Parts of Speech Workshop


Parts of Speech Workshop


Target

In this Lesson, you will look at


  • Verbs: tense and agreement
  • Pronouns: antecedent and agreement
  • Prepositional phrases
  • Conjunctions
  • Subordination
  • Apposition

You are expected to understand and be able to identify these concepts when reading and use them correctly in your own writing.










    Verbs are complex, challenging words that must appear in every sentence in one form or another.

    The verb identifies what the action of the sentence is. The subject is or has done something.  Verb tense, as you will read, is what identifies when the action took place, so it is essential that we use verbs consistently so that our communication is clear.

       Read "Verbs: It's About Time" on p. 16 - 23 in iSkills: Start with the Sentence
    Do you remember hearing that "subjects and verbs must agree"? This is pretty straightforward when we are using simple sentences.  "the cat runs from the dog" sounds better than "The cat run from the dog." so it is fairly easy to identify where the problem is.

    However, as we develop our ability to write more complex sentences and use higher level vocabulary, it becomes a bit more challenging to keep the agreement where it needs to be.

       Read "Agreeable Sentences: Subject-Verb Agreement" on p. 24 - 31 in iSkills: Start with the Sentence

    Additional Resources

    For more information on using verbs correctly, visit
       When you are confident in the use of verbs, take the Verbs Quiz.

    Content Tab 1...
    A pronoun takes the place of a noun...but what can replace a pronoun?

    However, because pronouns are general,  it is essential that it be very clear to whom (or what) the pronoun is referring.

       Read "Pronouns: There's No Substitute for Them" on p. 32 - 35 in iSkills: Start with the Sentence
    Do you remember learning about subjects and objects in sentences? The subject is the noun that is doing the action. The object is the noun that is receiving the action. When we replace these nouns with pronouns, sometimes this changes the pronoun that should be used.
       Read "Pronouns: Getting Them to Agree" on p. 36 - 43 in iSkills: Start with the Sentence

          When you are confident in the use of pronouns, take the Pronouns Quiz.

    When you learned to read and began to write sentences, you were encouraged to add prepositions to your work. "The cat climbed the tree." became "The cat climbed the tree to escape the angry dog." "To" is the preposition that allowed you to add more interesting details to your initial sentence.
    A preposition adds details about:
    • identifying nouns or verbs
    • time reference
    • clarity of scene
    • direction
    As our writing becomes more proficient, our use of prepositions also becomes more refined. Read on...

       Read "Prepositional Phrases Tell the Whole Story" on p. 84 - 91 in iSkills: Start with the Sentence

    Additional Resources


    For more instructional information/review and practice with prepositions, visit the following:


       When you are confident in the use of prepositional phrases, take thePrepositional Phrase Quiz.

    In every language, sentences are written in standard patterns. Placement of words within a sentence helps a reader make sense of the message. In English, using techniques such as coordination, subordination and apposition help us to communicate clear messages with a few precise words and to avoid wordiness.

    Conjunctions show connections among words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence. They are of three kinds: coordinate conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinate conjunctions.

    Examples:

    English and Social Studies are awesome subjects. (noun-conjunction-noun) 

    The TV remote is often found on the coffee table or on the sofa. (prepositional phrase-conjunction-prepositional phrase)

    Her favourite colour is red but she likes orange also. (independent clause-conjunction-independent clause)           


    Examples:

    You may submit either a written composition or a visual.

    I can access neither Internet Explorer norGoogle Chrome.

    Not only do I have to re-do an assignment but I also must complete a quiz.

    Examples:

    • Sally screamed (independent clause) because she was scared (dependent clause). 
    • I have not had Jello (independent clause) since I was a child (dependent clause). 
    • I will not proceed (independent clause) unless I hear from you (dependent clause). 
    • I will love English (independent clause) until the day I die (dependent clause). 
    • He napped (independent clause) while I completed homework (dependent clause). 
    • Although driving is faster (dependent clause), I prefer to walk (independent clause). 


    		 Self-Assessment

    Visit Grammar-Monster.com for information on conjunctions and to take a simple self-assessment quiz. ( http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/conjunctions.htm#1jIEOklGMXIq3j9B.99 )

    Hint:     To remember a few conjunctions, think of FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

       Read "Putting It All Together" on p. 130 - 135 in iSkills: Start with the Sentence
       When you are confident in the use of conjunctions, take the Conjunctions Quiz.

    Subordinate clauses enable a writer to add information to the main, or independent clause to enhance meaning in a sentence.

    An independent clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb . Because it does not need further information to make sense, it is independent. It can stand as a basic sentence.

    • Rex (subject) wagged (verb) his tail.
    • Betty (subject) threw (verb) the shoe.
    • The car (subject) crashed (verb).


    Sometimes a dependent or subordinate clause adds more information to a basic sentence. A dependent clause also includes a subject and a verb, but it does not make sense on its own.

    • even though it (subject) was caught (verb) in the door
    • after she (subject) fell (verb) on her face
    • because it (subject) was speeding (verb)

    The specific function for independent and dependent clauses is clear when they are put together. A pronoun (it) in subordinate clause does not make sense without its antecedent (tail; car) in the independent clause.

    • Rex wagged his tail (independent clause) even though it was caught in the door (dependent clause).  
    • Betty threw the shoe (independent clause) after she fell on her face (dependent clause). 
    • The car crashed (independent clause) because it was speeding (dependent clause),


    		 Visit Grammar-Monster.com for information on independent and dependent clauses and to take a simple self-assessment quiz: (http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/clause.htm#Tdcc0kqW8a123Hh0.99).

       When you are confident in the use of subordination, take the Subordination Quiz.




    Apposition is the placement of a noun or noun phrase after another noun to define or modify meaning.
    The word apposition comes from Latin meaning to put near. Nouns in apposition are always enclosed within commas.

    Example:

    Sam, the analyst, asked several questions.

    Because the analyst gives more information about Sam, these words have the same function in this sentence.

    Example:

    I am taking my dog, the big spotted mongrel, to the vet this afternoon.

    The big spotted mongrel gives more information about my dog; therefore, these words have the same function as dog (object) in this sentence.

    Example:

    The books, your stack from school, are still on the stairs.

    Your stack from school gives more information about the books; therefore, these words have the same function (subject) as books has in this sentence.


    		 Visit Grammar-Monster.com for more information about appositives and to take a simple self-assessment quiz ( http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/appositive_apposition.htm#AXGSi3llTwcpGgZs.99).
     

    Additional Resources


    For more instructional information, review, and practice with apposition, visit:





       When you are confident in the use of apposition, take theApposition Quiz.


       Contact your teacher if you have any questions.



    When you have finished all of the activities in each of the tabs, continue to the next lesson.