Noun

The definition of a noun used to be so simple. You may even remember your elementary
school teachers telling you a noun was a person, place or thing. Then it got a little more
complicated when they added idea to the list. Then it got even more confusing when you
asked about coffee in coffee table. Is it a noun or an adjective? What about when you add
an apostrophe and s to it to show possession? Is it still a noun, or does it become an
adjective? And round and round you go. Its exhausting, but there are answers.
Defining a Noun
There are a lot of definitions for noun, from the simple list to the complex linguistic
explanation, but the best way to explain what a noun is is to explain what a noun does.
Remember when you read that verbs do verb-y things? Well, here are the noun-y things that
nouns do:
They come with articles. If it follows "a," "an" or "the" fairly closely, its probably a noun. If
theres an adjective in there, itll be between the article and the noun, so youll have to ask
yourself, Is this something I can feel, see, smell, taste or touch? Or does it describe
something I can feel, see, smell, taste or touch? If its the former, its a noun. If its the latter,
its probably an adjective.
They are described by adjectives. If something is described as being blue, old, shiny, hot or
wonderful (all adjectives), its probably a noun.
They act as subjects. Generally, the subject of a sentence is the thing that comes right
before the verb. When you say, The Dingo ate my baby, the subject is the Dingo. It comes
right before the verb (ate). Subjects are a little tricky because they can consist of just one
word or a whole, long phrase that can contain several nouns. Gerund and infinitive verbs can
also act as subjects of a sentence, but in that role, they are serving as nouns. Why?
Because nouns act as subjects.
They act as objects and complements. Complements follow state-of-being verbs like be,
seem and become. Objects follow other verbs as well as prepositions. In the sentence,
Amy is a teacher, the complement is a teacher. In the sentence, Billy hit a teacher, the
object is a teacher. In the sentence, I am sitting near a teacher, the prepositional object is
a teacher. In all cases, teacher is a noun.
They are names. All names of all things (people, cities, towns, counties, states, countries,
buildings, monuments, rivers, mountains, lakes, oceans, streams, natural disasters, books,
plays, magazines, articles, songs, works of art, etc.) are nouns.
Not all nouns do all of these things all of the time, and not all the words that do some of
these things are nouns, but by and large, if it looks like a noun and acts like a noun, its
probably a noun.
Noun Gender

In English, most nouns are not inherently male or female like they are in many other
languages. However, there are a few nouns that do indicate masculinity/femininity:
actor/actress
waiter/waitress
prince/princess
king/queen
boy/girl
man/woman
gentleman/lady
uncle/aunt
father/mother
grandfather/grandmother
brother/sister
son/daughter
nephew/niece
Plural Nouns
Most English nouns can be made plural simply by adding an "s" to them, but there are a few
exceptions.
Nouns whose singular forms end in s, z, x, ch or sh need es to become plural (boss-bosses,
box-boxes, watch-watches, bush-bushes).
Certain nouns that end in o also need es to become plural (potato-potatoes, hero-heroes,
volcano-volcanoes).
For nouns that end in f or fe, change the f to a v, and add es (knife-knives, wolf-wolves).
If a singular noun ends in a single consonant followed by y, change the y to i, and add es
(lady-ladies, spy-spies).
Common vs. Proper Nouns
Common nouns are simply things that exist in mass quantities whereas proper nouns are
names of specific things. For example, building is a common noun. There are millions of
them in the world. Theyre common. However the Empire State Building is the name of one
specific building. Theres only one, and thats its name. Its a proper noun.
Common nouns are not capitalized (unless they begin a sentence, of course), but proper
nouns are always capitalized.
Count vs. Non-Count Nouns
Count (or countable) nouns are nouns that can be counted and therefore made plural. You
can have just one eye, but more likely, you have two eyes. One eye, two eyes you can
count them.
Non-count (or non-countable/uncountable) nouns are those that we do not generally
pluralize. Most liquids, powders and grains fall into this category. Even though there are

many corn flakes in your bowl, you say you eat cereal for breakfast, not cereals. And you put
sugar on it, not sugars, and you drink coffee with it, not coffees.
We sometimes pluralize non-count nouns when we are referring to the container or form in
which they come. You order two coffees (one for you, one for your friend), but what you really
mean is two cups of coffee. Youre counting the cups, not the liquid.

Concrete vs. Abstract Nouns

Concrete nouns are those that can be perceived with the five senses. If you can see, taste,
smell, touch and/or hear it, its a concrete noun. If its a concept or idea (love, peace, hate,
justice) that cannot be perceived physically, its an abstract noun.
Possessive Nouns
Possessive nouns can function in the same way as possessive adjectives and pronouns, but
possessive nouns are simply nouns with s or at the end to show possession. Theyre still
nouns, but they function as adjectives or pronouns depending on how you use them.
A noun is any word that does one or more of these noun-y things.
Compound Noun
Most compound nouns contain at least one noun. The other word or words may be an
adjective, preposition, or verb. The second word is almost always the main word, with the
first word modifying it or adding to its meaning.
Compound words, a large group of words to which compound nouns belong, are expressed
in three ways.
Closed form - has two words that have melded together to make one word, like: softball,
redhead, makeup, and keyboard.
Hyphenated form examples are: six-pack, five-year-old, and son-in-law.
Open form - has the words next to each other, like: post office, upper class, and attorney
general.
Sometimes, the hyphen disappears as the word is more widely used, and it becomes a
closed word.
Compound Noun List
Here are types of compound words and examples. The asterisks indicate types of compound
words that may be compound nouns.
adjective/adjective - blue-green,
adjective/noun - blackboard, full moon
adjective/preposition - forthwith
adjective/verb - dry-cleaning, highlight
noun/adjective - snow white
noun/noun - toothpaste, football, fish tank
noun/preposition (adverb) - love-in, hanger on, passer-by

noun/verb - haircut, browbeat, rainfall

preposition/adjective - over-ripe
preposition (adverb)/noun - underground, underworld, bystander, onlooker
preposition/preposition - without
preposition (adverb)/verb - output, undercut, outlook, overthrow
verb/adjective - tumbledown
verb/noun - swimming pool, breakwater, washing machine
verb/preposition (adverb) - takeout, check-in, drawback, lookout
verb/verb - freeze-dry
Plural and Possessive Rules
There are no hard and fast rules concerning plurals of compound words, especially since
some hyphens are omitted after time. In hyphenated words, usually the s goes at the end
of the main word, like daughters-in-law or mayors-elect. Sometimes it is at the end, like in
go-betweens and higher-ups. In the open form, the s is added to the main word, like: bills of
fare, assistant secretaries of state, and notaries public.
To make a compound word possessive, you usually add an apostrophe s at the end of the
word, like: mother-in-laws car or five-year-olds birthday. If the compound word is plural, it
can get a little strange with two s sounds close together, like: fathers-in-laws attire. If you
can, it would be better to reword the sentence so the plural compound word does not need to
be possessive, like: The attire of the fathers-in-law.
Collective Nouns
Although typically words that identify more than one person, place, or thing are made plural
in the English language, collective nouns are an exception. This unique class of nouns
denotes a group of people, animals, objects, or concepts or ideas as a single entity.
Comparing Countable, Mass and Collective Nouns
Confused about the differences between these types of nouns?
Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted, modified by a number or quantified with
size, amount, or value related words, and can appear in both singular and plural form.
Mass nouns, also referred to as non-count nouns, signify unbounded amounts, such as
liquid, small objects, and abstract or immeasurable concepts. For example, "water," "rice,"
and "education" can all be considered mass nouns. A noun is considered a mass noun when
its use cannot be counted, modified or quantified in a relevant and logical manner
linguistically.
Collective nouns are considered a subset of count nouns because they refer to a group of
countable nouns as a unit. For example, there are 12 eggs in dozen, and there are 52 cards
in a deck.
Common Collective Nouns
There are many types of nouns that refer to units or groups in a collective sense. Some of
the most common include:

Army
Array
Audience
Band
Bevy
Board
Bunch
Cabinet
Cast
Choir/Chorus
Class
Using Collective Nouns Correctly
Nouns in the collective class can be used in either the singular or plural form depending on
the context of the sentence. For example, family is a collective noun because it refers to
more than one person sharing a relationship or camaraderie. However, you can also use this
as a plural in referring to groups of families.
Using collective nouns in sentences can be confusing because it's sometimes difficult to
discern whether to use plural or singular verbs and pronouns. To use verbs and pronouns
correctly, identify whether the collective noun refers to a group or unit working as
individuals or in unison.
When the unit is acting in unison, it is appropriate to use the singular.
When the members of the unit are acting as individuals, it is appropriate to use plural forms
of verbs and pronouns.
For example:
The class waits [singular verb] for its [singular pronoun] teacher quietly. (The class is referred
to as a unit acting in unison. The students are all doing the same thing at the same time.)
The class begin [plural verb] their [plural pronoun] homework assignments while they [plural
pronoun] wait [plural verb] for their [plural pronoun] teacher. (The students are a unit, but are
acting as individuals -- they each doing their own homework assignments.)
When group nouns signify units acting as individuals rather than in unison, it is also
appropriate to add or replace words to create reference to the individuals for example,
adding the word "members" after collectives like board or committee, or inserting "players"
for "team" or "students" for "class."
Fun with Nouns
Many singular nouns have very unique collective forms that pertain specifically to that term.
While most people are familiar with the more commonly used collectives such as a class of
students or crowd of people, there are a large number of less common collectives. Many
people find it interesting to read and learn what the appropriate collective forms of various
nouns are. Many teachers, students, and other lovers of the English language also find it

entertaining to list original collectives or come up with new ways to use them in fun or ironic
ways.
History of Collective Types of Nouns
Like most linguistic developments, collective nouns have developed through time as a result
of many different situations.
For example, venery nouns, those nouns used to specifically signify groups of animals,
developed as a result of fifteenth century English hunting practices.
Experienced hunters were educated in discussing groups of animals in specific collective
ways, sometimes in reference to the animal's activities or habits.
Uses of these phrases were also distinguished upper-class gentry from middle class
agricultural workers.
Other collective nouns are called derivational collectives -- derived as a result of language
relationships and maintaining root word tendencies.
Gradual shifts in the ways that words are used and understood have also contributed to the
formation of this special class of nouns.
Teacher and Student Resources
There are a variety of online and printable worksheets, quizzes, and activities focused on
collective and mass nouns. These include:
Formula Fusion Collective Animal Nouns Game
ABC Teach Collective Noun Worksheet
Middle School Noun Lesson Plan
Paul Vigay's Collection of Collective Nouns
Pronouns
Are small words that take the place of noun. We can use a pronoun instead of noun.
Pronouns are words like: he, you, ours, themselves, some, each. If we didnt have
pronouns, we would have to repeat a lot of nouns. We would have to say things like:
Example:
Do you like the president? I dont like the president. The president is too pompous.
With pronouns, we can say:
Do you like the president? I dont like him. He is too pompous.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns can be the subject of a clause or sentence. They are: I, he, she, it, they,
we, and you. Example: They went to the store.
Personal pronouns can also be objective, where they are the object of a verb, preposition, or
infinitive phrase. They are: me, her, him, it, you, them, and us. Example: David gave the gift
to her.

Possession can be shown by personal pronouns, like: mine, his, hers, ours, yours,
its, and theirs. Example: Is this mine or yours?

Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns are often (but not always) found at the beginning of a sentence. More
precisely, the subject of a sentence is the person or thing that lives out the verb.
I owe that person $3,000. I am living out that debt. I is the subject pronoun.
He and I had a fight. This sentence has two subjects because he and I were both involved
in the fight.
He broke my kneecaps. You get the idea.
To him, I must now pay my children's college funds. If you'll notice, the verb in this
sentence the action is "pay." Although I is not at the beginning of the sentence, it is the
person living out the action and is, therefore, the subject.
Object Pronouns
By contrast, objects and object pronouns indicate the recipient of an action or motion. They
come after verbs and prepositions (to, with, for, at, on, beside, under, around, etc.).
The guy I borrowed money from showed me a crowbar and told me to pay him immediately.
I begged him for more time.
He said he'd given me enough time already.
I tried to dodge the crowbar, but he hit me with it anyway.
Just then, the police arrived and arrested us.
Subject vs. Object Pronouns
There is often confusion over which pronouns you should use when you are one half of a
dual subject or object. For example, should you say:
"Me and him had a fight." or "He and I had a fight?"
"The police arrested me and him." or "The police arrested he and I?"
Some people will tell you that you should always put the other person first and refer to
yourself as "I" because it's more proper, but those people are wrong. You can put the other
person first out of politeness, but you should always use the correct pronouns (subject or
object) for the sentence.
A good test to decide which one you need is to try the sentence with one pronoun at a time.
Would you say, "Me had a fight?" Of course not. You'd say, "I had a fight." What about, "Him
had a fight?" No, you'd say, "He had a fight." So when you put the two subjects together, you
get, "He and I had a fight." The same rule applies to the other example.
You wouldn't say, "The police arrested he," or, "The police arrested I."
You would use "him" and "me."
So the correct sentence is, "The police arrested him and me."

Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns

Pronominal possessive adjectives include the following: my, your, our, their, his, her and its.
They are sort of pronouns in that they refer to an understood noun, showing possession by
that noun of something. They are technically adjectives, though, because they modify a noun
that follows them.
My money is all gone.
I gambled it all away on your race horse.
His jockey was too fat.
In all of these examples, there is a noun (money, race horse, jockey) that has not been
replaced with a pronoun. Instead, an adjective is there to show whose money, horse and
jockey were talking about.
Possessive pronouns, on the other hand mine, yours, ours, theirs, his, hers, its are truly
pronouns because they refer to a previously named or understood noun. They stand alone,
not followed by any other noun. For comparison's sake, look at this sentence:
You have your vices, and I have mine.
There are two types of pronouns here: subject (you/I) and possessive (mine). There's also a
possessive adjective (your). We'll deal with the subject pronouns momentarily, but for now,
just look at the others.
Your is followed by the noun, vices, so although we know that your refers to you, it is not the
noun or the noun substitute (pronoun). Vices is the noun. In the second half of the sentence,
however, the noun and the possessive adjective have both been replaced with one word
the pronoun, mine. Because it stands in the place of the noun, mine is a true pronoun
whereas your is an adjective that must be followed by a noun.
Indefinite Pronouns
These pronouns do not point to any particular nouns, but refer to things or people in general.
Some of them are: few, everyone, all, some, anything, and nobody. Example: Everyone is
already here.
Kind of Indefinite
Singular Indefinite Pronoun
Singular indefinite pronouns are:
somebody, someone, something, nobody, no one, nothing, everybody, everyone, everything,
another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, one, other, neither, and much
These are treated as if they are singular objects, and not plural. Look at the following
examples, and see how they are paired with a verb that is third-person singular:
One wants to watch a movie.
Anyone can be a movie star.
Everything went wrong last night.
Plural Indefinite Pronoun
Plural indefinite pronouns are:

several, many, others, few and both

Here are a few examples of these plural indefinite pronouns in action. Notice how they are
put together with a verb that is third-person plural:
Both like to eat cheeseburgers.
Few enjoy doing their homework.
Using an Indefinite Pronoun
Make sure that you match an indefinite pronoun with the right pronoun later in the sentence.
If an indefinite pronoun is third-person singular, then by all means it belongs with other thirdperson singular pronouns. Look at the examples below:
Each boy ate their ice cream cone.
Each boy ate his ice cream cone.
Notice that the second one clearly is correct, because his is singular, just like each. But,
what do you do when you are talking about people, and the genders are mixed? You might
realize that it is inappropriate to use it as a pronoun to talk about a human, and their is
plural. What do you do? Look at the examples below:
Each kid ate their ice cream cone.
Each kid ate his or her ice cream cone.
Although it takes a little more effort to say, the second sentence is correct, because each of
the pronouns in the latter part of the sentence are singular, and therefore match the indefinite
pronoun.
Conditional Indefinite Pronoun
Indefinite pronouns can be used when the meaning is conditional. Look at the following
examples and see if this concept makes sense to you. In each example, the first sentence
uses an indefinite pronoun in a question format, and the second sentence uses an indefinite
pronoun in a conditional clause.
Will someone wait for me? If somebody can wait for me I would greatly appreciate it.
Do you need to eat something? If you need something to eat, I can offer you some pizza.
Would you like another? If you would like another, just ask nicely!
Examples of Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns make it easier to talk quickly and efficiently with people. Look at the
following two examples: which is easier to understand and quicker to say?
Is Mary, Paul, Peter, Sandy, Susan, or Matt home?
Is anybody home?
Surely most people would choose to say the second sentence: it covers a lot of information
just using one easy indefinite pronoun.
Read

more

at

http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/pronouns/indefinite-

pronoun.html#oQHPGFH6fuQYBf31.99
Relative Pronouns

These pronouns are used to connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. These
are: who, whom, which, whoever, whomever, whichever, and that. Example: The driver who
ran the stop sign was careless.
Intensive Pronouns
These pronouns are used to emphasize a noun or pronoun. These are: myself, himself,
herself, themselves, itself, yourself, yourselves, and ourselves. Example: He himself is his
worst

critic.

Demonstrative Pronouns
There are five demonstrative pronouns: these, those, this, that, and such. They focus
attention on the nouns that are replacing. Examples: Such was his understanding. Those
are totally awesome.
Interrogative Pronouns
These pronouns are used to begin a question: who, whom, which, what, whoever,
whomever, whichever, and whatever. Example: Who will you bring to the party?
Reflexive Pronouns
There is one more type of pronoun, and that is the reflexive pronoun. These are the ones
that end in self or "selves." They are object pronouns that we use when the subject and the
object are the same noun.
I told myself not to bet all my money on one horse.
The robber hurt himself chasing me through the alley.
We also use them to emphasize the subject.
Usually, the guy I borrowed the money from will send an employee to collect the money, but
since I owed so much, he himself came to my house.
Adjective
Adjectives are words that describe or modify other words, making your writing and speaking
much more specific, and a whole lot more interesting. Words like small, blue, and sharp are
descriptive, and they are all examples of adjectives. Because adjectives are used to identify
or quantify individual people and unique things, they are usually positioned before
the noun or pronoun that they modify. Some sentences contain multiple adjectives.
They live in a big, beautiful
Since its a hot day, Lisa is wearing a sleeveless
The mountaintops are covered in sparkling
Types of Adjectives
Remember that adjectives can modify as well as describe other words, and youll find it
much easier to identify different types of adjectives when you see them.
Articles

There are only three articles, and all of them are adjectives: a, an, and the. Because they are
used to discuss non-specific things and people, a and an are called indefinite articles. For
example:
Id like a
Lets go on an
Neither one of these sentences names a specific banana or a certain adventure. Without
more clarification, any banana or adventure will do.
The word the is called the definite article. Its the only definite article, and it is used to
indicate very specific people or things:
Please give me a banana. Id like the one with the green stem.
Lets go on an adventure. The Grand Canyon mule ride sounds perfect!
Possessive Adjectives
As the name indicates, possessive adjectives are used to indicate possession. They are:
My
Your
His
Her
Its
Our
Their
Possessive adjectives also function as possessive pronouns.
Demonstrative Adjectives
Like the article the, demonstrative adjectives are used to indicate or demonstrate specific
people, animals, or things. These, those, this and that are demonstrative adjectives.
These books belong on that
This movie is my favorite.
Please put those cookies on the blue plate.
Coordinate Adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are separated with commas or the word and, and appear one after
another to modify the same noun. The adjectives in the phrase bright, sunny day
and long and dark night are coordinate adjectives. In phrases with more than two coordinate
adjectives, the word and always appears before the last one; for example: The sign had big,
bold, and bright letters.
Be careful, because some adjectives that appear in a series are not coordinate. In the
phrase green delivery truck, the words green and delivery are not separated by a comma
because green modifies the phrase delivery truck. To eliminate confusion when determining
whether a pair or group of adjectives is coordinate, just insert the word and between them.
If and works, then the adjectives are coordinate and need to be separated with a comma.
Numbers Adjectives

When theyre used in sentences, numbers are almost always adjectives. You can tell that a
number is an adjective when it answers the question How many?
The stagecoach was pulled by a team of six
He ate 23 hotdogs during the contest, and was sick afterwards.
Interrogative Adjectives
There are three interrogative adjectives: which, what, and whose. Like all other types of
adjectives, interrogative adjectives modify nouns. As you probably know, all three of these
words are used to ask questions.
Which option sounds best to you?
What time should we go?
Whose socks are those?
Indefinite Adjectives
Like the articles a and an, indefinite adjectives are used to discuss non-specific things. You
might recognize them, since theyre formed from indefinite pronouns. The most common
indefinite adjectives are any, many, no, several, and few.
Do we have any peanut butter?
Grandfather has been retired for many
There are no bananas in the fruit bowl.
I usually read the first few pages of a book before I buy it.
We looked at several cars before deciding on the best one for our family.
Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives talk about specific traits, qualities, or features in other words, they are
used to discuss attributes. There are different kinds of attributive adjectives:
Observation adjectives such as real, perfect, best, interesting, beautiful or cheapest can
indicate value or talk about subjective measures.
Size and shape adjectives talk about measurable, objective qualities including specific
physical properties. Some examples include small, large, square, round, poor, wealthy,
slow and
Age adjectives denote specific ages in numbers, as well as general ages. Examples are old,
young, new, five-year-old, and
Color adjectives are exactly what they sound like theyre adjectives that indicate color.
Examples include pink, yellow, blue, and
Origin adjectives indicate the source of the noun, whether its a person, place, animal or
thing. Examples include American, Canadian, Mexican, French.
Material adjectives denote what something is made of. Some examples include cotton, gold,
wool,and
Qualifier adjectives are often regarded as part of a noun. They make nouns more specific;
examples include log cabin, luxury car, and pillow cover.

Degrees of Composition
Comparison can be made using the three forms of the adjective.
Adjective is a word and it qualifies a noun. It gives more information about the noun.
eg. The lion is a strong animal.
Rita is a beautiful girl.
Adjectives are of three degrees. (1) Positive (2) Comparative (3) Superlative
eg. David is a rich man.
eg. Cancel is more dreadful than cholera.
eg. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
Study the following models.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

John is taller than any

other
Very few boys in
the

class

boys

in

the

class.

John is the tallest

boy in the class.

are

astall as John.

John

is taller than

John is one of the

most other boys in the

tallest boy

class.

class.

in

the

Adjective and Adverbs have three degrees, Positive, Comparative and Superlative.
The Pasitive Degree is used to denote the mere existence of quality.
The Positive Degree of an adjective in comparison is the adjective in its simple form. It is
used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what we speak about. It is used
when no comparison is made.
It is a tall building.
Apple is sweet to taste.
The Comparative Degree is used to compare the qualities of two persons or things.
The Comparative Degree denotes the existence of a higher degree of the quality than the
positive. It is used when two things (or two sets of things) are compared.

This building is taller than any other building.

Apple is sweeter than pear.
The Superlative Degree denotes the existence of the highest degree of the quality. It is used
when more than two things are compared.
This is the tallest building.
Apple is the sweetest fruit.
The Superlative Degree is used when more than two nouns or things are compared.
Johnsy is kind (Positive Degree)
Johnsy is kinder than Rosy (Comparative Degree)
Johnsy is the kindest of all (Superlative Degree)
The

Complete

List

of

English Spelling Rules

Lesson

14:

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

1. Adding -er or -est to form a comparative
Barry is taller than Eric. Eric is shorter than Barry.
The words "tall" and "short" are adjectives. They describe Barry or Eric. Since both of these
words are only one syllable, we simply add -er or -estto the end of the word to make
comparatives.
One-syllable words that end in a double consonant (or two vowels and a single consonant)
simply

take

the

-er or

Compar

Superlati

ative

ve

longer

longest

darker

darkest

brighter

brightest

quicker

quickest

warmer

warmest

-est at

the

end.

Here

are

some

examples:

colder

coldest

older

oldest

younger

stronger

younges
t
stronges
t

smarter

smartest

weaker

weakest

neater

neatest

louder

loudest

2. Adding -er or -est to a one-syllable adjective that ends in a single vowel and a single
consonant
Harold's clothes could not possibly be wetter!
When the adjective you want to make into a comparative or superlative is only one syllable
long and ends in a single vowel and a single consonant, you must double the final
consonant,
Here

then
are

add
some

-er or
common

-est.
examples:

Compar

Superlati

ative

ve

bigger

biggest

fatter

fattest

hotter

hottest

sadder

saddest

madder

thinner

maddest

thinnest

3. Adding -er or -est to an adjective that ends in Y

That was the funniest thing I have ever heard!
When the adjective ends in a y, you must change the y to an i, then add -eror -est to form the
comparative

or

For

the

superlative.
example:

Compar

Superlati

ative

ve

prettier

prettiest

angrier

angriest

happier

happiest

busier

busiest

lovelier

loveliest

sillier

silliest

sleepier

sleepiest

thirstier

thirstiest

uglier

ugliest

4. Adding -er or -est to a one-syllable adjective that ends in E

Wow, your cat is much larger than mine!
For adjectives that end in e, you must only add -r to make a comparative and -st to make a
superlative.
Here

are

some

Compar

Superlati

ative

ve

closer

closest

wiser

wisest

stranger

huger

stranges
t
hugest

common

examples

of

these

adjectives:

ruder

rudest

looser

loosest

safer

safest

cuter

cutest

gentler

gentlest

simpler

simplest

5. Making comparatives or superlatives with adjectives that have two or more syllables
Karen is the most honest person I know!
One-syllable adjectives in English follow the rules above to add -er or -est. Adjectives with
three or more syllables add the word "more" before them to become comparatives, and
"most"

to

become

superlatives.

Most two-syllable adjectives will take "more" or "most," but if they end in -y, -er, -le, or -ow,
they

follow

Here

the
are

Comparative

Superlative

more interestin

most interestin

more complete

most complete

more beautiful

most beautiful

rules
some

above.
examples:

more importan

most importan

more dangero

most dangero

us

us

more colorful

most colorful

more exciting

most exciting

more complica

most complica

ted

ted

more boring

most boring

6. Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Otis sleeps better with a pillow.
Finally, there are some very common adjectives that have irregular forms for their
comparatives
Here

are

and
the

most

important

Adje

Compa

Superl

ctive

rative

ative

good

better

best

bad

worse

worst

superlatives.
ones

for

you

to

remember:

well

better

best
farthes

far

farther /

t/

further

furthes
t

Review
So, let's review what we have learned about forming comparatives and superlatives in
English:
For one-syllable adjective, add -er (comparative) or -est(superlative) to the end of the
adjective.
If the one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel and a single consonant, double the final
consonant before adding -er or -est.
For adjectives that end in -y, change the y to i, then add -er or -est.
If the one-syllable consonant ends in -e, simply add -r or -st.
For adjectives with two or more syllables, add "more" before the adjective to form a
comparative, or "most" to form a superlative (unless the two-syllable adjective ends in -y, -le,
-er, or -ow).
Remember that there are some common irregular comparative and superlative adjectives.
Verb
A

verb

is

one

of

the

main

parts

of

sentence

or

question

in

English.

In fact, you cant have a sentence or a question without a verb! Thats how important these
action parts of speech are.
The verb signals an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. Whether mental, physical, or
mechanical, verbs always express activity.
Kind of Verb
Action Verbs
As the names suggest, action verbs primarily express action. For instance, sit, eat, cycle,
etc. They describe things and actions that occur rather than the state of something. An action
verb is primarily applied in a progressive aspect commonly used for all actions that are in
progress. Most of the action verbs are categorized as transitive or intransitive. What this
means is that, some verbs are used along with direct objects while others dont. The object
here can be a thing or a person receiving an action of a certain subject.

Definition

Sample

Sentence Examples

Verbs

Transitive

Verbs

Verbs

used

are

1. Owe

1. Richard owes Jimmy some

together

2. Feed

money.

direct

3. Make

2. He feeds his children while

object. The object

4. Drive

their mother is away.

can be a thing or

5. Lift

3. She makes jewelry to sell at

with

that
a

a person.

the market.

Intransitive

Verbs that dont

1. Die

1. His sister diedof Malaria.

Verbs

have

2. Arrive

2. We arrived at school very

object

for

3.

late.

Respond

3.

communicated. In

4. Wait

questions in the exam.

most cases, they

5. Sit

are followed by

6. Look

direct

meaning

an

to

their
be

Mary responded to

all

adverb,

adjective,

verb

complement or a
preposition.

Auxiliary Verbs & Lexical Verb

Among the many kinds of verbs in English, auxiliary verbs and lexical verbs are very useful.
Definition

that

Sample Verbs

Sentence Examples

1. Be

1. If all goes well, I will be going

Auxiliary

Verbs

Verbs

come before

2. Shall

home today.

main verbs in

3. May

2. We shall meet tomorrow in the

a verb phrase

4. Could

afternoon and discuss the matter

we left pending.
3. We may go shopping anytime
from now because the rains have
stopped.

Lexical

All

other

1. Come

1. He will be coming home for

Verb

verbs

other

2. Rest

dinner.

than auxiliary

3. Organize

2. He rested in the shadow after a

verbs. It is a

4. Handle

tedious job in the garden.

main verb.

3. Thomas will be organizing the

group before he travels.

Dynamic Verbs & Stative Verbs

Dynamic verbs and stative verbs are among the most common kinds of verbs in English
which one should know about.
Definition

Sample Verbs

Sentence Examples

Dynamic

verb

1. Drive

1. He drives carefully down the

Verbs

basically used

2. Grow

hill.

to

3. Throw

2. Mathew is growing old.

4. Hit

3. She threw a stone at me

5. Repair

angrily.

show

process,
action

an
or

sensation
rather than a
state.

Stative

verb

1. Have

1. What do you have to say

Verb

basically used

2. Seem

about his behavior nowadays?

to

3. Know

2. You seem too tired to continue

define

situation

a
or

working today.

state.

3. Do you know anything about

verbs?

Finite Verbs & Nonfinite Verbs

There are different kinds of verbs in English, finite verbs and nonfinite verbs are two of them.
Definition

Sample
Verbs

Sentence Examples

Finite Verbs

A verb that agrees

1. Appear

1. He appears sick.

with a given subject

2. Promise

2.

in a sentence. It is

3. Enjoy

change her behavior.

usually marked for

4. Love

3.

tense.

5. Hate

she enjoyed learning more

Jane promised to
Gladys

said

that

about verbs.

Nonfinite

A verb that has no

1. Expand

1.

You

Verb

distinction in different

2. Leave

boundary.

tense. It cannot be

3. Smile

2.

We

can expand your

may leave after

used unaccompanied

10.00pm.

as the main verb in a

3. She had a reason to

given

smile.

question

or

sentence.

Regular Verbs & Irregular Verbs

Definition

Sample

Sentence Examples

Verbs

Regular

A verb whose past

1. Accept

1. I accepted the offer.

Verbs

participle

past

2. Arrive

2. He has just arrived.

tense is attained by

3. Fence

3. He fenced the area.

adding d or ed or t

4. Deliver

for

and

some.

It

is

sometimes called a
weak verb.

Irregular Verb

Also called a strong

1. Get

1. He got his business

verb.

does

not

2. Go

running

follow

the

3. Say

time.

common

4. See

2. We went (go) home

5. Come

early.

usually do not have

6. Take

3. They came by bus on

the predictable ed

7. Sleep

a Saturday morning.

usually

It

rules

for

verb

forms.

They

ending.

Verb Phrase
If

you

want

to

understand

what

a verb

phrase is,

you

need

to

understand verbs and phrases first. Phrases will be explained, as well as sentence structure,
and examples will be offered for all of them.
Defining a Verb Phrase
A verb phrase can be the predicate of a sentence or a clause. In this case, there will usually
be a helping verb in addition to the verb. Here are some examples of a verb phrase as a
predicate:
The author is writing a new book.
I must make an A in this class.
The dog might eat the cake.
He was walking to work today.
We grew apart after high school.
A verb phrase can also be a phrase that functions as an adverb or adjective that has a verb
and its complements, objects, or modifiers. Some examples are:
Running on the wet floor, she slipped and broke her arm.
Fill up the gas tank to help it run better.
To bake a cake, you need flour and sugar.
Finally, I have saved enough to buy a car.
Defining a Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate, which is a verb or verb
phrase. It expresses a complete thought; so therefore, it is called an independent clause.
The subject is the star of the sentence, what or who the sentence is about. It can be a noun
or a pronoun.
The predicate is the action, or what the subject is doing. It can also tell the subjects state of
being. It contains a verb, verb phrase, or linking verb. Simple sentence examples are: Sally
ran. Jose slept.

at

the

right

Most verbs show action, like run, taste, fly, jump, crawl, or hit. Verbs link a word to the
subject and are called linking verbs. These do not refer to an action, they express a state of
being. For example: am, are, was, were, has been, etc. Other linking verbs are: seem,
appear, become, taste, stay, and feel.
Some verbs can pull double duty, and be active or linking depending on their use. Here is an
example:
Active - Would you like to stay the night? Linking - I want you to stay sweet forever.
Active - I can taste the salt in this. Linking - This tastes gross.
Defining a Phrase
A phrase is a group of words that have a function in a sentence, but do not have a subject
and verb. If it had a subject and a verb, it would be a clause.
Phrases can function in the sentence like nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.
Four of the main kinds of phrases are infinitive, participle, prepositional, and gerund. Here
are definitions and examples.
Infinitive: These phrases start with an infinitive plus a simple form of a verb. They can act like
a noun, adjective, or adverb. Here is an example: She wanted to show off her new dress.
The whole phrase is what she wanted, so it is acting like a noun.

Participle - This phrase will act as an adjective and begins with a participle. A
participle is an adjective that has been made from a verb, like talked or swimming.
Heres an example: We have to replace the window broken by the hail. The phrase
modifies the noun window, so it is functioning like an adjective.
Prepositional - These phrases start with a preposition and have an object of that
preposition. They function as adjectives or adverbs. Example: The plane will fly over the
clouds. The phrase tells where the plane will fly, so it is acting like an adverb.
Gerund - These phrases act like a noun and start with a verb ending with an ing.
They can be subjects or objects. An example is: Lying to the IRS is never a good idea.
The phrase acts as the subject in this sentence.

Verb Tense
Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time in their language. You may find
that many English tenses do not have direct translations in your language. That is not a
problem. By studying this verb tense tutorial, you will learn to think like a native English speaker.
If you prefer to use the verb tense pages as a reference only and do not want to complete the
tutorial

PRESENT PERFECT

FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT

The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the auxiliary
verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle of a regular
verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For irregular verbs, see the Table of irregular verbs in the
section called 'Verbs'.

Affirmative
Subject

to have

past participle

She

has

visited.

Subject

to have + not

past participle

She

has not (hasn't)

visited.

to have

subject

past participle

Has

she

visited?

to have + not

subject

past participle

Hasn't

she

visited?

Negative

Interrogative

Negative interrogative

Transitive verb

A transitive verb is a verb that requires one or more objects. This contrasts with intransitive verbs,
which do not have objects. Transitivity is traditionally thought of as a global property of a clause, by
which activity is transferred from an agent to a patient. Transitive verbs can be classified by the
number of objects they require. Verbs that require only two arguments, a subject and a single direct
object, are monotransitive. Verbs that require two objects, a direct object and an indirect object, are
"ditransitive",or less commonly "bitransitive". An example of a ditransitive verb in English is the
verb to give, which may feature a subject, an indirect object, and a direct object: John gave Mary the
book.
Verbs which take three objects are "tritransitive". In English a tritransitive verb features an indirect
object, a direct object, and a prepositional phrase as in I'll trade you this bicycle for your
binoculars or else a clause that behaves like an argument as in I bet you a pound that he has
forgotten. Not all descriptive grammars recognize tritransitive verbs.
A clause with a prepositional phrase that expresses a meaning similar to that usually expressed by
an object may be called "pseudo-transitive". For example, the Indonesian sentences Dia masuk
sekolah ("He attended school") and Dia masuk ke sekolah ("He went into the school") have the
same verb (masuk "enter"), but the first sentence has a direct object while the second has a
prepositional phrase in its place. A clause with a direct object plus a prepositional phrase may be
called "pseudo-ditransitive", as in the Lakhota sentence Hapkeka ki len w-age ("I made
those moccasins for him"). Such constructions are sometimes called "complex transitive". The
category of complex transitives includes not only prepositional phrases but also dependent
clauses, appositives, and other structures. There is some controversy regarding "complex
transitives" and "tritransitives"; linguists do not agree on the nature of the structures.
In contrast to transitive verbs, some verbs take zero objects. Verbs that do not require an object are
called intransitive verbs. An example in English is the verb to die.
Verbs that can be used in an intransitive or transitive way are called ambitransitive verbs. In English,
an example is the verb to eat; the sentences You eat (with an intransitive form) and You eat
apples (a transitive form that hasapples as the object) are both grammatically correct.
The concept of valency is related to transitivity. The valency of a verb considers all the arguments
the verb takes, including both the subject and all of the objects. In contrast to valency, the transitivity
of a verb only considers the objects. Subcategorization is roughly synonymous with valency, though
they come from different theoretical traditions.

Transitive
Full Definition of TRANSITIVE

1.

1:
characterized by having or containing a direct
object <a transitive verb>
2.
2: being or relating to a relation with the proper ty that if the
relation holds between a fi rst element and a second and between
the second element and a third, it holds between the fi rst and
third elements <equality is a transitive relation>
3.
3: of, relating to, or characterized by transition

transitively
adverb

transitiveness
noun

Direct verb
direct (comparative directer, superlative directest)
1. Proceeding without deviation or interruption.
2. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way
to a point or end.
the most direct route between two buildings
3. Straightforward; sincere. [quotations ]
4. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous. [quotations ]
5. In the line of descent; not collateral.
a descendant in the direct line
6. (astronomy) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east;
in the order of the signs; not retrograde; said of the motion of a celestial body.
7. (political science) Pertaining to, or effected immediately by, action of the people
through their votes instead of through one or more representatives or delegates.
direct nomination; direct legislation

Indirect Object
The indirect object of a sentence is the recipient of the direct object.
Everysentence must contain a verb. Most verbs have a direct object (the thing being
acted upon). For example:

Paula passed the parcel.

(The direct object is the parcel. There is no recipient in this sentence. Therefore, there
is no indirect object.)
Some sentences tell us about the recipient. That's the indirect object. For example:

Paula passed her father the parcel.

(The indirect object (i.e., the recipient) is her father.)

Examples of Indirect Objects

Here are some examples of indirect objects (shaded):
Simon gave his uncle a dirty look.
(his uncle - indirect object)

Paula passed the money to her father.

(her
father indirect
object)
(Note: Sometimes, the indirect object will follow a preposition like to or for.)

Let him have it.

(him indirect
object)
(Note: When the indirect object is a pronoun, the pronoun must be in theobjective
case.)

Shall I tell the children our ghost story tonight?

(the children - indirect object)

How to Find the Indirect Object

Before you can find the indirect object, you have to find the direct object. You can find
the direct object by finding the verb and asking what?. Once you've found the direct
object, ask who or what received it? For example:

She gave the beggar a gold coin.

(Step
1.
Find
the
verb
= gave)
(Step
2.
Ask What? = a
gold
coin)
(Therefore,
the
direct
object
is a
gold
coin.)
(Step
3.
Ask Who
(or
what)
received
it? = the
beggar)
(Therefore, the indirect object is the beggar.)
Remember, once you have found the direct object, you have to ask who (or what)
received it to find the indirect object.

Only Transitive Verbs Have

Objects and Indirect Objects

Direct

A verb that takes a direct object is called a transitive verb. A few verbs do not have a
direct object. They are known as intransitive verbs. For example:

Jonathan skidded on the ice.

(Step
1.
Find
the
verb
= skidded)
(Step
2.
Ask What? =
Nothing.
You
can't
skid
something.)
(Therefore, there is no direct object. The verb to skid is intransitive.)

Lee is snoring heavily.

(Step
1.
Find
the
verb
= is
(Step
2.
Ask What? =
Nothing.
You
can't
snore
(Therefore, there is no direct object. The verb to snore is intransitive.)

Do Not Confuse
Direct Objects

Complements

snoring)
something.)

with

If you ask what? with a linking verb, you will find a verb complement not a direct object.
For example:

Johnathan was angry.

(Step
1.
Find
the
verb
= was)
(Step
2.
Ask What? = angry.)
(However, on this occasion, angry is not the direct object. This is becausewas (i.e.,
the verb to be) is a linking verb.)

Johnathan seemed uncomfortable.

(Step
1.
Find
the
verb
= seemed)
(Step
2.
Ask What? = uncomfortable.)
(However, uncomfortable is not the direct object. This is because to seem is a linking
verb.)

Adverb
An adverb is

word

that modifies a verb, adjective,

another

adverb, determiner, noun

phrase, clause, or sentence. Adverbs typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level
of certainty, etc., answering questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what
extent?. This function is called the adverbial function, and may be realised by single words (adverbs)
or by multi-word expressions (adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses).
Adverbs are traditionally regarded as one of the parts of speech. However, modern linguists note
that it has come to be used as a kind of "catch-all" category, used to classify words with various
different types of syntactic behavior, not necessarily having much in common except that they do not
fit into any of the other available categories (noun, adjective, preposition, etc.)

Examples of Adverbs
Kindly,
slowly,
here,
often,
and
very
are
examples
of
adverbs. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Modify means to add to or
change the meaning of a word.

Spotting an Adverb
End in "-ly"

Many adverbs end in -ly. If you are not sure of the part of speech a word would be, and it
ends with -ly, it is probably an adverb.
Examples include:

Financially
Willfully
Abruptly
Endlessly
Firmly
Delightfully
Quickly
Lightly
Eternally
Delicately
Wearily
Sorrowfully
Beautifully
Truthfully
Other examples of adverbs would be words that how something was done or the manner in
which it was done. These would be words like:
Uneasily
Weirdly
Cheerfully
Expertly
Wholeheartedly
Randomly
Brutally
Really
Briskly
Sloppily
Wickedly

Tell Where Action Happened

Some adverbs tell the place of an action, or where it occurred. Adverbs like this would be:

Here
There
Everywhere
Somewhere

In
Inside
Underground
Out
Outside
Upstairs
Downstairs

Tell When Action Happened

Examples of adverbs that tell when an action occurred, or its time, include:

Now
First
Last
Early
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Today
Later
Regularly
Often
Never
Monthly
Always
Usually

Tell the Extent of the Action

Adverbs can describe to what extent something was done or an action was executed,
including:

Very
Too
Almost
Also
Only
Enough
So
Quite
Almost
Rather

Adverbs Are Intensifiers

One function of adverbs is to intensify the meaning of the word it is modifying. It does this by
either putting more or less emphasis on the word, amplifying the meaning of the word, or to
toning down the feeling of the word.
Here are some sentences with the emphasizing adverb underlined:

I really dont care.

He literally wrecked his car.
I am certain of the facts, for sure.
You simply dont understand.
I so want to go to the concert.
Sentences that amplify would be like:

She completely rejected his proposal.

I heartily endorsed the new restaurant.
I so want that new toy.
He completely understands me.
I absolutely refuse to stay here any longer.
Adverbs and adverb phrases that tone down the feeling or mood would include:

I sort of felt betrayed by you.

You can improve on this to some extent.
She kind of likes the movie.
The boss almost quit his job after that.
I somewhat understand what you are saying.
She mildly disapproved of his actions.

Adverb Phrases
Adverb phrases function like adverbs. They can tell when, how, where, and to what extent or
purpose. Adverb phrases can start with a preposition.
Some examples of these are:

With a hammer
Next door
Before the holidays
Every month
For his mother
Adverb phrases can also start with the infinitive form of a verb, like in these examples: to
buy a car, to support the team, or to show her mother.

Here is a list of sentences with the adverb phrase underlined:

He lived in the north of Germany.
We decided to buy a car.
She went to the movie every month.
I laughed every time he cracked a joke.
It is kept where the students can read it.
She looked as if she were guilty.
He acts like he owns the place.
I went to bed after I finished my homework.
Please stay as long as possible.

Types of Adverbs
Adverb of time
An adverb of time tells us when something is done or happens. We use it at the beginning or at the end of
a sentence. We use it as a form of emphasis when we place it at the beginning. Adverbs of time
include afterwards,already, always, immediately, last month, now, soon, then, and yesterday.

He collapsed and died yesterday.

His factory was burned down a few months ago.

Last week, we were stuck in the lift for an hour.

Adverb of place
An adverb of place tells us where something is done or happens. We use it after the verb, object or at the
end of a sentence. Adverbs of place include words such as above, below, here, outside, over
there, there, under,upstairs.

We can stop here for lunch.

The schoolboy was knocked over by a school bus.

They rushed for their lives when fire broke out in the floor below.

Adverb of manner
An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens. Most adverbs of manner end in ly such
as badly, happily, sadly, slowly, quickly, and others that include well, hard, fast, etc.

The brothers were badly injured in the fight.

They had to act fast to save the others floating in the water.

At the advanced age of 88, she still sang very well.

Adverb of degree
An adverb of degree tells us the level or extent that something is done or happens. Words of adverb of
degree are almost, much, nearly, quite, really,so, too, very, etc.

It was too dark for us to find our way out of the cave. (Before adjective)

The referee had to stop the match when it began to rain very heavily. (Before adverb)

Her daughter is quite fat for her age.

The accident victim nearly died from his injuries.

After all these years, she is still feeling very sad about her fathers death.

Adverb of frequency
An adverb of frequency tells us how often something is done or happens. Words used as adverbs of
frequency
include again, almost, always, ever,frequently, generally, hardly
ever, nearly, nearly
always, never,occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, twice, usually, andweekly.

They were almost fifty when they got married.

He hardly ever say something nice to his wife.

While overseas, he frequently phoned home.

She is not nearly always right although she thinks she is always right.

He complained that she never smiled back.

We only write to each other very occasionally.

Peter seldom reads the Bible.

Sometimes he stays late in the office to complete his work.

Our cat was bitten twice by the same dog.

The man usually proposes marriage.

Conjunction
In grammar,

a conjunction (abbreviated CONJ or CNJ)

is

a part

of

speech that

connects

words, sentences, phrases, or clauses. A discourse connective is a conjunction joining sentences.

This definition may overlap with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a "conjunction"
must be defined for each language. In general, a conjunction is an invariable grammatical particle,
and it may or may not stand between the items in a conjunction.
The definition may also be extended to idiomatic phrases that behave as a unit with the same
function, e.g. "as well as", "provided that".
A simple literary example of a conjunction: "the truth of nature, and the power of giving interest"
(Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Biographia Literaria)
Conjunctions may be placed at the beginning of sentences: "But some superstition about the
practice persists".
Ex.:
Jai saw a dog on the road. He decided to adopt the dog. Jai brought the dog home.
Jai saw a dog on the road and decided to adopt the dog, so he brought the dog home.

Subordinating Conjunctions

These conjunctions are used to join an independent and complete clause with a
dependent clause that relies on the main clause for meaning and relevance. The
dependent clause cannot exist on its own as a sentence and often does not make sense
without the main clause.
The subordinating conjunction always comes before the dependent clause but the
dependent clause itself can be placed either ahead of or following the independent
clause.
Since they had misbehaved, the boys were given one week suspensions from school.
Here, we see the dependent clause is they had misbehaved which is not a valid
sentence by itself.
The independent main clause is the boys were given one week suspensions from
school.
They are joined by the subordinating conjunction since.

He was fond of playing basketball because it was his fathers favourite game.
In this sentence, because is the subordinating conjunction as it introduces the
dependent clause it was his fathers favourite game
The main clause in this sentence is he was fond of playing basketball as it is the
sentence which can be said independently and still be grammatically correct.
Other subordinating conjunctions are - Although, As, Before, Once, Though,
Until,Whether, etc.

Prepositions
Prepositions are the words which are used to connect the different nouns, pronouns and
phrases in a sentence. It functions to introduce or precede the word or phrase to be
connected, called the object of the preposition.
The preposition usually indicates the relation between the words it is connecting. It tells
whether the words are connected in actual space or a place, or related through time or
are they part of a thought or process.
Prepositional phrases are the preposition and its object and any adjectives or adverbs
that were applied to the object. The prepositional phrase as a whole can also be used
as a noun, adverb or adjective.
Ex.:
He found the book on the table.

Here the preposition is on as it shows the relation in place between the book and the table.

The prepositional phrase is on the table which is acting as an Adverb telling where the book
was found.

- She went to sleep early.

In this sentence the preposition is to which is introducing where or in what state had the
noun gone into.

- Her house was beside a steep hill.

Interjections
Interjections are small words that bear no grammatical connection with the sentences in
which they are used. They express the emotions or sentiments of the speaker or convey
hesitation or protest. They are usually followed by an exclamation mark.
Since many interjections are mainly written forms of actual sounds that were produced
by humans, they are hardly used in academic or scholarly writing, unless they are a part
of a direct quote or otherwise.
Ah! Now thats what I call a good shot! Bravo!
Both Ah and Bravo are interjections used to show the speakers admiration in the
sentence. There are many different uses for various interjections; the following is a list of
the common interjections you may hear around you in daily life Interjection

Meaning

Use

Aah

Exclamation of fear

Aah! The monsters got me!

Ahh

Realization or acceptance

Ahh, now I see what you mean.

Aww

Something sweet or cute

Aww! Just look at that kitten.

Bingo

Acknowledge something as Bingo! Thats exactly what we were looking

right
for!

Eh

Question something

So that was all she said, eh?

Eww

Something disgusting

Eww! That movie was so gory.

Hmph

To indicate displeasure

Hmph. I could do that for half the amount he

charged.

Oh

I see/ I think

Oh, its been around a week since I saw her.

Oops

Making a mistake

Oops! Sorry I didnt see those skates there.

Ouch

Exclamation of pain

Ouch, that hurt! Stop pinching me!

Shh

An indication for silence

Shh! The show is about to start.

Uh oh

Showing dismay

Uh oh! The teachers caught him.

Whew

Amazement and/or relief

Whew! I cant believe we actually finished it

all.

Wow

Expressing
admiration

Yay/Yaay

Congratulatory exclamation

I cant believe youre actually coming here!

Yaay!

Yeah

Variant of yes

Yeah, Id love some orange juice.

Yikes

For fear or concern (not

Yikes, my mothers home!
serious)

Yippee

Exclamation of celebration

surprise

or

Wow! Thats really great news!

Yippee! We won, lets head to the bar.