AFPSAT Verbal Ability — Parts of SpeechFlash Cards

What is a noun and what are its primary functions in a sentence?

A noun is a naming word that identifies persons, places, things, events, or ideas. Primary functions: 1) Subject (doer of action), 2) Direct object (receiver of action), 3) Indirect object (to whom/for whom), 4) Object of preposition, 5) Subject complement (predicate noun), 6) Appositive (modifier giving additional information). Example: 'Camaraderie strengthens relationships' - camaraderie is the subject noun.

Proper Noun vs Common Noun

Proper Noun: Specific names, always capitalized (Philippines, Christmas, Jose Rizal). Common Noun: General names, lowercase unless starting sentence (country, holiday, doctor). Proper nouns don't typically use articles except in exceptions like 'The Philippines' or 'The Aquinos'.

What is the difference between count nouns and noncount nouns?

Count Nouns: Can be separated and counted, have singular/plural forms, use articles a/an (child/children, book/books). Noncount Nouns: Cannot be counted, always singular, no a/an, use quantity words (water, rice, advice). Example: 'a piece of advice' not 'an advice'. Jewelry takes singular verb: 'Her jewelry is beautiful'.

Abstract Noun vs Concrete Noun

Abstract Noun: Intangible concepts, ideas, qualities that cannot be physically touched (beauty, authority, love, freedom). Concrete Noun: Can be perceived through senses, physical objects (chair, flower, music, person). Many abstract nouns are uncountable but not all uncountable nouns are abstract (water, fire are concrete but uncountable).

How do collective nouns work with verbs?

Collective nouns refer to groups but can take singular or plural verbs depending on meaning. Singular when viewed as one unit: 'The committee gives its decision.' Plural when viewed as individuals: 'The committee enjoy their coffee.' Common collective nouns: team, family, government, staff, class.

What are the three cases of personal pronouns with examples?

Nominative Case (subject): I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Objective Case (object): me, you, him, her, it, us, them. Possessive Case (ownership): my/mine, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, our/ours, their/theirs. Example: 'He gave me his book' - He (nominative), me (objective), his (possessive).

When do you use WHO vs WHOM?

WHO is used for subjects (nominative case): 'Who is coming?' WHOM is used for objects (objective case): 'To whom did you give the letter?' or 'The person whom we met.' Trick: If you can answer with he/she, use WHO. If you can answer with him/her, use WHOM.

What are the six types of adverbs?

1) Manner (how): quickly, carefully, gracefully; 2) Attitude (speaker's view): honestly, certainly, obviously; 3) Time (when): today, yesterday, early; 4) Frequency (how often): always, never, sometimes; 5) Place (where): here, nearby, abroad; 6) Degree (extent): very, quite, extremely, absolutely.

Where do adverbs of frequency go in a sentence?

Usually before the main verb: 'I often study.' Between auxiliary and main verb: 'I have never been there.' After 'be' verbs: 'She is always late.' Some (normally, usually, sometimes) can start sentences with comma: 'Sometimes, we go swimming.' Never put always, never, seldom at sentence start in modern English.

What are the three main verb functions in English?

1) Predicate (main action/state): 'She whispered' - simple predicate. 2) Subject (when in -ing or infinitive form): 'Reading is important' - gerund subject. 3) Complement roles: subject complement after linking verbs ('Her hobby is dancing'), direct object ('I enjoy swimming'), noun modifier ('dancing doll').

Transitive vs Intransitive vs Linking Verbs

Transitive: Needs direct object ('He bought a car'). Intransitive: No object needed ('She laughed'). Linking: Connects subject to complement ('She seems happy'). Some verbs can be both: 'The boat floats' (intransitive) vs 'He floats the boat' (transitive). Linking verbs: be, seem, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, smell.

What are the comparison degrees of adjectives?

Positive (basic): rich, beautiful, good. Comparative (two things): richer, more beautiful, better. Superlative (three or more): richest, most beautiful, best. One syllable: add -er/-est. Two+ syllables: use more/most. Irregular: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, far/farther/farthest.

When do you use A vs AN vs THE?

A: before consonant sounds ('a university' - /yu/ sound). AN: before vowel sounds ('an hour' - silent h). THE: specific/known items ('the book we discussed'). Sound matters, not spelling: 'an MBA' (em-be-ay), 'a European' (yu-ro-pean). No articles with plural/uncountable for general meaning: 'Dogs are loyal' not 'The dogs are loyal'.

What are the three types of prepositions of time?

AT: specific times, festivals ('at 3 PM', 'at Christmas', 'at bedtime'). ON: days, dates ('on Monday', 'on July 4', 'on my birthday'). IN: months, years, seasons, centuries, parts of day ('in 2023', 'in summer', 'in the morning', 'in the 21st century'). Remember: 'at night' but 'in the afternoon'.

FANBOYS - What are the coordinating conjunctions?

FOR (reason): 'I stayed home for I was sick'. AND (addition): 'coffee and tea'. NOR (negative addition): 'not here nor there'. BUT (contrast): 'rich but unhappy'. OR (choice): 'tea or coffee'. YET (contrast, stronger): 'small yet powerful'. SO (result): 'tired, so I slept'. Use comma before when joining independent clauses.

What are subordinating conjunctions and their main categories?

Connect dependent to independent clauses. Categories: CAUSALITY (because, since, as). TIME (when, before, after, while). CONTRAST (though, although, whereas). CONDITION (if, unless, provided that). The subordinating conjunction makes its clause dependent: 'Because it rained, we stayed inside'.

How do correlative conjunctions work with parallel structure?

Work in pairs: both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, whether...or. PARALLEL STRUCTURE required: same grammatical form after each conjunction. WRONG: 'Either running or to walk'. RIGHT: 'Either running or walking'. VERB AGREEMENT: agrees with second subject: 'Either John or his friends are coming'.

What are the types of interjections and their punctuation?

MILD (comma): 'Well, I think so.' STRONG (exclamation): 'Wow! Amazing!' Types: Greeting (Hey!), Joy (Hurray!), Approval (Bravo!), Surprise (What!), Pain/Sorrow (Ouch! Alas!), Understanding (Aha!), Real-life expressions (Yes!). Punctuation affects meaning and sentence structure.

What is subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns?

SINGULAR: everyone, everybody, each, one, either, neither, someone, anybody, nobody (takes 'is', 'has', 'does'). PLURAL: several, few, many, both, others (takes 'are', 'have', 'do'). BOTH: all, most, some, any, more (depends on following noun - 'All students are...' vs 'All water is...'). 'Each of us IS' not 'Each of us ARE'.

How do you form possessive nouns correctly?

SINGULAR: add 's ('the girl's book', 'James's car'). PLURAL ending in s: add only ' ('the girls' books', 'the Joneses' house'). PLURAL not ending in s: add 's ('children's toys', 'women's rights'). PROPER NAMES ending in s: add only ' ('Carlos' book', 'Philippines' flag'). COMPOUND: last word gets possessive ('mother-in-law's visit').