Form Class Words Flashcards
Form Class Words
The context words of English Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, Uninflected words
Characteristics of Form Classes
They are open classes, adding new members as language progresses. The members of the classes ares words that have more than one form. Form classes are large word classes. Form class words are the so-called “full morphemes” of English morphology.
Noun
can be identified by formation of a plural {-spl} and of a singular {-s sg ps} and plural {-s pl ps} posessive.
Common Noun
a generic individual of a class (boy, desk, chair, tree, etc.)
Proper Noun
a specific individual of a class (John, the Taj Mahal, Snoopy, etc.)
Count Noun
has a referent that can be counted (boy, boys; desk, desks; tree, trees)
Mass Noun
has a referent that cannot be counted (milk, money , silver, gold, water)
Collective Noun
can be considered singly or as a group (club, committee, team, group, etc.)
Concrete Noun
the referent has a physical existence (book, television, computer, pen)
Abstract Noun
the referent is a quality (love, fear, air, space, idea)
Every noun has ____ of these ____ characteristics.
Every noun has 3 of these 6 characteristics.
Functions of Nouns
Subjects of the verb (SV), subject complement (SC), Direct Object (DO), Indirect Object (IO), Retained Object (RO), Object Complement (OC), Appositive (APP), Direct Address (DA), Modifier (ADJ), Adverbial Objective (AO), Nominative Absolute (NA), Object of the preposition (OP)
APP
Appositive My mother, *Evelyn*, is a good person. The play *Hamlet* is good.
DA
Direct Addresss *Mother*! I’m hungry. *Class*, close you’re books.
ADJ
Modifier The *brick* house.
(AO)
Adverbial Objective does not tell what or whom, but tells when and where. I am going *home.* We leave next *week*.
NA
Nominative Absolute The *test,* having been given, the students all started crying. His *work* done, john left the building.
OP
Object of the preposition Of the *book* by the *river*
Adjectives
Adjectives come in three degrees ( or grades): positive, comparative, and superlative. Their function is to modify nouns or noun substitutes. They may come in three positions: prenominal (attributive), appositive, or predicate.
What position are the adjectives is? The *green* frog made a snack out of the *greener* fly.
Adjectives in the prenominal position
What position is the adjective in? The woman, *green* with envy, wanted a new convertible jut like her best friend’s.
Appositive position
What position is the adjective in? My least favorite color is *green*.
Adjective in the predicate position
Adverbs end in one of following suffixes
-ly,-wise,-s,-ward, and the free form like
Some adverbs can be used in the comparative and superlative degree; others are __________ and cannot.
Some adverbs can be used in the comparative and superlative degree; others are absolute and cannot.
Adverbs are modifiers and, in frequency of occurrence, adverbs function as modifiers of
verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and their placement is flexible in relation to the word they modify.
Adverbs answer such questions as…
how, when, where, why, under what conditions, etc.
What question is answered by the adverb? *Merrily* we roll along…
How
What question is answered by the adverb? Mary works *Saturdays,* but she has Sunday off.
When
The suspect did not willingly go with the police officers.
in what manner. Adverbs that modify verbs are movable.
Members of the form class verbs must have at least three diffrent forms from the following:
stem, -s3d, -dpt, -dpp, and -ing vb
Finite Verbs
serve as the main verb (MV) or predicator in a clause. The space explorer *walked* on the moon. The woman who *won* the competition *had worked* very hard before she *competed*
Nonfinite Verbs
Often verbs by form are used in nonverbal posistions as adjectivals, adverbials, or nominals. Verbs used in thes positions are nonfinite. To *see* the wrestlers, Mary had *to stand* on her tiptoes. (adverbial and nominal) The *singing* canary was trying *to ward off* intruders. (Adjectival, nominal) *Thinking is a part of *knowing* (nominal nominal)
Uses of Nonfinite Verbs
To modify nouns, especially in the postnominal position As adjective complements (completers) Used in nominal adjectival, or adverbial positions.
The person *speaking* had a strong bass voice.
Participle, used adjectivally in the postnominal position
I am so glad *to be here.*
Infinitive used as adjective completer.
*Dancing* may look beautiful, but it is hard *to do.*
Gerund, subject of the verb; infinitves, modifies “hard.”
Indefinite aspect of verbs
simple present or simple past tense
Completive apsect
minimally, have + the past participle. May also include modals and the primary auxiliary *be*
Progressive Aspect
formed with the -ing verb from (present participle) and appropriate auxiliaries.
