The Primary Parts of Speech

1. Right, because English is so extremely simple. • NOUN • ADVERB The Primary Parts of Speech • ADJECTIVE An extremely simple guide to using nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs [featuring Karl Pilkington]

2. Parts of Speech Flow Chart VERBS (words that express action or state of being) • NOUNS • (things and people) LINKING VERBS (words that express state of being) ACTION VERBS (words that express action) MODIFIES MODIFIES USED AFTER • ADJECTIVES • (descriptive words) • ADVERBS • (words that modify an action verb, adjective, or another adverb) Modifies

3. Yeah, but I learned this in 2nd grade… • NOUNS • (things and people) • broccoli • blender • Mr. Rodgers • ADJECTIVES • (descriptive words) • red • short • demonic • friendly • fiendish MODIFIES

4. Nouns TIP: If you can place “the” or “a” in front of a word in a sentence, the word is a noun! The purple cow chewed grass. the • ADJECTIVE

5. VERBS (words that express action or state of being) • ACTION VERBS • (words that express action) • Decide • Stink • Read • Advocate • splash LINKING VERBS (words that express a state of being)

6. Linking Verbs • ADJECTIVE • NOUN Linking verbs show a “state of being.” For example: The soccer ball isround. • ADJECTIVE In the above example, the soccer ball is in the state of being round. Which brings us to our rule: The rule: After you use a linking verb, you must use an adjective. (Or, in rare cases a noun.)

7. Now one more time… VERBS (words that express action or state of being) • NOUNS • (things and people) LINKING VERBS (words that express state of being) ACTION VERBS (words that express action) MODIFIES MODIFIES USED AFTER • ADJECTIVES • (descriptive words) • ADVERBS • (words that modify an action verb, adjective, or another adverb) Modifies

8. Linking Verbs (continued) • 90 percent of linking verbs are a form of the verb “(to) be” Brant islanky. Brant waslanky. I amlanky. You arelanky. They werelanky. Brant will be lanky. be is was am are were will be • ADJECTIVES

9. Here’s where it gets tricky… Action verbs (like the one below) often use forms of “to be” to show when (tense). • NOUN • ACTION VERB Brant was eating ice cream. • ADJECTIVE You will need to be able to tell the difference between the two circumstances! • LINKING VERB Brant waslanky.

10. ADVERBS • (words that modify an action verb, adjective, or another adverb) • Some, however, do not • quite • well • very • often • almost • less • Many end with “-ly” • passionately • slowly • quickly • neurotically • historically • significantly

11. Adverbs have 3 jobs • Adverbs modify verbs • Adverbs modify adjectives • Adverbs modify other adverbs Sampson spokecondescendingly to the waiter. condescendingly Karl Pilkington was extremelyhilarious. extremely Bob veryoften travels to Wal-Mart. very

12. Now one more time… VERBS (words that express action or state of being) • NOUNS • (things and people) LINKING VERBS (words that express state of being) ACTION VERBS (words that express action) MODIFIES MODIFIES USED AFTER • ADJECTIVES • (descriptive words) • ADVERBS • (words that modify an action verb, adjective, or another adverb) Modifies

13. Practice! • ADVERB • ADVERB • ADJECTIVE • Locate nouns (they’re the easiest). • Locate verbs. Every sentence has at least one verb – no matter what. • Any word that modifies one of the nouns must be an adjective. • Any word that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb must be an adverb. The elusive albatross soared quite blazingly. • NOUN • ACTION VERB

14. “Good” and “Well” • ADVERB • ADJECTIVE The rule: Use the word “good” when an adjective is called for and the word “well” when an adverb is called for.

15. EXAMPLES good well well • The _______ priest baptized _______ . 2. I am ________ .2. The hedgehog is _________ equipped to defend itself. 3. I am doing ________. 4. You eat _______ for a teenager; that is _______. VERB NOUN VERB Remember, after a linking verb, you need to use an adjective (“good”). good (PRO) NOUN good well (PRO) NOUN VERB