Word Classes Flashcards
(91 cards)
1
Q
Proper Noun
A
Usually begin with a capital letter. They refer to specific people and places
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Q
Common noun
A
Less specific and refer to types of people, places, feelings. Most nouns are common nouns and can be further subdivided into concrete, abstract and collective nouns.
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Q
Concrete Noun
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Refer to things that exist physically - things we can see and feel
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Q
Abstract Noun
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Refer to things that do not exist physically - feelings, ideas and qualities.
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Q
Pronouns
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A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun to save us saying the same noun twice, it does not percede a noun
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Q
Personal Pronouns
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Singular:
First Person: I, Me
Second Person: You
Third person: He, She, It, Him, Her
Plural:
First Person: We, Us
Second Person: You
Third Person: They, Them
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Q
Possessive Pronouns
A
Singular
First Person: Mine
Second Person: Yours
Third Person: They, Them
Plural
First Person: Ours
Second Person: Yours
Third Person: Theirs
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Q
Reflexive Pronouns
A
Singular
First Person: Myself
Second Person: Yourself
Third Person: Himself, Herself, Itself
Plural
First Person: Ourselves
Second Person: Yourself
Third Person: Themselves
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Q
Demonstrative pronouns
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Pronouns have a sense of ‘pointing’ at something or someone: this, that, these, those (Remember the pronoun will REPLACE the noun, not come before it)
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Q
Distributive pronouns
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Each, either, neither
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Q
Indefinite pronouns
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These are pronouns that do not refer to specific persons or things. Examples include: someone, anything, no one, everything
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Q
Interrogative pronouns
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These are used when asking a question about a noun. Interrogative pronouns are: who, whose, which, and what.
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Q
Relative pronouns
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A relative pronoun is a type of pronoun that introduces a relative clause, which provides additional information about a noun in a sentence. The most common relative pronouns in English are “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.”
Here’s how each relative pronoun is typically used:
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Who: Refers to people.
- Example: “The woman who lives next door is a doctor.”
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Whom: Also refers to people, particularly as the object of a verb or preposition.
- Example: “The person whom I met yesterday is coming to the party.”
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Whose: Indicates possession and can refer to people or things.
- Example: “The book whose cover is torn belongs to me.”
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Which: Refers to things or animals.
- Example: “The car, which was parked outside, belongs to my friend.”
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That: Can refer to both people and things, and is often used in restrictive clauses.
- Example: “The house that we visited yesterday is for sale.”
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Q
Modal Auxillaries
A
They are only ever used in conjuction with a main verb and significantly alter the tone or meaning of what is being expressed.
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Q
Modal Auxillaries examples
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Can, Will, Shall, May, Might, Must, Could, Would, Should, Might
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Q
Adverbs
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Modifies (tells us more about) the meaning of any part of speech EXCEPT a noun or a pronoun,
Adverbs can therefore modify:
Verbs
Adjectives
Other Adverbs
Prepositions
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Q
Types of adverbs: Time
A
now
then
soon
yesterday
recently
always
never
till
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Q
Types of adverbs: Place
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here
there
inside
outside
above
below
between
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Q
Types of adverbs: Direction
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abroad
everywhere
away
here
outside
inside
there
nowhere
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Q
Types of adverbs: Manner
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slowly
quickly
angrily
calmly
eagerly
badly
well
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Q
Types of adverbs: Duration
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Adverbs of duration tell us how long something happened, they include:
briefly
forever
long
shortly
temporarily
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Q
Types of adverbs: Frequency
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Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens, they include:
always
usually
normally
generally
often
frequently
sometimes
occasionally
rarely
never
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Q
Types of adverbs: Degree
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very
fairly
reasonably
almost
quite
too
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Q
Types of adverbs: Number
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once
twice
firstly
secondly
finally
again
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Types of adverbs: Certainty/ Uncertainty
certaintly
surely
tentatively
perhaps
not
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Types of adverbs: Interrogative
How?
When?
Where?
Why?
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Types of adverbs: Sentence
Unlike an ordinary adverb - which is conventionally defined as a word that modifies a verb
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Prepositions
Words that show the relationship between one noun and another noun or preposition e.g. on, by, to, from, at, off, under, above, upon, throughout.
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Collective nouns
Collective nouns are nouns used to describe groups.
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Some words act as both nouns and verbs.
I love you (verb)
I need your love (noun)
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Base adjectives
Base adjectives are just plain adjectives without anything suffixed (added onto the end) onto the word.
For example, big, pretty and high.
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Comparative adjectives
Base adjectives become comparative when the ‘-er’ suffix is added onto the end of the base adjective.
For example, bigger, prettier and higher.
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Superlative adjectives
Base adjectives become superlative when the ‘-est’ suffix is added onto the end.
For example, biggest, prettiest and highest.
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Main Verb
A main verb describes the main action of the clause.
For example, eats, sleeps and walks.
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Copular verb
A copular verb is like a connecting verb. It helps link the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it. So it's like a bridge.
E.g "She is a doctor"
In this sentence,"is" is the copular verb that connects the subject "she" to the complement "doctor." It tells us that she has the profession of being a doctor.
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Auxilliary verb
An auxiliary verb is a verb which helps the main verb of the sentence.
For example, do and be.
These verbs can also be used to express possibility.
For example can, might and will. These particular auxiliary verbs are described as modal auxiliary verbs.
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Dynamic verbs
Dynamic verbs are actions that can start and end.
For example, shout, hit and build.
These verbs can either be material or verbal.
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Dynamic - Material verbs
Material verbs are concerned with events.
Anna drove to work.
Drove is the material dynamic verb.
James parked his car.
Parked is the material dynamic verb.
Eddy melted butter in the pan.
Melted is the material dynamic verb.
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Dynamic- verbal verbs
Verbal verbs are concerned with a communication.
Anna sang the song on her way to work.
Sang is the verbal dynamic verb.
Molly and Billie spoke for hours.
Spoke is the verbal dynamic verb.
Kenji shouted at his mother.
Shouted is the verbal dynamic verb.
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Stative verbs
Stative verbs describe actions/states which are quite constant.
For example, think, believe and love.
These can be broken down into mental (or cognitive) or relational.
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Stative- mental verbs
Mental stative verbs describe an intrinsic process.
Ellie thought about writing a book.
Here, ‘thought’ is a stative mental verb.
Sally loved her brother dearly.
Here, 'loved' is a stative mental verb.
I do believe in fairies.
Here, 'believe' is a stative mental verb.
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Stative- relational verbs
Relational stative verbs show the relation between things or show a state of being.
Ellie became an author.
Here, ‘became’ is a stative relational verb.
Isaac owns three cars.
Here, 'owns' is a stative relational verb.
The box contains my socks.
Here, 'contains' is a stative relational verb.
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Subjunctive mood
The subjunctive mood describes a hypothetical situation.
e.g
• It is important that you agree to these terms.
• This is a hypothetical situation because you have not yet agreed to these terms.
• I recommend that you buy a new dress for the wedding.
• This is a hypothetical situation because you have not bought a dress.
• If I were you, I would be careful.
• This is a hypothetical situation because I am not you!
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Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectibes and other adverbs
Ethan smugly walked to college.
The adverb 'smugly' modifies the verb 'walked'
He's a devilishly handsome man.
The adverb 'devilishly' modifies the adjective 'handsome'.
Lucy arrived too late.
The adverb 'too' modifies the other adverb 'late'.
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Categories of adverbs
Place
Manner
Time
Fequency
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Place adverb
Place (indicates a location). E.g.:
Inside.
Outside.
Near.
Close to.
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Manner adverb
Manner (describes the way things happen). E.g.:
Happily.
Angrily.
Sadly.
Depressingly.
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Time adverb
Time (indicates a time). E.g.:
Soon.
Tomorrow.
Later.
Yesterday.
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Frequency adverb
Frequency (indicates how often something happens). E.g.:
Always.
Never.
Sometimes.
Occasionally.
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Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns link the noun to a clause.
Relative pronouns include (but are not limited to) who, what, where.
E.g
Izzy, who played the saxophone, had a gig tonight.
The pronoun 'who' links Izzy to the clause.
Cigarettes, which are bad for your health, are very expensive.
The pronoun 'which' links cigarettes to the clause.
The book, when it was published, was very successful.
The pronoun 'when' links the book to the clause.
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Articles (Determiners)
We insert a determiner before a noun. There are two main types of determiners: articles and quantifiers. Articles are used to describe definiteness.
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Definite article
A definite article (like ‘the’) is used when there is something specific.
For example: the door, the house, the boy.
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Indefinite article
An indefinite article (like 'a') is used for something more general.
For example: a house, a door, a boy.
Choose a door, any door.
The ‘a’ signifies that it could refer to any number of doors.
Can you pick up a carrot from the shops?
The ‘a’ signifies that it could refer to any carrot and no carrot in particular.
I want a house by the sea.
The 'a' signifies that I do not want a particular house, but any house that is by the sea.
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Quantifier (Determiners)
We insert a determiner before a noun. There are two main types of determiners: articles and quantifiers. Quantifiers can be specific or general and display a quantity.
Examples :
Henry VIII had six wives.
I have lots of friends.
I only have a few pens.
I have many different pairs of socks.
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Homophones
The ‘-phone’ morpheme means sound.
So this lexeme describes words with the same sound.
For example: there, their and they’re.
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Homographs
The ‘-graph’ morpheme means written.
So this lexeme describes words with the same spelling.
For example, read in ‘I read that book’ and ‘I like to read’.
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Homonyms
The ‘-nym’ morpheme means everything.
So this lexeme describes words with everything the same.
For example, the two meanings of ‘can’ in the sentence ‘I can throw that can in the bin’.
'I saw a bat' and 'have you seen my baseball bat?'
A bat is an animal as well as a piece of sports equipment.
'I shall wave goodbye' and 'that is an enormous wave'.
A wave is a hand gesture and sea water coming into shore.
'It is such a bright day' and 'she is so bright'.
Bright means very light and intelligent.
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What is a Root Word ?
they are words that can have prefixes and suffixes attached to it. (main word). Example: Running’s root word is, “Run”.
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What are prefixes?
These are letters added to the start of a root word to change meaning.
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What is a suffix?
these are letters added to the end of a root word to change meaning.
EXAMPLE Unlikeable
Un- prefix
Like – root word -able - suffix
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What are Phrase types
This is a head word – the word the phrase can’t exist without.
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Adjectival Phrase, what is it?
a group of words that functions as an adjective in a sentence. The adjective is the “head word”.
The bin was disgustingly full.
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What is a noun phrase?
This is a group of words that function as a noun in a sentence. The noun is the “head word”.
I finally put on the shimmering gold medal. The car which was parked in the street.
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What are premodifiers
Premodifiers are commonly adjectives but can also be nouns or phrases) – premodify the noun e.g. “shimmering gold” above.
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What are Postmodifiers?
Postmodifiers (commonly prepositional phrases, clauses or adverbs) – postmodify the noun e.g. “which was parked in the street” above.
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Verb Phrase
A verb phrase is a group of words that function as a verb in a sentence. The verb is the “head word”.
He quickly munched his burger.
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Active voice/verb
Tells us what a person or thing does.
The subject performs the action (verb) on the object.
Subject + verb + object
Example:
• Anna painted the house.
• The teacher always answers the students' questions.
• Ali posted the video online.
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Passive voice/verb
Tells us what is done to someone or something.
The subject is being acted upon.
Object + verb + subject
Example:
• The house was painted by Anna.
• The students' questions are answered by the teacher.
• The video was posted online by Ali.
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Subordinate
A subordinate clause is a clause that does not make sense on its own, and needs to be paired with one or more main clauses to form a complete sentence. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions. As with other clause types, it must contain a verb. As a general rule, you can move subordinate clauses around in a sentence without changing the meaning. Have a go with the examples below.
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Foregrounded subordinate clauses
Subordinate clauses that start sentences can be called foregrounded subordinate clauses
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Embedded subordinate clauses
Subordinate clauses in the middle of sentences can be called embedded subordinate clauses.
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Concessive subordinate clauses
concessive subordinate clauses concede something.
• Miss Marvin bought Mrs Wesley a Girls Aloud CD, although she couldn't really afford it.
• Even though I love him, he won't reciprocate.
• While I don't agree with her, I respect her view.
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Conditional subordinate clauses
conditional subordinate clauses provide, unsurprisingly, a condition.
• If you give me a chocolate bar, l'Il give you a kiss.
• Provided you work hard, you'll do well in Language.
• Don't phone me unless it's an emergency.
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Sentence types
Simple- contains one main clause
Compound- contains two or more main clauses, often joined by coordinating conjunctions
Complex- contains one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Compound-complex- contains two or more main clauses and one or complex more subordinate clauses
Minor- is not grammatically complete. It may be missing a subject or a verb
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Minor Sentence
A minor sentence is one that is not grammatically complete. It may be missing a subject or a verb.
• In your dreams, buddy.
Whatever.
• Working together - for lower costs and higher prices!
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Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains one main clause.
• You are a fat rat.
• I like to pierce my body.
• Miss Marvin likes to eat student casserole.
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Compound sentence
A compound sentence contains two or more main clauses, often joined by coordinating conjunctions.
• You are a fat rat but I like you all the same.
• Martin likes to bake rat pie and Rachel enjoys munching on it.
• 'Call The Shots' is Girls Aloud's saddest song but 'Sexy! No No No..." is their best.
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Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
• Although Mrs Greaves enjoys the music of Girls Aloud, she'd never buy one of their albums.
• If you want to get your girifriend on side, buy her a slice of rat pie.
• Provided you work hard, you will do well in Language if you have the ability.
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Compound-Complex sentence
A compound-complex sentence contains two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.
minor
• Although my best friend is married, she can't keep her hands off me and my wife is getting a little jealous.
• If you want to know the truth, I like to eat my Crème Eggs whole and regurgitate all of it minutes later.
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Sentence moods: Declarative/Indicative – states something
Declarative/Indicative – states something
I think that Parrs Wood is the best school.
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Sentence moods: Interrogative – questions
Interrogative – questions
Is Parrs Wood the best school?
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Sentence moods: Imperative – commands/instructs
Imperative – commands/instructs
Go to Parrs Wood or you’ll regret it.
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Sentence moods: Exclamative – exclaims
Exclamative – exclaims
Oh no!
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Sentence moods: Subjunctive – expresses condition that is hypothetical or doubtful
Subjunctive – expresses condition that is hypothetical or doubtful
If I were a millionaire, I’d still work at Parrs Wood.
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Tenses and Aspects
Draw the table- look in notes
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Transitive Verb
When verbs have a direct object
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Intransitive Verb
When verbs don't have a direct object
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Collocates
Words linked through common association.
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Deixis
If you’ve ever joined in a conversation part way through, you may have experienced deixis.
For example, someone may say something like ‘I saw him there today’, and without being part of that conversation, you do not know who ‘he’ is and where ‘he’ was ‘today’.
It is important to note that just because you do not understand something, it does not mean it is deictic. Candidates may label a word they do not understand as deictic, when it is just not a word in their vocabulary.
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What is a Deictic reference?
A deictic reference is a comment which is context dependent. In other words, it isolates those who are not part of that group.
In articles written for specialists, you may find references to events/procedures which the idealised reader (the person who it was written for) would understand, but you do not
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