The building blocks of grammar

Proper – names a particular noun and is capitalized
• Westford Academy, Ms. Keirstead

Common – names any one of a group of nouns and
is not generally capitalized
 school, teacher

Concrete – an object that can be perceived by the
senses
 desk, chair

Abstract – an idea, feeling, quality, or characteristic
 love, happiness

Compound – two or more words used as a single
noun
 blackboard, backpack
 -tion
 -ment
 -sion
 -ance
 -ness
 -ence
 -ity
 -dom


Antecedent – the word to which a pronoun refers.
See the different kinds on pp. 470-471 in your
grammar book

Teacher pet peeve (parents, too) – Using “I” versus “me”:
 Nominative case – I, he, she, we, they
 Use as subjects and predicate nominatives
 He and I are going to the store. This is she.
 Objective case – me, him, her, us, them
 Use as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of
preposition
 Keep it between you and me. I adore him.
1.


2.
Give that to Jim or __ by the end of the day.
Would you use “we” or “us”?
If we, use “I.” If us, use “me.”
My friend and __ didn’t do our homework.

Same test as before.

Answers – 1. me 2. I

Tells what kind, which one, or how many

Articles (a, an, the) are all adjectives
Common Adjective Endings
-ive
-ful
-ic
-ous
-able
-less
-ible
-al

1.
2.
3 types – action, linking, and helping
Action – shows physical or mental activity
Linking – shows state of being; connects the
subject to a word that identifies or describes it


Can be replaced by an equals sign
See p. 480 for a list of linking verbs
Helping – works with main verb to create a
verb phrase
3.


Include all parts when identifying as verb
See p. 482 for a list of helping verbs
-ize
-ate
-ify



Tells where, when, how, or to what extent
As a general rule, if a word interrupts a verb
phrase, it’s an adverb
“Not” is an adverb
Common Adverb Endings
-ly



Preposition + noun =prepositional phrase
See pp. 491-492 for a list of prepositions
Where an ant can be in relation to a box is
usually a preposition:

Coordinating – connects the same kind


Correlative – connects the same kind, but
come in pairs


and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so
both . . . and, not only . . . but also, either . . . or,
neither . . . nor, whether . . . Or
Subordinating – connects unequal clauses

See list on p. 571


Has no grammatical value
Set off by exclamation point or comma
 WOO
HOO! That’s it for
grammar notes!