"Grammar Review: Master the Basics of English"
✅ Week 2 – Day 9: Grammar Review
Smart English — September Lessons
Welcome to Day 9 — your comprehensive Grammar Review. Today we’ll consolidate the essential rules that power clear English: tenses, subject–verb agreement, modals, articles, prepositions, connectors, active vs. passive, conditionals, reported speech, punctuation, and common mistakes. Use this as a checkpoint before our next units. Each section includes quick examples and mini exercises so you can test yourself immediately.
1) Tenses at a Glance
Present Simple (facts, habits): She works late.
Present Continuous (now/temporary): She is working late today.
Present Perfect (past→now result): She has finished the report.
Past Simple (finished time): She worked last night.
Past Continuous (background action): She was working when I called.
Future Forms: I’ll call (decision now); I’m going to call (plan); I’m calling (arranged).
1) I can’t talk; I (work / am working) right now.
2) She (has lived / lived) here since 2021.
3) They (will meet / are meeting) the client at 10 (already scheduled).
2) Subject–Verb Agreement
- Singular subject → singular verb: The data set is large.
- Plural nouns → plural verb: The results were surprising.
- Either/Neither + singular: Either answer is fine.
- Everyone/Each/Someone → singular: Everyone has a ticket.
- Team/Family (as a unit) → often singular in AmE: The team is winning.
3) Modals (Ability, Advice, Necessity)
- can/could (ability/possibility): She can code in Python.
- should (advice): You should revise connectors.
- must / have to (strong necessity): You must submit by 5 p.m.
- may/might (possibility): It might rain later.
4) Articles (a, an, the, zero)
- a/an = first mention / one of many: I saw a doctor.
- the = specific/known/unique: The doctor you recommended…
- zero article with plural/uncountable in general: Students need feedback.
Tip: Use the with superlatives, mountain ranges, oceans, and when context makes it unique.
5) Prepositions (Time & Place)
- at time/point: at 7, at the door, at work
- on days/surfaces: on Monday, on the table
- in months/years/areas: in July, in 2025, in New York
Common pairs: good at, interested in, responsible for, depend on, similar to.
6) Connectors & Cohesion
Use linking words to show logic: however, therefore, moreover, in contrast, as a result, for example, firstly, finally. In exams, connectors raise coherence scores when used naturally—not in every sentence.
7) Active vs. Passive Voice
Active: The committee approved the plan. (clear agent)
Passive: The plan was approved (by the committee). (focus on result)
Use passive when the doer is unknown/unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action/result.
8) Conditionals (Quick Map)
- Zero (facts): If you heat ice, it melts.
- First (real future): If it rains, we will stay inside.
- Second (unreal present): If I were you, I would apply early.
- Third (unreal past): If she had studied, she would have passed.
- Mixed: If I had slept earlier, I would feel better now.
9) Reported Speech (Backshifting)
Direct: “I am busy.” → Reported: He said (that) he was busy.
Present → past; will → would; can → could; today → that day; now → then.
10) Punctuation Essentials
- Comma after introductory phrase: After the meeting, we left.
- Serial/Oxford comma for clarity: red, white, and blue.
- Colon introduces lists/explanations; semicolon links two related independent clauses.
- Avoid comma splices: don’t join two sentences with just a comma.
11) Common Mistakes to Eliminate
- It’s vs. its: It’s = it is; its = possessive.
- There / their / they’re — place / possessive / they are.
- Using much with countable nouns (❌ much books → ✅ many books).
- Double negatives (❌ I don’t need no help → ✅ I don’t need any help).
12) Practice Set — 15 Questions
- Right now, she (prepares / is preparing) the slides.
- He (has finished / finished) his report just now. (American English often uses just with Past Simple → finished.)
- The team (is / are) winning this season. (AmE: is)
- Each of the students (was / were) given a card.
- You (should / may) see a doctor — it’s good advice.
- We (must / might) submit the form today — strong obligation.
- I read an article about (the / —) climate change in general. (General = —)
- He’s good (at / in) math.
- If I were you, I (would / will) apply now.
- If she had trained, she (would have) won.
- Active → Passive: They will announce the results. → The results (will be announced).
- Reported speech: “I can help.” → She said she (could) help.
- Choose the best connector: We planned carefully; however, the weather changed.
- Comma or not? After dinner(,) we went for a walk. (Add comma after introductory phrase.)
- Fix the error: Its a nice day. → It’s a nice day.
Show Suggested Answers & Notes
- is preparing — action now.
- finished — “just” can take Past Simple in AmE.
- is — collective noun as a unit (AmE).
- was — “each” is singular.
- should — advice.
- must — strong obligation.
- — (zero article) — general concept.
- at — fixed pair.
- would — 2nd conditional.
- would have — 3rd conditional.
- will be announced — passive future.
- could — backshift can → could.
- however — contrast.
- Add comma — introductory phrase.
- It’s — contraction of “it is.”
13) Production Practice (Write & Speak)
- Write five sentences using five different tenses about your study routine.
- Transform two of your sentences into the passive voice.
- Write a 70–90 word mini paragraph using at least three connectors (however, moreover, therefore).
- Record yourself reading the paragraph. Focus on pauses around commas and full stops.
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Next (Day 10): Vocabulary Power — Academic Word Families & Collocations.
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