When you do a science experiment, it’s helpful to know the names of the equipment and materials you use.

1. Word classes and linguistic terms When you do a science experiment, it’s helpful to know the names of the equipment and materials you use. Here we will revise some of the tools and terms we use in English. It saves misunderstandings and you know what you’re doing. The same is true of language. It’s important to know the tools you use and the names for things.

2. noun adverb preposition verb adjective pronoun conjunction determiner Word classes There are different types or classes of word. Here are the main words classes. Let’s see how well you know them.

4. proper common collective This is a noun that refers to a group. E.g. flock, herd, Names of people, places, etc. They have a capital letter. E.g. London All nouns that are not proper nouns. Nouns Did you notice that nouns were missing from the last exercise? Nouns denote people and places, things and ideas. They can be divided into the following groups.

6. Noun phrases A noun phrase refers to a group of words that are built around a noun. E.g. my sister my little sister my brave little sister my brave little sister on crutches Notice how you can build up noun phrases.

8. Adjectives Adjectives describe people or things. They go before nouns and after some verbs. E.g. the happy girl she is happy the wooden table the table looks wooden

10. This is the comparative form. This is the comparative form. This is the superlative form. This is the superlative form. Adjectives You can also compare things using adjectives. This drink is cool. The water is cooler. The cola is coolest. For words of more than two syllables, we use more and most to make these forms. more important most important

11. Verbs A verb expresses an action or a state of being. She jumped up. He is happy. There are main verbs... I walked away. and auxiliary verbs. I was walking away. Auxiliary verbs help the main verb. These are auxiliary verbs. be have do may might can could will would shall should must These can be either auxiliary or main verbs: be have do

13. present past past future Verbs Verbs can change their form. This gives us an indication of when the action takes place. Look at how these sentences tell us when the action takes place. I dance for enjoyment. I danced all last night. I was dancing for four hours. I willbe dancing next week too.

14. another adverb an adjective a verb Adverbs Can you spot the adverbs in these sentences? • He walked slowly. • He walked extremely slowly. • His progress was really slow. • He walked slowly. • He walked extremely slowly. • His progress was really slow. Did you spot these? An adverb can give more information about... well very often never later now yesterday soon perhaps Adverbs often end in -ly, but here are some more to look out for:

15. Pronouns Pronouns often replace a noun. They help us to avoid repetition. Here are some very common pronouns: our you whom which those theirs Here are some more to look out for. I me we us you he she it they them my mine our ours your yours his her their myself yourself itself this that these someone who what

17. a an the Determiners Determiners are used with nouns. The most common determiners are: Other common determiners are this that these those my you’re his her its our their some many no all each every both enough numbers (one, two, three, etc.) Many determiners are used as pronouns and in that case they are not followed by a noun.

18. but and or yet then Conjunctions These are words which join clauses together. • Other conjunctions tell us when, where and why. • I will be leaving after I have eaten. • You will find your ring where you left it. • The train is late because it left Penzance late. Some other common conjunctions are: before, since, until, although, unless, so, when, wherever

20. Plenary Well done! There’s a lot of tricky words and phrases here. Knowledge about words will give you control over the words you use. It will help you investigate the writing of others too.