Chapter 4Basics of English Grammar

Business Communication

Copyright 2010 South-Western Cengage Learning

TN State Objectives:8) Evaluate, create, and revise business

correspondence, short contracts and reports, electronic forms, and small legal documents for a business in standard English using the following:b). Using proper grammar essentials,

including parts of speech, vocabulary, punctuation, sentence structure.

2

Parts of SpeechNoun – names a person, place or thing.

ex:Pronoun – takes the place of a noun.

ex:Adjective – describes a noun or pronoun.

ex:Verb – a word or phrase that describes the

action, state of being, or condition of a person, place or thing.ex:

34.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

Parts of SpeechAdverb – describes a verb, adjective, or

another adverb.ex:

Preposition – connects a noun or pronoun to other words to form a phrase.ex:

Conjunction – joins words or phrases, or clauses.ex:

Interjection – expresses surprise or strong feeling.ex:

44.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

Parts of Speech Activity

5

“Using well-structured sentences will help you communicate clearly”

Sentence PartsSubject

is the person who is speaking, the person who is spoken to, or the person, place or thing about whom is spoken.

A simple subject is the main word in the complete subject that identifies specifically who or what the sentence concerns. The simple subject of a sentence is never in a prepositional

phrase. A complete subject includes the simple subject plus all the

sentence that is not part of the complete subject Examples:

John writes articles for a newspaper. John, the young journalist, has written articles for a newspaper.

A compound subject is two or more simple subjects joined by conjunctions. Ex: John and Hallie work for our company.

64.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

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Sentence PartsPredicate

The complete predicate is everything in the sentence said by, to, or about the subject.

It includes the main verb of the sentence. Whatever is not included in the complete subject of a sentence

belongs in the complete predicate. The simple predicate is the verb in the complete predicate. Examples:

John writes articles for the newspaper. John, the young journalist, has written articles for the newspaper.

A compound predicate consists of two or more verbs with the same subject. Ex: John and Hallie discussed the matter and concluded that we are handling

this situation incorrectly.

74.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

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Creating Sentences Activity

8

“Using well-structured sentences will help you communicate clearly”

QUIZ

9

Sentence PartsObjects and subject

complementsDirect objectsIndirect objectsSubject

complements

104.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

© Image Source / Getty Images

Using well-structured sentences will help you communicate clearly.

Clauses, Phrases, and FragmentsClause: a group of words with a subject

and a predicatePhrase: a group of related words with no

subject or predicateFragment: an incomplete sentence that

may or may not have meaning

114.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

Sentence StructureSimple sentences

Example: Theodore sings and acts. Compound sentences

Example: Erin loves to ride horses; Manuel loves to draw horses.

Complex sentencesExample: Although it is important to proofread a written message, many people feel they do not have the time.

124.1 Parts of Speech and Sentences

NounsNoun: a word used to name people, places,

or thingsCommon nounsProper nounsSingular and plural nounsCollective nounsPossessive nouns

134.2 Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives

PronounsPronoun: a word used in the place of a

nounPersonal pronouns

Nominative caseObjective casePossessive case

Intensive and reflective pronounsInterrogative and demonstrative pronouns

144.2 Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives

Pronoun-Antecedent AgreementPronoun antecedent: a noun or phrase that

is replaced by a pronounPronouns and antecedents should agree in:

PersonNumberGender

Compound antecedentsIndefinite pronoun agreement

154.2 Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives

AdjectivesAdjective: a word that describes or limits

nouns and pronounsArticlesNouns and pronouns used as adjectivesCompound adjectives

164.2 Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives

AdjectivesComparison of adjectives

Positive degreeComparative degreeSuperlative degree

Absolute adjectives

174.2 Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives

VerbsVerb: a word that expresses action, a state

of being, or a condition Types of verbs

Action verbsLinking verbsState of being verbs

184.3 Verbs and Adverbs

Verbs TensesSimple tenses

PresentPastFuture

Perfect tenses Present perfectPast perfectFuture perfect

194.3 Verbs and Adverbs

Verbs Transitive verbsIntransitive verbsVoice

Active voicePassive voice

204.3 Verbs and Adverbs

Subject and Verb AgreementNumberIntervening phrases“A number,” “the number”Names of companiesAmountsCompound subjects

214.3 Verbs and Adverbs

AdverbsAdverb: a word that modifies an action

verb, an adjective, or another adverbConjunctive adverbsComparison of adverbs

Positive degreeComparative degreeSuperlative degree

224.3 Verbs and Adverbs

PrepositionsPreposition: a word that connects a noun or

pronoun to other words to form a phrasePrepositions introduce phrasesPrepositional phrases may modify:

Nouns (acting as adjectives) Action verbsAdjectivesAdverbs

234.4 Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections

ConjunctionsConjunction: a word or phrase that joins

two or more words, phrases, or clausesCoordinate conjunctionsCorrelative conjunctionsSubordinate conjunctionsParallel construction

244.4 Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections

InterjectionsInterjection: a word or phrase used

primarily to express strong emotionHave no grammatical relationship with

other words in the sentence

254.4 Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections

Vocabulary

26

active voiceadjectiveadverbclausecollective nounconjunctiondirect objectfragmentindirect objectinterjectionnoun

passive voicephrasepossessive nounpredicateprepositionpronounpronoun antecedentsentencesubjectverbverb tense