There are eight word classes:
Are words that indicate action or state.
Note: Calling verbs ‘action words’ isn’t accurate enough because sometimes they don’t clearly show action.Verbs can be very clearly a word that indicates action, i.e.:
She runs away from the monster.
The verb can be as simple as a type of existence, i.e.:
Being in a particular state or feeling a particular emotion; e.g. He is furious.
Being in a particular place or time, e.g. The crocodile is outside. It is here. The crocodile was furious yesterday. The crocodile will be outside tomorrow.
Possessing something, e.g. That crocodile is mine.
Are words that name things. They can be categorised in this way: common, proper, concrete, abstract, collective, compound
Tip: The different types of nouns are best understood with a tree diagram of nouns.
Are words that stand in place of nouns, i.e.:
he/she/it/they
I/you/we
Are words that describe nouns: add information to nouns.
Note: Calling adjectives ‘describing words’ isn’t accurate enough because adverbs also add description (to verbs and adjectives). Adjectives describe nouns and only nouns.Are words that describe verbs and adjectives: add information to verbs and adjectives.
Are words that join individual words or groups of words, such as phrases or clauses, together.
They are easy to remember using the acronym FANBOYS.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Are words that show the relationship of space (location) or time (order) between two things, such as between two objects or actions, i.e.:
on
under
around
with
Are words that indicate whether a very specific noun or unspecific noun is being referred to.
There are two types:
Indefinite article: a / an (used when the following word starts with a vowel sound), e.g. A crocodile is hunting me. (I’m talking about one crocodile, but I’m not indicating about which specific one it is.)
Definite article: the, e.g. The crocodile is hunting me. (That one, right there…)
Auxiliary verbs:
There are three main auxiliaries and in a way, they are the most fundamental verbs: they convey the most important elements of existence.
They convey one of three things:
Existence, i.e. to be, e.g. He is sprinting.
Action or ‘state’, in its simplest sentence, i.e. to do, e.g
Does he look scared? He does.
He does not have a chance.
Possession, i.e. to have, e.g. He has no hope.
Auxiliary verbs are often needed to support other verbs: many verbs require auxiliary verbs for them to make sense, e.g.
He has seen a crocodile (has = auxiliary; seen = ‘normal’ verb)
It will devour him. (will = auxiliary; devour = ‘normal’ verb)
Modal verbs:
Modal verbs are a special type of auxiliary verb that expresses ‘modality’ (the way in which something is performed). There are a number of things (‘conditions’) that a modal verb can indicate:
Intention, e.g. will, shall, would
Likelihood and prediction (possibility/probability) e.g. may, might, could, can, would, should, will
Ability and capacity e.g. can/cannot, could, may
Permission e.g. may, can
To show a request or obligation e.g. should, ought to, must
To show advice and suggestion e.g. might, ought to (but this is an uncommon usage these days)
Extra information:
Two important verb forms: infinitives and participles
We often talk about verbs, including the three main auxiliary verbs, in the ‘infinitive form’.
The ‘infinitive form’ is how we write the verb to show the ‘essential’ or ‘pure’ form of the verb.
We write it in a way that it seems to exist outside of time, i.e. with no tense attached to it, e.g. to be, to do, to have; to want, to learn, to sleep
Modal verbs are the only verbs that don’t have an infinite form, e.g. to can, to must
A ‘participle’ verb is formed when an -ed or -ing is put onto a verb, e.g. chomping or chomped
If an auxiliary verb is used, the participle is the other verb in the phrase e.g. The crocodile was chomping. The croc has chomped his foot off.
http://www.englicious.org/lesson/word-classes - note: they use the term determiner rather than article. This is not what we will be using.
Kahn Acadamy videos: