Grammar VoyageGrammar Voyage1.1. Parts of speech: Parts of speech: the 8 the 8

kinds of wordskinds of words

2.2. Parts of the sentence:Parts of the sentence: the parts of ideasthe parts of ideas

3.3. PhrasesPhrases: little groups of : little groups of wordswords

4.4. ClausesClauses: making simple or : making simple or complicated ideas with complicated ideas with subjects and predicatessubjects and predicates

Grammar Voyage: Grammar Voyage: Part Part 11

1.1. The names of the eight The names of the eight kinds of words:kinds of words:

noun verb

Pron.

adjadv

prep conj

interj

1. NOUNS1. NOUNS

• Nouns name thingsNouns name things• ProperProper nouns name specific things, nouns name specific things,

and are capitalized (like and are capitalized (like MadagascarMadagascar).).• CommonCommon nouns name general things, nouns name general things,

and are not capitalized (like and are not capitalized (like horizonhorizon).).• A noun naming one thing is A noun naming one thing is singularsingular

(like (like tidetide).).• A noun naming more than one thing is A noun naming more than one thing is

pluralplural (like (like shoresshores).).

2. PRONOUN2. PRONOUN

• The word pronoun means “for the The word pronoun means “for the noun.”noun.”

• Pronouns are short words that replace Pronouns are short words that replace the noun.the noun.

• SUBJECT pronouns: SUBJECT pronouns: I you he she I you he she it we you theyit we you they

• OBJECT pronouns: OBJECT pronouns: me you him her me you him her it us you themit us you them

• We use We use demonstrativedemonstrative pronouns to pronouns to demonstrate. demonstrate.

this that these those this that these those ThisThis is a good harbor. is a good harbor.

• We use We use possessivepossessive pronouns to show pronouns to show possession.possession.

my you his her its our theirmy you his her its our theirThe Nostromo is The Nostromo is mymy boat.boat.

• We use We use interrogativeinterrogative pronouns to pronouns to interrogate.interrogate.

who whose whom which whatwho whose whom which whatWhoWho stowed the grub today? stowed the grub today?

It’s versus itsIt’s versus its

• The word The word itsits is a possessive is a possessive pronoun; pronoun; it’sit’s is a contraction of is a contraction of it is.it is.

The bee found The bee found itsits hive; hive; it’s it’s a good a good thing, too.thing, too.

AntecedentsAntecedents

• Ante – before, cede – goAnte – before, cede – go

• The antecedent is the noun that goes The antecedent is the noun that goes ((cedecede) before () before (anteante) the pronoun; it ) the pronoun; it is the noun the pronoun replaces.is the noun the pronoun replaces.

First First JoseJose laughed, then laughed, then he he smiled.smiled.

3. ADJECTIVES3. ADJECTIVES

• With adjectives, we can use one noun to With adjectives, we can use one noun to refer to hundreds of different things.refer to hundreds of different things.

• Adjectives let us modify nouns.Adjectives let us modify nouns.• To modify a thing is to adjust it or to To modify a thing is to adjust it or to

change it.change it.ragingraging sea, sea, stormystormy sea, sea, rollingrolling sea, sea,

profoundprofound sea, sea, silentsilent sea, sea, undulatingundulating sea, sea, quiet quiet sea, sea, sereneserene sea, sea, placidplacid sea sea

• You ADD the adjective to the noun and You ADD the adjective to the noun and it modifies the idea of the noun!it modifies the idea of the noun!

• Adjectives are always Adjectives are always withwith nouns or nouns or pronouns.pronouns.

• Anything an adjective modifies Anything an adjective modifies isis by by definition a noun or pronoun.definition a noun or pronoun.

• With adjectives, you don’t have to With adjectives, you don’t have to know thousands of different nouns for know thousands of different nouns for all the kinds of seas. You just learn all the kinds of seas. You just learn sea, and the modify with adjectives.sea, and the modify with adjectives.

• Adjectives also modify pronouns:Adjectives also modify pronouns:

She is She is adventurous.adventurous.

He is He is sunburned.sunburned.

It is It is stormy.stormy.

It is It is vast.vast.

Paolo stood stolid on the bridge of the Paolo stood stolid on the bridge of the Hampstead, Hampstead, watching the great seas watching the great seas rising ahead. The storm had lasted rising ahead. The storm had lasted

three long days, and Zanzibar’s safe three long days, and Zanzibar’s safe harbor seemed far away. His mind harbor seemed far away. His mind filled with adjectives that described filled with adjectives that described the storm, the wind, the waves…the storm, the wind, the waves…crashing, monstrous, raging, furious, crashing, monstrous, raging, furious,

roaring, dark, chaotic, grotesque, roaring, dark, chaotic, grotesque, churning, rising, mountainous, black, churning, rising, mountainous, black,

tempestuous, howling, tedious, dangeroustempestuous, howling, tedious, dangerous

ARTICLESARTICLES

• The three adjectivesThe three adjectives thethe, , aa, , andand an an are are called the articles.called the articles.

the the freighter freighter a a freighter freighter an an oldold freighterfreighter

• The adjective The adjective thethe is called the is called the definite definite article, and adjectives article, and adjectives aa and and an an are are called called indefiniteindefinite articles. articles.

These are great names that really make These are great names that really make sense. If I say thatsense. If I say that

I want to catch I want to catch aa freighter to Lisbon freighter to Lisbon

Then it could be any freighter; I’m not Then it could be any freighter; I’m not being definite. I’m being being definite. I’m being indefinite. indefinite. But But

if I sayif I say

I want to catch I want to catch thethe freighter to Lisbon freighter to Lisbon

Then that is a Then that is a definite, definite, specific freighter. specific freighter. They are very logical names.They are very logical names.

Every one of our ideas, every Every one of our ideas, every sentencesentence, has two sides:, has two sides:

what it’s aboutwhat it’s about what we’re saying what we’re saying about itabout it

what it’s aboutwhat it’s about what we’re what we’re sayingsayingThe The Maggie Marshall Maggie Marshall puffed up the puffed up the river.river.

VERBVERB

• When we say something about a When we say something about a noun or pronoun, we always use a noun or pronoun, we always use a special kind of word called a special kind of word called a verbverb. .

• EveryEvery sentence has a verb! sentence has a verb!

• The verb is the The verb is the onlyonly part of speech part of speech that can be found in that can be found in everyevery single single sentence.sentence.

VERBVERB• The verb is about the noun or pronoun, The verb is about the noun or pronoun,

and it says that the noun or pronoun DOES and it says that the noun or pronoun DOES something or IS something.something or IS something.

DOES,DOES,ororIS.IS.

Ahab Ahab struckstruck the mast. the mast.Ahab Ahab waswas silent. silent.

ACTIONACTION VERBS VERBS• Most verbs are Most verbs are actionaction verbs. verbs.

• They show the noun or pronoun They show the noun or pronoun doing doing something.something.

The oil tanker The oil tanker approachedapproached the pier. the pier.

She She sailedsailed toward the marina. toward the marina.

The captain The captain perplexedperplexed the crew. the crew.

Mona Mona securedsecured the line to the cleat. the line to the cleat.

The quiet Ganges The quiet Ganges flowedflowed past Kanpur. past Kanpur.

Do you see why these are called action verbs?Do you see why these are called action verbs?

LINKINGLINKING VERBS VERBS

• A linking verb says the subject A linking verb says the subject ISIS something.something.

• With a linking verb, the subject isn’t With a linking verb, the subject isn’t doing something to something else. doing something to something else. Now the subject IS the other thing.Now the subject IS the other thing.

If we say, “John Silver If we say, “John Silver isis a pirate” then a pirate” then John SilverJohn Silver and and piratepirate are the same are the same

person!person!

That is not like That is not like John Silver John Silver sawsaw a pirate. a pirate.

In math, we say that In math, we say that 2 + 2 = 42 + 2 = 4. This is . This is an equation, since each side of the an equation, since each side of the equals sign equals the other side.equals sign equals the other side.

A linking verb is like an equation. A linking verb is like an equation. John is a pirate.John is a pirate.John = pirate.John = pirate.

• Some Some linking verbslinking verbs sound like action sound like action verbs:verbs:

The harbor The harbor lookslooks beautiful. beautiful.

You You smellsmell good. good.

• Forms of Forms of bebe linking verbs: linking verbs: be, am, is, be, am, is, are, was, were, been, beingare, was, were, been, being

• Linking verbs that express condition: Linking verbs that express condition: appear, become, feel, grow, look, appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, tasteremain, seem, smell, sound, taste

VERB TENSEVERB TENSE

• Verbs do more than describe action. Verbs do more than describe action. They also tell when the action took placeThey also tell when the action took place——nownow (present tense), (present tense), beforebefore (past (past tense), or tense), or in the futurein the future (future tense). (future tense).

• There are six verb tenses: three regular There are six verb tenses: three regular tenses and three perfect tenses that use tenses and three perfect tenses that use to haveto have as a helping verb. as a helping verb.

VERB TENSESVERB TENSES

Present: Present: Sally Sally hoistshoists the sail. the sail.

Past: Past: Sally Sally hoistedhoisted the sail. the sail.

Future: Future: Sally Sally will hoistwill hoist the sail. the sail.

Present perfect: Present perfect: Sally Sally has hoistedhas hoisted the the sail.sail.

Past perfect: Past perfect: Sally Sally had hoistedhad hoisted the sail. the sail.

Future perfect: Future perfect: Sally Sally will have hoistedwill have hoisted the sail.the sail.

VERB AGREEMENTVERB AGREEMENT• Verbs must reflect the nouns’ Verbs must reflect the nouns’

number: if the noun is singular, the number: if the noun is singular, the verb must be singular too. verb must be singular too.

The The boat isboat is at anchor in the cove. at anchor in the cove.The The boats areboats are at anchor in the cove. at anchor in the cove.

The The boat wasboat was at anchor in the cove. at anchor in the cove.The The boats wereboats were at anchor in the cove. at anchor in the cove.

Nouns often make their plurals by adding an Nouns often make their plurals by adding an ss, but verbs don’t., but verbs don’t.

Each sentence must be either about one Each sentence must be either about one thing or about more than one thing, and if thing or about more than one thing, and if the noun is singular but the verb is plural, the noun is singular but the verb is plural, then we can not tell! The number must be then we can not tell! The number must be

manifest.manifest.

The boats is at anchor.The boats is at anchor.The boat are at anchor.The boat are at anchor.

In these sentences, we cannot tell whether In these sentences, we cannot tell whether the person saw the person saw a boata boat or or some boatssome boats..

• The number agreement only The number agreement only functions in some tense situations. If functions in some tense situations. If we were describing a future event, we were describing a future event, then the verb would not change then the verb would not change form, but would use the same form form, but would use the same form for both singular and plural!for both singular and plural!

The The boat will beboat will be at anchor in the cove. at anchor in the cove.

The The boats will beboats will be at anchor in the cove. at anchor in the cove.