Technical Writing and
Public Speaking Course
Grammar Refresher Course
ICITAP Philippines
Pre-Test
ICITAP Philippines
Parts of Speech
Noun
Adverb
Pronoun
Preposition
Verb
Conjunction
Adjective
Interjection
ICITAP Philippines
Nouns
names something
such as persons,
places, things,
measures of time,
actions, and quality
ICITAP Philippines
1.
Common nouns name any one of a class of person,
place, or thing.
2. Proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing.
3. Compound nouns are two or more nouns that
function as a single unit. A compound noun can be
two individual words, words joined by a hyphen, or
two words combined.
4. Collective nouns name groups of people or things.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Cases of Nouns
Nominative Case
Subject
Predicate nouns
Objective Case
Object of the verb
Object of the preposition
Possessive Case
ownership
ICITAP Philippines
General Rules for Possessive
Nouns
1.
With singular nouns, add an apostrophe
and s (‘s).
2.
With plural nouns ending in s, add an
apostrophe after the s (s’).
3.
With plural nouns not ending in s, add
an apostrophe and s (‘s).
4.
Add an apostrophe and s ('s) or only an
apostrophe ( ' ) to the end of a
compound noun.
ICITAP Philippines
Controversy in Possessive Nouns
Nouns ending in sibilants (characterized by a
hissing sounds as in s, z, sh, ch) form their
possessive by adding an apostrophe and s (‘s).
Some writers, however, will say that Charles’s is
not necessary and that Charles’ (Charles' car)
will suffice to show possession. Consistency is
the key here: if you choose not to add the -s
after a noun that already ends in s, do so
consistently throughout your text.
ICITAP Philippines
Controversy in Possessive Nouns
In case of nouns ending in double s (ss), we
should actually hear the “–es” sound attached
to the possessive forms of these words so an
apostrophe and s (‘s) is more appropriate, as in:
the boss’s memo; the witness’s statement.
Plural forms of proper nouns ending in sibilants
form their possessive by adding an apostrophe
and s (‘s), as in: Floreses’s apartment;
Suarezes’s crimes.
ICITAP Philippines
Pluralization of Nouns
1.
Add s to form the plural of most nouns.
2.
Add es if the noun ends in s, sh, ch, or x.
3.
If a noun ends in consonant -y, change the
y to i and add es.
4.
If a noun ends in vowel followed by -y, add
s. Words ending in -quy don't follow this
rule (as in soliloquies).
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Pluralization of Nouns
5. Add s to most nouns ending in f. However,
the f endings are so irregular as to be
nearly random. If you have any doubts at
all, consult a dictionary.
Exception: In some cases, change the f to fe
or v and add es:
Exception: This rule doesn't hold for names.
When you're dealing with names, just add
s. Thus, Mr. and Mrs. Wolf becomes the
Wolfs.
ICITAP Philippines
Pluralization of Nouns
6. In compound words, make the main word
plural.
Exception: If there is no noun in the compound
word, add s to the end of the word.
If the compound word ends in -ful, add s to
the end of the word.
7. Some nouns change their spelling when
they become plural.
ICITAP Philippines
Pluralization of Nouns
8. Some nouns have the same form whether
they are singular or plural.
Like "Portuguese," the names of other
nationalities ending in -ese have the same
singular and plural form.
9. The only plurals formed with apostrophes
are the plurals of numbers, letters, and
abbreviations.
ICITAP Philippines
Controversy in Plurals
However, opinion is divided to extend this use of
‘s in the pluralization of numerals (1990s vs.
1990’s) and words used as terms (His writing uses
a lot of but’s vs. His writing uses a lot of buts).
Some favor the use of apostrophe, while others
say that it confuses the plural with the possessive
(‘s); therefore, it should be avoided whenever
possible.
Acronyms are initials used as words. Clearly, it is
undesirable to pluralize laser (Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) as laser’s.
ICITAP Philippines
Pluralization of Nouns
10. Some words from other languages form
plurals in other ways, often determined
by the laws of the language of their origin.
Singular
Plural
analysis
analyses
axis
axes
bacterium
bacteria
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Pronouns
words used in
place of nouns
ICITAP Philippines
Pronouns
Vernadette has a ten-year-old niece
named Eunice. Eunice is a special child
but Eunice is now in Grade 4. Eunice
loves to watch TV and sing.
ICITAP Philippines
Pronouns
I have a ten-year-old niece named
Eunice. She is a special child but she is
now in Grade 4. She loves to watch TV
and sing.
ICITAP Philippines
Pronouns
antecedent - noun for which a pronoun
stands
many language errors are commonly
made because of the misuse of pronouns
ICITAP Philippines
Kinds of Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
Possessive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
Demonstrative Pronouns
Intensive Pronouns
Relative Pronouns
Interrogative Pronouns
Indefinite Pronouns
ICITAP Philippines
1. Personal Pronouns refers to a
specific person, place, thing or
object.
Person
Singular
Plural
First
I, Me
We, Us
Second
Third
You
He, Him, She,
They, Them
Her, It
ICITAP Philippines
2. Possessive Pronouns show
ownership.
Person
Singular
Plural
First
My, Mine
Our, Ours
Second
Third
Your, Yours
His, Hers,
Its
ICITAP Philippines
Their, Theirs
REMEMBER: Don’t confuse possessive
pronouns with contractions.
Pronouns never have an apostrophe. Be
guided by the chart below:
Pronouns
yours
its
their
whose
Contractions
you’re (you are)
it’s (it is)
they’re (they are)
who’s (who is)
ICITAP Philippines
3. Reflexive Pronouns add information to a
sentence by pointing back to a noun or
pronoun near the beginning of the sentence.
Reflexive pronouns end in –self or –selves.
4. Intensive Pronouns also end in –self or –
selves but they merely add emphasis to the
noun or pronoun.
ICITAP Philippines
5. Demonstrative Pronouns direct attention to
a particular person, place, or thing. There are
only four (4) demonstrative pronouns.
6. Relative Pronouns begin a subordinate
clause. There are five (5) relative pronouns:
that, which, who, whom, those.
ICITAP Philippines
Controversy: Who, Which and
That
Who refers to people or animals (only animals with names
or special talents, like Lassie).
That and which refer to things, groups, and unnamed
animals. The choice between which and that depends on
whether the clause introduced by the pronoun is restrictive
or nonrestrictive.
A restrictive clause is essential to the sentence.
A nonrestrictive clause adds extra meaning, is set off by
commas, and can be removed from the sentence.
ICITAP Philippines
7. Interrogative Pronouns ask a question.
They are: what, which, who, whom, whose.
8. Indefinite Pronouns refer to people, places,
things without pointing to a specific one.
Singular
another
each
everybody
much
nothing
other
something
anybody
either
little
anyone
everyone
everything
nobody
no one
someone
somebody
anything
neither
one
ICITAP Philippines
Plural
both
few
many
others
several
Singular/Plural
all
any
more
most
none
some
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Cases of Pronouns
Nominative Case
(as subject)
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
who
whoever
Objective Case
(as object)
me
you
him
her
it
us
them
whom
whomever
ICITAP Philippines
Possessive Case
(ownership)
my, mine
your, yours
his
hers
its
our, ours
their, theirs
whose
whoever
Rules in Pronoun Cases
1.
Use nominative case to show the subject
of the verb.
Exception: A pronoun used as the subject of
an infinitive is in the objective case.
2. A pronoun used in the predicate
nominative is in the nominative case. A
predicate nominative is a noun or
pronoun after a form of the verb to be (is,
are, was, were…)
ICITAP Philippines
Rules in Pronoun Cases
3. Use the objective case to show that the noun or pronoun
receives the action.
REMEMBER : When you a have a pronoun combined
with a noun, (such as “us police”), try the sentence
without the noun. You can usually “hear” which
pronoun is right.
For example, “It is a pleasure for us police to be of service
to the people”.
It is a pleasure for us to be of service to the people.
It is a pleasure for we to be of service to the people.
ICITAP Philippines
Controversy:
“It is me.” vs. “It is I.”
The "It is I" camp argues that forms of the verb to be,
such as is and was, should be followed by pronouns in
the nominative case, and is therefore, grammatically
correct.
The "It is me" camp counters with the argument the
pronoun case has become so weakened that the force
of word order now overrides the force of case, and has
therefore become an accepted, colloquial sentence.
Either way, both sentences are correct.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
REMEMBER: Proper Usage of
Who/Whoever and Whom/Whomever
Use who or whoever when the pronoun is the subject of a
verb.
Use who or whoever when the pronoun is the predicate
nominative.
I wonder who thought about the idea of the Integrated
Transformation Program.
No one knew who the culprit was.
Use whom or whomever when the pronoun is the direct
object of a verb or the object of a preposition.
He can marry whomever he wants.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Verbs –
action words
ICITAP Philippines
Basic Types of Verbs
Action Verbs tell what the subject does.
Linking Verbs “verbs to be”, and “verbs of the
senses” like feel, grow, seem, smell, remain,
appear, sound, stay, look, taste, turn, become.
However, the verbs of the senses only
function as a linking verb if they are followed
by an adjective.
ICITAP Philippines
Basic Types of Verbs
REMEMBER: To determine whether a verb is used as an
action verb or as a linking verb, substitute it for am, is or
are. If the sentence still makes sense, then the verb is used
as a linking verb.
Linking Verb: The kids looked hungry.
The kids are hungry. (This sentence makes sense.)
Action Verb: The police looked for more evidence.
The police are for more evidence. (This sentence does not
make sense.)
Hence, the verb “looked” in the sentence is used as a
linking verb.
ICITAP Philippines
Basic Types of Verbs
3. Helping Verbs are added to another verb to
make the meaning clearer. Examples of helping
verbs are: does, did, have, has, had, shall, should,
will, would, can, could, may, might, must. Verb
phrases are made up of one main verb and one or
more helping verbs.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Principal Parts of a Verb
Present
“I look” and “I will look”
Past
“I looked”
Past Participle
Present Participle
“I am looking”
“I have looked”
“I was looking”
“I had looked”
“I will have been looking” “I will have looked”
ICITAP Philippines
Classes of Verb
Regular Verbs
are those which form their past and past
participle by adding --d or --ed.
Irregular Verbs
do not follow a specific pattern when
forming their past and past participle.
ICITAP Philippines
Controversy: “Lie” vs. “Lay”
Lie, meaning “to repose”, is an irregular verb that conjugates lie,
lay, lain.
Lay is a regular verb that means “to put”, conjugates lay, laid,
laid.
Also, Lie is an intransitive verb. It does not need a direct object.
“You should lie down if you feel tired.”
Lay is a transitive verb. It needs a direct object.
“Lay the book on the table.”
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Verb Tenses
Tense
Basic Form
Progressive Form
Present
look
is looking
Past
looked
was looking
Future
will look
will be looking
Present Perfect
have looked
have been looking
Past Perfect
had looked
had been looking
Future Perfect
will have looked
will have been
looking
ICITAP Philippines
Tenses of Verb
Present Tense
shows an action presently or habitually
happening, a fact or a general truth.
Past Tense
shows an action, state or condition that
occurred in the past.
Future Tense
shows that something will happen or
will be done in the future.
Formula: will/shall + base form of the verb
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Tenses of Verb
Present Perfect Tense
denotes action that is completed at the
time of speaking or writing
action that is continuing in the present
Formula: has/have + past participle of the verb
Past Perfect Tense
first of the two actions that was completed
before some definite time in the past
Formula: had + past participle of the verb
ICITAP Philippines
Tenses of Verb
Future Perfect Tense
denotes action that will be completed at
some definite time in the future
seldom used in informal speaking and
writing
Formula: will have/shall have +
past participle of the verb
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Progressive Forms of Verb
Present Progressive Tense
shows continuing action, something that
is happening now
Formula: am/is/are + base form of verb + --ing
Past Progressive Tense
shows continuing action that was happening at
some point in the past
Formula: was/were + base form of verb + --ing
ICITAP Philippines
Progressive Forms of Verb
Future Progressive Tense
shows continuing action that will happen
at some point in the future
Formula: will be/shall be +
base form of verb + --ing
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
shows a continuous action that has
been finished at some point in the
past or has been started in the past
and is still happening now.
Formula: has been/have been +
base form of verb + --ing
ICITAP Philippines
Progressive Forms of Verb
Past Perfect Progressive Tense
shows a continuous action that was
completed at some point in the past
Formula: had been + base form of verb + --ing
Future Perfect Progressive Tense
shows a continuous action that will
be completed at some point in the
future
Formula: will have been + base form of
verb + --ing
ICITAP Philippines
Using Verb Tense Correctly - Past
Tense
Simple Past
Present Perfect
Formula
past form
has/have +
past participle
had + past
participle
Use
Example
Completed action I drove the car.
Completed action I have driven the
car.
Past Perfect
Action completed I had driven the
before another
car before the
tire blew.
Past Progressive was/were +
Continuous
I was driving that
verb (--ing)
completed action car.
Present Perfect has/have been Ongoing action
I have been
Progressive
+ verb (--ing)
driving all day.
Past Perfect
had been +
Continuing action I had been driving
Progressive
verb (--ing)
interrupted by
the car when the
another
tire blew.
ICITAP Philippines
Using Verb Tense Correctly - Present
Tense
Simple
Present
Formula
Use
present
form
Example
Action that I drive a car.
is presently
or
habitually
happening
Present
am/is/are Continuing I am driving
Progressive + verb (-- action
a car.
ing)
ICITAP Philippines
Using Verb Tense Correctly - Future
Tense
Simple Future
Formula
Use
Example
Future Perfect
will + base
Future action
form
will have + past Future action
participle
done before
another
I will drive the
car.
I will have driven
the car before he
arrives.
Future
Progressive
will be + verb
(--ing)
Future Perfect
Progressive
will have been Continuing future I will have been
+ verb (--ing)
action done
driving all month
before another
before I buy a
new car.
Continuous future I will be driving
action
that car.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Verb Mood
Indicative Mood
statements and questions
Imperative Mood
commands and direct requests
Subjunctive Mood
expresses conditions, recommendations,
speculations and indirect requests
ICITAP Philippines
Verb Voice
Active Voice
subject performs the action
Passive Voice
action is performed upon the
subject
ICITAP Philippines
REMEMBER: Use Passive Voice
When you don’t want to assign blame to
or emphasize who or what performed the
action.
When you don’t know who did the action.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
Pop Quiz
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
When the subject and its verb fit together
properly, they are said to agree with each other.
To make a subject and verb agree with each
other, you must make sure that both are
singular or that both are plural.
A verb must agree with its subject even if a
phrase or clause comes between them.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
Two or more subjects joined by or or nor must
have a plural verb.
If one or more singular subjects are joined to
one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the
subject closest to the verb determines
agreement.
If one or more singular subjects are joined to
one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the
subject closest to the verb determines
agreement.
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
If one or more singular subjects are joined to
one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the
subject closest to the verb determines
agreement.
Exceptions – compound subject equal to one
thing and when the word each or every is used
before the compound subject.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
There’s and Here’s, contractions of there is and
here is, contain the singular verb is and
therefore cannot be used with plural subjects.
Nouns that are plural in form but singular in
meaning agree with singular verbs.
Nouns that are plural in form but singular in
meaning agree with singular verbs.
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
When words such as acoustics and ethics do not
name branches of knowledge but rather
indicate characteristics, their meanings are
plural.
Pronouns ending with one, body and thing take
singular verbs. Pronouns like both, several and
many take the plural form of the verb.
ICITAP Philippines
Subject-Verb Agreement
The pronouns all, any, more, none and some
take either the singular or plural verbs
depending on their antecedent.
A title (books and other works of art) is always
singular.
A noun expressing an amount or measurement
is usually singular and requires a singular verb.
Exemptions - when the measurement pertains
to individual items or elements.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Adjectives
describes a noun
and a pronoun
ICITAP Philippines
Kinds of Adjectives
Common adjectives describe nouns and
pronouns.
Proper adjectives are formed from proper
nouns.
Compound adjectives are made up of more
than one word.
ICITAP Philippines
Kinds of Adjectives
The Articles “A”, “An” and “The” are special
types of adjectives.
A and An are called Indefinite Articles because
they refer to general things. Use a when the
word that follows begins with a consonant
sound and an with a vowel sound.
The, otherwise known as the Definite Article,
because it refers to a specific thing.
ICITAP Philippines
REMEMBER: How to use Adjectives
Use an adjective to describe a noun or a pronoun.
Use vivid adjectives to make your writing more
specific and descriptive.
Use an adjective after a linking verb. The most
common linking verbs are: is, are, was, were, and
am.
Chicken cooked this way tastes more delicious.
(not deliciously)
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Adverbs
modify or expand
the meaning of a
verb, an adjective
or another adverb
ICITAP Philippines
Adverbs
Conjunctive Adverbs are used to connect
words. They act like conjunctions but they
technically function as adverbs. They are
specifically useful in linking ideas and
paragraphs.
Conjunctive Adverbs are also known as
transitions because they link ideas.
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Conjunctions
ICITAP Philippines
Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions link words or group
of words.
Correlative Conjunctions also link similar
words or group of words, but they are always
used in pairs.
Subordinate Conjunctions link an independent
clause (complete sentence) to a dependent
clause (fragment).
ICITAP Philippines
Drill
ICITAP Philippines
Prepositions
ICITAP Philippines
Prepositions
A noun always follows a preposition. A
prepositional phrase is a preposition and its
object.
ICITAP Philippines
REMEMBER: Using Prepositions
Use in before seasons of the year, months and
years not followed by specific dates.
Use on before days of the week, holidays and
months, if the date follows.
Always use prepositional phrases as units
ICITAP Philippines
Interjections
-Express emotions
-They have no real grammatical value but
we use them quite often, usually more in
speaking than in writing
ICITAP Philippines
Interjections
example
meaning
interjection
"Ah, that feels good." expressing pleasure
"Ah, now I
expressing
understand."
realization
ah
"Ah well, it can't be expressing
heped."
resignation
"Ah! I've won!"
expressing surprise
"Alas, she's dead
expressing grief or
alas
now."
pity
"Oh dear! Does it
expressing pity
hurt?"
dear
"Dear me! That's a
expressing surprise
surprise!"
ICITAP Philippines
Interjections
example
meaning
"It's hot today."
asking for
"Eh?" "I said it's
repetition
hot today."
"What do you
expressing enquiry
think of that, eh?"
expressing
"Eh! Really?"
surprise
inviting
"Let's go, eh?"
agreement
"Lima is the
expressing
capital
hesitation
of...er...Peru."
ICITAP Philippines
interjection
eh
er
Interjections
example
"Hello John. How
are you today?"
meaning
interjection
expressing
greeting
hello, hullo
"Hello! My car's
gone!"
expressing surprise
"Hey! look at that!" calling attention
"Hey! What a good expressing
idea!"
surprise, joy etc
"Hi! What's new?"
expressing
greeting
ICITAP Philippines
hey
hi
Interjections
example
meaning
"Hmm. I'm not so
sure."
expressing
hesitation, doubt
or disagreement
"Oh! You're here!"
expressing surprise
"Oh! I've got a
toothache."
expressing pain
"Oh, please say
'yes'!"
expressing
pleading
"Ouch! That hurts!" expressing pain
ICITAP Philippines
interjection
hmm
oh, o
ouch
Interjections
example
meaning
interjection
"Uh...I don't know expressing
the answer to that." hesitation
uh
"Shall we go?" "Uh- expressing
huh."
agreement
uh-huh
"85 divided by 5
is...um...17."
expressing
hesitation
"Well I never!"
expressing surprise
"Well, what did he
say?"
introducing a
remark
ICITAP Philippines
um, umm
well
Post-Test
ICITAP Philippines
