English Language and Literature techniques #1 Grammar

Traditionally known as describing words, they provide extra information about nouns by giving details of physical qualities like colour and shape, and of psychological qualities like emotions

Are modifying words. They can modify the meaning of verbs, adjectives or other adverbs (e.g. gently, very, fortunately).

Express a wide range of actions which are usually physical e.g. jump, run, stare, dance.

Of a verb is the ‘root’ of the verb (i.e. without any endings for tense or person). It usually includes ‘to’ (e.g. to run, to laugh).

A verb that cannot take an object e,g. Mary fell (the verb to fall cannot take an object).

Are used to help the main verb; another verb is always needed. Can, will, shall, may, could, would, should, might, must, ought to

These are words that describe the head word or give more information about it. If they come before the head word they are pre-modifiers: ‘The scruffy dog’ and if they come after the head word they are called post-modifiers: ‘The dog across the street...’.Modifiers enrich description and may create a certain atmosphere.

Refer to things that exist physically and abstract nouns refer to ideas, feelings and qualities e.g. justice, friendship, democracy.

Replace nouns: she gave it to him. First person plural pronouns such as ‘us’ and ‘we’ give texts an inclusive feel. They help to establish a shared sense of identity.

Refer to specific people and places - usually begin with a capital letter

Express states of being or processes in which there is no obvious action; they are not often used as commands and do not usually occur after the verb to be with an –ing ending: to know, to believe, to remember, to realise, to suppose, to appear.

Words which express the best or worst of something. They often end in ‘est’ or have ‘most’ or ‘least’ before them, e.g. ‘highest’, ‘happiest’, ‘most beautiful’. Used to emphasise the extremes. Often found in advertisements for their persuasive effect.

A verb that must take an object. E.g. Mary makes…tea (the listener needs to know what Mary makes).

Word indicating action or state: a word used to show that an action is taking place or to indicate the existence of a state or condition, or the part of speech to which such a word belongs