Word+Classes

= Word classes by Laura Evans, Katie Armstrong, Tracy Ford, Kate Anderton =

As teachers we need to understand word class to be able to explain the function of words to children. Children need to be aware of a number of words classes. Although you will not necessarily use all the terminology below with pupils, sound knowledge is important so we hope our explanations help.


 * Section 1:** What is meant by a word class?
 * Section 2:** What are the main word classes?
 * Section 3:** Word Class definitions and examples
 * Section 4:** Improve your subject knowledge
 * Section 5:** Resources for use in the classroom
 * Section 6:** Cross-Curricular Links

__**Section 1: What is meant by a word class?**__

Word classes help us understand how words are used and every word in the English language belongs to one or more word classes. A word class is defined as 'a grouping of members of a unit in terms of their function' (Randall and Hardman, 2002). Word class used to be referred to as "parts of speech".

__**Section 2: What are the main word classes?**__ (Randall and Hardman, 2002)


 * noun
 * pronoun
 * adjective
 * verb
 * adverb
 * determiner
 * preposition

__**Section 3: Word class definitions and examples**__ 'Nouns refer to people, places or things '(Medwell et al, 2011). There are three main types of nouns: Common nouns- refer to things which are not unique eg dog, country, hope, bird Proper nouns- are indicated by a capital letter eg names, days of the week, countries Compund nouns- formed from the combinationof two or more other words, neither of which is necessarily a noun itself eg headache, workman, breakdown.
 * Noun:**

Pronouns can be thought of as a subclass of nouns. They act in place of a noun in a sentence: eg 'John has a new car' becomes //'He// has a new car'. There are many types of pronouns including; Personal = they, she, we. Possesive = mine, his, theirs. Reciprocal = each other, one another. Reflexive = yoursleves, itself, themselves. Relative = whose, when, which. Demonstartive = these, those, that. Interrogative = who, what why. Indefinite = anything, nobody, something.
 * Pronouns:**

'A verb is a word that expresses an action e.g. walk, a state of being e.g. seem, or thinking e.g. consider' (Randall and Hardman, 2002). The verb MUST agree with its subject; single subject = single verb e.g. He //likes// bananas plural subject = plural verb e.g They //like// bananas (BBC website - Skillswise factsheet)
 * Verb:**

It must be rememebred there are irregular verbs (verbs that are not predictable by rules) e.g. //to go// which has the unpredictable forms of //went// and //gone//. (Randall and Hardman)

'A single word which often gives extra information about a verb, e.g. She walked //slowly//. The function of the adverb here is to specify the 'manner' of walking. Other adverb meanings include 'time', e.g. Pete arrived //today// and 'space' e.g. Sue stepped //outside.//' (Randall and Hardman, 2002: 4)
 * Adverb:**

Any verb can have an adverb added (BBC website). Adverbs can modify other words, e.g. The new teachers spoke //very confidently// (adverb + adverb). she is //quite happy// (adverb + adjective). The can also modify whole sentences e.g. Really, you could do much better.

A determiner precedes a noun and makes it more specific. The most common determiners are //a/an// and //the// (known as the definate article), however there are many more such as //this, that, some// and //whichever.// Some determiners, like //any// or //several,// indicate quantity and both cardinal and ordinal numbers can be used as determiners when they are placed before a noun (//one book, second place).//
 * Determiner**:

Prepositions relate the object of the sentence (i.e. the noun or pronoun) to another part of the sentence. This is usually a link in time, space or logic, for example: The book is //on// the desk. The chicken came //before// the egg. Our document is //about// word classes.
 * Preposition**:

An adjective is a word that gives more information about a noun. It can be used to describe:
 * Adjectives**

1. Opinion (feelings or qualities) e.g. beautiful, honest, sad. 2. Size and measurements e.g. tall, long, fat. 3. Age e.g. young, teenager, five. 4. Shape e.g. round, square, flat stop 5. Colour e.g. blue, red, black. 6. Material/properties of an object-e.g. wooden, sharp, plastic. 7. Origin/Nationality e.g. English, French, Spanish. 8. Purpose e.g. //science// teacher, //driving// instructor.

In English sentence structure, the adjectives are always organised in order as above. Try to remember the acronym:


 * OSASCOMP**

Rule 1: **//O//**SASCOMP - O for **//opinion//**

Adjectives that talk about opinions, judgements or attitudes usually come first e.g: lovely jacket perfect plate

Rule 2: O**//S//**ASCOMP - S for **//size//**

Adjectives relating to size, length and height come next e.g: lovely, large jacket perfect, big plate

Rule 3: OS**//A//**SCOMP - A for **//age//**

Next are any adjectives relating to age e.g: lovely, large, new jacket perfect, big, old plate

Rule #4: OSA**//S//**COMP - S for **//shape//** lovely, large, new jacket perfect, big, old, round plate

Rule #5: OSAS**//C//**OMP - C for **//colour//**

Next are the adjectives that talk about colour e.g: lovely, large, new, black jacket perfect, big, old, round, white plate

Rule #6: OSASC**//O//**MP - O for **//origin//**

This refers to adjectives that say where the noun is from e.g: lovely, large, new, black jacket perfect, big, old, round, white, Chinese plate

Rule #7: OSASCO**//M//**P - M for **//material//**

This refers to what the noun is made of e.g: lovely, large, new, black, leather jacket perfect, big, old, round, white, Chinese, porcelain plate

Rule #8: OSASCOM**//P//** - P for **//purpose//**

This refers to what the noun is used for (e.g. wedding ring). They are often nouns used as adjectives e.g:lovely, large, new, black, leather jacket perfect, big, old, round, white, Chinese, porcelain, dinner plate


 * Conjunctions:**

Words that link ideas within a sentence are called conjuntions. Conjuntions are used to connect two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together. There are three main types of conjuntions: Co-ordinating conjunction: these are used to connect words or phrases with similar grammatical functions and they always come between the two words they are connecting, for example: I will buy a coat and a hat The dog was cute but nasty I did not call nor write to my mum There are 7 co-ordinatong conjuntions which are all short words (3 letters or less): F - for A - and N - nor B - but O - or Y - yet S - so A correlative conjuntion is a co-ordinating conjuntion that works in pairs e.g: both..... and, not only..... but also, either.... or, neither.... nor, for example: A subordinating conjuntion connects dependent and independent clauses, for example: He was acting as though he had done something wrong.

__**Section 4: Improve your subject knowledge**__
 * Still stuck?**


 * Useful Books;** Randall, E., and Hardman, A. (2002) //A-Z of concepts in Primary English.// Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd


 * Useful Websites;** @http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/what-are-word-types (REALLY GOOD :-) !)


 * Useful Video's;** Below are two video's that talk through the different word classes. They are very useful if you want to brush up on your subject knowledge.

WARNING: both presenters have voices that might make you fall asleep so beware! media type="youtube" key="-pDxtDsN1bA" height="241" width="371"media type="youtube" key="NMZTmHyLLhg" height="255" width="373" align="left"

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 * Section 5: Resources for use in the classroom**
 * Word Class Lesson Plan Ideas**

School House Rock – Adjective Grammar Rock Song media type="youtube" key="mYzGLzFuwxI" height="270" width="387"
 * Adjectives**
 * Section 6: Cross-Curricular Links**

Within subject link: Word Classes 2 Phonics Phonics 2