ESSENTIAL

ENGLISH
GRAMMAR
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL

by
Y. A. AYOUB
The picture on the cover shows school children of
Vuillemin Govt School in 2006.

-2-
Dear fellow friends,

I am a primary school teacher from Mauritius (an island in the Indian Ocean).

While teaching English to kids of 10 & 11 years old I realised that they needed a little
booklet with some essentials grammar that they could use as reference. So I compiled all
that you can see in the following pages.

I saw dramatic changes, in the kids. They were doing their homework with more joy. Each
time they were researching the booklet and found that English exercises are easy to do.
Later on in less than two months they almost knew it well.

However I still consider that the most important aspect of English communication is the
ability to read and write in English. Thereafter success starts when the kids have mastered
the various grammatical difficulties.

A little caution is that this booklet must be used by the kids after explanation by the teacher
or a parent. Simple exercises must be given to them and telling them to look at such or such
pages. Emphasis must not be put on learning by heart. These are not songs or poems that
a kid needs to learn by heart. After doing some constant grammar exercises the kid would
undoubtedly master the whole booklet.

Names appearing in the booklet at the verbs section are mainly of my students in 2002
when I first compiled all that is found here.

If however u see any mistakes or have any other idea u may get into contact with me on
yussufay@hotmail.com

Make Education a priority.

Yousoof A. Ayoub

27 February 2010

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 Comparison of Adjectives
Positive Comparative Superlative
bald balder baldest
black blacker blackest
bold bolder boldest
brief briefer briefest
bright brighter brightest
broad broader broadest
calm calmer calmest
cheap cheaper cheapest
clean cleaner cleanest
clear clearer clearest
clever cleverer cleverest
cold colder coldest
cool cooler coolest
dark darker darkest
dear dearer dearest
deep deeper deepest
dull duller dullest
dumb dumber dumbest
faint fainter faintest

-4-
fair fairer fairest
fast faster fastest
Positive Comparative Superlative
few fewer fewest
firm firmer firmest
fresh fresher freshest
full fuller fullest
grand grander grandest
great greater greatest
green greener greenest
hard harder hardest
harsh harsher harshest
high higher highest
keen keener keenest
kind kinder kindest
lean leaner leanest
light lighter lightest
long longer longest
loud louder loudest
low lower lowest
mean meaner meanest
mild milder mildest
narrow narrower narrowest

-5-
near nearer nearest
neat neater neatest

Positive Comparative Superlative

new newer newest
old older oldest
plain plainer plainest
plump plumper plumpest
poor poorer poorest
proud prouder proudest
quick quicker quickest
quiet quieter quietest
rich richer richest
rough rougher roughest
shallow shallower shallowest
sharp sharper sharpest
short shorter shortest
slow slower slowest
small smaller smallest
smart smarter smartest
smooth smoother smoothest
soft softer softest
straight straighter straightest
strong stronger strongest

-6-
sweet sweeter sweetest
tall taller tallest

Positive Comparative Superlative

thick thicker thickest
tight tighter tightest
tough tougher toughest
vain vainer vainest
warm warmer warmest
weak weaker weakest
young younger youngest

Positive Comparative Superlative

big bigger biggest
cruel crueller cruellest
dim dimmer dimmest
fat fatter fattest
fit fitter fittest
flat flatter flattest
glad gladder gladdest
grim grimmer grimmest
mad madder maddest
red redder reddest
sad sadder saddest
slim slimmer slimmest

-7-
thin thinner thinnest
wet wetter wettest

Positive Comparative Superlative

-8-
angry angrier angriest
bushy bushier bushiest
busy busier busiest
chubby chubbier chubbiest
clumsy clumsier clumsiest
cosy cosier cosiest
crafty craftier craftiest
crazy crazier craziest
creamy creamier creamiest
deadly deadlier deadliest
dirty dirtier dirtiest
dry drier driest
early earlier earliest
easy easier easiest
empty emptier emptiest
friendly friendlier friendliest
funny funnier funniest
gloomy gloomier gloomiest
glossy glossier glossiest
hairy hairier hairiest

Positive Comparative Superlative

-9-
 happy happier happiest
hasty hastier hastiest
hearty heartier heartiest
heavy heavier heaviest
holy holier holiest
hungry hungrier hungriest
jolly jollier jolliest
lazy lazier laziest
lively livelier liveliest
lonely lonelier loneliest
lucky luckier luckiest
merry merrier merriest
milky milkier milkiest
muddy muddier muddiest
naughty naughtier naughtiest
noisy noisier noisiest
oily oilier oiliest
rosy rosier rosiest
salty saltier saltiest
shabby shabbier shabbiest
silly sillier silliest
speedy speedier speediest

Positive Comparative Superlative

- 10 -
 tasty tastier tastiest
thirsty thirstier thirstiest
tidy tidier tidiest
tiny tinier tiniest
tricky trickier trickiest
ugly uglier ugliest
wealthy wealthier wealthiest
witty wittier wittiest

Positive Comparative Superlative

bad worse worst

good / well better best
far further furthest
far farther farthest
little less least
much / many more most

Positive Comparative Superlative

- 11 -
 able abler ablest
blue bluer bluest
close closer closest
eerie eerier eeriest
feeble feebler feeblest
fine finer finest
free freer freest
grave graver gravest
humble humbler humblest
large larger largest
late later latest
nice nicer nicest
noble nobler noblest
pale paler palest
pure purer purest
rare rarer rarest
rude ruder rudest
safe safer safest
simple simpler simplest
strange stranger strangest
vague vaguer vaguest
white whiter whitest
wide wider widest
wise wiser wisest

Positive Comparative Superlative

- 12 -
agile more agile most agile
ancient more ancient most ancient
awful more awful most awful
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
careful more careful most careful
cautious more cautious most cautious
comfortable more comfortable most comfortable
dangerous more dangerous most dangerous
difficult more difficult most difficult
distant more distant most distant
drunk more drunk most drunk
eager more eager most eager
essential more essential most essential
excellent more excellent most excellent
expensive more expensive most expensive
faithful more faithful most faithful
famous more famous most faithful
fantastic more fantastic most fantastic
fearful more fearful most fearful
foolish more foolish most foolish
glorious more glorious most glorious
gorgeous more gorgeous most gorgeous

Positive Comparative Superlative

- 13 -
gracious more gracious most gracious
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
interesting more interesting most interesting
just more just most just
loyal more loyal most loyal
modest more modest most modest
musical more musical most musical
necessary more necessary most necessary
obedient more obedient most obedient
obstinate more obstinate most obstinate
patient more patient most patient
punctual more punctual most punctual
rapid more rapid most rapid
real more real most real
religious more religious most religious
respectable more respectable most respectable
ridiculous more ridiculous most ridiculous
rotten more rotten most rotten
satisfactory more satisfactory most satisfactory
serious more serious most serious
sincere more sincere most sincere

Positive Comparative Superlative

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slippery more slippery most slippery
stubborn more stubborn most stubborn
terrible more terrible most terrible
timid more timid most timid
tired more tired most tired
unique more unique most unique
valuable more valuable most valuable
violent more violent most violent

Antonyms or Opposites

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absent present generous selfish / stingy
arrive depart hard soft
asleep awake heavy light
bad good high low
beautiful ugly humble proud
bent straight large tiny
better worse long short
big small new old
bitter sweet old young
black white open shut
brave cowardly polite rude
bright dull / dark poor rich
cheap expensive tame wild
clean dirty vague clear
clever stupid wide narrow
coarse smooth broad narrow
cold hot
cruel kind
deep shallow accept refuse
depth height attack defend
difficult easy buy sell
dry wet come go
early late divide unite / join
far near fail succeed
fat thin / lean forget remember
first last found lost
foolish wise give receive / take

hate love above below

learn teach apart together

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praise condemn in out
punish reward here there
reveal conceal front back
win lose
a little much
this that always never
these those everywhere nowhere
few many
friendly hostile
hurry up slow down
often seldom

alive dead land sea

answer question listener speaker
day night maximum minimum
defeat victory miser spendthrift
die live moving stationary
dwarf giant noise silence
east west (noisy) (quiet)
enemy friend (noisily) (silently)
entrance exit north south
evening morning opaque transparent
fair-play foul-play peace war
future past plural singular
guest host poverty prosperity
guilty innocent private public
junior senior summer winter

advantage disadvantage balance imbalance

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 mobile
agree disagree modest immobile
appear disappear moral immodest
approve disapprove mortal immoral
arm disarm patient immortal
comfort discomfort perfect impatient
connect disconnect polite imperfect
content discontent possible impolite
continue discontinue proper impossible
favour disfavour pure improper
honest dishonest impure
harmony disharmony regular
reparable irregular
loyal disloyal
resistible irreparable
obey disobey
respective irresistible
order disorder responsible irrespective
please displease reverent irresponsible
pleasure displeasure irreverent
qualify disqualify
trust distrust behave
calculate misbehave
Unite Disunite
direct miscalculate
fit misdirect
legal illegal manage misfit
legible illegible
mismanage
legitimate illegitimate
literate illiterate

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accurate inaccurate aware unaware
adequate inadequate bend unbend
appropriate inappropriate canny uncanny
complete incomplete certain uncertain
considerable inconsiderable clean unclean
convenient inconvenient common uncommon
correct incorrect conscious unconscious
curable incurable countable uncountable
dependent independent cover uncover
discipline indiscipline do undo
efficient inefficient dress undress
experience inexperience faithful unfaithful
famous infamous fit unfit
fertile infertile healthy unhealthy
firm infirm like unlike
human inhuman load unload
sane insane natural unnatural
secure insecure pleasant unpleasant
sufficient insufficient popular unpopular
visible invisible qualified unqualified
reasonable unreasonable
careful careless seen unseen
cheerful cheerless tidy untidy
hopeful hopeless tie untie
joyful joyless truth untruth
merciful merciless usual unusual
painful painless well unwell
pitiful pitiless
useful useless

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ascend descend external internal
encourage discourage increase decrease
exclude include inferior superior
export import inside outside
exterior interior inward outward

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 COUNTABLE NOUNS
Singular Plural Singular Plural
ash ashes buffalo buffaloes
brush brushes cargo cargoes
bush bushes echo echoes
dish dishes hero heroes
fish fishes (fish) potato potatoes
wish wishes tomato tomatoes

beach beaches banjo banjos

bench benches halo halos
church churches photo photos
match matches piano pianos
torch torches radio radios
watch watches solo solos
witch witches zero zeros

bus buses alley alleys

class classes boy boys
gas gases day days
glass glasses donkey donkeys
princess princesses monkey monkeys
Waitress waitresses valley valleys
kiss kisses way ways

box boxes
fox foxes
tax taxes

- 21 -
Singular Plural Singular Plural

ally allies calf calves

army armies elf elves
aunty aunties half halves
baby babies hoof hooves (hoofs)
body bodies leaf leaves
city cities loaf loaves
country countries thief thieves
cry cries scarf scarves
daisy daisies shelf shelves
diary diaries self selves
dictionary dictionaries sheaf sheaves
factory factories wolf wolves
fairy fairies wharf wharves (wharfs)
ferry ferries
fly flies wife wives
lady ladies life lives
library libraries knife knives
lorry lorries
ministry ministries cliff cliffs
party parties cuff cuffs
pony ponies gulf gulfs
puppy puppies roof roofs
story stories
university universities

- 22 -
 Singular Plural Singular Plural
bacterium bacteria
die dice man men
larva larvae woman women
oasis oases gentleman gentlemen
radius radii policeman policemen
postman postmen
boy-friend boy-friends salesman salesmen
brother-in- brothers-in-
law law foot feet
girl-friend girl-friends goose geese
mother-in mothers-in- tooth teeth
law law
son-in-law sons-in-law door doors
step- step- floor floors
daughter daughters
roof roofs
step-son step-sons
child children
runner-up runners-up
ox oxen
passer-by passers-by
onlooker onlookers
cannon cannon(cannons)
handwriting handwritings
deer deer
handful handfuls
fish fish (fishes)
cupful cupfuls
cattle cattle
mouse-trap mouse-traps
zebra zebra
giraffe giraffe
mouse mice
sheep sheep
louse lice
salmon Salmon

- 23 -
COUNTABLE NOUNS, WHICH ARE ALWAYS IN THE
PLURAL

bellows headquarter series tongs

belonging s species trousers
s pliers spectacles tweezers
binoculars pyjamas tights wages
braces scales
clothes scissors

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Those which are always in the Singular form

air dirt ink rice
atmosphere electricity jam sand
attention equipment knowledge sight
barley fever labour silk
beauty fire light smoke
bread food machinery space
butter furniture meat traffic
cloth furniture medicine water
cotton honesty medicine wheat
darkness informatio rain wood
n

Uncountable nouns which are always in the Plural

news
athletics measles politics
physics
mathematics mumps rickets

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 GENDER

Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine

actor actress count countess
bachelor spinster duke duchess
boy girl emperor empress
bridegroom bride king queen
brother sister prince princess
father mother sultan sultana
gentleman lady
grandfather grandmother billy-goat nanny-goat
grandpa grandma boar sow
heir heiress buck doe
hero heroine bull cow
husband wife bullock heifer
lad lass cock hen
manager manageress deer hind
master mistress dog bitch
monk nun drake duck
nephew niece gander goose
shepherd shepherdes horse mare
sir s ox cow
son madam ram ewe
steward daughter stag hind
uncle stewardess stallion mare
waiter aunt
widower waitress
wizard widow
witch

- 25 -
 Irregular verbs
Present Tense
Plural Singular Present Past Past
verb / verbs Participle Tense Participle
Infinitive

- 26 -
are (to be) am / is being was / were been
begin begins beginning began begun
bite bites biting bit bitten
blow blows blowing blew blown
break breaks breaking broke broken
bring brings bringing brought brought
build builds building built built
burn burns burning burnt burnt
buy buys buying bought bought
catch catches catching caught caught
choose chooses choosing chose chosen
come comes coming came come
cut cuts cutting cut cut
dig digs digging dug dug
do does doing did done
draw draws drawing drew drawn
drink drinks drinking drank drunk
drive drives driving drove driven
eat eats eating ate eaten
fall falls falling fell fallen
feed feeds feeding fed fed
feel feels feeling felt felt
fight fights fighting fought fought

Present Tense
Plural Singular Present Past Past
verb / verbs Participle Tense Participle
infinitive

- 27 -
find finds finding found found
fly flies flying flew flown
forget forgets forgetting forgot forgotten
forgive forgives forgiving forgave forgiven
freeze freezes freezing froze frozen
get gets getting got got
give gives giving gave given
go goes going went gone
grow grows growing grew grown
have has having had had
hear hears hearing heard heard
heave heaves heaving hove hove
hide hides hiding hid hidden
hit hits hitting hit hit
hold holds holding held held
hurt hurts hurting hurt hurt
keep keeps keeping kept kept
kneel kneels kneeling knelt knelt
know knows knowing knew known
lay lays laying laid laid
lie (down) lies lying lay lain
lie lies lying lied lied
lead leads leading led led
learn learns learning learnt learnt
leave leaves leaving left left
Present Tense
Plural Singular Present Past Past
verb / verbs Participle Tense Participle
infinitive

- 28 -
light lights lighting lit lit
lose loses losing lost lost
make makes making made made
meet meets meeting met met
pay pays paying paid paid
ride rides riding rode ridden
ring rings ringing rang rung
rise rises rising rose risen
run runs running ran run
saw saws sawing sawed sawn
see sees seeing saw seen
sell sells selling sold sold
shake shakes shaking shook shaken
shine shines shining shone shone
shoot shoots shooting shot shot
show shows showing showed shown
shut shuts shutting shut shut
sing sings singing sang sung
sink sinks sinking sank sunk
sit sits sitting sat sat
sleep sleeps sleeping slept slept
speak speaks speaking spoke spoken
spend spends spending spent spent

Present Tense
Plural Singular Present Past Past
verb / verbs Participle Tense Participle
infinitive

- 29 -
stand stands standing stood stood
steal steals stealing stole stolen
swim swims swimming swam swum
swing swings swinging swung swung
take takes taking took taken
teach teaches teaching taught taught
tear tears tearing tore torn
tell tells telling told told
think thinks thinking thought thought
throw throws throwing threw thrown
wake wakes waking woke woken
write writes writing wrote written

VERBS

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1. THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

• is used for general truth

• is used for habitual actions
• is used with the following words:
always; often; sometimes; most of the times; daily; weekly;
monthly; yearly; usually; rarely; everyday; every month; every
year; every morning…

• NEGATIVE, INTERROGATIVE & QUESTION TAGS

1. The boys eat their lunch in the classroom everyday.

The boys do not eat their lunch in the classroom everyday.
Do the boys eat their lunch in the classroom everyday?
The girls usually play volleyball in the yard, don’t they?
Kersley and I don’t like naughty pupils, do we?

2. Mother goes to the market every Saturday.

Mother does not go to the market every Saturday.
Does mother go to the market every Saturday?
Anouchka sings very well, doesn’t she?
My grandfather does not like cold drinks, does he?

3. We are good children.

We are not good children.
Are we good children?
I am in the classroom, aren’t I?
He is not there, is he?

2. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

- 31 -
 (The present continuous tense is also known as the Present
Progressive)

is used to show an action which is still going on and is not

yet completed
is used with the following words:
now; at this moment; at present; still;
is used with the following expressions: Look! Wait! Listen!

NEGATIVE, INTERROGATIVE & QUESTION TAGS

1. We are playing football at this moment.

We are not playing football at this moment.
Are we playing football at this moment?
Tico and Goulou are going to school, aren’t they?
You aren’t hiding from me, are you?

2. Dad is listening to the music now.

Dad is not listening to the music now.
Is dad listening to the music now?
Vikash is singing a beautiful song, isn’t he?
I am standing on the top of the Pouce Mountain, aren’t I?
I am not sitting on the floor, am I?

3. THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

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 • The simple past tense is used for action already
completed in the past.
• Is used with the following words: yesterday; this
morning; ago; formerly; in the past; last week / month / year;
recently; just now…

• NEGATIVE, INTERROGATIVE & QUESTION TAGS

1. Mum ate a big apple yesterday.
Mum didn’t eat a big apple yesterday.
Did Mum eat a big apple yesterday?
Dilouven spoke the truth, didn’t he?
Laetitia didn’t play with her doll, did she?

4. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

(The past continuous tense is also known as the past
progressive)

• The past continuous tense is used to describe an action

which was still going on while another past action was already
completed.
[One verb is in the simple past tense and the other verb is in
the past continuous tense]
• Is used with the following words: while; as; when.

Examples:
1. While Belle was sleeping she dreamt of the
school.
2. As Cololo was cycling he fell down.
3. When I arrived at the school my friends were
playing.

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5. THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
• The present perfect tense is used to describe an action
which has been completed.

[The present perfect tense has two parts: verb to have in

the present tense and the other verb must be written in
the past participle.]

• Is used with the following words: already; ever; never;

just; since; for; twice; yet.

Examples: 1. Maroushka has already gone to Port-Louis.

2. I have written on the blackboard twice.
3. A deer has just run in front of us.

6. THE PAST PERFECT TENSE

• The past perfect tense is used to describe an action which
was completed before another action in the past
[one verb is in the simple past tense and the other in the past
perfect tense]
• Is used with the following words: after; before; already;
when; just

Examples:
1. After Selvina had played badminton she returned home.
2. I had done my homework before mum asked me.
3. Kevin told me that he had already eaten his lunch.
4. Andy had already spent his money when he saw Andrew.

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7. THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
TENSE

• The present perfect continuous tense is used

to describe an action started in the past but not yet
completed at the time of speaking.
[ the verb has 3 parts (i) has or have (ii) been and (iii) the
present participle of the verb ]
• It is used with the following words: since,
for

Examples:
1. I have been waiting for you since this morning.
2. My cousin has been working for more than five hours.

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8. THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

• The simple future tense is used for an action that will take
place later.
• Is used with the following words: tomorrow; tonight; soon;
hence; this afternoon; next week / month / year…
• Is used with if, unless, until, when, as soon as + the
present tense

Examples: 1. I shall do my homework tonight.

2. Morgheeni and Yorgheeni will visit the museum
tomorrow.
3. If Steevie comes to school he will play in our team.
4. As soon as you give me the book I shall read it.

• The future tense is also used with

after, before, when + the present perfect tense

Examples: 1. After Kayzy has finished his classwork he will

have the sweets.

• NEGATIVE, INTERROGATIVE & QUESTION TAGS

1. The girl will talk to her next Saturday.
2. The girl will not talk to her next Saturday.
3. Will the girl talk to her next Saturday?
4. Jeff will fish in the lagoon, won’t he?
5. Sadmee and I shall play tennis tomorrow, shan’t we?

- 36 -
9. THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

• The future continuous tense is used to describe an

action in progress at some time in the future.

Examples: At this time tomorrow Nushreen will be flying to

Dubai.

10. THE CONDITIONAL TENSE

• One verb in the past and the other one in the conditional
• If + past tense = conditional
• The conditional tense is also called future in the past

(to be)
I should be
You would be
He would be
We should be
They would be

Examples:
If Elodie found the money she would have told Nadia.
Devin told me that he would climb Le Pouce Mountain.

- 37 -
11. THE GERUND

• The Gerund ends in ing

• A Gerund can act as a noun and an adjective.
• Before a gerund articles: a, an, the can be used
• Prepositions are also often used before a gerund.

Examples: 1. Swimming is a good exercise.

2. Collecting stamps is Anu’s favourite hobby.
3. The chirping of the birds is melodious to listen.
4. Brayan is very good at drawing.
5. A toothbrush is used for brushing one’s teeth.
6. Anju and Fleurette enjoy singing and dancing.
7. Garrick likes talking on the phone.

12. THE PAST PARTICIPLE

• The past participle is used after has, have, had

Examples: 1. Francesca has eaten her bread.

2. Hansley and Gianto have been to the beach.
3. Stephanie had prepared the juice.

• Is used in passive sentences.

Examples: 1. The answer is known by Kareshma.
2. The trees are being planted by Iteen and Vikash.

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13. THE INFINITIVE
The infinitive is the verb which does not change its form at all
Examples: 1. This calculation is difficult to do.
2. It takes a lot of hard work to succeed.
3. Christelle saw the burglar break into the house.

14. THE SUPPOSITIONAL PAST

(Subjunctive mood)

It is also called the unreal past. It’s a set of verb forms (moods)
used to express doubt, wishes, situations that do not actually
exist.
After the following words the past tense is used:
I wish, as if, as though, if only, I’d rather, suppose!

Examples:
1. I wish you knew me at that time.
2. I feel as if the dog understood everything.
3. Suppose he came here at this moment!
4. I wish she were here to see me getting this prize.

- 39 -
 When a Singular verb is used
1. An uncountable noun is used with a singular verb
Examples: 1. Milk is good for our body.
2. The smoke rises up in the sky.

2. Everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody,

everyone, someone, anyone, no one, one,
none, one of, more than one, each, every,
either, neither, another, either of, neither of
are the words which take the singular verbs

Examples:
1. Everybody eats food everyday.
2. Someone is knocking at the door at this moment.
3. One of them sings very well.
4. Each of the girls likes to eat ice-cream.
5. Either of the pupils in our class likes Nasraddin’s story.
6. Neither parents wants their daughter to do scuba diving.

3. ‘some’, ‘most’ and ‘all’ take the singular verb if used

with singular uncountable nouns.
Examples: 1. Some of the money was spent by me.
2. All furniture of this room is black.

- 40 -
 4. Collective nouns (in singular) take singular verb
Examples: 1. A swarm of bees always flies around the hive.
2. The staff of teachers works very hard to make the pupils succeed.
3. There is a shoal of fish near the small island.

5. Singular noun followed be ‘as well as’, ‘with’, ‘together

with’, ‘like’, ‘in addition to’, ‘accompanied by’ always take
the singular verb.

Examples:
1. John Lee, as well as his sister, lives in Rodrigues
2. The table, together with the six chairs, costs two thousand rupees
3. My father, like all people, works very hard

6. When two singular nouns (or subjects) are joined by:

‘either……..or’, ‘neither……. Nor’

Examples: 1. Either Roshan or Shameem has a computer.

2. Neither Shireen nor Yasmin likes to lie.

7. ‘Much’ and ‘little’ takes singular verbs

Examples: 1. Much electricity costs a lot of money.

2. A little of sugar is enough to give a lot of energy.

- 41 -
 Collective nouns
A flock of birds
A herd of cows, cattle, buffaloes
A clump of trees
A swarm of bees, insects
A gang of workmen, labourers, thieves
A shoal of fish
A school of fish, whales, dolphins
A bouquet of flowers
A bunch of flowers
A bunch of bananas, grapes
A collection of pictures, stamps
A pack of dogs
A pack of cards
A suit of clothes
A block of flats
A party of friends
A staff of teachers
A team of players
A troupe of dancers
A set of tools
A litter of puppies
An army of soldiers

- 42 -
 ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE
Present Tense
Active: Samuella eats rice.
Passive: Rice is eaten by Samuella.

Active: The boys play football.

Passive: Football is played by the boys
Active: Do the teachers drink tea?
Passive: Is tea drunk by the teachers?

In the passive voice the verb is introduced by the verb to be (in

the tense of the verb in Active Voice) and the verb is always
changed into the past participle.
Observe the verb to be in the passive voice, it is always in the
present tense (is, are) when the sentence of the active voice is in
the present tense.

Past Tense

Active: They bought cakes.

Passive: Cakes was bought by them.

Active: Did they buy cakes?

Passive: Were cakes bought by them?

Here the verb to be is in the past tense (was, were) because the
sentence in the active voice is in the past tense.

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Present Continuous Tense
Active: We are sweeping the floor.
Passive: The floor is being swept by us.

Active: Is Siddick driving the car?

Passive: Is the car being driven by Siddick?

Since the sentence in the active voice is in the Present

Continuous Tense, the verb to be in the Passive voice sentence
is in the Present Continuous Tense (is being, are being)

© Yousoof A. AYOUB
st
1 publication June 2002
New revised: February 2010

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