Basic Parts of Speech

(1) Nouns: refer to names of people, things, places or concepts

Flowers can be a good present.
Roy is a reliable accountant.
We are supposed to meet at the airport.

(2) Pronouns: substitute for nouns that are previously introduced

Tom is an engineer. He (=Tom) wants to study computers, too.

(3) Verbs: describe actions, experience or state of a subject

Julie runs every morning.
He is a smart and diligent student.

(4) Adjectives: modify nouns

She likes cute animals.
The flowers are very beautiful.

(5) Adverbs: modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, prepositional phrases or a whole sentence
His team did the work carefully.
Leslie is a very diligent person.
Bradley reviewed his contract extremely cautiously.
Unfortunately, Irene didnt get the award.

(6) Prepositions: precede nouns to show place, time, direction etc.

John is staying in his office right now.
You may send your resume by fax.
Cheese is made from milk.

(7) Conjunctions: join parts of a sentence

She is pretty and friendly.
I cant go because it is raining.

(8) Articles: indicate nouns and specify their application

The dog is running with a cat.

Basic Sentence Patterns

(1) Pattern 1 (S + V)
Typical verbs: arrive, rise, exist, appear, happen, take place, expire, emerge
The dog runs.
He studied very hard.
Last years sales rose dramatically.
Tim arrived at the conference later than the other managers.

(2) Pattern 2 (S + V + Complement)

Typical verbs: be, become, get, stay, remain
I am so happy.
Tom became a dentist.

(3) Pattern 3 (S + V + O)
Typical verbs: like, raise
I love flowers and plants.
The company raised their salaries.

(4) Pattern 4 (S + V + Indirect Object + Direct Object)

Typical verbs: give, make, bring, buy, offer, send, ask
Can you give me your e-mail address?
The firm offered Jim a good position.
We bought her a new laptop computer.
She asked me my name.

(5) Pattern 5 (S + V + 0 + Object Complement)

Typical verbs: keep, make, have, let, get, consider, regard
Please let me have your account information.
We consider Tracy the most successful web designer.
 Can you have the jacket washed?
The manager had all the employees work overtime.

CHECK-UP QUIZ
1. Please (submit / submission) your vacation request form to your boss.
2. A new manager was hired for the railway (constructive / construction).
3. Billy usually (goes / is) to work by subway but sometime he drives.
4. The computer learning device (is / likes) modern and effective.
5. (Man / The man) standing at the bus stop is my co-worker.
6. We decided to go to the (exhibition / exhibit) of Roman paintings.
7. My friend George studied hard and (became / appeared) a lawyer.
8. They (presented / presentation) the report on international market trends at the meeting.
9. A dictionary may be a wonderful (gift / good) if you are studying a foreign language.
10. You have to get the managers (approve / approval) before going on a business trip.

Nouns
A noun refers to the name of a person, thing, place or concept.
Thomas, student, lawyer
flower, cabinet, computer
Seoul, London, China
wealth, beauty, disappointment

Kinds of nouns
(1) Countable nouns: may be in singular or plural forms
Common nouns: Nouns that are not the name of any particular person, place, or thing (employee, computer, restaurant)
Collective nouns: Refer to all things or people considered as a unit
(family, team, committee)

(2) Uncountable nouns: always in singular form

Names of substances in general: Liquids or substances that do not have a fixed shape (water, food, money, rain)
Abstract notions: Feelings, emotions and concepts (love, English, history)

Main Functions of nouns

(1) Subject of a verb
The renovation job was satisfactory.
(2) Object of a verb or a preposition
They will start the renovation work next week.
The hospital is under construction.
(3) Head word of an adjective, article or a possessive
His team works very cooperatively.

Formation of nouns: (Suffixes)

-tion application, completion -y inquiry, security
-sion extension, compassion -ant attendant, applicant
-ure departure, exposure -ment enrollment, investment
-ance attendance, maintenance -sis basis, crisis
-al removal, denial -ness kindness, happiness

The formation of V-ing when an action is the subject or object of the main verb
Apply for the job is hard. (X) Applying
Applications must be received by Friday. (O)
They suggested develop a new product. (X) developing
They will start the development of a new product. (O)

Articles
A/an, the
(1) The indefinite article a/an precedes a countable noun when it is mentioned for the first time, meaning one.
We need to talk to a lawyer.
He ate an apple.
(2) The definite article the precedes a noun that has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time.
I met a girl. The girl was very kind.

The use of nouns and articles together

(1) Before a countable noun there must be an article (or a possessive). Before an uncountable noun there can be a
definite article (or a possessive), but not an indefinite article.
a person the flower his teacher
an information (x) the / your information
a knowledge (x) the / your knowledge
(2) Indefinite articles can precede singular nouns only.
A catalogs is also available on our company website, (x) A catalog
(3) Nouns must be in plural forms if there are no articles (or possessives) preceding them.
Applicant should have at least two years experience, (x) An applicant / Applicants
We ask customer to be careful with their bags, (x) customers
(4) Countable nouns in plural forms often do not take articles.
They are students.
We bought expensive chairs.
(5) Articles are not often used before uncountable nouns.
Registration forms are available for distribution in the reception area.

CHECK-UP QUIZ
1. (Competitive / Competition) may be a good thing while performing difficult tasks.
2. The (resign / resignation) of the manager disappointed the employees.
3. The (construction / constructive) of Central Hotel was successful.
4. Please let us have your bank account (inform / information) immediately.
5. Dortel negotiated with several major book (publishers / publishing) last year.
6. The (operate / operation) of photographic devices is not allowed in the museum.
7. People gain (access / accessible) to the Internet from their personal computers.
8. The company is responsible for all travel (expenses / expend).
9. (A / The) survey forms are available at the main office.
10. Her recent test scores declined in (comparison / compared) with last years.

Adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives
Functions
(1) Adjectives modify nouns.
We provide useful information on stock trading.
The company is experiencing big trouble in the international markets.
(2) Adjectives function as subject complements in the structure be / become / get /
remain / stay... + adjective.
Their products and services are reliable.
Our financial problems became manageable after a few months.
We should make an effort to remain competitive in the market.
(3) Adjectives can also function as object complements.
Everyone found the report satisfactory.
Pattys team made the proposal almost perfect.
John declared the goal impossible.

Formation (adjectival suffixes)

-able Considerable, reliable Realistic, specific
-ive Effective, impressive Famous, spacious
-ful Successful, respectful Significant, convenient
-tional Exceptional, intentional Private, moderate
-y Necessary, risky Costly, timely

Adverbs
Functions
(1) An adverb can modify a whole sentence.
Fortunately, we were able to complete the report on time.
(2) Adverbs modify verbs.
The team performed the project successfully.
An annual report may incorrectly predict the future market.
(3) Adverbs modify adjectives or other adverbs.
Mr. Kim is relatively productive compared to the other newcomers.
Our sales division staff worked extremely hard.
The project was finally finished.
(4) Adverbs modify prepositional phrases and adverbial clauses.
 Information on the job opening is downloadable directly from the website.
They started production promptly after the shipment arrived.

Notes on confusable adverbs

(1) late/lately
The speaker arrived at the workshop late. (= after the expected time)
Sales have increased lately. (= recently)
(2) hard/hardly
He should work hard to finish the report on time. (= diligently; attentively)
The manager hardly stays in his office. (= almost not)
(3) high/highly
The city is well known for its high office buildings. (= tall)
We offer a highly competitive salary. (= very)
(4) near/nearly
They built a shopping mall near a subway station. (= close to)
Attendance at the conference reached nearly 200 this year. (= almost)

P134