The Rudiments of Grammar

The Rudiments of Grammar

Every language begins with the very basic: words.

Words make up the foundation by which a language stands. In order to have a better understanding of grammar, it is important that one understand how words work, and how they work when put together to make up a bigger structure.

A study of grammar requires that words be studied. Words are classified in accordance with the functions they play in sentences. Thus, they are classified according to their “parts of speech.” Most grammatical experts enumerate the parts of speech as follows:

1.     Nouns;

2.     Verbs;

3.     Adjectives;

4.     Adverbs;

5.     Pronouns;

6.     Prepositions;

7.     Conjunctions;

8.     Interjections; and

9.     Determiners (although some grammarians no longer add this to the list)

Nouns pertain to the names of people, places, things, ideas, events, substances, etc.

Examples: Jose, Andres, Manila, flag, love, hope, Independence Day, sugar, etc.

Verbs pertain to words of “doing” or words of “being.”

Examples: act, cry, hold, think, worry, etc. 

Adjectives pertain to words that “qualify” or “modify” nouns and/or pronouns.

Examples: beautiful, handsome, smart, etc.

Adverbs, like adjectives, “qualify” or “modify,” but instead of nouns and/or pronouns, it qualifies and modifies verbs.

Examples: slowly, beautifully, quickly, etc.

Pronouns pertain to words that substitute and/or refer [to] nouns. They are sometimes called “noun substitute.” Other grammarians like to refer to them as “nouns in disguise” for they have almost the same use as nouns.

Examples: he, she, it, they, him, her, it, them, etc.

Prepositions pertain to words that express relationships between nouns and/or pronouns with other words in a sentence. They typically come in front of nouns, noun phrases, and pronouns and give additional meanings to sentences.

Examples: in, on, at, above, below, etc.

Conjunctions pertain to words that connect and join together words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. They basically function as connectors, and in some cases, as transitional devices that allow for the smooth transition of thought in and between sentences.  

Examples: and, for, but, after, although, as, etc.

Interjections pertain to words that express emotions (e.g. happiness, anger, pain, sorrow, surprise, exhaustion, hesitation, etc.). They can be considered as separate entities from a sentence (i.e. outside its structure) and can be used on their own.

Examples: Hey! Great! Oh! Yeah! etc.

Lastly, determiners pertain to words that tell the degree of definiteness, quantity, and proximity of nouns and the nouns after them.

Examples: A, An, The, etc.

A lengthier and more comprehensive discussion on each of the different parts of speech will be provided in future posts. Please stay tuned.

References:

Brown, Anne Cole et al. English. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1990.

Celse-Murcia, Marianne and Diane Larsen-Freeman. The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL

Teacher’s Course (2^nd Edition). Singapore: Thomson Learning Asia, 2008.

Forlini, Gary et al. (ed.). Prentice Hall Grammar and Composition (4^th Edition). New Jersey:

Englewood Cliffs, 2001.

Haley-James, Shirley et al. English. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988.

Hosler, Mary Margaret. English Made Easy (5^th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2005.

Kahn, John Ellison et al. (ed.) “How to Write and Speak Better (3^rd Edition).” Toucan Books

Limited and WoodCraft Editing and Writing Limited. Hong Kong: The Reader’s Digest Association Ltd., 1993.  

Martin, Jerome. English. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company, 1984.

Rivero-Hernandez, C. et al. MSA Comprehensive English Handbook. Quezon City: MSA

Academic Advancement Institute, 2005.

Winterowd, W. Ross and Patricia Murray. English Writing and Skills. San Diego, CA: Coronado

Publishers, 1985.