Count Nouns

Some nouns name things that can be counted. Such count nouns can be preceded by numbers or articles (a, an, and the). Count nouns can be singular or plural.

Singular: cherry
Singular: bowl

Plural: cherries
Plural: bowls

I put 35 cherries in a bowl.

Noncount Nouns

Other nouns name things that can’t be counted. Such noncount nouns cannot be preceded by numbers or by a or an (but the is acceptable). Noncount nouns do not have a plural form.

furniture

equipment

luggage

We assembled the furniture, set up the equipment, and unpacked our luggage.

Two-Way Nouns

Some nouns can be count or noncount, depending on how they are used. These are two-way nouns.

I cut the grass and then spread new seed with a mix of grasses.

Definite Articles

The definite article the comes before a noun, indicating that a specific noun is meant.

Bring me the book. (I want a specific book.)

Indefinite Articles

The indefinite article a or an comes before a noun to indicate that the noun is not specific. Use a before nouns that begin with consonant sounds and an before nouns that begin with vowel sounds.

Bring me a book. (I want any book.)

I'll make you an offer, but it's a one-time offer. (The word offer begins with a vowel sound—o—while the word one-time begins with a consonant sound—w.)

Using A or An with Words Starting with H

If a word starting in h is pronounced with the h sound, use a.

a home

a hog

a history

a handshake

a helicopter

If a word starting with an h is pronounced without the h sound, use an.

an herb

an hour

an honor

an hors d’oeuvre

an honest person

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives show ownership of nouns. Possessive adjectives are formed from nouns by adding ’s. If the noun is plural and ends in s, add just ’.

Carla’s bag was full of books, but none of the books were Juan’s.

Of all of the dogs’ sweaters, Pepper’s was the rattiest.

Special forms of pronouns are also used as possessive adjectives. Note that one form is used if the adjective comes before the noun, and often a different form is used if the adjective follows the noun.

my bike

The bike is mine.

His plan is the same as hers.

Indefinite Adjectives

Some adjectives show that the noun is not referring to a specific person, place, or thing. These words are indefinite adjectives. Some indefinite adjectives mark count nouns and others mark noncount nouns.

Many students take math.

Much tutoring is needed.

Quantifiers

Quantifiers tell how many or how much there is of something. Some expressions work with count nouns and others with noncount nouns, and some can work with either.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) make a noun very specific: They demonstrate exactly which one is meant and so are stronger than the definite article the.

This card came from that shop.

These kids want those suckers.

Add es when the verb . . .

ends in ch, sh, s, x, or z.

latch—latches

wash—washes

harass—harasses

fix—fixes

buzz—buzzes

is go or do.

go—goes

do—does

Change y to i and add es when the verb . . .

ends in a y after a consonant.

rely—relies

fly—flies

qualify—qualifies

cry—cries

Add s to most other verbs, including those that . . .

end in e or in y after a vowel.

bite—bites

tote—totes

buy—buys

say—says

Add ed when the verb ends in . . .

two consonants.

latch—latched

thank—thanked

start—started

learn—learned

a consonant after two vowels.

look—looked

reveal—revealed

treat—treated

applaud—applauded

a consonant after one vowel if the last syllable is not stressed.

muster—mustered

budget—budgeted

falter—faltered

fidget —fidgeted

a y after a vowel.

stay—stayed

fray—frayed

destroy—destroyed

enjoy—enjoyed

Double the last consonant and add ed when the verb ends in . . .

a consonant preceded by a vowel in a stressed syllable.

stop—stopped

step—stepped

admit—admitted

confer—conferred

Change y to i and add ed when the verb ends in . . .

a y after a consonant.

satisfy—satisfied

reply—replied

try—tried

marry—married

Add d when the verb ends with . . .

e or ie.

tame—tamed

die—died

love—loved

remove—removed

Past Progressive Tense

Form the past progressive tense by using the helping verb was or were before the ing form of the main verb.

In 1913, workers were building the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle.

The city was expanding up as well as out.

Present Progressive Tense

Form the present progressive tense by using the helping verb am, is, or are before the ing form of the main verb.

Many wheelchair athletes are competing in the Boston Marathon this year.

I am cheering them on excitedly.

Future Progressive Tense

Form the future progressive tense by using the helping verbs will be before the ing form of the main verb.

Someday, people will be living on a terraformed Mars.

They will be riding space elevators to orbiting stations.

Add ing when the verb ends in . . .

two consonants.

latch—latching

thank—thanking

start—starting

learn—learning

a consonant after two vowels.

look—looking

reveal—revealing

treat—treating

applaud—applauding

a consonant after one vowel if the last syllable is not stressed.

muster—mustering

budget—budgeting

falter—faltering

fidget—fidgeting

a y after a vowel.

stay—staying

fray—fraying

destroy—destroying

enjoy—enjoying

Drop the e and add ing when the verb ends in e.

live—living

arrive—arriving

tape—taping

describe—describing

Double the final consonant and add ing when the verb ends in . . .

a consonant preceded by a single vowel in a stressed syllable.

pat—patting

hop—hopping

permit—permitting

begin—beginning

Change ie to y and add ing when a verb ends with ie:

die—dying

lie—lying

tie—tying

Verbs That Take Infinitives

Most verbs take infinitives (to plus a verb) as objects.

I appear to be next in line. [Not appear being]

He decided to buy the torque wrench. [Not decided buying]

The weld failed to hold the plates together. [Not failed holding]

Verbs That Take Gerunds

A few verbs take gerunds (ing form of verb) as objects.

He imagines owning his own business. [Not imagines to own]

That idea would be worth writing down. [Not would be worth to write]

I can’t help thinking I am special. [Not can’t help to think]

Verbs That Take Infinitives or Gerunds

A few verbs take gerunds or infinitives as objects.

I love to walk in the rain.

I love walking in the rain.

Sometimes a gerund creates a different meaning from the infinitive.

I stopped eating.

I stopped to eat.

Participles as Modifiers

When a present participle (a verb ending in ing) is used as an adjective, it describes the cause of a certain feeling or situation:

The blinding sparks require eye protection.

When a past participle (a verb ending in ed) is used as an adjective, it describes the effect of a certain feeling or situation.

A blinded welder would be a tragedy.

Nouns as Modifiers

Nouns sometimes modify other nouns, becoming adjectives. Only singular noun forms can be used as adjectives.

Mom works as a nurse coordinator.

She oversees the third-shift team.

Avoid piling up nouns as adjectives. Such groupings become difficult to read. Use prepositional phrases to add some of the information.

Difficult: Mom is the third-shift hospital pediatrics nurse coordinator.

Clear: Mom is the pediatrics nurse coordinator on third shift at the hospital.

Adverbs That Modify a Whole Sentence

Adverbs that modify a whole sentence also can go anywhere (except between the verb and direct object), though most often they go at the beginning.

Fortunately, we correctly packed every shipment and completed the order.

We correctly packed every shipment and, fortunately, completed the order.

We correctly packed every shipment and completed the order, fortunately.

Adverbs That Modify Other Modifiers

Adverbs that modify adjectives or adverbs should go right before the words they modify.

It was a very important order for one of our most loyal customers.

Adverbs That Tell How

Adverbs that tell how can appear just about anywhere in a sentence. The only place such an adverb cannot go is between a verb and a direct object.

Correct: Quickly we loaded the trucks.

Correct: We quickly loaded the trucks.

Correct: We loaded the trucks quickly.

Incorrect: We loaded quickly the trucks.

Adverbs That Tell When

Adverbs that tell when should go at the end of the sentence.

We should have another rush order like that tomorrow.

Adverbs That Tell Where

Adverbs that tell where should follow the verbs they modify. Often, prepositional phrases function as where adverbs. However, do not place the prepositional phrase between the verb and the direct object.

All orders are packed downstairs. Workers will load them in the trucks.

Adverbs That Tell How Often

Adverbs that tell how often should go before an action verb or between a helping verb and an action verb.

Our packers seldom make an error.

The department has been frequently praised for consistency.

Common Prepositions

Four little prepositions do a lot of work in English: by, at, on, and in.

By means “next to” or “up to a certain place or time.”

by the statue, by the river

by 10:00 p.m., by November 2

At refers to a specific place or time.

at the police station, at the corner

at 3:30 a.m., at midnight

On refers to a surface, an electronic medium, or a day or date.

on the table, on the counter

on the Web site, on the DVD

on July 22, on Wednesday

In refers to an enclosed place; a geographical location, a print medium; or an hour, month, or year.

in the room, in the bathtub

in Chicago, in the United States

in the magazine, in the book

in half an hour, in September

Phrasal Prepositions

Some prepositions are made up of more than one word. They function the same as single-word prepositions.