CHAPTER I

PART OF SPEECH AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE

I. PART OF SPEECH

You should read this chapter if you need to review or learn about

Ø Adjectives
Ø Adverb
Ø Conjunctions
Ø Interjections
Ø Nouns
Ø Prepositions
Ø Pronouns
Ø Verbs

In this chapter you’ll review part of speech so that you have a standard way to
describe how words are put together to create meaning. The parts of speech are arranged in
alphabetic order for easy reference. In later chapters, you will learn how to correct errors
caused by misusing these parts of speech.

Get Started

English is a very flexible language. A word’s meaning is derived not only from how it is
spelled and pronounced but also from how it is used in a sentence. As you review the parts of
speech, remember that the way a word is used in a sentence determines which part of speech
it is. For example:

Noun : I ate a fish for dinner

Verb : We fish in the lake on every Tuesday

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A. Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe nouns and pronouns. Adjectives answer the
questions: What kind? How much? Which one? How many? For example:

What kind? red nose gold ring

How much? more sugar little effort
Which one? second chance those chocolates
How many? Several chances six books

There are five kinds of adjectives: common adjectives, proper adjectives, compound
adjectives, articles, and indefinite adjectives.
1. Common adjectives describe nouns or pronouns.
Strong man
Green plant
Beautiful view

2. Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns.

California vegetables ( from the noun “ California”)
Mexican food (from the noun “ Mexico”)

3. Compound adjectives are made up of more than one word.

Far off country
Teenage person

4. Articles are special type of adjective. There are three articles: a, an, the.
The is called a “definite article” because it refers to a specific thing.
A and an are called “ indefinite article” because they refer to general things. Use a
with consonant sounds; use an before vowel sounds.

5. Indefinite adjectives don’t specify the specific amount of something.

all another any both
each either few many
more most neither other
several some

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 Follow these guidelines when you use adjectives:

1. Use an adjective to describe a noun or a pronoun

Jesse was unwilling to leave the circus.
noun adj adj. noun
2. Use vivid adjectives to make your writing more specific and descriptive.
Take a larger slice of the luscious cake.
adj. noun adj. noun
3. Use an adjective after a linking verb. A linking verb connects a subject with a
descriptive word. The most common linking verbs are be ( is, am , are was, were
and so on), seem, appear, look, feel, smell, sound, taste, become, grow, remain,
stay, turn.
Chicken made this tastes more delicious ( not deliciously)

Quick Tip

Predicate adjectives are adjectives separated from the noun or pronoun by a linking verb.
Predicate adjectives describe the subject of the sentence.

The weather was cold all week.

B. Adverbs

Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverbs answer
the question: When? Where? How? Or To what extent?
When? Left yesterday begin now
Where? Fell below move up
How? Happily sang danced badly
To what extent? Partly finished eat completely

Most adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective. For example :

Adjective Adverb

Quick Quickly
Careful Carefully
Accurate Accurately

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 Here are some of the most common non – ly adverbs:

Afterward almost already also back

Even far fast hard here
How late long low more
Near never next now often
Quick rather slow soon still
Then today tomorrow too when
Where yesterday

Follow these guidelines when you use adverbs:

1. Use an adverb to describe verb.
Experiments using dynamite must be done carefully
Verb adv.
2. Use an adverb to describe an adjective.
Sam had an unbelievably huge appetite for chips
Adv. Adj.
3. Use an adverb to describe another adverb.
They sang so clearly
Adv. Adv

Quick Tip
Conjunctive adverbs are used to connect other words and to link ideas and paragraph.
Accordingly again also beside
Consequently finally for example furthermore
However Indeed Moreover on the other hand
Otherwise nevertheless Then therefore

C. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words or groups of words and show how the world related.
There are three kinds of conjunctions: Coordinating conjunctions, correlative
conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.

1. Coordinating conjunctions link similar words or words of groups. There are seven
coordinate conjunctions:
For and nor but or yet so

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Quick Tip
Use this mnemonic to help you remember the seven coordinate conjunctions : FANBOYS
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

2. Correlative conjunctions also similar words or words groups, but they are always
used in pairs. Here are the correlative conjunctions :
Both…….... and either…….or
Neither…….nor not only….but also whether……or

3. Subordinating conjunctions link an independent clause ( complete sentence) to a

dependent clause (fragment). Here are the most often used subordinating
conjunctions:
after although as as if
as long as as soon as as though because
before even though if in order that
since so that though till
unless until when whenever
where wherever

D. Interjections
Interjections show strong emoticon. Since interjections are not linked grammatically
to other words in the sentence. They are set off from the rest of the sentence with comma
or an exclamation mark. For example:
• Oh! What a shock you give me with that gorilla suit.
• Wow! That’s not a gorilla suit!

E. Nouns
A noun is a word that names a person, place, or thing. Noun come in these
varieties: common nouns, proper nouns, compound nouns, and collective nouns .
1. Common nouns name any of a class of person, place or thing.
girl city food

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 2. Proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are always
capitalized.
Barbara New York City Rice-a-Rony
3. Compound nouns are two or more nouns that function as a single unit. A
compound noun can be two individual words, words joined by a hyphen, or two
words combined.
Individual words : time capsule
Hyphenated words: great-uncle
Combined words : basketball
4. Combined nouns name groups of people or things.
Audience Family herd crowd

A. Possessive nouns
In grammar, Possession nouns shows ownership. Follow this rules to create
possessive nouns.
1. With singular nouns, add an apostrophe and s
Dog à dog’s bone
singer à singer’s voice
2. With plural nouns ending in s, add an apostrophe after the s.
Dog à dogs’ bone
singer à singers’ voice
3. With plural nouns not ending in s, add an apostrophe and an s.
Men à men’s books
Mice àmice’s tails
B. Plural Nouns
Here are the guidelines for creating plural nouns.
1. Add s to form the plural of most nouns.
Cat à cats computer à computers
2. Add es if the noun ends in s, sh, ch or x
Wish à wishes inchà inches box à boxes
3. If a noun ends in consonant –y , change the y to i and es.
Cityà cities ladyà ladies

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 4. If a nouns ends in vowel –y add s. words ending in –quy don’t follow this rule
( as in soliloquies)
Essayà essays monkeyà monkeys

F. Prepositions
Prepositions link a noun or pronoun following it to another word in sentence. Use this
chart to help you recognize some of the most common prepositions:
About Above across after Against along
Amid Around as at Before behind
Below Beneath beside between beyond but
by Despite down during Except for
From In inside into Like near
on Onto of off opposite out
Outside Over past since through to
toward Under underneath until Upon with
A noun or pronoun always follows a preposition. A prepositional phrase is a
preposition and its object. A prepositional phrase can be two or three words long.
On the wing in the door
However prepositional phrases also can be much longer, depending on the length
of the preposition and the number of words that describe the object of the preposition.
Near the violently swaying oak trees
On account of his nearly depleted bank account

G. Pronouns
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun. Pronouns help you
avoid unnecessary repetition in your writing and speech. A pronoun gets its meaning
from the noun its stands for. The noun is called the antecedent.
Although Seattle is damp, it is my favorite city.
antecedent pronoun
There are different kinds of pronouns. Most of them have antecedents, but a few do
not.

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Quick Tip
The word antecedents comes from a Latin word meaning “ to go before.” However, the noun
does not have to appear before the pronoun in the sentence. It often does, though, to keep
sentences clear and avoid raise readings.

1. Personal pronouns refer to a specific person, place, and thing

Singular Plural
First person I, me, mine, my We, us, our, ours
Second person You, your, yours You, your, yours
Third person He, him, his, she, her, They, them, their,
hers, it theirs, its.

2. Possessive pronouns show ownership. The possessive pronouns are: your, yours,
hers, his, its, ours, their, theirs, whose.
Is this beautiful plant yours?
Yes, it’s ours.

Quick Tip
Don’t confuse personal with contractions. Personal pronouns never have an apostrophe, while
contraction always has an apostrophe. Use this chart:
Pronoun Contractions

Your You’re (you are)

Its It’s (it is)
Their They’re ( they are)
Whose Who’s (who is)

3. Reflexive pronouns add information to a sentence by pointing back to a noun or

pronoun near the beginning of the sentence. Reflexive pronouns end in –self or
selves.
Tricia bought herself a new car
All her friend enjoyed themselves riding in the beautiful car.

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 4. Intensive pronouns also end in –self or selves but just add emphasis to the noun or
pronoun.
Tricia herself picks out the car.
5. Demonstrative pronouns direct attention to a specific person, place or thing. There
are only four demonstrative pronouns: this, that these, those.
6. Relative pronouns begin a subordinate clause. There are five relative pronouns:
that, which, who, whom, those.

Singular Plural Singular or plural

Another Both All
Anyone Few Any
Each Many More
Everyone Others Most
Everybody several None
Everything Some
Much
Nobody
Nothing
Other
Someone
Anybody
Anything
Either
Little
Neither
No one
One
Somebody
Something
7. Interrogative pronouns ask a question. They are: what, which, who, whom, whose.
Who would like to cook dinner?
Which side does the fork go on?

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 8. Indefinite pronouns refer to people, places, object, or things without pointing to a
specific one. The most common indefinite pronouns are listed on the previous
page.

H. Verbs
Verbs name an action or describe a state being. Every sentence must have a verb.
There are three basic types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs.
1. Action verbs
Action verbs tell what the subject does the action can be visible ( jump , kiss,
laugh) or mental (think, learn, study).
The cat broke Louse’s china
Louise considered buying a new china cabinet.
An action verb can be transitive or intransitive. Transitive verbs need a direct object.
The boss dropped ball.
The workers pick it up

Intransitive verbs do not a direct object.

Who called?
The temperature fell over night.

Quick Tip
To determine if a verbs is transitive, ask yourself “who?” or “what?” after the verb. If you
can find an answer in the sentence, the verb is transitive.

2. Linking verbs
Linking verbs join the subject and the predicate. They do not action. Instead, they
help the words at the end of the sentence name or describe the subject. As you read
earlier in this chapter, the most common linking verbs include: be, feel, grow, seem,
remain, appear, sound, stay, look, taste, turn, become. Look forms of to be, such as
am, are, is, were, was, am being, can be, have been, and so on.
The manager was happy about the job change.
He is a good worker.

Many linking verbs can also be used as action verbs.

Linking: The kids looked sad.
Action: I looked for the dog in the pouring day.

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Quick Tip
To determine whether the verb is being used as a linking verb or an action verb, substitutes
am, are, or is for the verb. If it makes sense, the original verb is linking verb.

3. Helping verb

Helping verbs are added to another verb to make the meaning clearer. Helping
verbs include any form of to be, do, does, did, have, has, had, shall, should will,
would, can, could, may, might, must. Verb phrase are made up of one main verb and
one or more helping verbs.

They will run before dawn

They still have not yet found a smooth track.

English has eight parts of speech.

1. Adjectives
2. Adverbs
3. Conjunction
4. Interjection
5. Nouns
6. Preposition
7. pronoun
8. verbs

The way a word is used in a sentence determines what part of speech it is.

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QUESTION

True False Question

1. A noun names a person, place, or thing.

2. Common nouns name any of a class of person, place, or thing
3. Proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are never
capitalized.
4. Plural nouns show ownership.
5. Verbs express action, condition, or state of being.
6. There are six basics types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, helping verbs,
transitive verbs, intransitive verbs and plural verbs.
7. Helping verbs are added to another verb to make the meaning clearer. Helping
verb include any form of to be
8. Adjective describe a Noun or pronoun.
9. Never use an adjective after a linking verb.
10. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
11. All adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective.
12. Prepositions link a verb to another word.
13. A pronoun gets its meaning from the noun its stand for. The noun is called
antecedent.
14. Conjunction connects words or groups of words.
15. Interjections express strong emotion are usually set off with an exclamation mark
(!)

Completion Question
Select the word that best completes each sentence.
1. Proper adjective are formed form(common nouns, proper nouns)
2. The three article are an, a, and (the, then)
3. The is called the ( indefinite article, definite article)
4. (Predicative adjectives, proper adjectives), which describe the subject of the sentence,
are adjectives separated from the noun or pronoun by linking verb.
5. (interjections, conjunctive adverbs) are used to connect other words and t link ideas
and paragraphs

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 6. There are (three, seven) different coordinate conjunction.
7. Correlative conjunctions also link similar word or word groups, but they are always
used (in pairs, one or a time)
8. Collective nouns (name groups, show ownership)
9. (I, which) is a personal pronoun.
10. (Yours, herself) is possessive pronouns.
11. Intensive pronouns, unlike reflexive pronouns( begin a subordinate clause, add
emphasis)
12. (Interrogative pronouns, indefinite pronouns) ask a question. They are what, which,
who, whom, whose.
13. Every sentence must have a noun and a(preposition, verb).
14. Action verbs can be visible and (mental, linking)
15. In the sentence “ Louis dropped his heat” the verb dropped is( transitive, intransitive)
16. In the sentence “ Nita awoke early” the verb awoke is ( transitive, intransitive)
17. To determine if the verb is transitive ask yourself ( “who”?/”what?”, “how many?”)
after the verb.
18. (Helping verbs, linking verb) join the subject and the predicate and do not show
action.
19. Helping verbs, which are added to another verb to make the meaning clearer, can
include any form of ( to be, to see)
20. In the sentence “ I traded my sandwich for three oatmeal cookies,” the word oatmeal
is a/an ( noun, adjective)

Multiple Choice
Identify the part of speech for the underlined word in each sentence.
1. The outside of the boat needs scraping.
(a) Noun
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
2. You should scrape the boat without outside help.
(a) Noun
(b) Adjective

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 (c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
3. Let’s sit outside and laugh at you as you work in the blazing sun.
(a) Noun
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
4. The ambulance is parked right outside the yard, next to the beehive.
(a) (a) Noun
(b) (b) Adjective
(c) (c) Adverb
(d) (d) Preposition
5. The politician repented of his past mistakes.
(a) Noun
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
6. Turn right past the store with the neon sign on the window.
(a) Noun
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
7. Did you hear the song before?
(a) Conjunctive
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
8. Always follow through with what you start
(a) Interjection
(b) Conjunctive
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition
9. The remark went right through one ear and out the other.
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 (a) Noun
(b)Adjective
(c) Conjunctive
(d) Preposition
10. The gardener moved the lawn after he reread Lady Chatterley’s lover.
(a) Conjunctive
(b) Adjective
(c) Adverb
(d) Preposition

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II. SENTENCES STRUCTURE

A. Parts of Speech
Every sentence in English is made up of basic building blocks, the parts of speech.
You should be familiar with these: adjective, adverb, article, conjunction, noun,
preposition, pronoun and verb.

1.1 Parts of speech

NOUN VERB ARTICLE ADVERB ADJECTIVE

Miriam is a very nice young

NOUN PRONOUN VERB PREPOSITION NOUN

Woman. She comes from Venezuela,

CONJUNCTION PRONOUN VERB PREPOSITION

And she is studying at

ADJECTIVE NOUN

our School

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1. Practice identify the part of speech of each italicized word.
Example : My name id Daniel
1. I am from Switzerland.
2. I am studying English.
3. My class has students from many different countries.
4. Hau is an interesting new student who sits next to me now.
5. He is from Vietnam.
6. Ayeh is from the middle East, and Budi is from Africa.
7. Gabriela came to this school because she wants to improve her writing.
8. Everyone is trying very hard to improve in English.

B. Types of Sentences
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete idea.
§ There are four kinds of sentences:
o Questions
o Statements
o Exclamations
o Commands
§ Each kind of sentence includes at least one subject and one verb. In
commands, the subject is understood but no said or written.
1.2 Sentences

Structure Explanations Examples

Questions A questions asks for information orWhat is your name?

for a yes or no. Are you a student?
Statements A statement gives information or My name is Miriam.
opinions. That’s a beautiful
name.
Exclamations An exclamation expresses surprise, What a lovely name
pleasure or other emotions. you have!
We won the world
cup!
Commands A command tells what to do. The (you) Tell me about
subject “you” is understood. yourself.
Have a seat, please.

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2. Practice tell whether these sentences are questions, statements, exclamations, or
commands. Identify the part of speech of each italicized word.
Noun verb

Examples : My name is Daniel. (statement)

Pronoun

What’s yours? (question)

1. My name is Ruben.
2. Tell me your last name.
3. If you really want to know, it’s Taboada.
4. What an unusual name you have!
5. Are you from Mexico?
6. I’ve always wanted to go there, but I’ve never had the opportunity.
7. Mexico is large, beautiful country with a variety of climates and landscapes.
8. The capital is Mexico City, and its other important cities are Veracruz and
Guadalajara.
9. Were the Aztec Indians an ancient or a relatively new civilization?
10. How unique their civilization was!
C. Subject
Every sentence has a subject. In commands, the subject “you” or “we” is understood.
In a sentence, the subject is normally the most important word.
§ Person
§ Place
§ Thing
§ Event
§ Idea

The subject can take several forms:

§ Nouns
§ Pronouns

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 § Phrases
§ Clauses
1.3 Subject

Structures Explanations Examples

Noun or A noun names a person, place, thing Miriam comes from

pronoun or idea. Pronouns replace nouns. Venezuela.
She is from Caracas.
Phrases A phrase is a group of related words. Many Venezuelan
students are studying
Infinitive (to + simple form) or in the United States.
gerund (-ing form) phrases can be
used as subjects. To study in the United
States can be
expansive.

Studying in the United

States can be
expensive.
Clause A clause is a group of related words How long they stay in
that includes a subject and a verb. the United States
Dependent clauses are covered in depends on many
Chapter 8 to 10. things.

3. Practice finds the subjects in the following sentences. Underline each subject.

Example: Every year, thousands of foreign students begin university studies in North
America

1. Most international students have studied some English before coming to an

English before coming to an English-speaking country.
2. Many already read and write English fairly well.
3. A major difficulty for all new students, however, is to understands and speak
English.
4. Making phone calls or understanding directions can be difficult.
5. Many Americans use a lot of slang.
6. What can be very difficult is to understand slang.
7. Different age group use different kinds of slang.

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 8. In the United States, each part of the country also has variations in vocabulary and
pronunciation.
9. Nevertheless, after the first few weeks in the United States, ost new students will
notice tremendous improvement.
10. All of sudden, English becomes a lot clearer and easier!

D. Verbs, Objects, and Complements

Some verbs tell what the subject does. These verbs can be transitive or intransitive.
§ Intransitive verbs do not have objects
§ Transitive verbs must have objects.

Other verbs are linking verbs.

§ Linking verbs connect the subject to the complement.

§ A complement is a noun, pronoun, adjective, phrase, verb form, or clause that
describes the subject.
§ Common linking verbs include be, appear become, feel, get, (when it means
become), look seem, smell, sound and taste. The chart gives some exampes.

1.4 Verbs, Objects, and Compliment

Structures Explanations Examples
Intransitive verbsAn intransitive verb is complete Miriam travels often.
without an object.
Transitive verbs A transitive verb must have an When she travels she
and objects. object. It is incomplete without one. always buys souvenir.
Direct object. Direct object answer the questions She bought her
who(m)? or what? daughter a sweater.
Indirect object Indirect object answer the questions She bought her
to/ for who(m)? daughter a sweater.
Linking verbs and Linking verbs are followed by Miriam is a lawyer.
complements. complements: information that She seems happy with
describe the subject. Remember that her work.
adverbs cannot be used as It appears to be a very
complement after linking verbs. interesting job.
Example : Correct : He seems happy.
Incorrect: He seem happily

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4. Practice find the verbs in the following sentences. Underline each verb. If the sentence
has an object or complement, circle it.

Example : Learning a new language is difficult

1. It is difficult to learn a new language, but the experience can be enjoyable.

2. When you speak another language you can communicate with people from many
places.
3. Thousands of languages exist in the world.
4. Speaking another language will open many doors for you.
5. Since Daniel come to the United States, he has experienced many new people,
places, and ideas.
6. During his studies, he has met people from cultures from every part of the earth..
7. While Daniel has been learning about other cultures, he’s been learning more
about his own.
8. The experience of looking at other cultures can show you a great deal about your
own culture.
9. Think about some of the similarities and differences across cultures.
10. People who can experience life in another country are very fortunate.

E. Sentence types
Sentences can be simple, compound, complex, or a combination of compound and
complex.

1.5 Sentences Types

Structures Explanations Examples
Simple A simple sentence has at least Sukariati arrived from Indonesia
one subject and one verb last week.

A simple sentence can have a Sukariati’s sister and brother are

compound subject. living here now.

A simple sentence can have a Her cousin wanted to come, too,

compound verb. but couldn’t.
Compound Compound sentences are Sukariati began her classes
sentences joined by comma yesterday, and she likes them a lot.
and a conjunction: and, but,
for, nor, or, so, or yet.
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 Complex Complex sentences are Muljati who is originally from
sentences joined by words Jakarta has lived in the United
such as who, that, because, States for some time. She chose to
after, while, and so on. These live in California because she likes
are covered in Chapter 8 to the climate.
10.

5. Practice label the subject(s) and verb(v) in each following sentences are simple,
compound, or complex. If the sentence is compound or complex, circle the connecting
word.
v s v
Example : Have you met Kunio Takahashi? Simple sentence.

s v s v
Kunio is one of the most interesting people whom I have met here.
Complex sentence
1. My friend Kunio is from Tokyo, Japan.
2. He has studied English in Canada for a year, and now he hopes to study veterinary
science.
3. Because Kunio wants to study both English and veterinary science, he has applied
to schools in Canada and Australia.
4. Is he working on an undergraduate or graduate degree?
5. Kunio already has his bachelor’s degree.
6. He will get his master’s degree, and the he will begin a doctoral program.
7. What did his study as an undergraduate?
8. I’m not really sure.
9. Why don’t you ask him when you see him again.
10. He’s so busy enjoying Canadian life that I never see him.

6. Practice Get into groups and reread the passage “How American Stay Affected Me” on
page 5. Find the subject (s) and verb (v) in each sentence. Then choose one or two
sentences and label the parts of speech in each.

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7. Practice Describing similarities and differences across Culture if you have lived or
are living outside your native region or country, think about some of the difference you
have encountered. Can you think of several things that has surprised you? Perhaps they
surprised you because they are different from what you are used to, or perhaps they
surprised you because they’re very similar to what you are used to. Write a short
paragraph describing your experiences. Then share your ideas in small groups or with the
class. If you have never traveled outside your native region or country, imagine what the
experience might be like.
Example : I moved to Argentina from Colombia. I noticed many differences even
though both countries are in south America and both are Spanish-
speaking. First, a major difference was the food and times for eating.
Argentines eat dinner very late……

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