Articles

1. There are 3 types of articles  ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’.

2. ‘A’ and ‘an’  indefinite articles and only used with singular countable nouns.
2.1 ‘a’ is used before words that begin with consonants sounds or words which
begin with the vowel ‘u’ but has a consonant sound (you).
a) a boy e) a university
b) a flower f) a unit
c) a pineapple g) a unique school
d) a zebra h) a one-way street
2.2 ‘an’ is used before words which begin with vowels (a, e, i, o, u) or words
which begin with the silent ‘h’.
a) an ant g) an umbrella
b) an apple h) an hour
c) an earring i) an honour
d) an elephant j) an honest girl
e) an insect
f) an onion
2.3 ‘a’ and ‘an’ are not use before uncountable nouns. E.g: rice, sand, oil, etc.

3 ‘The’  definite article and is used with plural countable nouns and also
3.1 To show something that is special and one of its kinds in the world.
a) The sun is setting in the west.
b) The air is fresher in the countryside.
3.2 To refer to a particular person, animal, thing or place.
a) The white cat is under the chair.
b) That is the car which honked at me yesterday.
3.3 For the superlative form of an adjective.
a) She is the tallest girl in her class.
b) I bought the cheapest book.
3.4 With things which are already mentioned before.
a) A pupil is in a library. The pupil is reading quietly.

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 Nouns 名词

Countable and Uncountable Nouns 可数名词和不可数名词

1. A noun is used to refer to a person, place, animal or thing.

a) teacher (person)
b) market (place)
c) rabbit (animal)
d) car (thing)

2. Nouns can be countable or uncountable.

Countable Nouns Uncountable Nouns
(can be counted) (cannot be counted)
pen car oil water
boy bag sand curry
house key dust rice
cat plate ink paper

3. Can be used in the following ways.

Countable Nouns Uncountable Nouns
a lot of books a little oil
many pencils a lot of water
a few houses plenty of sand
plenty of cars some rice
a few bags much ink
several keys less butter
some books more money
a large number of cows a large amount of curry
a small number of durians a small amount of petrol

 a lot of  positive statements, negative statements, questions.

 some  positive statements, questions.
 any  negative statements, questions
 plenty of

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 Collective Nouns 集合名词

 Used to refer to people, animals or things as a unit.

People
1. a band of musicians 一群音乐家 9. a patrol of policemen 一队警员
2. a choir of singers 一队歌手 10. an army of soldiers 一队士兵
3. a class of pupils 一班学生 11. a staff of servants 一班雇员
4. a caravan of gypsies 一群吉卜塞人 12. a team of players 一队运动员
5. a batch of students 一批学员 13. a tribe of natives 一族土著
6. a gang of prisoners 一群犯人 14. a troupe of artistes 一群艺人
7. a crew of sailors 一群水手 15. a panel of judges 一组裁判
8. a crowd of people 一群人 16. a party of friends 一群朋友

Animal
1. an army of ants 一群蚂蚁 11. a plague of locusts 一群蝗虫
2. a brood of chickens 一窝小鸡 12. parliament of owls 一群猫头鹰
3. a cloud of flies 一群苍蝇 13. a shoal of fish 一群鱼
4. a nest of mice 一窝老鼠 14. a smack of jellyfish 一群水母
5. a gaggle of geese 一群鹅 15. a team of oxen 一群公牛
6. a flight of swallows 一群燕子 16. a swarm of bees 一群蜜蜂
7. a flock of birds 一群鸟 17. a pack of wolves 一群狼
8. a troop of monkeys 一群猴子 18. a pride of lions 一群狮子
9. a litter of kittens 一窝小猫 19. a flock of birds 一群小鸟
a litter of puppies 一窝小狗 a flock of sheep 一群绵羊
10. a school of dolphins 一群海豚 20. a herd of buffaloes 一群水牛
a school of whales 一群鲸鱼 a herd of elephants 一群大象

Things / Plants
1. a string of pearls 一串珍珠 11. a garland of flowers 一环花朵
2. a bale of cotton 一大包棉花 12. a layer of dirt 一层污垢
3. a bowl of rice 一碗饭 13. a queue of vehicles 一列车辆
4. a bunch of keys 一串钥匙 14. a pack of cards 一副纸牌
5. a cluster of coconuts 一嘟噜椰子 15. a bouquet of flowers 一束鲜花
6. a column of smoke 一缕烟 16. a tuft of grass 一丛草
7. a bundle of sticks 一捆柴枝 17. a wad of currency 一叠纸币
8. a suit of clothes 一套衣服 18. a cloud of dust 一团尘雾
9. a clutch of eggs 一窝蛋 19. a comb of bananas 一把香蕉
10. a crate of fruits 一箱水果 20. a set of tools 一套工具

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 Singular and Plural Nouns 单数和复数名词

 A singular noun  1 person, animal, place or thing.

 A plural noun  more than 1 person, animal, place or thing.
2) The letter ‘s’ is usually added to form a plural noun.
a) fruit – fruits
b) girl – girls
c) lamp – lamps
d) song – songs
3) For nouns which end with ‘s’, ‘x’, ‘sh’ and ‘ch’, the plural is formed by adding ‘es’.
a) class – classes
b) box – boxes
c) dish – dishes
d) match – matches
4) For a noun which ends with ‘y’ preceded by a consonant, the letter ‘y’ is changed
into ‘ies’ to form the plural.
a) activity – activities
b) berry – berries
c) lorry – lorries
d) puppy - puppies
5) For a noun which ends with ‘y’ preceded by a vowel (ay, ey, oy, uy), the letter ‘s’
is added to form the plural.
a) boy – boys
b) day – days
c) key – keys
d) guy - guys
6) For a noun which ends with the letter ‘o’ preceded by a vowel, the letter ‘s’ is
added to form the plural.
a) radio – radios
b) studio – studios
c) bamboo – bamboos
d) piano – pianos
e) zoo – zoos

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7) For a noun which ends with the letter ‘o’ preceded by a consonant, ‘s’ or ‘es’ is
added to form the plural.
a) photo – photos
b) potato – potatoes
c) hero – heroes
8) For a noun which ends with the letter ‘f’ or ‘fe’, the plural form is made by either
adding the letter ‘s’ or by changing ‘f’/ ‘fe’ to ‘ves’.
a) leaf – leaves
b) knife – knives
c) half – halves
d) thief - thieves
e) roof - roofs
f) safe – safes
g) chef - chefs
9) Some nouns are called irregular as their plural form is spelt very differently from
the singular form.
a) ox – oxen e) goose – geese
b) child – children f) mouse – mice
c) foot – feet g) man – men
d) tooth – teeth h) woman – women
10) A few irregular nouns maintain the same spelling and pronunciation for both
singular and plural forms.
a) deer – deer
b) sheep – sheep
c) salmon – salmon
d) furniture – furniture
11) Some nouns occur only in the plural form:
binoculars, glasses, scissors, spectacles, pants, pyjamas, shorts, tights, trousers,
clothes, stairs, goods
12) Some nouns have no plural:
news, work, homework, rubbish

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 Pronouns 代词
Singular Plural
First I We
Second You You
Third He / She / It They

Subject of the verb Object of the verb

Singular I like to play badminton. My parents took me out.
You are late. I called you last night.
He is an engineer. The teacher scolded him.
She is an only child. They found her in the room.
It is a Persian cat. The car knocked it down.
Plural We visited the museum. They are waiting for us.
They won the singing competition. The teacher praised them.

Personal Possessive Possessive Reflexive Pronouns

Pronouns Adjectives Pronouns
I my mine myself
You your yours yourself
He his his himself
She her hers herself
It its its itself
We our ours ourselves
They their theirs themselves

This is my bag. The bag is mine. I paint the picture myself.

This is your book. The book is yours. You have to do it yourself.
This is his pen. The pen is his. He writes the poem himself.
This is her pencil. The pencil is hers. She cut the fruit herself.
This is its kennel. The kennel is its. The dog scratched itself.
That is our house. The house is ours. We saw it ourselves.
These are their chairs. The chairs are theirs. They helped themselves.

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 Adjectives 形容词
Comparison of Adjectives (Regular)
Positive 原级 Comparative 比较级 Superlative 最高级
1 big 大 bigger than the biggest
2 brave 勇敢 braver than the bravest
3 bright 光亮 brighter than the brightest
4 busy 忙碌 busier than the busiest
5 cheap 便宜 cheaper than the cheapest
6 clean 清洁 cleaner than the cleanest
7 clear 清晰 clearer than the clearest
8 clever 聪明 cleverer than the cleverest
9 cold 冷 colder than the coldest
10 cool 凉快 cooler than the coolest
11 cruel 残忍 crueler than the cruelest
12 dark 黑暗 darker than the darkest
13 deep 深 deeper than the deepest
14 dirty 肮脏 dirtier than the dirtiest
15 fat 胖 fatter than the fattest
16 friend 友善 friendlier than the friendliest
17 great 美妙的 greater than the greatest
18 happy 快乐 happier than the happiest
19 hard 硬 harder than the hardest
20 healthy 健康 healthier than the healthiest
21 heavy 重 heavier than the heaviest
22 high 高 higher than the highest
23 hot 热 hotter than the hottest
24 large 大 larger than the largest
25 lazy 懒惰 lazier than the laziest
26 light 轻 lighter than the lightest
27 long 长 longer than the longest
28 low 低 lower than the lowest
29 near 靠近 nearer than the nearest
30 neat 整洁 neater than the neatest
31 nice 美好 nicer than the nicest
32 noisy 吵闹 noisier than the noisiest
33 pretty 漂亮 prettier than the prettiest
34 poor 穷 poorer than the poorest
35 quiet 安静 quieter than the quietest
36 rich 富有 richer than the richest
37 strong 强壮 stronger than the strongest
38 tall 高 taller than the tallest
39 thick 厚 thicker than the thickest

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40 thin 薄/瘦 thinner than the thinnest
41 weak 弱 weaker than the weakest
42 warm 温 warmer than the warmest
43 wise 聪明 wiser than the wisest
44 young 年轻 younger than the youngest

Comparison of Adjectives (By adding ‘more’ and ‘most’)

Positive 原级 Comparative 比较级 Superlative 最高级
1 beautiful 美丽 more beautiful most beautiful
2 careful 小心 more careful most careful
3 comfortable 舒适 more comfortable most comfortable
4 dangerous 危险 more dangerous most dangerous
5 difficult 困难 more difficult most difficult
6 exciting 兴奋 more exciting most exciting
7 expensive 昂贵 more expensive most expensive
8 famous 著名 more famous most famous
9 helpful 有帮助的 more helpful most helpful
10 intelligent 有智慧的 more intelligent most intelligent
11 joyful 快乐的 more joyful most joyful
12 obedient 听话的 more obedient most obedient
13 peaceful 和平的 more peaceful most peaceful

Comparison of Adjective (Irregular)

Positive 原级 Comparative 比较级 Superlative 最高级
bad 坏 worse worst
good 好 better best
little 少 less least
many 许多 more most
much 许多/大量 more most
far 遥远 further/farther furthest/farthest

 There is no comparison for positive

 The comparative is used to compare two things
 The superlative is used to compare three or more things
 The suffixes ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ are added to the positive adjectives to form most
comparatives and superlatives. However, ‘-ier’ and ‘-iest’ are needed when a two-
syllable adjective ends in ‘y’.
 When an adjective of one syllable ends in a single consonant, double the consonant
for the comparative and superlatives forms. However, letters ‘-w’ and ‘-x’ are not
doubled.

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 Conjunctions 连词

Conjunction Usage Example

and To join two sentences with - Sandy likes singing.
the same or similar ideas - Sandy likes dancing.
Sandy likes singing and dancing.
but To join two sentences with - I want to go Singapore by bus.
different ideas - He insists on taking the plane.
I want to go Singapore by bus but he
insists on taking the plane.
because To give reason - Danny was punished.
- He did not do his homework.
Danny was punished because he did not
do his homework.
so To show cause and effect - The children are tired.
- They go to bed early.
The children are tired so they go to bed
early.
or To show a choice or - Would you prefer tea?
possibility can be made - Would you prefer coffee?
Would you prefer tea or coffee?
if To show a condition - You work harder.
- You will pass your examination.
If you work harder, you will pass your
examination.
although To show contrast - It is raining heavily.
(beginning / middle) - They continue with the climb.
Although it is raining heavily, they
continue with the climb.

- Nobody wants to live in that mansion.

- It is beautiful.
Nobody wants to live in that mansion
although it is beautiful.

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 Wh-question Words 疑问句用词

Wh-question Word Usage Example

Who To ask about people Who are you?
Who is the man?
Who is your mother?
Who is your best friend?

What To ask about things What is this?

or something What is in your bag?
general. What are they doing?
What does he want?
What did you do yesterday?

Which Choices between a Which is your pen?

few possibilities Which is the capital?
(people, things / Which book is better?
places) Which shirt should I wear?

Why To ask the reason for Why are you here?

something Why is the bag wet?
Why is he going out?
Why do you want to be a singer?

Whose To ask about who the Whose pencil is this?

owner of something Whose ruler is this?
is / belong to Whose car is that?
(possessives) Whose books are these?

Where To ask about places Where are you?

Where is the ruler?
Where do you live?
Where is the car key?

When To ask about the time When is your brother’s birthday?

something happens When are we going home?
When did you come?
When will you leave?

How To ask about the way How are you?

how something is How was your trip?
done / quality, How do you cook the fish?
quantity How do you get to London?

* 7 W, 1 H  used to ask questions.

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 Verbs ‘to be’, ‘to have’ and ‘to do’ 动词
Verb Present Tense Past Tense Example
to be He is the head prefect.
is
was I am a boy.
am
She was in Langkawi yesterday.
These boys are my nephews.
are were
We were there last month.
to have She has a yellow raincoat.
has
had You have a dictionary.
have
He had a football practice yesterday.
to do She does the housework every day.
does
did We do our work quietly.
do
They did their homework just now.

Subject-Verb Agreement 主语与动词一致

The verb must agree with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be
singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well.
Singular Plural
The pupil sings during the music class. The pupils sing during the music class.
He / She prepares some food for They prepare some food for supper.
supper.
The child runs around in the field. The children run around in the field.
The dog does not like its new owner. The dogs do not like their new owner.
The backpacker has no place to sleep The backpackers have no place to
tonight. sleep tonight.
He is a friend of mine They are friends of mine.

Singular Plural
is are
has have
does do

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Simple Present Tense 现在时式

1) Facts, things that are always or generally true.

 The sky is blue.

 The moon is round.
 A hen lays eggs.
 A dog has four legs.
 The sun rises in the east.
 Tropical fish are beautiful.
 Water boils at 100 degrees.
 Plants die without water.
 My birthday is in September.

2) For situations that are (more / less) permanent.

 I live in Malaysia.
 She likes drawing.
 They love coffee.
 My father works in a bank.
 She has three children.
 The boy studies in SJK(C) Kundang.

3) Things that we do regularly / often  routines, habits.

(every day, once a week, twice a month, every Sunday, four times a year)
(always, often, usually, sometimes, rarely, never)

 I go to school by car.
 He always wakes up at 6 a.m.
 Mei Ling often listens to music.
 Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
 I drink a cup of coffee every morning.

4) Short actions.

 He looks at his watch.

 She opens the door.
 I switch on the computer.

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5) Imperatives  statements / order

 Do not litter!
 Keep off the grass!
 Do not feed the animals.
 Go to your bedroom now.

6) We also use it to talk about the future after words like ‘ when’, ‘ until’, ‘ after’,
‘ before’, ‘as soon as’ in a future sentence.

 I will call you when I have time.

 I won't go out until it stops raining.
 She'll come as soon as her babysitter arrives.
 I'm going to make dinner after I watch the news.
 I'll give you the book before you go.

***Spelling: In general, for single subject we add ‘s’ in the verb. However...

a) For verbs that end in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or -z we add -es.

o go – goes
o catch – catches
o wash – washes
o kiss – kisses
o fix – fixes
o buzz – buzzes

b) For verbs that end in a consonant + y, we remove the y and add -ies.

o marry – marries
o study – studies
o carry – carries
o worry – worries

c) For verbs that end in a vowel + y, we just add -s.

o play – plays
o enjoy – enjoys
o say – says
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Present Continuous Tense 现在进行时式

1) Used to show something which is happening now.

a. I am cutting the grass now.
b. The waiter is serving the customers now.
c. We are waiting for him at the bus stop.
2) Used to express the future.
a. I am going camping next week.
b. She is going for a holiday soon.
c. We are going to China tomorrow.
3) Used to express developing and changing situations.
a. The wind is getting stronger and the temperature is dropping faster.
b. More people are buying organic products nowadays.

***Spelling: Verbs when adding -ing.

a) Consonant after a short, stressed vowel at the end of the word.

 Double the consonant:
sit – he is sitting
put – he is putting
travel – they are travelling
 If the consonant is not stressed, we do not double it:
benefit - benefiting (we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.)
b) One -e at the end of the word
 Leave out the –e:
write – he is writing
take – he is taking
 BUT double –e add –ing:
see – he is seeing
c) Verbs ending in –ie
 Change 'ie' to 'y':
lie - he is lying
d) Verbs ending in –c
 Change 'c' to 'ck':
picnic - he is picnicking
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Simple Past Tense 过去时式

1) Something has happened in the past (specific time) and has finished.
 I took her home just now.
 They were at his birthday party last night.
 The cleaned the house last weekend.
 He knew the answer yesterday.

2) Telling stories or past events.

 Once upon a time, a lord lived in the castle.
 There was an ugly witch living in the middle of the forest.
 In the past, the knights travelled on strong horses.

3) Indicate a time in the past.

 I lived in Johor in 1994.

4) Express habit in the pass.

 I collected stamps when I was a child.

*** Spelling: Verbs in the Past Simple Tense

Regular Verb Irregular Verb Verb

-d, -ed, -ied remaining same

live  lived sell  sold cut  cut

want  wanted drink  drank put  put
carry  carried buy  bought let  let
stop  stopped
plan  planned
panic  panicked

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 Positive and Negative Statements 肯定句和否定句

Positive statement in the Present Tense

I
You
go
We
to the town’s library on
They
weekends.
He
She goes
It
Negative statement in the Present Tense
I
You
do not go
We
to the town’s library on
They
weekends.
He
She does not go
It

Positive statement in the Past Tense

I
You
We
They went to the zoo last Saturday.
He
She
It
Negative statement in the Past Tense
I
You
We
They did not go to the zoo last Saturday.
He
She
It

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 Prepositions of Time

Prepositions Use
 month
 year
in  season
 part of the day (morning, afternoon, evening)
 duration

 specific time of day (noon, midnight)

at  part of the day (night)
 celebrations
 days of the week
on  dates
 special days
after  something will happen later
by  a deadline in the future
during  through the whole of a period of time

Prepositions Examples
- My birthday is in December.
- Jenny was born in 1990.
- Tom wakes up early in the morning.
in
- Mr Siew will be here in three minutes.
- The van will be here in ten minutes.

- Lunch is at noon.
- Dinner is at 6 o’clock.
at
- Tuition is at 2.30 p.m.

- Ali is going to Ipoh on Friday.

- I am going to visit my grandmother on Saturday.
on - My birthday is on the 25th of June.
- We are going to the party on my birthday.

- I will see you after school.

after - After the holidays, I will start studying French.

- I expect rain by noon.

by - I want to have those papers by Friday.

during - during the holidays

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