SHREYARTH UNIVERSITY

School of Management
Basics of English Grammar
Semester: I
Prepared by Asst. Prof. Sanjana R Sharma,Department of Mangement,
Shreyarth University

Module I: Nouns and

Related Parts of Speech
Topic 1: Nouns
1. Types of Nouns

A. Common Noun

 Definition: A common noun refers to general items or concepts rather than

specific ones. It does not need to be capitalized unless it starts a sentence.
 Examples:
o The dog barked loudly.
o She loves to read books.
o They visited a museum.

B. Proper Noun

 Definition: A proper noun names a specific person, place, or organization

and is always capitalized.
 Examples:
o Alice went to New York last summer.
o Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
o I met Dr. Smith at the conference.

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C. Abstract Noun

 Definition: An abstract noun represents an idea, quality, or state rather than

a concrete object. These cannot be seen or touched.
 Examples:
o Happiness is essential for a fulfilling life.
o He showed great bravery during the crisis.
o The concept of freedom is important to many people.

D. Collective Noun

 Definition: A collective noun refers to a group of individuals or things

considered as a single unit.
 Examples:
o The team won the championship.
o A flock of birds flew overhead.
o The class went on a field trip.

E. Material Noun

 Definition: A material noun names a substance or material used to make

things.
 Examples:
o The ring is made of gold.
o Water is essential for life.
o The table is crafted from wood.

2. Types of Number

A. Countable Noun

 Definition: Countable nouns are items that can be counted and have both
singular and plural forms.
 Examples:
o I have three apples in my bag.
o There are five cars parked outside.
o She bought two books yesterday.

B. Uncountable Noun

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  Definition: Uncountable nouns cannot be counted individually and do not
have a plural form.
 Examples:
o We need some water for the plants.
o There is a lot of information in this book.
o Can you buy some bread from the store?

C. Singular

 Definition: A singular noun refers to one item.

 Examples:
o The cat is sleeping on the couch.
o I saw a movie last night.
o This flower is beautiful.

D. Plural

 Definition: A plural noun refers to more than one item.

 Examples:
o The cats are playing in the garden.
o I have two sisters and one brother.
o There are many books on the shelf.

3. Gender of Nouns

A. Masculine

 Definition: Masculine nouns refer to male entities.

 Examples:
o The father is reading a newspaper.
o My brother is playing soccer.
o He is a good man.

B. Feminine

 Definition: Feminine nouns refer to female entities.

 Examples:
o The mother is cooking dinner.
o My sister is an artist.

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 o She is a talented woman.

C. Neuter

 Definition: Neuter nouns refer to non-living things or entities with no

gender.
 Examples:
o The book is on the table.
o This computer is new.
o The car is parked outside.

Topic 2: Adjectives
1. Degrees of Adjectives

A. Positive Degree

 Definition: Describes a quality without comparison.

 Examples:
o The blue sky is beautiful.
o She is a kind person.
o This cake is delicious.

B. Comparative Degree

 Definition: Compares two items, often formed by adding -er or using more.
 Examples:
o This car is faster than my old one.
o She is taller than her brother.
o This problem is more difficult than I thought.

C. Superlative Degree

 Definition: Compares three or more items, often formed by adding -est or

using most.
 Examples:
o He is the smartest student in the class.
o This is the largest animal I have ever seen.
o She is the most talented musician in the band.

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2. Articles

A. Definite Article

 Definition: Refers to a specific item and is used before singular and plural
nouns.
 Examples:
o The sun is shining brightly.
o I read the book you lent me.
o The children are playing in the park.

B. Indefinite Articles

 Definition: Refers to a non-specific item and is used before singular nouns.

 Examples:
o I saw a bird in the garden.
o She wants to be an engineer.
o He bought a new car.

3. Pronouns

 Definition: Words that replace nouns to avoid repetition.

 Examples:
o She is my best friend.
o They are going to the movies.
o I found it on the table.

4. Prepositions

 Definition: Words that show relationships between nouns or pronouns and

other words in a sentence.
 Examples:
o The cat is on the roof.
o I will meet you at the park.
o The book is under the bed.

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5. Conjunctions

 Definition: Words that connect clauses, sentences, or words together.

 Examples:
o I want coffee and tea.
o She is smart, but she can be shy.
o You can have pizza or pasta for dinner.

In summary, Module One has covered the basics of language. We learned about different types
of nouns, which name people, places, and things. Understanding countable and uncountable
nouns helps us express ideas clearly.

We also looked at adjectives and how they make our descriptions richer. Articles, pronouns,
prepositions, and conjunctions are important for building sentences.

These concepts are essential for good communication. Practice using what you’ve learned to
improve your skills. Remember, mastering these basics will help you as we move on to more
advanced topics.

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Module II: Tenses
Understanding tenses is crucial for mastering English grammar. Tenses indicate the time of an
action and are divided into three main categories: Present, Past, and Future. Each category has
four main forms, which can be further classified into different types.

Below are detailed notes on each tense, its uses, structure, and examples.

1. Present Tense

The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or general truths. It can
also refer to habitual actions or ongoing situations.

A. Simple Present

 Form: Subject + base form of the verb (+ s/es for third person singular)
 Usage:
o Habitual Actions: Actions that occur regularly.
o Universal Truths: Facts that are always true.
o States: Describing conditions or feelings.
 Examples:
1. I play soccer every Saturday. (This shows a regular activity.)
2. She goes to the gym in the morning. (A habitual action.)
3. The sun rises in the east. (A universal truth.)
4. He enjoys reading mystery novels. (A state or preference.)
5. They watch TV after dinner. (Regular action.)
6. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius. (A scientific fact.)
7. The train leaves at 6 PM. (Scheduled event.)
8. Birds migrate south for the winter. (Habitual behavior of birds.)
9. My brother studies computer science. (Describes his area of study.)
10. We live in New York City. (A state of being.)

B. Present Continuous (Present Progressive)

 Form: Subject + am/is/are + verb + ing

 Usage:
o Current Actions: Actions happening right now.
o Trends: Ongoing actions or changes.
 Examples:
1. I am studying for my exams. (Action happening now.)
2. She is cooking dinner at the moment. (Current activity.)
3. They are playing football in the park. (Current action.)
4. He is working on a new project. (Action in progress.)

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 5. We are watching a movie together. (Action happening now.)
6. The children are drawing pictures. (Current activity.)
7. I am listening to music right now. (Present action.)
8. She is learning Spanish this semester. (Ongoing trend.)
9. They are discussing the plans for the trip. (Current discussion.)
10. He is reading a fascinating book. (Current action.)

C. Present Perfect

 Form: Subject + has/have + past participle

 Usage:
o Unspecified Time: Actions that happened at some point before now.
o Life Experiences: Describes experiences up to the present.
o Changes Over Time: Highlights developments that have occurred.
 Examples:
1. I have traveled to Japan. (Experience without a specific time.)
2. She has completed her assignment. (Action completed at an unspecified time.)
3. They have seen that movie already. (Past experience.)
4. He has visited the Eiffel Tower. (Life experience.)
5. We have lived here for five years. (Duration of residence.)
6. My brother has broken his arm. (Recent change in condition.)
7. I have never eaten sushi. (Life experience without a specific time.)
8. She has started a new job. (Recent change.)
9. They have finished the project ahead of schedule. (Completion of a task.)
10. He has learned how to play the guitar. (Experience gained.)

D. Present Perfect Continuous

 Form: Subject + has/have been + verb + ing

 Usage:
o Duration: Emphasizes the length of an action that started in the past and
continues into the present.
 Examples:
1. I have been studying for three hours. (Ongoing action emphasizing duration.)
2. She has been working here since 2015. (Continuous action.)
3. They have been playing tennis all afternoon. (Duration of activity.)
4. He has been learning to swim for a month. (Ongoing process.)
5. We have been waiting for you for an hour. (Emphasizes the wait.)
6. My parents have been traveling across Europe. (Ongoing journey.)
7. I have been reading this book for weeks. (Long duration of reading.)
8. She has been practicing the piano daily. (Continuous effort.)
9. They have been discussing the issue for several days. (Ongoing discussion.)

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 10. He has been feeling unwell lately. (Current condition with duration.)

2. Past Tense

The past tense describes actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.

A. Simple Past

 Form: Subject + past form of the verb

 Usage:
o Completed Actions: Actions that occurred at a definite time in the past.
 Examples:
1. I visited my grandparents last weekend. (Completed action.)
2. She watched a movie yesterday. (Specific time in the past.)
3. They went to the beach last summer. (Definite time.)
4. He finished his homework before dinner. (Sequential actions.)
5. We traveled to Italy last year. (Specific past event.)
6. The team won the championship last season. (Completed event.)
7. I cooked dinner for my family last night. (Past action.)
8. She read three books last month. (Specific past event.)
9. They attended a concert last Friday. (Completed action.)
10. He lost his wallet during the trip. (Completed action with a time reference.)

B. Past Continuous (Past Progressive)

 Form: Subject + was/were + verb + ing

 Usage:
o Ongoing Actions: Describes actions that were in progress at a particular time in
the past. Often used to set the scene or indicate an interrupted action.
 Examples:
1. I was studying when the phone rang. (Ongoing action interrupted.)
2. She was cooking dinner while he was watching TV. (Simultaneous actions.)
3. They were playing football at 3 PM. (Specific time.)
4. He was working late last night. (Ongoing activity.)
5. We were having a meeting when the fire alarm went off. (Ongoing action
interrupted.)
6. The children were sleeping when I got home. (Ongoing state.)
7. I was reading a book while waiting for the bus. (Simultaneous actions.)
8. She was drawing when her friend arrived. (Ongoing action interrupted.)
9. They were traveling through Europe last summer. (Specific time.)
10. He was cleaning the house all day. (Ongoing action.)

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C. Past Perfect

 Form: Subject + had + past participle

 Usage:
o Completed Actions: Describes actions that were completed before another action
in the past, establishing a clear sequence of events.
 Examples:
1. I had finished my homework before dinner. (Sequence of actions.)
2. She had already left when I arrived. (Action completed before another.)
3. They had seen that movie before it came out on DVD. (Prior experience.)
4. He had never visited Paris before last year. (Life experience.)
5. We had booked the tickets before the concert sold out. (Completion before
another event.)
6. My brother had eaten all the cookies by the time I got home. (Completed
action before another.)
7. I had studied French before I moved to France. (Prior knowledge.)
8. She had cleaned the house before the guests arrived. (Action completed in
time for another.)
9. They had discussed the project before the meeting. (Prior discussion.)
10. He had forgotten his keys at home. (Action completed before another event.)

D. Past Perfect Continuous

 Form: Subject + had been + verb + ing

 Usage:
o Duration: Emphasizes the duration of an action that was ongoing before another
past action, often to show how long it had been happening.
 Examples:
1. They had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally arrived. (Duration
emphasized.)
2. I had been studying for three hours before I took a break. (Ongoing duration
before another action.)
3. She had been working at that company for five years when she got promoted.
(Duration emphasized.)
4. We had been walking for two hours before we found the restaurant.
(Duration before another action.)
5. He had been playing guitar since he was a child. (Ongoing action with a
starting point.)
6. I had been reading the book before the deadline. (Duration before a specific
time.)
7. They had been living in that house for a decade before they moved. (Long-
term situation.)

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 8. She had been trying to reach him all day. (Ongoing effort.)
9. We had been discussing the plans for weeks before the decision was made.
(Duration of discussion.)
10. He had been feeling sick for several days before he went to the doctor.
(Ongoing condition.)

3. Future Tense

The future tense describes actions that will happen at a later time.

A. Simple Future

 Form: Subject + will + base form of the verb

 Usage:
o Future Actions: Describes actions that will occur in the future.
 Examples:
1. I will visit my grandparents next weekend. (Planned future action.)
2. She will watch a movie tonight. (Future plan.)
3. They will go to the beach next summer. (Future plan.)
4. He will finish his homework before dinner. (Future action.)
5. We will travel to Italy next year. (Future intention.)
6. The team will win the championship. (Prediction about the future.)
7. I will cook dinner for my family tomorrow. (Future commitment.)
8. She will read three books this month. (Planned future action.)
9. They will attend a concert next Friday. (Future event.)
10. He will lose his keys if he’s not careful. (Conditional future prediction.)

B. Future Continuous (Future Progressive)

 Form: Subject + will be + verb + ing

 Usage:
o Ongoing Future Actions: Describes actions that will be in progress at a specific
time in the future.
 Examples:
1. I will be studying when you arrive. (Ongoing future action.)
2. She will be cooking dinner at 6 PM. (Future ongoing action.)
3. They will be playing football tomorrow afternoon. (Future action.)
4. He will be working late next week. (Scheduled future activity.)
5. We will be having a meeting at noon. (Future planned event.)
6. The children will be sleeping when you get home. (Ongoing state in the future.)
7. I will be reading a book while waiting for the bus. (Future activity.)
8. She will be drawing at the art studio tomorrow. (Future planned activity.)

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 9. They will be traveling through Europe next summer. (Future plan.)
10. He will be cleaning the house all day Saturday. (Scheduled future activity.)

C. Future Perfect

 Form: Subject + will have + past participle

 Usage:
o Actions Completed Before a Future Time: Describes actions that will be
completed before a specified future time.
 Examples:
1. I will have finished my homework by 6 PM. (Action completed before a future
time.)
2. She will have left by the time you arrive. (Completion before another future
event.)
3. They will have seen that movie by next week. (Future completion.)
4. He will have visited Paris before his birthday. (Action completed before a
specific future time.)
5. We will have booked the tickets before the concert sells out. (Completion
before another future event.)
6. My brother will have eaten dinner by the time I get home. (Action completed
in relation to another future event.)
7. I will have studied for three hours by the time the exam starts. (Future
completion.)
8. She will have cleaned the house before the guests arrive. (Action completed
ahead of another.)
9. They will have discussed the project before the deadline. (Completion of a
discussion.)
10. He will have forgotten his keys if he’s not careful. (Conditional future
completion.)

D. Future Perfect Continuous

 Form: Subject + will have been + verb + ing

 Usage:
o Duration Until a Future Time: Emphasizes the duration of an action up to a
specified point in the future.
 Examples:
1. I will have been studying for three hours by the time the exam starts.
(Emphasizes duration until a future event.)
2. She will have been working here for five years by next month. (Ongoing
duration until a future point.)

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 3. They will have been playing football for two hours by 5 PM. (Duration of an
activity.)
4. He will have been learning guitar for a year by this time next week. (Ongoing
process.)
5. We will have been waiting for an hour when the bus arrives. (Emphasizes the
wait.)
6. My parents will have been traveling for two weeks by the time they return.
(Duration until their return.)
7. I will have been reading this book for weeks by next Tuesday. (Ongoing
duration.)
8. She will have been practicing the piano for years before her recital.
(Emphasizes practice duration.)
9. They will have been discussing the plans for months by the deadline. (Long-
term discussion.)
10. He will have been feeling unwell for days by the time he sees a doctor.
(Ongoing condition until a future point.)

Key Terms for Understanding Tenses

1. Subject:
o What it is: The person or thing that performs the action of the verb.
o Examples:
 In "She runs," "She" is the subject.
 In "The dogs bark," "The dogs" is the subject.
2. Verb:
o What it is: The action word in a sentence that tells what the subject is doing.
o Examples:
 In "He eats," "eats" is the verb.
 In "They play," "play" is the verb.
3. Base Form of the Verb:
o What it is: The simplest form of a verb without any endings (like -ed or -ing).
o Examples:
 "walk," "eat," "play" are all base forms.
4. Past Participle:
o What it is: A special form of a verb often used in perfect tenses. Regular verbs
usually end in -ed.
o Examples:
 The past participle of "walk" is "walked."
 The past participle of "eat" is "eaten."
5. Verb+ing:
o What it is: This is the form of a verb that ends with -ing, used in continuous
tenses.
o Examples:
 "walking," "eating," "playing."

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 Overview of Tenses
Tense
Tense Structure Example Usage
Type
Present Subject + base She walks to Habitual actions, general
Simple Present
Tense form of verb school. truths
Subject +
Present She is walking to Actions happening now,
am/is/are +
Continuous school. temporary situations
verb+ing
Subject + has/have She has walked to Actions that occurred at an
Present Perfect
+ past participle school. unspecified time
Present Perfect Subject + has/have She has been Actions that started in the
Continuous been + verb+ing walking to school. past and continue now
Past Subject + past She walked to Completed actions in the
Simple Past
Tense form of verb school. past
Subject +
She was walking
Past Continuous was/were + Ongoing actions in the past
to school.
verb+ing
Subject + had + She had walked to Actions completed before
Past Perfect
past participle school. another past action
Ongoing actions that were
Past Perfect Subject + had She had been
completed before another
Continuous been + verb+ing walking to school.
past action
Future Subject + will + She will walk to Actions that will happen in
Simple Future
Tense base form of verb school. the future
Future Subject + will be She will be Ongoing actions in the
Continuous + verb+ing walking to school. future
Subject + will Actions that will be
She will have
Future Perfect have + past completed before a future
walked to school.
participle time
Subject + will Ongoing actions that will
Future Perfect She will have been
have been + continue up to a point in the
Continuous walking to school.
verb+ing future

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