SPAG 2014-2015 What we need to know…

What are nouns? A noun is a word that labels or ‘names’ something. Nouns can name things, objects, people or places. Most nouns can be singular (only one) or plural (lots of them) e.g, cloud/clouds

Give me an example of… A proper noun… What does a proper noun always have? A common noun… An abstract noun…

What are nouns? Proper nouns begin with capital letters and name people, places, organisations and unique things e.g, Tracey, London. Days of the week and months should also begin with a capital. All other nouns are common nouns. A collective noun is a word that refers to a group e.g, shoal, herd

What are nouns? Concrete nouns are nouns that name people, places and things that can be experienced through the five senses. For example, car, rain, bird. Abstract nouns name feelings, ideas and concepts. For example, jealously, anger, love, hate.

What are verbs? A verb tells you what a person or thing is being or doing. All sentences have a subject and a verb.

What are adjectives An adjectives is used to describe, or tell you more, about a verb.

What are pronouns Give me an example of a pronoun… A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun. It helps us to stop repeating a noun. Can you think of any?

Pronouns Singular= I, me, you, he, she, it, you, him, her, mine, yours, his hers, its Plural = we, they, us, them, ours, yours, theirs

What are adverbs? An adverb tells you more about a verb (it ‘adds’ to the verbs) It could tell you: How? When? Where? Why?

Adverb or adjective? Ask yourself, does it tell you what the noun is like or does it answer how, when, where or why? Examples: Life is hard. Kim works hard. The train arrived early. I took an early train.

What are prepositions? A preposition tells you how things are related (can indicate ‘position’ of something!) E.g, in, above, before, over, up, across, below, in front, past, under, over

What are conjunctions? Conjunctions join together clauses to make compound sentences. I went to the shop. I bought chocolate. I went to the shop and bought chocolate. And, but, so, as or

The, a, an What are articles? The words the, a or an go before the noun. The, a, an ‘The’ is the definite article because it is used to indicate something specific. ‘A’ and ‘An’ are indefinite articles because they are used to refer to something unspecific You use ‘an’ if the noun begins with a vowel.

Examples of definite and indefinite article I fell over the chair. Definite: the chair is specific. Could you pass me a chair? Indefinite: This means an unspecific chair. Any chair will do.

What are determiners? Determiners help us pin down exactly which noun is being talked about. They come before the noun. We do not say Dog barked at man Rather, we would say which dog and which man by using determiners and say That dog barked at this man. Or perhaps, His dog barked at that man

The six categories of determiners Articles: a, an, the Demonstratives: this, that, those, theses Possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their Quantifiers: many, few, some, any, no, much, both, all, every, each, none of, a little Numbers: two, three, second, first Some question words: which (which dog), what (what time), whose (whose handbag)

So you see how determiners help us pin down exactly what is being referred to A spider Two spindly spiders Which spider? I’m looking for my black hat It is that black hat?

These sentences state facts. I like pandas. Next month will be June. What are statements? These sentences state facts. I like pandas. Next month will be June.

A sentence which is asking for an answer. What are questions? A sentence which is asking for an answer. Do you like chocolate? Where do pandas live?

What are commands? These sentences give orders or requests. Turn on the TV. Give me chocolate for my birthday.

What is a clause? A part of a sentence that contains a verb and someone/something doing the action.

A small part of a sentence, usually without a verb, What is a phrase? A small part of a sentence, usually without a verb, e.g. I have met many famous pop stars.

What is a subordinate clause? The clause which is not the main clause- it does not make sense on its own. The less important part of the sentence. e.g. While you were out, I watched TV. While you were out is the subordinate clause because it doesn’t make sense on its own.

What is a prefix? Letters that can be put in front of a word to change its meaning, e.g. unlock

What is a suffix? Letters that can be put after a word to change its meaning, e.g. cheerful.

What is a synonym? Synonyms are words that have a similiar meaning to another word. Bad- awful, terrible, horrible Happy- content, joyful, pleased Look- watch, stare, gaze Walk- stroll, crawl, tread

What is an antonym? Antonyms have the opposite meaning of a word. The antonym of up is down. The antonym of add is subtract. The antonym of happy is sad.