Grammar: Parts of Speech and Sentence Structure

Parts of Speech
- Noun: Person, place, thing, or idea.
- Verb: Action or state of being.
- Adjective: Describes a noun.
- Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.
- Pronoun: Replaces a noun.
- Preposition: Shows relationships between nouns (e.g., in, on, at).
- Conjunction: Connects words or groups (e.g., and, but, or).
Sentence Structure
- Simple Sentence: Contains one independent clause.
- Compound Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses, joined by a conjunction.
- Complex Sentence: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
- Compound-Complex Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Tenses
- Present: Describes current actions (e.g., I walk).
- Past: Describes completed actions (e.g., I walked).
- Future: Describes actions that will occur (e.g., I will walk).
- Perfect Tenses: Indicate completed actions relative to another time (e.g., I have walked).
Punctuation
- Period: Ends a sentence.
- Comma: Indicates a pause or separates items in a list.
- Semicolon: Connects closely related independent clauses.
- Colon: Introduces lists, explanations, or quotes.
- Quotation Marks: Enclose direct speech or quotations.

Thesis Statement
- Central argument or claim of the essay.
- Should be clear, specific, and arguable.
Paragraph Structure
- Topic Sentence: Introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
- Supporting Sentences: Provide evidence or examples.
- Concluding Sentence: Summarizes the paragraph's main idea or transitions to the next.
Transitions
- Use transitional words and phrases (e.g., however, therefore, additionally) to connect ideas and improve flow.
Style and Tone
- Adjust style according to audience (formal vs. informal).
- Tone should match the purpose (e.g., persuasive, informative, narrative).
Revision and Editing
- Review for clarity, coherence, and conciseness.
- Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Consider feedback from others to improve the writing.
Research and Citations
- Use credible sources to support arguments.
- Follow appropriate citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) for in-text citations and bibliographies.

Parts of Speech
- Nouns represent people, places, things, or ideas.
- Verbs express actions or states of being.
- Adjectives modify or describe nouns.
- Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition.
- Prepositions show relationships between nouns, such as location or time (e.g., in, on, at).
- Conjunctions connect words or groups of words (e.g., and, but, or).
Sentence Structure
- A simple sentence contains one independent clause.
- A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses linked by a conjunction.
- A complex sentence includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
- A compound-complex sentence has multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Tenses
- Present tense describes actions occurring currently (e.g., I walk).
- Past tense denotes actions that have been completed (e.g., I walked).
- Future tense indicates actions that will happen (e.g., I will walk).
- Perfect tenses signal actions completed relative to another time (e.g., I have walked).
Punctuation
- A period signals the end of a sentence.
- Commas indicate pauses or separate items typically in lists.
- Semicolons connect closely related independent clauses.
- Colons introduce lists, explanations, or quotations.
- Quotation marks enclose direct quotes or spoken dialogue.

Thesis Statement
- Serves as the central argument or claim of the essay.
- Must be clear, specific, and able to be argued.
Paragraph Structure
- A topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
- Supporting sentences provide evidence or examples relating to the topic.
- A concluding sentence summarizes the paragraph's main point or transitions to the next.
Transitions
- Employ transitional words and phrases (e.g., however, therefore, additionally) for connecting ideas and enhancing flow.
Style and Tone
- Tailor writing style to fit the audience, choosing between formal and informal.
- Ensure that the tone aligns with the purpose of the writing (e.g., persuasive, informative, narrative).
Revision and Editing
- Review writing for clarity, coherence, and conciseness.
- Inspect grammar, spelling, and punctuation for accuracy.
- Seek feedback from others to enhance writing quality.
Research and Citations
- Utilize credible sources to bolster arguments and claims.
- Adhere to proper citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) for in-text citations and bibliographies.