PARTS OF SPEECH PART II

Modifies a noun or pronoun (descriptive words)

Can answer any of these questions:◦ What kind?◦ Which one?◦ How many?◦ How much?

ADJECTIVES

Formed from a proper noun◦ French onion soup◦ the Belgian detective◦ Orwellian philosophy◦ Kenyan landscape

PROPER ADJECTIVE

Composed of two or more words:◦ part-time referee◦ eight-food tree◦ fifteen-year-old musician

COMPOUND ADJECTIVE

Sometimes a noun is also used as an adjective◦ The garden display attracted many visitors

Garden is a noun (a thing) Garden describes the type of display (adjective)

NOUN-ADJECTIVE QUESTION

Sometimes a pronoun is used as an adjective◦ Several of the watches were expensive.

Several is a pronoun since it replaces the names of various watches

◦ Several watches were expensive. Several is a pronoun-adjective since it describes

the noun watches

PRONOUN-ADJECTIVE QUESTION

Action words◦ All good writing starts with strong verbs!

speaks talks dance jumped painting

THE VERB

Tells what action the sentence’s subject (or doer) performs, is performing, or will perform.◦ Our lawyer speaks frequently with her clients.◦ This lawyer has spoken with some clients this

week.◦ These attorneys will be speaking soon.

ACTION VERB

Connects a subject (or doer) to a noun, pronoun or adjective.◦ These chickens are hungry.◦ Selena is the club president

Linking verbs = to be in a state/condition Action verbs = to do something

LINKING VERB

Assist the main verb in a sentence.◦ This mechanic will repair the auto this morning.◦ These mechanics will be inspecting the auto this

afternoon.◦ Has the mechanic spoken with you yet?

HELPING VERB

Modifies verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.◦ Can answer any of these questions:

Where? When? How? To what extent?

THE ADVERB

Modify verbs:◦ Henry swam brilliantly. (How did Henry swim?)◦ The train then came down the line. (When did the

train come down the line?)◦ The runner fell down. (Where did the runner fall?)

ADVERBS

Modify adjectives.◦ The day was almost perfect. (To what extent was

the day perfect?)◦ Some older people were quite happy with the

club’s proposal. (How happy were they?)

ADVERBS

Modify adverbs:◦ Sonny, swallow your food very slowly. (How slowly

should Sonny swallow his food?)◦ The architect worked quite methodically. (How

methodically did the architect work?)

ADVERBS