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*Please note with copy and pasting from word document the bold and cursive seem to not show here Overview on Unit 2: Grammar parts of speech This unit explores the different parts of speech that make up the English language. Based on their use and functions, words are categorized into several types or parts of speech. Placed here are definitions and examples for the 8 major parts of speech in English grammar: nouns, adjectives, articles, verbs, adverbs, gerunds, pronouns, prepositions/conjunctions. I have also added parts I found important mentioning. 1. Nouns This part of a speech refers to words that are used to name persons, things, animals, places, ideas, or events. Nouns are the simplest which is why they are the first ones taught to students in primary school. Examples: Tom Cruise is very versatile. The italicized noun refers to a name of a person. There are different types of nouns namely: Common– common nouns are the opposite of proper nouns. These are just generic names of persons, things, or places. Examples: car, pizza parlor, TV series Proper– proper nouns always start with a capital letter and refers to specific names of persons, places, or things. Examples: Ferrari, Domino Pizza, Game of Thrones. Compound- A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words. Example tooth (noun)and paste (noun), but if you join them forms a new word toothpaste Example: tooth + paste = toothpaste Concrete– this kind refers to nouns which you can perceive through your five senses. Examples: board, folder, sand, Abstract- unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are those which you can’t perceive through your five senses. Examples: bravery, happiness, grudge, Count– it refers to anything that is countable and has a singular and plural form. Examples: ball, kitten, video, Mass– this is the opposite of count nouns. Mass nouns are also called non-countable nouns, and they need to have “counters” to quantify them. Examples of Counters: meter, kilo, cup, Examples of Mass Nouns: garter, rice, flour, Collective– refers to a group of persons, animals, or things. Example: pride (group of lions), faculty (group of teachers), class (group of students) Plurals: indicate more than one. If noun ends in ch, x, s, sh we add “es” example: buses Countable nouns: People, things that can be counted example: a car Uncountable nouns: Things that can’t be counted example: rice 2.Adjectives We use adjectives to describe nouns like people and things Comparisons (comparatives) Comparing people or things example: Sarah is taller than Jane Comparisons (superlatives) Comparing more than two people like a crowd Example: Adjective – Good Comparative-better Superlative - best Pronouns A pronoun is a part of a speech which functions as a replacement for a noun. Some examples of pronouns are: I, it, he, she, mine, his, hers, we, they, theirs, and ours. Sample Sentences: Janice is a very stubborn child. She just stared at me and when I told her to stop. The largest slice is mine. We are number one. The italicized words in the sentences above are the pronouns 4.Articles Indefinite articles: a and an Definite article: the 5. Adjective This part of a speech is used to describe a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives can specify the quality, the size, and the number of nouns or pronouns. Sample Sentences: The carvings are intricate. The italicized word describes the appearance of the noun “carvings.” I have two rats. The italicized word “two,” is an adjective which describes the number of the noun “rats.” Wow! That cake is huge! The italicized word is an adjective which describes the size of the noun “cake.” 6.Verbs This is the most important part of a speech, for without a verb, a sentence would not exist. Simply put, this is a word that shows an action (physical or mental) or state of being of the subject in a sentence. Examples of “State of Being Verbs” : am, is, was, are, and were Sample Sentences: As usual, the Stormtroopers missed their shot. The italicized word expresses the action of the subject “Stormtroopers.” They are always prepared in emergencies. The verb “are” refers to the state of being of the pronoun “they,” which is the subject in the sentence. Transitive verbs: Verb directly followed by an object Example: Susan (subject) plays netball (object) Intransitive verbs: Verb that cannot be directly followed by an object Example: Italy lost. Infinitives: This refers to the action as a whole, and is formed by preceding the base form with to Example: To go Verb forms: English verbs have four principal forms Base form: hope Past simple: hoped Past participle: hoped Present participle: hoping Regular verbs: Past simple and past participle end in -ed Irregular verbs: Past simple and past participle that do not end with a -ed Auxiliary verbs: do, have and be 7. Adverb Just like adjectives, adverbs are also used to describe words, but the difference is that adverbs describe adjectives, verbs, or another adverb. The different types of adverbs are: Adverb of Manner– this refers to how something happens or how an action is done. Example: Annie danced gracefully. The word “gracefully” tells how Annie danced. Adverb of Time- this states “when” something happens or “when” it is done. Example: She came yesterday. The italicized word tells when she “came.” Adverb of Place– this tells something about “where” something happens or ”where” something is done. Example: Of course, I looked everywhere! The adverb “everywhere” tells where I “looked.” Adverb of Degree– this states the intensity or the degree to which a specific thing happens or is done. Example: The child is very talented. The italicized adverb answers the question, “To what degree is the child talented?” 6.Gerunds is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. A gerund is used in the same way as a noun, i.e. as a object or subject. 7.Pronouns: Words that are used instead/in place of noun phrases or precise nouns Personal: I, me, you Possessive: mine, yours, his Reflexive: myself, himself Relative: who, which, that, whose Possessive pronoun: mine, yours, ours Possessive Adjective: my, our, you 8.Prepositions/ conjunctions Preposition This part of a speech basically refers to words that specify location or a location in time. Examples of Prepositions: above, below, throughout, outside, before, near, and since Sample Sentences: Michael is hiding under the bed. The italicized preposition introduces the prepositional phrase “under the bed,” and tells where Micah is hiding. During the game, the audience never stopped cheering for their team. The italicized preposition introduces the prepositional phrase “during the game,” and tells when the audience cheered. Conjunction The conjunction is a part of a speech which joins words, phrases, or clauses together. Examples of Conjunctions: and, yet, but, for, nor, or, and so Sample Sentences: This cup of tea is delicious and very soothing. Peter always wanted to join the play, but he didn’t have the guts to audition. The italicized words in the sentences above are some examples of conjunctions. 8. Interjection This part of a speech refers to words which express emotions. Since interjections are commonly used to convey strong emotions, they are usually followed by an exclamation point. Examples of Interjections: Sample Sentences: Ouch! That must have hurt. The bold words attached to the main sentence above are some examples of interjections.