MODULE ON

ADVANCED
GRAMMAR

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COURSE CONTENT:

I. Parts of Speech (Nature, Cases, and Functions)

1. Subject and Predicate
2. Verbs
3. Nouns
4. Pronouns
5. Adjectives
6. Adverbs
7. Prepositions
8. Conjunction
9. Interjection
II. Usage and Abusage
1. Agreement and Rules
a. Subject-Verb Agreement
b. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
c. Sentence Pattern
d. Verb Tenses/Passive-Active Voice
2. 25 most Common Usage Problems
III. Sentence Sense
1. Phrases and Clauses
2. Writing Correct Sentences
3. Sentence Coordination and Subordination
4. Punctuations
5. Capitalization and Abbreviations
IV. Error Correction
A. Word Choice/Selection (Vocabulary)
B. Analysis of Sentence Parts and Structure
C. Agreement in Number, Gender, Mood, Person and Tense
D. Word Modifiers (Misplaced and Dangling)
E. Run-off Sentences
F. Intervening Words, Redundancy, Double Negatives
G. Parallelism
V. Developing Writing Styles
A. Elements of Style
B. Audience and Style
C. Purpose and Style
VI. Diction and Conciseness
VII. Basic Editing and Proofreading

Expected Outputs:

Compilation of the Written Activities/Portfolio

Reflection Papers/Journal
Self-made Videos and Audios

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GRADING SYSTEM:
Reflection Paper/Journal/Portfolio 10%
Written Outputs/ Quizzes/ Activities 40%
Major Examinations 40%
Attendance and Behavior 10%
Total 100%
Passing Rate 50%

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 MODULE 1

PARTS OF SPEECH

TIME FRAME: 2 Weeks | 6 Hours

Overview:
In this module, you’ll review parts of speech so that you
have a standard way to describe how words are put together to
create meaning. In a sentence, a word may play one of eight
parts. It may be a noun, a pronoun, a verb, an adjective, an
adverb, a preposition, a conjunction, or an interjection. These
eight parts are known as the parts of speech. We use them to
build sentences.

Reference:
Grammar & Usage for Better Writing (2004), AMSCO School
Publications, Inc. New York.

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 MODULE 1 – LESSON 1

 SUBJECT & PREDICATE

 VERBS

TIME FRAME: 1 ½ Hour/s

Overview:
In this module, it focuses on two basic parts of any
sentence: the subject and the predicate and the first three It
comes with various activities to practice your ability in learning
the grammar.

Learning Outcomes:
After the lesson, you should be able to:
 Define what is a subject of a sentence and its predicate;
 Differentiate the function of a subject to a predicate;
 Identify the subject and predicate in a sentence; and
 Appreciate the importance of two essential parts of a
sentence and the verb.

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I. ABSTRACTION
PART I-A. Subject
The subject is the
part of the sentence
The about
which something is
told or asked.
The seats on the bus are very comfortable.
QUESTION: About what is the sentence telling something?
ANSWER: The seats on the bus.
SUBJECT: The seats on the bus.

Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific.

QUESTION: About whom is the sentence telling something?
ANSWER: Amelia Earhart.
SUBJECT: Amelia Earhart.

Has your brother Tom found a summer job?

QUESTION: About whom is the sentence asking something?
ANSWER: your brother Tom.
SUBJECT: your brother Tom.

Position of the Subject

The subject is usually found at the beginning of the sentence, but it can also appear in
other positions.

 SUBJECT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SENTENCE:

An experienced pilot was at the controls at the time of the crash.

 SUBJECT AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE:

At the controls at the time of the crash was an experienced pilot.

 SUBJECT WITHIN THE SENTENCE:

At the time of the crash, an experienced pilot was at the controls.

Finding the Subject

A sure way to find the subject is to answer one or the other of these questions:
• About whom or about what is the sentence saying or asking something?
• Who or what is doing, or has done, or will do something?

Question 1: What is the subject of the following sentence?

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 The score at the end of the quarter was 12–12.

Procedure: Ask yourself: “About what is the sentence saying something?”

Obviously, The score at the end of the quarter.

Answer: The subject is The score at the end of the quarter.

(The subject tells about what the sentence is saying something.)

Question 2: What is the subject of the following sentence?

The orchestra members tuned their instruments.

Procedure: Ask yourself: “Who did something?”

Answer: The subject is The orchestra members.

(The subject tells who did something.)

Question 3: What is the subject of the following?

Wait outside, please.

Procedure: Ask yourself: “Who is to wait outside?”

Answer: The subject is You (understood).

(You) wait outside, please.

Note: In an imperative sentence (a sentence expressing a command or making a request), the

subject You is not expressed but understood.

Question 4: What is the subject of the following?

Is the door to the basement locked?

Procedure: Ask yourself: “Is what locked?”

Answer: The subject is the door to the basement.

(The subject tells about what the sentence is asking something.)

EXERCISE 1. Write the subject in the space provided.

Sample:
The apples in the fruit bowl were all sour.
The apples in the fruit bowl

1. Next to the hardware store is a ski shop.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Will your father drive us to the game?

_________________________________________________________________________
3. Is the noise from the next room bothering you?

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__________________________________________________________________________

4. Our math teacher coaches the bowling team.

__________________________________________________________________________

5. The bowling team is coached by our math teacher.

__________________________________________________________________________

Simple Subject and Complete Subject

When a subject
consists of more
than one word, the
main word
The seats on the bus are very comfortable.
in that subject is
SIMPLE SUBJECT: seats
called the simple
subject.
The simple subject
and the words that
describe it are
together
The seats
known on the bus are very comfortable.
as the
COMPLETE SUBJECT:
complete subject. The seats on the bus
Question: Does a simple subject ever consist of more than one word?
Answer: Yes, especially if it is a name. For example:
The late Amelia Earhart was a pioneer in aviation.
COMPLETE SUBJECT: The late Amelia Earhart
SIMPLE SUBJECT: Amelia Earhart
EXERCISE 2. Write the complete subject in the C.S. space and the simple subject in the S.S.
space.
Sample:
The first reporters on the scene did not get all the facts.
C.S. The first person on the scene S.S. reporters

Hint: You can be sure that you have correctly chosen the simple subject if you can prove to
yourself that it cannot be omitted. If The, first, and on the scene were omitted from the
C.S., above, the sentence would still make sense. But if reporters is omitted, the sentence
would not make sense. This proves that reporters is the simple subject.

1. The famous Mona Lisa is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

C.S. _______________________________________ S.S. ________________________

2. Did a letter from your sister come this morning?

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C.S. _______________________________________ S.S. ________________________

3. Farther up on the hill is a house with white shutters.

C.S. _______________________________________ S.S. ________________________

4. Asleep in the crib was a six-month-old baby.

C.S. _______________________________________ S.S. ________________________

5. My older brother is graduating in June.

C.S. _______________________________________ S.S. ________________________

PART I-B: Predicate

Before we talk about the predicate, remember that

The subject is the

part of the
sentence about
which something
Prices are higher.
Is told
subjector asked.

What is the Predicate?

The predicate is
the part of the
sentence that tells
or asks
Prices are higher.
something predicate
about
thefind
You can easily subject.
the subject and the predicate of a sentence by asking two simple
questions:
Prices are higher.
QUESTION 1: About what is the sentence telling something?
ANSWER: Prices.
The subject is Prices.
QUESTION 2: What is the sentence saying about Prices?
ANSWER: Prices are higher.
The predicate is are higher.
My sister Karen is waiting for us.
QUESTION 1: About whom is the sentence telling something?
ANSWER: My sister Karen.
The subject is My sister Karen.

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 QUESTION 2: What is the sentence saying about My sister Karen?
ANSWER: My sister Karen is waiting for us.
The predicate is is waiting for us.

Was Andy angry?

QUESTION 1: About whom is the sentence asking something?
ANSWER: Andy.
The subject is Andy.
QUESTION 2: What is the sentence asking about Andy?
ANSWER: Was Andy angry?
The predicate is Was angry.

Position of the Predicate

The predicate usually comes after the subject, but it can also appear in other positions.

PREDICATE AFTER THE SUBJECT:

The parking lot is next to the stadium.
S. P.
PREDICATE BEFORE THE SUBJECT:
Next to the stadium is the parking lot.
P. S.
PREDICATE PARTLY BEFORE AND PARTLY AFTER THE SUBJECT:

Is the parking lot next to the stadium?

P. S. P.

EXERCISE 3. First draw a single line under the complete subject of the sentence. Then, above
the double line at the right, write the predicate.
Samples:
SUBJECT PREDICATE
The temperature dropped suddenly. Dropped suddenly
Has the plane landed? Has … landed
Under the tree lay many rotting apples. Under the tree lay
1. Has our teacher recovered from the flu? ________________________
2. Behind the wheel was my sister Maria. ________________________
3. How comfortable these new seats are! ________________________
4. Finally, the suspect surrendered to the police. ________________________
5. A flock of seagulls landed on the beach. ________________________

EXERCISE 4. Complete the sentence by adding a predicate.

Samples:
The apple was not ripe.
A speck of dust flew into my eye.
1. The onion soup ______________________________________________________

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2. Your suede jacket ____________________________________________________
3. Her new pen ________________________________________________________

4. The owner of the car _________________________________________________

5. My desk at home _____________________________________________________

PART II: Verb

The main word in the predicate is called the verb.
Here are few examples:
1. The temperature dropped rapidly.
PREDICATE: dropped rapidly
VERB: dropped
2. José often visits exhibits at the natural history museum.
PREDICATE: often visits exhibits at the natural history museum
VERB: visits
3. Have you no sense?
PREDICATE: Have no sense
VERB: Have

Without a verb, the predicate cannot tell or ask anything about the subject. For instance,
if the verb dropped is left out of the first sentence above, the resulting sentence cannot convey
any clear meaning:
The temperature. . . rapidly.
Question: Does a verb ever consist of more than one word?
Answer: Yes, often. A verb may consist of one to four words:

SENTENCE VERB
They have no questions. Have
Do you have ant questions? Do … have
We have been calling John all week. Have been calling
His phone may have been disconnected. May have been disconnected

EXERCISE 5. Find the verb and write it in the blank space.

Samples:
Ben was at the door. was
They must have been treated badly. Must have been treated

1. Mindy has a lot of friends. ________________________

2. The water is boiling in the microwave. ________________________

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3. I should have listened to you. ________________________
4. He must have been pushed by someone in the crowd. ________________________

5. Did the light bother you? ________________________

EXERCISE 6. Write the simple subject in the S.S. space, the predicate in the P. space, and the
verb in the V. space.

Samples:
The pond froze during the night. S.S. pond
P. froze during the night
V. froze
Wash your hands. S.S. You (understood)
P. wash your hands
V. wash
Did you hear the wind? S.S. you
P. did hear the wind
V. did hear

1. Comb your hair. S.S. ____________________________________

P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
2. The bus will come at any minute. S.S. ___________________________________
P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
3. Has it been coming on time lately? S.S. ___________________________________
P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
4. For some time, light rain has been S.S. ___________________________________
falling. P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
5. It must have been raining since dawn. S.S. ___________________________________
P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
6. In my pocket was the missing glove. S.S. ___________________________________
P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
7. Fuel bills have been increasing S.S. ___________________________________

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 every year. P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
8. The cold weather has been affecting S.S. ___________________________________
the spring crops. P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
9. Does your remote control need fresh S.S. ___________________________________
batteries? P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________
10. Someone must have taken my books S.S. ___________________________________
by mistake. P. ___________________________________
V. ___________________________________

Action and Linking Verbs

ACTION VERBS
What Is an Action Verb?
An action verb is a verb that expresses action.
There are two kinds of action verbs:
1. Verbs that express physical action—action that can be seen or heard:
The car skidded, left the road, and smashed into a telephone pole.
(Skidded, left, and smashed express physical action.)
2. Verbs that express mental action—action that takes place in the mind and therefore cannot be
seen or heard:
We believed and trusted them because we knew them.
(Believed, trusted, and knew express mental action.)

EXERCISE 7. If the italicized verb expresses physical action, write P in the space provided. If it
expresses mental action, write M.
Samples:

Pat tagged the runner. _________P__________

Did you understand the lesson? _________M_________

1. I forgot the combination. _____________________

2. Open a window. _____________________
3. Who rang the bell? _____________________
4. He considers me his best friend. _____________________
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5. We are hoping for the best this season. _____________________
LINKING VERBS
Not all verbs are action verbs. The verb is in the following sentence does not express
action. It is a linking verb.

Jordan is angry at us.

L.V.

What Is a Linking Verb?

In the preceding sentence, the verb is has little meaning of its own. Its main function is to
link (connect) Jordan with angry. For this reason, we call is a linking verb.

A linking verb
links (connects)
the subject with a
word in the
predicate that
The road wasdescribes
slippery. or
identifies the
L.V.

subject.
(Slippery describes the subject road.)

Ama is the captain of the volleyball team.

L.V.

(Captain identifies the subject Ama.)

What are some Common Linking Verbs?

1. The most frequently used linking verb is be, whose forms include the following:
am, are, is, was, were.
Of course, verb phrases ending in be, being, and been are also linking verbs:
will be, would be, are being, have been, could have been, etc.
2. In addition, each of the following verbs can be either an action verb or a linking verb,
depending on the way it is used.

VERB USED AS ACTION VERB USED AS LINKING VERB

appear The principal appeared at 10 a.m. Fred appeared tired.

become The haircut becomes (suits) her. My room becomes messy.

feel Did you feel the cloth? I feel nervous.

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 grow Farmers grow crops. The days grow longer.

look We looked the place over. He looked unhappy.

smell I smelled smoke. The air smelled salty.

sound Who sounded the alarm? Her voice sounded hoarse.

taste I tasted the soup. The soup tasted delicious.

turn She turned the page. The weather turned cold.

How can a linking verb be recognized?

If a verb can be replaced with some form of the verb be, it is a linking verb.
Question 1: Is feels a linking verb in the following sentence?
Jordan feels angry.
Answer: We can replace feels with is (a form of the verb be). Jordan is
angry.
Therefore, feels, in the above sentence, is a linking verb.
Question 2: Is feels a linking verb in the following sentence?
The patient feels pain.
Answer: In this sentence, we cannot replace feels with is. Therefore, feels
here is not a linking verb. It is an action verb.
Summary: An action verb expresses action, either physical or mental.
A linking verb connects the subject with a word in the predicate
that describes or identifies the subject.

EXERCISE 8. Is the verb in the sentence an action verb or a linking verb? Write your answer in
the space provided.
Samples:
Nancy broke her arm. Action
Joe looks tired. Linking
1. Today, I feel better. _____________________________
2. This blouse looks new. _____________________________

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3. I smelled the fish. _____________________________
4. Mei tasted the melon. _____________________________
5. Her cookies tasted delicious. _____________________________
6. Your voice sounded hoarse. _____________________________
7. She looked through the whole book. _____________________________
8. We were exhausted. _____________________________
9. Courtney looked amazed by the whole event. _____________________________
10. Did you feel the energy in that room? _____________________________

Helping Verbs and Verb Phrases

What Is a Helping Verb?
Sometimes a verb consists of more than one word:
The letters have been mailed.
verb

In have been mailed, mailed is the main verb; have and been are helping verbs.
The letters have been mailed.
H.V. H.V. M.V.

Helping verbs are

verbs that come
before and “help”
the main verb.
A main verb may have as many as three helping verbs.
ONE HELPING VERB: Anne has mailed the letters.
H.V. M.V.

TWO HELPING VERBS: The letters have been mailed.

H.V. H.V. M.V.

THREE HELPING VERBS: They should have been mailed earlier.

H.V. H.V. H.V. M.V.

What Is a Verb Phrase?

When a verb
consists of one or
more helping
verbs plus
HELPINGaVERB(S)
main verb, it+MAIN
is VERB = VERB PHRASE
called a verb
has + mailed = has mailed
phrase.
have been + mailed = have been mailed
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 should have been + mailed = should have been mailed

Which Verbs Can Be Used as Helping Verbs?

Below is a list of verbs commonly used as helping verbs (note that be, which we studied
earlier as a linking verb, page 14, can also be a helping verb):
be, am, are, is, can, could
was, were, being, been
have, has, had will, would
do, does, did shall, should
may, might must

EXERCISE 9. Indicate the verb phrase, helping verb or verbs, and main verb in each of the
following sentences.
Sample:

Leaves have been falling all week. V. PHR. Have been falling
H.V. have been
M.V. falling

1. The Eagles could have V. PHR. ______________________

protested the decision.
H.V. ______________________

M.V. ______________________
2. You should have seen the mess! V. PHR. ______________________

H.V. ______________________

M.V. ______________________

3. I must have left my wallet at home. V. PHR. ______________________

H.V. ______________________

M.V. ______________________

4. Justin has been acting strange V. PHR. ______________________

lately.
H.V. ______________________

M.V. ______________________

5. They have played basketball for V. PHR. ______________________

Two seasons.
H.V. ______________________
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 M.V. ______________________

Word Order in Questions

In questions, we usually put the subject after the first helping verb.

Are tickets being collected?

H.V. S.

(The subject tickets comes after the first helping verb Are.)

EXERCISE 10. Change the following statements to questions.

Sample:
The tire has been repaired. Has the tire been repaired?

1. The argument has been settled. __________________________________

2. Lauren will buy the refreshments. __________________________________
3. It has been pouring rain all day. __________________________________
4. We should have waited a bit longer. __________________________________
5. Our team could have done better. __________________________________

Reminder: Did you end each of your questions above with a question mark?

Composition Hint
Shorten your verb phrases whenever possible. Avoid wordiness—the use of unnecessary
words. Aim for conciseness—brief, uncluttered expression.

WORDY: If you do not run for president, she may run.

CONCISE: If you do not run for president, she may.
(The main verb run is understood.)
WORDY: Jim refused to apologize. He should have apologized.
CONCISE: Jim refused to apologize. He should have.
(The main verb apologized is understood.)

EXERCISE 11. Make each of the following sentences more concise by shortening a verb
phrase.
Sample:
I could have waited, and perhaps I should have waited.

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 I could have waited, and perhaps I should have.

1. She does not have to go, but I have to go.

______________________________________________________________________________
2. They were supposed to be paid; they were not paid.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. If Sharon does not complain, no one else will complain.
________________________________________________________________________
4. My word is being questioned, but your word is not being questioned.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. We did not quit, though we should have quit.
_________________________________________________________________________

Verbs in Contractions
A contraction is a
combination of
two words with
one or
more
Suppose a friend asksletters
whether you would rather eat lunch at twelve or one. The time does
omitted.
not matter to you. What would you say to your friend?

1. It does not matter.

2. It doesn’t matter.

You would probably say:

It doesn’t matter.

In informal conversation, we tend to use contractions. For example, we combine does

with not, forming the contraction doesn’t.
Note that not, the second word in the contraction, loses the letter o, and in place of that o
we have an apostrophe: doesn’t.
In contractions consisting of a verb plus not, not loses an o.

VERB + NOT = CONTRACTION LETTER(S) OMITTED

is + not = isn’t o
are + not = aren’t o
would + not = wouldn’t o

In one case, not loses an n and an o:

can + not = can’t n, o

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Finally, learn this irregular (unusual) contraction:
will + not = won’t

EXERCISE 12. Write the contraction.

Sample:
have + not = haven’t

1. has + not = __________________________

2. must + not = __________________________
3. can + not = __________________________
4. should + not = __________________________
5. will + not = __________________________
Contractions are entirely natural and correct in informal English (friendly notes, everyday
conversation). However, they are not ordinarily used in formal English (business letters, letters
of application, term papers, reports).

EXERCISE 13. Change each of the following contractions to formal English.

Samples:
didn’t did not
I’ve I have

1. hasn’t _____________ 6. can’t _____________

2. isn’t _____________ 7. weren’t _____________
3. won’t _____________ 8. you’d _____________
4. I’ll _____________ 9. wasn’t _____________
5. shouldn’t _____________ 10. it’s _____________

The contraction ain’t is considered nonstandard. This means that ain’t should not be used
in either formal or informal English situations. Avoid it.

INSTEAD OF USE
I ain’t ready. I’m not ready.
or I am not ready.

Ain’t I next? Am I not next?

They ain’t come back. They haven’t come back.
or They have not come back.

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II. REFLECTION
In this section, you are going to write in the left column (Sinking) about what are the
things you have learned in this module, and on the right column (floating), write what are the
things that are still confusing to you.

Sinking Floating

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(SAMPLE TEMPLATE)

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