MCAT English

SOME BASICS OF GRAMMAR

Parts of Types of
Speech Sentences

Grammatical
Hierarchy
Parts of Grammatical
Speech Hierarchy

Types of
Sentences
PARTS OF SPEECH
The 8 building blocks of
the English language
 Introduction to Parts of Speech
Definition:
Words, divided into different classes according the function
they perform, are called parts of speech.
Examples:

i.He drinks water. (Water=Noun)

ii.He waters the plants. (Water= Verb)
iii. Katherine had a bicycle. (bicycle= .)
iv. Katherine bicycled to Chips residence at Wasdale.
v. Ali is better than I. (better= .)
vi.Ali played better than I. (better= )
 Noun Pronoun Verb

Adjective Adverb Preposition

Conjunctions/
Determiners
Linking Words
 Noun
1. Definition:
A noun names a person, a place, a thing, an idea or a
quality.
2. Examples:
Tom Hanks is very versatile.
Switzer Land is the most beautiful country.
Computer has revolutionized the world today.
Beauty needs no ornaments.
 Pronoun

1. Definition:
A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun to avoid
the repetition of noun.
Definition:
Pronouns can be:
Subjects : he or she
Objects: him or her
Possessive: his or hers
Indefinite: nobody or all
Demonstrative: this or those
Interrogative: Who, What
 Verb
1. Definition:
Verbs are the words that describe activity or state of a noun or a
pronoun.
Examples:
An action verb tells us an activity:
I teach English.
He has eaten food.

A linking or state of being verb tells you that

The monster is ugly.
He looks happy.
 Adjective

1. Definition:
Adjectives are words that are used to describe nouns and
pronouns and to quantify and identify them.
2. Examples:

Sweet Hard Slow More

3. Use in Sentence:
He is a very cute boy
 Adverb
1. Definition:
The words which add to the meaning to a verb, adjective or
an other adverb, are known as adverbs.
OR Adverbs are words that add meaning to every part of
speech except NOUNS and PRONOUNS.
2. Examples:

Quickly Very Here Often Fast More

He ran slowly.
He ran very slowly.
He is very intelligent.
 Preposition
1. Definition:
A preposition is a word that is put before a noun or a
pronoun to show its relation with some other noun or
pronoun in the same sentence.

The cat is on the table.

Under
in
with
at
near
 Conjunction

1. Definition:
A conjunction connects two or more clauses, phrases and
words. Some of the most common conjunctions in English
are and, because, but, for, nor, so, until, when, and yet.
2. Use in Sentence:
Jameel and Kashif are two friends.
He had no ticket, but he went anyway.
You will succeed if you work hard.
 Interjection
1. Definition:
An interjection shows sudden feelings and emotion.
2. Use in Sentence:
Hurrah! I have passed the exam.
Alas! We lost the match.
 Name the Part of Speech to Which Each Word Belongs in the
Following Sentences:

i. They sold an old car.

ii. Policemen often direct traffic.

iii. Hurrah! Our team won the match.

iv. He became happy.

v. Muslims fast in the holy month of Ramazan.

vii.He kept fast for a week in Ramadan.

viii.I always like smiling faces.

ix.Hiking is an adventurous profession.

x. Who played the drawn game?

xi. He was talking very loud when I came in.

Parts of Grammatical
Speech Hierarchy

Types of
Sentences
Sentence

Clause

Phrase

Word

Morpheme
 Morpheme

1. Definition:
In linguistics, a morpheme is the smallest grammatical unit in
a language.

Every word comprises one or more morphemes.

EXAMPLE: (FREE MORPHEMES: come, love, in, etc.)

(BOUND MORPHEMES: un-, -s, -es, -ing, -ed, etc.)

 Words

1. Definition:
A word is a minimum free form of a language that has a
given sound, meaning and syntactic function. Its composed
of one or more than one morpheme.
2. Examples:
Singing
Water
Drinkable
 Phrase

1. Definition:
A phrase is composed of one or more than one word. It
doesnt have a subject-verb combination. It doesnt make a
complete sense and is a part of a sentence.
2. Examples:
Over the coat
With a great speed
 Clause

1. Definition:
A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. Every
sentence must have one clause.
2. Examples:
You will pass if you work hard.
The above sentence has two clauses.
i. Main / Principal Clause:
Main clause is a group of words that has its own subject and predicate
and can stand as a sentence at its own. EXAMPLE: You will pass.
ii. Subordinate / Dependant Clause:
Subordinate clause is a group of words that has its own subject and
predicate but cannot stand as a sentence at its own. EXAMPLE: If you
work hard...
 Types of Clauses

i. Main / Principal Clause:

Main clause is a group of words that has its own subject and
predicate and can stand as a sentence at its own.
EXAMPLE: You will pass.

ii. Subordinate / Dependant Clause:

Subordinate clause is a group of words that has its own
subject and predicate but cannot stand as a sentence at its
own.
EXAMPLE: If you work hard...
 Sentence

1. Definition:
A group of word that expresses a complete idea or thought is
called a sentence. A sentence always ends with full stop or
question mark, or sign of exclamation.
2. Examples:
He bought a book.
Will it rain?
What a lovely scene this is!
Parts of a Sentence:
Parts of a Sentence:
A sentence has two parts:

Subject Predicate Sentence

i. Subject:
Subject is a word or group of words about which information is given in a
sentence.
ii. Predicate:
Predicate is that part of the sentence that gives information about subject. It
starts with a verb in the sentence.
iii. Example:
He goes to school.
Subject = He
Predicate = Goes to school.
Parts of Grammatical
Speech Hierarchy

Types of
Sentences
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Declarative Sentences

1. Definition:
A sentence which gives some kind of information either
affirmatively or negatively.
2. Examples:
He bought a book.
She does not love me.
Bilal is not a sweet boy.
3. Types of Declarative Sentence:
i. Affirmative Sentence:
A sentence which gives some kind of information about any
person or thing affirmatively.
Examples:
He bought a book.
You are a good boy.
ii. Negative Sentence:
A negative sentence stating that something is not true or
incorrect. A negative adverb has to be added in order to negate
or cancel the validity of the sentence.
Examples:
He is not a sweet boy.
I have not completed my work.
Jameel and Asif have gone away.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Interrogative Sentence

1. Defintion:
A sentence that asks a question, is called an interrogative
sentence. Interrogative sentence ends with a question mark.
2. Examples:
Where are you going?
Did you use my laptop?
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Exclamatory Sentence

1. Definition:
A sentence that expresses strong feelings or emotions is
called an exclamatory sentence.
These sentences express surprise, joy, sorrow, appreciation,
love excitement, frustration, anger etc.
An exclamatory sentence ends with exclamation mark ( ! ).
2. Examples:
What a beautiful flower it is!
How nicely she is singing!
That is fantastic!
Hurrah! We won the match!
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Imperative Sentence

1. Definition:
A sentence that expresses a request, command or advice is
called an imperative sentence.
2. Examples:
Open the door. (An Order)
Please help me. (A Request)
Work hard. ( A Piece of Advice)
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Optative Sentence

1. Definition:
Optative sentences express wishes.
Optative sentences formed with May, are found mainly in a
very formal way. In Optative sentences infinitive phrase is
used so no change in tense occurs.
2. Examples:
May you live a long and happy life together!
I wish to be a doctor.
Be the curse on you!
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Simple Sentence

1. Definition:
Simple sentence contains only one main idea, and one
subject-verb combination.
2. Examples:
He is a boy.
She cooks food.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Compound Sentence

1. Definition:
A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two
independent clauses (or complete sentences) connected to
one another with a coordinating conjunction.
2. Coordinating Conjunctions are Used in this sentence:

For And Nor But Or Yet So

3. Example:
I work hard and I am sure of my success.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Complex Sentence

1. Definition:
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause
and one or more dependent clauses connected to it. A
dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or
complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that
would make it a complete sentence.
2. Examples:
If you work hard, you will pass.
Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the
train station.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Compound-Complex Sentence

1. Definition:
A sentence with at least two independent clauses and at
least one dependent clause, is known as compound
complex.
Both Subordinating and Coordinating Conjunctions are Used
in this sentence.
2. Examples:
If you go to school and work hard, you will pass.
While she was hungry, she went to market and bought some
edibles.
MCQ: He is the boy who has done this.
Which sentence is it ?

A. Simple
B. Compound
C. Complex
D. Compound Complex
MCQ: If he worked hard, he would pass.
Which Sentence is it ?

A. Simple and First Conditional

B. Compound and Second Conditional
C. Complex and Second Conditional
D. Compound Complex and Third Conditional
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Zero Conditional

1. Definition:
In zero conditional sentence, both the conditional and
rewarded clause are in Simple Present Tense (Present
Indefinite Tense).
2. Examples:
If we increase temperature, volume increases.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 First Conditional

1. Definition:
This sentence contains a possible condition and its probable
result. In this sentence the conditional clause is in Present
Indefinite Tense and rewarded Clause is in Future Indefinite
Tense.
2. Examples:
If you work hard, you will pass.
If she goes to market, she will bring new clothes for you.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Second Conditional

1. Definition:
This sentence contains a hypothetical condition and its
improbable result.
In this sentence the conditional clause is in Past Indefinite
Tense and rewarded clause is expressed as:
Subject +would+ First Form of Verb.
2. Examples:
If you worked hard, you would pass.
If she went to market, she would bring new clothes for you.
 Types of
Sentence

According to According to According to

Function Structure Condition

Zero
Declarative Simple
Conditional

First
Interrogative Compound
Conditional

Second
Exclamatory Complex
Conditional

Compound Third
Imperative
Complex Conditional

Optative
 Third Conditional

1. Definition:
The Third Conditional is used for Past Imaginary Situations
(things that never happened - untrue/unreal past events).
In this sentence the conditional clause is in the Past Perfect
Tense and rewarded Clause is expressed as:
i. Subject +would have+ 3rd verb.
2. Examples:
If you had worked hard, you would have passed.
If she had gone to market, she would have brought new
clothes for you.
MCQ: If he worked hard, he would pass.
Which conditional is it ?

A. Zero Conditional
B. First Conditional
C. Second Conditional
D. Third Conditional
MCQ: Had he worked hard, he would have passed.
Which conditional is it ?

A. Interrogative Sentence
B. First Conditional
C. Second Conditional
D. Third Conditional