Definition of Grammar

Grammar refers to the set of rules that govern how words are used in a language to form correct sentences. It includes aspects such as word structure, sentence construction, punctuation, and parts of speech.

Parts of Speech

The eight parts of speech in English are:

1. Nouns – Name people, places, things, or ideas.

   • Examples: Nairobi, teacher, happiness, water

2. Pronouns – Replace nouns to avoid repetition.

   • Examples: he, she, it, they

3. Verbs – Show action or a state of being.

   • Examples: run, eat, is, were

4. Adjectives – Describe or modify nouns.

   • Examples: beautiful, tall, three

5. Adverbs – Describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

   • Examples: quickly, very, well

6. Prepositions – Show relationships between nouns/pronouns and other words.

   • Examples: in, on, under, between

7. Conjunctions – Join words, phrases, or sentences.

   • Examples: and, but, because

8. Interjections – Express strong emotions.

   • Examples: Wow! Oh! Ouch!

Sentence Structure

A complete sentence must have:

• A subject: What or whom the sentence is about. (Jane is studying.)
• A verb: The action or state of being. (Jane is studying.)
• A complete thought: The sentence should make sense on its own.

Types of Sentences:

1. Declarative: Makes a statement. (Kenya is in Africa.)
2. Interrogative: Asks a question. (Where is my book?)
3. Imperative: Gives a command. (Close the door.)
4. Exclamatory: Shows strong emotion. (What a beautiful view!)

Tenses in English

1. Present Tense:

   • Simple Present: (She writes a letter.)
   • Present Continuous: (She is writing a letter.)
   • Present Perfect: (She has written a letter.)

2. Past Tense:

   • Simple Past: (She wrote a letter.)
   • Past Continuous: (She was writing a letter.)
   • Past Perfect: (She had written a letter.)

3. Future Tense:

   • Simple Future: (She will write a letter.)
   • Future Continuous: (She will be writing a letter.)
   • Future Perfect: (She will have written a letter.)

Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Subject-Verb Agreement:

   • Incorrect: She go to school every day.
   • Correct: She goes to school every day.

2. Misuse of Pronouns:

   • Incorrect: Me and him are friends.
   • Correct: He and I are friends.

3. Wrong Verb Tense Usage:

   • Incorrect: I have saw that movie.
   • Correct: I have seen that movie.

4. Double Negatives:

   • Incorrect: I don’t know nothing.
   • Correct: I don’t know anything.

5. Confusion Between "Their," "There," and "They're":

   • Their – Shows possession (Their house is big.)
   • There – Refers to a place (She is over there.)
   • They’re – A contraction of they are (They’re coming soon.)

Conclusion

Mastering grammar improves communication and writing skills. Understanding sentence structure, tenses, and common errors helps in constructing clear and correct sentences.