Mastering English Grammar: Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs
Singular and Plural Nouns
To make nouns plural, we normally add -s to the noun.
- dog – dogs
- table – tables
If the noun ends in -sh, -ch, -ss, -x, or some words in -o, we add -es.
- brush – brushes
- watch – watches
- dress – dresses
- box – boxes
- tomato – tomatoes
-Y Ending:
If there is a vowel before -y, the -y never disappears, and we add -s:
- boy / boys
If there is a consonant before -y, the -y changes into -i, and we add -es:
- lady / ladies
-F or -FE Ending:
We change f or fe to v + es.
- shelf – shelves
- knife – knives
Irregular Plurals:
- foot – feet
- tooth – teeth
- man – men
- woman – women
- child – children
- person – people
- mouse – mice
- deer – deer
- fish – fish
- sheep – sheep
Possessive Adjectives
Adjectius possessius
- My: el meu/la meva, els meus/les meves
- Your: el teu/la teva, els teus/les teves
- His: el seu/la seva, els seus/les seves (d´ell)
- Her: el seu/la seva, els seus/les seves (d´ella)
- Its: el seu/la seva, els seus/les seves (animal/cosa)
- Our: el nostre/la nostra, els nostres/les nostres
- Your: el vostre/la vostra, els vostres/les vostres
- Their: el seu/la seva, els seus/les seves (d´ells/elles)
Important: You must write the possessive adjective before the noun.
- My mp4 player
3rd Person Singular:
- His (masculine): his name is Peter.
- Her (feminine): her name is Anne.
- Its (animals or things): its house is new.
Saxon Genitive
Genitiu saxó
We use the Saxon genitive to express possession.
- Peter´s house = la casa de Peter
- The bird´s tail = la cua de l´ocell
- Mary´s friends = els amics de la Mary
Remember:
- Regular plural nouns ending in -s: we only add ´. My parents´ car
- Irregular plural nouns not ending in -s: we add ´s. The men´s section
- Names ending in -s: you can choose ´ or ´s. Lluis´ car or Lluis´s car
You can´t use the Saxon genitive with things. The window of my room.
Verb ‘To Be’ in Present
Ser / Estar en present
| Long Form | Short Form | |
|---|---|---|
| I am | I´m | Jo sóc / estic |
| You are | You´re | Tu ets / estàs |
| He is | He´s | Ell és / està |
| She is | She´s | Ella és / està |
| It is | It´s | Això és / està |
| We are | We´re | Nosaltres som / estem |
| You are | You´re | Vosaltres sou / esteu |
| They are | They´re | Ells o elles són / estan |
Structures:
- (+) Subject + am / is / are + complements
- (-) Subject + am / is / are + NOT + complements
I am not = I´m not
is not = isn´t
are not = aren´t
- (?) [Wh- QUESTIONS] + am / is / are + Subject + complements?
What = què?
Where = a on?
When = quan?
Why = per què?
Who = qui?
How = com?
Examples:
- (+) I am in class with my classmates = I´m
- (-) My mum isn´t at school = is not
- (?) Are your brothers students? Yes, they are / no, they aren´t.
- (?) Are your brothers at university? Yes, they are / no, they aren´t.
Verb ‘Have Got’ in Present
Verb tenir en present
| Long Form | Short Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| I have got | I´ve got | Jo tinc |
| You have got | You´ve got | Tu tens |
| He has got | He´s got | Ell té |
| She has got | She´s got | Ella té |
| It has got | It´s got | Això té |
| We have got | We´ve got | Nosaltres tenim |
| You have got | You´ve got | Vosaltres teniu |
| They have got | They´ve got | Ells o elles tenen |
Structures:
- (+) Subject + have / has + got + complements
- (-) Subject + have / has + NOT + got + complements
have not = haven´t
has not = hasn´t
- (?) [Wh- QUESTIONS] + have / has + Subject + got + complements?
What = què?
Where = a on?
When = quan?
Why = per què?
Who = qui?
How = com?
Examples:
- (+) I have got a sexy boyfriend/girlfriend = I´ve got
- (-) My mum hasn´t got a new car = has not got
- (?) Have your brothers got a PSP? Yes, they have / no, they haven´t.
- (?) What have your brothers got? They have got a PSP