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Chapter 4

Overview of English Grammar: Parts of Speech

Book Version 15
By Boundless
Boundless Writing
Writing
by Boundless
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Section 1
Introduction to English Grammar and Mechanics
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Components of a Sentence

English features four core sentence elements (subjects, predicates, objects, and modifiers) that make up phrases and clauses, which in turn make up sentences.

Structure of a Sentence

Different types of sentences are used for different purposes and in different parts of a paper, but the foundation of all good sentences is a strong subject and verb.

Introduction to Inflection

In the context of grammar, inflection is altering a word to change its form, usually by adding letters.

Section 2
Nouns
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Nouns as Subjects and Objects

Nouns can be either the subject or object of sentences.

Section 3
Pronouns
Introduction to Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns to reduce redundancy and link phrases together to provide more information.

Pronouns as Subjects and Objects

Pronouns can be the subject or the object of a sentence. 

Section 4
Verbs
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Introduction to Verbs: Tense, Aspect, and Mood

Verbs are crucial to expressing a sentence's meaning, so it is important to use them correctly. 

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Verb Tense: Past, Present, and Future

Verb tense indicates whether the action of a sentence occurred in the past, present, or future.

Verbal Aspect: Simple, Progressive, Perfect, and Perfect Progressive

"Aspect" refers to whether a verb is continuous, completed, both continuous and completed, or neither continuous nor completed.

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Verb Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, and Imperative

Grammatical mood is a verb feature that allows speakers to express their attitude toward what they are saying.

Section 5
Modifiers: Adjectives and Adverbs
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Introduction to Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. 

Adjectives

Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.

Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. 

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Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

A modifier is a word or group of words that describes another word or group of words.

Section 6
Conjunctions
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Conjunctions: Coordination, Correlation, Conjunction, and Subordination

A conjunction is a part of speech that connects words or phrases. 

Section 7
Agreement and Parallelism
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Subject-Verb Agreement

Verbs need to agree with the subject in both person and number.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

All pronouns must agree with their antecedent in number and gender.

Structural Parallelism Within a Sentence

Parallelism requires that similar ideas be presented in similar form.

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Boundless Writing by Boundless
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The Research Process
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Chapter 4
Overview of English Grammar: Parts of Speech
  • Introduction to English Grammar and Mechanics
  • Nouns
  • Pronouns
  • Verbs
  • Modifiers: Adjectives and Adverbs
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Overview of English Grammar: Punctuation and Mechanics
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