ch 4.2 lexicology and word classes

English Language Unit 1English Language Unit 1

glamour(n)A word from the Middle Ages, when it was an alternative for the word grammar! The possession of learning, or grammar, was seen as magical and mysterious. Glamour today means mysteriously exciting or alluring.

Learning intention:Develop understanding of lexicology and knowledge of word classes.

Success criteria: Able to identify:-nouns, -verbs,-adjectives, and-adverbs

GKRHow much do you know about word classes? Do question 4.2.5 (booklet p16) and find out.

LexicologyLexicographerLexiconCompilesDictionariesWord class

EtymologyNounVerbAdjectiveAdverb

Key Vocabulary:

Lexicology - the study of wordsLexicology - the study of wordsWe all have a lexicon. It is your

vocabulary (all the words you know).

A lexicon can also refer to the words in a branch of learning, e.g.: engineering, law

A lexicographer studies the words in a language and compiles dictionaries.

Lexicology - the study of wordsLexicology - the study of words

A dictionary is a collection of all the words of a particular language.

There are various types of dictionaries, e.g. general (most of the words in a language), visual, etymology (incorporates the history of the word), children’s, etc.

An visual dictionary is different from a graphical dictionary

Word Classes (or parts of speech)Word Classes (or parts of speech)The categories that words belong to

based on their formal similarities, e.g.: a noun is defined partly by the fact that it can take a plural ending

Which in the following list is not a noun?◦ cars, houses, voices, peoples, horses, cats,

jumps, trains

◦ peoples, jumps

Classes of WordsClasses of WordsTwo broad classes of words -Open (admits new members)Closed (does NOT admit new members

– the glue that holds all the other words together)

Open Closed

Nouns Conjunctions (FANBOY)

Verbs Determiners (a, an, any, the)

Adjectives Prepositions (over, under, through, etc)

Adverbs Pronouns (he, she, you, me, I, etc.)

Did You Know?Did You Know?A newly coined word/term is called a

NEOLOGISM

◦ Examples include: Google Noob Troll (not a new word but a new usage)

Open Class – NounsOpen Class – NounsHow to identify nouns:◦ they typically name things or concepts;◦ all nouns take the same kind of inflections,

e.g. +s;◦ they are words that could be used to answer

a question;◦ they usually makes sense when ‘the’ is put in

front of them; and◦ they can be singular and plural

Open Class – NounsOpen Class – NounsTypes - Proper and Common◦ Proper

refers to specific places and people usually begins with a capital letter

◦ Common refers to types of people, feelings, etc. can be subdivided into concrete, abstract and

collective

Open Class – NounsOpen Class – NounsTypes - Proper and Common◦ Proper

refers to specific places and people usually begins with a capital letter

◦ Common refers to types of people, feelings, etc. can be subdivided into concrete, abstract and

collective

Open Class – Common NounsOpen Class – Common Nouns◦ Concrete – names

things you can touch

◦ Abstract – names thingsthat do not exist physically

◦ Collective – names groups of people, animals or objects

ActivityActivityExam practice – Handout 1 – Identifying

word classes

Open Class - AdjectivesOpen Class - Adjectivesdescribe nouns

Types of Adjectives◦ Comparatives - used to make comparisons

◦ Superlatives – expresses the highest or a very high degree of quality

hotter bigger wiser

hottest biggest wisest

ActivityActivityHandout 2 – Identifying adjectives

Open Class - VerbsOpen Class - VerbsHow to identify verbs:◦ they can describe physical and mental

actions(dynamic verbs); or◦ they can describe conditions or states

(stative verbs);◦ all verbs take the same kind of inflections, e.g.

+ed, +ing;◦ in a sentence they tell what the subject is

doing / being

Open Class - VerbsOpen Class - VerbsInfinitive verbs◦ all verbs have an infinitive◦ the infinitive of the verb always includes ‘to’

Examples◦ to be (and its forms – is, are, was, were, etc.)◦ to think◦ to sing

Open Class - VerbsOpen Class - VerbsTypes – Main and Auxiliary◦ Main

a single verb that expresses the main meaning of the sentence

◦ Auxilliary (helping verbs) are always placed in front of the main verb Primary Modal

Open Class – Auxiliary VerbsOpen Class – Auxiliary VerbsTypes◦ Primary◦ Modal

Open Class – Open Class – Primary Auxiliary VerbsPrimary Auxiliary VerbsThere are 3 primary auxiliary verbs

NB: These verbs can also be main verbs. They are the only auxiliary verbsthat can do this.

They can:◦indicate when something has happened;◦provide emphasis;◦be used to construct questions; and◦be used to construct negatives.

be have do

Open Class – Open Class – Modal Auxiliary VerbsModal Auxiliary VerbsModal auxiliary verbs:◦ are only ever used with a main verb◦ can significantly alter the tone / meaning

The modal auxiliary verbs are:can will shall may must

could would should might

Open Class - VerbsOpen Class - VerbsTense◦ two tenses – past and present

He is walking; He has walked◦ a variety of constructions are used to create

the futureHe shall walk.

Open Class – VerbsOpen Class – VerbsActive and Passive◦ Active voice

the subject (person or thing performing the action) is emphasised

◦ Passive voice the order of the sentence is reversed the object (person or thing to which something is

being done) is emphasised

Open Class - AdverbsOpen Class - AdverbsHow to identify adverbs:◦ they usually give more information about the

verb (think ad + verb)

◦ they describe the verb like an adjective describes a noun

◦ many adverbs are formed by adding –ly to the end of the wordhappily, sadly, joyfully, gratefully, wildly

HomeworkHomeworkLangquiz, Questions 1-6 (booklet p 17) (NB: you will need a dictionary!)

Complete all Word Class Handouts

1) List the open word classes

2) Explain what open class means

3) Name a learning strategy you used today