This SMART Sheet aims to give a quick look of the frequently encountered grammar questions. It'll help you acquire a systematic understanding of the English grammar rules underlying these topics. Its content focuses on the MCQ section of the PSLE English exam paper but also benefits other levels.
Why you should study your grammar
Grammar constitutes about 55% percent of most English exam papers. Mastering grammar rules is the easiest way to score higher in your examination. Besides, it directly enhances your writing arsenal.
How this SMART Sheet can help you with your study
This SMART Sheet from The Learning Board Tuition Centre can help you memorize 12 common grammar rules with ease. These rules help to answer questions that often appear in exam papers, especially PSLE.
To have a better idea of how those exam questions look like, you can further read this post of 12 common grammar questions and how to solve them. Over there, you will find real PSLE exam questions and the thought process involved in answering them. The illustration comes with annotation and step-by-step explanation. We recommend that you attempt the questions first before looking at the guided answers (in yellow).
You can find out how to download the high resolution version of this SMART Sheet in the following section.
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Get into the details
The quantifiers either, neither and each stand before a singular countable noun. Hence, you use a singular verb following them. They can act as pronouns too.
- Either shirt is inexpensive, but neither fits you.
- I think neither shirt fits you.
When two words are linked by the conjunction or, the verb agrees to the word closest to it. The same rule applies to either .. or and neither .. nor.
- Neither Tom nor his sisters are going to the school festival.
- Has Sara or her business partners called you back?
- Neither my brother nor I know how to play piano.
You use the relative pronoun who to refer to people. When the relative pronoun is an object of the verb in the relative clause, you use whom. Whose refers to possession. Which modifies a thing. It can take the role of either a subject or an object of the relative clause.
- I have a friend who drinks three cups of coffee a day.
- Was it John to whom you just talked?
- You have to submit the documents to the officer whose shirt is blue.
- I can’t find the book which I bought at Popular.
- Thomas brought us a cake which has three layers.
If two words are linked by the expression together with, as well as, with or including, the verb agrees to the first word.
- Lara, as well as her siblings, studies in Japan.
- Two batteries, in addition to a spare one, are included.
A number of is a quantifier, meaning a lot. You follow it with a plural verb. The number of is itself the main subject of the sentence. Since the number is singular, you use a singular verb after it.
- A number of birds are flightless.
- The number of flamingos in Africa is decreasing.
A singular collective noun can be followed by a singular verb (when it refers to a unit) or a plural verb (when it refers to individuals in a unit).
- The crowd was happy.
- A pack of wolves were running to the forest.
You always use a singular verb after an uncountable noun.
- This water is polluted.
- The scenery was truly breathtaking.
You use the bare infinitive after sensing verbs (see, hear, feel, watch, etc.) and their objects. However, if the sentence emphasizes on the continuous action, you can use a present participle (ing form) instead of bare infinitive.
- John’s mother watched him board the bus.
- I saw the old lady cross the street.
- I see Ryan waving at me as he is crossing the street. (emphasis on the continuous action)
You use a singular verb after these indefinite pronouns: everybody, everyone, everything and somebody.
- Everyone is allowed to participate in this competition.
- Somebody has forgotten their umbrella in the store.
You use the bare form of the verb after modal verbs such as would, could, should, may, must and certain words like to, do.
- I could not afford a car when I was young.
- You should eat more vegetables.
- John does need your help with his assignment.
You transform an active sentence to its passive voice by swapping the performer and receiver of the action and change the verb to the form be + past participle.
- They water the trees every day. => The trees are watered every day.
- John is catching the birds. => The birds are being caught by John.
You add a negative tag (verb + pronoun) to a positive sentence to form a question tag and vice versa.
- Jonas is your classmate, isn’t he?
- Max won’t join us in the singing competition, will he?