Overview
This lecture covers essential English grammar topics: prepositions, basic grammar rules, articles (a/an/the), and an overview of verb tenses and their usage.
Prepositions: Rules and Usage
- Use in with large places like countries, cities, continents.
- Use at with smaller, specific locations or buildings.
- Use on for streets and avenues; use at when the address includes a street number.
- Use in for enclosed spaces (in a car, in a box); use on for surfaces (on the table, on the floor).
- Use on for means of transport where you can stand (on a bus, on a train), but in for cars and taxis.
- At the hospital (visitor/worker); in the hospital (patient).
- Beside means next to; besides means in addition to.
- Among (three or more); between (two items).
- Words like senior, junior, superior, prefer are followed by to, not than.
- Use for for duration/benefit/purpose; use since for the starting point in time.
- Use to for direction, time (a quarter to two), comparison with verbs, and receivers of actions.
- Certain verbs and phrases take fixed prepositions (wait for, ask for, belong to, care for, prepare for).
Basic Grammar Rules & Parts of Speech
- Noun: person, place, thing (cat, table).
- Pronoun: replaces a noun (he, she, it).
- Verb: action or state (run, eat).
- Adjective: describes nouns (old, beautiful).
- Adverb: describes verbs/adjectives (slowly, fast).
- Preposition: shows relation (on, in, at).
- Conjunction: connects clauses (and, but).
- Article: a/an/the.
Articles: A, An, The
- Use a/an to mention something for the first time or something non-specific.
- Use the when referring to something specific or previously mentioned.
- A turns to an before vowel sounds (an apple, an eggplant).
- Do not use articles with uncountable nouns, plural nouns (in general), languages, meals (unless specific), days, months, or proper nouns.
- Exceptions: Use the with unique items (the sun, the Black Sea) and with countries using descriptors (the United States).
Tenses: Overview and Marker Words
- Present Simple: habits, schedules, general truths (every day, always, never).
- Past Simple: actions in the past with no focus on present result (yesterday, last week, ago).
- Future Simple: uncertain future actions (tomorrow, soon, next year).
- Present Progressive: actions happening now (now, at the moment, currently).
- Present Perfect: past actions affecting the present, experiences, or with unfinished time words (ever, never, yet, already, since).
- For regular verbs: verb + ed in past and perfect tenses; irregular verbs must be memorized.
Word Order in Sentences
- Standard order: Subject + Verb + Object.
- Place adverbs before verbs or at the end, but not between verb and object.
- Adjectives come before the noun they describe.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Preposition — a word placed before a noun/pronoun to show relation.
- Article — a word (a, an, the) used to define a noun as specific or unspecific.
- Present Perfect — tense describing an action with relevance to the present.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Download and review the provided grammar workbook and memo for extra practice.
- Complete the quizzes in the lecture to self-assess understanding.
- Practice with exercises focusing on prepositions, articles, and tenses.
- Memorize irregular verb forms and marker words for tenses.