Parts of Speech

A direct object will answer _____ about an action verb.

Who? or What?

The three articles are ___, ____, and ____.

A, AN, and THE

Michael Moore ATE a gigantic chalupa.

ACTION (THIS ONE HAS A DIRECT OBJECT)

My math classes have been SOLVING difficult problems.

ACTION VERB . This verb has two helping verbs: HAVE and BEEN. The direct object here is PROBLEMS.

Lady Gaga RAN the charity marathon.

ACTION VERB What did she run? She ran a marathon.

Fred and Wilma SENT Barney a gift.

ACTION VERB What did they send? A gift.

Lola CALLED me a cab.

ACTION VERB. SHE IS DOING SOMETHING HERE. .

Ursula SMELLED a burning trout.

ACTION VERB. The verb takes a direct object. Ursula smelled WHAT? a burning trout

ON OUR LAST JOURNEY, we found a dinosaur bone.

ADVERB PHRASE...remember: Introductory prepositional phrases go searching for the verb, making this an adverb phrase. Also, ask yourself this logical question: When did we find the bone? We found it on our last journey. The phrase clearly modifies the verb.

List the seven coordinating conjunctions.

AND, BUT, OR, NOR, FOR, SO, YET

An introductory single adverb will be set off by a ___.

Comma...Unfortunately, Larry lost his wallet.

Little Charlie made his teacher an ice SCULPTURE.

DIRECT OBJECT. Charlie made WHAT? He made an ice sculpture, so this is the direct object. This sentence also has an indirect object (his teacher). he made the ice sculpture FOR WHOM? His teacher. S-AV-IO-DO.

Nestor needs a new HAIRCUT.

DIRECT OBJECT. Nestor needs WHAT? In this sentence, HAIRCUT answers the WHAT? question about the action verb.

Mr. Burns FELT sick yesterday.

FELT is a linking verb. Mr. Burns is not doing anything (does he ever?) in this sentence. This is his condition, He FEELS sick.

Which conjunction is also a preposition?

FOR

Identify the CAPITALIZED verb as ACTION, LINKING, or HELPING.

GOT IT!!!!!!!

Millard bought his GIRLFRIEND a chainsaw.

INDIRECT OBJECT. He bought WHAT? a chainsaw. For whom? GIRLFRIEND. S-AV-IO-DO...do not forget that pattern. Know it! Love it!

Stanley gave his MOTHER a stuffed armadillo.

INDIRECT OBJECT. This sentence has the same construction as the previous sentence. Stanley gave WHAT? a stuffed armadillo. ARMADILLO is the direct object. TO WHOM did Stanley give the armadillo? his mother. MOTHER is, therefore, the indirect object.

The Chicago Bears ARE not a good team.

Linking verb. AM, IS, ARE, WAS, WERE are the most common linking verbs. they state CONDITION. the sentence also contains the somewhat hidden adverb NOT. The word NOT modifies to what degree the Bears are good...NOT!

LESTER TOOK HIS MOTHER TO THE STORE.

MOTHER is the direct object. Took who? His mother! This sentence has no indirect object. STORE is the object of the preposition. Remember: The IO will be found between the Action Verb and Direct Object.

Bob NEVER eats his Twinkee.

NEVER is an adverb modifying the verb EATS. How often does he eat? NEVER!!!

Identify the CAPITALIZED prepositional phrase as either an adjective or adverb phrase.

NIFTY

Which word is NOT a preposition: ON -- OVER -- THROUGH -- BESIDE -- BEFORE -- WITH -- NOT -- IN -- THROUGHOUT -- AT

NOT is not a preposition. NOT is found in the adverb spot. It can be found in the midst of a verb phrase.

The weather has NOT been enjoyable.

NOT is the adverb modifying the verb HAS BEEN. remember: NOT is not part of the verb phrase.

Lester left the game early ( ) and caught the last train home.

No comma. The words following the ( ) do not constitute an independent clause.

The Braves scored the first run ( ) and grabbed a crucial early lead.

No comma. The words following the ( ) do not constitute an independent clause.

All objects will be ___.

Nouns...Direct Objects, Indirect Objects and Objects of prepositions are NOUNS.

Lonnie loves the ice cream from GRAHAM'S.

OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

Niles left his monocle on the PATIO.

OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION. In this sentence, ON is a preposition. By definition, a prepositional phrase contains a preposition and its object. The object will typically be found at the end of the phrase. All objects are nouns.

On his last DAY of middle school, Melvin brought his emu to class.

OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION. This is an introductory prepositional phrase, so the comma is something of a giveaway here. The preposition ON must have an object, and that object is DAY.

In the following sentences, identify the DIRECT and INDIRECT OBJECTS.

OKee Dokee

Identify the FUNCTION of the highlighted word.

OKee Dokke

The dinner smells LOVELY.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE. Look at the previous card for an explanation. LOVELY is the adjective to describe the dinner.

Hillary is UPSET .

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE. What else could this be? With the linking verb IS, you know you will likely have a predicate adjective or nominative. UPSET describes Hillary (and so many of her supporters). Hey! This sentence (and review) is six years old. How about that?

My goldfish is FEROCIOUS.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVE. You have a linking verb (IS) here; therefore, you cannot have a direct or indirect object. FEROCIOUS describes the goldfish and is on the predicate side of the sentence; therefore, FEROCIOUS is a predicate adjective.

Millard is a tremendous FAN.

PREDICATE NOMINATIVE. This sentence has a linking verb (IS) and is therefore waiting on a predicate adjective or nominative. FAN is a noun, so this is a predicate nominative

We did not see the last act ( ) nor did we wait for the curtain call.

Place the comma in the parentheses. The first independent clause is obvious. The second clause features some funky syntax (word order), but it does contain a subject (WE) and a verb phrase (DID WAIT). This is as tricky as this section can be.

How does a POSSESSIVE PRONOUN function?

These always function as adjectives. Words like HIS, HER, OUR, YOUR , and THEIR are POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. Bob lost HIS voice. HIS is the adjective here.

Billy NEVER ate his dessert.

This adverb modifies the verb ATE. When did he eat the dessert? NEVER!!!

Stanley put his extra shoelaces in the FREEZER.

This is the object of the preposition. The preposition is IN, so the object (the last word of the prepositional phrase, is FREEZER.

The capitalized adverb in the following sentence modifies either a verb, adjective or adverb. You choose. My car moves REMARKABLY fast

This modifies the non -LY adverb FAST. How fast is the car moving? REMARKABLY fast.

Shirley was a genuine lady.

This sentence has neither. This sentence contains a LINKING VERB; therefore, the word LADY is a predicate nominative, not a direct object.

Max found seven dollars and a library card.

This sentence has two direct objects: DOLLARS and CARD. What did Max find? DOLLARS and CARD. This sentence also lacks an indirect object. Remember your S-AV-IO-DO clue

Thomas bought a new car AND paid for it with aluminum cans.

coordinating conjunction--no comma because the coordinating conjunction is NOT joining separate independent clauses....PAID FOR IT lacks a subject--this is not a sentence.

Geoffrey wants THOSE biscuits.

demonstrative pronoun, which is functioning as an adjective. Demonstrative pronouns always function as adjectives.

THIS test will be easy.

demonstrative pronoun/adjective

Stanley put his extra SHOELACES in the freezer.

direct object. Stanley put WHAT? If you can answer this question about an action verb, you have a direct object. Follow the patter, young Jedi.

Leonard punched a DONKEY.

direct object/NOUN Leonard punched WHAT? a donkey. Remember, a direct object will answer WHO? or WHAT? about an action verb.

Tomorrow's game WILL decide the league championship.

helping verb. The main verb is DECIDE. The helping verb determines the timing of the verb. This will happen in the future.

The president proposed a TAX cut.

here, TAX is an adjective...it modifies CUT..."what kind of CUT? a TAX cut!!!

Millard left his ANCESTORS a fortune.

indirect object--He left WHAT? a fortune? He left it to WHOM? his ancestors--S-AV-IO-DO

Kris Bryant gave his FANS a big thrill.

indirect object. Kris Bryant gave WHAT? a big thrill. To whom did he give this big thrill? his fans. Remember the S-AV-IO-DO pattern. Find the direct object first and then search for the indirect between the action verb and the direct object.

An ___ prepositional phrase should be followed by a comma.

introductory

The dinner SMELLS lovely.

linking verb. Here, the word SMELLS is a linking verb because the dinner is not performing an action. The dinner does not have a nose and cannot do anything. This sentence is about the "condition" or "state" of the dinner. It is a lovely dinner.

The old man in the WINDOW has been watching the squirrels.

object of a preposition. Same as previous card. Once you locate the preposition, the rest should be easy.

For her mother's birthday, Selma made a batch of COOKIES.

object of the preposition. this is NOT a direct object because the action verb MADE takes the direct object BATCH. She made WHAT? a batch. OF COOKIES is a prepositional phrase, albeit a brief one.

Someone stole MY favorite pen.

possessive pronoun/adjective. This is MY pen. The word MY modifies the pen. It is not a blue pen or a green pen or an old pen; it is MY pen.

John Lester has been INCONSISTENT.

predicate adjective

Matt Eberflus seems UPSET .

predicate adjective. SEEMS is a linking verb. Matt Eberflus is not doing anything here. The verb tells us of his condition. He is UPSET.

Friday's test was EASY.

predicate adjective. The linking verb WAS is the key here. You do not have an action verb in this sentence. Nothing is happening, so to speak. We are looking at and EASY test. EASY appears on the predicate side of the sentence and modifies the word TEST.

Percival is the finest KNIGHT.

predicate nominative. You have a linking verb here with IS. The word KNIGHT is another word for Percival. Who is Percival? A knight. Who is a knight? Percival. A predicate nominative follows a linking verb and renames or restates a noun (subject).

A ___ adverb should be followed by a comma.

single, introductory For Example: Quietly, Lazlo snuck into the kitchen. QUIETLY is the introductory adverb (modifying SNUCK) and is set off by the comma.

What is the acronym for the coordinating conjunctions?

"FANBOYS" or "ABONFSY" if you are cool.

An adverb will frequently end in -____.

-LY

How does a DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN function?

A demonstrative pronoun is an adjective. THIS, THAT, THESE, and THOSE are the demonstrative pronouns. I like THESE bagels. In the sentence, THESE modifies the direct object BAGELS. Since all objects are nouns, the word modifying the noun is an adjective.

A prepositional phrase begins with a ____ and ends with an ___.

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with an object.

Direct Objects will follow ___.

Action verbs

Articles will always function as __.

Adjectives

Possessive pronouns will always function as ___.

Adjectives (his, her, your, our, my, their, its)

Prepositional phrases will function as either ___ or ___.

Adjectives or adverbs

YESTERDAY, the Cubs won a big game against the Cardinals.

Adverb (Introductory, by the way). The word YESTERDAY modifies the verb WON. When did the Cubs win? Yesterday.

That young man is SO cute.

Adverb modifying the predicate adjective CUTE. "How cute?" SOOOOOOOO cute.

Marvin WAS quite angry.

LINKING

My favorite bologna IS Oscar Mayer.

LINKING VERB. The bologna is not doing anything here. Oscar Meyer is the predicate nominative.

Predicate adjectives and Predicate Nominatives will follow ___.

Linking Verbs

On the last night ( ) of the festival ( ) Glenda rode the Tilt-a-Whirl with the handsome chap ( ) from her math class.

Place the comma in the second set ( ). At the end of a string of introductory prepositional phrases, a comma is common. Do NOT place a comma between prepositional phrases ONE and TWO. When the prepositional phrase appears at the end of the sentence, the comma disappears.

In each of the following sentences, identify the CAPITALIZED word.

SOUNDS GROOVY, BOSS

Still studying? Good for you. Check back later. I may post an extra creit question somewhere in this Quizlet.

See ya later, Dawg.

A sentence will contain a ___ and a ____, and it will express a _________.

Subject and a Verb....Complete thought

At the end of class, the mischievous ELF taunted the pretty girl.

Subject/Noun. Do not be fooled by the introductory prepositional phrases. Who or what is doing anything in this sentence? The ELF is the subject because the sentence is about what the elf is doing. He/She is taunting the little girl.

The small dog has been barking at the NEIGHBORS.

THIS IS THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION. The preposition is AT, and the object is NEIGHBORS.

Name the four DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.

THIS, THAT, THESE, and THOSE. Demonstrative pronouns function as adjectives. THIS quiz will be easy. In that sentence, THIS modifies QUIZ.

Mother gave me a PARTICULARLY dirty look.

The adverb modifies the adjective DIRTY. How dirty? Particularly dirty.

The immense man sat on the EXTREMELY old fence.

The adverb modifies the adjective OLD. How old is the fence? Extremely old.

Melissa performed MODERATELY well.

The adverb modifies the adverb WELL. How did Melissa perform? WELL. How well? MODERATELY WELL.

The referee called the game PERFECTLY.

The adverb modifies the verb CALLED. How did the referee call the game? PERFECTLY.

I saw the Britney Spears concert TONIGHT.

The adverb modifies the verb WENT. When did the person see the concert? TONIGHT!

Nicky wrote his lawyer a lengthy confession.

The direct object is CONFESSION. NICKY WROTE WHAT? A confession. To whom did he write the confession? LAWYER. S-AV-IO-DO

The guy in the old car has been sending the starlet a series of threatening messages.

The direct object is SERIES. What has he been sending? A SERIES....MESSAGES is the object of the preposition. The indirect object is STARLET.

Decide whether each of the following sentences requires a comma where you see the parentheses ( ).

Too much fun for a Thursday evening, sir.

The introductory prepositional phrase will go searching for the ___.

Verb

An adverb will modify a ___, ____, or ____.

Verbs, adjectives, and adverbs

Identify the FUNCTION of each of the CAPITALIZED words.

WOW!! So much fun!!

Quietly ( ) Marcus unlocked the front door ( ) but he did not enter the house immediately.

Yes in both instances. The fist set ( ) follows an introductory single adverb. The second set ( ) precedes a comma before a second independent clause.

Hunter LANDED a lucrative job.

action verb Hunter landed WHAT? a job.

Before the last game OF THE SEASON, the manager fired the ballboy.

adjective phrase...this one modifies GAME. Which game? The last game OF THE SEASON. Notice how the second prepositional phrase modifies the OBJECT of the first prepositional phrase (Which game? The game OF THE SEASON).

This weekend's weather looks SPECTACULARLY good.

adverb modifying an adjective...GOOD is the predicate adjective, and SPECTATCULARLY tells us how GOOD the weather looks. LOOKS is a linking verb here.

We argued DURING THE INTERMISSION

adverb phrase...DURING looks like a verb, doesn't it? It is NOT a verb, however. DURING is a preposition.

Herbert sat ON THE EDGE of his seat.

adverb phrase...this modifies the verb SAT. Where did he sit?

The child picked an apple FROM THE TREE.

adverb phrase...this one is modifying PICKED...where did he pick this? from a tree! You could make an argument that it is an apple FROM A TREE/adjective phrase, but the more convincing argument favors PICKED, since all apples come from trees, except of course Apple computers.

Theodore has NOT finished his homework.

adverb. The verb phrase here is HAS FINISHED. The word NOT is an adverb because it modifies the verb phrase. To what degree has Theodore finished his homework? NOT!

A comma will be used with a coordinating conjunction when the coordinating conjunctions is used to join __

two independent clauses