Lecture Note 2 Communication Skills
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Obote DanielLecture Note 2 Communication Skills
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Obote DanielLecture 2: Basics for Written Communication
1.1 Word Classes
Written communication, unlike spoken language, requires precision, structure, and a clear
understanding of grammar. One of the foundational aspects of writing is understanding word
classes, also known as parts of speech. In any sentence, every word plays a specific
grammatical role. Identifying and understanding these roles is essential for effective writing.
1.1.1 What Are Word Classes?
Word classes refer to the categories into which words are grouped based on their function within
a sentence. The principal word classes in English include:
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
These categories help us understand how a word behaves in relation to other words in a sentence.
Interestingly, a single word may belong to different word classes depending on its use in a
sentence. For example, in “I run every morning,” run is a verb. But in “He went for a quick run,”
it functions as a noun.
1.1.2 Nouns
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, idea, or action. Nouns are one of the most
versatile word classes, serving as the subject or object in a sentence.
Types of Nouns:
Proper Nouns: Refer to specific names of people, places, or organizations and are
always capitalized (e.g., Nigeria, Mr. Johnson, UNESCO).
Common Nouns: Refer to general items or concepts and are not capitalized unless they
start a sentence (e.g., city, dog, book).
Example:
The city is growing rapidly. (common noun)
Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria. (proper noun)
1.1.3 Pronouns
Pronouns are words used in place of nouns to avoid repetition and make sentences more fluid.
They refer back to a noun mentioned earlier or understood from context.
Types of Pronouns:
Personal Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them
Relative Pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, that
Indefinite Pronouns: someone, anyone, everybody, nobody, something
Pronouns change form depending on their grammatical role in the sentence (subject, object,
possessive).
Examples:
She is reading a book. (She replaces the noun, e.g., Mary.)
The boy who won the race is my cousin. (Who introduces a relative clause.)
1.1.4 Verbs
Verbs are action words or words of being. They are the most dynamic part of speech, indicating
what the subject does, is, or experiences. Without a verb, a sentence cannot be complete.
Verbs are also complex because they change form to indicate:
Tense (past, present, future)
Aspect (simple, continuous, perfect)
Voice (active or passive)
Mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive)
Agreement with the subject (singular/plural)
1.1.5 Forms of Verbs
All verbs, except for the verb “be”, typically have five forms:
1. Plain Form
Used with plural subjects and pronouns like I, we, you, they. It indicates present action, habitual
events, or general truths.
Examples: They walk to school. We play football.
2. Past Tense
Used to show that an action happened in the past. Regular verbs usually add –ed or –d, while
irregular verbs change in unpredictable ways.
Examples: He talked for hours. She ran quickly.
3. Past Participle
Often the same as the past tense for regular verbs, but different in irregular verbs. It is used with
have/has/had (perfect tenses) or with be (passive voice).
Examples: She has eaten lunch. The glass was broken.
4. Present Participle
Formed by adding –ing to the verb. It can function as a verb, adjective, or noun.
Examples: She is singing. The boiling water spilled. Swimming is fun.
5. –s Form
Used when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun like he, she, it. Indicates present tense and
habitual actions.
Examples: He writes daily. The sun rises in the east.
1.1.6 Summary of Verb Forms
Verb Form Usage Example
Plain Plural subjects, present/general actions They drive fast.
Past Tense Completed past action He danced yesterday.
Past Participle With have/has/had or passive forms They have gone home.
Present Participle Progressive tense, modifiers She is running late.
-s Form Singular subject, present tense She walks every morning.
