Contents
1. What is Grammar? ............................................................................................................................. 2
2. The Capital Letter............................................................................................................................... 3
3. Nouns.................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Pronouns ............................................................................................................................................ 18
5. Adjectives ........................................................................................................................................... 24
6. Determiners ....................................................................................................................................... 35
7. Verbs and Tenses .............................................................................................................................. 39
8. Subject – Verb Agreement ............................................................................................................... 62
9. Adverbs .............................................................................................................................................. 64
10. Prepositions ................................................................................................................................... 68
11. Conjunctions.................................................................................................................................. 70
12. Interjections ................................................................................................................................... 72
13. Sentences ........................................................................................................................................ 73
14. Punctuation.................................................................................................................................... 80
15. Direct and Indirect speech ........................................................................................................... 86
1
Grammar for the beginners
, 1. What is Grammar?
Here’s an old children’s rhyme about the eight parts of speech of English grammar. It gives you
an idea of what grammar is about. Read and remember it.
Every name is called a noun,
As field and fountain, street and town.
In place of noun the pronoun stands,
As he and she can clap their hands.
The adjective describes a thing.
As magic wand or bridal ring.
Most verbs mean action, something done,
To read and write, to jump and run.
How things are done the adverbs tell,
As quickly, slowly, badly, well.
The preposition shows relation,
As in the street or at the station.
Conjunctions join, in many ways, Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase.
The interjection cries out, “Heed! An exclamation point must follow me!”
2
Grammar for the beginners
, 2. The Capital Letter
The capital letter is also called a big letter or upper-case letter, or sometimes just a capital.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
When do you use a capital letter?
Use a capital letter for the first letter in a sentence:
The dog is barking.
Come here!
Always use a capital letter for the word I:
I am eight years old.
Tom and I are good friends.
Use a capital letter for the names of people:
Alice, Tom, James, Kim, Snow White
Use a capital letter for the names of places:
National Museum, National Zoo, Sri Lanka, London
Use a capital letter for festivals, holidays, days of the week, months of the year:
New Year’s Day, Vesak Full Moon Poyaday, Christmas, Labor Day, Mother’s Day, Sunday,
Friday, Monday, January, March, May etc.
3
Grammar for the beginners
, 3. Nouns
I. Common 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 Police officer
Cook Singer
Dentist Banker
Doctor Nurse
Teacher Principal
These are words for animals. They are common nouns.
Cat Goat
Dog Elephant
Duck Fish
Parrot Cow
Horse Dolphin
Mouse Shark
4
Grammar for the beginners
1. What is Grammar? ............................................................................................................................. 2
2. The Capital Letter............................................................................................................................... 3
3. Nouns.................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Pronouns ............................................................................................................................................ 18
5. Adjectives ........................................................................................................................................... 24
6. Determiners ....................................................................................................................................... 35
7. Verbs and Tenses .............................................................................................................................. 39
8. Subject – Verb Agreement ............................................................................................................... 62
9. Adverbs .............................................................................................................................................. 64
10. Prepositions ................................................................................................................................... 68
11. Conjunctions.................................................................................................................................. 70
12. Interjections ................................................................................................................................... 72
13. Sentences ........................................................................................................................................ 73
14. Punctuation.................................................................................................................................... 80
15. Direct and Indirect speech ........................................................................................................... 86
1
Grammar for the beginners
, 1. What is Grammar?
Here’s an old children’s rhyme about the eight parts of speech of English grammar. It gives you
an idea of what grammar is about. Read and remember it.
Every name is called a noun,
As field and fountain, street and town.
In place of noun the pronoun stands,
As he and she can clap their hands.
The adjective describes a thing.
As magic wand or bridal ring.
Most verbs mean action, something done,
To read and write, to jump and run.
How things are done the adverbs tell,
As quickly, slowly, badly, well.
The preposition shows relation,
As in the street or at the station.
Conjunctions join, in many ways, Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase.
The interjection cries out, “Heed! An exclamation point must follow me!”
2
Grammar for the beginners
, 2. The Capital Letter
The capital letter is also called a big letter or upper-case letter, or sometimes just a capital.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
When do you use a capital letter?
Use a capital letter for the first letter in a sentence:
The dog is barking.
Come here!
Always use a capital letter for the word I:
I am eight years old.
Tom and I are good friends.
Use a capital letter for the names of people:
Alice, Tom, James, Kim, Snow White
Use a capital letter for the names of places:
National Museum, National Zoo, Sri Lanka, London
Use a capital letter for festivals, holidays, days of the week, months of the year:
New Year’s Day, Vesak Full Moon Poyaday, Christmas, Labor Day, Mother’s Day, Sunday,
Friday, Monday, January, March, May etc.
3
Grammar for the beginners
, 3. Nouns
I. Common 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 Police officer
Cook Singer
Dentist Banker
Doctor Nurse
Teacher Principal
These are words for animals. They are common nouns.
Cat Goat
Dog Elephant
Duck Fish
Parrot Cow
Horse Dolphin
Mouse Shark
4
Grammar for the beginners
