Grammar

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Parts of Speech Unit 1

Parts of Speech

The words that make up sentences are classified as parts of speech. The

function of a word in a sentence determines what part of speech it is. There

are eight (8) different parts of speech that we are going to be examining in

English 10.

1. Noun – A noun is a naming word. A noun may name a person, place,

animal, or object (eg. Stephen Harper, Winnipeg, lion, door). A noun may

name a collection or group of persons, animals, or things (eg. Army,

Parliament, herd, flock, fleet). A noun may name qualities, conditions,

actions, and ideas (eg. Ambition, commitment, determination, joy, sorrow,

mercy, time, length).

Proper Noun

Collective Noun

Abstract Noun

Common Noun

2. Verb – A verb is usually an action word. It allows a noun to perform an

action (eg. hit, run, eat, fall, sleep). A verb may relay a state of being (The

ball is yellow).

3. Pronouns – A pronoun is a word that is used to replace a noun.

4. Adjectives – An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or

pronoun. A pronoun usually answers the question of “which” or “what

kind”.

5. Adverbs – An adverb is a word that modifies or describes a verb, and

adjective, or another adverb. An adverb usually answers the question of

“when”, “where”, or “how much”.

6. Articles – There are only three articles in the English language. Articles

are: a, an, and the. Articles are always used to indicate a noun. The article

“the” is called a definite article because it refers to a specific object. The

articles “a” and “an” are called indefinite articles because they do not refer

to a specific object.

7. Conjunction – A conjunction is a joining word. A conjunction will

combine words or phrases that are being used in the same way.

8. Preposition – A preposition is used to show relationship between two

words or phrases in a sentence. A preposition is always followed by an

object.

Noun Assignment

Highlight all of the nouns in each of the following sentences.

1. The belly laugh has many of the characteristics of a long, purifying

sneeze.

2. It is, in effect, a series of small laughs that suddenly interconnect to

produce a response larger than the sum of its parts.

3. Belly laughs are primitive.

4. They don’t add to a person’s dignity.

5. Neither a man nor a woman can, for example, hold a coffee cup and belly

laugh.

6. When watching television programs, especially the late night talk shows

and the situation comedies, I often feel that belly laughs are replaced by

humphs.

7. The humphs then build to giggles.

8. And the giggles build, not to belly laugh, but to applause.

9. Applause! For heaven’s sake.

10. We have become truly alienated when our automatic response to

something outrageously comic is to clap our hands.

Verb Assignment

Highlight all of the verbs in each of the following sentences.

1. A man came by our road carrying an enormous bolt of white cloth.

2. Said he was from the East.

3. Said whoever partook of this cloth would come to know true happiness.

4. Innocence without heartbreak, he said, if the person proved worthy.

5. My wife fingered his cloth, having in mind something for new curtains.

6. It was good quality, she said.

7. Beautifully woven, of a fine, light texture, and you certainly couldn’t

argue with the colour.

8. “How much is it?” she asked.

9. “Before I tell you that,” the man said, “you must tell me truthfully if

you’ve ever suffered.

10. “Oh! I’ve suffered,” she said. “I’ve known suffering of some description

every day of my natural life.”

Pronoun assignment

Highlight each of the pronouns in the following sentences.

1. Ferrari offered the hand of his daughter to whomever made the best violin.

2. The church officials issued a solemn warning to Galileo, who, they said,

was printing statements contradictory to the Holy Writ.

3. Everyone at the minstrel show enjoyed themselves immensely.

4. The ballad is passed down from generation to generation; it is usually

based on a heroic deed or a terrible tragedy.

5. The success of the project depends on everyone taking some

responsibility.

6. To her horror Dr. Berber found herself in the presence of a giant cobra,

which fortunately failed to notice the naturalist.

7. Frantically the crew on board the ship pulled in the diver, who they feared

was seriously injured.

8. I’ll be able to start yours as well as mine if you can borrow some jumper

cables from him.

9. The next morning Carl and I set out at five o’clock for the generating

station.

10. The Ancient Mariner told his story to those who he thought would profit

by the tale.

Noun, Verb, Pronoun Assignment

In each of the following ten sentences, highlight all of the nouns in pink,

pronouns in yellow, and all of the verbs in blue.

1. The long June twilight faded into night.

2. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through

the fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the

dark waters of the Liffey.

3. Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared.

4. Here and there through the city machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night

spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms.

5. Republicans and Free Staters were waging civil war.

6. On a rooftop near O’Connell Bridge a Republican sniper lay watching.

7. Beside him lay his rifle, and over his shoulders were slung a pair of field glasses.

8. His face was the face of a student – thin and ascetic – but his eyes had the cold gleam

of the fanatic.

9. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to look at death.

10. He was eating a sandwich hungrily.

Adjective/Adverb Assignment

In each of the following sentences, highlight all of the adjectives in yellow and draw an

arrow to the noun it modifies. Highlight all of the adverbs in pink and draw an arrow to

the verb, adjective, or adverb it modifies.

1. Late in the afternoon the old dog’s pace had slowed down to a stumbling walk, and it

seemed as if only sheer determination were keeping him on his feet at all.

2. He was dizzy and swaying, and his heart was pounding.

3. The cat must have sensed this general failing, for he now walked steadily beside the

dogs, very close to his tottering old friend, and uttered worried plaintive bleats.

4. Finally, the old dog came to a standstill by a deep rut half-filed with muddy water.

5. He stood there as if he had not even the strength to step around it; his head sagged, and

his whole body was trembling.

6. Then, as he tried to lap the water, his legs seemed to crumble under him and he

collapsed, half in and half out of the rut. His eyes were closed, and his body moved only

to the long, shallow, shuddering breaths that came at widening intervals.

7. Soon he lay completely limp and still.

8. The young dog became frantic now: he whined, as he stretched at the edge of the rut,

then nudged and pushed with his nose, doing everything in his power to rouse the

huddled, unresponsive body.

9. Again and again he barked, and the cat growled softly and continuously, walking back

and forth and rubbing his whole length against the dirty, muddied head.

10. There was no response to their attention. The old dog lay unconscious and remote.

Article, Conjunction, Preposition Assignment

Highlight all of the conjunctions and articles in each pf the following sentences. Put

brackets around each preposition and its object.

1. The birds ate the crumbs from our table.

2. His horse was shot under him, but he mounted another and joined a second charge.

3. We read by the light of the candle.

4. We visited from island to island, and traded with great profit.

5. The antics of a clown in rags amused the children.

6. She went to London and was presented at court.

7. At this time of the year fishermen mend their nets.

8. Tom Sawyer surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him, and a deep melancholy

settled upon his spirit.

9. In June an eagle built a nest in a tall pine about a mile from our cottage.

10. We found tracks and traced the animal to its den.

11. He came up over the hill and the flush of the early dawn.

12. This must be fertile soil, for the crops are abundant.

13. On the day in question they had fastened their rope to a tree on top of the cliff.

14. The sparrow hopped up to him and looked at him for a moment, with her head on one

side.

15. Presently the vacant space at the window was filled by another form.

16. He arrived home early and went directly to his room.

17. There in the midst of its farms reposed the Acadian village.

18. I hunted everywhere for the lost kitten, but could not find it.

19. Hearty applause came from every corner of the room.

20. We listened intently and peered into the darkness, but we could not hear or see

anything.