Spoken English

Lesson 1 aLanguage Training

When we speak or write we use words.

A group of words that makes complete sense is called a Sentence

Kinds of SentencesSentences are of four kinds:1. Those which make statements or assertions; as,

a) Mallika is sitting on the chair2. Those which ask questions; as

a) What is your name?3. Those which express commands, requests, or entreaties; as,

a) Be attentive.b) Have mercy on us.

4. Those which express strong feelings; as,a) How cold the night is!b) How green was my valley!c) What a disgrace!

• A sentence that makes a statement or assertion is called a Declarative or Assertive sentence. Also known as an Affirmative sentence

• A sentence that asks a question is called an Interrogative sentence.

• A sentence that expresses a command or an entreaty is called an Imperative sentence.

• A sentence that expresses a strong feeling is called an Exclamatory sentence.

Subject and Predicate

When we make a sentence:– We name some person or thing and– Say something about that person or thing.

Hence every sentence has two parts:– The part which names the person or thing we are speaking

about. This is called the Subject of the sentence.– The part which tells something about the Subject. This is

called the Predicate of the sentence.

Exercise 1Identify the Subject and the Predicate

1. Stone walls do not a prison make.2. The singing of the birds delights us. 3. He has a good memory.4. Borrowed garments never fit well.5. I shot an arrow into the air.6. A barking sound the shepherd hears.7. On the top of the hill lives a hermit.8. Nature is the best physician.9. Sweet are the uses of adversity.10. The early bird catches the worm.

Parts of Speech

Words are divided into different classes, called Parts of Speech, according to their function in a sentence. There are eight parts of speech:1. Noun2. Adjective3. Pronoun4. Verb5. Adverb6. Preposition7. Conjunction8. Interjection

Noun

A Noun is a word used as the name of a person, place, or thing.

– Newton was a great physicist– Delhi is the capital of India– The sun shines bright.– His courage won him honor

Adjective

An Adjective is a word used to add something to the meaning of a noun. It qualifies a noun.

– He is a kind man.– There are twelve months in a year

Pronoun

• A Pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.

– Rita couldn’t come as she is out of station– Keep the book where it was

Verb

A Verb is a word used lo express an action or state.

– The child ran to his mother– Puri is by the sea– Water and air are essential for life

Adverb

An Adverb is a word used to add something to the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

– He walked to the dais quickly– This dress is very pretty– She pronounced the word quite correctly

Preposition

A Preposition is a word used with a noun or a pronoun to show how the person or thing denoted by the noun or pronoun stands in relation to something else.

– There is a cow in the garden– The girl is fond of music– A cute little girl is sitting under a tree

A Conjunction is a word used to join words or sentences.

– Sonam and Dipak are friends– You and I will go together– She ran fast but could not catch the thief

Interjection

An Interjection is a word which expresses some sudden feeling.

– Hurrah! We have won the game – Alas! She is dead

Kinds of Noun

• Proper Noun– Arunachalam– Bhopal

• Common Noun– Man– City

Common Nouns include what are called Collective Nouns and Abstract Nouns

Kinds of Noun…• Collective Noun– Family– Nation– Bunch

• Abstract Noun– Laughter (action)– Honesty (quality)– Youth (state)

The names of the Arts and the Sciences (e.g., grammar, music, chemistry, etc.) are also Abstract NounsAbstract Nouns are formed from adjectives, verbs and common nouns

Kinds of Noun…

• Another classification of nouns is based on whether they are countable or uncountable.

• Countable Nouns– Countable nouns (or countables) are the names of objects,

people, etc. that we can count, e.g., book, pen, apple, sister, doctor, horse.

• Uncountable Nouns – Uncountable nouns (or uncountables) are the names of

things which we cannot count, e.g., milk, oil, sugar, honesty.

Countable nouns have plural forms while uncountable nouns do not. For example, we say “books” but we cannot say “milks”.

The Noun: Gender

In Modern English the Gender of a noun is entirely a matter of sex or the absence of sex. It has nothing to do with the form of a noun

Masculine Gender- Tiger Feminine Gender - Tigress Common Gender - Baby Neuter Gender – Pen

The Noun - Number

• A Noun that denotes one person or thing, is said to be in the Singular Number.– Boy, girl, box, child, mango, photo, mouse.

• A Noun that denotes more than one person or thing, is said to be in the Plural Number.– Boys, girls, boxes, children, mangoes, photos, mice.

The Noun - Case

• When a noun (or pronoun) is used as the subject of a verb, it is said to be in the Nominative CaseThe boy caught the ball

• When a noun (or pronoun) is used as the Object of a verb, it is said to be in the Objective (or Accusative) Case. The boy caught the ball

The Noun – Case…

• The noun or pronoun that denotes ownership /authorship/ origin/ kind is said to be in the possessive (or Genitive) CaseMiriam’s bookJack Trout’s essayMother’s loveChildren’s school

The Noun in Apposition

• When one noun follows another to describe it, the noun which follows is said to be in apposition to the noun which comes before it.Bala Saraswati, the great dancer, was from a Devdasi familyI met your mother, the renowned teacherHave you seen Ganesh Pyne, the painter’s works?

Exercises