Nouns – Proper and Common
• A proper noun is a noun that represents a unique entity (James Edwards, England, The University of North Carolina). Proper nouns are usually capitalized.
• A common noun is a noun that represents a class of things.
Example: Maria’s cat is named Boo Kitty.
In this example, “Maria” and “Boo Kitty” are proper nouns because they represent a unique entity. There is only one Maria, and only one Boo Kitty being referenced. Cat is a common noun because it represents a class of animal. There are thousands of cats in the world.
Directions: Circle the proper nouns below.
Elephant India Jazz Baseball New York
Dr. Willimas Home School The Olympics Tennis
Directions: Underline the proper nouns and circle the common nouns in the following
sentences.
1) The house is in Africa.
2) The Ford truck is missing one door.
3) I am from Belize.
4) Jaime lives at 108 Spring St.
5) Monaco is an expensive city.
6) The Bulls won the game last night.
7) Basketball is so fun.
8) “Mrs. Peach needed to know my phone number,” said Juan.
9) Alamance Community College is a nice school.
10) Birds are my favorite animals.
Directions: Use the proper nouns in the box below to make two sentences.
Mt. McKinley Old River China Mr. Anderson Thomas Colorado Jupiter Nike
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Directions: Now make your one sentences using proper and common nouns.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
February 15, 2012
Exercises
Parts of Speech - Prepositions
• Almost all words have a “part of speech”. Which part of speech a word has depends on how it is used in a sentence. Here is a list of the eight parts of speech:
Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Conjunction Preposition Pronoun Interjection
Preposition: A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between its object and some other word in a sentence.
Example: The birds flew through the air.
In this example, the word “through” is a preposition because it is used to show the relationship between word “flew” and its object “the air”.
Directions: Underline the prepositions in the following sentences.
1) The mouse ran across the room.
2) The chair is beside the table.
3) I am at the University of North Carolina.
4) The crocodile is under the water.
5) We are in English class.
6) The stoplight hangs above the street.
7) The children are running around the room as fast as they can.
8) My cat jumped onto the table.
9) When you sing, sound comes out of your mouth.
10) The river runs over the rocks.
Directions: Now make your own sentences. Try to use prepositions.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
• Almost all words have a “part of speech”. Which part of speech a word has depends on how it is used in a sentence. Here is a list of the eight parts of speech:
Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Conjunction Preposition Pronoun Interjection
Preposition: A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between its object and some other word in a sentence.
Example: The birds flew through the air.
In this example, the word “through” is a preposition because it is used to show the relationship between word “flew” and its object “the air”.
Directions: Underline the prepositions in the following sentences.
1) The mouse ran across the room.
2) The chair is beside the table.
3) I am at the University of North Carolina.
4) The crocodile is under the water.
5) We are in English class.
6) The stoplight hangs above the street.
7) The children are running around the room as fast as they can.
8) My cat jumped onto the table.
9) When you sing, sound comes out of your mouth.
10) The river runs over the rocks.
Directions: Now make your own sentences. Try to use prepositions.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
February 14, 2012
The Parts of Speech
There are 8 parts of speech; Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition, Conjunction, and Interjection.
Each part of speech explains not what the word is, but how the word is used. In fact, the same word can be a noun in one sentence and a verb or adjective in the next. Please watch the videos on each part of speech to get a clearer view and sing along!
Each part of speech explains not what the word is, but how the word is used. In fact, the same word can be a noun in one sentence and a verb or adjective in the next. Please watch the videos on each part of speech to get a clearer view and sing along!
What is Grammar?
Grammar is the structural foundation of our ability to express ourselves. The more we are aware of how it works, the more we can monitor the meaning and effectiveness of the way we and others use language. It can help foster precision, detect ambiguity, and exploit the richness of expression available in English. And it can help everyone--not only teachers of English, but teachers of anything, for all teaching is ultimately a matter of getting to grips with meaning.
(David Crystal, "In Word and Deed," TES Teacher, April 30, 2004)
It is necessary to know grammar, and it is better to write grammatically than not, but it is well to remember that grammar is common speech formulated. Usage is the only test.Hear the word glamour and what comes to mind? Celebrities, most likely--limousines and red carpets, swarms of paparazzi and more money than sense. But, odd as it may sound, glamour comes directly from a decidedly less glamorous word--grammar.
(William Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up, 1938)
During the Middle Ages, grammar was often used to describe learning in general, including the magical, occult practices popularly associated with the scholars of the day. People in Scotland pronounced grammar as "glam-our," and extended the association to mean magical beauty or enchantment.
In the 19th century, the two versions of the word went their separate ways, so that our study of English grammar today may not be quite as glamorous as it used to be.
There are two types of Grammar: Descriptive Grammar and Prescriptive Grammar
Descriptive Grammar
refers to the structure of a language as it is actually used by speakers and writers.
Prescriptive Grammar
refers to the structure of a language as certain people think it should be used.
Both kinds of grammar are concerned with rules--but in different ways. Specialists in descriptive grammar (called linguists) study the rules or patterns that underlie our use of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. On the other hand, prescriptive grammarians (such as most editors and teachers) lay out rules about what they believe to be the “correct” or “incorrect” use of language.
The study of grammar all by itself will not necessarily make you a better writer. But by gaining a clearer understanding of how our language works, you should also gain greater control over the way you shape words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs. In short, studying grammar may help you become a more effective writer.
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