Grammar: Weeks 1 & 2

WEEKS 1 & 2 – Introduction to the Parts of Speech

PARTS OF SPEECH

Parts of speech are the basic types of words that English has. Every word in the English language falls into one of these categories.  Most grammar books say that there are eight parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections. Some grammar books add another, articles, as a part of speech.  For this class, articles will be included with the adjectives. 

It is important to be able to recognize and identify the different types of words in English so that you can understand grammar explanations and use the right word form in the right place.

A fun and easy way to remember the parts of speech is with the mnemonic, the name “IVAN CAPP.”

I = interjection V = verb A = adjective N = noun C = conjunction A = adverb P = Preposition P = Pronoun

NOUN

Nouns are words, phrases or clauses that name a person, place, thing, idea, or quality.

Categories for nouns: 

– Common

– Proper

– Compound

– Collective

– As adverbs

– Concrete

– Abstract

– Countable

– Non-countable

– Verbal nouns (gerunds)

A noun can be used in a sentence as

– Subject

– Direct object

– Indirect object

– Object of a preposition

– Predicate Noun

PRONOUNS

A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.  An antecedent is a word or group of words to which a pronoun refers.  If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular.  If the antecedent is plural, then the pronoun must be plural.

Various types of pronouns

–   Personal

o   Subjective case

o   Objective case

o   Possessive case

–   Reflexive or intensive

–   Demonstrative

–   Relative

–   Interrogative

–   Extended

–   Indefinite

ADJECTIVE

Adjective:  An adjective is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies (changes, limits, describes, transforms, qualifies) a noun or pronoun.

–   Adjectives answer the following questions:  Which one? What kind of? and How many?

–   Adjectives may be placed before the noun, after the noun, or after a state of being or linking verb.

VERB

Verb:  A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence.

Categories for Verbs:

–   Action

–   State of being

–   Linking

Verbs have voice

–   Active:  the action of the verb is performed by the subject of the sentence.

–   Passive:  the action of the verb is performed upon the subject of the sentence.

Agreement in number

–   Singular subjects and singular verbs; plural subjects and plural verbs

All sentences have verbs

–   Imperative sentences may appear to be missing the subject, but it is an understood “you.”

All verbs have 4 principle parts: 

1) present stem;

2) past tense

3) past participle

4) present participle.  eg.  look, looked, looked. looking.

ADVERB

Adverb:  An adverb is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies (changes, limits, describes, transforms, qualifies) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

–   Adverbs answer the following questions:  How? When? Where? To what extent? How much?  How often?

–   Placement:  Adverbs of one word almost always come before the word modified.  Clauses and phrases should be placed as closely as possible to the verb is modifies.

–   Formation:  Adverbs can be formed by adding “-ly” to an adjective.  (e.g.  correctly, happily, sparingly)  Another way to form an adverb is to place an adjective in the following formula:  “in a _________ manner.”

PREPOSITION

Preposition:  A preposition is a word that links a noun or pronoun with some other  word or words (usually nouns or pronouns) in a sentence.

–   A preposition always comes before the noun (object of the preposition)

–   Prepositional phrases can be adjectival or adverbial.

CONJUNCTION

Conjunction:  A conjunction is a word or words used to join other words, phrases, or clauses.

–   Coordinating conjunctions:  for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (“FANBOYS”)

–   Correlative conjunctions:  either … or; neither … nor; not only … but also; both … and; etc.

–   Adverbial conjunctions:  although, if, because, since (these join subordinate clauses)

–   Generally, conjunctions appear within the sentence.  On rare occasions, a conjunction may begin a sentence or paragraph.

INTERJECTION

Interjection:  An interjection is a word or group of words expressing emotion or feeling, however slight.  Also, this part of speech doesn’t fit into any of the other categories of the parts of speech.

Examples:        Well, I don’t think so.

                        Marvelous! You have done an incredible job.

                        Oh no.  This is terrible.