PARTS OF SPEECH

1. Nouns A noun is a word that identifies a person, animal, place, thing, or idea.

Classifications of Nouns Common Nouns Proper Nouns Abstract Nouns Concrete Nouns Countable Nouns Uncountable Nouns or Mass Nouns Compound Nouns Collective Nouns Singular Nouns Plural Nouns Possessive Nouns

Common Nouns These name general, nonspecific people, places, things or ideas. They start with a lowercase letter unless they begin a sentence. Ex. writer, city, park, school, building.

Proper Nouns They name specific people, places, things or ideas. They always start with a capital letter. Ex. Juan Gabriel, Paris, Disneyland, AISB, Los Sauces.

Abstract Nouns They name something that cannot be perceived with your five senses – something that does not physically exist. These are the opposite of concrete nouns. Ex. happiness, freedom, love.

Concrete Nouns These name something that you can perceive with your five senses – something that physically exists. These are the opposite of abstract nouns. Ex. cat, chocolate, Alvaro

Countable Nouns These can be counted, anything you can make plural is a countable noun. Ex. clock/clocks, David/Davids, poem/poems.

Uncountable Nouns These cannot be counted. Since they cannot be counted they only use the singular form. Ex. milk, water, rice.

Compound Nouns These are made up of two or more smaller words. Ex. bodyguard, haircut, applesauce.

Collective Nouns These are singular nouns that refer to a group of things as one whole. Ex. class, audience, swarm, flock.

Singular Nouns These refer to one person, place, thing or idea. Ex. box, face, road, ball

Plural Nouns These refer to more than one person, place, things or idea. They generally end with an s. Ex. boxes, faces, roads, balls.

Possessive Nouns These show ownership. Ex. Dad´s car, the student´s book, Marc´s hat.

2. Pronouns A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Ex. he, she, it, they, someone, who Ex. John Cena is a wrestler. (noun) He is a wrestler. (pronoun)

The pronoun he took the place of the noun John Cena The pronoun he took the place of the noun John Cena. We can also put the noun and pronoun in the same sentence. Not only is John Cena a wrestler, but he is also an actor. Not only is John Cena a wrestler, but John Cena is also an actor.

Antecedents He said, “I´m a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it.” What is missing?

WHO is HE?? You do not know, because you do not know the antecedent. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun is replacing or referring to.

Ex. Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States. He said, “I´m a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

Not all pronouns have antecedents Not all pronouns have antecedents! Sometimes you do not know whom exactly we are talking about. Ex. Someone broke my vase!

Types of Pronouns Personal Pronouns Demostrative Pronouns Indefinite Pronouns Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns Interrogative Pronouns Possessive Pronouns

Personal Pronouns I, me, we, us, you, she, her, he, him, it, they, them. For each of these pronouns, we can tell the: Person (Who is speaking?) Number (Is the pronoun singular or plural?) Gender (Is the pronoun masculine, feminine, or neuter?)

Ex. she is the third person (the person being spoken about), singular, feminine. Ex. we is the first person (the people speaking), plural, neuter.

Demostrative Pronouns There are only four demostrative pronouns. We use them to point out certain people or things. this, that, these, those Sometimes, those words are used before nouns. Those cases, they are adjectives and not pronouns.

Ex. Bring me that book. (adjective) Ex. Bring me that. (pronoun)

Indefinite Pronouns The prefix in- means not. Indefinite pronouns are not definite. We do not whom or what these refer to! anyone, something, all most, some Ex. Someone yelled my name. (Who? We don´t know.)

When indefinite pronouns are used before nouns, they are actually acting as adjectives and not pronouns. Both people smiled at me. (adjective) Both smile at me. (pronoun)

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns These two types of pronouns end in –self or –selves. himself, herself, myself, itself They are either reflexive or intensive depending how you use them.

A reflexive pronoun is used to refer to the subject of the sentence. Ex. I will go to the school myself. (reflexive) An intensive pronoun is used to emphasize another noun. Ex. He himself visited the school. (intensive)

Interrogative Pronouns These are pronouns that are found in questions. Another name for a question is an interrogative sentence. Interrogative pronouns often begin interrogative sentences. what, whom, whose, who, which Ex. Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Ex. Which jacket should I wear?

Possessive Pronouns They show ownership. Another word for ownership is possession. His, hers, yours, theirs, ours Ex. Our family has vacation next week. (adjective) Ex. That car is ours. (pronoun)