English GrammarParts of Speech

Eight parts of speech

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

Adverbs

Pronouns

Prepositions

Conjunctions

Interjections

Noun: Word that namesA person

Ex: Tom, Jane, Nick, Jessica

A placeEx: Ottawa, Toronto, store, park

A thingEx: stove, car, lamp, key

An ideaEx: hope, faith

Kinds of NounsCommon nouns (e.g. boy, girl)

Proper nouns (e.g. John, Susan)

Singular nouns ( e.g. boy, girl)

Plural nouns (e.g. boys, girls)

Singular possessive (e.g. boy’s, girl’s)

Plural possessive (e.g. boys’, girls’)

VerbsA word that expresses action, helps to

make a statement, or expresses a state of being.

The verb or compound verb (e.g. was looking) is the critical element of the predicate of a sentence.

Every sentence must have a verb!

Kinds of verbsTransitive verb - can be used in the active or passive

voice (e.g. John drives a car. OR A car is driven by John)

Intransitive verb- The verb is not followed by an object.(e.g. He plays the piano.)

Linking verb- used to connect the subject to two kinds of complements: 1) An adjective that describes the subject; 2)a noun or noun equivalent that means the same as the subject.(e.g. She is beautiful.)

AdjectivesModifies or describes a noun or pronoun

Ex: The big dog.

Answers these questions: Which? What kind? How many?

AdverbModifies or describes a verb, an adjective, or

another adverb.

Interrogative adverbs introduce questions. (e.g. How, when, how often, where.)

Answers these questions: How? (e.g. He ran quickly.) When? (e.g. She left yesterday.) Where? (e.g. We went there.) To what degree? (e.g. It was too hot.)

Pronouns

A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns.

A pronoun may stand for a person, place, thing, or idea.

Kinds of pronounsPersonal pronouns: I, me, mine, you, your, yours,

she, her, hers, it, its, we, us, our, ours, they, them, their, theirs, myself, yourself.

Indefinite pronouns: anybody, each, either, none, someone, one.

Demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, those.

Interrogative pronouns: who, whom, what, which, whose.

PrepositionIntroduces a noun, pronoun, phrase or clause

functioning as a noun.

The word or word group that the preposition introduces is its object. (e.g. They received a postcard from Bobby telling about his trip to the United States.)

Common prepositionsAboardAboutAboveAcrossAfterAgainstAlongAmongAroundAtBefore

BehindBelowBeneathBesideBetweenByDownDuringExceptForFrom

InIntoLikeOfOffOnOverPastSinceThroughThroughout

ToTowardUnderUnderneathUntilUpUponWithWithinwithout

Conjunction and InterjectionA conjunction is a word that joins words or

groups of words (e.g. Jamie and Sarah went to the store.)

Conjunctions include: And, but, either/or, neither/nor.

An interjection is an exclamatory word that expresses emotion. (e.g. Wow! Look at that sunset!)

Punctuation (1/3)Use a question mark at the end of a question.

Ex: Did you take out the garbage?

Use a colon to introduce a list. Ex: You need the following items for class: pencil, paper,

ruler, and glue.

Use a period at the end of a sentence. Ex: John went to the store.

Use an exclamation point at the end of a sentence to indicate strong emotion.

Ex: I love her so much!

Punctuation (2/3)

Use a semicolon to… join two independent clauses. (eliminates the need

for a comma or conjuction) Ex: Casey read a book; then he did a book report.

separate items in a series when those items contain punctuation such as a comma.

Ex: We went on a trip to Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and New York, New York.

Punctuation (3/3)Use a comma when…

there is a series of at least three items. Ex: I dislike spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower.

There is an interruption in the main thought of a sentence. Ex: Rosa, of course, will bring her folding chairs.

There are two adjectives that equally modify the same noun. Ex: Jill was having problems with unruly, disruptive children.

A dependent clause begins a new sentence. Ex: If Mr. Wilson complains, we will invite him for a snack.

There is a mild interjection, such as oh or well.