Sunday, December 29, 2013

Demonstrative Pronouns and Demonstrative Adjectives



A demonstrative pronoun represents something or someone and performs as a noun.
e.g. We are chatting about this and that.
This is Kookie speaking.
That is a good idea.

A demonstrative adjective performs as an adjective.
e.g. Those worms were big yesterday, weren't they?

The following words may be demonstrative pronouns or demonstrative adjectives.
They depend on the context of the sentence.

near in distance or time - this + these
far in distance or time - that + those

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Pronouns

PRONOUNS REPLACE NOUNS - especially names of (or reference to) people 
but there are exceptions
e.g. Some are available but none are for sale yet.    - pronouns
Personal Pronouns replace proper nouns representing people - except "it"Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns
(usually connect with proper or personal pronouns)
Reflexive Pronouns
Subject in a sentenceObject in a sentencepossessive adjectivepossessive pronoun
I
memyminemyself
youyouyouryoursyourself
hehimhishishimself
sheherherhersherself
itititsitsitself
weusouroursourselves
youyouyouryoursyourselves
they

INTERROGATIVE
PRONOUNS
who
which 
what
them

INTERROGATIVE
PRONOUNS
whom  
which 
what
their

INTERROGATIVE
ADJECTIVES
whose
which
what
theirs



themselves



Personal and interrogative pronouns stand alone.
 Possessive and interrogative adjectives qualify another noun
- often a common noun but may be an abstract noun.
Possessive pronouns stand alone.
 Reflexive pronouns stand alone.


e.g. 1.  I warned her that her bag may be searched as it used to be mine but she was determined to face that problem herself.
2. Who is responsible for what bag?


NOTE
1. The first her in the sentence is an object of warned, so it is a personal pronoun.
The second her is a possessive adjective qualifying the noun bag.
2. who - interrogative pronoun - stands alone
what - interrogative adjective - qualifies the noun bag.



INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
someone
somebody
everyone
everybody
anyone
anybody

Friday, December 27, 2013

Prepositions



Prepositions are link words beginning phrases.
They link the trunk of the sentence with: 
the branches of time and/or place + manner + reason - adverbial phrase/s qualifying the verb
+
the descriptive branches - adjectival phrase - qualifying the noun


I read the book - main trunk of the sentence.
about dreams - adjectival phrase qualifying book
It begins with the preposition about
in the afternoon - adverbial phrase of time qualifying the verb read
It begins with the preposition in.
beneath the tree - adverbial phrase of place qualifying the verb read
It begins with the preposition beneath.



NOTE

** prepositions are usually monosyllabic - one syllable
+
** Phrases do NOT contain a verb
** A group of 3 words usually = a phrase

+
for a full list of prepositions see
English Grammar 4U Online
(exercises are included)