Most people do not care if you can explain grammar rules. However, many people do care whether you can apply grammar rules, because this means you can express ideas clearly. Think of the following situations where your understanding of grammar will be noticed: business letters; resume and/or job applications; important email messages; scholarship essays; school assignments, etc. It is important that people understand what you want to express.
Basic Elements of Communication: The Sentence.
A sentence must have at least two parts: a noun and a verb. Here is an example of a sentence: I see. This is a complete sentence because it has a noun (I) and a verb (see) that combine to make a complete idea.
Nouns and pronouns
A noun is person, place, thing, idea, or emotion.
Examples of nouns: nurse, bank, pencil, peace, anger
NOTE: Pronouns can replace nouns in a sentence to avoid repetition of the same noun.
Examples of pronouns: me, mine, your, she, his, it, we, this, that, someone, any, some
Verbs
A verb is at the heart of a sentence.
Action Verbs tell what happens in the sentence.
Examples of action verbs: run, tell, swim, eat, see, jump
Be Verbs level out an idea like an equal sign. For example: She is happy. (She = happy)
Examples of be verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Nouns and Verbs Working Together
Below, the sentences are formed correctly because they have a noun and a verb that create a complete idea:
The kittens (n.) sleep (v.).
He (n.) climbs (v.).
In the examples below, the sentences are formed incorrectly because they are missing a noun or a verb, and so the idea is not complete:
Are (v.) often.
The mountains (n.).
Practice Problems
1. Which sentences are formed correctly? Choose all that apply.
- I see
- Am so busy
- The chicken't house.
- Windows up there.
- Maria reads.
- The dog ate.
2. In the following sentence, which word is a noun? The bird flew away.
3. In the following sentence, which word is a noun? Babies cry a lot.
4. In the following sentence, which word is a noun? His pants are too big.
5. In the following sentence, which word is a pronoun? The dog is mine.
6. In the following sentence, which word is a pronoun? Please go get it.
7. In the following sentence, which word is a pronoun? Someone ate Juan's lunch.
8. In the following sentence, which word is a verb? You are kind.
9. In the following sentence, which word is a verb? The pilot flew the plane.
10. In the following sentence, which word is a verb? My kids were hungry.
Need More Help?
- Study other English Language Practice pages in the Resource Center.
- Visit the Online Tutoring Resources in the Resource Center.
- Contact your Instructor.
- If you still need help, Schedule a Tutor.