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 (2nd
Edition). Singapore: Thomson Learning Asia, 2008.
Forlini,
Gary et al. (ed.). Prentice Hall Grammar and Composition (4th
Edition). New Jersey:
Englewood Cliffs, 2001.
Haley-James,
Shirley et al. English. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988.
Hosler,
Mary Margaret. English Made Easy (5th Edition). New York:
McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2005.
Kahn,
John Ellison et al. (ed.) “How to Write and Speak Better (3rd
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.
