English Grammar : All You Need to Know

English Grammar : All You Need to Know

Just ask a friend what is the role of prepositions within sentences, or what are the four moods of verbs, and I am sure that you will see a puzzled look on his face.
Understanding the basic grammar rules is essential for communicating efficiently, but most of us have forgotten those concepts years ago.
In order to solve this problem we decided to put together all the basic rules on a single page, so that you can use it as a refresher, or print it out for future reference. Enjoy!

Sentences

Sentences are made of two parts: the subject and the predicate.
The subject is the person or thing that acts or is described in the sentence. The predicate, on the other hand, is that action or description.
Complete sentences need both the subject and the predicate.

Clauses

Sentences can be broken down into clauses.
For example: The boy is going to the school, and he is going to eat there.
This is a complete sentence composed of two clauses. There are mainly two types of clauses: independent clauses and subordinate clauses.
Independent clauses act as complete sentences, while subordinate clauses cannot stand alone and need another clause to complete their meaning. For example:
Independent clause example: The boy went to the school.
Subordinate clause example: After the boy went to the school…

Phrases

A group of two or more grammatically linked words that do not have subject and predicate is a phrase.
Example of a complete sentence: The girl is at home, and tomorrow she is going to the amusement park.
Example of a clause: The girl is at home
Example of a phrase: The girl
You can see that “the girl” is a phrase located in the first clause of the complete sentence above.
Phrases act like parts of speech inside clauses. That is, they can act as nouns, adjectives, adverbs and so on.

Parts of Speech

A word is a “part of speech” only when it is used in a sentence. The function the word serves in a sentence is what makes it whatever part of speech it is.
For example, the word “run” can be used as more than one part of speech:.
Sammy hit a home run.
Run is a noun, direct object of hit.
You mustn’t run near the swimming pool.
Run is a verb, part of the verb phrase must (not) run.
Traditional grammar classifies words based on eight parts of speech: the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the verb, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection. We are going to cover them individually below.

Nouns

A noun is a word used to describe a person, place, thing, event, idea, and so on. Nouns represent one of the main elements of sentences, along with verbs, adjectives, prepositions and articles.
Nouns usually function as subjects or objects within sentences, although they can also act as adjectives and adverbs.
Here is a list with the different types of nouns:
1. Proper nouns
Used to describe a unique person or thing, proper nouns always start with a capital letter. Examples include Mary, India, and Manchester United.
2. Common nouns
Common nouns are used to describe persons or things in general. Examples include girl, country, and team
3. Concrete nouns
Nouns that can be perceived through the five senses are called concrete nouns. Examples include ball, rainbow and melody.
4. Abstract nouns
Nouns that cannot be perceived through the five senses are called abstract nouns. Examples include love, courage, and childhood.
5. Countable nouns

Countable nouns can be counted. They also have both a singular and a plural form. Examples include toys, children and books.
6. Non-countable nouns
These nouns (usually) can not be counted, and they don’t have a plural form. Examples include sympathy, laughter and oxygen.
7. Collective nouns
Collective nouns are used to describe groups of things. Examples include flock, committee and murder.

Plural Form of Nouns

The English language has both regular and irregular plural forms of nouns. The most common case is when you need to add -s to the noun. For example one car and two cars.
The other two cases of the regular plural form are:
  1. nouns that end with s, x, ch or sh, where you add -es (e.g., one box, two boxes)
  2. nouns that end with consonant + y, where you change the y with i and add -es (e.g., one enemy, two enemies)
On the irregular plural form of nouns there are basically eight cases:
  1. nouns that end with -o, where you add -es (e.g., one potato, two potatoes)
  2. nouns ending with -is, where you change -is to -es (e.g., one crisis, two crises)
  3. nouns ending with -f, where you change -f to -v and add -es (e.g., one wolf, two wolves)
  4. nouns ending with -fe, where you change -f to -v and add -s (e.g., one life, two lives)
  5. nouns ending with -us, where you change -us to -i (e.g., one fungus, two fungi)
  6. nouns that contain -oo, change -oo to -ee (e.g., one foot, two feet)
  7. nouns that end with -on, where you change -on with -a (e.g., phenomenon, phenomena)
  8. nouns that don’t change (e.g., sheep, offspring, series)
It might appear overwhelming, but after using these nouns a couple of times you will be able to memorize their plural form easily.

Pronouns

Pronouns are used to replace nouns within sentences, making them less repetitive and mechanic. For example, saying “Mary didn’t go to school because Mary was sick” doesn’t sound very good. Instead, if you say “Mary didn’t go to school because she was sick” it will make the sentence flow better.
There are several types of pronouns, below you will find the most common ones:
1. Subjective personal pronouns. As the name implies, subjective pronouns act as subjects within sentences. They are: I, you, he, she, we, they, and it.
Example: I am going to the bank while he is going to the market.
2. Objective personal pronouns. These pronouns act as the object of verbs within sentences. They are: me, you, him, her, us, them and it.
Example: The ball was going to hit me in the face.
3. Possessive personal pronouns. These pronouns are used to indicate possession, and they are placed after the object in question (as opposed to possessive adjectives like my and your, which are placed before the object). They are: mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs and its.
Example of possessive adjective: This is my car.
Example of possessive pronoun: This car is mine.
4. Reflexive pronouns. This special class of pronouns is used when the object is the same as the subject on the sentence. They are myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves and itself.
Example: I managed to cut myself in the kitchen.
5. Interrogative pronouns. As you probably guessed these pronouns are used to ask questions. They are what, which, who, whom and whose.
Example: What are the odds?
6. Demonstrative pronouns. These pronouns are used to indicate a noun and distinguish it from other entities. Notice that demonstrative pronouns replace the noun (while demonstrative determiners modify them). They are: this, that, these, those.
Example of a demonstrative determiner: This house is ugly.
Example of a demonstrative pronoun: This is the right one.
7. Indefinite pronouns. As the name implies, indefinite pronouns do not refer to a specific thing, place or person. There are many of them, including anyone, anywhere, everyone, none, someone and so on.
Example: Everyone is going to the party.

Adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. There are two kinds: attributive and predicative.
An adjective is used attributively when it stands next to a noun and describes it.
For example: The black cat climbed a tree.
Notice that the verb participle forms can be used as adjectives:
The man felt a paralyzing fear.
Flavored oatmeal tastes better than plain oatmeal.
The usual place of the adjective in English is in front of the noun. You can have a whole string of adjectives if you like: The tall thin evil-looking cowboy roped the short, fat, inoffensive calf.
Sometimes, for rhetorical or poetic effect, the adjective can come after the noun:
Sarah Plain and Tall (book title)
This is the forest primeval.
An adjective is used predicatively when a verb separates it from the noun or pronoun it describes:
The umpire was wrong.
The crowd was furious.
She seems tired today.
This soup tastes bad.
The dog’s coat feels smooth.

The verbs that can be completed by predicate adjectives are called being verbs or copulative verbs. They include all the forms of to be and sensing verbs like seem, feel, and taste.

Adjective Classifications

  • qualitative: good, bad, happy, blue, French
  • possessive: my, thy, his, her, its, our, your, their
  • relative and interrogative: which, what, whatever, etc.
  • numeral: one, two, second, single, etc.
  • indefinite: some, any, much, few, every, etc.
  • demonstrative: this, that, the, a (an), such
The demonstrative adjectives the and a (an) are so important in English that they have a special name: articles. They are discussed separately below.

Articles

The words a, an, and the are generally called articles and sometimes classed as a separate part of speech. In function, however, they can be grouped with the demonstrative adjectives that are used to point things out rather than describe them.
Definite Article
The is called the definite article because it points out a particular object or class.
This is the book I was talking about.
The dodo bird is extinct.
Indefinite Article
A is called the indefinite article because it points out an object, but not any particular specimen.
a book, a dog, a lawn mower
The indefinite article has two forms:
A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound or an aspirated h:
a car, a lamb, a hope, a habit, a hotel
An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound:
an ape, an image, an untruth, an honorable man

Verbs

English has three kinds of Verbs: transitive, intransitive, and incomplete.
1. Transitive Verbs
A verb is transitive when the action is carried across to a receiver:
The farmer grows potatoes. Elvis sang ballads.
The receiver is called the direct object. It answers the question “What?” or “Whom? after the verb. Grows what? Potatoes. Sang what? Ballads.
2. Intransitive Verbs
A verb is intransitive when the action stays with the verb. It is not carried across to a receiver:
Corn grows. Elvis sang.
Adding a prepositional phrase to modify the verb does not change the fact that the action remains with the subject:
Corn grows in the fields. Elvis sang all over the world.
Both transitive and intransitive verbs are action verbs.
3. Incomplete Verbs
There are three types of incomplete verbs:
i. being verbs – also called linking or copulative verbs
to be, seem, become, taste, smell, sound, feel
Tip: Some of these verbs can also be used transitively. If in doubt, substitute a form of to be for the verb. If the sentence still makes sense, the verb is being used as a copulative verb:
He feels depressed. He is depressed.
He feels the wall. He is the wall.

ii. auxiliary verbs – also called helping verbs
be, have, shall, will, do, and may.
He could have gone earlier.
iii. semi-auxiliary verbs
must, can, ought, dare, need.
You must not go. You dare not go.

Verbs Voice

English verbs are said to have two voices: active and passive.
Active Voice: the subject of the sentence performs the action:
His son catches fly balls. Creative children often dream in class.
Note: Verbs in the active voice may be either transitive or intransitive.
Passive Voice: the subject receives the action:
The ball was caught by the first baseman.
The duty is performed by the new recruits.
The dough was beaten by the mixer.
The mailman was bitten by the dog.

Only transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice. What would be the direct object of the verb in the active voice becomes the subject of the verb in the passive voice:
Active voice: The dog bit the mailman. “bit” is a transitive verb. The receiver/direct object is “mailman.”
Passive voice: The mailman was bitten by the dog. “bit” is now in the passive voice. The “receiver” has become the subject of the verb.
A passive verb in either present or past tense will always have two parts: some form of the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were), and a past participle (verb form ending in -ed, -en, or any form used with have when forming a perfect tense).
Note: The mere presence of the verb to be does not indicate that a verb is in the passive voice. The test of a verb in the passive voice is the two-part question:
Is the subject performing the action of the verb or is the subject receiving the action of the verb?
If the subject is receiving the action, then the verb is in passive voice.
Sometimes the passive voice is the best way to express a thought. Used carelessly, however, passive voice can produce a ponderous, inexact writing style.

Verbs Mood

English verbs have four moods: indicative, imperative, subjunctive, and infinitive.
Mood is the form of the verb that shows the mode or manner in which a thought is expressed.
1. Indicative Mood: expresses an assertion, denial, or question:
Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas.
Ostriches cannot fly.
Have you finished your homework?

2. Imperative Mood: expresses command, prohibition, entreaty, or advice:
Don’t smoke in this building.
Be careful!
Don’t drown that puppy!

3. Subjunctive Mood: expresses doubt or something contrary to fact.
Modern English speakers use indicative mood most of the time, resorting to a kind of “mixed subjunctive” that makes use of helping verbs:
If I should see him, I will tell him.
Americans are more likely to say:
If I see him, I will tell him.
The verb may can be used to express a wish:
May you have many more birthdays.
May you live long and prosper.

The verb were can also indicate the use of the subjunctive:
If I were you, I wouldn’t keep driving on those tires.
If he were governor, we’d be in better fiscal shape.

4. Infinitive Mood: expresses an action or state without reference to any subject. It can be the source of sentence fragments when the writer mistakenly thinks the infinitive form is a fully-functioning verb.
When we speak of the English infinitive, we usually mean the basic form of the verb with “to” in front of it: to go, to sing, to walk, to speak.
Verbs said to be in the infinitive mood can include participle forms ending in -ed and -ing. Verbs in the infinitive mood are not being used as verbs, but as other parts of speech:
To err is human; to forgive, divine. Here, to err and to forgive are used as nouns.
He is a man to be admired. Here, to be admired is an adjective, the equivalent of admirable. It describes the noun man.
He came to see you. Here, to see you is used as an adverb to tell why he came.

Verbs Tense

Modern English has six tenses, each of which has a corresponding continuous tense.
The first three tenses, present, past, and future, present few problems. Only third person singular in the present tense differs in form:
Present tense of regular (weak) verbs:
Today I walk. Today he walks.
Yesterday I walked.
Tomorrow I shall/will walk.
The dwindling class of irregular (strong) verbs must be learned individually.
Today I go. Today he goes.
Yesterday I went.
Tomorrow I shall/will go.
The other three tenses, perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect, are formed with the helping verbs have, has, and had.
perfect: used to express an event that has just finished, and to describe an event which, although in the past, has effects that continue into the present.
Queen Elizabeth has reigned for 56 years.
pluperfect (past perfect): used to express an event that took place before another action, also in the past.
I had driven all the way to Oklahoma when I realized my mistake.
future perfect: used to express an event that will have taken place at some time in the future.
As of February 26, I shall have been in this job six years.
For complete conjugation tables of weak and strong English verbs, see the Wikipedia article.

Adverbs

Adverbs are used to describe or modify a verb, adjective, clause, or another adverb. Basically, they modify everything except nouns and pronouns (which are modified by adjectives).
Example of an adverb modifying a verb: He was running fast. (fast modifies running)
Example of an adverb modifying an adjective: She took a very small piece of the cake. (very modifies small)
Example of an adverb modifying a sentence: Strangely, the man left the room. (strangely modifies the whole sentence)
Usually adverbs answer to the questions “When?” (adverbs of time), “Where?” (adverbs of place), and “How?” (adverbs of manner).
Adverbs can also be used to connect clauses and sentences (in this case they are called conjunctive adverbs).
For example: It was dark. Therefore, we needed the torch. (therefore connects the two sentences)

Prepositions

Prepositions are used to link nouns and pronouns to other words within a sentence. The words linked to are called objects.
Usually prepositions show a spatial or temporal relationship between the noun and the object, like in the example below:
The cat is under the table.
Cat is the noun. Under is the preposition. Table is the object.
Here is a list with the most common prepositions: about, above, after, among, around, along, at, before, behind, beneath, beside, between, by, down, from, in, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, over, through, to, up, upon, under, and with.
Notice that you can also have a prepositional phrase, which is formed by the preposition and its object. A preposition phrase can function as adverb, adjective or noun. For example:
The dog was running under the rain.
The prepositional phrase “under the rain” acts as an adverb, specifying where the dog was running.

Conjunctions

A conjunction joins words and groups of words.
There are two classes of conjunction: co-ordinate or coordinating and subordinate or subordinating.
Co-ordinate conjunctions: and, but, either…or, neither…nor.
Subordinate conjunctions: that, as, after, before, since, when, where, unless, if.
Mother and Father are driving me to New Orleans. (and is a coordinate conjunction joining words of equal significance in the sentence.
I painted the walls but Jack painted the woodwork. (but is a coordinate conjunction joining clauses of equal significance in the sentence. Either clause could stand alone as a sentence.)
Since you can’t get away, we’ll go without you.
(Since is a subordinate conjunction joining a less important thought to a more important thought. The main clause, we’ll go without you, can stand alone as a complete thought. The subordinate clause, Since you can’t get away, is an incomplete thought. It is dependent upon the main clause for meaning.)
Note: The relative pronouns who, whom, which, and that are used in the same way that subordinate conjunctions are. The difference is that the relative pronouns serve three purposes at once:
1) they stand for a noun in the main clause
2) they connect the clauses
3) they serve as a subject or object word in the subordinate clause:
He is the man who invented the hula hoop. (who stands for man and is the subject of invented)
Charles is the boy whom the other children tease. (whom stands for boy and is the object of tease)
Give me the piece of string that is waxed. (that stands for string and is the subject of is waxed)
There goes the horse which won the Derby. (which refers to horse and is the subject of won)
The possessive adjective whose can also be used to join clauses:
That’s the bird whose plumage I admire. (whose refers to bird and describes plumage)

Interjections

Interjection comes from from a Latin word that means “throw between.” It’s a word or phrase that is thrown into a sentence to express an emotion:
Goodness, how you’ve grown!
Darn, I forgot my lunch!
Alas, will he never return?

All the impolite expressions that we call expletives are interjections.
Strictly speaking, an interjection is not a part of speech. It serves no grammatical function but is rather “a noisy utterance like the cry of an animal” (F.J. Rahtz). Interjections express feeling or emotion, not thought and have been called “the miserable refuge of the speechless.”
If you’ve ever stood lunch duty on a high school campus, you know just how vapid conversation can be when larded with meaningless interjections.

Basic English Sentence Structures

Basic English Sentence Structures

Sentence Types

English has four main sentence types:
  1. Declarative Sentences are used to form statements.
    Examples: "Mary is here.", "My name is Mary."
  2. Interrogative Sentences are used to ask questions.
    Examples: "Where is Mary?", "What is your name?"
  3. Imperative Sentences are used for commands.
    Examples: "Come here.", "Tell me your name."
  4. Conditional Sentences are used to indicate dependencies between events or conditions.
    Example: "If you cut all the trees, there will be no forest."
Sentence types  
It is not polite to use imperative sentences without the word "Please". It is better to say "Please, come here." than just "Come here." The simplest English sentences are imperative sentences with a single verb (Example: "Help!").
Sentences may be simple or compound. Compound sentences consist of two or more simple sentences joined by conjunctions.
Examples:
"Come here and sit down.",
"My name is Mary and I live in New York.",
"What is your name and where do you live?",
"Either John will go to New York or Mary will come here."


It is not correct to combine different sentence types in a compound sentence.
Wrong: "Mary lives in New York and come here."
<English Sentence> =
       <Simple Sentence> |
       <Compound Sentence>

<Simple Sentence> =
       <Declarative Sentence> |
       <Interrogative Sentence> |
       <Imperative Sentence> |
       <Conditional Sentence>

<Compound Sentence> =
       <Simple Sentence> <conjunction> <Simple Sentence> |
       "Either" <Declarative Sentence> "or" <Declarative Sentence> |
       "Either" <Imperative Sentence> "or" <Imperative Sentence>     

Introduction and Notation

This manual provides an overview of common English sentence structures. The manual differs from traditional books on English grammar by providing formal descriptions that will enable a student of English to generate correctly formed sentences easily. Persons studying English as a second language (ESL) or those who would like to use English language interfaces in computer-based applications will find this approach particularly useful because it avoids the ambiguities encountered in traditional English grammars. The description uses the notation below.


Parsing a Sentence
<noun> Items in carets "< >" are variables which represent a class of words or other variables. The variable <noun> could represent the words "Mary", "car",
<proper noun>, etc.
"string" Items in quotes represent the word itself.
= The equal sign "=" is interpreted as consists of. For example, <X> = <Y> <Z> means that X consists of Y immediately followed by Z.
X | Y Items separated by a vertical bar "|" represent mutually exclusive choices. Choose either X or Y.
(X | Y) Parentheses "(" and ")" are used to group variables or strings to avoid ambiguity. For example, C (D | E) (F | G) means that only the following strings are valid: CDF, CDG, CEF, and CEG.
[X] Items in brackets are optional. X may or may not be chosen. For example,
[X[Y]]Z means that only Z, XZ, and XYZ are valid strings.
* An asterisk "*" means that a variable may be repeated zero or more times. X <B>* represents X, XB, XBB, XBBB, etc.

the most common English mistakes made by students

Below are some of the most common English mistakes made by students, in speech and in writing. Go through the examples and make sure you understand the corrections. Then try the grammar test at the end to check your progress.

  1. Wrong I have visited Niagara Falls last weekend.
    Right I visited Niagara Falls last weekend.
  2. Wrong The woman which works here is from Japan.
    Right The woman who works here is from Japan.
  3. Wrong She’s married with a dentist.
    Right She’s married to a dentist.
  4. Wrong She was boring in the class.
    Right She was bored in the class.
  5. Wrong I must to call him immediately.
    Right I must call him immediately.
  6. Wrong Every students like the teacher.
    Right Every student likes the teacher.
  7. Wrong Although it was raining, but we had the picnic.
    Right Although it was raining, we had the picnic.
  8. Wrong I enjoyed from the movie.
    Right I enjoyed the movie.
  9. Wrong I look forward to meet you.
    Right I look forward to meeting you.
  10. Wrong I like very much ice cream.
    Right I like ice cream very much.
  11. Wrong She can to drive.
    Right She can drive.
  12. Wrong
    Where I can find a bank?
    Right Where can I find a bank?
  13. Wrong
    I live in United States.
    Right
    I live in theUnited States.
  14. Wrong
    When I will arrive, I will call you.
    Right
    When I arrive, I will call you.
  15. Wrong
    I’ve been here since three months.
    Right
    I’ve been here for three months.
  16. Wrong
    My boyfriend has got a new work.
    Right
    My boyfriend has got a new job. (or just "has a new job")
  17. Wrong
    She doesn’t listen me.
    Right
    She doesn’t listen to me.
  18. Wrong
    You speak English good.
    Right
    You speak English well.
  19. Wrong
    The police is coming.
    Right
    The police are coming.
  20. Wrong
    The house isn’t enough big.
    Right
    The house isn’t big enough.
  21. Wrong
    You should not to smoke.
    Right
    You should not smoke.
  22. Wrong
    Do you like a glass of wine?
    Right
    Would you like a glass of wine?
  23. Wrong
    There is seven girls in the class.
    Right
    There are seven girls in the class.
  24. Wrong
    I didn’t meet nobody.
    Right
    I didn’t meet anybody.
  25. Wrong
    My flight departs in 5:00 am.
    My flight departs at 5:00 am.
     
     
    1. Wrong
      I promise I call you next week.
      Right
      I promise I’ll call you next week.
    2. Wrong
      Where is post office?
      Right
      Where is the post office?
    3. Wrong
      Please explain me how improve my English.
      Right
      Please explain to me how to improve my English.
    4. Wrong
      We studied during four hours.
      Right
      We studied for four hours.
    5. Wrong
      Is ready my passport?
      Right
      Is my passport ready?
    6. Wrong
      You cannot buy all what you like!
      Right
      You cannot buy all that you like!
    7. Wrong
      She is success.
      Right
      She is successful.
    8. Wrong
      My mother wanted that I be doctor.
      Right
      My mother wanted me to be a doctor.
    9. Wrong
      The life is hard!
      Right Life is hard.
    10. Wrong
      How many childrens you have?
      Right
      How many children do you have?
    11. Wrong
      My brother has 10 years.
      Right
      My brother is 10 (years old).
    12. Wrong
      I want eat now.
      Right
      I want to eat now.
    13. Wrong
      You are very nice, as your mother.
      Right
      You are very nice, like your mother.
    14. Wrong
      She said me that she liked you.
      Right
      She told me that she liked you.
    15. Wrong
      My husband engineer.
      Right
      My husband is an engineer.
    16. Wrong
      I came Australia to study English.
      Right
      I came to Australia to study English.
    17. Wrong
      It is more hot now.
      Right
      It’s hotter now.
    18. Wrong
      You can give me an information?
      Right
      Can you give me some information?
    19. Wrong
      They cooked the dinner themself.
      Right
      They cooked the dinner themselves.
    20. Wrong
      Me and Johnny live here.
      Right
      Johnny and I live here.
    21. Wrong
      I closed very quietly the door.
      Right
      I closed the door very quietly.
    22. Wrong
      You like dance with me?
      Right
      Would you like to dance with me?
    23. Wrong
      I go always to school by subway.
      Right
      I always go to school by subway.
    24. Wrong
      If I will be in London, I will contact to you.
      Right
      If I am in London, I will contact you.
    25. Wrong
      We drive usually to home.
      Right
      We usually drive home.
     

Most Annoying Grammar Mistakes in English

Most Annoying Grammar Mistakes in English




1.  Third conditional


"If I would have known about the party, I would have gone to it."  

This is INCORRECT, although commonly used, especially in American English.
The correct form is:
If + had + past participle, would + have + past participle
* "If I had known about the party, I would have gone."  
This is CORRECT.

2.  Don't vs Doesn’t

"He don’t care about me anymore."
This is INCORRECT.
Doesn't, does not, or does are used with the third person singular - words like he, she, and it.
Don't, do not, or do are used for other subjects.
* "He doesn’t care about me anymore."  
This is CORRECT.

3.  Bring vs Take

"When we go to the party on Saturday, let’s bring a bottle of wine."
This is INCORRECT.
When you are viewing the movement of something from the point of arrival, use “bring”:
* "When you come to the party, please bring a bottle of wine."
This is CORRECT.
When you are viewing the movement of something from the point of departure, use “take”:
* "When we go to the party, let’s take a bottle of wine."
This is CORRECT.

4.  Fewer vs Less 

Sign at the checkout of a supermarket: “Ten items or less”.
This is INCORRECT.
You can count the items, so you need to use the number word “fewer”.  These nouns are countable.
* "Ten items or fewer."
This is CORRECT.
If you can’t count the substance, then you should use “less”.  These nouns are uncountable.
* "You should eat less meat."
This is CORRECT.

5.  However

"We were supposed to go to the dance last night, however, it was cancelled because of lack of interest." 
This is INCORRECT.
A semicolon, rather than a comma, should be used to link these two complete sentences:
* "We were supposed to go to the dance last night; however, it was cancelled because of lack of interest." 
This is CORRECT.
It should be noted that there ARE situations in which you can use a comma instead of a semi-colon:
* "The match at Wimbledon, however, continued despite the bad weather."
This is CORRECT. 
There is only one complete sentence in this example.  It is not a compound sentence.

6.  Have vs Of

"I never would of thought that he’d behave like that."
This is INCORRECT.
It should be would have:
* "I never would have/would’ve thought that he’d behave like that."
This is CORRECT.
It’s the same for should and could:
"He should of come with me."
This is INCORRECT.
* "He should have/should’ve come with me."
This is CORRECT.
This is INCORRECT.
* "She could have had anything she wanted."
This is CORRECT.

7.  Double negative 

"I'm not speaking to nobody in this class."
This is INCORRECT.
Since 'not' is a negative, you cannot use 'nobody' in this sentence:
* "I'm not speaking to anybody in this class."
This is CORRECT.

8.  Present perfect

"He has took the train."
This is INCORRECT.
The correct form for the present perfect is:
would + have + past participle
* "He has taken the train."
This is CORRECT.

9.  Went vs Gone 

"I should have went to school yesterday."
This is INCORRECT.
The correct form is:
should + have + past participle
* "I should have gone to school yesterday."
This is CORRECT.

10.   Its vs It's

"Its going to be sunny tomorrow."
This is INCORRECT.
It’s is the contraction of It is:
* "It’s going to be sunny tomorrow."
This is CORRECT.
"What’s that?  I can’t remember it’s name."
This is INCORRECT.
Its is a possessive pronoun that modifies a noun:
* "What’s that?  I can’t remember its name."
This is CORRECT.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

The most common tenses in English

Tense Signal words Use Form Examples
Simple
Present
every day
sometimes
always
often
usually
seldom
never
first ... then
something happens repeatedly

how often something happens

one action follows another

things in general

after the following verbs (to love, to hate, to think, etc.)

future meaning: timetables, programmes
infinitive
he/she/it + -s
I work
he works
I go
he goes
Present
Progressive
now
at the moment
Look!
Listen!
something is happening at the same time of speaking or around it

future meaning: when you have already decided and arranged to do it (a fixed plan, date)
to be (am/are/is) + infinitive + -ing I'm working
he's working
I'm going
he's going
Simple
Past
last ...
... ago
in 1990
yesterday
action took place in the past, mostly connected with an expression of time (no connection to the present) regular:
infinitive + -ed
irregular:
2nd column
I worked
he worked
I went
he went
Past
Progressive
  an action happened in the middle of another action -

someone was doing sth. at a certain time (in the past) -
you don't know whether it was finished or not
was/were + infinitive + -ing I was working
he was working
I was going
he was going
Simple
Present
Perfect
yet
never
ever
already
so far,
up to now, zum Teil: since
for
recently
you say that sth. has happened or is finished in the past and it has a connection to the present

action started in the past and continues up to the present
have/has +
past participle (infinitive + -ed)
or
(3rd column)
I've worked
he's worked
I've gone
he's gone
Present Perfect
Progressive
 
emphasis: length of time of an action
action began in the past and has just stopped

how long the action has been happening
have/has + been + infinitive + -ing I've been working
he's been working
I've been going
he's been going
Simple Past
Perfect
  mostly when two actions in a story are related to each other: the action which had already happened is put into Past Perfect, the other action into Simple Past the past of the Present Perfect had + past participle (infinitive + -ed)
or
(3rd column)
I had worked
he had worked
I had gone
he had gone
will - future   predictions about the future (you think that sth. will happen)

you decide to do sth. spontaneously at the time of speaking, you haven't made a decision before

main clause in if clause type I
will + infinitive I'll work
he'll work
I'll go
he'll go
going to - future   when you have already decided to do sth. in the future

what you think what will happen
be (am/are/is) + going to + infinitive I'm going to work
he's going to work
I'm going to go
he's going to go