English Language - Exam 1

Nouns

Words we use to refer to things in the world

Functions of Nouns

Nouns and noun phrases perform key grammatical jobs in a sentence

Subject

The leading actor of the verb (e.g.

Object

The recipient of the verb’s action (e.g.

Characterizing Other Nouns

Nouns can modify other nouns to form compound nouns (e.g.

Adjectives

Words that describe or modify nouns

Restriction (Adjectives)

Narrow down a noun’s reference to a specific thing (e.g.

Description (Adjectives)

Add descriptive qualities to a noun (e.g.

Attributive Adjectives

Appear before the noun they modify (e.g.

Predicative Adjectives

Appear after a linking verb and describe the subject (e.g.

Participial Adjectives

Adjectives derived from verbs

Articles

Determiners that specify whether a noun is definite or indefinite

Indefinite Articles

"A" or "An

Definite Article

"The

Information Flow (Articles)

Introduce with an indefinite article

Determiners

Words that precede a noun and provide context (articles

Possessives

Determiners that show ownership (my

Quantifiers

Determiners that specify the amount of a noun (some

Demonstratives

Determiners that point to specific nouns (this

Periphrastic Quantifiers

Multi-word quantifiers acting as a single unit (a lot of

Pronouns

Words that substitute for a noun or noun phrase

Referent

The thing in the real world a pronoun refers to

Antecedent

The noun or noun phrase a pronoun stands in for (e.g.

Pronoun Agreement

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number

Prepositions

Words that link a noun phrase to another part of a sentence

Adverbial Modifier (Prepositional Phrase)

Modifies a verb

Adjectival Modifier (Prepositional Phrase)

Modifies a noun to form a complex noun phrase (e.g.

Prepositions of Time

Express time (after dinner)

Prepositions of Place/Direction

Express location or movement (in the house)

Prepositions of Manner

Express how something is done (with care)

Prepositions of Instrumentality

Express tools or means (with a hammer)