Word Classes Flashcards
What is a ‘proper noun’?
A proper noun usually begins with a capital letter. They refer to specific people and places. Eg, Paris, Mia, Venus.
What is a ‘common noun’?
A common noun are less specific and refer to types of people, places, feelings etc. Eg, city, man, planet, excitement.
They can be further divided into concrete, abstract and collective nouns.
What is a ‘concrete noun’?
A concrete noun is a thing that physically exists - things we can physically sense is some way. Eg, computer, hand, house, tiger.
What is an ‘abstract noun’?
An abstract noun refer to things that do not physically exist - feelings, ideas, qualities. Eg, friendship, Marxism, arrogance.
What is a ‘collective noun’?
A collective noun refers to groups of people, animals or objects. Eg, a flock of birds, police, company.
What are ‘count nouns’?
Count nouns (mass nouns) refer to items that can be counted (usually concrete nouns but not as many abstract nouns). Eg, trees, girls, plans - they can be pluralised.
They may have an ‘a’ before. Eg, a dog.
They may have a number before. Eg, five cats.
They may have ‘some’ before. Eg, some sweets.
(note that some nouns are irregular and may have a different plural inflection. Eg, life = lives, child = children.
What are ‘non-count nouns’?
Non-count nouns (mass nouns) refer to substances and qualities that can’t be counted. They can’t be pluralised. Eg, I love listening to music. Can you pass me the bread?
They can instead indicate the amount by adding ‘piece of’. Eg, can you pass me two pieces of bread?
What are ‘modifiers’?
The most common type of modifier are adjectives and adverbs (there are more modifying words+phrases).
Adjectives modify the meaning of nouns.
Adverbs modify the meaning of verbs (sometimes adjectives).
If the modifier appears before the noun, it is a pre-modifier.
It the modifier appears after the noun, it is a post-modifier.
What are ‘adjectives’?
Adjectives are describing words.
They provide extra information about nouns by giving details of physical qualities like colour and shape, and psychological qualities like emotions.
Eg, the red car, the round building, a funny film, a happy time.
They can either pre-modify or post-modify nouns. Eg, the large balloon = the balloon was large.
What are ‘comparatives’?
(Comparative adjectives)
Comparatives/comparative adjectives are formed by adding -er to the adjective.
They can also be formed by adding more in front of the adjective. Eg, more expensive.
What are ‘superlatives’?
(Superlative adjectives)
Superlatives/superlative adjectives are formed by adding -est to the adjective.
They can also be formed by adding most in front of the adjective. Eg, most expensive.
What are ‘adverbs’?
Adverbs usually give us more information about verbs, but can also modify other word types. Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the ends of adjectives. Eg, they left immediately. She felt better. He ran quickly. (They modify verbs just as adjectives modify nouns).
They can also modify:
- verbs: the car drove slowly.
- adjectives: the house was very pretty.
- other adverbs: the picture was painted particularly carefully.
- sentences: certainly, the work will be completed on time.
What are ‘intensifiers’?
(Intensifying adverbs)
Intensifiers add emphasis without significantly changing meaning. They are usually adverbs and modify adjectives or nouns. Eg, a very good meal, a really amazing concert, i was so drunk.
What are ‘pronouns’?
They replace nouns. Can either be in 1st, 2nd or 3rd person and either singular or plural.
1st person singular = I, me, myself, mine
1st person plural = we, us, ours (not our or my)
2nd person singular = what you say directly to someone - you
2nd person plural = you (not your or yous)
3rd person singular = what you say about someone - he, she, her, him, it
3rd person plural = they, them, those, these
What are ‘demonstrative pronouns’?
Demonstrative pronouns replace noun and help to ‘demonstrate’ something.
Eg, this, that, those
Eg, look of this
I like that
I want those
