Pronoun - a word used in place of a noun. All pronouns have antecedents.

An antecedent is a noun to which

the pronoun refers. As such, the pronoun and its antecedents should agree in person, number and gender.
Kinds:
a) Personal Pronoun indicates whether the person is speaking, is spoken to, or is spoken of. It has
person, number and case.
ommon error in personal pronoun is a confusing shift in person.
!": #e tr$ to eat well because good food keeps $ou health$. #hat is the error%
Nominative Case Possessive Case Objective Case
Person &ingular Plural &ingular Plural &ingular
Plural
'
st
I we m$, mine our, ours me us
(
nd
$ou $ou $our, $ours $our, $ours $ou $ou
)
rd
he, she, it the$ his, her, hers, its their, theirs him, her, it them
b) *elative Pronoun + introduces a group of words that refers to a noun or another pronoun e.g. that,
whom, which, who. #ho is a sub,ect pronoun- whom is ob,ect pronoun- which refers to things,
places and animals- that refers to people, places or things.
!".: .he book which I read last night taught me to use m$ imagination.
/e who desires success must work hard.
c) *efle"ive Pronoun reflects on the sub,ect or refers to it. It can act as direct ob,ect, indirect
ob,ect, ob,ect of the preposition or a predicate nominative.
!". I love m$self. 0direct ob,ect of love)
I give m$self a break. 0indirect ob,ect)
I smile at m$self in the mirror. 0ob,ect of the preposition)
I am trul$ m$self ever$time. 0predicate nominative)
d) Interrogative Pronoun + asks a 1uestion who, whom, which, wh$, where, what, when, how.
e) 2emonstrative Pronoun + points out noun without naming it. 0this + these - that + those)
f) Indefinite Pronoun + refers to vague or unknown word, e.g. one, an$, an$bod$, an$one, an$thing,
other, another, some, someone, somebod$, something, none, nobod$, nothing, each, else, all,
neither, either, ever$bod$, ever$one, ever$thing, one.
Both, few, many and several are alwa$s plural in form- all, any, most and some ma$ either be
singular or plural depending on their meaning in a sentence.
Adjective - modifies a noun or pronoun either b$ signif$ing its limit or describes it.
Kinds
a) 2escriptive + tells 3what kind4. It gives the 1ualit$, si5e, shape, and color of the noun. If some or
all of these ad,ectives are given in a sentence e the$ should follow this order:
6imiting ad,ective 1ualit$ si5e shape color
!": ') &i" tin$ round and white ob,ects have been seen in that bo".
() .ina gave her friend a durable, small+si5ed, red t+shirt.
b) 6imiting + tells 3which one, how man$, how much4. .he articles a, an, the, indefinite pronouns and
some noun determiners are limiting ad,ectives.
!".: .he girl is looking at some ants crawling on the bread.
c) 7oun Ad,ective + a noun used as ad,ective.
!". apple green- bab$+pink dress- snow white- paper roses
d) Proper Ad,ective + come from a proper name hence it begins with a big letter.
!". 8erman leather is e"pensive.
9apanese cuisine is palatable.
e) 7umerical Ad,ective + either cardinal or ordinal
f) Indefinite Ad,ective + acts as a modifier of a noun
!": several books both singers few singers some friends
g) 2emonstrative Ad,ective + points to a noun or pronoun and in effect also limits it.
!": This land is mine 8od gave this land to me.
That store sells second hand books.
h) :uantitative Ad,ective + indicates how much of something is spoken about, e.g. much, little, some,
!": ;our grades show little improvement in !nglish and <ath.
Adverb + modifies a verb, an ad,ective and another adverb. .he$ 1ualif$ the meaning of the words the$
modif$ b$ telling how, when, where, wh$, how much, how often, and to what e"tent.
!": &he walked there. 0where)
&he walked slowl$. 0how)
&he walked far. 0to what e"tent)
'
&he walked then. 0when)
Kinds
a) Adverb of .ime + tells when, how often, how long, e.g. toda$, $esterda$, dail$, weekl$, briefl$
b) Adverb of Place + tells where, to where, e.g. here, there, nearb$, backward, forward
c) Adverb of <anner + often ends in ly and tells how something is done, e.g. precisel$, regularl$,
well
d) Adverb of 2egree + tells how much how little, e.g. partl$, entirel$, greatl$, too
Verb - is a word that e"presses action or state of being.
!".: .he pla$er hurled the ball. 0action)
.he ball is slipper$. 0state of being)
Kinds
a) .ransitive + the action is directed toward a person or thing named in the sentence- the action
passes from the doer 0sub,ect) to the receiver of the action 0ob,ect: direct, indirect)
b) Intransitive + refers to an action complete in itself. It does not have an ob,ect.
c) 6inking + does not e"press action instead ,oins or links a modifier in the predicate to the sub,ect.
7ote: some verbs can be used as linking and as action verb, e.g. appear, feel, look, seen, sound,
sta$, become, grow, remain, smell, taste, turn.
!": .he police officers looked for clues. 0action)
.he police officers looked surprised. 0linking)
d) Au"iliar$ or /elping + help to form some of the tenses, the mood and the voice of the main verb.
!": &he has prepared the table for a special friend.
2ino will read the book on success.
.he part$ has been postponed.
Properties of the =erbs
7umber: singular or plural
Person: '
st
, (
nd
, )
rd
.
=oice: indicates whether sub,ect is acting 0active) or being acted upon 0passive)
.enses: indicates time + simple, perfect and progressive 0past, present and future)
<ood: indicates the tone or attitude with which the statement is made.
a) indicative used to state a fact.
!".: <ark is a diligent and 8od+fearing person.
all centers provide emplo$ment to >ilipinos.
b) imperative + used to give a command or re1uest.
!".: &top smoking.
Please come earl$.
2rop the gun.
c) sub,unctive + used to e"press the following:
'. condition contrar$ to fact + e": If I were, I would travel around the world.
(. doubt or uncertaint$ + uses 3as though4 or 3as if4
!".: /e acts as though he is the onl$ person present.
2onna looks at him as if she were scared.
). a wish !".: I wish I were a millionaire.
I wish I were *ose in the movie, .itanic.
SB!"C#-V"$B A%$""&"N#
A'reement + means the 3state of being in accord4 or conformit$. In 8rammar, the person and number
correspond, thus, when a sub,ect agrees with its predicate, both sub,ect and predicate verb have the
same person and number.
$ule
'. A verb must agree in person and in number with its sub,ect.
!".: &he is a popular singer. 0singular)
.he$ are popular singers. 0plural)
(. ompound sub,ects ,oined b$ and usuall$ re1uire a plural verb.
!".: .he manager and the emplo$ees attend their regular meeting.
7ote: If the nouns ,oined b$ and are considered as one unit, the verb is singular.
!".: ?read and butter is her breakfast.
). &ingular sub,ects joined by or or nor take a singular verb.
!".: !ither &usie or and$ is in the office.
7ote: #hen the sub,ects ,oined b$ or or nor is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with
the sub,ect nearer the verb.
!".: !ither the teacher or the students are in the g$m.
<$ friends or Andrew works at the all enter.
@. If the sub,ect consists of two nouns, each is preceded b$ 3the4, verb must be plural but if the
second noun is not preceded b$ 3the4, verb is singular.
(
!".: .he cook and the helper are left in the resto bar.
.he cook and helper is left in the resto bar.
A. Indefinite pronouns such as each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody,
everythin', somebody and someone re1uire singular verb.
!".: !ver$bod$ is re1uired to attend the program.
!ver$thing is in order.
!ach of the girls is invited to attend the part$.
B. Indefinite Pronouns such as all, both, many, several, few re1uire a plural verb.
!".: <an$ are e"pect to come.
?oth are interested in winning.
C. .he e"pression a number of is plural- the number is singular.
!".: A number of delegates are in the social hall.
.he number of pirac$ cases is alarming.
D. &any is plural- many a is singular.
!".: <an$ refuse to attend the seminar.
<an$ a participant in the pla$ prefers ad+lib.
E. 7ouns denoting 1uantit$, fraction, percentage, currenc$, take a singular verb, but if the$ are
followed b$ the phrase of the, the ob,ect of the phrase determines the number of the verb.
!".: AFG prefers hinese cuisine.
AFG of the emplo$ees prefer >ilipino dishes.
'F. 7ouns ending in s but singular in meaning is singular.
!".: Ph$sics is a difficult sub,ect.
''. 7ouns in pairs take plural verb, e"cept in the e"pression a (air of is used.
!".: .he pants are printed with logo.
A pair of pants is sold at a low price.
'(. A collective noun taken as one unit takes a singular verb. It is plural if ever$ member of the
group is thought of as an individual doing his own task.
!".: .he ,ur$ decides on the case.
.he ,ur$ sign the letter.
'). .he e"pressions to'ether with, as well as, includin', (lus, in addition to, accom(anied by
0intervening words after the sub,ect) do not affect the number of the sub,ect.
!".: .he contestant, together with the trainer, is given the permit to travel around the cit$.
.he student, as well as the teachers, sings in the program.

Pre(osition + is a word or group of words that shows the relationship between its ob,ect 0a noun or pronoun
that follows the preposition) and another word in the sentence. It indicates:
a) place and position + at, in, below, between, behind, across, above, through, beneath,
beside, near, under, along
b) direction and motion + in, towards, out, about, around, through, b$, down, over
c) time + at, before, after, during, since, until
!".: 7ena placed the bag under the table.
0under shows the relationship between the verb placed and the ob,ect of the preposition table)
Kinds
'. &imple + at, in, of, on, with, to
(. ompound + in front of, b$ means of
ommonl$ used Prepositions
aboard before e"cept inHonHat over up under
about behind but inside past upon among
above beneath b$ into since with between
across beside concerning like through within e"cept
after below despite of to underneath from
against besides during off toward throughout until
Conjunctions + connect individual word or group of words.
Kinds
'. coordinating + ,oins words, phrases or clauses of e1ual or same t$pes, e.g. and, but, or, nor, for, $et,
so
!".: It was cold and wind$ when we went to &ingapore.
(. correlative + are coordinate con,unctions used in pairs, e.g. either.. or, neither.. nor, but also,
whether..or, ,ust.. as, ,ust.. so, so.. as
!".: 7either I nor $ou should be in the caucus.
).subordinating + a word or group of words that connects and shows the relationship between two
clauses which are not e1uall$ important. It connects a dependent clause to an independent clause to
conve$ a complete thought or meaning.
)
!".: /e made a promise that he would soon return.
>re1uentl$ used &ubordinating on,unctions
after as soon as if though whenever
although as though in order that till where
as before since unless wherever
as if because so that until while
as long as even though than when
)nterjection + used to communicate strong emotion or surprise. It can be ver$ effective in adding realism to
dialogues. It is followed b$ an e"clamation mark 0I)
ommon inter,ections that e"press strong feeling or emotion
9o$ : /urrahI /u55aI
8rief : JhI ahI alasI alackI
Approval : ?ravoI
#eariness : /eigh + hoI
Attention : 6oI harkI hushI histI
*eproof : >ieI >ieI
ontempt or *idicule : &tuffI boshI tut+tutI PoohI pishI PshawI .ushI
$"A*)N% CO&P$"+"NS)ON
*eading omprehension tests measure $our master$ of the following reading skills:
'. getting the main idea
(. noting and locating details
). inferring
@. making generali5ations
A. predicting outcomes
B. using vocabular$ in conte"t
seful ti(s to im(rove your readin' com(rehension, *ead carefull$ the passage then read the
1uestions- skim or read the passage 1uickl$- go back to the passage to answer the 1uestions-
answer the difficult 1uestions last- and know the t$peHkind of 1uestions to be answered.
#y(es of $eadin' Com(rehension -uestions,
') 7oting and 6ocating 2etails +
a) 7oting 2etails. .his t$pe of 1uestion asks about specific information in the passage such a
a name, a date, or a number. It often begins with phrases like according to the author KK-
according to the passage KKK.o answer this t$pe of 1uestion, take note of the ke$ word or
words used in the 1uestion. .he correct answer ma$ come in the form of a s$non$m or a
restatement of the idea in the passage but not necessaril$ the e"act words as stated in the
passage.
b) :uestions about what is not in the passage. .his t$pe often asks what is not true according to
the passage or what is not found in the passage. It often bears the word 7J. or !L!P..
c) 6ocating 2etails. /ere $ou are asked where a particular information is found in the passage. It
is often introduced b$: #here in the passage did the author state that KKK.
#hich line shows the authorMs answer KKKKKKKK..
.o answer, scan the passage and look for the ke$ word or words used in the 1uestions.
".am(le /, $ead the (ara'ra(h that follows and choose the best answer from the choices
'iven,
/
.he dessert is a strange and wonderful laborator$ for the stud$ of animal life.
0
/ere, if one is properl$
endowed with patience and the power of observation, one finds the unusual and the uni1ue.
1
6ife is not
eas$ in an area where it does not rain for months- $et living creatures are to be found there in
abundance.
2
?ird, insect, snake, li5ard, mammal all have adopted themselves to their environment
and strange as it seem, the$, not onl$ survive but flourish, and the$ have developed man$ ingenious
wa$ of doing so.
3
#hen $ou live in a place where the harsh sun can be $our mortal enem$, the smart
thing to do is to sta$ out of the sun, so most of the dessert creatures are nocturnal in their habits and it
is at night that the dessert comes so wonderfull$ and vigorousl$ to life nor is the lack of water a
problem for these dessert creatures.
4
<oisture can be obtained from plants or from living things pre$ed
upon- so life goes on in a placid rh$thm.
'. According to the passage, animals living in the dessert have difficult$
a) getting water c) looking for food
b) adopting to their environment d) manufacturing their food
(. #hich of the following is NO# true to life in the dessert.
a) 6iving creatures are abundant. c) 6ife becomes active at da$time.
@
b) .he sun becomes oneMs mortal enem$. d) reatures are nocturnal in habits.
). In which sentence does the author show that life in the dessert is wonderful.
a) ' b) B c) @ d) A
".am(le 05 $ead the (ara'ra(h that follows and choose the best answer from the choices
'iven,
/
/orace Pippin, as an African+American soldier during #orld #ar I, was wounded in his right arm.
0
/e
discovered, however, that b$ keeping his right wrist stead$ with his left hand, he could paint and draw.
1
Pippin was not trained, but his artistic sensitivit$ and intuitive feel for two+dimensional design and the
arrangement of color and patterns made him one of the finest primitive artists America has produced.
2
Pippin did a series of paintings on the abolitionist 9ohn ?rown and one of his war e"periences, but he
shied awa$ from social issues for the most part and achieved his greatest success with scenes of the
people and places of his hometown of #est hester, Penns$lvania.
3
/is 2omino Pla$ers, featuring
four women gathered around a wooden table in a simple kitchen setting, is an e"cellent e"ample of his
rural scenes.
'. According to the passage, which of the following is NO# true about primitive art%
a) It is two+dimensional. c) Artists do not have to be trained for it.
b) olors and patterns are important. d) It is used primaril$ for painting portraits.
(. /orace Pippin discovered he could paint and draw.
a) when someone reminded him of his artistic sensitivit$ c) during #orld #ar I
b) b$ holding his right hand stead$ with his left hand d) when he completed his artistic training
). #here in the passage is the name of PippinMs hometown%
a) ' b) ( c) ) d) @
@. .he author includes the fact that Pippin was wounded
a) because violence was a ma,or theme in his paintings
b) as an e"ample of rural domestic scene
c) to show that he succeeded in spite of a handicap
d) in order to classif$ him as a primitive artist
++++++++++++++++++++
A. It ma$ be inferred from the passage that Pippin
a) was obsessed with the sub,ect of abolition c) had a simple upbringing
b) was devastated b$ his was e"periences d) wanted nothing to do with his past
B. .he word 3arrangement4 in sentence ) could be best replaced b$
a) purpose b) fi"ture c) composition d) blend
C. .he word 3rural4 in sentence A is closest in meaning to
a) primitive b) urban c) countr$ d) beautiful
D. .he word 3gathered4 in sentence A can be nest replaced b$
a) seated b) scattered c) collected d) domesticated
E. .he word 3intuitive4 in sentence ) is closest in meaning to
a) educated b) artistic c) intense d) instinctive
'F. .he phrase 3shied awa$ from4 in sentence @ is closest in meaning to
a) postponed b) avoided c) painted d) feared
''. .his passage would most likel$ be re1uired reading in which course%
a) Anthropolog$ b) drama c) &ociolog$ d) Art /istor$
'(. #ith which of the following statements would the author probabl$ agree%
a) /orace Pippin was a poorl$ trained, mediocre artist.
b) Primitive art is an e"cuse for lack of training and talent.
c) /orace Pippin made a significant contribution to American art.
d) /orace Pippin placed too much emphasis on social issues in his work.
05 %ettin' the &ain )dea
.his t$pe of 1uestion tests $our abilit$ to find outHget the central thought of the paragraph. It is the
most important idea in the passage or what the passage is about. It ma$ start with:
.he main topic of the passage is KKKK.
.he primar$ idea of the passage is KKKKKKK. or KKKKKK..
#hat is the main idea e"pressed in the passage%
#hat does the passage mainl$ discuss%
.he main idea should elate to the entire passage and not ,ust to one part of it. It should not be too
general that it goes be$ond the passage. hoices often mistaken as main ideas come in the form of:
a) &tatements that focus on one paragraph or a detail
b) &tatements that are too general or too specific or incorrect interpretations.
.r$ this sample item:
/A& <I&& K!7.J7 /A78!2%
A
/
>or the first twent$ or so minutes, I would sa$ we e"changed the sort of remarks strangers might- she
in1uired politel$ about m$ ,ourne$ thus far, how I was en,o$ing m$ holida$, which towns and landmarks
I had visited and so on.
0
As we continued to talk,

I must sa$ I thought I began to notice further, more
subtle changes which the $ears had wrought on her.
1
>or instance, <iss Kenton appeared, somehow,
slower.
2
It is possible this was simpl$ the calmness that comes with age, and I did tr$ had for some
time to see it as such.
3
?ut I could not escape the feeling life- the spark which once made her such a
livel$, and at times volatile person seemed now to have gone.
4
In fact,

ever$ now and then, when she
was not speaking, when her face was in repose, I thought I glimpsed something like sadness in her
e"pression.
6
?ut then again, I ma$ well have been mistaken about this.
#hich of the following best states the main idea of the paragraph%
a) <iss Kenton appeared largel$ unchanged over the $ears.
b) I was confused b$ <iss Kenton and unsure of what to make of her life.
c) Jld age comes to ever$one.
d) <iss Kenton seemed to have lost the optimism of her $outh..
e) I never knew <iss Kenton well.
15 Vocabulary7$eference -uestions
.hese 1uestions test $our abilit$ to get the meaning of unfamiliar words from their conte"t.
*eference 1uestions ask what certain reference words like the$, it, them or this refer to. .o answer,
substitute the choices given for the reference word. .he best substitute for it is the correct answer.
.r$ this:
Acid rain in the form of particles, snow and fog attacks a tree on all fronts. Airborne pollution settles
first on the highest treetops of the forest crown which acts as a natural windbreak. Acid
precipitation filters down the soil, eats awa$ the root s$stem and eventuall$ leaches out ke$
nutrients such as calcium and potassium and mobili5es to"ic metals like aluminum. Jnce on a leaf
or needle, acid rain disrupts the operation of the stomata, the tin$ openings that permit a tree to
3breath4. .he process of photos$nthesis is thrown off balance, and subtle changes take place in the
internal chemistr$ of the tree that result in discoloration and premature aging. >inall$, it washes
awa$ vital nutrients from the leaves and needle so that a tree slowl$ starves to death, its
respirator$, circulator$ and digestive s$stems crippled. #hen death comes, it is often due to
drought. <uch like an AI2& victim whose immune s$stem has broken down, the ailing tree is
lifeless against the ravages of nature.
hoose the correct referent of the underlined pronoun.
#hich refers to: a) airborne pollution c) dr$ particles
b) acid rain d) highest tree top
that refers to: a) operation c) stomata
b) acid rain d) leaf
it refers to: a) acid rain c) chemical changes
b) photos$nthesis d) premature aging
its refers to: a) the leaves a) the tree
b) the needles d) respirator$ and digestive
s$stems
whose refers to: a) s$stem c) treeMs s$stem
b) victim d) the leaves
.he ailing tree is left lifeless against the ravages of nature. *avages means:
a) ruin b) entrance c) rapture d) charm
B