1. Grammar Rules [Pun intended ]
Lower Sec HBL

2. Lecture Overview Part 1 Modal Verbs Part 2 Tenses Part 3
Countable and Uncountable nouns / Subject Verb Agreement

3. Part 1: Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are verbs which modify another verb, and imply the possibility or probability of something happening. Below is a list showing the most useful modals and their most common meanings:
Modal
Meaning
Example
Can
To express ability
To request for permission
I can speak a little Malay.
Can I open the window now?
May
To express possibility
I may be home late.
May I be excused from lessons?
Must
To express strong belief
To express obligation
She must be over 90 yrs old.
I must finish my assignment.
Should
To give advice
You should stop smoking.
Would
To request or offer
In ‘if’ sentences
Would you like some tea?
If I were you I would apologise.

4. Part 1: Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are unlike other verbs. 1. They do not change their form (spelling). 2. They have no infinitive or participle (past/present). 3. The modals must and can need substitute verbs to express obligation or ability in the different tenses.

5. Part 2: Tenses The concept of time can be split into:
The present: What you are currently doing.
The past: What you did some time back.
The future: What you will do later.

6. Part 2: Tenses
The tense of a verb shows the time of an event or action. There are four types of tenses. 1.Simple Tense 2. Perfect 3. Continuous Tense 4. Present Perfect Continuous Each of these tenses has a present, past and future form.

7. Part 2: Tenses Present Tense Simple Present Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Present Perfect continuous
In Simple Present, the action is simply mentioned and there is nothing being said about its completeness.
In Present Continuous, the action is on-going/ still going on and hence continuous.
In Present Perfect, the action is complete or has ended and hence termed Perfect.
In Present Perfect Continuous, the action has been taking place for some time and is still ongoing.
Examples
I eat.
I sleep. I play.
I am eating. I am sleeping.
I am playing.
I have eaten.
I have slept. I have played.
I have been eating. I have been sleeping. I have been playing.

8. Part 2: Tenses Past Tense Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect
Past Perfect continuous
In Simple Past, the action is simply mentioned and understood to have taken place in the past.
In Past Continuous, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past.
Past Perfect is used to express something that happened before another action in the past.
Past Perfect Continuous is used to express something that started in the past and continued until another time in the past.
Examples
I ate. I slept. I played.
I was eating. I was sleeping. I was playing.
I had eaten. I had slept. I had played.
I had been eating.
I had been sleeping. I had been playing.

9. Part 2: Tenses Future Tense Simple Future Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous
Simple Future is used when we plan or make a decision to do something. Nothing is said about the time in the future.
The future continuous tense is used to express action at a particular moment in the future. However, the action will not have ended at the moment.
Future Perfect expresses action that will occur in the future before another action in the future.
Future Perfect Continuous is used to talk about an on-going action before some point in the future.
Examples
I will eat. I will sleep. I will play
I will be eating at 9 a.m. I will be sleeping when you arrive. I will be playing at 5 p.m.
I will have eaten before 10 a.m.
I will have slept before you arrive.
I will have played before 6 p.m.
I will have been sleeping for two hours when you arrive.
I will have been playing for an hour when it is 5 p.m.

10. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers.
They have a singular and a plural form.
The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an".
If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural countable noun.
Examples
She has three dogs.
I own a house.
I would like two books please.
How many friends do you have?

11. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
Uncountable nouns are for the things that we cannot count with numbers.
They may be the names for abstract ideas or qualities or for physical objects that are too small or too amorphous to be counted (liquids, powders, gases, etc.).
Uncountable nouns are used with a singular verb.
They usually do not have a plural form.
Examples:
Tea, sugar, water, air, rice, knowledge, beauty, anger, fear, love, money, research, safety, evidence.

12. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
We cannot use a/an with these nouns.
To express a quantity of an uncountable noun, use a word or expression like some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of , or else use an exact measurement like a cup of, a bag of, 1kg of, 1L of, a handful of, a pinch of, an hour of, a day of.
If you want to ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, you ask "How much?“
EXAMPLES
There has been a lot of research into the causes of this disease.
He gave me a great deal of advice before my interview.
Can you give me some information about uncountable nouns?
He did not have much sugar left.
Measure 1 cup of water, 300g of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
How much rice do you want?

13. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
Tricky Spots
Some nouns are countable in other languages but uncountable in English. They must follow the rules for uncountable nouns. The most common ones are: accommodation, advice, baggage, behaviour, bread, furniture, information, luggage, news, progress, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work.
EXAMPLES
I would like to give you some advice.
How much bread should I bring?
I didn't make much progress today.
This looks like a lot of trouble to me.
We did an hour of work yesterday.

14. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
Tricky Spots
2. Be careful with the noun hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural. It can be countable only when referring to individual hairs.
EXAMPLES
She has long blond hair.
The child's hair was curly.
I washed my hair yesterday.
My father is getting a few grey hairs now. (refers to individual hairs)
I found a hair in my soup! (refers to a single strand of hair)

15. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
5 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement Rule 1:The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it. Examples: Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf. Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf. Rule 2: As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and. Example: A car and a bike are my means of transportation. But note these exceptions: Exceptions: Breaking and entering is against the law. The bed and breakfast was charming. In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns.

16. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
5 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement Rule 3a. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular. Examples: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly. Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking. Rule 3b. Parentheses are not part of the subject. Example: Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always welcome. If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence.

17. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
5 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement Rule 4. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit. Examples: Three miles is too far to walk. Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense. Ten dollars is a high price to pay. BUT Ten dollars (i.e. dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.

18. Part 3: Countable and Uncountable Nouns/ Subject verb Agreement
5 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement Rule 5. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb. Examples: A lot of the pie has disappeared. A lot of the pies have disappeared. A third of the city is unemployed. A third of the people are unemployed. All of the pie is gone. All of the pies are gone. Some of the pie is missing. Some of the pies are missing.

19. For more information and/or Practice
Please visit the following links:
bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/exercisecentral/Exercises/QuizHome/15
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usage.htm
[see Grammar Bytes]