English Language Rules and Grammar Concepts

Spelling Rule

Most words are spelled with an i before e, except when they follow the letter c, or sound like a.

I before E Rule

I before E except after C or when sounding like A.

Irregular Plural of Mouse

Mouse → mice.

Irregular Plural of Syllabus

Syllabus → syllabi.

Irregular Plural of Die

Die → dice.

Irregular Plural of Ox

Ox → oxen.

Irregular Plural of Crisis

Crisis → crises.

Irregular Plural of Atlas

Atlas → atlases.

Irregular Plural of Thesis

Thesis → theses.

Homophones

Words that are pronounced in the same way, but they have different spellings and different meanings.

Example of Homophone: Bare

Bare = bear.

Example of Homophone: Hear

Hear = here.

Example of Homophone: Dear

Dear = deer.

Example of Homophone: Brake

Brake = break.

Example of Homophone: For

For = four.

Homographs

Words that share the same spelling, and they have multiple meanings.

Example of Homograph: Spot

The word 'Spot' can mean 'a place' or 'a stain or blot.'

Example of Homograph: Tear

Tear can mean a fluid secreted by the eyes or to separate or pull apart.

Example of Homograph: Produce

Produce can mean fruits and vegetables or to make or create something.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Recommendation

Recommendation.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Accommodation

Accommodation/ accommodate.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Separate

Separate.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Desperate

Desperate.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Definitely

Definitely.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Foreign

Foreign.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Siege

Siege.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Camouflage

Camouflage.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Occasionally

Occasionally.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Allotted

Allotted.

Commonly Misspelled Word: Achieve

Achieve.

Noun

Identify people, places, things, or ideas.

Common Noun

The general, not the particular, name of a person, place, or thing.

Proper Noun

Names very specific people, places, or things and are capitalized.

Collective Noun

Names that represent a group of persons, places, or things.

Pronoun

A word that takes the place of a noun.

Antecedent

The word or group of words to which a pronoun refers.

Nominative Case

The case for nouns and pronouns that are the subject of a sentence.

Objective Case

The case for nouns and pronouns that are an object in a sentence.

Adjective

A word, phrase, or clause that modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun.

Positive degree

The normal form of an adjective.

Comparative degree

Compares one person or thing to another person or thing. (More, -er)

Superlative degree

Compares more than two people or things. (Most, -est)

Verb

The Verb of a sentence explains action or being.

Linking verbs

Verbs that link the subject of the sentence to a noun or pronoun, or they link a subject with an adjective.

Commonly used linking verbs

am, is, are, was, were, being, been

Adverb

An Adverb MODIFIES a verb, or gives us more information about verbs.

Passive voice

When the subject receives the action.

Active voice

When the subject of the sentence is doing the action.

Present tense

The action happens at current time.

Past tense

The action happened in the past.

Future tense

The action is going to happen later.

Present perfect

Indicates an action that has occurred at some indefinite point in the past.

Past perfect

Indicates an action that was completed before another action in the past.

Future perfect

Indicates an action that will be completed before a specified point in the future.

Preposition

A word placed before a noun or pronoun that shows the relationship between an object and another word in the sentence.

Prepositional Phrase

A group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun.

How (Adverb question)

Describes the manner of an action.

When (Adverb question)

Describes the time of an action.

Where (Adverb question)

Describes the place of an action.

To what extent (Adverb question)

Describes the degree or intensity of an action.

Linking verbs related to senses

Verbs that relate to the five senses: look, sound, smell, feel, taste.

Linking verbs reflecting state of being

Verbs that reflect a state of being: appear, seem, become, grow, turn, prove, remain.

Conjunction

A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions

Conjunctions that join independent clauses, examples include: and, but, or, so, nor, for, yet (FANBOYS).

Correlative conjunctions

Conjunctions that work in pairs to join words or phrases, always staying in the same pairs.

Subordinating conjunctions

Conjunctions that join two clauses or thoughts, linking a dependent clause to an independent clause.

FANBOYS

An acronym for the coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Interjection

A word or phrase that expresses emotion or exclamation, can be followed by a comma or an exclamation mark.

Declarative sentence

A sentence that makes a statement.

Interrogative sentence

A sentence that asks a question.

Imperative sentence

A sentence that makes a command or request.

Exclamatory sentence

A sentence that makes an exclamation.

Comma

A punctuation mark that helps understand connections in a sentence.

Rule 1 for Commas

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses.

Rule 2 for Commas

Use a comma when you have a series of 3 or more items.

Rule 3 for Commas

Use a comma to separate day and year in a date.

Rule 4 for Commas

Use commas to separate expressions like he said and she said if they come between a sentence of a quote.

Rule 5 for Commas

Use commas for interjections and after yes and no responses.

Rule 6 for Commas

Use a comma between coordinate adjectives.

Rule 7 for Commas

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or an adverbial clause.

Semicolon

A punctuation mark used to separate two complete sentences in place of FANBOYS.

Rule 1 for Semicolons

Use semicolons to separate two complete sentences that are associated with each other.

Rule 2 for Semicolons

Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a transitional word.

Colon (:)

Use a colon after an independent clause to make a list.

Apostrophes (')

Two ways to use apostrophes: to contract words (contractions) and to show possession.

Contractions

Do not put your feet there --> Don't put your feet there.

Possession (singular noun)

To form the possessive of any singular noun, use an apostrophe and an 's' ('s).

Possession (plural noun not ending in 's')

To form the possessive of any plural noun NOT ending in 's', use an apostrophe and an 's' ('s).

Possession (plural noun ending in 's')

To form the possessive of any plural noun ending in 's', just add the apostrophe after the s (s').

Single brother-in-law possession

If you have a single brother-in-law and he possesses something, this is written as: My brother-in-law's cooking skills are excellent.

Multiple brother-in-law no possession

If you have more than one brother-in-law (no possession) you would write: My brothers-in-law are all brunettes.

Capitalization (first word)

Capitalize the first word of a sentence and the first word in a direct quotation.

Capitalization (proper nouns)

Capitalize names and other proper nouns (names of cities, countries, companies, religion, etc...).

Capitalization (days, months, holidays)

Capitalize the names of day, months, and holidays.

Capitalization (compass directions)

Capitalize the names on a compass for specific areas, not when they give direction.

Capitalization (titles)

Capitalize each word in a title (articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are NOT capitalized).

Capitalization (kinship names)

Capitalize a kinship name when it immediately precedes a personal name or is used alone, in place of a personal name.

Kinship Name Capitalization

Do not capitalize a kinship name when it is not part of the personal name but is a word describing the personal name.

Example of Kinship Name

My grandma and grandpa were married in a chapel in a small French village.

Capitalization of Seasons

Do not capitalize names of seasons.