This page helps you understand some of the more common grammatical functions when studying English.
Studying grammar is a great way to become better and advanced your English skills.
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Explanation:
"Do" and "does" are helping verbs used in present tense questions and negative statements.
"Do" is used with plural subjects (you, they, we) and "does" is used with singular subjects (he, she, it).
"Don't" and "doesn't" are contractions of "do not" and "does not."
Examples:
Incorrect: She do like apples. (singular subject)
Correct: Does she like apples?
Incorrect: We doesn't go to school on weekends. (plural subject)
Correct: We don't go to school on weekends.
Teaching Tips:
Use color-coded cards with "do/does" and "don't/doesn't" for students to identify the correct form.
Play question games like "20 Questions" to practice using the correct form.
Provide sentence prompts with blanks for students to fill in the appropriate verb.
These words are all modal verbs that help express possibility, suggestion, or ability in the past, present, and future. Here's a breakdown of each:
Could:
Expresses possibility in the present or past (I could finish the project today) or ability in the past (When I was younger, I could run faster).
Used for polite requests (Could you please pass the salt?).
Should:
Expresses suggestion, advice, or obligation (You should study for your exam).
Would:
Used for hypothetical situations (I would travel the world if I won the lottery).
Used to form past conditionals (I would have helped you if I had known).
Used for requests in a more formal way (Would you mind opening the window?).
Examples:
Incorrect: I should of helped him. (past tense)
Correct: I could have helped him. (past possibility)
Incorrect: We would like less sugar in our coffee. (uncountable noun)
Correct: We could use less sugar in our coffee. (possibility)
These words are homophones (sound alike) but have different meanings and functions:
There:
Refers to a place (The book is there on the table).
Their:
Possessive pronoun indicating ownership (Their house is on the corner).
They're:
Contraction of "they are" (They're coming to the party).
Examples:
Incorrect: I can't find my book any where (place)
Correct: I can't find my book there (specific place)
Incorrect: We went to there beach yesterday. (possessive)
Correct: We went to their beach house yesterday. (ownership)
Teaching Tips:
Use color-coding to differentiate "there" (place), "their" (possessive), and "they're" (contraction).
Provide fill-in-the-blank exercises with sentences where students choose the correct word.
Play dictation games where students write down sentences containing "there," "their," or "they're."
Fewer: Used with countable nouns (things you can count individually).
Examples: There are fewer apples in the basket today. / The class has fewer students this year.
Less: Used with uncountable nouns (things you can't count individually) or singular nouns referring to a mass or quantity.
Examples: We have less milk than yesterday. / There is less traffic on the road today. / I need less sugar in my coffee, please.
Teaching Tips:
Create a chart with pictures representing countable and uncountable nouns. Label them "Fewer (countable)" and "Less (uncountable)" with example sentences.
Use manipulatives (objects students can touch and move) like blocks or counters to demonstrate "fewer" with countable items.
Play a sorting game where students categorize sentences containing "fewer" or "less" based on the type of noun used.
Homophones are words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. Here's the breakdown for "then" and "than":
Then: Used to indicate sequence or time (First, we eat. Then, we play).
Can also mean in that case (If it's raining, then I'll bring an umbrella).
Than:Used in comparisons (This apple is sweeter than that one).
There, their, they're: As you already covered, "there" refers to a place, "their" is a possessive pronoun, and "they're" is a contraction of "they are."
Two, too, to: "Two" is a number, "too" means "also" or "excessively," and "to" is a preposition indicating direction or purpose.
Your, you're: "Your" is a possessive pronoun, and "you're" is a contraction of "you are."
Its, it's: "Its" is a possessive pronoun for singular nouns that don't end in "s," and "it's" is a contraction of "it is."
Hear, here: "Hear" is a verb meaning to perceive sound, and "here" refers to a location.
Peace, piece: "Peace" is a state of tranquility, and "piece" is a part of something.
Whole, hole: "Whole" means complete, and "hole" is an opening in something.
Know, no: "Know" is a verb meaning to have knowledge, and "no" is a negative answer.
Their, they're, there: (Yes, this one is a triple threat!) We covered these already, but it's a common trouble spot.
Right, write: "Right" can be an adjective meaning correct or an adverb meaning correctly, and "write" is a verb meaning to create written text.
These pronouns connect clauses and refer back to a noun or pronoun mentioned earlier in the sentence. Here's a breakdown:
Who: Used for people (The teacher who helped me is Ms. Smith).
That: Used for people (and sometimes things) in a restrictive clause (The book that I'm reading is interesting). (Restrictive clause defines or limits the noun)
Which: Used for things and non-essential clauses (The book, which is on the table, is interesting). (Non-essential clause provides additional information but isn't necessary to identify the noun)
Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar, ensuring the verb form matches the subject's number (singular or plural). Here's how to break it down for your students:
Singular subjects require singular verbs. (e.g., The cat sits on the mat.)
Plural subjects require plural verbs. (e.g., The cats sit on the mat.)
This includes subjects like "they," "we," "you" (plural), and nouns ending in "s" or "es."
Verbs indicate actions or states of being. They change form depending on the tense (past, present, future).
Regular verbs: Follow a predictable pattern for forming past tense and past participle (present: add "-s" for 3rd person singular, past: add "-ed"). (e.g., walk - walked - walked)
Irregular verbs: Do not follow a consistent pattern and require memorization. (e.g., eat - ate - eaten)
"Person" refers to an individual human being. It is a singular noun. (e.g., The person at the door is waiting for you.)
"People" refers to a group of humans. It is a plural noun. (e.g., Many people attended the concert.)