View source for List of word parts of speech & their grammar rules

'''List of Word Parts of Speech and their Grammar Rules'''

''This entry supports [[Parts of Speech]] entry''
''This entry presents an alphabetical list of Key Words and their use, part of speech, and grammatical rules on their use''

* see also:
** [[Grammar]]
** [[Parts of speech]]
** [[SAT Writing]]
** [[Differences between words, phrases and idioms]]

[[category:Grammar]]
[[category:Parts of Speech]]
[[category:SAT verbal]]


* Entry format:
<nowiki>=== entry format === 
* in general ...
* ''part of speech 1''
** word form 1 definition
** synonyms: a, b, c
** word form 1 examples
*** examples
* ''part of speech 2''
** definition
** synonyms: a, b, c
** word form 2 examples
*** examples
* Sources
** source using [ ]
</nowiki>

== Parts of Speech ==
* see [[Parts of Speech]] entry 
* Parts of speech list:
** adjective (includes determiners except articles)
** adverb
** article (a distinct form of determiner)
** conjunction
** interjection
** noun
** preposition
** pronoun
** verb

* the below are key words and their use, utility, various meanings, and part of speech

== A-B-C ==


=== although ===
* in general, although is used for:
* Sources:
** [https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Although-in-a-Sentence How to use although in a sentence (wikihow)]

=== among ===
* in general, among is used for:
** comparing things or people in general
** comparing general groups of people or things
** indicating a general physical or abstract position or space
** ex.: "Among electronic gadgets, I prefer tablets the most"
* ''preposition''
* note: difference between ''among'' and ''between''
** ''among'' indicates a commonality for comparison, either similar or distinct, but in general
** ''between'' indicates a specific difference
** think of the difference as between "many" and "much"
*** much = for what cannot be counted (similar to among)
*** many = for what can be counted (similar to between)
* see:
** [[https://askanydifference.com/difference-between-between-and-among Difference between between and among (askanydifference.com)]]

=== any === 
* in general, to specify an certain amount or number of something
** ''determiner''
** indicates an amount or number of something 
** i.e, "any" "determines" the amount of a noun
** synonyms: ''some, a bit of, a part of'' 
** ex. "Are there any cookies left?" 
** frequently is used to indicate the absence of something
*** ex. "I didn't get any dessert."
* ''pronoun''
** indicates an amount (or absence of an amount)
*** ex. "I went to the store to buy more cookies, but they didn't have any left"
**** note that "more" is also a determiner
** can also refer to a type or category of something
*** ex. "That meteor is not of any known substance"

=== as ===
* in general "as" is used
** for comparison 
** to show extent or degree ("As crazy as it seems"
** to accordance or a result ("Guilty as charged")
* ''adverb''
** "as" has an adverbial sense
** as per Merriam-Webster: "usually used as a correlative after an adjective or adverb modified by adverbial as or so" [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as Merriam-Webster.com "As"]
*** examples:
*** "Read as carefully as you can" 
*** "The lesson was as clear as the sky is blue"
*** "He serves as a useful reference."
* ''conjunction''
** for comparisons
*** ex: 
**** "That bird was as big as a cat"
**** "That test was as hard as anything"
*** note that "as" is not used for comparison when followed by a noun:
**** "''The cold soccer ball is as a brick''" = incorrect
***** correct = "''The cold soccer ball is like a brick''"
**** but we do use it as an adverb:
***** ''"The cold soccer ball is as hard as a brick"'' 
** showing simultaneous events
*** ex.: 
**** "As you get older, you grow more patient"
**** "He dropped his phone as he got up"
** showing the meaning or purpose of something
*** ex:
**** "Exercise regularly, as it's good for your health"
** identifying something in the same way
*** ex.: 
**** "Dogs such as mine, are the best"
**** synonymous in this sense with "like"
* preposition
** used to relate to a role, purpose, quality or condition
*** ex: 
**** "As an attorney, she knows the law"
**** as opposed to "Like an attorney..." ("like" there is making a comparison and not expressing a quality)
**** "The ball served as a focus point as we watched the game"
* Sources:
** [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/as Collins Dictionary "As"]
** [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/as Cambridge Dictionary "As"]
** [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as Merriam-Webster.com "As"]

besides

* in general, "in addition, as well"
** accepts an idea and adds to or contrasts with it
* adverb
** compares two actions/ verbs/ ideas
** means "''in addition''," "''as well''" and "''and also''"
*** ''I work hard, and, '''besides''', I play hard, too.''
* preposition
** creates a prepositional phrase with a noun
*** '''''Besides hard work''', I play hard, too.''

=== between ===
* in general, between is used for:
** comparing or contrasting specific differences between specific people or things
** indicating physical space between two or more people or things
** indicating conceptual or abstract "space" between ideas or things
** indicating a "space" in time ("between 2:00 & 4:00")
*** ex.: "Between a tablet or a cell phone, there's a huge difference"
* preposition
** also "in between" 
* note: see [#among] for difference between ''among'' and ''between''

=== both ===
* in general, used to indicate two of something
** known as a grammatical "dual"
** many languages have singular, dual, and plural cases
*** English dropped the "dual" during the Middle English period
*** but ''both'', ''either'', ''neither'' persisted as references to two of something

=== by ===
* in general, means ''with, of, according to, or made of''
* as preposition = 
** ''next to'' or ''near'', as in "It's the one by the stairs" or "Don't get by me"
** ''according to'', as in "By the rules of the game, you're out!"
** ''in a direction'', as in "go by 
** ''to do a certain way'', as in "By studying hard, I got an A!"
* as an adverb =
** near or past (as in "going past")
*** ex. "Stop on by!" or "She lives by the school"

== D-E-F ==

=== early ===
* in general, to describe an event or occurrence that happens before an expected time
* adverb form:
** The student always arrives early"
*** "early" here modifies the action (verb) "arrives"
* as adjective:
** ex. "Early afternoon the kids leave school"
** or, "In early autumn it starts getting cooler"
*** in these sentences, "early" describes the nouns "afternoon" and "autumn"
* note that '''''late''''' operates the same, if opposite, as ''early''

== G-H-I ==
=== hard ===
* in general used to describe solid physical state or difficulty of something
* definitions
** noun: 
*** 1. solid, firm, resistant to breakage
*** 2. difficult, needs effort
** synonyms: t.b.a.
*** a hard rock
*** a hard test
** adverb: difficult 
** synonyms: a, b, c
** word form 2 examples
*** examples
* Sources
** source using [ ]

=== here === 
* in general, to indicate when or where an action takes place
* definitions
** adverb
*** in, at, or to this place, position, or present moment
**** "I live here"
** imperative
*** a command to pay attention or introduce a topic or thing
**** "Here you go"
**** "Here is your dish"
** exclamation
*** "Here, give it to me"
*** "Here!" (to indicate presence or attendance)
**** as opposed to "hear, hear!", which indicates agreement

===however===
* adverb
* = a "transitional adverb" or "conjunctive adverb"
* creates a contrast between to actions
** can also be a "relative adverb" when it is synonymous with "whenever" or "whoever" 
*** or when it is used to introduce an adjective (or relative) clause (a clause that modifies or describes another word or sentence part)
**** as in ''However you got here, I'm glad you made it!''
* "however: is not a coordinating conjunction, i.e.:
** it does not combine independent clauses
** is not equivalent to "but" or any of the seven "coordinating conjunctions" (also called FANBOYS)
* transitional or conjunctive adverbs include ''consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, therefore and thus''
* while ''however'' creates a contrast between two clauses, the relationship is semantic (the meaning of the words) and not grammatical
** therefore ''however'' is not a conjunction
* when using ''however'' between two independent clauses in order to contrast them, use either a period or a semicolon, such as:
** "I was running late. However, the train was late, too." or 
** "I was running late; however, the train was late, too."
* as an [[introductory phrase]] used in the middle of a sentence, ''however'' is separated by two commas
** in this sense, ''however'' is used parenthetically and is not a conjunction
*** ex.: "I like to do my homework in the mornings, however, in order to get it out of the way"
*** vs.: "I like to do my homework in the mornings in order to get it out of the way"
* as a transition word, ''however'' 
** ex. English teachers don't like a sentence to start with ''however''. However, it's just fine to use it that way."
** or: "However much English teachers don't like a sentence to start with ''however'', it's just fine to use it that way."
** vs.: "It's just fine to use ''however'' at the beginning of a sentence, however much English teachers don't like it that way."
* however uses:
** introduces a clause: 
*** ''Climbing is fun. However, be careful!''
** creates or qualifies a contrast: 
*** ''However much you like it, it’s too expensive''
*** ''The committee, however, decided against it''
** expresses possibility
***''She’s glad to help however she can'' 
** expresses wonder or lack of specificity
***''However you did it, great job!''  = relative adverb
* sources:
** [https://www.arrantpedantry.com/2012/02/07/however/ However (arrantpedantry.com)]
** [https://perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/however-therefore-moreover-thus-common-mistakes.htm Correct Use of However, Therefore, Moreover (perfectyourenglish.com)]

== J-L-K  == 
=== like ===
* generally makes a comparison or a reference to something 
* Preposition
** "similar to" or "such as"
* Conjunction
* Adjective
* Adverb (informal)
* showing the state or condition of something
** "He's like, "what's up?"
** "It was kinda weird like"

== M-N-O ==

===moreover=== 
* in general, means "additionally"
* adverb
** = a "transitional adverb"
** creates a contrast between to actions
* "moreover" is not a coordinating conjunction, i.e.:
** it does not combine independent clauses
** is not equivalent to "but" or any of the seven "coordinating conjunctions" (also called FANBOYS)
* transitional adverbs include ''consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, therefore and thus''
click EXPAND for more on "moreover":
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* while ''moreover'' makes a connection between two clauses, the relationship is semantic (the meaning of the words) and not grammatical
** therefore ''moreover'' is not a conjunction
* when using ''moreover'' between two independent clauses, use either a period or a semicolon, such as:
** "I was running late. Moreover, I forgot my wallet." or 
** "I was running late; moreover, I forgot my wallet."
</div>
* sources:
** [https://www.arrantpedantry.com/2012/02/07/however/ However (arrantpedantry.com)]
** [https://perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/however-therefore-moreover-thus-common-mistakes.htm Correct Use of However, Therefore, Moreover (perfectyourenglish.com)]

=== only === 
* in general, means a limit of, limit to, or lack of something
* definitions
** adjective, just one, few of, or no other
*** 'only' comes from the Old English word "one" (makes sense!)
** synonyms: just, lone, exclusive, single
** describes the state of one, a few or no other of a noun, ex:
*** "the only one in the room"
*** "it's the only kind of movie I like"
** adverb 2. a limit to or amount of something, describes a verb
*** can have a negative implication
** synonyms: just, at best, at most, barely, hardly, narrowly, scarcely
** word form 2 examples 
*** "I can only speak English"
** conjunction, meaning except for, or but for or although
** synonyms: although
*** 'only' has a specific use as a "subordinating conjunction or a "correlative conjunction"
**** ex. of subordinating conjunction: "Only if I play well" = 
**** ex. of correlative conjunction (not only/but als0): "Not only I am good at Math, but I'm also good at English."
*** 'only' is technically not a conjunction, although it is frequently used as one:
**** ex. "I really wanted to do well on the test, only I didn't study enough." "only" = an adverb so it cannot conjoin the two ICs
* Sources: t.b.a.
** [https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/only_1 Only (MacMillan Dictionary)]
** [https://www.wikihow.com/Use-the-Word-%22Only%22-Correctly Use the word only correct (Wikihow)]

== P-Q-R ==

=== rather ===

* in general
** to create a contrast or exception
* conjunctive adverb
** instead of, etc. << to complete
* usage:
** rather is not a coordinating conjunction (FANBOY)
*** so it cannot combine two independent clauses
** to avoid using it as a coordinator, use it before the verb, as per
*** incorrect:
**** "It is not nice outside, rather it is rainy" 
*** correct: 
**** It is rainy rather than nice outside"
**** "Rather than nice outside, it is rainy"
**** "It is not nice outside; rather, it is rainy"
**** "The weather outside is rather rainy than nice"

== S-T-U ==
=== since ===
* preposition
** signifies 
*** a period of time 
**** "Since I got over the flu, I've been more productive"
*** a reason for; because
**** "Since I had the flu, I was not productive."

=== so ===

* in general
** indicates a purpose or reason, an extent, or a confirmation of something
* adjective to mean "true"
** "that is so"
* adverb
** in order to
* conjunction
** as coordinating conjunction (combines independent clauses)
*** = "with the result that" 
*** ''I'm ready, so let's go!''
** as subordinate conjunction
** = "in order that"
*** ''So I can get up on time, I will get good sleep''
* can also act as a pronoun:
** ''that is so''
*** here, "so" = a pronoun reference to another word or idea

=== such ===
* in general:
** such sets up examples or indicates something will follw
* determiner
** specifies or provides an example
* pronoun
** refers to a previously stated word or idea
* ''such as''
** = a prepositional phrase used to introduce an example (s)

=== than ===
* in general 
** used for comparisons, exceptions or for contrast (as a conjunction)
** also introduces a second element or a sequence (as a preposition) 
** either as a conjunction or a preposition
* conjunction:
** "than" combines two or more comparisons
*** ex. "In the summer it is hotter '''than''' in the winter"
*** ex. "Students who study perform better on tests '''than''' students who do not study."
**** note: when making comparisons, the sentence must compare like-elements,
**** i.e, the sentence is comparing students and not students and tests, as in:  
***** ("students who study perform better on tests than the tests of students who do not study" = incorrect
** indicates a contrast or exception
*** usually with "rather than"
**** ex. "The run was longer rather than shorter"
**** = synonymous with the adverb "instead of": "The run was longer instead of shorter")
** indicates a contrast between events:
*** ex. "No sooner than I got home, my mom asked me to go to the store."
**** this construction is frequently confused with "then" which expresses sequence but not contrast
* preposition
** as a preposition "than" introduces a relationship to the noun
*** "than" does the same thing as a preposition as it does as a conjunction when introducing a comparison
*** the difference is that as a conjunction it compares two clauses (subject and verb, as in "She plays piano ''better than I play it''")
***and as a preposition it compares a subject to an object (as a phrase, as in "She plays piano better ''than me''"

* Sources
** 'Than I' vs. 'Than Me' (Merriam-Webster) - good article explains how "than" operates as a conjunction or a preposition
=== that ===
* in general:
** to add necessary (requisite) information ("those are the kind of shoes ''that'' hurt")
** definite pronoun reference ("Ouch, ''that'' rock is hard!")
** relative pronoun that introduces a relative clause or phrase ("I read a book ''that was so long''"
* determiner and conjunction:
** the determiner "that" serves as a conjunction that introduces a relative clause that adds information to the main clause
*** thus "relative clause" 
** within a relative clause ''that'' acts as the object of the relative clause:
*** ex. "I rode my bike up a hill ''that went on forever''"
**** in the relative clause, ''that went on forever'', the word "that" = the subject of the verb "went" 
**** however, the main or independent clause = "I rode my bike"
***** "that went on forever" adds additional information to the main clause
** note that since "that" may add '''necessary''' or '''requisite''' information, no punctuation separates it and the relative clause it creates from the main clause:
*** ex. "She said that she already did it"
****''= that she already did it'' serves as the object of the S-V "she said"
**** since it is necessary or requisite for the sentence to make sense, it is a "restrictive relative clause" that is not separated from the main clause by puncutation
***** generally, non-restrictive relative clauses, i.e., those that are not necessary for the sentence to make sense employ the word, "which" 
****** ex. "I rode my bike up a hill, which seemed like forever"
******* in this case, the speaker is emphasizing riding the bike up the hill and then adding to it with the non-restrictive clause, "which seemed like forever"
******* compare that to "I rode my bike up a hill ''that went on forever''"  << the relative clause is necessary and acts to modify the "hill"
* pronoun
** that specifies a noun, event, or idea already mentioned or known
*** "That was really fun!"
** specifies a certain person or thing:
*** ex., "That little boy was super happy."

* adverb
** "to such a degree" 
*** compares an extent of something
*** ex. "I wouldn't go that far"
** = "so", so that" or "in order to"
*** "I swim that I come home hungry", which we would normally say as:
**** "I swim hard so that I come home super hungry"

== V-W-X ==

=== very ===
* in general, "very" is used for emphasis
* definitions
** adverb. to a high degree; truly
*** emphasizes a verb
*** synonyms: exceedingly, truly, exactly, precisely
** adverb examples
*** "he ran very fast"
*** "They make the the very best donuts" ("best" = adjective that modifies "donuts"; "very" = adverb that modifies the verb "make")
*** That class was very fun"
*** "I'm very tired"
** adjective. actual, exact, precise
*** emphasizes a noun
** also: mere, bare
** adjective examples:
*** "He was scared from the very beginning of the movie"
*** "She replied the very next day"
*** "I read it to the very end" 
* see [https://school4schools.com/wiki/index.php?title=Grammar#Intensifiers]
* Sources
** [https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/very very inmacmillandictionary.com]
** [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/very very cambridge.org]

=== when ===

* in general, indicates a relative moment, time or condition
* subordinating conjunction:
** ''I get up when I want.''
** ''Class ended when the bell rang''
* adverb: 
** ''Since when you do you care?'' 

=== which ===
* in general: used to refer to a previously stated noun (thing or idea) to add information
* pronoun
** refers to a thing/s (can be as a singular or plural pronoun)
*** not to a person, but can refer to a count of people, such as "which one of you..."
* uses: 
* as non-restrictive clause (additional information):
** = can act parenthetically
*** ex.: "The website, which says it never lies, lied."
** = adds additional (not necessary) information to a main clause
*** ex.: "The dog ran after the squirrel, which scrambled up the tree"
*** in these cases, ''which'' follows and usually refers to the object of the main clause
* as restrictive (necessary or required) clause:
** = adds necessary information ''without which'' the sentence makes no senses or means something else
** = is not separated from or within the main clause by commas (since it is necessary)
*** ex.: "August is the month which goes the fastest for me"
*** note that ''that'' is interchangeable with ''which'' in that sentence
*** so, if you can use either "that" or "which" it is a restrictive clause and thus no commas
* as prepositional phrase:
** following a preposition, ''which'' acts as a clarifying pronoun
*** ex.: "That's the house in which I grew up"
* sources:
** [https://thewordcounter.com/blog-comma-before-which/ Comma before which (thewordcounter.com)]

=== while ===
* as a conjunction 
** = "during the time that" or "at the same time as"
*** ex.: "the dog was bored while she worked on her grammar"
** = whereas (contrast)
*** ex.: "the dog wants a bone, while she wants to study grammar"
* as an adverb
** = "during which"
*** = modifies the action (verb)
** ex: "the time while she studied grammar" << fix
* as a noun
** a period of time
** ex.:  "she studied grammar for a while"

=== whom ===

* objective form of "who"

=== will ===

* in general, indicates the future
* as an <u>auxiliary verb</u> ("helping verb" )
** "will" creates the simple or continuous future tense of another verb
*** ''They will go there next week''
*** ''They will be going there next week''
** "will" as an interrogatory (indicates a question or inquiry) 
*** ''Will they go next week?''
* as a <u>modal verb</u> (indicates desire, necessity or conditionality/possibility)
** ''They will go next week or else!''
** ''I will expect to see them there''
* as a <u>finite verb</u> (action verb)
** "will" means 
*** to make something happen or someone do something
**** ''The test was hard, but I willed my way through it''
*** to bequeath (give after death)
**** ''He willed a family memento to her''
* as a <u>noun</u>
** mental fortitude or self-control 
*** ''It was tempting to her, but she resisted as her will is strong''
** an intention or desire
*** ''They did it anyway against her will''
** what commands or ordains, esp. God
*** ''God's will be done''

== Y-Z ==

=== yesterday ===
* in general, an adverb or noun used to describe 
* ''adverb'' or ''noun''
** used specifically = the day before today
** also used to indicate "the past"
*** as in "Yesterday, things were better"
* usually used as an adverb
** as adverb: when used to indicate when an action happened, it is an adverb
*** ex. "Yesterday I went to the park." ("yesterday describes/ modifies the verb "went")
*** or, "The big event happened yesterday" ("yesterday" describes/ modifies the verb "happened")
** as noun: when used as a subject or object (of a verb or preposition) it is a noun
*** ex. "Yesterday was fun!" ("yesterday" is the subject of the linking verb "was")
*** or, "He thought fondly on yesterday" ("yesterday" = object of the preposition "on")
* ''today, last week, tomorrow, next week, last month, last year'', etc. have similar grammatical forms to "yesterday" as adverb (usually) or noun
** ''later'' and ''now'' are adverbs

=== you ===
* in general, 2nd person singular or plural pronoun
** indicates a person or persons a speaker addresses
*** "Heh, you!"
*** "You look great!"
* ''pronoun''
** as singular pronoun, indicates one person being addressed or mentioned
** as plural pronoun, indicates more than one person being addressed or mentioned
* for origins of "you" in ''thee, thine, thou, ye'' see [[You origins (2nd person pronoun)]]
** that page contains a chart to explain the different cases of each
** shows their use in Shakespeare 

== Categories ==
[[Grammar]]
[[English]]
[[Language Arts]]
[[Language Arts Skills]]