English Grammar Components

When you’re learning the English language, you may feel overwhelmed when it comes to all the different grammar components. There are so many variables that affect the choice of words, even in everyday conversations. In order to get the most from your English lessons, you’ll need to understand all the different grammatical elements that are used. The following is a listing of some of the most commonly used English grammar components and what each one means.

Pronouns: Personal pronouns will often take the place of a person’s name. There are four different cases of personal pronouns: subjective, objective, genitive, and possessive. Pronouns may also have number, person, or gender attributes. Here are some examples:

Subjective: These are pronouns that are used in the subject of the sentence and include “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” “you,” and “they.” An example of a subjective pronoun used in a sentence is, “I have a book.” In this case, “I” is the subject of the sentence and has taken the place of the speaker’s name.

Objective: These are words that are used as the object of the sentence and include “me,” “you,” “him,” “her,” “us,” “you,” and “them.” An example of an objective pronoun used in a sentence is, “Give her the book.” In this case, “her” is the object of the sentence.

Genitive: These are words that generally used to modify noun phrases. This type of pronoun is also called an “attributive possessive pronoun.” These pronouns include “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “our,” and “their.” An example of a possessive adjective is, “This is your book.” In this case, “your” demonstrates ownership of the book without actually giving the name of the owner.

Possessive: These pronouns occur in the object of the sentence and include “mine,” “yours,” “his,” and “hers.” An example of a possessive pronoun is, “This book is ours.” In this case, “ours” shows a more detailed point of ownership of the book.

Participles: Participles are verbs that are used as adjectives and commonly end in “–ed” or “–ing.” A participle expresses a deed or state of action. Since participles are used as verbs, they usually end up modifying nouns and pronouns. The following are two examples of participles in action:

“The crying baby woke up.”
“The burning wood smells good.”

Past participles usually end in “–en,” “-ed,” “-d,” “-t,” and “-n.”

Prepositions: These are words that are used to link one part of a sentence to another. Here’s an example: “The dog slept on the floor.” The preposition in the sentence is the word “on,” which connects the dog to the floor.

Verbs: Verbs are action words. In the sentence, “I caught the ball,” the verb is the word “caught.” Many of these verbs will be spoken, written, and read differently, depending on the choice of nouns or pronouns. If you’re ever stumped, try speaking with someone who is fluent in English. While they may not be able to tell you “why” something is wrong, they can tell you the correct way to conjugate different verb tenses.

It’s not as difficult as you may think to learn English grammar; however, it will take dedication and patience. It’s best to set aside a specific time each day to study – if not, it’s easy to become frustrated and quit.

Differences Between British and American English

If you’ve ever spoken with a British person or visited the United Kingdom, you’ve probably noticed that, although we’re speaking the same language, there are some pretty significant differences between American English and British English. The British colonization of America in the 17th century brought the English language to North America, although the language has since evolved into two separate dialects – American English and British English. When looking at these two dialects, you’ll see some significant differences in how they spell their words, the pronunciation that is used, and variances of grammar between them.

Apart from these differences, you’ll also find that some words have totally different meanings between the two versions of English. There are some words that one dialect may use that the other may not – for example, what Americans call an “apartment,” a British citizen would call a “flat.” Noah Webster set out to highlight these differences and prove that the United States spoke a different language than the British, resulting in what is now known as the American Directory. Although American English and British English share many similarities, you may find yourself confused by the difference in the meanings of some of the words.

The following is a list of common American English to British English translations (courtesy of the Georgia State University website):

American British Argument Row Baby carriage Pram Band-aid Plaster Bathroom Loo or WC Can Tin Chopped beef Mince Cookie Biscuit Corn Maize Diaper Nappy Elevator Lift Eraser Rubber Flashlight Torch Fries Chips Gas Petrol Guy Bloke or chap Highway Motorway Hood (car) Bonnet Jello Jelly Jelly Jam Kerosene Paraffin Lawyer Solicitor License plate Number plate Line Queue Mail Post Motor home Caravan Movie theater Cinema Muffler Silencer Napkin Serviette Nothing Nought Overpass Flyover Pacifier Dummy Pant Trouser Parking lot Car park Period Full stop Pharmacist Chemist Potato chips Crisps Sausage Banger Sidewalk Pavement Soccer Football Sweater Jumper Trash can Bin Truck Lorry Trunk (car) Boot Vacation Holiday Vest Waistcoat Windshield (car) Windscreen Zip code Postal code

In addition to these differences in vocabulary, there are several changes to grammatical rules as well. In British English, collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms, while this is not the case in American English. In American English, collective nouns are used in singular verb form using plural pronouns at times for agreement. For example, in British English, the irregular form of a verb is commonly used as in the words “learnt and spoilt”, while in American English, irregular verb forms are generally not used.

If you’re planning a trip to the United Kingdom in the near future, you might find it helpful to study some of these differences before leaving. Even if you aren’t familiar with British English, you’ll still be able to make yourself understood speaking American English – unlike traveling to a country that speaks Spanish or another foreign language. However, knowing these differences will help to minimize confusion while abroad, leading to a much more enjoyable travel experience.

Different Types of Resumes

There are a few different types of resumes. It is best to choose the type of resume based on the type of job you are applying for, and the type of experience and your skills.

Chronological Resume - The chronological resume is the most common type of resume. The chronological resume emphasis your experience and education.

Functional Resume - The functional resume is a resume that emphasizes your skill and ability.

Combination Resume - The Combination resume emphasis your experience and skills.

Curriculum Vitae -CV's - The Curriculum Vitae a specific type of resume that is used only for certain positions and industries. The Curriculum Vitae gives detailed information about your skills and qualifications.