IDENTIFYING VERBS AND ADVERBS



USING CONJUNCTIONS, PREPOSITIONS, AND INTERJECTIONS

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|In this module, you will learn to identify and know the functions of the following: |

|Conjunctions |

|Prepositions |

|Interjections |

|Co-ordinate ideas |

|Subordinate ideas. |

Introduction

We are going to look at conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections, learn how to identify them, and examine their functions. While we look at conjunctions, we will need to become familiar with co-ordinate and subordinate ideas.

Conjunctions

In writing, we must learn to connect ideas (elements). That is, we need to join words, phrases, and clauses. The most widely used method of joining ideas involves the CONJUNCTION. The word "conjunction" means a joining. We will look first at co-ordinating conjunctions, words joining co-ordinate elements--ideas of equal value. Then we will look at subordinating conjunctions, words that create and join unco-ordinate elements--ideas of unequal value.

Co-ordinating Conjunctions

The following examples will illustrate what we mean by co-ordinate elements.

Examples of Equal Ideas

"Faith and charity are desirable virtues."

In this sentence, "and," a co-ordinating conjunction, joins two nouns of equal value--"faith" and "charity."

"To have faith and to be charitable are desirable virtues."

Here, "and" joins two phrases (noun phrases) of equal value--"to have faith" and "to be charitable."

"We should have faith, and we should be charitable."

Here, "and" joins two clauses of equal value--"We should have faith" and " we should be charitable."

Below is a list of the seven co-ordinating conjunctions; all join ideas of equal value.

List:

"And, but, for, or, nor, yet," and "so."

Subordinating Conjunctions

The following example will illustrate what we mean by subordinate (unequal) elements.

Example of Unequal Ideas

Let's look at the two clauses we used previously and join them with a subordinating conjunction, a joining word that not only creates unequal elements but also joins them.

"We should have faith although we may be charitable."

We can see that the first clause, "We should have faith," is a complete thought. But the second clause, "although we may be charitable," is an incomplete thought. So the two clauses are not of equal value.

The word "although" is a subordinating conjunction, making the two clauses no longer equal.

So subordinating conjunctions are joining words that create unequal ideas and join them to other ideas.

Here is a list of the more common subordinating conjunctions.

List:

After, all of which, although, as, as if, as long as, at which, because, before, even, even if, even though, ever since;

how, if, in order that, since, so as, so that, than, that, though, till, unless, until;

what, whatever, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, which, whichever, while, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, whosoever, why.

NOTE: Words such as "who," "whoever," "whom," and "whomever" can be either pronouns or conjunctions.

For the time being, if a verb follows these "wh" words, the "wh" words are conjunctions; if a verb does not follow, the "wh" words are pronouns.

Prepositions

A PREPOSITION is a word that shows a relationship between nouns, between pronouns, or between nouns and pronouns.

The relationships that can be shown by prepositions are numerous. Some of the more common are time, space, movement, direction, content, origin, subject, omission, and cause. Let's explore the first one, time, in a bit of detail.

The relationship of someone or something to someone or something else can be one of time:

Joe arrived IN time.

Alicia waited FOR an hour.

The class waited UNTIL noon.

She arrived BEFORE 10 a.m.

The team arrived AFTER lunch.

He handed in his assignment PAST the deadline.

All the prepositions (CAPS) show a relationship of time between someone/something and some set time.

Here is a list of the more common prepositions. Don't worry that some of the phrases contain more than one preposition--that's another story.

List:

About, above, abreast, across, after, against, along, alongside, among, amongst, around, as, at;

before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, in back of;

in front of, inside, into, like, near, next, next to, of, off, on, onto, opposite, out, out of, outside, over, past, round;

since, than*, through, throughout, till, to, toward, towards, under, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, without.

*Than, a subordinating conjunction, is often used as a preposition. Such usage is acceptable. Here's an example.

"Trying harder is better than complaining."

NOTE: In "to plus an action" phrases (to run), to is never a preposition. If a noun or pronoun follows "to," then "to" is a preposition.

Now let's look at interjections.

Interjections

Interjections are words, groups of words, or sentences that express great emotion.

In the sentence, "Wow! did you see that?", "Wow" is a single-word interjection. "Wow! Did you see that?" is also acceptable.

In the sentence, "Get out of the way!", the entire sentence is an interjection.

All interjections in this module are followed by exclamation marks.

Exercises

Select the answer that describes the function of each word within parentheses (brackets). Work from left to right as the words appear in the sentence. The answers appear after the last question

1. The heat (from) the fire was somewhat comforting to him, (but) Hebba knew she was (in) extreme pain.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

2. Neither the telephones (nor) the elevators will work (if) a fire breaks out (in) the power room.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

3. (As) the sun sank (in) the west, we walked faster (even though) we were exhausted.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

4. We felt we could arrive (by) Friday (although) we were not sure (of) the route.

A. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

5. (Whenever) we see a rainbow, we should marvel (at) the way nature works (in) harmony with people.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Conjunction, preposition, preposition

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

6. We wandered (toward) the river (which) was (to) the north of camp.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

7. (If) they take food (and) water, they could survive for five (or) six weeks.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

8. (Without) life vests (or) floatation devices, canoeing (at) any time can be dangerous.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

9. (Hurry!) (or) the waves (and) wind will capsize the boat.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Interjection, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Interjection, preposition, conjunction

E. Interjection, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

10. The wind (from) the mountains blew (like) a demon (during) the storm.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

11. (Since) we're all packed, let's pause (for) a minute (and) think up a plan.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

12. The day dawned, (and) we felt better (because) we could make out the camp (across) the bay.

A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction

B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition

C. Preposition, preposition, preposition

D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction

E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

Answers

1, E. 2, B. 3, F. 4, A. 5, D. 6, C. 7, A. 8, E. 9, E. 10, C. 11, F. 12, B.

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