Sentence Structures
What is the "word order" that the English language uses?
English uses SVO order — subject-verb-object. All sentences in English follow this word order, even if the syntax is different!
What are "nouns?"
Nouns are a part of speech that identify a person, place, object or thing.
What is a "verb?"
Verbs refer to an action, something happening, or a state of being. If you're doing, being, or existing — you're using a verb!
Please identify the adjective:
"Rachel is a very engaging teacher!"
"Rachel is a very engaging teacher!"
Give me an interjection of some kind!
"Ouch!" "What?" "OH!" (anything of that kind!)
Identify the word order (___) components of this sentence:
"The bus sailed over the hill!"
Identify the nouns in this sentence:
"The clock tower tolled loudly in Westminster."
"The clock tower tolled loudly in Westminster."
Can you name the three types of verbs that we have studied in class?
Action verbs, linking verbs, helping verbs!
Please identify the adverb:
"Benjamin walks briskly around town."
"Benjamin walks briskly around town."
What's the grammatical difference between a preposition and a conjunction?
Prepositions connect individual words together, while conjunctions connect phrases and clauses (parts of sentences) together.
Identify the word order (___) components of this sentence:
"My train arrives at the platform at 6:00pm this evening."
"My train (subject) arrives (verb) at the platform (object) at 6:00pm this evening."
What is the function of pronouns?
Pronouns replace the usage of nouns!
What makes a verb transitive or intransitive?
A transitive verb requires an object to receive the action from a subject: the baseball *hit* the fence.
An intransitive verb does not require this. "I shrieked!"
What's the difference between an adjective and an adverb?
Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns (defining the qualities of an object), while adverbs describe verbs (how something is done or occurs).
What are the three types of articles used in the English language?
"A" "An" "The"
What part of speech does *every* full sentence require, no matter the context?
Every sentence requires a verb of some kind! If a sentence does not demonstrate action or occurrence of some kind through a verb, it's likely not a full sentence.
Can you name me one type of pronoun? What does it do?
Any answer ranging between: personal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, relative pronouns, reflexive pronouns, intensive pronouns.
What is the function of a linking verb? And give me an example!
Linking verbs connect the subject and object of a sentence together. Certain combinations of "to be" and "to become" emphasize this best: "She is ambitious," "They became college students," "We are monsters!"
There's a suffix that makes it simple to find most adverbs. What is it? (_ _)
Adverbs often have a "ly" suffix attached, which makes it simple and straightforward to find most adverbs in sentences!
Besides connecting words together, what function do prepositions serve in English?
Prepositions demonstrate location and time! "I'm at the station" or "I'll be at the station at 9:00am"
Can you name all nine parts of speech in the English language?
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, articles, interjections
Why might someone ask you "what are your pronouns?"
Pronoun usage is a large component of one's identity, and individuals may express gender identity through use of a specific pronoun for themselves. (i.e. "they" for folks who may identify as non-binary)
Can you name me a function of a helping verb? What do they do?
Helping verbs give additional information about possibility or time sequence
e.g. She might be going to the beach today.
e.g. They could drive into Boston tomorrow!
Can you write me a sentence that possesses both an adjective and an adverb in 60 seconds?
(Confirmed via student writing!)
Tell me about one of the three types of conjunctions we use in English (coordinating, correlating, subordinate) and use one in a sentence!
Confirmed via student response!