Parts of Speech

Nouns

Noun A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea Nouns can be concrete (something you can see or touch) or abstract (something you cannot see or touch) Nouns can be common (like book, chair, or student) or proper (like Ralph, California, or Saint Mary’s).

Practice! List the following examples in your journal: 2 concrete nouns 2 abstract nouns 2 proper nouns

Pronouns

Pronouns A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun Writers use pronouns instead of repeating the same noun in a sentence The antecedent is the noun to which the pronoun refers Ex: Billy bought himself new pants. Pronoun = himself Antecedent = Billy

Personal Pronouns I, me you, he, him, she, her, it we, us they, them

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns Personal pronouns combined with –self, -selves may be used in two ways: Reflexively Miranda explained herself. Intensively (for emphasis) Miranda herself made the explanation.

Interrogative Pronouns These pronouns are used in questions: who whom which whose what

Demonstrative Pronouns These pronouns are used to point out persons or things: this these that those

Indefinite Pronouns Most commonly used: All, another, any, anybody, anyone Both, each, either, everybody, everyone Few, many, most, neither Nobody, none, no one, one, other, several Some, somebody, someone, such Indefinite pronouns do not usually refer to a specific antecedent but they do express quantity or amount

Practice! In your journal, rewrite this sentence using as many pronouns as possible: Brian went to the store to buy Brian new pants because there are a lot of pants that Brian likes at the store.

Verbs

Action Verbs Action verbs do just that – they express action Examples: take, speak, run, drive, think, trust, remember Action verbs can have direct or indirect objects (see your notes from last Friday!)

Linking Verbs If a verb does not express action, but instead describes a state or condition, it is a linking verb. The following are always linking verbs: am, is, are, was, were Lynda Sagor is my doctor. The flowers smell exotic. Our cat was a nuisance.

Verb Phrases (with Helping Verbs) A verb phrase consists of the main verb and its helping verbs. Examples: You should have offered sooner. Would Alfred like some help? I did not get home until a few minutes ago.

Practice! In your journal, do the following: Brainstorm a list of at least ten action verbs Write one sentence with a linking verb and underline (and label) the complete subject and complete predicate Write one sentence with a verb phrase and a pronoun

Adjectives

Adjective An adjective modifies (or tells more about) a noun or pronoun Adjectives answer the following questions: Which one? What kind? How many/how much?

Adjective Examples What kind?: green apples, small car, capable student Which one?: this woman, that play How many?: some birds, two squirrels

Practice! Write a sentence with at least five adjectives on your Parts of Speech packet.

Adverbs

Adverb An adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs tell us: Where When How To What Extent

Adverbs Modifying Verbs She reads quickly. (how she reads) She reads early and late. (when she reads) She reads everywhere. (where she reads) She reads thoroughly. (to what extent she reads)

Adverbs Modifying Adjectives and Other Adverbs She is a really intense competitor. (really modifies the adjective intense, telling to to what extent she is competitive) She skated very well. ( very modifies the adverb well, telling how she skated) NOTE: not is always an adverb; it tells to what extent

Practice In your journal, do the following: Write one sentence with an adverb modifying a verb. Write one sentence with an adverb modifying an adjective.

Conjunctions

Conjunction A conjunction is a word that joins words or groups of words. Three kinds of conjunctions: Coordinating Correlative Subordinating

Coordinating Conjunctions(FANBOYS) For And Nor But Or Yet So

Correlative Conjunctions Always used in pairs either…or neither…nor both…and not only…but (also) whether…or

Subordinating Conjunctions… …are used to begin subordinate or dependent clauses This computer is even better than we had anticipated. The sun had already set when we reached Grand Canyon National Park. …do not always come between the sentence part that it joins – they may come at the beginning of the sentence If the price is right, I will buy your bicycle. Since you can’t help me, I will do it myself.

Subordinating Conjunctions after although as as much as because before how if in order that provided since than that though unless until when where while

Practice! Write one sentence where you join two independent clauses with a FANBOY (or coordinating conjunction). Write one complete sentence using a subordinating conjunction at the beginning. Write one complete sentence using a subordinating conjunction in the middle of the sentence. Do this practice in your Parts of Speech packet.

Prepositions

Prepositions A preposition is a word that shows where or when something is in relation to something else Examples: We flew over the city. We flew toward the city. We flew beyond the city. We flew across the city.

Prepositional Phrases and Objects A preposition always introduces a phrase (remember: a preposition never appears alone) The noun or pronoun that ends a prepositional phrase is the object of the preposition. Ex: We flew over the city. Over = preposition Over the city = prepositional phrase City = object

Compound Prepositions According to Because of By means of In addition to In front of In spite of Instead of On account of Prior to

Practice! In your journal, complete the practice sentences provided by circling the prepositions boxing the prepositional phrases, and underlining the objects of the prepositions.

Interjections

Interjection Interjections express emotion and are separated from the rest of the sentence with a ? or ! or , Examples: Wow! Huh? Ouch! um, well,

Practice! On your Parts of Speech Packet, complete the practice exercises provided.