The Basics of English Grammar

Lesson Overview

Grammar is the framework of a language. It provides the rules for arranging words into meaningful expressions. Without grammar, communication would be confusing and chaotic. For WAEC English, grammar is tested directly in Paper 2 (Lexis and Structure) and indirectly in Paper 1 (Essay, Comprehension, and Summary) and Paper 3 (Orals).

This chapter introduces the parts of speech, sentence structure, and basic grammar rules every student must master.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

1. Define grammar and explain its importance.
2. Identify and explain the eight parts of speech in English.
3. Distinguish between different types of nouns (proper, common, concrete, abstract, countable, uncountable, collective, compound).
4. Use pronouns correctly in writing and speaking.
5. Apply the rules of verbs, tenses, and subject-verb agreement.
6. Use adjectives and adverbs appropriately.
7. Correctly employ prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections in sentences.
8. Recognize common grammatical errors and avoid them in WAEC exams.

Detailed Lesson Notes

1. What is Grammar?

Grammar is the set of rules that guide how words are formed, arranged, and related in a language to make meaning.

• It covers word forms (morphology) and sentence structure (syntax).
• For WAEC, mastery of grammar determines success in essays, comprehension, summary, and objective questions.

Example:
Wrong: She don’t like reading.
Correct: She doesn’t like reading.

2. The Parts of Speech

There are eight main parts of speech in English. Each has its own function in a sentence.

(a) Nouns – Naming Words

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

Types of Nouns:

1. Proper Nouns → Names of specific people, places, organizations, days, months.
   • Always capitalized.
   • Examples: Lagos, Mary, WAEC, Nigeria, Monday, July.
2. Common Nouns → General names of people, places, or things.
   • Examples: boy, girl, city, teacher, book.
3. Concrete Nouns → Things we can see, touch, hear, taste, or smell.
   • Examples: table, music, apple, perfume.
4. Abstract Nouns → Ideas, qualities, or states we cannot touch physically.
   • Examples: love, courage, beauty, freedom.
5. Collective Nouns → Words that represent a group.
   • Examples: team, class, audience, committee, flock.
6. Countable Nouns → Things that can be counted.
   • Examples: chairs, pens, students, books.
7. Uncountable Nouns (Mass Nouns) → Things that cannot be counted individually.
   • Examples: water, sugar, advice, information, rice.
8. Compound Nouns → Two or more words joined to make one noun.
   • Examples: mother-in-law, football, policeman.

Common Errors with Nouns in WAEC:

• Using uncountable nouns in plural form.
  Wrong: She gave me many informations.
  Correct: She gave me much information.

(b) Pronouns – Words that Replace Nouns

A pronoun is used to avoid repetition of a noun.

Types of Pronouns:

1. Personal Pronouns → I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
2. Possessive Pronouns → mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
3. Reflexive Pronouns → myself, yourself, themselves.
4. Relative Pronouns → who, whom, whose, which, that.
5. Demonstrative Pronouns → this, that, these, those.
6. Indefinite Pronouns → someone, anybody, each, few, none.
7. Interrogative Pronouns → who, whom, what, which.

Common Error:
Wrong: Each of the boys have a book.
Correct: Each of the boys has a book. (subject-verb agreement)

(c) Verbs – Action or State Words

A verb expresses an action or a state of being.

Types of Verbs:

1. Action Verbs → run, write, sing, eat.
2. Linking Verbs → is, am, are, was, were, seem, become.
3. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs → be, have, do, will, shall, may, can, must.
4. Transitive Verbs → require an object.
   • Example: He bought a car.
5. Intransitive Verbs → do not require an object.
   • Example: She sleeps early.

Verb Tenses:

• Present tense: I write.
• Past tense: I wrote.
• Future tense: I will write.
• Present perfect: I have written.

Subject-Verb Agreement Rule:

• Singular subject → singular verb.
• Plural subject → plural verb.
  The boy runs.
  The boys run.

(d) Adjectives – Describing Words

Adjectives describe or modify nouns.

Types of Adjectives:

1. Descriptive Adjectives → tall, beautiful, intelligent.
2. Quantitative Adjectives → some, many, few, little.
3. Demonstrative Adjectives → this, that, these, those.
4. Possessive Adjectives → my, your, our, their.
5. Interrogative Adjectives → which, what, whose.
6. Comparative and Superlative → taller, tallest; more beautiful, most beautiful.

(e) Adverbs – Words that Modify Verbs, Adjectives, or Other Adverbs

Adverbs tell us how, when, where, or to what extent an action happens.

Examples:

• She sings beautifully. (how)
• He came yesterday. (when)
• The children are playing outside. (where)
• She is very intelligent. (to what extent)

Types:

1. Adverb of manner.
2. Adverb of time.
3. Adverb of place.
4. Adverb of degree.
5. Adverb of frequency.

(f) Prepositions – Position/Relationship Words

Prepositions show the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word.

Examples: in, on, at, under, beside, between, over, with, by.

WAEC Pitfall:
Wrong: She is married with a doctor.
Right: She is married to a doctor.

(g) Conjunctions – Joining Words

Conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauses.

Types:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions → and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so.
2. Subordinating Conjunctions → because, although, since, when, while, if.
3. Correlative Conjunctions → either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also.

(h) Interjections – Emotional Words

Interjections are short exclamations that express strong feelings.

Examples: Oh!, Wow!, Alas!, Hurray!, Ouch!

3. Common Grammar Errors in WAEC

• Wrong concord: Wrong: The list of items are long. → Right: The list of items is long.
• Double negatives: Wrong: I don’t know nothing. → Right: I don’t know anything.
• Misuse of pronouns: Wrong: Between you and I. → Right: Between you and me.
• Wrong preposition: Wrong: He is good in Mathematics. → Right: He is good at Mathematics.

Key Points / Summary

• Grammar is the backbone of communication and WAEC English.
• Mastery of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections is compulsory.
• Always watch for subject-verb agreement, tense usage, and word choice.
• WAEC frequently sets objective questions on grammar rules.

 

Practice Questions (30)

Section A – Short Answer

1. Define grammar in one sentence.
2. List five types of nouns with examples.
3. What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
4. Correct this sentence: Each of the students have passed.
5. Give two examples each of abstract and collective nouns.
6. What are reflexive pronouns? Give two examples.
7. Identify the pronoun in this sentence: She gave me her book.
8. Write two sentences using auxiliary verbs.
9. Give one example of a transitive verb in a sentence.
10. Write one example each of comparative and superlative adjectives.

Section B – Multiple Choice

11. Which of these is a proper noun?
    a) teacher
    b) Abuja
    c) city
    d) boy
12. The plural of child is …
    a) childs
    b) children
    c) childes
    d) child
13. Which sentence is correct?
    a) The news are good.
    b) The news is good.
    c) The news were good.
    d) The news be good.
14. Which is an example of an abstract noun?
    a) Table
    b) Courage
    c) Book
    d) Apple
15. Identify the adjective: The tall boy runs fast.
    a) tall
    b) boy
    c) runs
    d) fast
16. Which is an adverb of frequency?
    a) quickly
    b) often
    c) beautiful
    d) heavy
17. Which is a subordinating conjunction?
    a) and
    b) but
    c) because
    d) or
18. Which of these is an uncountable noun?
    a) rice
    b) car
    c) book
    d) chair
19. The correct pronoun in this sentence is: Between you and …, the teacher is kind.
    a) I
    b) me
    c) mine
    d) myself
20. Which is an interjection?
    a) slowly
    b) Wow!
    c) because
    d) near

Section C – Sentence Correction

21. The boy have a pen. (Correct it)
22. She don’t like oranges. (Correct it)
23. He is good in English. (Correct it)
24. They sings beautifully. (Correct it)
25. I don’t know nothing about it. (Correct it)

Section D – Essay Practice

26. Write five sentences showing different types of pronouns.
27. Write three sentences using transitive verbs and underline the objects.
28. Write a short paragraph of 5 sentences about “My Best Friend” using at least three adjectives.
29. Write five sentences using adverbs of manner.
30. Write a composition of 150 words on: “Why Grammar is Important in WAEC English.”

Answer Key to Practice Questions

Section A – Short Answer

1. Grammar is the system of rules that guide how words are arranged to form correct sentences.
2. Proper (Lagos), Common (boy), Concrete (chair), Abstract (love), Collective (team).
3. Countable can be counted individually (books), uncountable cannot (water).
4. Correct: Each of the students has passed.
5. Abstract: freedom, honesty; Collective: class, flock.
6. Pronouns referring back to the subject: myself, themselves.
7. She and her are pronouns.
8. I have eaten. / She is reading.
9. He bought a car. (verb = bought).
10. Comparative: taller; Superlative: tallest.

Section B – Multiple Choice

11. b) Abuja
12. b) children
13. b) The news is good.
14. b) Courage
15. a) tall
16. b) often
17. c) because
18. a) rice
19. b) me
20. b) Wow!

Section C – Sentence Correction

21. The boy has a pen.
22. She doesn’t like oranges.
23. He is good at English.
24. They sing beautifully.
25. I don’t know anything about it.

Section D – Essay Practice

(Answers will vary, but teachers should check for correct usage of grammar, parts of speech, and structure.)