Parts of Speech

Lesson 1: Parts of Speech.||
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NOUNS:|
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Names given to persons, places and things. In addition nouns name qualities, concepts and activities. Sentences revolve around nouns since nouns function both as subjects (doers of the action) and as objects (receivers of action). To determine if a word is really a noun, try using the verb "is" or "are". Notice that all nouns go with these verbs: "Maria is...", "computers are...", and so on.

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PRONOUNS:|
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As a substitution for nouns, pronouns are used in our language for variety and efficiency. In sentences pronouns may function as subjects (I, we, they) or as objects of verbs (me, us, them), and they may show possession (mine, ours, his).

There are many different types of pronouns:

-Personal = I, you, we, us.
-Demonstrative = This, that, these, those.
-Interrogative = What, which, who, whose.
-Reflexive = Myself.
-Relative = That, which, who, whom.
***Indefinite = Refer to no specific person. They include: Each, every, either, neither, and none.(All words that end in "one", "body", or "thing")

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VERBS:|
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Verbs do two things: (a) they show the action of a sentence, or (b) they join or link to the subject of the sentence words that describe it.

Action verbs = Runs, studies, works, and fixes.
Linking verbs (being verbs) = Am, is, are, was and were.
Other linking verbs are called "sensory verbs" = Feels, appears, tastes, sounds, seems, looks, and smells.

All sentences have at least one verb. Some verbs have more than one word; then they are called verb phrases (will study, will be studying, should have been studying).

Examples:
-Honeywell recently designed that massive computer system. (Action verb)
-It is a computer that stores, processes and retrieves data. (Linking and action verbs)

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ADJECTIVES:|
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Words that describe nouns or pronouns are called adjectives. They often answer the questions what kind? how many? or which one? Adjectives usually precede nouns or pronouns. They may, however, follow the words they describe, especially used with linking verbs.

Examples:
-Small, independent businesses are becoming numerous.
-The president of the profitable company is energetic.

***Three words (a, an, and the) form a special group of adjectives called articles.


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ADVERBS:|
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Words that modify (describe or limit) verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs are called adverbs. Adverbs often answer the questions how? when, where? or to what extent?

Examples:
-Today we must begin work (Must begin when?)
-Jones proceeded rapidly with the orders. (proceeded how?)
-Did you see the schedule there? (Where?)
-The prosecutor did not question him further.(Questioned him to what extent?)

Many, but not all, word ending in "ly" are adverbs. Some exceptions are friendly, costly, and ugly, all of which are adjectives.

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CONJUNCTIONS:|
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Words that connect other words or groups of words are called conjunctions. The most common conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so (the first letters spell out FANBOYS). There are only seven of them. They join equal (coordinating) parts of sentences.

Subordinate conjunctions connect dependent clauses to independent clauses
LIST of subordinate conjunctions: after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, once, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, what, whatever, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, which, while, who. whose, whoever, whom, whomever, why.

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PREPOSITIONS:|
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Prepositions join nouns and pronouns to other words in a sentence. As the word itself suggests ("pre-" meaning "before"), a preposition is a word in a position before its object (a noun or pronoun). Prepositions are used in phrases to show a relationship between the object of the preposition and another word in the sentence.

Examples:
-Marina often talked with Mr. Lee.
-Marina often talked about Mr. Lee.
-Marina often talked to Mr. Lee.

There is another way to remember prepositions. Think of the word "position" in the word "preposition". Most prepositions are positions in time or space. (ex: about, above, across, after, against, among, around, and so on).

The most frequently used prepositions are: to, by, for, at, from, with, and of.

Complete list of prepositions:
About, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, as well as, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, by, concerning, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, into, like, near, next, of, off, on, onto, out, outside, opposite, over, past, regarding, round, since, than, through, throughout, till, to, toward, under, underneath, unlike, up, upon, with, within, without.

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INTERJECTIONS:|
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Words expressing strong feelings are interjections. Interjections standing alone are followed by exclamation marks. When woven into a sentence, they are usually followed by commas.

WOW! Did you see the total of our bill? Gosh, I hope I have my credit card!