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The singular form of nouns is the unmarked and most common form, and plural nouns are formed from the singular by inflectional change, normally the addition of a suffix. The overwhelming majority of nouns form their plural by adding the ending -(e)s.
If the word ends in s, ss, z, x, sh, ch, the spelling is -es: bus--buses, box--boxes, bush--bushes, match--matches.
If the singular noun ends in a consonant letter + -y, the spelling is -ies: copy-copies, fly-flies, lady-ladies, army-armies. But if the singular ends in a vowel letter + -y, however, the spelling is -s: boy--boys, day-days, key-keys, essay-essays.
"If the singular ends in -o, the spelling of the plural is sometimes -os and sometimes -oes: pianos, radios, videos v. heroes, potatoes, volcanoes."


The Plurals of Compound Nouns

For compound nouns written as one word, make the last part of the compound plural (briefcases, mailboxes). For instance, compound nouns written as separate or hyphenated words, make the most important part plural: brothers-in law, lieutenant governors. . . .

Determiners are words that identify a noun, such as this study, all people, his suggestions and etc. Some determiners, such as a, an, this, that, one, and each, can only be used with singular nouns; others, such as these, those, all, both, many, several, and two, can only be used with plural nouns.

Generic Number

Generic number, which includes both singular and plural and is used when one doesn't want to indicate number, is expressed in English in three ways:

1. the definite article + singular noun ( The tiger may be dangerous),
2. the indefinite article + singular noun ( A tiger may be dangerous),
3. Ø article + plural of count nouns or a singular of mass nouns ( Tigers may be dangerous or Gold is valuable).

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  Understand syntax and punctuation in English grammar
  

This assignment addresses assessment criteria 3.1, 3.2


3.1 Explain the principles of English syntax, including how phrases and sentences are typically structured

In English grammar, sentence structure is the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. The grammatical function or meaning of a sentence is dependent on this structural organization, which is also called syntax or syntactic structure. In traditional grammar, the four basic types of sentence structures are (1) the simple sentence, (2) the compound sentence, (3) the complex sentence, and (4) the compound-complex sentence.

1. The most common word order in English sentences is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). When reading a sentence, we generally expect the first noun to be the subject and the second noun to be the object. This expectation (which isn't always fulfilled) is known in linguistics as the "canonical sentence strategy."

2. A compound sentence is a sentence that connects two independent clauses, typically with a coordinating conjunction like and or but. They’re best for combining two or more self-sufficient and related sentences into a single, unified one. Compound sentences are easy to identify because they usually use a coordinating conjunction, which you may remember as FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So. However, compound sentences can also use a semicolon to connect two clauses, in which case no conjunction is necessary.

3. A complex sentence is formed by adding one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses to the main (independent) clause using conjunctions and/or relative pronouns. A clause is a simple sentence. Simple sentences contain only one clause (verb group). Complex sentences contain more than one clause (verb group).

Complex sentences result when other more sophisticated devices are used to join clauses; this means a subordinate (dependent) clause is joined with a main (or independent) clause.
There are three main ways to join clauses to make complex sentences. By using (1) relative pronouns – “that, which, who, whose”, (2) conjunctions (subordinating) – “while, because, although, as, when, until, unless, through, by, since, whenever, if, where, before”, (3) verb structures (non-finite) – (participle) verb forms that end in –ing or –ed or an infinitive verb form such as to go, to become, to see.

4. In English grammar, a compound-complex sentence is a type of sentence that contains at least three clauses—two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses—which equates to three sets of subjects and verbs. This type of sentence is a combination of a compound sentence with a complex sentence. A compound sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses are joined together with a coordinating conjunction, like “for” and “yet,” or a conjunctive adverb, such as “however” and “nevertheless.” A complex sentence is a sentence that has one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses that modify the main subject or verb of a sentence.

Compound-complex sentences will typically be joined together with a coordinating conjunction as you would use in a compound sentence, with the comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction.
“The cat ran away, but nobody was worried because he was trained to find his home.”
In this example, “the cat ran away” and “nobody was worried” are the two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunctions “but,” and followed by the subordinate clause “because he was trained to find his home.”
3.2 Analyse common sentence types and clause co- ordination

There are four common sentence types: declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory. Each has its own functions and patterns.

1. Declarative Sentences give information. We use them to share facts and ideas, in other words, to declare, state, assert, or claim something. For example: “The dog went to the country fair” or “ I like popcorn more than grubs”.

2.An interrogative sentence is a question. They are easy to recognize because they always end with question marks (?). Questions are really requests or commands for people to give us information, but they are more polite than commands. For instance: “How do you make popcorn?” or “What time do you usually get up?”

3.An imperative is a verb expressing a command, thus, an imperative sentence basically gives instructions, requests, or demands, although they can also be used to share wishes and make invitations. For example: “Stop writing!” or “ Don`t hesitate!”

4.Exclamatory sentences are ways to share strong feelings such as excitement. They are usually just like declarative sentences in form and function, just with more emotion. But one can also make exclamatory questions, or exclamations that are not full sentences; e. g. “I can’t believe how fast that dog ate all the popcorn!” or “Hey! There’s no more popcorn!”

In English grammar, a coordinate clause is a clause (i.e., a word group containing a subject and predicate) that is introduced by one of the coordinating conjunctions - most commonly “and, or, but”. A compound sentence is made up of one or more coordinate clauses joined to the main clause. The rhetorical term for a coordinate construction is parataxis. Here are a few examples:

"It was apple-blossom time, and the days were getting warmer." (E.B. White, Charlotte's Web. Harper, 1952)

"I wasn't a fan of most vegetables, but I didn't mind peas." (Gene Simmons, Kiss, and Make-Up. Crown, 2001)

3.3Explain the use of standard English punctuation in all common con

The most common punctuation marks in English are: capital letters and full stops, question marks, commas, colons and semi-colons, exclamation marks and quotation marks.
In speaking, we use pauses and the pitch of the voice to make what we say clear. Punctuation plays a similar role in writing, making it easier to read.