{"id":88,"date":"2017-09-04T06:21:57","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T06:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2017-09-21T14:09:59","modified_gmt":"2017-09-21T14:09:59","slug":"parts-of-speech-and-grammar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/parts-of-speech-and-grammar\/","title":{"rendered":"Parts of Speech and Grammar"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"twelve columns\" style=\"margin-top: 10%;\">\n<div class=\"advance\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/standard-english-language-conventions\">Workshop Index<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"button button-primary\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/pronouns\">Next Lesson \u27a1<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- CONTENT BEGINS HERE --><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"title\">Parts of Speech and Grammar<\/h1>\n<h4>Objective<\/h4>\n<p>In this lesson, you will review the parts of speech and the grammar rules that govern them.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In their famously slim writing guide, <em>The Elements of Style<\/em>, Strunk and White admonished writers to &#8220;write with nouns and verbs.&#8221; That&#8217;s where we&#8217;ll begin our review. We&#8217;ll also review pronouns, verbals, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions, and we&#8217;ll cover word order and identifying incorrect grammar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may remember that a <abbr title=\"Noun \u2013 Names a person, place, thing, or abstraction \"><strong>noun<\/strong><\/abbr> names a person, place, thing, or <abbr title=\" Abstraction \u2013 A noun that names a concept or idea. Also called an abstract noun\"><strong>abstraction<\/strong><\/abbr>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The girl grabbed her backpack.<\/p>\n<p>When the student is ready, the teacher appears.<\/p>\n<p>Nobody knows the troubles I&#8217;ve seen.<\/p>\n<p>Independence formed the foundation of her personality.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>There are several different types of nouns. For example, <abbr title=\"Concrete noun \u2013 Names a physical object\"><strong>concrete nouns<\/strong><\/abbr> and <abbr title=\" Abstract noun \u2013 A noun that names a concept or idea. Also called an abstraction.\"><strong>abstract nouns<\/strong><\/abbr> distinguish between physical objects and concepts, but both types can also be proper nouns.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the most common types of nouns.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\">\n<tbody>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td class=\"lesson_subhead\" width=\"34%\">\n<h4>This type of noun . . .<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"lesson_subhead\" width=\"33%\">\n<h4>does this.<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"lesson_subhead\" width=\"33%\">\n<h4>Examples include:<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td width=\"34%\"><abbr title=\" Compound noun \u2013 Uses more than one word to name a person, place, thing, or abstraction\"><strong>Compound Nouns<\/strong><\/abbr><\/td>\n<td width=\"33%\">use <em>more than one word<\/em> to name a person, place, thing, or abstraction.<\/td>\n<td width=\"33%\">tree house, bookcase, street lamp, football<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td width=\"34%\"><abbr title=\" Concrete noun \u2013 Names a physical object\"><strong>Concrete Nouns<\/strong><\/abbr><\/td>\n<td width=\"33%\">name a <em>physical object<\/em>.<\/td>\n<td width=\"33%\">piano, dime, picture frame, candlestick<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td><abbr title=\"Abstract noun \u2013 A noun that names a concept or idea. Also called an abstraction. \"><strong>Abstract Nouns<\/strong><\/abbr> (also called <abbr title=\"Abstract noun \u2013 A noun that names a concept or idea. Also called an abstraction. \"><strong>Abstractions<\/strong><\/abbr>)<\/td>\n<td>name a <em>concept or idea<\/em>.<\/td>\n<td>freedom, acceptance, happiness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td><abbr title=\"Collective noun \u2013 Names a group of things or people\"><strong>Collective Nouns<\/strong><\/abbr><\/td>\n<td>name a <em>group<\/em> of things or people.<\/td>\n<td>herd, gaggle, team, bouquet, audience, bunch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td><abbr title=\" Proper noun \u2013 Names a specific person, place, thing, or abstraction\"><strong>Proper Nouns<\/strong><\/abbr><\/td>\n<td>name a <em>specific<\/em> person, place, thing, or abstraction.<\/td>\n<td>Queen Victoria, Fiji, the Hope Diamond, Einstein\u2019s Theory of Relativity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr align=\"left\" valign=\"top\">\n<td><abbr title=\"Pronoun \u2013 a word that takes the place of a noun \"><strong>Pronouns<\/strong><\/abbr><\/td>\n<td>take the place of a noun. More on pronouns later.<\/td>\n<td>he, she, it, we, us, they<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4>Singular and Plural Nouns<\/h4>\n<p>Nouns can be singular or plural. To make most nouns plural, simply add an \u2013s.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">gem<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">gems<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">kiwi<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">kiwis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>doctor<\/td>\n<td>doctors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New Yorker<\/td>\n<td>New Yorkers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Add \u2013es to pluralize nouns ending in \u2013s, -sh, -ch, and \u2013x. If the word ends in \u2013e, just add \u2013s.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">bass<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">basses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">marsh<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">marshes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>match<\/td>\n<td>matches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>toolbox<\/td>\n<td>toolboxes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Great Dane<\/td>\n<td>Great Danes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Nouns that end in \u2013y follow their own rule. When a noun ends in \u2013y and follows a <abbr title=\" Vowel \u2013 The letters that form the nucleus of syllables (while consonants form the onset and coda)\u2014in English, the vowels are a, e, i, o, u and in some cases y; in contrast to consonants, vowels are pronounced with an unconstricted vocal tract\"><strong>vowel<\/strong><\/abbr>, just add an \u2013s. When a noun ends in \u2013y and follows a <abbr title=\"Consonant \u2013 a letter that is formed by an at least partially constricted vocal tract; in combination with a vowel, consonants form syllables \"><strong>consonant<\/strong><\/abbr>, change the y to ie and then add the \u2013s. Note: For proper nouns, just add \u2013s without changing the \u2013y.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">attorn<strong>e<\/strong>y<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">attorneys<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">fami<strong>l<\/strong>y<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">families<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sally<\/td>\n<td>Sallys<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Nouns that end in \u2013o have their own rule, too. When a noun ends in \u2013o and follows a vowel, just add \u2013s. When a noun ends in \u2013o and follows a consonant, add \u2013es.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">vid<strong>e<\/strong>o<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">videos<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">toma<strong>t<\/strong>o<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">tomatoes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Nouns derived from other languages form the plural as they would in the original language.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">medium (Latin)<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">media<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">panino (Italian)<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">panini<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Some nouns are just unpredictable! Use the dictionary if you have a question about how to pluralize a particular noun. If the noun is indeed irregular, the dictionary will list how to pluralize it.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">elf<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">elves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">child<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">children<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>die<\/td>\n<td>dice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>shrimp<\/td>\n<td>shrimp or shrimps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Finally, pluralize the last word in most<abbr title=\" Compound noun \u2013 Uses more than one word to name a person, place, thing, or abstraction\"><strong> compound nouns<\/strong><\/abbr>. In hyphenated nouns, pluralize the main word even if it&#8217;s not at the end.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"50%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"10\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Singular<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\"><strong> Plural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">tablecloth<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">tablecloths<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">tree house<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">tree houses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>brother-in-law<\/td>\n<td>brothers-in-law<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4>Nouns and Function<\/h4>\n<p>The same noun, whether collective, proper, or any other type, can wear many different hats in a sentence.<\/p>\n<p>The <abbr title=\"Subject \u2013 The part of a sentence that indicates who or what is doing the action \"><strong>subject<\/strong><\/abbr> of a sentence indicates who or what is doing the action. It&#8217;s often placed at the beginning of a sentence before the verb.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>A giant coast redwood can grow to heights exceeding 350 feet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A <abbr title=\"Direct object \u2013 The part of a sentence that identifies to whom or what the action in a sentence was done \"><strong>direct object<\/strong><\/abbr> identifies to whom or to what the action was done. Direct objects are usually placed after the verb in a sentence.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>He climbed the redwood quietly, listening to the creaks of the old tree.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>An <abbr title=\"Indirect object \u2013 Part of a sentence that answers the question for what did the action occur? or for whom did the action occur? \"><strong>indirect object <\/strong><\/abbr>answers the question &#8220;For what did the action occur?&#8221; or &#8220;For whom did the action occur?&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>She gave all the love she had to the venerable redwood.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A noun can also function as the object of a <abbr title=\"Preposition \u2013 a word that the defines the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word or element in the sentence; for example, in, over, because, after \"><strong>preposition.<\/strong><\/abbr><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The upper branches of a healthy redwood can even contain soil, which can support plants from Douglas firs to huckleberry bushes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>An <abbr title=\"Appositive \u2013 A word or phrase that serves as an explanatory equivalent to a previously referenced article in a sentence \"><strong>appositive<\/strong><\/abbr> provides more information about a noun.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Her favorite tree, the coast redwood, was known for living 2,000 to 3,000 to years.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A <abbr title=\"Subject complement \u2013 Part of a sentence that comes after a linking verb to explain or identify the subject. Also called a predicate noun or predicate nominative \"><strong>subject complement<\/strong><\/abbr> comes after a <abbr title=\"Linking verb \u2013 Links the subject and subject complement; unlike action verbs, linking verbs don't describe the subject doing anything; rather, they help to provide more descriptive information about the subject \"><strong>linking verb <\/strong><\/abbr>to explain or identify the subject. Subject complements that are nouns are called <abbr title=\"Predicate noun \u2013 Part of a sentence that comes after a linking verb to explain or identify the subject. Also called a subject complement \"><strong>predicate nouns.<\/strong><\/abbr><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>subject complement that\u2019s an adjective : The redwood was mighty.<\/p>\n<p>subject complement and predicate noun : It was her redwood.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<section class=\"question\">\n<h4>Question<\/h4>\n<p>Choose the correctly punctuated appositive.<\/p>\n<ol type=\"A\">\n<li>Basil, an important ingredient in Italian cooking grows easily in the southern United States.<\/li>\n<li>Elaine added bay leaves, which reduced the acidity of the dish.<\/li>\n<li>The many varieties of thyme, including lime and lemon thyme, grow under the same conditions as common thyme.<\/li>\n<li>Rosemary is a popular seasoning and a deer-deterring plant.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a class=\"button button-primary q-answer\"> Reveal Answer <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"q-reveal\" style=\"display: none;\">The correct answer is C because it contains an appositive (including lime and lemon thyme) that is appropriately set off with commas. Answer A lacks a comma after the appositive an important ingredient in Italian cooking. Answer B includes the adverbial phrase which reduced the acidity of the dish, but does not include an appositive. A comma sets off the adverbial phrase correctly. Answer D has a compound predicate nominative a popular seasoning and a deer-deterring plant but does not contain an appositive.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- CONTENT ENDS HERE --><\/p>\n<div class=\"advance\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/standard-english-language-conventions\">Workshop Index<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"button button-primary\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/pronouns\">Next Lesson \u27a1<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a class=\"backtotop\" href=\"#title\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Workshop Index\u00a0Next Lesson \u27a1 Parts of Speech and Grammar Objective In this lesson, you will review the parts of speech and the grammar rules that govern them. In their famously slim writing guide, The Elements of Style, Strunk and White admonished writers to &#8220;write with nouns and verbs.&#8221; That&#8217;s where we&#8217;ll begin our review. We&#8217;ll [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-88","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":463,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88\/revisions\/463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}