Grammar Summary
Grammar Summary
Grammar Summary
1. What is Grammar?
Explanation: Grammar is the set of rules that govern the structure and usage of a language. It deals
with the proper formation of sentences and the relationship between words in a language.
Example: In English, grammar dictates that a subject and verb must agree in number. For instance,
we say "The cat is sleeping" (singular subject) or "The cats are sleeping" (plural subject).
2. Lexical Grammar.
Explanation: It refers to the study of words in their context and how they affect the meaning of a
sentence.
Example: In the phrase "big house," the choice of the adjective "big" affects the meaning of the word
"house," emphasizing its size.
3. Constructions.
Explanation: Constructions are specific ways in which words are combined to form sentences.
Example: The "subject + verb + object" construction is common in English, as in the sentence "John
eats an apple."
Explanation: Grammar establishes rules for the correct use of the language, based on conventional
models and linguistic reasons.
Example: The grammatical rule of subject-verb agreement holds that "he sings" is correct, while "he
sing" is not.
Explanation: Grammar can be analyzed in three dimensions: phonology (sounds), syntax (sentence
structure), and semantics (meaning).
Example: In the sentence "The sun shines," the semantic dimension refers to the understanding that
the sun emits light.
Explanation: Descriptive grammar describes how the language is spoken, while prescriptive grammar
establishes normative rules.
Example: Descriptively, "they go" is correct, but prescriptively, "they goes" is not recommended.
7. A Dynamic System.
Explanation: Grammar is a dynamic system that constantly adapts to the evolution of the language
and forms of communication.
Example: The introduction of new words like "selfie" or changes in grammatical rules reflects the
dynamic nature of the language over time.
UNIT 2
1. The Sentence
Explanation: A sentence is a linguistic unit composed of words that express a complete and coherent
idea. It can contain a subject and a predicate.
Example: "The cat is sitting on the mat" is a sentence in English that includes a subject ("The cat")
and a predicate ("is sitting on the mat").
Explanation: The fundamental elements of a sentence are the subject (who performs the action) and
the predicate (the action performed by the subject).
Example: In the sentence "She sings beautifully," "She" is the subject, and "sings beautifully" is the
predicate.
Explanation: Words are basic units of language, and phrases are groups of words that express a
broader idea than a single word.
Example: In the phrase "happy children," "happy" is a word, and "happy children" is a phrase
expressing a broader idea.
Explanation: Words are classified based on their meaning (semantic), grammatical structure
(structural), and their function in a sentence (functional).
Example: The word "run" can be classified semantically as a verb, structurally as a monosyllabic
word, and functionally as an action in a sentence.
5. Classification of Phrases
Explanation: Phrases are classified based on their structure and function in the sentence, such as
nominal, verbal, or prepositional phrases.
Example: The phrase "the old book on the shelf" is classified both nominally (as it functions as a
noun) and prepositionally (due to the prepositional phrase "on the shelf").
6. Clauses
Explanation: Clauses are grammatical units with a subject and a predicate. They can be independent
(a complete sentence) or dependent (requiring another clause).
Example: In the sentence "I read a book because it was interesting," "I read a book" is an
independent clause, and "because it was interesting" is a dependent clause.
7. Types of Sentences
Explanation: Sentences are classified based on their form and function as affirmative, negative,
interrogative, exclamatory, or conditional.
Example: "She is coming" is an affirmative sentence, while "Is she coming?" is an interrogative
sentence.
UNIT 3
1. Personal Pronouns
Explanation: Personal pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition. They indicate the person (first,
second, or third) and gender (masculine or feminine).
Example: "He is my friend." Here, "he" is a personal pronoun replacing the noun "friend."
Explanation: Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, our, their) describe ownership, while possessive
pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs) replace nouns to show possession.
Example: "This is my book." Here, "my" is a possessive adjective. "This book is mine." Here, "mine" is
a possessive pronoun.
3. Reflexive Pronouns
Explanation: Reflexive pronouns indicate that the subject and object of the verb are the same
person. They end in "-self" or "-selves."
Explanation: Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) describe specific nouns, while
demonstrative pronouns replace nouns.
Example: "This cat is cute." Here, "this" is a demonstrative adjective. "I want that." Here, "that" is a
demonstrative pronoun.
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Explanation: Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific people or things. Examples include "someone,"
"anyone," "nothing," and "everything."
UNIT 4
Explanation: Affirmative sentences state a fact or idea, while negative sentences express the absence
or denial of a fact.
Example: Affirmative: "She likes ice cream." Negative: "She doesn't like ice cream."
2. Short Answers
Explanation: Short answers are brief responses to questions, typically using "yes" or "no" along with
the auxiliary verb.
Example: Q: "Did you finish your homework?" A: "Yes, I did." or "No, I didn't."
4. Tag Questions
Explanation: Tag questions are short phrases added to the end of a statement to turn it into a
question. They often seek confirmation or agreement.
Example: Statement: "You like coffee, don't you?" Here, "don't you" is a tag question.
UNIT 5
Explanation: Concordancia entre sujeto y verbo refers to the agreement between the subject and the
verb in a sentence, particularly in terms of number and person.
Example: Singular subject with singular verb: "The cat sleeps." Plural subject with plural verb: "The
cats sleep."
2. Form
Explanation: The form of the verb changes based on the person (first, second, third) and number
(singular, plural) of the subject.
Example: "I walk," "You walk," "He/She/It walks," "We walk," "You walk," "They walk."
Explanation: In the 3rd person singular, the verb form typically adds an "-s" or "-es" to the base form
of the verb.
Example: Singular: "He walks," "She runs." Plural: "They walk," "They run."
4. Meaning
Explanation: The verb form reflects the number and person of the subject, ensuring that the
sentence's meaning is clear.
Example: "She walks" (referring to a single person walking) versus "They walk" (referring to multiple
people walking).
5. Usage
Explanation: Correct subject-verb agreement is crucial for grammatical accuracy and clarity in
communication.