English grammar is arguably one of the hardest parts of learning the language. It involves a series of rules and exceptions that are hard to capture without the help of a language tutor. In fact, native language speakers will also make many grammar mistakes while using the language in different contexts. Therefore, paying attention to your grammar lessons and learning some of the rules is the number one secret for everyone taking an english learning course in singapore. Below are the most common language grammar rules that you should know while learning the language.
Capitalisation
Use of capital letters is a common challenge for most language beginners, but it gets easier with time. Proper capitalisation is not only tidy but is also shows a certain degree of professionalism. Therefore, you should know when to use them and when not to do it. Instances that require you to use a capital letter include:
– When writing honorifics and titles. For example, Mr, Miss, or Dr.
– At the beginning of every sentence.
– Ideal when writing proper nouns such as names of the cities, days, months, location, or people.
Avoid use of fragments and run-on sentences
Every English sentence should have a subject, object, and verb format. Anything different from that is a fragment that does not express a complete thought. Run- on sentences, on the other hand, are complex, and they try to fit several ideas in one statement. Fragments and run-on sentences are common problems in English language course, but you can always tackle them by constructing simple sentences with a subject and a verb.
Punctuation
English language punctuation is complex and requires comprehensive knowledge of the language before you can master the art altogether. Improper use of the punctuation marks can easily alter the meaning of a sentence, so you should learn how to use them properly to avoid sending the wrong message. Common punctuation marks that you should learn their use include:
Semicolons – you can use them in sentences containing several commas. They are also useful while connecting two independent clauses.
Comma – commas are often challenging to use especially for beginners. You should use them while writing a list, separating a capital city from a small district, or in separating days from years. It is also safe to Apostrophe – you can use an apostrophe to depict ownership of an item or in contracting words.
Inactive and Passive Voices
Passive and active voices are essential in language learning, but most people will have a problem in using them correctly. In an active sentence, the subject acts as the “doer” of an action while in passive sentences the subject becomes the recipient of an action. A compound sentence with two independent clauses should either take either the active or passive voice, but not a mix of the two.
Subject-Verb Agreement
You are going to learn subject-verb agreement as soon as you join an English class in Singapore. Every subject should match the verb in use both in singular and plural form. For example, it is incorrect to say, “Our dogs is barking,” but you can say “Our dogs are barking” or “My dog is barking.”
Taking an English learning course in Singapore is hard for many language beginners, but it always gets easier with time. It is advisable to learn the basic fluency first before going on with the mastery of grammar rules. Remember language learning is a gradual process, so you should take one moment at a time until you can construct grammatically correct sentences without a hassle.
