don’t play at the field.
He doesn’t play with knives. He doesn’t play with knives.
She doesn’t sleep all day. She doesn’t sleep all day.
We don’t play ourselves. We don’t play ourselves.
They don’t play for fun. They don’t play for fun.

Question
Verb ‘do’ Subject Verb + Complement Positive Answers Negative
Answers
Do I play with my brother? Yes, you do. No, you don’t.
Do you play at the field? Yes, I do. No, I don’t.
Does he play with knives? Yes, he does. No, he doesn’t.
Does she play at the weekend? Yes, she does. No, she doesn’t.
Do we play ourselves? Yes, you do. No, we don’t.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Do they play for fun? Yes, we do. No, you don’t.

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

 The subject and the verb are the most important parts of a sentence.
 In a sentence, the subject and the verb must agree with each other, which means a
singular subject must take a singular verb and a plural subject must take a plural verb.
Example:

1. Ismail __________
plays (play/plays) football.
SS SV
play
2. Ismail and his friends _____________ (play/plays) football.
PS PV
3. Swimming _______is (is/are) my hobby.
SS SV
Note:
SS – singular subject; PS – plural subject; SV – singular verb; PV – plural verb

Singular / Plural Subject Chart

Category Singular forms Plural forms

1. Countable person The boy people The boys
noun The girl The girls
My family My family and I
The doctor The doctors
animal The cat animal The cats
thing The box thing The cats
The apple The apples
place The market place The shops
gerund Swimming gerund Reading and writing
Singular and plural are same
fish, sheep, scissors, trousers, shoes, spectacles, etc.
2. Uncountable money, coffee, sugar, water,
noun time, rice, etc.
3. Collective group, family, class, band, army, People, families, classes,
noun team, herd cattle, numbers

4. Pronoun I, you, he, she, it We, you, they

5. Indefinite someone, something, anyone,
pronoun anything, everyone, everything
6. Demonstrative There (is), this, that, here There (are), these, those, here
pronoun
7. Illness Measles, Mumps, Covid-19
8. Subject Mathematics, Physics, etc.
9. Conjunction Either Alif or Zarif Either Alif or his friends
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Neither Alif nor Zarif Neither Alif nor his friends

Subject – Verb Agreement Chart

SS SV PS PV SS SV PS PV
He We He We
No. She They No. She They
It I/ It I/
You* You*
1 wants want 38 suggests suggest
2 looks look 39 raises raise
3 uses use 40 passes pass
4 works work 41 reports report
5 calls call 42 decides decide
6 tries try 43 pulls pull
7 asks ask 44 returns return
8 needs need 45 explains explain
9 helps help 46 hopes hope
10 talks talk 47 carries carry
11 turns turn 48 thanks thank
12 starts start 49 receives receive
13 plays play 50 joins join
14 moves move 51 agrees agree
15 likes like 52 picks pick
16 lives live 53 wears wear
17 happens happen 54 ends end
18 continues continue 55 understands understand
19 changes change 56 produces produce
20 watches watch 57 faces face
21 follows follow 58 covers cover
22 stops stop 59 describes describe
23 allows allow 60 writes write
24 adds add 61 points point
25 opens open 62 listens listen
26 walks walk 63 places place
27 offers offer 64 closes close
28 remembers remember 65 fills fill
29 loves love 66 wins win
30 appears appear 67 drops drop
31 waits wait 68 plans plan
32 serves serve 69 pushes push
33 dies die 70 reduces reduce
34 expects expect 71 notes note
35 stays stay 72 enters enter
36 reaches reach 73 shares share
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

37 kills kill 74 saves save

SS SV PS PV SS SV PS PV
He We He We
No. She They No. She They
It I/ It I/
You* You*
75 protects protect 116 leaves leave
76 occurs occur 117 lends lend
77 accepts accept 118 loses lose
78 identifies identify 119 makes make
79 prepares prepare 120 meets meet
80 lays lay 121 pays pay
81 fails fail 122 puts put
82 arrives arrive 123 reads read
83 becomes become 124 rides ride
84 begins begin 125 rises rise
85 breaks break 126 runs run
86 brings bring 127 says say
87 builds build 128 sees see
88 buys buy 129 sells sell
89 catches catch 130 sends send
90 chooses choose 131 sets set
91 comes come 132 shows show
92 cuts cut 133 sings sing
93 does do 134 sits sit
94 draws draw 135 sleeps sleep
95 drinks drink 136 speaks speak
96 drives drive 137 spends spend
97 eats eat 138 stands stand
98 falls fall 139 swims swim
99 feeds feed 140 takes take
100 feels feel 141 teaches teach
101 fights fight 142 tells tell
102 finds find 143 thinks think
103 flies fly 144 throws throw
104 forgets forget 145 has have
105 gets get 146 is are
106 gives give 147 am are
107 goes go 148 arranges arrange
108 grows grow 149 studies study
113 holds hold 150 shows show
114 knows know 151 dances dance
115 learns learn 152 reaches reach
Note: I and You take a plural verb even though they are singular subjects.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

PAST SIMPLE

 We can use the past simple in two ways.

Usage Example
1. To show an action that happened in the past 1. I played football yesterday.
Keywords: Adverb of time (in the past) 2. We arrived here last Sunday.
yesterday, last ____, just now, ago, once, this 3. She ran to the field.
morning, etc. 4. He made the table just now.
2. To express the state of being in the past 1. I was sick yesterday.
Note: Verb ‘be’ in the past tense 2. She was there last week.
3. We were happy.

Affirmative
Subject Verb WH Sentences
I went to school. (where) I went to school. (irregular verb)
You were my friend. (who) You were my friend. (VTB in the past)
He played with a ball. (what) He played with a ball (regular verb)
She caught a big fish. (what) She caught a big fish. (irregular verb)
It rained heavily. (how) It rained heavily. (regular verb)
We arrived at 9.30 a.m. (when) We arrived at 9.30 a.m. (regular verb)
They sang for fun. (why) They sang for fun. (irregular verb)

Negative
Subject Verb WH Sentences (short forms)
I did not go to school. I didn’t go to school.
You were not my friend. You weren’t my friend.
He did not play with a ball. He didn’t play with a ball
She did not catch a big fish. She didn’t catch a big fish.
It did not rain heavily. It didn’t rain heavily.
We did not arrive at 9.30 a.m. We didn’t arrived at 9.30 a.m.
They did not sing for fun. They didn’t sing for fun.

Question
Verb Do Subject Verb + Complement Positive Answers Negative
Answers
Did I play with my brother? Yes, you did. No, you didn’t.
Did you play at the field? Yes, I did. No, I didn’t.
Did he play with knives? Yes, he did. No, he didn’t.
Did she play at the weekend? Yes, she did. No, she didn’t.
Did it play happily? Yes, it did. No, it didn’t.
Did we play ourselves? Yes, you did. No, we didn’t.
Did they play for fun? Yes, we did. No, you didn’t.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

The Past Simple

No. Verb Past Simple No. Verb Past Simple

1 want wanted 41 report reported
2 look looked 42 decide decided
3 use used 43 pull pulled
4 work worked 44 return returned
5 call called 45 explain explained
6 try tried 46 hope hoped
7 ask asked 47 carry carried
8 need needed 48 thank thanked
9 help helped 49 receive received
10 talk talked 50 join joined
11 turn turned 51 agree agreed
12 start started 52 pick picked
13 play played 53 wear wore
14 move moved 54 end ended
15 like liked 55 understand understood
16 live lived 56 produce produced
17 happen happened 57 face faced
18 continue continued 58 cover covered
19 change changed 59 describe described
20 watch watched 60 write wrote
21 follow followed 61 point pointed
22 stop stopped 62 listen listened
23 allow allowed 63 place placed
24 add added 64 close closed
25 open opened 65 fill filled
26 walk walked 66 win won
27 offer offered 67 drop dropped
28 remember remembered 68 plan planned
29 love loved 69 push pushed
30 appear appeared 70 reduce reduced
31 wait waited 71 note noted
32 serve served 72 enter entered
33 die died 73 share shared
34 expect expected 74 save saved
35 stay stayed 75 protect protected
36 reach reached 76 occur occurred
37 kill killed 77 accept accepted
38 suggest suggested 78 identify identified
39 raise raised 79 prepare prepared
40 pass passed 80 lay laid
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

81 fail failed 123 read read

82 arrive arrived 124 ride rode
83 become became 125 rise rose
84 begin began 126 run ran
85 break broke 127 say said
86 bring brought 128 see saw
87 build built 129 sell sold
88 buy bought 130 send sent
89 catch caught 131 set set
90 choose chose 132 show showed
91 come came 133 sing sang
92 cut cut 134 sit sat
93 do did 135 sleep slept
94 draw drew 136 speak spoke
95 drink drank 137 spend spent
96 drive drove 138 stand stood
97 eat ate 139 swim swam
98 fall fell 140 take took
99 feed fed 141 teach taught
100 feel felt 142 tell told
101 fight fought 143 think thought
102 find found 144 throw threw
103 fly flew Any verbs else?
104 forget forgot 1
105 get got 2
106 give gave 3
107 go went 4
108 grow grew 5
109 have had 6
110 hear heard 7
111 hide hid 8
112 hit hit 9
113 hold held 10
114 know knew 11
115 learn learned 12
116 leave left 13
117 lend lent 14
118 lose lost 15
119 make made 16
120 meet met 17
121 pay paid 18
122 put put 19

WAS, WERE
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

 ‘was’ and ‘were’ are verbs to-be in the simple past.

 We can use ‘was’ and ‘were’ in two ways.

Usage Example
1. As a linking verb 1. Alif was my friend. (noun)
Note: Verb ‘be’ is used to link the 2. Alif was afraid of ghost. (adjective)
subject of a sentence with information 3. The cat was under the chair. (noun)
about it, for example a noun or an 4. It was Sunday. (noun)
adjective.
2. As a helping verb 1. I was going to school
Note: look at the past continuous 2. Zarif was going to school.
tense. 3. Zarif and Atif were going to school.

Affirmative
Subject be Adjective/ noun Sentences (short forms)
I was lazy. (adjective) I was lazy.
You were my friend. (noun) You were my friend.
He was ten years old then. (adjective) He was ten years old then.
She was at the door. (noun) She was at the door.
It was my wildest dream. (noun) It was my wildest dream.
We were hungry. (adjective) We were hungry.
They were in the classroom. (noun) They were in the classroom.

Negative
Subject be not Adjective/ noun Sentences (short forms)
I was not lazy. I wasn’t lazy.
You were not my friend. You weren’t my friend.
He was not ten years old then. He wasn’t ten years old then.
She was not at the door. She wasn’t at the door.
It was not a cat. It wasn’t a cat.
We were not hungry. We weren’t hungry.
They were not in the classroom. They weren’t in the classroom.

Question
Be Subject Adjective/ noun Positive Answer Negative Answer
Was I lazy? Yes, you were. No, you weren’t.
Were you my friend? Yes, I was. No, I wasn’t .
Was he ten years old then? Yes, he was. No, he wasn’t.
Was she at the door? Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
Was it a cat? Yes, it was. No, it wasn’t.
Were we hungry? Yes, you were. No, we weren’t.
Were they in the classroom? Yes, we were. No, you weren’t.

ACTION VERBS
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

 There are two types of action verbs. Regular verbs are verbs that form its simple
tense and past participle by adding –ed to the bare infinitive.

Bare Simple Past Bare Past

Simple past
infinitive past participle infinitive participle
agree agreed agreed  enjoy enjoyed  enjoyed
allow allowed  exercise exercised  
achieve achieved  expand expanded  
add added explain explained
admit admitted fry fried
adopt adopted gather gathered
advise advised greet greeted
allow allowed guess guessed
announce announced hate hated
appreciate appreciated help helped
arrive arrived identify identified
argue argued introduce introduced
ask asked joke joked
attack attacked jump jumped
beg begged kick kicked
behave behaved kill killed
boil boiled kiss kissed
borrow borrowed laugh laughed
brush brushed lie lied
bury buried listen listened
call called love loved
change changed marry married
chase chased measure measured
cheat cheated move moved
cheer cheered need needed
clap clapped obey obeyed
clean cleaned offer offered
collect collected open opened
compare compared paint painted
complain complained park parked
control controlled phone phoned
count counted pick picked
create created play played
cry cried print printed
cycle cycled pull pulled
damage damaged punch punched
dance danced punish punished
deliver delivered purchase purchased

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

destroy destroyed push pushed

divide divided race raced
earn earned earned remember remembered remembered
encourage encouraged thank thanked
reply replied travel travelled
retire retired trouble troubled
return returned type typed
rub rubbed use used
scold scolded visit visited
select selected wait waited
smoke smoked walk walked
stare stared warn warned
start started warm warmed
study studied worry worried
talk talked yell yelled

 Unlikely, irregular verbs are verbs that do not form its simple past tense or past
participle by adding –ed to the bare infinitive.

Bare Simple Past Bare Simple Past

infinitive past participle infinitive past participle
awake awoke awaken know knew known
arise arose arisen lay laid laid
be was, were been lie lay lain
become became become lead led led
begin began begun learn learned learned
bite bit bitten leave left left
bet bet bet lend lent lent
break broke broken lose lost lost
build built built let let let
bring brought brought meet met met
burn burned burned mean meant meant
buy bought bought make made made
come came come pay paid paid
cut cut cut put put put
cost cost cost quit quit quit
choose chose chosen read read read
cook cook cook ride rode ridden
catch caught caught run ran run
do did done sit sat sat
do do do see saw seen
deal dealt dealt say said said
draw drew drawn shut shut shut
dream dreamed dreamed show showed shown
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

drink drank drunk shoot shot shot

drive drove driven sell sold sold
eat ate eaten send sent sent
find found found sing sang sung
feel felt felt sleep slept slept
feed fed fed speak spoke spoken
fly flew flown spend spent spent
forgive forgave forgiven stand stood stood
forget forgot forgotten swear swore sworn
give gave given swim swam swum
grow grew grown take took taken
get got got tell told told
go went gone teach taught taught
have had had think thought thought
hit hit hit throw threw thrown
hold held held understand understood understood
hear heard heard wake woke woke
hurt hurt hurt wear wore worn
keep kept kept write wrote written

 Talking about action verbs, can you list things that part of your body can do.

I use my eyes to I use my hands and legs, to

I use my brain to I use my heart to

I use my nose and ears to I use my mouth to

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

 We can use the present continuous in two ways.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Usage Example
1. To show an action that is happening at 1. He is hiding behind the tree.
the time of speaking 2. She is cooking at the moment.
Keywords: be + verb-ing 3. What are you doing now?
Now, at the moment, at present, 4. At present, I am living in Marang.
2. To show an action that is about to happen 1. The bus is arriving at 2.00 p.m.
Note: be + verb-ing 2. She is gardening in the evening.
3. I am coming home in four days.
4. Puan Siti is leaving next month.

Affirmative
Subject Be + verb-ing WH Sentences (Short forms)
I am going to school. I’m going to school.
You are going to the market. You’re going to the market.
He is swimming in the pond. He’s swimming in the pond.
She is dancing on the stage. She’s dancing on the stage.
It is raining heavily. It’s raining heavily.
We are being late. We’re being late.
They are watching the movie. They’re watching the movie.

Negative
Subject Be + not verb-ing WH Sentences (short forms)
I am not going to school. I’m not going to school.
You are not going to the market. You aren’t going to the market.
He is not swimming in the pond. He isn’t swimming in the pond.
She is not dancing on the stage. She isn’t dancing on the stage.
It is not raining heavily. It isn’t raining heavily.
We are not being late. We aren’t being late.
They are not watching the movie. They aren’t watching the movie.

Question
Be Subject Verb-ing + Complement (+) Answers (-) Answers
Am I going to school? Yes, you are. No, you aren’t.
Are you going to the market? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.
Is he swimming in the pond? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.
Is she dancing on the stage? Yes, she is. No, she isn’t.
Is it raining heavily? Yes, it is No, it isn’t.
Are we being late? Yes, you are. No, we aren’t.
Are they watching the movie? Yes, we are. No, you aren’t.

PAST CONTINUOUS

 We can use the past continuous in three ways.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Usage Example

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

1. To talk about something which happened 1. She was sleeping when I got home.
before and after another action 2. While I was walking, I heard a cry.
Note: was/were + verb-ing
2. To talk about something that happened 1. It was 2.30 a.m. I was watching TV.
before at a specific time 2. My head is aching.
Note: was/were + verb-ing 3. Everyone was screaming.
3. To talk about something that show 1. He was growing up quickly.
change or growth 2. My English was improving.
Note: was/were + verb-ing 3. My hair was going grey.

Affirmative
Subject Be + verb-ing WH Sentences
I was going to school. I was going to school.
You were going to the market. You were going to the market.
He was swimming in the pond. He was swimming in the pond.
She was dancing on the stage. She was dancing on the stage.
It was raining heavily. It was raining heavily.
We were being late. We were being late.
They were watching the movie. They were watching the movie.

Negative
Subject Be + not verb-ing WH Sentences (short forms)
I was not going to school. I wasn’t going to school.
You were not going to the market. You weren’t going to the market.
He was not cooking in the kitchen. He wasn’t cooking in the kitchen.
She was not dancing on the stage. She wasn’t dancing on the stage.
It was not raining heavily. It wasn’t raining heavily.
We were not being late. We weren’t being late.
They were not watching the movie. They weren’t watching the movie.

Question
Be Subject Verb-ing + Complement (+) Answers (-) Answers
Was I going to school? Yes, you were. No, you weren’t.
Were you going to the market? Yes, I was. No, I wasn’t.
Was he swimming in the pond? Yes, he was. No, he wasn’t.
Was she dancing on the stage? Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
Was it raining heavily? Yes, it was. No, it wasn’t.
Were we being late? Yes, you were. No, we weren’t.
Were they watching the movie? Yes, we were. No, you weren’t.

FUTURE ‘GOING TO’

 We can use ‘going to’ in three ways.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Usage Example
1. Telling about the future plan I’m going to the movies.
He’s going to visit his uncle.
2. Telling something about to The movie is going to start soon.
happen Puan Salmah is going to come anytime soon.

3. Knowing something to happen I think it’s going to rain.

It’s the Monsoon season. It’s going to rain.

Affirmative
Subject Be going to WH Sentences (short forms)
I am going to wear a nice dress. I’m going to wear a nice dress.
You are going to learn English. You’re going to learn English.
He is going to visit his uncle. He’s going to visit his uncle.
She is going to go to the party. She’s going to go to the party.
It is going to rain this evening. It’s going to rain this evening.
We are going to bake a cake. We’re going to bake a cake.
They are going to visit me. They’re going to visit me.

Negative
Subject be not going to WH Sentences (short forms)
I am not going to wear a nice dress. I’m not going to wear a nice dress.
You are not going to learn English. You aren’t going to learn English.
He is not going to visit his uncle. He isn’t going to visit his uncle.
She is not going to go to the party. She isn’t going to go to the party.
It is not going to rain this evening. It isn’t going to rain this evening.
We are not going to bake a cake. We aren’t going to bake a cake.
They are not going to visit me. They aren’t going to visit me.

Question
Be Subject going to - Short answers Short answers
verb + complement (positive) (negative)
Am I going to wear a nice dress? Yes, you’re. No, you aren’t.
Are you going to learn English? Yes, I am. No, I’m not .
Is he going to visit his uncle? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.
Is she going to go to the party? Yes, she is. No, she isn’t.
Is it going to rain this evening? Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.
Are we going to bake a cake? Yes, you are. No, we aren’t.
Are they going to visit me? Yes, we are. No, you aren’t.

FUTURE ‘WILL’

 We can use ‘will’ in three ways.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Usage Example
1. Making decision I’ll buy you something.
I’ll treat you dinner.
2. Predict something to happen It will rain tomorrow.
She will come here next week.
3. Making promises I promise I’ll behave next time.
I promise I’ll take care of myself in the future.
Keywords: tomorrow, next day, next week, next Sunday, next month, etc.

Affirmative
Subject will + verb WH Sentences (short forms)
I will wear a nice dress. I will wear a nice dress.
You will learn English. You will learn English.
He will visit his uncle. He will visit his uncle.
She will go to the party. She will go to the party.
It will rain tomorrow. It will rain tomorrow.
We will bake a cake. We will bake a cake.
They will visit me. They will visit me.

Negative
Subject Will not - verb WH Sentences (Short forms)
I will not wear a nice dress. I’ll not wear a nice dress.
You will not learn English. You’ll not learn English.
He will not visit his uncle. He’ll not visit his uncle.
She will not go to the party. She’ll not go to the party.
It will not rain this evening. It will not rain this evening.
We will not bake a cake. We’ll not bake a cake.
They will not visit me. They’ll not visit me.

Question
Be Subject going to – verb + WH Short answers Short answers
(positive) (negative)
Will I wear a nice dress? Yes, you will. No, you’ll not.
Will you learn English? Yes, I will. No, I’ll not.
Will he visit his uncle? Yes, he will. No, he’ll not.
Will she go to the party? Yes, she will. No, she’ll not.
Will it rain this evening? Yes, it will. No, it will not.
Will we bake a cake? Yes, you will. No, you’ll not.
Will they visit me? Yes, we will. No, we’ll not.

PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST PERFECT

 Present perfect expressed an idea that something happened before now, at an

unspecified time in the past.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Usage Example
1. Express something happened I have moved to a new school.
before now, at an unspecified Have you ever visited Thailand?
time I have already seen that movie.
2. Express the repetition of an We have gone there four times already.
activity before now. I have met many people since I came here.
I have flown on an aeroplane many times.
3. Express a situation that began in I have been living there for 15 years.
the past and continues to be We have been there for two weeks.
present. I have known Zarif for many years.
Keywords: for, since

Affirmative
Subject have + past WH Sentences
participle (Short and Long forms)
I have known him for 15 years. I’ve known him for 15 years.
You have known him for 15 years. You’ve known him for 15 years.
He has known him since 1990. He has known him since 1990.
It has eaten the fish. It has eaten the fish.
We have known him since 1990. We’ve known him since 1990.

Question
Have Subject past participle Short answers Short answers
verb + complement (positive) (negative)
Have I paid the money? Yes, you have. No, you haven’t.
Have you learned something? Yes, I have. No, I haven’t.
Has he visited his uncle? Yes, he has. No, he hasn’t.
Has she done her homework? Yes, she has. No, she hasn’t.
Have they told me? Yes, we have. No, we haven’t.

 Past perfect refers to an action that happened before now. It is used to make it clear
that one event happened before another in the past. Example:

Event A Event B
Zarif had gone out when I arrived at his home.
I have eaten maggi before Mum cooked our lunch.
When they arrived we had already started cooking.
Zara was tired because she hadn’t sleep well.

TENSES TABLE

Tenses Usage Signal Words

Simple Present action in the present taking place once, always, every …, never,
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

normally, often, seldom,

never or several times
sometimes, usually
facts or general truth
actions taking place one after another  
action taking place in the moment of
speaking at the moment, just, just
Present
action taking place only for a limited now, Listen!, Look!,
Continuous
period of time now, right now
action arranged for the future
yesterday, 5 minutes
action in the past taking place once, never
ago, last week, the other
or several times
day,
Simple Past
actions taking place one after another
action taking place in the middle of  
another action
action going on at a certain time in the
past
Past
actions taking place at the same time when, while, as long as
Continuous
action in the past that is interrupted by
another action
putting emphasis on the result
action that is still going on
action that stopped recently
already, ever, just,
Present Perfect finished action that has an influence on the
never, not yet, so far, till
Simple present
now, up to now
action that has taken place once, never or
several times before the moment of
speaking
action in the future that cannot be in a year, next …,
Future Simple
influenced tomorrow
spontaneous decision
‘will’ assumption: I think,
assumption with regard to the future
probably, perhaps
Future Simple decision made for the future in one year, next week,
(going to) conclusion with regard to the future tomorrow
action that is going on at a certain time in
Future the future in one year, next week,
Continuous action that is sure to happen in the near tomorrow
future

‘HAVE TO’

 ‘have to’ and ‘must’ are modal verbs.

 They are used to express obligation, responsibility or necessity.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

 We normally use ‘have to’ instead of ‘must’ in spoken English.

Affirmative
Subject Have to + Verb WH Sentences
I have to go to school. I have to go to school
You have to rake the leaves. You have to rake to leaves.
He has to go to school. He has to go to school.
She has to make the table. She has to make the table.
It has to eat the food. It has to eat and drink.
We have to learn English. We have to learn English.
They have to do homework. They have to do homework.

Negative
Subject not + have to+ Verb WH Sentences
I don’t have to go to school. I don’t have to go to school.
You don’t have to rake the leaves. You don’t have to rake to leaves.
He doesn’t have to go to school. He doesn’t have to go to school.
She doesn’t have to make the table. She has to make the table.
It doesn’t have to eat the food. It has to eat and drink.
We don’t have to learn English. We have to learn English.
They don’t have to do homework. They have to do homework.

Question
VTD Subject Have to + Verb Positive answers Negative answers
Do I have to ….. Yes, you have to. No, you don’t have to.
Do you have to ….. Yes, you have to. No, I don’t have to.
Does he have to ….. Yes, he has to. No, he doesn’t have to.
Does she have to ….. Yes, she has to. No, she doesn’t have to.
Does it have to ….. Yes, it has to. No, it doesn’t have to.
Do we have to ….. Yes, you have to. No, you don’t have to.
Do they have to …... Yes, they have to. No, they don’t have to.

Question Subject Have to do Answers

What do I have to do? You have to clear the table.
What do you have to do? I have to make the table.
What does he have to do? He has to take out the rubbish.
What does she have to do? She has to bathe her sister.
What does it have to do? It has to eat.
What do we have to do? You have to rake the leaves.
What do they have to do? They have to water the plants.
OTHER MODAL VERBS

 Modal verbs are helping verbs. They are used to talk about ability, possibility,
obligation, prohibition, or to make requests or offers.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Modal Usages Examples

Ability I can play the piano very well.
Permission Can I go now?
Can Possibility It can be a very good day tomorrow.
Offer I can help you with this homework.
Request Can you please pass me the salt?
Ability in the past I could play the piano well when I was 9.
Polite permission Excuse me, could I come in?
Could Possibility A hailstorm could come here tomorrow.
Polite offer I could help you with the homework.
Polite request Could you please help us?
Permission May I leave early?
May
Possibility Zarif may see ghosts.
Polite permission Might I take you home?
Might
Possibility I might visit him tomorrow if the weather is nice.
Obligation You must do homework.
Must
Certainty He must be here now.
Mustn't Prohibition You mustn’t play here. It’s dangerous.
Prediction The weather forecast predicts that it’ll rain tonight.
Promise I’ll finish all the homework by Friday.
Will
Spontaneous decision I’ll lend you some money.
Request/ demand Will you please give me that book?
Past form of “will” My dad said that he would buy me some chocolate.
Would
Polite request Would you mind closing the door, please?
Prediction This time tomorrow I shall be in Kuala Lumpur.
Shall
Offer/ suggestion Shall we discuss this further with him?
Advice You should see the doctor.
Should Prediction/expectation The project should be done before May.
Polite suggestion Should I call her to say sorry?
Obligation You ought to say good bye to me when you leave.
Ought to
Advice You ought to sleep early. You look really tired.

WH-QUESTIONS

 We use ‘Wh-question’ to find out more information. There are many types of Wh-
questions and they serve for different purposes.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Question words Usage Sentences

What is your name?
To ask for information about My name is Alif.
1. what
someone or something What do you do?
I’m playing chess.
To ask for a specific What time does he leave?
3. What + noun
information He leaves at 10.00 a.m.
When did Cleopatra die?
4. when To ask about time
When is your birthday?
Where do you live?
5. Where To ask about place or position
I live in Taman Permai.
Which colour do you like?
6. Which To ask about choice
I like red.
Who opened the door?
7. Who To ask about people
Alif opened the door.
Whose bag is this?
8. Whose To ask about ownership
It is his. / It’s Zarif’s.
To ask about people who Whom did you speak to?
9. Whom
receives the action I spoke to Ahmad.
Why did you say that?
10. Why To ask for reason
I wanted to tell him my problem.
How do you go to school?
11. How + VTD To ask about manner
I ride my bike.
How are you?
12. How To ask about condition
I am fine
To ask about length How long does it take?
13. How long
(time or space) It takes 2 hours.
How far is your home from here?
14. How far To ask about distance
It is 25 km.
To ask about quantity How many cars are there?
15. How many
(countable) There are ten cars.
To ask about quantity How much money do you have?
16. How much
(uncountable) I have RM2000.00
How are we going to get there?
17. How + VTB To ask about condition
We are going there by bus.
How old are you?
18. How old To ask about age
I’m ten years old.
How often do you read?
19. How often To ask about frequency
I read twice a week.

YES / NO QUESTIONS

 We use ‘Yes/No questions’ to get two possible responses – Yes or No.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Helping Main
Subject WH Answers
Verbs Verb
Pronouns
VTB Who?
I
Am What?
you
Is -ing form Where? Yes, subject + VTB
he/she/it
Are of verbs When? No, subject + VTB-not.
we
Was Why?
they
Were How?
Nouns
Example: 1. Is he coming? Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
2. Are Alif and Atif playing today? Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
I Who?
VTD you What?
Does he/she/it base form Where? Yes, subject + VTD
Do we of verbs When? No, subject + VTD-not
Did they Why?
Nouns How?
Example: 1. Do you like coffee? Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
2. Did Siti win the competition? Yes, she did. / No, she didn’t.
3. Do I have to go to school? Yes, you have to. (do = have to)
No, you don’t have to.
I Who?
VTH you Past What?
Has he/she/it participle Where? Yes, subject + VTH
Have we form of When? No, subject + VTH-not
Had they verbs Why?
Nouns How?
Example: 1. Have you eaten your breakfast? Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
2. Has Ali gone to school? Yes, he has. / No, he hasn’t.
Modal Pronouns
Who?
Can I
What?
Could you
Base form Where? Yes, subject + modal
May he/she/it
of verbs When? No, subject + modal-not
Should we
Why?
Will they
How?
Must Nouns
Example: 1. Can I borrow your pencil? Yes, you can. / No, you can’t
2. Should Alif go to school? Yes, he should. / No, he shouldn’t.
3. May I go to the toilet, please? Yes, you may. / No, you may not.
4. Will Ali visit us soon? Yes, he will. / No, he will not.
Note: VTB (verb to-be), VTD (verb to-do), VTH (verb to-have)
QUESTION TAGS

 We use question tags to confirm information or to ask someone’ agreement or

disagreement. The sentence structure for question tags is

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

S+V+O, negative V+Auxiliary + pronoun?

 There are two rules of writing a question tags.
1. A positive statement, a negative question tag?

Positive Statement Negative Question Tags

 You are (a doctor)  aren’t you?
 She is (a doctor)  isn’t she?
 They were (doctors)  weren’t they?
 She was (a doctor)  wasn’t she?
 You run (very fast)  don’t you?
 He runs (very fast)  doesn’t he?
 They ran (very fast)  didn’t they?
 You have (finished the homework)  haven’t you?
 She has (finished the homework)  hasn’t she?
 They had (finished the homework)  hadn’t they?
 He can (swim well)  can’t he?
 She could (swim well)  couldn’t she?
 They will (come early)  won’t they?
 They would (come early)  wouldn’t they?
 They must (come early)  mustn’t they?
 They should (come early)  shouldn’t they?

2. A negative statement, a positive question tag.

Negative Statement Positive Question Tags

You don’t run (very fast)  do you?
 He doesn’t run (very fast)  does he?
 They didn’t run (very fast)  did they?
You haven’t (finished the homework)  have you?
 She hasn’t (finished the homework)  has she?
 They hadn’t (finished the homework)  had they?
 He can’t (swim well)  can he?
She couldn’t (swim well)  could she?
 They won’t (come early)  will they?
 They wouldn’t (come early)  would they?
 They mustn’t (come early)  must they?
 They shouldn’t (come early)  should they?

PREPOSITIONS

 A preposition is a word or phrase which connects a noun or pronoun to another nouns

or pronouns in a sentence. Table below shows some types of prepositions.

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Types / Functions Prepositions Sentences

1. Preposition of in, on, beside, 1. The cat is on the chair.
place and location near, behind, in 2. Put the book on my bag.
tells us the front of, at, 3. He stands beside his mother.
location or between, under, 4. Between the girls, there is a cat.
position of a noun next to, above, 5. Is your school next to the field?
in relation to from, against, 6. He sat at the bus-stop.
another noun. etc.
2. Preposition of along, across, to, 1. The bird flew through the door.
direction tells us from, towards, 2. Ali walked towards his friend.
the movement out, into, over, 3. Do not cross the road!
from one place to up, down, 4. He walks up the stairs.
another through, around, 5. Zarif took me around the city.
past, etc. 6. She jumped over the hurdle.
3. Preposition of at, on, in, by, 1. I was born in 1979.
time are used with for, since, after, 2. She’s coming on Sunday.
time expressions until, during 3. Please come here at 4.00 p.m.
4. I’ll go there after Hari Raya.
5. He was sick for 14 days.
4. Preposition of by, from, of 1. We went there by bus.
source tells us the 2. The picture was painted by her.
mean through 3. He earned some money by selling food.
which something 4. I came here by train.
happens 5. She’s from the United States.
5. Preposition of with, in 1. She handles her pets with great care.
manner tells us 2. Zarif screamed in pain.
how something 3. Why did he keep in silence?
happens 4. They screamed with joy.
6. accompaniment with 1. Ahmad played soccer with his brother.
7. show two or more 2. Zarif fought with Alif.
people doing 3. He stays with his friends in the city.
something 4. He walked home with his friends.
together 5. Ahmad talked with Alif.
8. measure of 1. I need 100 pack of chocolates.
9. express quantity 2. She’s drinking a glass of juice.
and amounts 3. Zara gave Alif a slice of cake.
10. Others (similarity like, as 1. His mark is just like mine.
and role of nouns) 2. He works as a farmer.
3. Zarif talks like a love expert.

Preposition of Time > refer to the time

Preposition Usages Examples
Centuries Portuguese came here in the 15th century.
In Seasons He likes going to the beach in the summer.
Years I was born in 2000.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Months We’ll take the UPSR exam in September.

Parts of day I usually play football in the afternoon.
Days We doesn’t go to school on Saturdays.
On Dates He’s leaving on the fifth of October.
Particular days I wish to get a doll on my birthday.
Clock time Zarif goes to bed at 9 pm.
At Short and at night, at noon, at lunchtime, at sunset
precise times Don’t stay up late at night.

Prepositions of place > refer to the position and direction.

Preposition For Examples
Room My mother left. She isn’t in the room.
town My uncle is working in Kuala Lumpur now.
country Greg is Australian but he was born in Malaysia.
car There’s a doll in the car.
In 
taxi I’m in the taxi now. I’ll get there in 5 minutes.
Picture Who’s the man in the picture?
Book There are lots of illustrations in the book.
The World Which is the longest river in the world?
Streets My house is on Elm street.
Islands He lives on that island.
Surfaces My teacher put the books on the table.
floor Please put your shoes on the floor.
wall The picture on the wall is fantastic.
On
A certain side Max is the tall boy standing on the right.
(left, right) Human heart is on the left side.
Public transports We’re on the bus.
TV, radio I saw her yesterday on TV.
Somewhere I am at school, while my parents are at work.
Behind At the back There is a big box behind the car.
In front of Opposite behind The rabbit is in front of the tree.
Under Below the surface The ball is under the tree.
cross one side to another The duck is swimming across the lake.
To a position in/ Throw the trash into the dustbin please.
Into
inside something I can’t go into the water since it’s too cold.

ADJECTIVES

 Adjectives describe nouns. We use adjectives to tell more about someone or

something.

Sentences The use of adjectives

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

1. My house is big. To describe size of something

2. I am very happy. To describe feeling
3. The table is rectangle. To describe shape of something
4. I don’t have much money. To describe quantity of something
5. Pineapples taste sour. To describe taste of something
6. I’d like to wear cotton T-shirts. To describe material of something
7. These cats are ugly! To describe appearance of someone
8. This is my bag. To describe possession to someone
9. Which pencil is yours? To ask about the specific thing
10. I am fine. To describe condition of somone

 There are 7 types of adjectives.

Type of Examples
Words
adjectives
tall, long, big, heavy,Elisa is beautiful.
1. Descriptive
light, hot, cold, etc.I’d like to have hot coffee, please.
many, much, some, a Zarif bought some chocolates yesterday.
2. Quantitative
lot of, one, two…, I don’t have much money now.
that, this, those, these
This chair is broken.
3. Demonstrative
These cats are cute.
my/mine, his, her/hers, My bicycle is new.
4. Possessive
our/ours, etc. This is your pencil, right?
which, what, whose Which pencil is yours?
5. Interrogative
What colour do you like?
A, An, the The sun rises in the East.
6. Articles
Whale isn’t a fish. It’s a mammal.
Each, every, either, There isn’t any sugar in the bottle.
7. Distribute
neither, any Each part of this book is interesting.

Order of Adjectives

1 - Opinion 2 - Size 3 - Age 4 - Shape

beautiful, cute, small, big, tall, old, young, ancient, round, rectangular,
expensive, etc. huge, massive, new, etc square, etc.
5 - Colour 6 - Origin 7 - Material 8 - Purpose
red, pink, blue, Indian, Japan metal, wood, cooking, sewing,
green, etc. Italian, local, etc. plastic, rubber, etc. washing, etc.

Example:

1. The beautiful (1) young (3) lady is my neighbour.

2. We are proud of being young (3) Malaysian (6) people.
3. My mother wanted to buy a new washing machine.
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Degree of adjectives

 Adjectives have three degrees that compare one thing to another. They are positive
adjectives, comparative adjectives, and superlative adjectives. Comparative compares
two adjectives. Superlatives compares more than two adjectives.

Comparative Superlative
Positive
Meanings ADJer than the ADJest
‘as ADJ as’
‘more ADJ than’ the most ADJ
bad worse worst
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
big bigger biggest
bright brighter brightest
busy busier busiest
cheap cheaper cheapest
clean cleaner cleanest
clear clearer clearest
clever cleverer cleverest
close closer closest
cold colder coldest
dark darker darkest
deep deeper deepest
difficult more difficult most difficult
early earlier earliest
easy easier easiest
expensive more expensive most expensive
far further furthest
fast faster fastest
fat fatter fattest
funny funnier funniest
good better best
grand grander grandest
great greater greatest
happy happier happiest
hard harder hardest
healthy healthier healthiest
heavy heavier heaviest
high higher highest
hot hotter hottest
interesting more interesting most interesting
large larger largest
lazy lazier laziest
light lighter lightest
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

long longer longest

loud louder loudest
low lower lowest
modern more modern most modern
naughty naughtier naughtiest
near nearer nearest
old older oldest
poor poorer poorest
popular more popular most popular
pretty prettier prettiest
quick quicker quickest
rich richer richest
rough rougher roughest
safe safer safest
scary scarier scariest
sharp sharper sharpest
short shorter shortest
simple simpler simplest
slim slimmer slimmest
slow slower slowest
small smaller smallest
smart smarter smartest
smooth smoother smoothest
soft softer softest
soon sooner soonest
strong stronger strongest
sweet sweeter sweetest
tall taller tallest
thick thicker thickest
thin thinner thinnest
tough tougher toughest
ugly uglier ugliest
warm warmer warmest
weak weaker weakest
wealthy wealthier wealthiest
young younger youngest

ADVERBS

 Adverbs are words that describing verbs. In a sentence, they are used to tell more
about
1) Where does the action happen?
2) When does the action happen?
3) Who else does the action?
AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

4) How does the subject do the action?

5) Why does the subject do the action?

Type of Adverbs Examples

1 Adverbs of Manner (How?) 1. Ahmad walks [quickly].
Keywords 2. Zarif [cheerfully] greeted me when we
fast, slowly, carefully, met.
gracefully, happily, 3. She dances [gracefully] on the stage.
cheerfully, etc. 4. The baby is sleeping [soundly].
5. The farmer works [diligently] in the
garden.
2 Adverbs of Place (Where?)  She was [here] with me yesterday.
Keywords  The children love to play [outside].
off, above, far, on, away,  Stay [there] and wait for me.
back, here, down, etc.  It’s hot so Anna went [inside].
 Pak Ali looked [everywhere] for his keys.
3 Adverb of Time (When?)  She arrived at school [early].
Keywords:  The movie is starting [now].
early, today, etc.  I hope to see you [today].
4 Adverbs of frequency  He goes to school [every day].
(How often?)  She reads a book [twice a week].
Keywords: always,  Aina [usually] walks to school.
sometimes, usually, often,  Afkar had [never] gone to Mesra Mall.
frequently, seldom, rarely,  Jaafar [sometimes] washes his father’s car.
never, etc.
5 Adverbs of accompaniment  Zarif walks to school [with] his friends.
(Who?)  Zarif and his friends walk [together].
Keywords: With / together
6 Adverbs of degree  Zarif isn’t quite happy with his friends.
(What extent?)  This soup is too much salty.
Keywords: quite, too, much,  Zara is very happy.
very, just, rather, almost, etc.  The weather is extremely hot today.
7 Conjunctive adverbs  Zarif failed his test. Therefore, he was sad.
Keywords  Zara was tired, hence she decided to stop.
besides, thus, therefore,  He came to school, although he was sick.
however, although, etc.  Zara was upset. However, she looked
calm.

VERB - ADVERB

Verb - Adverb Verb - Adverb Verb - Adverb

AMN/SKRB2021

19
 GRAMMAR REFERENCE

quickly badly bravely

act suddenly lose heavily fight furiously
warily sportingly gamely
correctly hastily accidentally
answer immediately pulled strongly injure fatally
wrongly vigorously seriously
hurriedly hurriedly
eat quickly
run quickly leave quietly
slowly
slowly suddenly
freely clearly anxiously
bleed profusely remember distinctly listen attentively
slightly slightly carefully
humbly loudly clearly
bow respectfully sing softly speak loudly
stiffly sweetly slowly
desperately brightly carefully
charge furiously shine brilliantly decide eventually
exorbitantly clearly immediately
quietly frantically briefly
creep silently shout jubilantly explain clearly
stealthily loudly concisely
fitfully broadly heavily
sleep lightly smile happily fall quickly
soundly sweetly suddenly
foolishly clumsily
patiently
spend freely walk quickly waited
anxiously
sparingly slowly
bitterly audibly
wept sadly whisper quietly
touchingly softly

AMN/SKRB2021

19