Major Word Classes Flashcards
What are the identifying properties of a Noun?
Morphological Properties
- Only N’s can take the genitive morpheme (‘s).
- Any word that has the suffix -ism, -ness, -tion, -ment, -dom, is a N.
- The plural morpheme only attaches to N’s (but not all N’s take it) *If a word can be plural, it’s a N.
Syntactic Properties:
- -Most N’s can occur after articles, (a, the, and quantifiers).
- N’s can modify N’s.
What are the identifying properties of a Verb?
Morphological Properties -- If a word can have -ing it's a V. (studying - study is a V) -- V's can take tense Syntactic Properties --The infinitive to can only occur before a V (to walk) --V's can follow aux's.
What are the identifying properties of an Adjective?
Morphological Properties
–Can occur with the comparative morpheme
(-er, -est)
– Can permit the suffix -ly.
(some nouns can also permit -ly like friendly.)
Syntactic Properties
–Can typically be modified by very.
– Det A N = Det noun (be) Adj.
(most N’s modifying N’s can’t do this).
What are material Nouns classified as? (stone, glass, etc.)
Material nouns are classified as nouns. They pass more noun tests than Adj tests.
Define Intensifiers.
Intensifiers modify Adj’s (the very type)
Define Manner Adv’s, and what is the ‘test’ for them?
Manner Adv’s modify Verbs. Test: In an X manner. (slowly - in a slow manner).
Define Sentence Adv’s. What is the ‘test’ for sentence Adv’s?
Sentence Adv’s modify sentences. It is X that. (obvious - it is obvious that).
Define Denominal Adv’s, what is the test for them?
Denominal Adv’s modify V’s; they come from N’s. From the perspective of X. (scientifically - from the perspective of science.)
What are the properties of a Proper Noun?
Proper N’s don’t occur with articles (the SDSU)
They typically don’t occur with plural (SDSUs)
The meaning is the referent.
What are the properties of a Common Noun?
A class of entity instead of the entity itself. Usually occurs with article. Can be plural. Chair, the chair, chairs.
Explain the differences between State Verbs, and Activity Verbs.
State Verbs have a meaning of a state. They don’t occur in progressive tense. (they are Xing…)
Activity V’s have a meaning of an activity; they DO occur in progressive. (this is the test to see if it is an activity V or State V.)
Explain the difference between telic and atelic V’s?
Telic V’s have a built-in end point. use the word (in). The water evaporated in (for) an hour.
Atelic V’s don’t have a buit-in end point. Use the word (for). Pablo read for (in) an hour.
Explain the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
Transitive verbs require a D.O. (built - he built a house.)
Intransitive V’s don’t require a D.O. He laughed.
-Count the number of post-V expressions.