English Syntax 5

English Word Classes

Word classes are divided into two broad groups: open and closed
classes. The open classes consist of noun, verb, adjective, and
adverb and those of closed classes consist of pronoun, determiner,
preposition, and conjunction. The open classes of words are
probably changed into the other classes, whereas the closed classes
are fixed (Jackson, 1985).

1. Noun

A noun is a word used for naming a thing (table, chair, house), a

person (Mary, John, Jane), a place (Makassar, Lampung, Jakarta),
and an idea (happiness. freedom, beauty). Nouns have classes, such
as common and proper nouns, concrete and abstract nouns, and
countable and uncountable nouns.
The kinds of nouns are classified into: the common and
proper nouns. The common noun deals with a general sense and the
proper noun deals with the identification of a self-name. The word
‘person’ is a common noun, but the word ‘Mary’ or ‘Jakarta’ is a
proper noun.
The forms of nouns can also be classified into: concrete and
abstract nouns. The concrete noun deals with the object or thing
that can be seen, such as paper, car, sky, and sea. Then, the
abstract noun deals with another thing that cannot be seen, but they
6 Word Level

can be obtained by thoughts, such as strength, feeling, truth, and

loyalty.
The types of nouns consist of countable and uncountable
nouns. The countable nouns are the objects that can be counted,
such as window, cupboard, animal, horse, fruit, and banana.
Uncountable or mass nouns are the other things that are uncounted,
such as water, sugar, tea, coffee, and money.

2. Verb

A verb is a word used to make a statement; it expresses an action or

helps to make a statement. Every verb has four basic forms; they
are the so-called the principal parts of the verb. These parts consist
of present form (eg. speak, save), past form (eg. spoke, saved), past
participle (eg. spoken, saved), and present participle (eg. speaking,
saving). These forms have definite functions in constructing the
English statements.
Examples:
We speak English everyday (present form).
We spoke English yesterday (past form).
We had spoken English before you came yesterday (past
participle).
We are speaking English (present participle).

The verb such as ‘speak’ is an irregular verb. The other

examples of irregular verbs are drink, go, take, read, catch, and
buy. And, the verb such as ‘save’ is a regular verb. The other
 English Syntax 7

examples of regular verbs are stop, enjoy, occur, and expect. In

regular verbs, the past form and the past participle are the same.

Examples:
They save their money at the bank (present form).
They saved their money at the bank (past form).
They had saved their money at the bank before you came
yesterday (past participle).
They are saving their money at the bank (present participle).

The words such as ‘speak’ and ‘save’ are categorized as the

transitive verbs. The other transitive verbs are, for examples, visit,
take, enjoy, open, accept, give, and enter. A transitive verb requires
an object. We can see the following examples:
The other students visited (transitive verb) the museum (object)
last Sunday.
She will take (transitive verb) her medicine (object) twice a day.

The other verbs are called ‘intransitive verbs.’ The intransitive

verbs do not require the objects, such as arrive, stay, go, and cry.

Examples:

The guests have arrived early today.

They will stay in the hotel near the beach.
She must go to the office now.
Children will cry if they are hungry.
8 Word Level

The word ‘have’ in the sentence ‘The guests have arrived early
today’ is an auxiliary. It is a primary auxiliary. It helps to make a
present perfect tense. Another auxiliary is a modal, such as the
word ‘must’ in the sentence’ She must go to the office now.’
Further, the verbs such as arrive, stay, go, and cry are also called
lexical verbs. The term ‘lexical verb’ may be contrasted with the
‘non-lexical verb.’ The underlined words in the following sentences
are the examples of non- lexical verbs.
Examples:
The teacher is explaining the lesson now.
We have been talking about the solutions to the problem.
The problem is being discussed in the classroom.

3. Adjective

An adjective is a word used for modifying a noun. To determine the

features of a noun, one of these questions may be done: What kind?
(eg. a rich person, a short story). An adjective is a modifier of a
noun, so that the noun has a definite meaning. Further, it is
necessary to know when the adjectives are used, how they work,
and how they are.

4. Adverb

An adverb is a word used: (1) to give circumstantial information

about the action, event, or process and (2) to intensify adjectives
and the other adverbs (Jackson, 1985). The first sub-division can be
 English Syntax 9

illustrated by the adverbs of frequency (eg. usually, sometimes),

adverbs of manner (quickly, diligently), and adverbs of place (in
the office, at home) and time (before 8:00, at this time) and the
second by adverbs of degrees (very, extremely).

5. Pronoun

A pronoun is simply defined as a word used in place of a noun (eg.

She, her, hers, which). The functions of pronouns are to avoid using
repeated nouns in speaking or in writing. The pronoun ‘which’ is
called a relative pronoun in a relative clause.

6. Determiner

A determiner is a word used with a noun and has a function of

limiting the sense of a noun in a noun phrase. The determiner
modifies the occurrence of a noun in some way. Determners are
divided into qualifiers/identifiers and quantifiers/numerals. The
subclass of identifiers include articles (eg. a/an, the), possessives
(eg. his, our), and demonstratives (eg. this, that). The subclass of
quantifiers include numerals; they are cardinal and ordinal numbers
(eg. three, four, third, fourth) and the expressions of indefinite
quantity (eg. many, much, several, some, any, a few, a little).

7. Preposition

Another class of words is a preposition. The functions of

prepositions are to relate a noun phrase to another constituent (eg.
10 Word Level

in the classroom, at home) and to co-occur with the verbs in the

formation of phrasal verbs (eg. look for, put on).

8. Conjunction

Conjunctions are the words used to connect or join the equal

language units, items, or constituents. They are of two kinds:
coordinating conjunctions (eg. and, but, or) and subordinating
conjunctions (eg. because, when, if, so that).

1.4 Learning Activities

Activity 1

a. Identify each of the word classes (noun, verb) in the

following sentences.

1. Several mountains and rivers are well-known in South Sulawesi.

2. Al-Markaz is the most famous name of mosque in Sulawesi.
3. A person who will do the traveling must have preparation.
4. I couldn’t give her an immediate answer .
5. Do not write on the front of the answer sheet.
6. They want umbrellas, boxes, keys, and books.
7. They wish they could buy chairs, tables, and other essential
things for their families.
8. Some women want to have large houses and some want babies.
 English Syntax 11

b. Identify each of the word classes (adjective, adverb) in the

following sentences.

1. His wife says that it was not easy to earn money.

2. When we arrived at home, they had already eaten.
3. The life of Jim’s family seems very difficult.
4. I was surprised when her family answered my letter.
5. If the country is winter, of course we need thick blankets, thick
jackets, and anti-cold medicines.
6. She is singing beautifully now.
7. Health is more important than wealth.
8. Her father sometimes works hard in the office.

c. Identify each of the word classes (pronoun, determiner) in

the following sentences.

1. We intend to leave on Thirsday.

2. Her friends congratulated her on her promotion.
3. The telephone which was used in the household was still scarce
in the city.
4. They usually watch the match on TV.
5. I love learning, so I spend a lot of time reading.
6. The man who said hello to us yesterday is my uncle.
7. He went down the valley last night.
8. Something will have to change.
12 Word Level

d. Identify each of the word classes (preposition, conjunction)

in the following sentences.

1. A few of them want to have all, but they run out of money.
2. What I want to notice is when the phone rings.
3. Jane left early because she was tired.
4. Lusy and I were not at the party last night.
5. Mary will give him some of her food.
6. Although he cannot swim, he goes sailing.
7. Other men like birds, but they do not like donkeys.
8. Two months ago they also had three days off.

Activity 2

Text A

Identify each of the word classes (noun, verb, adjective,

adverb) in the text.

Indonesian is a national language which is spoken by the

Indonesian people. Arabic is also a religious language for islamic
people. The countries in which these languages are used are, for
instances, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, England, and France. Several
mountains and rivers are well-known in South Sulawesi, i.e.
Bawakaraeng, Latimojong, and Lompobattang (names of
mountains) and Jenne Berang, Walanae, and Saddang (names of
 English Syntax 13

rivers). There are numerous universities in Makassar. They are

Indonesia Moslem University, Hasanuddin University, Makassar
State University, and Makassar Muhammadiyah University.
Besides, there are also schools, mosques, banks, shops, and
supermarkets. SPN 21, SMAN 10, SDN Katangka are the names of
schools. Al-Markaz, Babur Rezky, and Al-Ikhlas are mosques. Al-
Markaz is the most famous name of mosque in Sulawesi. BNI,
BRI, BTN, and Mandiri are famous banks. Both shops and
supermarkets sell goods or commodities, but they are different.
Supermarkets are larger than shops. Supermarkets also provide
more goods than shops do. Many people like to visit supermarkets
because they can buy a number of goods that they do not find in
shops (Adapted from English Word Classes, 2011).

Text B

Identify each of the word classes (pronoun, determiner,

preposition, and conjunction) in the text.

Every person who will do the traveling must have preparation. He

takes into account of the type and amount of luggage with the
length and traveling purposes. Traveling destination will determine
the type and amount of luggage. Is traveling destination outside the
city, to another province, or abroad? When out of the town, is it by
private car or by public transport? If the private vehicle, of course
14 Word Level

we would be free to take the goods, whether the food, drinks,

although the amount and type of clothing. When the purpose to
another province, is there any chance to go to the store or not? Are
the goods there cheaper such as clothing compared with the goods
in our province? Therefore, it can determine a number of pieces of
clothing that should be taken. When abroad, which country and
how long? What season is happening in that country? If the country
is winter, of course we need thick blankets, thick jackets, anti-cold
medicines, and so on (Adapted from Building Character in English
Communication, 2014).

Activity 3

Make inflectional or derivational forms of the word classes in

accordance with the requirements of usages.

Examples:
The participants will be (sing) (beautiful).
= The participants will be (singing/ inflectional) (beautifully/
derivational).
Mr. Green (write) the English essay two (day) ago.
= Mr. Green (wrote/ inflectional) the English essay two (days/
inflectional) ago.
1. It is (wonder) to recall the (history) events.
2. In (connect) with this, I am (ask) a question.
 English Syntax 15

3. I have (say) this to one of my best (friend).

4. Many people are (success) by (mean) of their hard work.
5. Different (individual) may do (thing) in different manners.
6. My cousin, Inul, (study) (diligent) at home in the evening.
7. She walks (quick), but she (do) not speak fast.
8. Mr. Black is a hard (work), but he never works (effective).
9. They often get some (problem) in their (life).
10. The (employee) have three (day) off for a vacation.
11. They want to have a (meet) with the company (manage).
12. He is the (clever) among the (other).
13. The (grow) of economy in our country has (be) in progress.
14. The (compute) of grades is a process that (computer) may
handle.
15. Your (happy) also (make) our family happy.
16. The file you (make) last night should be (unprotect).
17. The past and past particple (form) of (irregular) verbs are not
different.
18. The shop which sells a variety of (toy) for (child) is not far
from this hotel.
19. (Do) she want to block or keep run these (program)?
20. The non-lexical verb has a (grammar) function in clause
(construct).
21. The subjects are (be) (discuss) in the classroom now.
16 Word Level

22. The (example) of this (count) type are house, room, door, and
window.
23. The (Indonesia) students should understand the English word
(class).
24. In syntactic analysis, both definite and (definite) articles are
determined as (identify).