Basic

English
Grammar
Basic English Grammar
Lesson 2
Learning objectives:
• Parts of Speech (Noun, Pronoun, Adjectives)
• Determiners and the Articles
Nouns are divided into common nouns and proper nouns.
Common nouns are words for people, animals, places, or things.

These are words for people; they are common nouns:

Actor, lawyer, aunt, judge, baby, man, baker, nurse, cook, police, officer, dentist, singer, doctor, soldier, giant, teacher

These are words for animals; they are common nouns:

Cat, goose, cow, hen, dog, horse, dolphin, mouse, duck, parrot, fish, shark, goat, whale

These are words for places; they are common nouns:

Airport, market, cave, mountain, church, playground, farm, restaurant, hill, school, hospital, seashore, hotel, stadium

These are words for things; they are common nouns:

Bag, kite, box, ladder, bread, lamp, can, picture, chair, radio, cot, television, cup, train, desk, truck, door watch
Types of Common Nouns
There are five classifications of common nouns:
•Countable nouns •Concrete nouns
•Uncountable nouns •Abstract nouns
•Collective nouns
Countable nouns have distinct singular and plural forms. If we have one cookie, it will come in the singular form. If
you have a dozen cookies, it'll come in the plural form.
These nouns can be preceded by a number or the determiners "a" or "an." They can also be paired with modifiers,
or quantifiers, like "many" or "fewer.“ Example: How many plates do you have?

Uncountable nouns typically only have a singular form. If we have some water in your glass, it will come in the
singular form (even though there are several ounces of it).
These nouns will never be preceded by the determiners "a" or "an." Rather, they're paired with an array of
modifiers like "some," "a lot of" or "much. Example:
She has some knowledge of the area.
He has done a lot of research on the subject.

Same noun can be countable or uncountable depending on the determiner added. Examples:
Would you like a chocolate?
Would you like some chocolate?
Collective nouns are words for groups of people, animals or things. These are nouns for groups of people.
an audience, a gang, a band, a group, a team, a class

Many collective nouns can be used with a singular or plural verb.

For example: My family was happy to see me. or My family were happy to see me.

But the following collective nouns always take a plural verb: cattle, people, the police

Concrete nouns are simply those nouns that can be experienced physically rather than abstractly. As we're
usually taught that nouns are people, places, and things, most nouns are concrete nouns. Take a look around you
and you'll see many examples of concrete nouns.

If a noun is not concrete then it's an abstract noun.

Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns are a type of noun that we can't see or touch (an intangible concept, or an abstract form of noun).
An abstract noun may include an aspect, concept, idea, experience, state of being, trait, quality, feeling, or other entity
that can't be experienced with the five senses.

Concrete nouns are people, places, or things that we can experience with our five senses. The abstract class of noun is the
opposite. We can't experience these nouns with our senses. If a noun is abstract, it describes something we can't see,
hear, touch, taste, or smell.
Mou could taste the dressing in the salad. [In this sentence, the auxiliary verb "could" functions with "taste" to illustrate
action. She can physically taste the dressing.]
Borna has great taste in clothes. [In this sentence, taste functions in an abstract manner. Taste refers to her preferences.]
Abstract nouns can be countable or uncountable (mass). They can also be singular or possessive.
Emotions/Feelings: Love, Hate, Anger, Peace, Pride, Sympathy
Attributes: Bravery, Loyalty, Honesty, Integrity, Compassion, Charity, Success, Courage, Skill, Beauty, Brilliance, Pain
Ideas/Concepts/Ideals: Belief, Dream, Justice, Truth, Faith, Liberty, Knowledge, Thought, Information, Culture, Trust
Movements/Events: Progress, Education, Hospitality, Leisure, Trouble, Friendship, Relaxation
Proper nouns are names for particular people, places or things. They always begin with a capital letter.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale, Harry Potter, Robin Hood
Our own name and the names of our friends are proper nouns too.
The names of countries and their people are also proper nouns.
Country People Country People
Bangladesh Bangladeshi Korea Koreans
Egypt Egyptians Malaysia Malaysians
India Indians Pakistan Pakistanis

The names of towns, cities, buildings and landmarks are proper nouns:
Dhaka, Bangkok, New Delhi, National Assembly Building, Shahid Minar
The days of the week and months of the year are proper nouns:
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, January, February, March
The names of mountains, seas, rivers and lakes are proper nouns:
Kaptai Lake, the Himalayas, the Bay of Bengal, the Pacific Ocean, Mount Everest, the Padma

The names of festivals, some special events and holidays are proper nouns:
Labor Day, Independence Day, Labor Day
Nouns can be singular or plural. When we are talking about one person, animal, place, or thing, use a
singular noun.
an airplane, a letter, a bicycle, a map, a boy, a photograph
Use a or an before singular nouns. Use an before words beginning with vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
For example, say: an axe, an igloo, an egg, an orange
Exception: But some words don’t follow this rule. For example, use a (not an) before these words that begin with u
and the U is pronounced as ‘you’: a uniform, a university
Use a before words beginning with the other letters of the alphabet, called consonants.
For example, say: a basket, a rainbow, a bowl, a car, a pillow, a hill, a watch, a house, a zoo
But some words don’t follow this rule. For example, use an (not a) before these words that begin with h but sounds
like a vowel: an honor, an hour
When we are talking about two or more people, animals, places, or things, use plural nouns. Most nouns
are made plural by adding -s at the end.

bird – birds, broom – brooms, camel – camels, desk – desks

When the last letters of singular nouns are ch, sh, s, ss or x, then we usually add -es to form the plural.
branch – branches, box – boxes, dish – dishes, dress – dresses

Nouns like these (generally ending with y) are made plural by changing y to i, and adding -es.
baby – babies, cherry – cherries, diary – diaries, dictionary – dictionaries

Exception: If there is a vowel before the y then add S not es

day – days, jersey – jerseys, toy – toys, trolley trolleys
If a noun ends in -f, we often change f to v, and add -es.
knife – knives, life – lives, half – halves, thief thieves, leaf leaves

Exception: But, some nouns end in -f, just need -s to form the plural.
chef – chefs, handkerchief – handkerchiefs, chief – chiefs, roof – roofs, cliff – cliffs, sheriff – sheriffs

However, the following words end in -f, the plural can be spelled in two different ways.
dwarf - dwarfs or dwarves, hoof - hoofs or hooves, scarf - scarfs or scarves

Some words that end in -fe, we change f to v, and add –s to form the plural
knife – knives, life – lives, wife wives. Exception: Giraffe – Giraffs
If a noun ends in -o, we just add -s to form the plural.
a hippo – hippos, a video – videos, a zoo – zoos

But with some nouns that end in -o, we add -es to form the plural.
a tomato – tomatoes, a potato – potatoes, a hero – heroes

With some nouns that end in -o, we can add either -s or -es to form the plural.
a mango - mangoes – mangos, a mosquito - mosquitoes – mosquitos, a buffalo buffaloes buffalos

Some plural nouns don’t follow the -s rule. They don’t end in -s, -es, -ies or -ves. Instead, the word changes form.
child – children, man – men, tooth – teeth, mouse (animal) – mice, mouse (computer) – mice / mouse

Some plural nouns are the same as the singular noun. Sheep – sheep, deer – deer, fish – fish
We can use fishes as the plural of fish when we are talking about different kinds of fish: all the fishes
of the Bay of Bengal.

Some nouns are always plural. Scissors, pajamas, sneakers, shorts, slippers, trousers, sandals

Sometimes we use a pair of: a pair of shoes, a pair of jeans, a pair of pliers
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a common noun or a proper noun. There are different
kinds of pronouns.

The words I, you, he, she, it, we and they are called personal pronouns. They take the place of nouns and
are used as the subject of the verb in a sentence.

This is my father. He is a teacher.

This is my mother. She is a lawyer.

There are three groups of pronouns: first person, second person and third person.

The person speaking is called the first person. The first-person pronouns are I or me (in the singular) and
we or us (in the plural).

The person spoken to is called the second person. The second-person pronoun is you (in both singular and plural).

The person (or animal, or thing) spoken about is called the third person. The third-person pronouns are he or him,
she or her, and it (in the singular), and they or them (in the plural).
The words myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and
themselves are called reflexive pronouns.

They refer to the person or animal that is the subject of the verb.
I made this cake myself.
Be careful with the knife. You will cut yourself.

Pronouns and reflexive pronouns.

Singular Plural
First person (I,me) myself (we,us) ourselves
Second person (you) yourself (you) yourselves
Third person (he, him) himself (they, them) themselves
(she, her) herself (they, them) themselves
(it) itself
The words who, whom, whose, what and which are called interrogative pronouns.
These pronouns are used to ask questions.

Who is he talking to? Who are those people?

Whom are you playing with? Whom is he talking to?
What are you talking about? What is the time?

Who can be used as the object of a verb as well as the subject.

Who are you playing with?
Can you tell me who I should talk to.

Whom is used only as the object. For example,

Whom are you playing with?

who, whom, whose, what and which are interrogative adjectives or determiners also; difference is
discussed later
The words this, these, that and those are called demonstrative pronouns.
They are showing words.

We use this and these when we point to things near us.

We use that and those when we point to things farther away.

This is my house. - This is a hill. - These are my books.

That is Mou’s house. - That is a mountain. - Those are horses. - What are those?

Demonstrative pronouns can be singular or plural:

Singular Plural
this these
that those

this, these, that and those are demonstrative adjectives or determiners also; difference is discussed
later
An adjective is a describing word. It tells us more about a noun. An adjective usually appears
before the noun it describes. Sometimes, though, the adjective appears after the noun, later in the
sentence.

a busy street - a dark corner - a deep sea - a large room - It is windy.

Adjectives have different endings. Some adjectives end in - ful or - less.

a beautiful dress - a careless driver - a faithful dog - a harmless insect - a useful tool

Adjectives have different endings. Some adjectives end in -ful or -less.

a beautiful dress - a careless driver - a harmless insect - a useful tool

An adjective that ends in -less is the opposite of the same adjective that ends in -ful.
For example:
careful – careless useful – useless
colorful – colorless harmful – harmless
Some adjectives end in -y.

a muddy path - a stormy sea - a dirty street - a noisy room

Some adjectives end in -ive.

an active child - an attractive hat - a creative toy

Some adjectives end in -ing.

a caring nurse - an interesting book - loving parents - matching clothes

Some adjectives end in -ly.

a daily newspaper - a friendly police officer - a costly diamond ring - an elderly woman

Here are some adjectives with the endings -able, -al, -en, -ible, -ish and -ous.

a poisonous snake - a famous singer - childish behavior - a national costume

a comfortable chair - a musical instrument - a dangerous place a terrible mess
a foolish act - a woolen sweater - a horrible smell a wooden table
There are different kinds of adjectives.
Some adjectives describe the qualities of nouns.

a beautiful rainbow, a clever monkey, a difficult question

happy children, a kind lady, a new car, an old house

Some adjectives tell us which place or country a person or thing comes from, or belongs to.
They are called adjectives of origin.

Australian apples, the English language, the Bangladeshi flag, an Italian car, a Japanese garden

Some adjectives tell us the color of things. Interestingly, they are noun also!
The sea is blue. - George is wearing brown shoes. - I don’t like green apples. - Carrots are orange.
Some adjectives tell us the size of the nouns they describe.
a big hat, a high mountain, a large ship, a long bridge, a low ceiling, a narrow path

The word tall describes people and narrow, upright objects. For example, we can say:
a tall girl, a tall bookcase
The word high describes bigger or wider objects that reach a great height. For example, we can say:
a high mountain a high wall

Numbers are adjectives, too. They tell us how many people, animals, or things there are. Sometimes they are
called adjectives of quantity.

eleven hens, twelve geese, twenty butterflies, thirteen birds, seventeen kittens

Other adjectives tell us something about quantity without giving us the exact number.
a little ice cream, a little rice, not many people, too much salt, lots of insects

Adjectives that tell us about quantity are also called quantifying determiners.
When we compare two people or things, use the comparative form of the adjective.
Lots of comparative adjectives end in -er.

cheap cheaper, clear clearer, loud louder, new newer

The word than is often used with comparative adjectives. For example, we might say:
Fuad is taller than Borna. A sports car is faster than a motorbike.

Use the superlative form of an adjective to compare three or more nouns. Lots of superlatives end in –est

clean cleaner cleanest

easy easier easiest
heavy heavier heaviest

Mostly we add the before the superlative form. For example, we say:
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Fuad is the tallest boy in HR.
With adjectives that end in -e, add -r to form
the comparative, and -st to form the superlative.
For example:
Comparative Superlative
close closer closest
large larger largest
safe safer safest

Some adjectives have only one syllable, end with a consonant, and have a single vowel before the consonant. With
these adjectives, double the last letter before adding –er to form the comparative, and -est to form the
superlative. For example:
Comparative Superlative
big bigger biggest
dim dimmer dimmest
mad madder maddest

Some adjectives have two syllables and end in -y. With these adjectives change the y to i. Then add -er to form
the comparative, and -est to form the superlative.
For example:
Comparative Superlative
busy busier busiest
dirty dirtier dirtiest
happy happier happiest
With some adjectives, we use more to make the comparative form, and most to make the superlative
form.
active more active most active
charming more charming most charming
cheerful more cheerful most cheerful
comfortable more comfortable most comfortable
delicious more delicious most delicious
Adjectives that form their comparative and superlative with more and most are usually
adjectives with two or more syllables, or sounds. For example:
ac-tive, ex-pen-sive, beau-ti-ful, fa-mous, charm-ing, for-tu-nate,
cheer-ful, in-tel-li-gent, com-fort-a-ble pow-er-ful, de-li-cious, val-u-a-ble

The comparative and superlative forms of some adjectives are completely different words.
bad worse worst
few less least
many more most
much more most

With these adjectives, we don’t add -er or more to form the comparative, or -est or most to form the superlative.
Determiners are words such as this, those, my, their, which. They are special adjectives that are
used before nouns.

The Articles

The words a, an and the belong to this group of words called determiners.

The words a and an are called indefinite articles. We can use them with singular nouns to talk about any single
person or thing. The article an is usually used before words beginning with vowels. The article a is used before words
beginning with consonants. Example: This is a picture of an elephant.

The word the is called the definite article. We use the before a noun when we are talking about a certain person or
thing. Example: The telephone is ringing.

‘The’ is mandatory before a thing which is only one of a kind in the universe. For example: the sun, the moon, the sky
Using ‘the’ with geographical nouns generally depends on the size and plurality of the things those nouns refer to.
‘The’ is generally used everywhere except some cases. So, it’s better to know those exceptions first.

‘The’ must not be used for:

• Names of continents: Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, North America, Antarctica.
• Names of countries: Bangladesh, Australia, England, France, Spain, etc.
• Names of states, cities, or towns: Dhaka, Los Angeles, Sydney, London,
• Names of roads / streets: Bangobondhu Avenue, Nazrul Islam Road, Park street,
• Names of singular lakes and bays: Kaptai Lake, Lake Baikal,
• Names of single mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji, etc.
• Names of single islands: Saint Martin Island, Easter Island, Bare Island, Bird Island, Fatima Island,
• Names of languages: Bengali, Spanish, Russian, English, (When ‘the’ precedes these nouns, they refer to the
population of those languages.)
• Names of sports: cricket, football, basketball,
• Names of discipline/subject of studies: biology, history, computer science, mathematics,
A common noun in the singular number always requires an article before it. But a plural common noun does not
require an article always. A plural common noun can have the article ‘the’ if we want to particularize that noun.

Example:
•I saw a man. (Refers to a random person)
•I watch men / people come and go. (No article is required)
•I have seen the man again. (Refers to the man I have already seen earlier)

There are some special cases also. For instance,

a university, a union, a useful book, etc. (U sounds like you, we have discussed earlier)
an MA, a BA, an LLB, a BSC, etc. (MA – M sounds like eM and LLB – L sounds like eL)

A or an - sometimes makes a Proper Noun a Common Noun. Proper nouns generally do not take any articles, but when
a proper noun needs to be used as a common noun, we must use a or an - for it.
Example:
He thinks he is a Ayub Bachchu. (Here, ‘Ayub Bachchu’ does not refer to the actual person but someone like him.)
The words this, that, these and those are determiners. They are used to tell which thing or person we mean. These
words are called demonstrative determiners, or demonstrative adjectives.
Example: I am keeping these books. I am selling those books.
Use the words what, which and whose before nouns to ask about people or things. These words are called
interrogative determiners or interrogative adjectives. Example
What kind of clothes do you like to wear?

Which runner is the winner?

Whose footprints are these?

Interestingly, we have said earlier this, that, these and those are demonstrative pronouns also.
And, what, which and whose are mentioned earlier interrogative pronouns.
The difference is in the sentence structure. The demonstrative pronoun takes the place of the noun phrase.
The demonstrative adjective modifies the noun and is always followed by the noun.
The food you are cooking smells delicious. --> That smells delicious (demonstrative pronoun)
Did you finally throw away that old t-shirt? (demonstrative adjective)

An interrogative pronoun asks a question, but stands alone (ie, does not describe a noun).

What should I buy you for Eid?"

Here, "what" is an interrogative pronoun as it is asking a question, but is NOT modifying a noun; it stands alone.

An interrogative adjective asks a question and describes a noun. Example: Which color looks better?
Here, "which" is an interrogative adjective, as it is describing the noun "color".
Thank you

Tuesday we will try compile the grammar rules on the verbs and tenses