Download Verbs

Word classes and linguistic terms
Here we will revise some
When you do a
of the tools and terms
science experiment, it’s
helpful to know the names we use in English.
of the equipment and
materials you use.
It saves
misunderstandings and you
know what you’re doing.
The same is true
of language. It’s important
to know the tools you use
and the names for things.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Word classes
There are different types or classes of word. Here are
the main words classes.
noun
preposition
adjective
conjunction
adverb
verb
pronoun
determiner
Let’s see how well you know them.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Nouns
Did you notice that nouns were missing from the last
exercise? Nouns denote people and places, things and
ideas. They can be divided into the following groups.
proper
Names of people,
places, etc. They
have a capital
letter.
common
All nouns that
are not proper
nouns.
collective
This is a noun
that refers to a
group.
E.g. flock, herd,
E.g. London
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© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Noun phrases
A noun phrase refers to a group of words that are built
around a noun.
E.g.
my sister
my little sister
Notice how you can
build up noun
phrases.
my brave little sister
my brave little sister on crutches
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Adjectives
Adjectives describe people or things. They go before
nouns and after some verbs.
E.g.
the happy girl
she is happy
the wooden table
the table looks wooden
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© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Adjectives
You can also compare things using adjectives.
This drink is cool.
The water is cooler.
This is the comparative form.
The cola is coolest.
This is the superlative form.
For words of more than two syllables, we use more and
most to make these forms.
more important
This is the comparative form.
most important
This is the superlative form.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Verbs
A verb expresses an
action or a state of being.
She jumped up.
There are main verbs...
I walked away.
and auxiliary verbs.
I was walking away.
He is happy.
Auxiliary verbs help the main verb. These are auxiliary verbs.
be have do may might can
could will would shall
should must
These can be either
auxiliary or main verbs:
be have do
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Verbs
Verbs can change their form. This gives us an
indication of when the action takes place.
Look at how these sentences tell us when the action
takes place.
I dance for enjoyment.
present
I danced all last night.
past
I was dancing for four hours.
past
I will be dancing next week too.
future
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Adverbs
Can you spot the adverbs in these sentences?
• He walked slowly.
slowly.
• He walked extremely
extremelyslowly.
slowly.
• His progress was really
really slow.
slow.
a verb
another
adverb
an
adjective
Adverbs often end in -ly, but here are some
more to look out for:
Did you spot these?
An adverb can give
more information
about...
well very often
never later now
yesterday soon
perhaps
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Pronouns
Pronouns often replace a noun. They help us to avoid repetition.
Here are some very common pronouns:
our
you
whom
which
those
theirs
Here are some more to look out for.
I me we us
you he she it
they them
myself yourself
itself this that
these someone
who what
my mine our
ours your yours
his her their
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© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Determiners
Determiners are used with nouns. The most common
determiners are:
a
an
the
Other common determiners are
this that these those my you’re his her its our their
some many no all each every both enough
numbers (one, two, three, etc.)
Many determiners are used as pronouns and in that case
they are not followed by a noun.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Conjunctions
These are words which join clauses together.
but
Other conjunctions tell us when, where and why.
•I will be leaving after I have eaten.
and
or
yet
• You will find your ring where you left it.
•The train is late because it left Penzance late.
Some other common conjunctions are:
before, since, until, although,
then
unless, so, when, wherever
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
© Boardworks Ltd 2001
Plenary
Well done! There’s
a lot of tricky words and
phrases here.
Knowledge about words
will give you control over
the words you use.
It will help
you investigate
the writing of
others too.
© Boardworks Ltd 2001