Preface

Preface                                                     

        This is the third level of English grammar.   It is a bit more and harder than second level of English grammar.  Basically, the items included are more or less the same.  English grammar is the studies of word forms (word classes / parts of speech) and their uses in a sentence.                         

With the emphasis of the forms and functions, I hope to create the awareness of how different word classes function in a sentence.  With this consciousness, you are in the better position to learn the language well.  If you know all the rules of English grammar, you will be able to edit your own writing in the course of time. 

          Knowing the English grammar well, you have won ‘half of the battle’ to master the language.  You know that it is the foundation of the language.  It paves the path to acquire the different language skills, namely, listening, speaking, reading and writing.  A good knowledge of English grammar makes the learning of these 4 skills so much easier.          

Learning English grammar is a process that requires effort and awareness.  Besides learning the forms in isolation, you should read constantly to get familiar with the rules and their usage in context.  Reading is the best way to reinforce the learning of English grammar in the course of time and get imprinted and makes it become spontaneous in the application of it in communication, either spoken or written.  A good grasp of English grammar also means you know how to analyse and explain the rules and usages at ease. 

For example:

[I] feel comfortable.

[I] feel |comfortable |sitting| here.

In this sentence, [I] is the subject; ‘feel’ is the finite verb which is a linking verb and so is followed by an adjective ‘comfortable’.   (feelàVerbs of the Senses are linking verbs)

You may add in non-finite verb ‘sitting’ and adverb of place to give more information.  The reason why you use F2 ‘sitting’ in this case is that the finite verb ‘feel’ and  non-finite verb ‘sitting’ happen at the same time.  In other words, the non-finite verb ‘sitting’ merge with the finite verb ‘feel’.  Thus, you use F2.  The adverb of place ‘here’ tells you where the place is.

We can conclude it in a rule:

[S] | Finite verb of the senses | adjective

[S] | Finite verb of the Senses | adjective | F2 |adverb of place | adverb of time

The other kinds of verb like ‘catch / find ’ have the same structure and thus follow the same rule.

[The librarian] caught (a little boy) |tearing a page| off a book |in the library.

[Jimmy] found (Jack)| reading loudly| under a tree| yesterday.

From the examples above, we know that ‘caught --- tearing’; ‘found --- reading’; happen at the same time and so F2 is used in all these cases.

We may conclude it in a rule:      

[S] Finite verb (Object) F2 …………………..  However, in the following case: It is

[S] | Finite verb | adverb of place | F2 (Object) | F2 (Object)

[Nora] sat |at the window| watching (her friends)| playing (hopscotch).

          To master the language, you need to know English grammar and different language skills well.  To accomplish it, you have to learn English grammar forms in isolation  and functions in context. Besides, you have to read English texts intensively and extensively to reinforce and deepen your knowledge of English grammar and acquire vocabulary as well as general knowledge.  Learning English is a life-long process.                                    II