Learn to Write Impeccable Functional English in 30 Days: Grammar Fundamentals for Professionals

By Indu Prakash and Karminder Ghuman, PhD

English is a medium of corporate and global communication. Therefore, having a good understanding of the fundamentals of the English language is an added advantage for a professional. Sound knowledge of grammar enables a person to express his/her ideas accurately and confidently.

Only those areas have been chosen that ‌confuse or put professionals in doubt. Awareness of these key basic rules, presented in a very simple manner, can add significant value to the English communication skills of working professionals.

The day-based learning schedule proposed in the book can help learners pace their learning in a slow yet steady manner. This book aim to guide professionals, content creators, and creative writers in a very user-friendly manner regarding how they can apply the grammar fundamentals in a very logical way to improve their writing skills as well as avoid the common mistakes and errors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
• Release date: Nov 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798890089038

Book preview

Day 1

Types of Sentences: Based on Different Functions

At the outset, it is important to understand that in the English language, there are four types of sentences, classified by their purpose. Different types of sentences convey different kinds of information as their purpose/ emphasis varies. If some sentences provide information, others ask a question or give a command or show a surprise. Therefore, these different types of sentences end with different types of punctuation marks.

Understanding the types of sentences helps in structuring thoughts and ideas effectively in writing and speech making communication clearer to the audience. A brief description of four major types of sentences based on their function with suitable examples is as follows:

1. Declarative or Assertive Sentences

These are statements that give us information or tell us something or make a definite assertion. These are confident statements related to a fact or belief and are of two types:

a. Positive-Assertive Sentence

My friends play football.

b. Negative-Assertive Sentence

My friends do not play golf.

2. Interrogative Sentences

A sentence that asks or seeks an answer or enquires about something is called an Interrogative sentence. So, when we ask a question, it is called an Interrogative sentence. It ends with the sign of interrogation (?)

a. Are they happy?

b. Have they received their books?

3. Imperative Sentences

A sentence that conveys or carries an order, direction, command, or request is called an Imperative sentence.

a. Run

b. Sit

c. Help

d. Shut up!

(Note: Even though each sentence above is a single word, yet such a single word implies hidden words or words that are automatically supplied according to the context in which they are spoken.)

Example:

a. If the coach said to his trainees: Run.

This would mean that each trainee has to start running.

N.B.: The first part in such sentences is understood. Generally, the first part or the first words is you or all of you.

a. You run.

b. You sit.

c. You help.

4. Exclamatory Sentence .

The sentences, which convey or express feelings of extreme surprise, joy, or grief, are called Exclamatory sentences. An exclamatory sentence ends with the sign of exclamation (!)

Example:

1. What a beautiful flower!

2. How awful the food is!

Summary:

Day 1

Kinds of Sentences Based on Sentence Structure

Sentence structure refers to the way words, clauses, and phrases are organized within a sentence to convey meaning. It involves the arrangement of elements within a sentence to create a grammatically correct and coherent expression. Different sentence structures can convey various meanings and emphasize different elements of the sentence. Different sentence structures can be used to create variety, rhythm, and emphasis in writing and speech, making the language more engaging and expressive. Before understanding the different sentence structures, it is important to understand that sentences typically consist of several key components described in brief as under:

Subject : The subject of a sentence indicates what or whom the sentence is about. It is a noun/pronoun and represents the main actor/topic of the sentence.

Predicate : The predicate is the part of the sentence that provides information about the subject. It includes the verb and often includes additional words that describe the action or state of the subject.

Verb : The verb is a crucial element of sentence structure as it indicates the action performed by the subject or describes the subject’s state. Verbs can be action verbs (e.g., run, write) or linking verbs (e.g., is, become).

Object: Some sentences include an object, which is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. There are two types of objects: direct objects (receive the action directly) and indirect objects (receive the action indirectly).

Complement : Complement are words or phrases that complete the meaning of the verb. For example, in a sentence like She is a doctor, a doctor is a complement that completes the verb is.

Modifiers : Modifiers are words or phrases that provide additional information about other words in the sentence. They can modify nouns (adjectives), verbs (adverbs), or even entire phrases.

Clauses : Sentences can contain one or more clauses, which are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb. Clauses can be independent (standalone as complete sentences) or dependent (cannot standalone and rely on an independent clause).

The arrangement of these components within a sentence follows specific grammatical norms, rules, and conventions. Hence, understanding sentence structure is crucial for effective communication as it allows writers and speakers to convey their thoughts and ideas clearly and accurately.

Learning different sentence structures is a fundamental aspect of understanding grammar. It ensures that one can construct sentences with correct syntax, which is crucial for writing and speaking effectively. Based on the structure of a sentence. Sentences can be classified under the following three major categories:

– Simple Sentence

– Complex Sentence

– Compound Sentence

1. Simple Sentence: A simple sentence contains one clause (one subject and one predicate). Predicate comprises either a verb or a verb and object.

(i) Birds fly.

(ii) I have bought a new pen.

(iii) Ravi and Rakesh play hockey.

(iv) Mahatma Gandhi preached and practiced non-violence.

Important: If a compound sentence is contracted into a simple sentence, there should be no comma before and.

2. Complex Sentence: A complex sentence contains one Principal Subject and one Principal Predicate (Main clause) and has one or more dependent clauses .

(i) I saw that something was wrong.

The part containing the principal Subject and Predicate (I saw) is the principal clause, the other part (something was wrong) is the Subordinate Clause. The word that is a conjunction, joining the two clauses.

The two clauses are joined by a comma if the dependent comes in the beginning before the subject of the sentence.

(ii) If you think so, you are wrong.

‘If you think so’ (the dependent clause). ‘you are wrong.’ (The main clause.)

(iii) When the manager returns, I shall ask him if he has received the books that you are expecting.

This complex sentence includes the main clause (I shall ask him); and other dependent clauses (when the manager returns); (if he has received the books); and (that you are expecting)

3. Compound Sentence: A compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences; two or more clauses of equal importance. These clauses make sense independently when used separately. Examples of the compound sentences are as under:

(i) I opened the door, and then Ravi came in. (Two independent clauses)

(ii) I opened the door, Ravi came in, and both of us felt overjoyed. (Three independent clauses.)

(iii) The sun rose, and mist disappeared.

(iv) He came out, but I did not see him.

N.B.: (i) The main conjunctions for making compound sentences are AND, OR, BUT

(ii) Note the insertion of a comma in all the four compound sentences.

Day 2

Where and How to Use: A, An, and The Articles

Introduction

The three articles in the English language, ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ are used before nouns for making their sense absolutely clear to the reader or the listener.

– Articles tell the quality (description) of a noun. They limit (a tree) or specify the noun (the tree).

– We also use an article before an adjective when an adjective precedes a noun (a tall tree).

Usage of Articles: Important Principles:

– We do not use articles when a noun is used in a general sense.

‘War’ is terrible.

‘War’ is used in the general sense. Therefore, we do not use ‘a’ here.

– Articles a and an should only be used with singular nouns. Using them with plural nouns, such as a books, is incorrect.

– Neglecting to use articles where necessary can also be an error. For example, I have cat should be I have a cat.

– ‘A war’ broke out.

An individual war is meant. It is not specified so far. Therefore, we use ‘a’.

– ‘The war’ ended after a month.

The same ‘war’ becomes particular. It is there in the mind of the speaker as well as the listener. Therefore, ‘the’ is used.

Classification of the Articles:

1. The Indefinite Articles: There are two indefinite articles: a and an

We put the indefinite article before a noun, which indicates something which is individual but not selected or distinguished from other things of the same kind.

1. I need a pen .

2. A tree fell down.

Important: The use of A/An depends on the sound of the letter/letters at the beginning of the next word and not the spelling of it.

a. The use of A

We use a for singular nouns beginning with consonant sounds.

A bag, a basket, a bird, a basket, a boat, a book.

I bought a pen. (Here, Pen, is individual, but not distinguished from other pens.)

Exceptions:

i. a is also used with some words beginning with a vowel with consonant sounds.

A union, A u-turn, A European, A eucalyptus, A utopian dream, A unit.

ii. A one Rupee coin, the sound of ‘one’ is not of a vowel, but of a consonant. (va)

iii. ‘a’ is also used before the words beginning with a hissing sound (of a snake) ‘h’.

A historic victory; a historic moment; a histrionic act.

b. The use of AN:

We use an for singular nouns beginning with vowel sounds.

E.g., An apple, an elephant, an Indian , an office, an umbrella.

Exceptions:

i. an can be used with consonants with vowel sounds

An M.A, An M. Com, An S. O. S.

ii. ‘an’ is used before the words beginning with silent ‘h’.

E.g., An hour, An honour, An honest man.

2. The Definite Article: There is one definite article: the

‘The’ is used before something (Noun) that is particular, or one of its kind, or is separated by definition from other similar things.

1. That is the book which I want. (particular)

2. The sun, the moon, the earth, the Ganga, the Indian Express (one of its kind)

3. The tallest tree, the best book. (Superlative also makes a thing one of its kind.)

4. The quality of wheat.

5. Where is the pen that I gave you? (a particular pen)

6. The best boy has come. (The superlative degree makes a thing alone of its kind.)

7. The boys of my class are disciplined. (A thing becomes separated and particular when we define it.)

When we define something, it becomes particular.

The words ‘of my class’ define ‘boys’ and therefore, make ‘boys’ particular. We apply ‘the’ before ‘boys’.

In a plural sense, an adjective may be used as a noun to denote a class of living beings and is preceded by ‘the.’

Example

(i) That country is a heaven for the rich, a purgatory for the able, and a hell for the poor.

(ii) The absent are guilty.

(iii) The sick and the wounded have been admitted to the hospital.

‘The’ is used also when we personify a person or thing as some other person or thing.

1. Mr. L.K. Advani is the Sardar Patel of the modern era.

2. Ravi is the Sachin Tendulkar of our cricket team.

3. When no Article is put:

a. Before a noun which is used in an abstract or general sense.

1. Experience matters.

2. Entertainment is important for every child.

3. ‘Boys’ play cricket.

‘Boys’ is used in the general sense. Therefore, we do not use any article.

b. We do not say ‘a gold’ (or ‘a snow’) because gold is not one of the things which are all present in front of us to be talked about or pointed at.

c. Similarly, a few things, which are very unlike natural things. These things are looked on as if they were name of substances; for this reason, we do not say ‘a learning’, ‘a behaviour’, or ‘ a damage.’

d. No article is used before proper nouns (names of people, villages, towns, cities, and nations, do not take any article) because a proper noun describes itself.

Examples :

1. Amit is my friend.

2. Ravi is my brother.

3. India is our country.

However, the United States of America, (the U.S.A. or the U.S.). The United Kingdom or (the U.K.), The Philippines (many Islands), The Netherlands (eleven Islands). They are names made particular by definitions.

e. The names of the week and the months too are proper nouns, and they also do not take any article. Example: I met Ravi on Monday. Rain starts from the month of July.

Exercise: Use ‘A’ or ‘An’