Instructional Systems
Traditional English Grammar

Unit One
Parts of Speech Continued:

Summary of the Parts of Speech and
Some Additional Errors to Avoid

Occasionally a word always acts as the same part of speech in every situation. It is dependable. For example:

during (preposition)
and (conjunction)
although (conjunction)
who (pronoun)
know (verb)
slowly (adverb)
alas (interjection)
always (adverb)

The well is dry in summer. (noun)
You write well. (adverb)
Water will well up from the ground. (verb)
Well, we can't be sure of life tomorrow. (interjection)
The old woman is not well. (adjective)

Verbs
A verb tells what the subject is or does: "Hortense is the quarterback. She throws the football."

Nouns
A noun is a person, place, or thing that acts as a subject (telling what or who is or does the meaning of the verb) or as a complement (telling what or who completes the meaning of a verb or a preposition).

Although squash is loathsome, Magruder likes it. (subject)
He gives his friends bushels of squash each year. (indirect object, direct object, object of preposition)

Pronouns
A pronoun is a word used in the place of a noun: "Mortimer, who loved Prunella dearly, could not muster the courage to speak to her, and thought himself to be anything but happy."

Adjectives
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun: "Hotspur is happy because he just bought a bright red Packard station wagon."

Adverbs
An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb: "Isadore quietly left the entirely distraught Prince, who was very slowly turning into a frog."

Prepositions
A preposition joins its noun object to the rest of the sentence: "Igor threw the ball into the stands."

Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join equal grammatical elements: "John and Marsha argue and fight night or day."

Subordinating conjunctions join independent clauses to dependent clauses: "Igor has been lonely since he left Transylvania."

Interjections
An interjection expresses a strong feeling although it has no grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence: "Well, here we go!"

The following errors occur frequently in student writing because of lack of experience or understanding of the parts of speech. Here are some errors pertaining to the misuse of verb forms and confusion between certain adjective/adverb forms. Other potential errors that can be avoided with a clear understanding of the parts of speech will be presented in subsequent chapters.

Verb Forms (Marking Symbol VF)
If You are a native speaker of English, your language experience to date should be adequate to provide you with the correct principal part or tense form for almost all of the verbs that you use frequently. If English is your second language, you must be careful to use the correct verb form. If you are uncertain of a verb form, a past participle, for example-look it up in a good dictionary. You might also consult the tense forms given in this chapter to be sure that you are familiar with each form. Be especially careful with these words:

PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE

lay laid laid
(means "to place"; think of the "a" in place; always has a direct object in active voice)"He laid his hammer on the table." (Past tense)

lie lay lain
(means "to recline"; think of the "i" in recline; never has a direct object)"She lay sleepless all night." (Past tense)

lie lied lied
(means "to tell an untruth") "He lied to the officer." (Past tense)

raise raised raised
(means "to lift" or "to grow"; always has a direct object) "He raised the window." (Past tense)

rise rose risen
(means "to ascend" or "stand"; never has a direct object) "He rose at sunup." (Past tense)

sit sat sat
(means "to be seated"; never has a direct object) "She sat by the window." (Past tense)

set set set
(means "to place"; usually has a direct object) "He set the book there yesterday." (Past tense)

ask asked asked
(Watch for the -ed ending in past and perfect forms.)

INCORRECT: He ask a question yesterday.

CORRECT: He asked a question yesterday.

INCORRECT: I have ask him to leave.

CORRECT: I have asked him to leave.

suppose supposed supposed
(Watch for -ed ending in past and perfect tenses.)
INCORRECT: "She was suppose to be here."

CORRECT: "She was supposed to be here."

use used used
(Watch for -ed ending in past and perfect tenses.)
INCORRECT: "I am use to work."

CORRECT: "I am used to work."

choose chose chosen
(Avoid using present form for past.)

INCORRECT: "He choose a wife last year."

CORRECT: "He chose a wife last year."

lose lost lost
(Avoid misspelling loose for lose.)
INCORRECT: "He hated to loose the game."

CORRECT: "He hated to lose the game."

go went gone
(Avoid using went for gone in perfect tense.)
INCORRECT: "I have went to town already."

CORRECT: "I have gone to town already."

lead (pronounced "leed." led led
(avoid misspelling lead --the spelling for the metal--for led in past tense)
INCORRECT: "She lead them to victory last year."

CORRECT: "She led them to victory last year."

Errors of misuse of adjectives and adverbs occur usually with only a few words; real/really, good/well, and sure/surely are the chief offenders. Make certain that these adjective forms (real, good, and sure) clearly modify nouns and that the adverb forms (really, well, and surely) clearly modify verbs, adjectives or adverbs.

CORRECT: It's a sure thing that real kumquat jelly is a good treat.

INCORRECT: Hortense sure did good to make this real nice kumquat jelly.

CORRECT: Hortense surely did well to make this really nice kumquat jelly.

(surely and well modify the verb did; really modifies the adjective nice)

REMEMBER: It's a sure bet that a really good person surely does real work well.

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