Adjectives are one of the eight parts of speech. Just as a reminder, the others are the verb, the noun, the pronoun, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection. The primary purpose of an adjective is to modify a noun. They … [Read more...]
Adjectives: Limiting
These types of adjectives specify or limit the noun. An adjective that limits a noun; they include definite articles, indefinite articles, possessive adjectives, demonstrative adjectives, indefinite adjectives, interrogative adjectives, cardinal … [Read more...]
Adjectives: Predicate Adjective
This is a special type of adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies (directly refers to) the subject of the sentence. [In the following examples, the predicate adjective is bold and the subject/noun is underlined.] People are interested … [Read more...]
Parts of Speech: Adverbs
An adverb modifies--changes, enhances, limits, describes, intensifies, muffles -- a verb, an adjective or another adverb. AN ADVERB ANSWERS THE QUESTION HOW? [In the following examples, the adverb is bold and the word it modifies is … [Read more...]
Oh, Adverb
**** If you are looking for the 10 most commonly confused words go here [Sung to the tune of Barry Manilow's "Mandy] I remember all my life hearing how words modify An adverb tells us “how” The “why” to a question Telling us degree The … [Read more...]
Small Things That Matter #1: “If” vs. “Whether”
I have decided to begin a new series of posts entirely dedicated to the little BUT IMPORTANT elements of English writing that seemed to have disappeared from the K-12 system I am starting with “if” and “whether” not because I think it is the most … [Read more...]
Gerunds and the Possessives that Love Them
If there isn’t enough to worry about in creating a decent piece of writing, the twisted gods of grammar give us gerunds and possessives to deal with. Wait! I know you probably have no idea what a gerund is. You are not alone. But don’t give up. … [Read more...]