ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR TKA

Essential Grammar Module

Tenses • Clauses • Passive Voice • Gerunds & Infinitives • Subject–Verb Agreement

TKA English Grammar • 1/16

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify the tense commonly used in each text type.

Analyze complex sentences and clauses.

Form and recognize passive voice.

Choose correct gerund or infinitive forms.

Apply subject–verb agreement accurately.

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1. TENSES: PAST TENSES

Simple Past: Subject + V2 → She visited the museum yesterday.

Past Continuous: was/were + V-ing → They were studying when I arrived.

Past Perfect: had + V3 → He had finished the task before the teacher came.

Common in: Recount and Narrative texts.

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1. TENSES: PRESENT TENSES

Simple Present: V1 / V-s → Water boils at 100°C.

Present Continuous: am/is/are + V-ing → The students are discussing the issue.

Present Perfect: have/has + V3 → Researchers have discovered new evidence.

Common in: Analytical Exposition and Procedure texts.

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TENSE CLUES IN QUESTIONS

Simple Past → yesterday, last week, ago, in 1945

Past Continuous → while, when + interrupted action

Past Perfect → before, after, by the time

Simple Present → generally, usually, every day

Present Perfect → since, for, already, yet, recently

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2. SENTENCE STRUCTURE & CLAUSES

A clause contains a subject + verb.

Independent clause: can stand alone.

Dependent clause: cannot stand alone.

Example: Although it was raining, we continued the trip.

Main clause = we continued the trip; dependent clause = Although it was raining.

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RELATIVE CLAUSES

who → people as subject: The student who won the test is my friend.

whom → people as object: The teacher whom I met was helpful.

which → things/animals: The book which I bought is useful.

whose → possession: The student whose phone rang apologized.

that → people/things in defining clauses.

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ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Time: when, while, after, before → After she arrived, the class started.

Cause: because, since, as → We stayed inside because it was raining.

Contrast: although, even though → Although he was tired, he kept working.

Tip: identify the connector to understand the relationship between ideas.

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3. PASSIVE VOICE

Basic pattern: Subject + be + V3

Present: The report is written by the student.

Past: The bridge was built in 1990.

Perfect: The work has been completed.

Use passive when the action/result is more important than the doer.

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ACTIVE → PASSIVE

Active: Researchers conduct the experiment.

Passive: The experiment is conducted by researchers.

Active: The committee approved the proposal.

Passive: The proposal was approved by the committee.

Remember: keep the original tense; change the object into the passive subject.

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4. GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

Gerund = V-ing functioning as a noun: Reading is useful.

After prepositions: interested in learning; good at speaking.

Infinitive = to + V1: They decided to leave.

Purpose: She studies to improve her English.

Common verbs + infinitive: decide, want, hope, plan, need.

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COMMON GERUND PATTERNS

Enjoy + V-ing → I enjoy reading.

Avoid + V-ing → Avoid making mistakes.

Finish + V-ing → She finished writing.

Preposition + V-ing → He is interested in studying.

Remember: after a preposition, use V-ing.

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5. SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT

Singular subject → singular verb: The student works hard.

Plural subject → plural verb: The students work hard.

Ignore intervening phrases: The causes of global warming are complex.

Each / every / everyone / someone → singular verb.

Tip: find the real subject before choosing the verb.

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QUICK TKA STRATEGY

1. Find the subject and main verb.

2. Identify time markers and text type.

3. Check the clause connector.

4. Check active/passive meaning.

5. Check gerund/infinitive patterns.

6. Match the verb with the true subject.

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MINI PRACTICE

1. When I arrived, they ___ dinner. (eat / were eating)

2. The report ___ yesterday. (was submitted / submitted)

3. She decided ___ abroad. (studying / to study)

4. The causes of pollution ___ complex. (is / are)

5. The student ___ won the competition is my friend. (who / which)

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ANSWER KEY & REVIEW

1. were eating

2. was submitted

3. to study

4. are

5. who

Review: Tenses → Clauses → Passive → Gerunds/Infinitives → Agreement

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