Transcript Parts of Speech - Humber College

Parts of Speech
COMM 200
Overview
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Verbs
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Nouns
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Auxiliary verbs
 Modal auxiliary
Pronouns
Common nouns
Proper nouns
Adjectives
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Adverbs
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Sentence adverbs
Prepositions
Coordinators
Subordinators
Determiners
Interjections
Verbs
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A type of word that typically conveys an
action or a state (e.g., run, said, teach,
thought, could, do)
Verbs almost all have present tense and past
tense forms (but not must or beware)
Verbs can be modified by adverbs (e.g., run
quickly, never did)
Nouns
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A type of word that typically conveys a physical
object, person, place, idea, etc. (e.g., table, Robin,
it, St. Catherine's, education, who)
Many nouns have a plural form (one cat, two cats;
but not all, e.g., furniture)
All (maybe) nouns have a possessive form (e.g.,
Johanna’s, our, its, whose)
Nouns can be modified by adjectives (e.g., the
class was good, a big dog)
Find the Nouns
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Would you like coffee or tea?
I didn't finish that work in the morning, so I had to
do it in the afternoon.
Newspapers love to write about controversies.
Unskilled manual workers are the most likely to
lose their job when the economy changes.
CDs are dying out and MP3s are becoming the
norm.
The faculty office is the third door on the left side of
the hall.
Find the Nouns (answers)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Would you like coffee or tea?
I didn't finish that work in the morning, so I had to
do it in the afternoon.
Newspapers love to write about controversies.
Unskilled manual workers are the most likely to
lose their job when the economy changes.
CDs are dying out and MP3s are becoming the
norm.
The faculty office is the third door on the left side of
the hall.
Find the verbs 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
I know a little Spanish.
The problem got worse.
I went to Africa last year.
This graph illustrates the change in price.
She turned her head up and saw clouds in
the sky.
Some people think this is a good idea, but I
don't think so.
Find the verbs 1 (answers)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
I know a little Spanish.
The problem got worse.
I went to Africa last year.
This graph illustrates the change in price.
She turned her head up and saw clouds in
the sky.
Some people think this is a good idea, but I
don't think so.
Find the verbs 2
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
People often associate Einstein with science, but
he was also a man of peace.
I can't see the words in this book because the
writing is too small and I don't have my glasses.
I think the best thing to do now is to go home.
I just thought you might want some coffee.
How many times have I told you not to do that?
I think I can do it, but I don't know.
Find the verbs 2 (answers)
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
People often associate Einstein with science, but
he was also a man of peace.
I can't see the words in this book because the
writing is too small and I don't have my glasses.
I think the best thing to do now is to go home.
I just thought you might want some coffee.
How many times have I told you not to do that?
I think I can do it, but I don't know.
Coordinators
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English has only a small number of
coordinators: and, or, but, & nor
Coordinators join words, phrases, and
sentences that are at the same level in a
sentence.
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In contrast subordinators & prepositions join
things at a lower level.
Coordinators are usually preceded by a
comma, but can also be preceded by a
period or no punctuation at all.
Coordination
Subordination
Sentence Adverbs
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Sentence adverbs are adverbs that modify
entire sentences.
Often these have meanings that are similar to
coordinators and subordinators, BUT
Adverbs cannot link sentences. You need
sentence-final punctuation (or a semicolon if
you like bow ties).
Some Sentence Adverbs
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accordingly
afterwards
also
furthermore
however
indeed
likewise
moreover
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nevertheless
next
nonetheless
otherwise
similarly
then
therefore
Comma splices &
Run-on Sentences
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A run on sentence is a sentence with two or
more primary verbs at the same level without
any coordinators or punctuation linking.
A comma splice is a sentence with two or
more primary verbs at the same level with
only a comma (or commas) linking them.
Run-on sentence
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Examples:
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Students often have problems with punctuation
for example they leave out periods where they
need them.
Students want to be able to write better they want
to be taken seriously.
Solutions: Add a
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Period
A semicolon (if you’re writing a tuxedo)
(A comma and) a coordinator (if it makes sense)
Run-on Sentence fixes
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Students often have problems with
punctuation. For example they leave out
periods where they need them.
Students want to be able to write better, and
they want to be taken seriously.
Comma splices
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Examples:
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Students often have problems with punctuation,
for example they leave out periods where they
need them.
Students want to be able to write better, they want
to be taken seriously.
Solutions (same solutions): Add a
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Period
A semicolon (if you really want to look fancy)
A comma and a coordinator (if it makes sense)
Run-on Exercises
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2.
3.
4.
Judy leads a charmed life she never seems to
have a serious accident.
The airport is about to shut down because of the
snow and if the plane doesn't land soon it will have
to go on to Boston.
The show begins at 7:30 make sure you're there
before 7:15.
Marcellino always knew his way around the woods
this is something he could always depend on.
Run-on Exercises 2
1.
2.
3.
Having prepared himself well for the realtor exams
and having exhausted everyone in the family with
his requests that someone help him with the trueand-false drills, Jeffrey, who had never been a
particularly good student in high school, knew he
was ready to take on the greatest challenge of his
life.
Throughout history money and religion were
closely linked there was little distinction between
government and religion.
The head of state and the religious leader were
often the same person all power rested in one
ruler.
Comma Splice Exercises
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I completed my essay, however I have not
submitted it.
The price of oil has been rising, therefore
more people are using transit.
He’s always late, for example last week he
missed every 8:00 class.
If I can’t go, I’ll let you know.
I love it here, life’s good.
Prepositions
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Prepositions are typically short words that
show locations in space or time.
Examples:
of
in
to
for
with
on
like
after
before
as
given (that)
about
if
when
because
though
so (that)
without
Prepositions + nouns
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Prepositions are typically followed by a noun
phrase:
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the rest of the world
in the first case,
Given all the problems,
He stood before the door.
Traditional grammar insists that prepositions
are ALWAYS followed by a noun, but…
Prepositions + other things
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Prepositions can be followed:
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…by other prepositions:
 He stepped out from behind the door.
…by verbs (in -ing form):
 Before opening the book,
…by sentences: (“conjunctions” in traditional grammar)
 Before he opened the book,
…by nothing at all: (“adverbs” in traditional grammar)
 He had been there before.
Prepositions followed by
commas
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Consider:
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If you saw the movie we went to the theatre must
have been crowded.
Typically, if you begin your sentence with a
prepositional phrase, especially a long one,
you should follow it with a comma.
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If you saw the movie we went to, the theatre must
have been crowded.
Before your got distracted, were you tracted?
Prepositions & commas
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A comma can also help you avoid errors like
this:
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By paying too much attention to polls can make a
political leader unwilling to propose innovative
policies.
Punctuation can completely change the
meaning of a sentence:
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A woman without her man is nothing.
A woman! Without her, man is nothing.
-ing Prepositions
•A number of prepositions are “deverbal”. In
other words, they’re derived from verbs.
•For Example:
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according
allowing
barring
concerning
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considering
counting
depending
excluding
-ing Prepositions vs. Verbs
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When you start a sentence with an -ing verb,
it should attach to the subject of the
sentence:
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Running down the road, I saw the crash.
*Running down the road, the crash was terrible.
In contrast, prepositions don’t need to attach
to anything.
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Counting the dog, he has a family of six.
Considering the damage, the crash was terrible.
Preposition or Verb?
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Hurrying for the appointment, she forgot her
computer.
Regarding the changes, I can’t say I’m in full
support.
Providing the soldiers remembered where the
triggers were at the right moment, they were sure to
get any plane that entered the field of fire.
Seeing as how you’ve messed this up, I’m sure
you’ll get a raise. That’s how business works.
Lying on the grass, she felt happier than she’d felt in
a long time.
Simpsons & Prepositions
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"Something WAS stirring in one Springfield
house this Christmas eve, and what it was
stirring was up trouble!”
(The Simpsons' house has been broken into
on Christmas eve, and all their Christmas
presents and decorations have been stolen.
Homer is telling his woes to Moe. Moe says,)
"You know what I blame this on the
breakdown of? Society!"
Commas before Prepositions
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Generally modern writers prefer a lighter
punctuation style in which prepositions are
not typically preceded by commas.
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He gut stuck under the car with the cat.
He was already a word nerd before it became
cool.
Compare:
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Before he became a word nerd, he wanted to be a
rock star.
We’re all here because Brett gives good grammar.
What’s so? And so what?
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It’s hard to categorize so. In some ways it’s
like a coordinator, in some ways it’s like an
adverb, and in some ways it’s like a
preposition.
Typically, a comma is used before so:
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I’m almost done, so hold on a few more minutes.
But not with so that:
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He’s there so that we have somebody to ask.
More Prepositions
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A complete list of modern English prepositions can
be found here.
Try making sentences using:
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notwithstanding
regardless
contrary
despite
whereas
though
if
when