Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Words, just like traffic lights, are nothing but symbols that need to be
understood if the people want to use them effectively. Our culture tells us PART 1: SENTENCE ---------------------- 1
that red means stop and green means go. However, without universal Subject and Predicate -------------------------- 2
understanding of the meaning of red and green, there will be traffic jams. Simple and Complete -------------------------- 2
The same thing is true with language. Clauses -------------------------- 4
Sentence Fragment -------------------------- 11
A standard language is necessary to make communication more effective Run-on Sentence -------------------------- 13
and the people more productive.
PART 2: PARTS OF SPEECH ------------------------- 19
Thus, there is a need for you to learn grammar. Grammar is the study of the Nouns ------------------------- 19
relationship of words in a sentence. Studying grammar allows you to Pronouns ------------------------- 30
decode a language that is globally accepted. Verbs ------------------------- 36
Simple Tenses ------------------------- 44
This book gives you basic knowledge on which sentence is acceptable and Perfect Tenses ------------------------- 49
which is not, so you could avoid the latter. It also guides you on what Progressive Tenses ------------------------- 52
appropriate part of speech you should use in order to express your thoughts Adjectives ------------------------- 59
effectively as you make the subject and the action word agree with each Adverb ------------------------- 65
other. Preposition ------------------------- 68
Conjunction ------------------------- 71
Realizing that the choice of words is important, this book also includes some Interjection ------------------------- 75
commonly used idioms and a list of some frequently misused words. You
ought to use and understand idioms if you want to communicate with native PART 3: SUBJECT & VERB AGREEMENT---------- 77
English speakers.
PART 4: IDIOMS ------------------------- 87
Aside from correct word choices, this book also makes you conscious of the PART 5: A GUIDE TO PUNCTUATION---------------- 97
punctuation marks that make writing more dynamic.
PART 6: FREQUENTLY MISUSED WORDS---------- 105
This book hopes to give you a strong foundation on basic grammar so you
could confidently conquer the world by using ENGLISH to your advantage.
Remember that a good command of English language can get you a job,
and make you more credible. ITS ABOUT TIME FOR YOU TO REVIVE
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LITERACY THAT FILIPINOS WERE
ONCE WELL-KNOWN FOR.
-- Virginia B. Bautista
Part 1 What is a subject?
o Word or words about which something is said.
o It is either a noun or pronoun.
What is a predicate?
It tells something about the subject
IMPORTANT!
A SENTENCE is a word or a group of A subject and a predicate are called SIMPLE if they have
words that has a complete thought. only one word. The predicate is usually a verb. If they
contain modifiers, then they are called COMPLETE.
1. The woman wearing pink 1. The woman wearing national studying in this pretigious university.
dress pink dress is reading
a newspaper. The man standing near the cafeteria is a Korean
complete subject
2. The man who won 2. He won. national studying in this pretigious university.
the lottery complete predicate
3. watching TV 3. The children are
watching Dora the Examples showing simple subjects and simple predicates:
Explorer.
1. I frequently work at home.
The entries in column A are NOT sentences because simple subject simple predicate
they dont convey complete thoughts. On the other hand, all 2. The children read books every day.
simple subject simple predicate
entries in column B are examples of a sentence. Each of them
3. She likes him very much.
has a subject and a predicate which make them have a simple simple predicate
complete thought. subject
4. All the citizens go out to vote.
1 2
simple simple predicate I. Underline the SIMPLE SUBJECT once and the
subject
5. The senior class studies Physics. SIMPLE PREDICATE twice.
simple simple predicate
subject 1. Growing children need to drink milk.
2. Your fee includes laboratory expenses.
Examples showing complete subjects and complete 3. Burnham Park looks stunning even at night.
predicates: 4. Vivien loves to bake chocolate chip cookies.
5. The principal says that closed books never open ones
1. The director of the school gives lectures on how to mind.
complete subject complete predicate
survive in college.
II. Underline COMPLETE SUBJECT once and the
2. Listening to music is one of Vanessas hobbies. COMPLETE PREDICATE twice.
complete subject complete predicate
6. Riza tells her son not to text while he is driving.
3. Josie and Ana eat their favorite 7. I dont like the hip-hop music that you always play.
breakfast at 8. Her term paper was rejected by the professor.
complete subject complete predicate 9. Dani always watches The Tyra Banks show.
Pancake House every Saturday. 10. Oprah Winfrey is the highest-paid talk show host
in the US.
4. New York is also called The Big Apple.
complete
subject complete predicate
3
4
Compare the two versions of the essay titled CELL PHONES Which of the two versions of CELL
ON THE ROAD: PHONES ON THE ROAD is clearer?
5 6
your phone. If a number is not programmed into memory,
dial in short segments, check the traffic, and dial another Noun clause as object of preposition:
segment. Never allow your conversation to distract you from 7
driving. Keep calls brief. Keep your eyes on the road, and Im writing a book about how to
frequently check the side and rear view mirrors. teach English through newspapers.
The presidents speech focused
THREE BASIC KINDS OF DEPENDENT CLAUSES: on what he accomplished in his first 100
days in office.
A. A NOUN CLAUSE can be any of the following: I am interested in learning how
to bake his favorite cake.
1. Noun clause as subject
2. Noun clause as object B. An ADJECTIVE CLAUSE describes the subject
3. Noun clause as object of preposition in the sentence.
Examples: Examples:
Noun clause as subject: The girl, who was accidentally killed by
her father through gun fire, was Matilda
What you dont know wont hurt you. Crabtree.
Thinking about bad memories makes her feel The Internet, which allows people to
frustrated. connect to every person around the
Knowing what is right is everybodys responsibility. globe, is considered the most important
innovation in information technology.
Noun clause as object: The song, which was popularized by
Black Eyed Peas, was very popular both
I didnt tell him how he should react to the incident. in the US and in the Philippines.
The mayor finally admitted what he did with the
money C. An ADVERB CLAUSE answers the following
The customer returned what he purchased questions: a) When?; b) Where?; c) Why?; d) Under
yesterday. what conditions?
8
Examples: 1. They are searching for the young man who
I never saw him again after he won millions in the stole the money.
lottery. (TIME)
He cried because his best friend betrayed him. 2. I will answer the question if you promise to
(CAUSE) keep it confidential.
Melford didnt review for his exam so he failed.
(EFFECT) 3. Working abroad has many consequences.
I want to hang out in a place where nobody stays.
4. The lovely princess, who was sincerely
(PLACE)
loved by the beast, is Beauty.
If the President Gloria Arroyo would give absolute
pardon to the former president, he would probably 5. What Im thinking right now has nothing to
accept it because of his desire to be with her 102- do with your projects.
year-old mother. (CONDITION).
6. The fact that he left you doesnt mean its
the end of the world.
9 10
IMPORTANT! 3. The game that he loves 3. Virgilio has original
CDs of the game that he
Your knowledge on clauses is important loves.
in order for you to avoid sentence fragments
which are common errors in writing
How do you think can the following
fragments taken from famous songs be made
What is a SENTENCE FRAGMENT? into complete sentences?
A sentence fragment is a group of words which does not 1. If I saw you in heaven
convey complete thought. It is not a sentence, but just a ________________________________________
piece of the sentence. 2. Doing that thing you do
________________________________________
3. If I didnt love you
A sentence fragment lacks some details that will make the ________________________________________
message complete. 4. Like a candle in my life
________________________________________
Here are some examples of sentence fragments and how they 5. Here in my heart
may be improved to become complete sentences: ________________________________________
6. Before I fall in love
FRAGMENTS SENTENCES ________________________________________
7. When she cries
1. The professors who 1. The professors who ________________________________________
organized a committee organized a committee 8. What a girl wants
to review the academic to review the academic ________________________________________
policies policies were given 9. Last thing on my mind
significant honorarium. ________________________________________
2. The subject that is 2. Calculus, for me, 10. Against all odds
difficult to pass is the subject that is ________________________________________
difficult to pass.
11
12
IMPORTANT! Effective writing requires clear flow of thoughts. This is why
run-on sentences are not acceptable in Standard English
You have to avoid sentence fragments if you are to follow writing.
standard English writing.
These run-on sentences dont communicate clear thoughts. His cell phone was ringing; he didnt
mind a bit.
13 14
4. Use a semi-colon followed by an appropriate
transitional device like HOWEVER, MOREOVER,
THEREFORE, AS A RESULT, CONSEQUENTLY.
Example:
6. I dont want to go shopping on Sundays the malls are 10. I have to go my dad is calling me.
crowded.
____ a. go, but
____ a. Sundays, for ____ b. go. My
____ b. Sundays; for ____ c. go until
____ c. Sundays. The
____ a. slippery, so
____ b. slippery; so
____ c. slippery. So
17 18
Part 19
ALL ABOUT NOUNS:
2
A. COMMON versus PROPER
20
Other examples of count nouns:
Look at this table and notice the big difference between All the words that you can see, hear,
COMMON and PROPER: taste, touch or smell arebird
called two birds
client thirty clients
COMMON NOUNS PROPER NOUNS CONCRETE nouns:cookietaxi, cloud, five cookies
restaurant Maxs smoke, statue, parents,letter
mouse and three letters
university University of the Philippines brain school four schools
senator Jamby Madrigal
shoes Nike All the words that you can understand although you cannot
watch Rolex perceive with any of your senses are called ABSTRACT
movie Spider-man 3 nouns: help, education, promise, love, and beauty.
mall Mall of Asia Entities that you cannot count are
country England called MASS nouns or non-
Multi-player online game World of Warcraft C. COUNT, MASS and COLLECTIVE nouns nouns. Examples of
countable
MASS nouns are oxygen, gravel,
money, sunshine, music and
B. CONCRETE versus ABSTRACT furniture.
Can you
give me
Which among the words listed below any item
that you
can you see, hear, taste, touch or smell? COLLECTIVE nouns, on the other hand, are a
cars, apples,
can dollars, tables,
count? word used to name a group of objects. Examples
bananas, chairs,
a. taxi g. love of COLLECTIVE nouns are the following: class,
pillows,
b. help h. statue bouquet, band, flock, bunch, empire, squadron
books
c. education i. parents and troop.
d. promise j. mouse We call those
e. cloud k. beauty words
f. smoke l. brain COUNT
nouns.
22
21
5. Juliet loves the ginseng coffee that her sister bought in
Korea.
6. The beggar who begs due to poverty smiles to every
man that gives him coins.
7. Joyces parents are hopeful that she will win in Pinoy
Pop Superstar .
Part I. 8. Johnny Depp is among the most versatile actors in
Directions: Write each noun from each of the Hollywood who are admired by many teenagers.
given sentences and label it concrete 9. Chinas One-child Policy is being blamed by critics as
or abstract and common or proper. one factor that gives way to human rights abuse like
forced abortion.
Example : While watching TV about the justice system in 10. The senatorial candidates promised to give free
the Philippines, Harley usually eats Pringles and education to poor children.
drinks Pepsi.
Part II.
ANSWERS: TV concrete, common Directions: From the list given below, underline the
justice system abstract, common count nouns, encircle the mass nouns
Harley concrete, proper and box the collective nouns.
Pringles concrete, proper
Pepsi concrete, proper
swarm ceiling corps
1. The president agrees to sign on Memorandum Order light notebook weather
number 17 ordering all drivers of public utility vehicles equipment colony herd
to renew their registration forms every year. sugar applause computer
2. All applicants must have excellent communication advice examination milk
skills, according to the director of the Human tribe water parcel
Resources Center.
3. Only the popular celebrities get featured in People
magazine.
4. Everyone in the US knows the significance of the
Statue of Liberty.
24
23
Part III. 9. Seeing a parcel of ________________ capering on the
Directions: Complete the following sentences by using ice is fun.
appropriate count, mass or collective nouns found in the list
from the previous activity. 10. A _______________ of bees often frightens people.
fox
foxes Other examples:
toy toys
Other examples: bay bays
key keys
birch birches lash lashes
bench benches bus buses 5. Add -ies if a noun ends with a consonant and a
tax taxes scratch scratches y, after dropping the y.
box boxes church churches
Examples:
3. Add -es if a noun ends with f or fe after changing the f
to a v. (Note that there are exceptions to this rule.) penny pennies
Example:
Other examples:
nanny nannies
lily lilies
scarves butterfly butterflies
scarf cry cries
27 28
Remember that some nouns are NOUNS from verbs: failure, refusal, coverage,
IRREGULAR. These nouns either change preparation, invention, invitation, announcement, robbery,
their spelling or dont change at all in order removal, disconnection.
to form plural.
NOUNS from adjectives: generosity, warmth,
Examples: honesty, violence, wisdom, happiness, practicality,
uncertainty.
Other examples:
PRONOUNS take the place of
crisis crises sheep sheep Read what the boy is thinking about:
datum data moose moose
memorandum memoranda alga algae My sentence doesnt sound good: Charles
bacterium bacteria datum data watches TV to learn while Bea prefers
cactus cacti cactis cacti reading books over watching TV. Both
alumna alumnae alumnus alumni Charles and Bea are learning although
Charles and Bea use different media.
See? No need to say the same thing over and over. Thanks to "This" (singular) and "these" (plural) refer to things
pronouns! Learn more about pronouns in the next discussions. that are nearby either in space or in time;
1. Personal Pronouns refer to a specific person or Look at the sample sentences and observe how the
thing. If the personal pronoun acts as a subject, it is demonstrative pronouns are used in context:
called subjective personal pronoun. If it acts as an
object, then it is called objective personal pronoun. THAT is
an
Some personal pronouns act as a marker of possession airplane!
and define who own a particular object or person.
These pronouns are called possessive personal
pronouns.
31 32
4. Relative pronouns link one phrase or clause to another
phrase of clause. The relative pronouns are "who,"
"whom," "that," and "which."
Sample sentences:
THIS is the
picture I
o The candidate who spent the most amount
saved on your
computer. during campaign period does not necessarily
wins.
o The place which makes Lea says shell never
forget is Japan.
o The person whom she trusted betrayed her.
3. Interrogative pronouns ask questions. The following 5. Indefinite pronouns refer to an identifiable but not
are the interrogative pronouns: specified person or thing. Among the widely-used
indefinite pronouns are "all," "another," "any,"
"who," "whom," "which," "what" "anybody," "anyone," "anything," "each," "everybody,"
"everyone," "everything," "few," "many," "nobody,"
"none," "one," "several," "some," "somebody," and
refer to refers to refers to things "someone."
persons persons and animals
and things Sample sentences:
33 34
10. The children think _____ are smart enough to know
everything.
38
37
2. The most commonly used verb in the English language is
the VERB TO BE.
Here are some examples of
action words: eat, jump, The verb TO BE is a linking verb which connects
play, think, analyze, chew, the subject to another word in the sentence.
examine, mimic, twist,
scan, print, stand, believe,
etc. Can you give your
own examples of verbs?
A REGULAR verb forms its past and past
participle form by simply adding d or ed on
the base form.
The eight words for the verb to be are the following: An IRREGULAR verb changes its spelling to
make it in the past and past participle form.
am are is was were Some IRREGULAR verbs dont change its
forms to form the past and past participle.
be being been
Sample REGULAR VERBS from A to Z
Examples:
a. The burglar was caught by the police.
b. I am coming at 9 a. m. tomorrow. Present Past Past Participle
c. She has been driving around town the whole admire admired admired
day. bounce bounced bounced
calculate calculated calculated
Remember that the main verb is usually preceded by a destroy destroyed destroyed
HELPING VERB. earn earned earned
fasten fastened fastened
greet greeted greeted
hurry hurried hurried
am are is was were be being interrupt interrupted interrupted
been do does did have jump jumped jumped
has had may must might can could kick kicked kicked
will would shall should launch launched launched
marry married married
nod nodded nodded
39 open opened opened
3. Some verbs are REGULAR and some are polish polished polished 40
IRREGULAR. question questioned questioned
rescue rescued rescued
Present Past Past Participle
Sometimes, the verbs change completely in order to form Can you tell the simple present and simple past
the past and past participle. form of the following irregular verbs written in
Examples: the past participle?
1. burst choose transform bleed : _______________ expresses an action being done at present
2. awake become bite crash : _______________
3. read play see bet: _______________ Present tense is also used to express habitual action.
4. put cook bid bring: _______________
5. face fly flee feel: _______________ Example:
6. hurt kneel lead ask: _______________
7. forgive overcome blush hang _______________ Kyla sings at SOP every Sunday. expresses a habit
8. beg show freeze cut: _______________
9. lead fetch sting shed: _______________
10. wake injure write understand: _______________ Habitual actions are usually indicated by any of the
11. slit hold draw jam: _______________ following:
12. forget box grind hear: _______________
13. irritate plead dive shine: _______________ every day every hour never usually
14. swim teach tear obey: _______________ often all the time most of the time
15. let melt say quit: _______________ always sometimes every month
Verbs have TENSES that indicate the time or duration of the
43 44
action.
Present tense also expresses a general truth.
Example:
Chelsea used to admire Jennifer Love Hewitts acting
Planet Jupiter contains 90% hydrogen and 10% helium. in If Only.
Remember that the definite time element also signals future Do you think he was
action. determined to return
then?
Person Function
To show Try to analyze the
Will 1st (I, WE) willingness and famous statement
determination with the rules of
WILL and SHALL
Will 2nd & 3rd (YOU, To show futurity and find out what MacArthur might have meant.
SHE, HE, THEY)
Examine the following examples:
Shall 1st (I, WE) To show futurity
1. I shall return. This sentence shows simple futurity.
2nd & 3rd (YOU, To show (combination of first person and shall indicates function)
Shall SHE, HE, THEY) willingness and
determination 2. We will pay the bills tomorrow has a combination of first
person (We) and will so it indicates determination in the
Example: action.
The ship is leaving tomorrow. 3. Thou shall not kill is almost like an order that must be
willingly followed. Observe combination of second person
and shall.
The FUTURE TENSE has no inflected form but the words
WILL and SHALL help the main verbs. Aside from the simple present, past and future tenses, 48 the
47
English language also uses a tense that tells you if the act is
WILL vs SHALL completed or if it still continues to happen till the present time.
(may still spend more for the rest of the day)
The PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
indicates either that an action was done in the recent I have lived here for eight years.
past or that an action still happens at present. (still living here till now)
Forming present perfect tense: The time line below explains this tense clearly.
Examples: Examples:
I have already spent 500 pesos today for my school Marian had earned millions of pesos before she gave
project. up her career.
My dad had read two novels when we arrived home
from the airport.
Chelsea had lived in the US until she turned 15 years The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
old. expresses action that is currently happening.
The FUTURE PERFECT TENSE shows that an Forming present progressive tense:
action will take place in specific time in the future.
Verb to be + main verb with ing
The time line below explains this tense clearly.
Examples:
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE The child is eating his lunch right now.
The singers are signing a contract with the
recording company.
past present future Please turn down your voice. The baby is
sleeping.
specific point in the future
Forming future perfect tense: The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE is also
used to express an action happening over a period
will + have + past participle of the verb of time including at present.
Examples:
Examples: 51 52
I am worrying about the result of the exam
I will have finished my course by April next year. these days.
Shaine will have done his homework by eight oclock John is studying Speech Communication this
tonight. semester.
I will have traveled around the UK by the time I turn The dancers are practicing for quite some time
18. now.
Sometimes, the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE is Example
used to indicate action that will happen in the future and to I was talking to my dad on the phone when the
express action that is still developing. police knocked on the door.
The PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE expresses Use when, while or as long as in forming sentences in the
an action that was happening at some point in the PAST PROGRESSIVE tense.
past.
Will + Be + main verb with ing 3. Captain Stacy told Peter and Aunt
May that Marko killed Peters uncle,
Examples: Ben Parker.
Dianne will be getting her diploma in time. 4. Peter was sleeping when the
The band will be performing tonight. mysterious black creature bonded with his costume.
All the officers will be asking for your
assistance. 5. Marko will have escaped from prison before its too
late.
The negative structures using future progressive tense:
6. A small meteorite crashes nearby.
Dianne wont be getting her diploma in time.
The band wont be performing tonight. 7. The black suit is changing Peters personality.
All the officers wont be asking for your
8. Peters best friend will be forgetting about his plans to
assistance.
avenge for his dad due to amnesia.
57 58
6. Yesterday, I _____________ to visit my grandparents.
An ADJECTIVE modifies a noun or pronoun. It Examples:
may describe, identify or quantify a noun or pronoun.
Your books are expensive.
Carol is smart. In this sentence, SMART is an Plagiarism among students is now rampant.
adjective that modifies the proper noun Carol. Watching TV all day seems boring.
The opposition stays calm despite political pressure during
You are simply irresistible. In this sentence, the election.
adjective IRRESISTIBLE modifies the pronoun you. Charles becomes disciplined because of his military
training in Korea.
Where in a sentence do we usually find the Order of adjectives placed before a noun:
adjectives?
The tools were [good, well]. Michael said that his work
2. Please listen carefully to the instructions.
was [good, well] done.
A PREPOSITION is a word
which shows relationships among other words in
the sentence. It links nouns, pronouns and
DIRECTIONS: Identify the adverbs in the following sentences. phrases to other words in a sentence.
3. The students are truly appreciative of the lessons they learn A preposition always goes with a noun or pronoun which is
from their teachers. called the object of the preposition. The preposition and the
object of the preposition together are called a prepositional
4. The performers on stage are all nervous at first. phrase.
67
68
Examples: / behind /
/in front of/
PREPOSITION Object of the Preposition Prepositional Phrase DAN IS SITTING / near / ANNIE
/ beside /
to the market TO THE MARKET
by jeepney BY JEEPNEY
at the library AT THE LIBRARY / in /
under the table UNDER THE TABLE / inside /
/ outside /
A prepositional phrase can function as a noun, an THE NOTEBOOK IS / beneath/ THE SUITCASE.
adjective, or an adverb. /on top of/
/ behind /
LIST OF THE MOST COMMON PREPOSITIONS:
"about," "above," "across," "after," "against," "along," OBSERVE HOW THE PREPOSITIONS ARE USED IN THE
"among," "around," "at," "before," "behind," "below," FOLLOWING SENTENCES:
"beneath," "beside," "between," "beyond," "but," "by,"
"despite," "down," "during," "except," "for," "from," "in," 1. AT Steffanie is at home.
"inside," "into," "like," "near," "of," "off," "on," "onto," "out," 2. TO Danielle went to the zoo.
3. FROM James Allen is from England.
"outside," "over," "past," "since," "through," "throughout," 4. IN The biggest mall in Asia is in the Philippines.
"till," "to," "toward," "under," "underneath," "until," "up," 5. ON The gift is on the table.
"upon," "with," "within," and "without." 6. BY The students go to school by bus.
7. BESIDE The cup of coffee is beside the study lamp.
Preposition of place or position: 8. NEAR The child sits near the window.
9. AGAINST Dont lean against the glass shelf.
/ on / 10. OVER Charles jumps over the lazy dog.
/ by / 11. UNDER Juan is always sitting under the tree.
THE BALL IS /beside/ THE TABLE. 12. BENEATH The man is standing beneath the stairs.
/ near / 13. BEHIND The child is hiding behind the curtain.
/under/ 14. UP The kite is flying up in the sky.
15. DOWN There is a gas station down the road.
69 70
16. ACROSS The store is found across the street.
17. AROUND Dont go around the bush. The COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS join individual
18. THROUGH The soldier went through all hardships. words, phrases, and independent clauses. 71
19. BETWEEN You have to choose between good and evil.
20. AMONG Virnielle is the brightest among them all Among the coordinating conjunctions are AND, BUT, FOR,
21. AFTER She makes a comment after watching the film. OR, NOR, SO and YET.
22. BEFORE Pay your bill before taking the exam.
23. ABOVE The city is three thousand feet above sea level. Examples:
24. BELOW His IQ is below the average.
25. INSIDE The books are inside the leather bag. 1. Lilac AND purple have almost the same shade of
26. OUTSIDE The family had picnic outside the house. violet.
27. DURING I saw him during the summer vacation. 2. Mica wants to keep a diary, BUT she is too busy
28. UNTIL We watched the show until with her work.
dawn. 3. Indie films are interesting, FOR they are closer to
reality, as compared with mainstream movies.
4. The director OR the actor has the sole responsibility
A CONJUNCTION links of making the movie interesting.
words, phrases and clauses. 5. The viewers NOR the ticket sellers are to be
credited for making a movie a box-office hit.
6. The medicine price is too high SO the elderly dont
Example 1: follow the correct dosage of prescribed drugs.
7. The Philippines is often considered as a poor
I like to eat country, YET it is called the text capital of the
AND
world.
2. Vivien is in the middle of writing a letter WHEN her 4. The solution to lack of doctors in the country is
computer crashed. NEITHER to ban doctors from leaving the country
NOR giving them insignificant incentives.
3. IF you submit early, the cheque will arrive on your
expected date.
The CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS are used to link Direction: Match the statement from the right column that
equivalent sentence elements. These usually come in pairs. goes with the sentences on the left column.
An INTERJECTION is a word
added to a sentence to communicate emotion. ORAL QUIZ: Can you SAY appropriate interjection for the
following emotions?
75 76
The storm or the strong wind is the reason for
Part 3
the suspension of classes.
The assigned doctor or the nurse-on-duty is
attending to the patient at the emergency room.
77
A compound subject containing both a singular
and a plural noun or pronoun joined by OR or
NOR, the verb should agree with the nearest
subject.
When the subject of a sentence is composed
of two or more nouns or pronouns connected
by AND, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
One of the cats is pampered by its
owners.
None of the interviewees is sure to be
hired for the position.
The book, which talked about different Filipino
traditions, is interesting.
78
Four hours is not enough for me to stroll in the
mall.
The words each, each one, either, neither, 79 80
everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone,
nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are In sentences beginning with there is or there
singular and require a singular verb. are, the subject follows the verb. Since there
is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.
Examples:
Neither of the girls is coming with us. Example:
Everyone enjoys the party.
Everyone in this institution expects a salary There are many questions about the new planet.
increase.
Examples: Examples:
Mathematics requires critical thinking.
The news does not sound good. The blue team is always winning.
The committee formulates new policies for the
department.
Time, distance and money require
singular form of the verb.
Sometimes modifiers will get between a subject
and its verb, but these modifiers must not confuse
Example: the agreement between the subject and its verb.
Examples:
Half of the students are attending the seminar. A number of participants come from the
Central Luzon.
A quarter of the cake is left uneaten.
The number of participants is unexpected.
When the going gets tough, the tough get Proper nouns including titles of books movies, 83
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going. plays, films, and operas are generally considered as
singular even if they are in plural form.
Only the strong survive.
Examples:
Some subjects with AND may be Romeo and Juliet is one of favorite plays.
considered as one. In such case, the The Cats entertains all audience members
verb is singular. including the kids.
Examples:
Phrases and clauses that function as a
Either the driver or the passengers are to responsible for subject usually require a singular form of
the accident. the verb.
Neither the students nor the teacher knows that the
classes are suspended tomorrow.
Examples: 2. The news _________ too bad; my grandmother didnt
want to know it.
Begging for money is all she knows how to do. 0 was 0 were
Texting while driving is a dangerous thing to do. 3. The number of graduates this year ________ .
0 declines 0 decline
4. Neither his brother nor his parents ________ mahjong.
Dont forget that the verb agrees with the 0 play 0 plays
subject noun, never with the predicate 5. Two years ______ a long time to spend away from
noun. home.
0 is 0 are
6. A quarter of the population _______ against
legalization of divorce in the Philippines.
0 is 0 are
7. There ______ only one reason for making it big in
Examples: show business.
My problem is the boys. 0 is 0 are
8. One of the smartest students who ______ in the
My expensive books are an asset.
seminar ______ Michael.
0 participate; is 0 participates; is
9. The poor ______ poorer and the rich ______ richer.
0 get; get 0 gets; gets
10. The toys, together with the other products of China,
_______ recalled due to unsafe paint.
0 were 0 was
11. None of the visitors ________ welcomed by the party
host.
Directions: Identify the form of the verb that correctly fills in 0 was 0 were
the blank. Darken the 0 that corresponds toyour answer. 12. Each of you _____ the potential to succeed in your
chosen career.
1. The data in your report _________ to be clarified. 0 has 0 have
0 need 0 needs
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13. One of my worries in college _______ failing in any of
my major subjects. An IDIOMATIC MEANING is never the same from the
0 is 0 are literal meaning. Idioms ought not be translated literally.
14. Not only the governor, but also the mayors, _______ to
serve the people well. MOST FREQUENTLY USED IDIOMS:
0 needs 0 need
15. Arriving in a new country ______ a challenging
experience. 1. ABOUT TO (do something) : to the point of doing
0 is 0 are something.
16 .Everybody in this room ______ to see a monster.
0 hates 0 hate Example: I was about to sleep when she called.
17. Law and order ______ necessary for a peaceful nation.
0 is 0 are 2. ACCORDING TO (someone or something): as told
18. Texting while driving ______ accident. by; said
0 causes 0 cause
19. The choice that the children made _____ their Example: According to the latest survey, the
personalities. Philippines is still considered as the text
0 reflects 0 reflect capital of the world.
20. Beside the big tree ______ the women I long to see.
0 was 0 were 3. AFTER ALL :considering what happened
87 88
6. BREAK UP: to separate; to put an end to something 11. GET RID OF (something): to throw away; to destroy
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Example: Che and Alex dont plan to Example: My mother says she wants me to get rid
break up even if they of my smoking habit.
have arguments lately.
Example: By the way, you are expected to deliver Example: Ill go over your documents before I report
a short speech in the program tomorrow. to work tomorrow.
6. COME UP WITH (something): to produce an idea or 13. HANG OUT WITH: to spend time with someone
something
Example: I dont want to hang out with the kind of
Example: The director is coming up friends that you have.
with a documentary film
to be aired in the local 14. HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH: to be about
channel.
Example: The seminar has something to do with
9. END UP: to do something one did not plan to smart parenting.
Example: I ended up doing all the projects, instead 15. HOLD ON: wait for a moment
of just helping the project team leader.
Example: Please hold on while I call the marketing
10. FIND OUT: to discover or to learn officer.
Example: The police will soon find out the motive 16. IN CASE: if anything should happen
for the crime.
Example: Dont hesitate to contact me in case you
need help.
17. IN FACT: the truth is 90 23. NOT AT ALL: definitely not 91
Example: I have no idea where he is. In fact, Ive Example: The boss is not at all satisfied with
never met him before. your output. Should you do it again?
Example: The investigator was looking for Example: Of course Im happy for
the suspect in the robbery. your achievements!
19. LOOK UP: to search for something in a book or other 25. ONCE AGAIN: anew; again
materials.
Example: Anna failed in the first performance
Example: I dont understand this word. I better So she tried once again.
look it up in the dictionary.
26. POINT OUT: to show somebody something
20. MAKE SENSE: to be reasonable and meaningful
Example: Let me point out why the buyers prefer
Example: Your idea doesnt make sense to me. Nokia over Samsung.
Please make it clear.
27. RIGHT AWAY: immediately; without delay
21. MAKE SURE: to ascertain; to establish lack of doubt
Example: She answered the boss right away.
Example: Make sure youll come on
time so we wont miss the play. 28. SHOW UP: to be clearly visible; to be
present
22. MORE OR LESS: to some extent
Example: Karla needs to show up in
Example: Your findings are more or less the same the court to serve as witness
with mine. in the case.
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29. TAKE PLACE: to happen; to occur
There is an endless list of idioms in the English [ ] A world where dogs eat each other for lunch.
language. Are you also familiar with the idioms [ ] A world where only the most competent
given below? survives.
[ ] A world where it is legal to eat dogs.
FLAT BROKE SIT ON THE FENCE 2. Its raining cats and dogs! I hope it wont get flooded
again in our area.
DONT CRY ON SPILLED MILK POP A QUESTION
[ ] Cats and dogs are falling from the blue sky
HIT THE JACKPOT OPEN ONES HEART TO [ ] Its raining heavily.
[ ] Cats and dogs are swimming on the flood.
CALL THE SHOT BEAT THE DEADLINE
3. When I feel blue, all I want to do is to look at your
EAT ONES HEART OUT NO SWEAT! picture and remember our beautiful memories.
[ ] dont perspire
[ ] dont get angry
[ ] dont speak
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Part 5 IMPORTANT!
1. To give emphasis
1. To show possession.(use s)
He was able to bring he needs except for one
The childs doctor advised her to rest for one
thing: his tickets
week. (refers to the doctor of the child)
He has only one complaint: its too hot in the
The singers career is on its peak this year.
room.
(refers to the career of the singer)
2. To alert the reader that there will be a list to be
2. To show omission
enumerated.
Whats the use of your intellect if you will just
The kids love a lot of things about Jollibee: the
rely on hearsay? (contraction of What is)
mascot, spaghetti, chicken joy, and choco-fudge
Its time to go! (contraction of It is)
sundae.
80s (instead of 1980s)
Ive never read this novel yet. (contraction of
I have)
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3. To separate a series coordinate adjectives. Coordinate
All the key personalities in Pampanga visited adjectives are adjectives with equal importance.
our school: Governor Panlilio, Vice-Governor
Guiao, Mayor Nepomuceno, and Congressman I enjoy listening to a happy, lively music.
Lazatin. She ate a sweet, juicy apple.
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5. The first first year students who arrived at the party
4. To separate a short passage taken from any source. are John Daniel Julia Charles Justine and Kei.
___________________________________________
According to reports, one episode of Desperate
Housewives insulted the Filipino doctors by 5. My friend told me You are my best buddy
casting doubt on the ability of doctors who got _____________________________________
their diplomas from some med schools in the
Philippines. 6. Cris Mendez friend felt sorry for his death caused
by the concern of the fraternity members who
recruited him
_____________________________________
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An injury may be aggravated, not irritated; a person may be
ALTAR, ALTER
BESIDE
105 106
CHILDISH, CHILDLIKE
BIANNUAL, BIENNIAL
The word childish means immature
Biannual means happening twice a year, and biennial means or not fit for an adult. Childlike, on
occurring once in two years. the contrary, is a positive word which
means innocent, having
characteristic of a child, or trusting.
BOUILLON, BULLION
Bouillon is a clear
beef soup and bullion COMPARE WITH, COMPARE TO
refers to gold, silver
BULLION
or platinum in bars. We use compare to when comparing two
things that are of different levels of existence.
For example, we may compare a baby to a
BREATH, BREATHE flower the baby being a human being, and a
flower being an object. However, we use
The air taken into the lungs and then exhaled for respiration is compare with when we compare two things
called breath; Breathe, on the other hand, is the act of inhaling that are the similar. For example, a baby
and exhaling air. named Danielle may be compared with another baby named
Steffanie.
BROACH, BROOCH
CONNOTE, DENOTE
Broach is a verb that means to start a
discussion, and a brooch, on the other hand, Using the word connote means you are pertaining to the
is a large ornamental pin used by women. BROOCH implied or suggestive meaning. On the other hand, to use
denote means to simply state the meaning from the dictionary.
Connote is more of a subjective term and denote is objective.
CANVAS, CANVASS
Canvas is a referring to a type of cloth; Canvass is a verb
which means to go through places to gather opinion.
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CONTINUAL, CONTINUOUS habitually intoxicated. Drunk is usually used in the predicate
and drunken is a word that usually modifies a noun in a
Continual means being repeated often at intervals. Continuous subject.
may only be used when referring to something that is
uninterrupted. EMIGRANT, IMMIGRANT
EXORCISE, EXERCISE
DRUNK, DRUNKEN
To exorcise means to expel an evil spirit
The word drunk is an adjective referring to a person who is through incantation or prayer. On the other
influenced by alcoholic drinks to the point of losing self- hand, exercise pertains to any physical
control. The word drunken is used to refer to a person who is activity done to promote good health.
109 110
HALF BROTHER, STEPBROTHER REPAIRABLE, REPARABLE
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A man is considered your half brother if you have one parent Any object that can be fixed is repairable. Any non-physical
in common; on the other hand, if a man is related to you thing that can be fixed is reparable. The two words should not
through remarriage of your parents, then, he is considered your be interchanged. A persons self-esteem is reparable; a broken
stepbrother. vase is repairable.
REPUTATION, CHARACTER
LAMA, LLAMA
Your reputation is the way other people regard you. Your
A lama is a priest or monk; a llama is a kind character, on the contrary, refers to your attributes, abilities
of animal from South America. It has a and traits.
stomach with three chambers. TENANT, TENET
LLAMA
A person paying rent to occupy certain place is a tenant; a
tenet, on the other hand, is a principle, doctrine or belief.
MEDIA, MEDIUM
TITLED, ENTITLED
The word media is plural in form, Entitled means qualified or eligible by law. On the other
referring to any means of hand, titled is used when mentioning titles of books, movies,
communication that aims to reach a large etc. Avoid saying, I read Dan Browns book entitled The Da
number of people. Television, Vinci Code.
newspapers, radio, Internet and
magazines are examples of media. The singular form of media VERBAL, ORAL
is medium but the word medium is not
usually used in this context. Instead, the Verbal refers to through the use of words,
word medium is usually used to refer to any either spoken or written. Oral, on the other
material being used to express oneself in art. hand, pertains only to spoken communication. ORAL
Oral also means administered through the mouth.
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VIRGINIA B.
BAUTISTA is a
graduate of BA Mass
Communication-
Journalism from the
University of the
Philippines Baguio. She
served as the Program
Coordinator for two
academic years at the
Department of Mass
Communication at
Angeles University Foundation where shes
currently teaching Newswriting, Electronic
Newsroom, Communication Research and Speech
& Oral Communication. Aside from teaching
Communication subjects, she also teaches English
as Second Language (ESL) to Chinese and Korean
students. Mrs. Bautista had finished the academic
units leading to a Doctorate degree in Public
Administration. Aside from teaching, studying and
writing, Mrs. Bautista is also a full-time mother of
three lovely kids: Steffi, Charles and Dani.