Good grammar is important for many reasons. First, it makes it possible for people to communicate clearly. When we use proper grammar, we can be sure that our meaning is understood. Second, good grammar shows that we are intelligent and well-educated. In a professional setting, bad grammar can make us look foolish and cause potential employers or clients to question our competence.
In this blog post, ULC, a leading English language school with classes for foreigners in Singapore, will look at two somewhat confusing aspects of grammar – nouns and verbs!
What Are Nouns
Before we go into what verbs are, nouns are an important part of speech. They are the names of people, places, things, and ideas. Without nouns, we would have a hard time communicating. They help us to be specific when we talk or write.
Nouns can be classified in different ways. To make things slightly more complicated, there are different kinds of nouns!
Common nouns are the names of general things like “dog” or “tree”. Proper nouns are the names of specific people, places, or things like Mr. Smith or Los Angeles.
Concrete or common nouns are things that we can touch like rocks or desks. Abstract nouns are ideas that we cannot touch like love or justice. Lastly, collective nouns are a group of nouns such as how “pack” refers to a group of “dogs” and “team” refers to a group of “people”.
Nouns are also important because they can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. The subject is the noun that is doing the verb while the object is the noun that is being affected by the verb.
For example, in the sentence “The boy kicks the ball”, “boy” is the subject and “ball” is the object.
As you can see, nouns play an important role in communication and grammar. Without them, we would have a hard time expressing ourselves clearly.
What Are Verbs
After looking at what nouns are and some examples, let’s move on to verbs. Verbs are often thought of as “action words,” but they can also be used to describe states of being and emotions. In fact, verbs are one of the most versatile parts of speech, and they play a vital role in communication. To truly understand verbs, it helps to break them down into three main categories: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs.
Action verbs are words that express physical or mental action. They are often used in conjunction with movement verbs to describe the manner in which someone is moving.
In short, action verbs are versatile words that can be used in a variety of ways to add interest and detail to writing. Some common action verbs include: run, walk, crawl, think, feel, believe, jump, sit, stand, speak.
Linking verbs do not express action; rather, they connect the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that renames or describes the subject. The most common linking verb is the form of the verb to be: am, is, are, was, were, being, been.
Helping verbs, also called auxiliary verbs, help to form the tense of a verb. For example, verbs in the present tense are formed with the helping verbs “am”, ” is”, and “are”, while verbs in the past tense are formed with the helping verbs “was” and “were”.
By understanding the different types of verbs and how they are used, you can communicate more effectively and make your writing and speech more interesting.
Importance Of Learning Nouns And Verbs
Nouns are the foundation of communication. They provide the building blocks that we use to construct meaning. Without nouns, we would be unable to express our thoughts or describe our experiences.
Verbs, on the other hand, are what give our sentences life. They convey action and movement, and they allow us to paint a picture in the listener’s mind. Together, what nouns and verbs are able to help us do is to create the tapestry of language.
Boost Your Grammar With ULC
If you are looking for a course to improve your English, come have a chat with us at United Language Centre. With our extensive range of English classes for foreigners in Singapore, we’ll help you get your grammar in tip-top shape in no time!
At ULC, we also offer private English lessons, intermediate courses, professional English courses and online English classes for kids. No matter your proficiency in English or your desired mode of learning, our team of English specialists is more than well-equipped to help you grow to master English.
