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Grammar Notes - Keep in Binder
With only this material, you can learn the grammar fundamentals. It is important to know that there is
very little to remembering all of the grammar functions. Remember that there is a difference between the Parts of
Speech and the Parts of a Sentence. Between the 2 sets, there are only 15 definitions to remember. LEARN
THESE as quickly as possible, so you will understand what I am talking about in class.
The Eight Parts of Speech
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Noun - a word used to name a person, place, thing or an idea (house, car, Bill, faith, love)
Pronoun - a word that takes the place of a noun ( I, you, he, it, we)
Verb - a word that shows action or a state of being (is, are, run, jump, was, come, went)
Adjective - a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun (blue, long, pretty, happy)
Adverb - a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs. An adverb answers to the questions of
how, when, where, to what extent, to what degree, (fast, finally, slow, then), & sometimes why
Note: Many of these end with LY.
6. Preposition - a word that shows the relationship of its own object to the rest of the sentence
(over, under, around, across, of, about, from, etc.)
7. Interjection - a word that shows excitement or surprise (Wow, yea, hurrah, oh, ouch)
8. Conjunction - a word that connects or joins words or groups of words
There are two basic kinds of conjunctions:
A. Coordinating - connect things of equal rank (and, or, nor, but - sometimes yet and for)
B. Subordinating - used to introduce subordinate clauses (when, since, after, while, if, as, as if, although)
The Seven Parts of a Sentence
1. Subject - a noun or nominative case pronoun that is usually the doer of the action.
The subject answers the question who or what DID the verb.
Joe kicked the ball. or He kicked the ball. (Verb=kicked Who kicked? Joe/He Joe/He did the action.)
2. Predicate - the main verb in the sentence, plus any helpers.
Joe kicked the ball. (Verb=Kicked USUALLY something you can do!)
C
O
M
P
L
E
M
E
N
T
S
3. Direct Object - a noun or objective case pronoun that usually receives the action of the verb.
The direct object answers the question of who or what AFTER the verb.
Joe kicked the ball. OR Joe kicked her. (Verb=kicked
Kicked What? the ball!/her)
4. Indirect Object - a noun or objective case pronoun that is after the verb and before the direct object.
It tells to whom and for whom the action of the verb is done.
Joe kicked Sam the ball. OR Joe kicked him the ball. (Kicked What? the ball TO WHOM? Sam/him)
There must be a direct object before there can be an indirect object.
5. Predicate Adjective - an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies or describes the subject.
Sally is pretty. (PRETTY is an adjective that describes Sally telling what/how she IS)
6. Predicate Nominative - a noun or nominative case pronoun that follows a linking verb
& renames the subject.
Fred is the captain. OR Fred is he. (CAPTAIN is a noun renaming Fred. He=Captain)
7. Object of the Preposition - a noun or objective case pronoun that ends the prepositional phrase
I walked to the store. OR I walked with them.
Personal Pronouns
SINGULAR
Nominative Case
Subjects & Pred. Nom.
I
you
he - she - it
Objective Case
Possessive Case
DO/IO/OOP
(AKA Adjectives)
me
my - mine
First Person
you
your - yours
Second Person
him - her - it
his - her - hers - its
Third Person
PLURAL
Nominative Case
Objective Case
Possessive Case
Subjects & Pred. Nom.
DO/IO/OOP
(AKA Adjectives)
we
us
our - ours
First Person
you
you
your - yours
Second Person
they
them
their -theirs
Third Person
Demonstrative Pronouns
Interrogative Pronouns
what which who
Singular
Plural
this that
these those
whom whose
Antecedent - The noun that is being replaced by the pronoun.
EG: The teacher explained antecedents. She did a good job. (Teacher is the antecedent for she.)
Phrases - A phrase is a group of words that work together as a single part of speech
may have = 2 word verb phrase (helping & main) = verb will be going = 3 work verb phrase (2 helping w/main) = verb
to the store = prep. phrase = adverb telling where under the bed = prep. phrase = adjective telling which one
Dependent and Independent Clauses - A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate.
1. Independent Clauses - a group of words with a subject and a predicate that express a complete thought (a sentence).
These may be joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
The Coordinating Conjunctions used to join independent clauses into compound sentences are:
For - And - Nor - But - Or - Yet - So (AKA: Fanboys)
2. Dependent Clauses - a group of words that has a subject and a predicate, but does NOT express a complete thought and
cannot stand on its own as a sentence. (half of a thought!) Dependent clauses are introduced by subordinate
conjunctions or by relative pronouns (who, which, what, that, whom, whomever, whoever, whatever).
Subordinate Conjunctions
after
as soon as
so that
whenever
as though
as long as
as if
although
because
than
where
if
unless
while
as
before
though
wherever
in order that
until
how
as if
if
unless
while
since
when
that
Sentence Structures: 1 IC = SS
2 IC = CD
1 IC + 1+DC = CX
2+IC + 1+DC = CD-CX
Verbals: Verbals are verb forms that are used as another part of speech. There are three kinds of verbals: participles,
gerunds, and infinitives. Verbals have two important characteristics of verbs: (1) They can be followed by a complement,
and (2) they can be modified by adverbs and adverb phrases. A verbal with a complement or modifiers is a verbal phrase.
Participles: A form of a verb that acts as an adjective. Present = ING Past = ED
Eg: A growing baby sleeps much of the day. (present participle growing describes/modifies baby)
Eg: The conquered territory was under our control. (past participle conquered describes/modifies territory)
Gerunds: A form of a verb that is used as a noun. These ALWAYS end in ING. May be subjects or objects!
Eg: Swimming is fun. Swimming is the subject which is a noun - a THING that is fun!
Eg: I never tire of swimming. Swimming is the object of the preposition - a THING I never tire of doing.
Infinitives: A verb form that may be used as: nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. TO + VERB = infinitive To be or not to be!
Eg: To whistle is difficult. noun/subject = To whistle Eg: The person to ask is Pam. adjective - Which person?
Eg: This is easy to do. to do = adverb = Easy in what manner.