University Tips

Getting to grips with grammar

 By Ajarn Helen Jandamit

 So here we are in the second week of the second term and, having adjusted back to school routine, it�s time to focus. It�s time to be clear about what you want and to find a good way to get it.

If you are reading this, I can assume that you want to go to university. To

get into a state university, you need to pass the university entrance examination. One section of that examination tests your knowledge of the English language.

Unfortunately, there are not enough state university places for all the students who apply. Those who do not pass the entrance examination may apply for a place in a private university.

Many of the private universities design their courses to prepare their graduates for the world of business and other competitive fields. Most of those fields require good English skills. Consequently, English proficiency is a must at private universities too.

Being able to read and understand written English is, of course, essential. However, to do well in tests of English language you really need to be familiar with grammar. In tests, you will be asked questions about grammar, structure, punctuation, capitalisation and vocabulary items as well.

This term, in the University Tips columns you will find articles about reading comprehension alternated with others that are about grammar and structure.

Knowing the meanings of a lot of words is only one of the skills you need to do well in tests of English. How you assemble (put together) those words may be even more important. The structure of a sentence may carry more meaning than the combined meanings of the separate words.

Let�s look at two examples:

Example A:             Jenny gave the invitation to Mary.

Example B:            Jenny received Mary�s invitation.

Although these two sentences look similar, the meanings are very different. We need to know who performed the action; i.e., who the subject is.

In sentence A, Jenny performed the action, but in sentence B, we don�t know who performed the action. We only know the result of the action.

Note that in both sentences, Jenny is the first word. In normal sentence order, we expect subject-verb-object in that order, but sentence B uses the passive voice. We know what was done, but not who did it. We know that the invitation came from Mary originally, but we don�t know whether Mary was the one who put it in Jenny�s hand or not.

If we analyse the structure of the two sentences, they look like the tables below.

Jenny, Mary and invitation are in both sentences, although the order is different and the verbs are not the same. In sentence A, give (in the simple past gave) shows a movement away from someone, while receive (in the simple past received) shows a movement towards somebody. The only other differences are apostrophes to show who is the owner of something, plus the preposition to. Both of these are grammar items.

A:         Jenny            gave            the invitation            to            Mary  

            subject            verb            direct object            preposition             indirect object                                                           

B:         Jenny            received            Mary�s  invitation  

            indirect object             verb             possessive adjective             direct object 

Let�s look at another example using this �sentence tree.� When the leaves are held in proper relationship to each other, there is organisation of ideas and it is possible to understand the meaning of the sentence. Try reading it from bottom left to bottom right and you should see the meaning.

However, if the relationship between the words no longer exists � in other words, the grammar branches don�t hold them together � all you get is compost. The relationship between the words in a sentence is what grammar and structure are all about.

You have probably studied English grammar and structure for many years and if you read English regularly, you will be able to do the next part easily.

Here are some sentences taken from the media in Thailand. There is at least one error in each sentence: It will be one of the underlined sections. Identify the section(s) containing the error (or errors) and check your answers on page 40.

1. From a notebook cover:        A                    B                   C

Sweet life:             LIFE IS         LONG JOURNEY

2. From a classified advertisement:      A                             B                                  C

We are now looking to recruit the following positions

                                                                           A                                   B                                 

3. Worldwide Plastic Recycling Co. Ltd. requires single female secretary. Must be excellent in two of

                   C                                                                                                   D

Chinese, English or Thai.  Able to operate computer, drive a car and often travel to abroad.

                                               A                                                            B               C                D        

4. Spider International is a world-leader in the manufacturing of  specialty, fiber-reinforce composite part

used for water sports, transportation and recreational applications.

SECTION TWO

One of the most common mistakes seen in English-language texts is non-agreement between subject and verb. This often happens when the subject is plural, but the verb form used with it is suitable for a singular subject. Here is an example: The Sumerians tells the same story.

The Sumerians refers to the people who lived in Sumeria. There were many of them. However,

the verb (which is in the simple present tense) ends in an s. That s can only be used for third- person singular subjects, such as he, she, it, John, the boss, etc.

Adding an s to a countable noun makes it plural; however, adding an s to a simple present regular verb is only appropriate in the third person (i.e. not I or you) singular.

 Is the subject/verb agreement in each of the following sentences correct or not?

5.             Obviously, the world nowadays is full of all kinds of dangers.

6.         The following are four virtues that all human beings should observe.

7.             Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country.

8.         English is a mandatory subject in public schools.

9.         His Majesty the King, Buddhism and the people forms the so-called three pillars that support Thai society.

10.       The first council were held only three months later.

11.       Some recent studies suggest the Sphinx was built as long ago as 7,000 BC.

12.The dates attributed to various fossils and to the earliest appearance of human beings and civilisation are always subject to change.

13.  Our surroundings has good and bad sides.

Vocabulary

focus (v): to adapt something so that you can see things clearly
state (adj): provided or controlled by the government of a country
field (n): a particular subject or activity that somebody works in or is interested in
trendy (adj): very fashionable
compost (n): a mixture of decayed plants, food, etc. that can be added to soil to help plants grow
recreational (adj): connected with activities that people do for enjoyment when they are not working
application (n): the practical use of something
nowadays (adv): at the present time
virtue (n): behaviour or attitudes that show high moral standards
humid (adj): (of the air or climate) warm and damp
mandatory (adj): required by law, compulsory
pillar (n): a large round stone, metal or wooden post that is used to support a bridge, the roof of a building, etc.
surroundings (n): environment, everything that is around or near something

Idiom

a must: something that you must do, see, buy, etc.