Practical English Grammar

Question 1

What is an indefinite article?

Answer 1

The indefinite article is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known.

Question 2

Give me an example of a word that starts with a vowel that has a consonant sound.

Answer 2

University and useful.

Question 3

When the indefinite article “a” or “an” can be used? (dica: 8 casos)

Answer 3

1. Before a singular noun wich is countable when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular thing;
2. Before a singular countable noun when it is used for a class of things;
3. With a noun complement;
4. In certain numerical expressions;
5. In expressions of price, speed, ratio etc.;
6. With few and little (few is used for a small number and little is used for a small amount);
7. In exclamations before singular countable nouns;
8. Before Mr/Mrs/Miss + surname.

Question 4

When the indefinite article can’t be used? (dica: 4 casos)

Answer 4

1. Before plural nouns;
2. Before uncountable nouns (only when it is used in a particular way);
3. Before abstract nouns (except when it is used in a particular way);
4. Before names of meals (except when there is an adjective or when is a particularly importante meal).

Question 5

What are the indefinite articles?

Answer 5

“A” and “an”.

Question 6

What is the difference of use of the definite article and indefinite article when it comes to represent a class of things?

Answer 6

1. The indefinite article only accepts singular countable nouns, meanwhile the definite article goes with plural uncountable nouns;
2. The indefinite article is used to give an example of something that applies to general, and the definite article represents a class of things and a class of persons (adjective).

Question 7

When the definite article is used? (dica: 10 casos)

Answer 7

1. Before nouns of which there is only one;
2. Before a noun which has become definite as the result of being mentioned a second time;
3. Before a noun made definite because of the addition of a phrase or clause;
4. Before a noun which, by reason of locality, can represent only one particular thing;
5. Before superlatives, first/second and only;
6. Before singular nouns used to represent a class of objects;
7. Before an adjective used to represent a class of persons;
8. Before names os rivers, chains of mountais, group of islands and plural names of countries;
9. Before musical instruments;
10. Refering to important meals.

Question 8

When the definite article can’t be used? (dica: 4 casos)

Answer 8

1. Before countries, towns and proper names (there is some exceptions);
2. Before abstract nouns (except when is used in a particular sense);
3. After a noun in the possessive case or a possessive adjective;
4. Before names of meals.

Question 9

How does the omission of “the” before “home” works?

Answer 9

When the word is used alone, with no description, “the” doesn’t pair with it. But when it is preceded by a description it is treated like any other noun.

Question 10

How does the omission of “the” before “chapel, church, market, college, school, hospital, court, prison, work, sea, bed” works?

Answer 10

“The” is used only when these nouns are used or visited for some purpose different from the main purpose.

Question 11

What are the words that disobey the rule of not using “the” after some nouns that are used for their main purpose? (dica: 4 substantivos)

Answer 11

Cathedral, office, cinema and theatre.

Question 12

What are the kind of nouns in English?

Answer 12

Common nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns and collective nouns.

Question 13

How does the gender works in English?

Answer 13

Man, boys and male animals are masculine.
Woman, girls and female animals are feminine.
Inanimate objects are neuter.

Question 14

What are the exceptions of the -s rule to form a plural of a noun?

Answer 14

Ending in o, ss, sh, ch and x; plural: -es.

*foreign or abbreviated words ending in o add -s only. Ex.: “piano, dynamo”

Ending in y following a consonant; plural: -ies.

Ending in y following a vowel; plural: -s.

Twelve nouns ending in f or fe drop and add -ves; nouns: wife, life, knife, wolf, self, calf, shelf, leaf, loaf, thief, sheaf, half

*the nouns scarf, wharf and hoof take either-s or -ves in the plural.
*other words ending in f or fe add -s.

Question 15

What are the rules of the plural of compound nouns?

Answer 15

Usually, the last word is made plural.

When “man” or “woman” is prefixed, they also go plural.

Nouns formed with prepositions or adverbs only change the first word.

Compound noun with the last word being an adjective, the first word is made plural.

Words in full usually make their plural the ordinary way, -s.

Question 16

How to use the possessive case?

Answer 16

‘s is used with singular nouns and plural nouns not ending in s.

*Compound nouns are treated like one.

Only the apostrophe is used with plural nouns ending in s.

*Classical names ending in s add only the apostrophe.

Question 17

When the possessive case is used?

Answer 17

Possession, when the possessor is a person or an animal.

*when the possessor noun is followed by a phrase or clause, the preposition of is used.

• when the possessor noun is a thing, of is normally used.

*is used with expressions of time, as: second, minute, hour, day, night, week, fortnight, month and year.

Question 18

What are the kinds of adjectives?

Answer 18

Of Quality, Demonstrative, Distributive, Quantitative, Interrogative, Possessive

Question 19

What are the only exceptions to the only form of adjectives?

Answer 19

That and this, that transforms to those and these before plural nouns.

Question 20

What is the position of the adjectives?

Answer 20

Usually goes before the noun.

*exception: adjectives of quality can be placed after the verbs be, seem, appear, look.

Question 21

What are the three degrees of comparison?

Answer 21

Positive, Comparative and Superlative.