Grammar and Usage

ADVERBS

• Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.(describes actions)

• Essential types include:

  • MANNER: How? (e.g., quickly, hungrily)

  • PLACE: Where? (e.g., here, there)

  • TIME: When? (e.g., today, soon)

  • DEGREE: To what extent? (e.g., very, quite)

  • FREQUENCY: How often? (e.g., always, often)

SENTENCE MODIFIERS

• Words expressing opinion altering sentence meaning (e.g., naturally, perhaps).

COMPARATIVE ADVERBS

• Degrees of comparison for adverbs:

  • Regular: fast; faster; the fastest

  • Two+ syllables: carefully; more carefully; most carefully

  • Irregular: badly; worse; the worst

CONJUNCTIONS

• Connecting words joining sentences or clauses.

  • Co-ordinating: e.g., and, but, or.

  • Subordinating: e.g., although, unless.

  • Relative Pronouns as Conjunctions: who, that, which.

CONNECTING/LINKING WORDS

• Enhance flow and clarity (e.g., therefore, however, similarly).

PREPOSITIONS

• Small words showing relationships (e.g., on, with).

• Must precede nouns/pronouns; not to be confused with adverbs.

• Examples: under, over, for.

• Idiomatic usage is common (e.g., after my own heart).

• Avoid ending sentences with prepositions unless necessary.

PREPOSITION COMBINATIONS

• Recognized combinations with adjectives/verbs (e.g., tired of, good at).