Prepositional Phrases as Adjectives and Adverbs

Prepositional Phrases as Adjectives

Prepositional Phrases as Adverbs

Prepositional Phrases and Objects

Objects of Prepositions

Prepositional Phrases

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.

DRAFTING THE ESSAY

Writing a Thesis

– A thesis statement expresses a main idea that can be developed with stated reasons.  This statement is usually an opinion, feeling attitude, belief, or point of view about the topic.  It should not be a statement of fact that needs no development.

– The thesis must create an adequate focus for the paper.  If the main idea is too broad, it cannot be adequately developed on one paper; if it is too narrow, an entire paper is not needed to develop it.

– The thesis can be the first sentence of the introduction, or can be placed anywhere in the introductory paragraph.

What kind of information to include?

– Include information that proves, illustrates, explains, or defines the thesis.

– Support your thesis and give specific information and concrete details that include examples, facts, statistics, and other concrete information.

– The specific details should relate directly to the main idea.  Supporting sentences often explain how the specific detail proves the thesis statement.

– Supporting sentences should express unity.  Every sentence should support the thesis.

Building Strong Sentences

– Plan your sentences using a map or outline

– Put your sentences in a logical order.  Sentences that have a logical connection and consistency illustrate cohesion.

– Two tools that help make sentences coherent are transitions and repeated key words.  These help clarify the relationship between ideas.

Organizing Supporting Sentences

– The most logical ways to organize supporting statements are

            Time relation (present to past OR past to present)

            Space relation (near to far OR far to near; circular; height positions)

            Order of importance (often the strongest supporting sentences come first and last)

Writing the Introduction

– Because the introduction establishes the reader’s attitude toward the topic and toward the writer, it is the most important part of the essay.

– The introduction should

            Get the reader interested in the topic (attention-getter)

            Provide background information about the topic (factual material)

            State the thesis of the essay (main idea)

– Attention-Getter and Background Information  

Some essays start gradually by getting the reader ready for the thesis.  Background information gets the reader in the mood for the rest of the essay.

– Strategies for attention-getting and background information:

A good story or anecdote

History, facts, or initial information

An appropriate quotation

A problem the reader should know about concerning the topic

A question that limits your topic

A statement that popular ideas about your topic are wrong

A reference to something historical, something in the news, a current event, or a literary work

A strong opinion.

– Appeal to Audience:  address the audience of the essay. 

– Length and Placement:  how much background information to provide depends upon the length of the essay and the strategy the writer uses to get the reader prepared for the thesis.

– Thesis or Thesis statement:  This sentence should be in the introduction in order to create a focus for the essay.

Body Paragraphs

– Each paragraph in the body of the essay develops one main point that supports the thesis.

– The body paragraphs usually follow the traditional paragraph pattern of topic sentence, supporting sentences, and conclusion.  Not every paragraph necessarily has a stated topic sentence, but every paragraph has a main idea.

– Effective body paragraphs use transitions within and between paragraphs to create coherence.

Order of Body Paragraphs

– You can organize your paragraphs in a number of ways; the important consideration is to make the order clear and logical to the reader.

– Possible presentations:

            Chronological order

            Order of importance

            Combination of plans

Conclusion

– The conclusion is the final paragraph.  If the essay is very long, the conclusion might be more than one paragraph, but usually have only one paragraph.

– Strategies for concluding:

– Refer back to the story, problem, question, or quote that began the introduction

– Emphasize the important point.  Remind the reader of the thesis of the essay and how its major details are developed.

– Avoid beginning the conclusion with “in conclusion” or “finally” or “to summarize.”  This is obvious to the reader.

– Do not repeat the thesis statement word for word and list the major details explained in the introduction.

– Avoid beginning a new argument in the conclusion.

Week 1 Grammar -- Prepositional Phrases

Helpful Links about Subordinating Conjunctions

Most of the students in class tracked with the discussion comparing prepositions and subordinating conjunctions.  For those who would like to read more (or for parents who've forgotten their high school grammar) below are some links that also explain subordinating conjunctions:

Grammar Clubs page on Subordinating Conjunctions and Dependent Clauses

A Yahoo Answers page

The Tongue Untied page

Zane Education page

The ChompChomp site (which also has a lot of worksheets)

Phrases -- Prepositional, Participial, Gerunds

As we grow as writers, we're sometimes confounded as we try to take our brilliant, complex thoughts and try to make them behave on paper.  We know what we want to say, but when we put it on paper, something's not quite right.What often trips us up are phrases and clauses. In the English language, we use five phrases:  prepositional, participials, gerunds, infinitives, and appositives.  These phrases can be restrictive (essential) or non-restrictive (non-essential).

The wonderful internet has some great resources for expanding our understanding.  Below are some helpful links:

Slideshare -- This site has A LOT of helpful Powerpoint presentations about so many topics.  Search their website for whatever grammar help you need.  (Prepositions and Participials and Gerunds)

eHow -- This website has a number of helpful tutorials.  This page has one that shows where to put commas.

Slideboom -- This site has Powerpoint slides along with a narrator.  (Prepositions )

Authorstream -- Another instructional website, this one has a presentation on Gerunds,

Youtube -- Of course, this is an obvious place to go for so many kinds of instructional tutorials.

Purdue OWL -- One of my favorite writing websites, this online writing lab gives full explanations of LOTS of writing topics. (Gerunds,Participials, & Infinitives)

Prepositions at the End

Most adults remember few grammar rules.  One that I'm sure will pop up for most is the "never end a sentence with a preposition" rule that they were taught from grade school to high school.  This rule causes you to write stuffy, pedantic sentences that no one would ever say out loud.

I have news of great joy for most of you -- it's OK to plop the occaisional preposition at the end of a sentence!  The Grammar Girl says so; the Phantom Linguist gives us the go-ahead; About.com gives an authoritative "no."


For the sake of argument and vigilance, some still promote keeping those pesky prepositions from the end of sentences because they are a wimpy way to conclude.  Mellanie Spiller seems to be a purists with whom you would need to argue this point.  The good folks at Garden of Phrases equivocate a bit.  And the Answer people at Yahoo even show you how to rewrite a sentence to make it stronger and more effective while keeping that preposition tucked somewhere in the middle.

In my class, I will allow the occaisional preposition to appear at the end.  But be advised that I'm gritting my teeth as I deny the teachings of my elders.

Don't get me started on passive voice ......