An LSCC Learning Center Self-Paced Tutorial

PARTSOFSPEECH:adjectives, articles, and adverbs

What are the Parts of Speech?

This is the common term for the various categories of words that make up the English language.

They are:– Nouns Verbs– Pronouns Adverbs– Adjectives Articles– Prepositions Conjunctions– Interjections

The good news is – this is the entire list!

The bad news is - many of these categories have multiple subgroups.

THE THREE A’S

Today our focus is on the three A’s of speech: – Adjectives– Articles– Adverbs

Let’s look at each one separately and see how they function.

ADJECTIVES

An adjective describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

A green shirt

The local playground

A slippery slide

ADJECTIVES

Adjectives can precede the noun they modify: Beautiful roses grow in my garden.

Adjectives can follow a linking or sensory verb, and these are called predicate adjectives: The roses in my garden are beautiful. The roses in my garden smell beautiful.

Sensory verbs are those dealing with sight, smell, touch, taste and feeling.

ADJECTIVES

Adjectives tell us:

– How many: Three blind mice

– What kind: A rising sun

– Which one: That new car

ADJECTIVES

An example of adjective order Article/number A / one Opinion trendy Size big Age new Shape/texture flat / soft Color blue Origin Italian Material leather Purpose hiking Noun jacket

ADJECTIVES

Commas or not?The test for whether to place a comma between two adjectives is based on adjective order:

If you can reverse the order and still make sense, put a comma:The gooey, sticky candy or The sticky, gooey candy

If you can’t reverse the order, no comma is needed:The three young girls not The young three girls

ADJECTIVES

Two verb forms can also be adjectives:

Participles usually end in EN, ED or ING. If they are paired with a helping verb, they are always verbs:

– A trip was planned (verb)– A planned trip (adjective)

Infinitives (TO+VERB) may act as adjectives, adverbs or nouns.

– Donating blood is a way to give back to the community.(modifies way)

ADJECTIVES

There are three degrees of adjectives. These are based on how many things are being considered at one time.

They describe levels, intensity or comparison Big: one item: A big announcement Bigger: two items: Godzilla is bigger than King Kong. Biggest: more than two: The biggest car ever built

The –er form for comparing two things is called the comparative.

The –est form for more than two things is called the superlative.

ARTICLES

The articles are A, AN, and THE. They are sometimes classed as adjectives because they help define a frame of reference.

A and AN are used with a non-specific reference: A recently passed law (which one?)

"A" is used with words that begin with a consonant. "An" is used with words that begin with a vowel.

THE points to one specific thing:– The recently passed law (as opposed to all others)

ADVERBS

General facts:– Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other

adverbs: walking quickly, brightly colored, very easily

– Many are created by adding “ly” to an adjective: Nice – nicely, slow – slowly

but many are irregular: yesterday, alongside

– They answer the questions How, When, Where, or To What Extent

ADVERBS

Let’s test the rules: How did Maria get that huge report done? She worked diligently throughout the week. When will the report be printed? It’s printed already! Where can I get a copy? I stacked them beside the copier. To what extent are they accurate? They are nearly 100 percent correct.

ADVERBIAL CONJUNCTIONS

Also called conjunctive adverbs, join two sentences that share some logical connection.

These adverbs are preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma :– I went to a party last night; however, I left early so

I could get to school this morning. – The movie we wanted to see was sold out;

therefore, we decided to play miniature golf instead.

Whereas Accordingly Therefore Also Besides Consequently Finally Thus However

Instead Indeed Furthermore Later Moreover Nevertheless Otherwise Still So

ADVERBIAL CONJUNCTIONS

•As a matter of fact•On the other hand•Likewise•Nonetheless•Similarly•For example•Certainly•At the same time•In the first place

THE THREE A’S

If you need further study or if you want more information about this topic:

– Meet with your instructor– Visit the Learning Center– Go online to the Purdue OWL