Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-Oct-2006, 12:46
Lenka's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Country: Czech Republic
Posts: 858
Current Location: Czech Republic
First Language: Czech
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 4
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Lenka is an unknown quantity at this point
Default parts of speech

Is gerund considered a noun? Can we classify it somehow?
What about articles? Which word-class do they belong to?

Are there some other words that don't belong to any word-classes?

(Could you correct the mistakes I made, please?)
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 07-Oct-2006, 20:43
MikeNewYork's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: USA
Posts: 6,094
Current Location: New York
First Language: American English
Member Type: Academic
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
MikeNewYork is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenka View Post
Is gerund considered a noun? Can we classify it somehow?
What about articles? Which word-class do they belong to?

Are there some other words that don't belong to any word-classes?

(Could you correct the mistakes I made, please?)
Yes, a gerund (often called a verbal) is classified as a noun in the "parts of speech" grammar system.

Articles are classified as "articles" in the 9 parts of speech system. Those who recognize only 8 parts of speech classify articles as adjectives.

The only word that doesn't fit the classification scheme is the "to" in a "to infinitive. Most people call that a "particle". Because that is not part of the parts of speech system, many dictionaries list it under "preposition", but it is clearly not a prepositiion, IMO.

Some people also use "particle" for the preposition or adverb part of phrasal verbs. Perhaps "particle" will become the 10th part of speech.

Last edited by MikeNewYork; 08-Oct-2006 at 16:46.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 15:47
Lenka's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Country: Czech Republic
Posts: 858
Current Location: Czech Republic
First Language: Czech
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 4
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Lenka is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork View Post
Yes, a gerund (often called a verbal) is classified as a noun in the "parts of speech" grammar system.

Articles are classified as "articles" in the 9 parts of speech system. Thiose who recognize only 8 parts of speech classify articles as adjectives.

The only word that doesn't fit the classification scheme is the "to" in a "to infinitive. Most people call that a "particle". Because that is not part of the parts of speech system, many dictionaries list it under "preposition", but it is clearly not a prepositiion, IMO.

Some people also use "particle" for the preposition or adverb part of phrasal verbs. Perhaps "particle" will become the 10th part of speech.
There are already 9 classes, aren't there?
nouns, adjectives, pronouns, numerals, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections...

What about these words? Where do they belong?
- so, well... (e.g. Well, you should do it.), yes, no...
are they considered particles as well?
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 15:56
Lenka's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Country: Czech Republic
Posts: 858
Current Location: Czech Republic
First Language: Czech
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 4
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Lenka is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Ah! I see... there is no "numeralia" class in English... Numbers five, thirteenth etc. are considered nouns, then?
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 16:49
MikeNewYork's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: USA
Posts: 6,094
Current Location: New York
First Language: American English
Member Type: Academic
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
MikeNewYork is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenka View Post
There are already 9 classes, aren't there?
nouns, adjectives, pronouns, numerals, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections...

What about these words? Where do they belong?
- so, well... (e.g. Well, you should do it.), yes, no...
are they considered particles as well?
I've never heard "numerals" as a part of speech, but some individuals like to tinker with the system.

Usually, those hard to classify words (mostly discourse markers) are classified as adverbs. Some people object to that classification.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 16:52
MikeNewYork's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: USA
Posts: 6,094
Current Location: New York
First Language: American English
Member Type: Academic
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
MikeNewYork is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenka View Post
Ah! I see... there is no "numeralia" class in English... Numbers five, thirteenth etc. are considered nouns, then?
Depending on their uses, numbers can be nouns, adjectives, or pronouns.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 18:28
Lenka's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Country: Czech Republic
Posts: 858
Current Location: Czech Republic
First Language: Czech
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 4
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Lenka is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork View Post
I've never heard "numerals" as a part of speech, but some individuals like to tinker with the system.

Usually, those hard to classify words (mostly discourse markers) are classified as adverbs. Some people object to that classification.
Does it mean that "yes/no" are adverbs?

What about this sentence? "What did you do?" Is "what" considered an adjective or a pronoun? How can I recognize it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork View Post
Depending on their uses, numbers can be nouns, adjectives, or pronouns.
Could you show it on some examples, please? I can't imagine a number - pronoun...
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 18:37
MikeNewYork's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: USA
Posts: 6,094
Current Location: New York
First Language: American English
Member Type: Academic
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
MikeNewYork is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenka View Post
Does it mean that "yes/no" are adverbs?

What about this sentence? "What did you do?" Is "what" considered an adjective or a pronoun? How can I recognize it?



Could you show it on some examples, please? I can't imagine a number - pronoun...
Yes, "yes" and "no" are normally classified as adverbs. This is probably justified by the words being used to answer questions. They either affirm or negate the statement.

In your question, "what" is a pronoun. Rearranged: You did do what. "What" stands in for the action that was done.

Numbers are used as pronouns quite often.

I am having five for dinner. Five stands in for five people.
It is the 13th of October. 13th stands in for 13th day.
One must follow one's conscious. One stands in for a person.
Hundreds were killed in the crash.
Two's company; three's a crowd.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 18:50
Lenka's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Country: Czech Republic
Posts: 858
Current Location: Czech Republic
First Language: Czech
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 4
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Lenka is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Did I classify them right?


Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork View Post

I am having five for dinner. Five stands in for five people. => noun
It is the 13th of October. 13th stands in for 13th day. => adjective
One must follow one's conscious. One stands in for a person. => noun
Hundreds were killed in the crash. => noun
Two's company; three's a crowd. => what does it mean at all? Is it a noun or an adjective here?
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2006, 19:02
MikeNewYork's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: USA
Posts: 6,094
Current Location: New York
First Language: American English
Member Type: Academic
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
MikeNewYork is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: parts of speech

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenka View Post
Did I classify them right?
I was giving you examples of numbers used as pronouns.

Two's company; three's a crowd = Two people are a couple and the third one should go away.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
parts, speech

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
unusal parts of speech Unregistered Ask a Teacher 1 09-Mar-2005 09:08
Parts of Speech Definitions Becky Ask a Teacher 1 05-Feb-2005 05:51
parts of speech jiang Ask a Teacher 1 19-Oct-2004 08:41
deffinitions for the 8 parts of speech Anonymous Ask a Teacher 3 28-Jan-2004 08:33


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 09:54.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com