English-Readings-1

Introduction

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Part I: Parts of Speech

Nouns

• Definition: A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.

• Types of Nouns:

  • Proper Noun: Names a specific entity (e.g., Makati). Must be capitalized.

  • Common Noun: Refers to a general category (e.g., city). Not capitalized unless at the start of a sentence.

  • Collective Noun: Refers to a group (e.g., family, team).

  • Abstract Noun: Denotes an idea or quality (e.g., happiness, loyalty). Often formed with suffixes (e.g., -ness, -ity).

Modifications of Nouns

• Person: Noun's grammatical role can refer to the speaker (first person), the addressed (second person), or someone mentioned (third person).

• Number: Singular (one) or plural (more than one).

• Gender: Categories for nouns can be masculine, feminine, or neuter based on denoted sex or absence thereof.

• Case: Grammatical function of the noun can be nominative, possessive, or objective.

Noun Usage Examples

1. Nominative Case: Subject, Predicate Nominative, Address, etc.

2. Possessive Case: Indicates ownership.

3. Objective Case: Functions as a direct/indirect object or object of a preposition.

Part II: Pronouns

Definition and Types of Pronouns

• Pronouns replace nouns, often with an antecedent.

• Types:

  • Personal Pronouns: Refer to specific persons or things. Includes nominative (I, you, he...) and objective (me, you, him...).

  • Compound Personal Pronouns: Formed with self/selves (myself, ourselves).

  • Interrogative Pronouns: Who, which, what; used for questions.

  • Indefinite Pronouns: General (e.g., everyone, some).

Part III: Adjectives

Definition and Types

• Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns.

• Types:

  • Descriptive: Describe qualities (red, tall).

  • Limiting: Define or restrict (two, several). Includes numeral and articles.

Position of Adjectives

• Generally precede the nouns they modify.

• Order matters in strings of adjectives (Determiner → Size → Age → Color → Material → Noun).

Part IV: Verbs

Definition and Types

• Verbs express action or being.

• Types:

  • Transitive Verbs: Require an object (e.g., she kicked the ball).

  • Intransitive Verbs: No object (e.g., he sleeps).

  • Linking Verbs: Connect subjects to a noun or adjective (e.g., she is happy).

Verb Tenses

• Simple: Present, past, future.

• Perfect: Present Perfect, Past Perfect, etc.

Part V: Adverbs

Definition and Use

• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (quickly, very).

• Classification:

  • Manner, Place, Time, etc.

Comparison of Adverbs

• Regular (adding '-er' or '-est') and irregular forms.

• Some adverbs cannot be compared.

Part VI: Prepositions

Understanding Prepositions

• Prepositions show relationships between nouns (e.g., in, on, at).

• Types: Prepositions of time, place, movement.

Common Prepositions

• A comprehensive list, including about, above, after, before, during, etc.

Part VII: Conjunctions

Types of Conjunctions

• Connect parts of a sentence.

• Coordinating Conjunctions: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

• Subordinating Conjunctions: After, although, because, etc.

• Correlative Conjunctions: Both/and, either/or, neither/nor, etc.

Part VIII: Interjections

Definition and Use

• Interjections express strong emotions or reactions (e.g., wow, ouch).

• Stand alone or included in sentences.

Conclusion

• Acronym strategies for memorizing parts of speech and related functions.

• Encouragement to discuss this knowledge and further resources available from Academic-Clinic.