Grammar Skills Parts of Speech

Nouns Nouns name everything you come across in life, including things you can imagine. Nouns are words that name persons, places, things, or ideas. Persons – cousin, Hank Aaron, coach, ally Places – school, highway, Phoenix Things – calculator, speech, microwave Ideas – joy, legality, fascism, gladness

Types of Nouns Abstract Nouns – names of ideas Examples – fear, cleverness, misery, honor Concrete Nouns – names of persons, places and things (all concrete nouns identify objects you can see, hear, smell, taste or touch) Examples - trumpet, street, tortilla

Types of Nouns Proper Nouns – the name of a particular person, place, or thing Always capitalize proper nouns Examples – New Jersey Turnpike, the Civil War, Sioux City Common Nouns – general nouns Examples – city, turnpike, war

Types of Nouns Collective Nouns – name of a group of people, animals or things Examples – squad, flock, club Compound Nouns – consist of two or more words (sometimes hyphenated or written as one word) Examples – great-aunt, horseradish, postal worker Noun phrase – a noun and its modifiers Examples – the young girl, several children, the yellow turnip

Verbs Verbs are words that express an action or a state of being. Every sentence has at least one action verb or one linking verb.

Types of Verbs Action verbs – communicate an observable action Describe what people do – glide, laugh, build Describe how people feel – love, dread, appreciate Linking verbs – they link the subject of a sentence with a word that tells more about it Example - is Verb phrase – a verb preceded by one or more helping verbs John is dashing to work.

Adjectives Adjectives are modifiers. They give information about the nouns and pronouns they modify. What kind? Red flower, surprise visit How many? Four days, few entries How much? More space, some effort Which one? Third response, that shirt

Types of Adjectives Proper adjectives – derive from proper nouns and are always capitalized Examples – Japanese food, Confederate troops Predicate adjective – adjectives that follow a linking verb to modify the subject of a sentence Example – The smoked salmon tastes salty.

Adverbs Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs by answering when, where, and how questions. Intensifiers are adverbs that answer the question to what extent or how much. When? Today, we began rehearsals for the play? Where? They walked here from the station. How? The actor spoke clearly and loudly. To what extent? We thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

Assignments Due tomorrow – Practice worksheet Tuesday – Quiz on parts of speech