Language and Literature BasicParts of Speech Review

Directions: Use this handout and the grammar section of BrainPop to review the basic parts of speech. Use the login, adamerritt, and the password, brainpop to access BrainPop. Be prepared for a quiz during the first week of the 2014-2015 school year.

Nouns

  • A common noun is a word that names a person, a place, or a thing.
  • Singular nouns name one person, place, or thing.
  • Plural nouns name more than one person, place, or thing. Add an –s to most nouns to make them plural. However, sometimes changing the word is necessary. For example, the plural form of “child” is “children”. The plural form of “person” is “people”.
  • A proper nounis different from a common noun because it names a specific person place or thing. Always capitalize proper nouns.

Sentence / Noun / Type of Noun
Carl Hiaasen continues to write many excellent novels. / Carl Hiaasen / proper
novels / plural
Our neighbor spent their vacation in France. / neighbor / Singular, common
vacation / singular, common
France / proper
Many children start school in August. / children / plural, common
school / singular, common
August / proper

Adjectives

  • An adjective is a word that describes a noun. An adjective can tell what kind or how many.
  • A noun can be described by more than one adjective in a single sentence.

Sentence / Adjective / Noun it describes / What kind/How many
We have five tickets to the concert. / five / tickets / how many
Many children start school in August. / many / children / how many
I saw several colorful fish at the aquarium. / several / fish / how many
colorful / fish / what kind

Action Verbs

  • A verb is a word that can show action.
  • When a verb tells what people or things do, it is called an action verb.
  • A past tense verb shows action that has already happened. Add the suffix –ed to most verbs to show that they happened in the past.
  • A present tense verb shows action that is happening now.
  • A future tense verb shows action that will happen in the future.

Sentence / Verb / Past/Present/Future
Last year, I played on a soccer team. / played / past
My sister always teases me. / teases / present
My teacher will explain the directions again tomorrow. / explain / future

Adverbs

  • An adverb is a word that describes a verb.
  • An adverb can tell how or when.
  • An adverb can come before or after a verb.

Sentence / Adverb / Verb it describes / How/When
I knew I had to run quickly in order to win the race. / quickly / run / how
We often eat at that restaurant. / often / eat / when
The elephant moved slowly through the tall grass. / slowly / moved / how