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Introduction to Grammar
L/O:
• to revise/learn the basics of grammar
• to focus on the noun
Key terms:
Grammar – the set of structural rules that controls the way
language works. There are 3 aspects to grammar: word
class, syntax and morphology
• word class = define the roles that each word can play in a
sentence
• syntax = the set of rules that control where each word class
can appear in a sentence
• morphology = describes the construction of individual
words
Word Classes: there are 8 main word classes (or parts of
speech) which are categorised by the function they have in a
sentence.
Word Class
Function
Example
Nouns
‘naming’ words
London, book, love
Adjectives
Describe nouns/pronouns
Large, happy, thick
Verbs
‘doing’ words
Jump, sleep, think
Adverbs
Describe verbs (and sometimes
adjectives and other adverbs too)
Happily, sadly, silently
Pronouns
Take the place of a noun
You, they it, me, him
Connectives/
conjunctions
‘connecting’ words
But, so, and, however,
because, as
Prepositions
Define relationships between
words in terms of time, place and
direction
Before, through, on,
under, by, at
Determiners
Give specific kinds of information
about a noun (quantity or
possession)
A, the, two, his, few, those
1. Label each word class in the sentence below
2. Categorise the list of words, according to word class, in the
grid
1.
2.
He watched as she crossed the road in her short skirt
and high heels.
A
Appears
Becomes
Shop
Harbour
Enormous
Rather
Slow
Teacher
Dignified
Door
Bedroom
Outstandingly
Sells
Untidy
Helpful
Is
Large
Moderately
Every
Very
Frightening
His
Angry
1.
He watched as she crossed the road in her short skirt
and high heels.
Pronoun, verb, conjunction, pronoun, verb, determiner,
noun, preposition, pronoun, adverb, noun, conjunction,
adverb, noun.
2.
Nouns: shop, harbour, teacher, door, bedroom
Adjectives: enormous, slow, dignified, untidy, helpful, large,
every, very, frightening, angry
Verb: becomes, sells, is
Adverb: outstandingly, moderately, very
Pronouns: his
Conjunctions: Prepositions: Determiners: a, his
Let’s talk about nouns, baby
Copy and underline the nouns in the sentences.
How did you work out they are nouns? What is
the difference between the nouns?
Challenge: identify the other word classes in the
sentences
1. Tentatively, she opened the book.
2. I have always wanted to live in Canada.
3. What was this he was feeling - love or hate?
4. She had never been one to follow the ‘herd’.
Nouns can be divided into
categories:
Proper:
Names of specific people (Ms. Elgie), places
(Canada) or brands (Primark)
Common:
Concrete – things you can physically touch or see
or taste (apple, table, swing)
Abstract – concepts (truth), states (lonely), qualities
(honesty), emotions (love)
Collective – groups of people, animals or things
(team, bunch, herd)
Using the text I’ve given you…
Underline and label all of the nouns.
Which is the most common type of noun?
How are the different types of nouns being
used in this text to affect readers?