GRAMMATICAL CLASSES SUMMARY

Four Content Classes:  Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs

A Noun is a word that usually functions as a nominal and takes noun inflectional endings

Inflectional endings: -'s, -s  (possessives and plurals)

Typical derivational endings: - ment,  -ion,  -ity

There are 5 possible nominal "slots" in a sentence:  1) Subject,   2) Verb Object,    3) Verb Indirect Object,   4) Complement,   5) Object of the Preposition.

Indicators:   determiners, prepositions

      A nominal answers the question "who?" or "what?"

  A Verb is a word that can take inflectional endings indicating tense

Inflections: -s, -ed, -en, -ing (3rd person singular, past tense, past participle, present  participle)

Typical derivational endings: -ize, -ify, -ate

Indicators: modals (can, shall, will, may, might) & auxiliaries (forms of "have" & "be").  It changes with time change (try yesterday, today,  tomorrow in front).

Function:  When a verb is acting as a verb, it and its auxiliaries establish the tense of the sentence. It (or its  auxiliary) marks the beginning of the predicate of the sentence

     A verb form can also play other roles in a sentence: The -ing form frequently functions as a nominal (called a "gerund") or an adjectival (called a "participle")

Important kinds: transitive (SVO), intransitive (SV), linking (SVC)

  An Adjective is a word that usually functions as an adjectival: it modifies a noun

Inflections: -er, -est (comparing--doing the job of more and most)

Typical derivational endings: -ous, -al, -ent, -ic, -ish, -able

Function: modifies nouns

Indicators: can usually be preceded by more or most.

Test frame: Must fit in both these blanks: The __________ something seemed very _______.

      An adjectival answers "what kind of?" "which?"

Important kinds of adjectivals: restrictive and non-restrictive

  An Adverb is a word that usually functions as an adverbial: it modifies the verb (sometimes the whole sentence)

No inflectional endings (except sometimes -er and -est).

Typical derivational endings: -ly, -ward, -wise, -ways

Function: modifies verbs; adverbs are very movable

Indicators: more and most will make sense in front, also intensifiers like very and qualifiers like somewhat.            

Test frame: The man told his story __________; or the woman walked her dog _____________.

      An adverbial answers when, where, how, why (it also indicates contrasts or stipulates conditions).

  Basic Sentence Patterns:  

1)  S V : Mary writes well.

      2)  S V O_D: Mary writes books. (Abooks@ is the direct object)

      3)  S V O_I O_D: Mary writes Sue letters. (Aletters@ is the direct object and AMary@ is the indirect object)

      4)  S V C:  She is my brother (noun complement) or She is sleepy (adjective complement).