IN THIS LESSON

English Language Essentials


All words are categorised by type into word classes. Smart use of word classes can invigorate your writing.

Exam questions ask “How does the writer use language to interest and engage the reader?”

Being able to identify and explain word classes is a great way to score high marks in response to these questions.

Key Word Classes - Activity

Match these word classes to the correct definition and example (they are jumbled).

Further Details

Tips for Nouns:

  • There are two classes of nouns:

    • Concrete nouns are used for physical objects, such as book or city. Names of people and places must be capitalised (e.g., Bob, Paris, Middle Earth); these are called proper nouns.

    • Abstract nouns are used for ideas and concepts (things that we can’t touch), such as honesty, scepticism and friendship. 

Tips for Adverbs:

  • Adverbs add information about verbs; think of “add-to-verbs”. 

  • Adverbs often add -ly to an adjective; the skillful footballer scored → the footballer scored skillfully. 

  • Adverbs often come after the noun whereas adjectives are often before the noun; look at the example above.

English Language Activity

Effects from a Piece of Writing

Read the extract below about the Deansgate Tunnel in Manchester. 

  1. Find examples of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs (you could use a different colour for each). 

  2. What effects are created by these word choices. 

Deansgate Tunnel

Way back in the long cold Winter of 1911, a group of workmen demolishing some houses on Cumberland Street (which is now that bit where the entrance to Australasia is) uncovered an underground passage that lead to what has now been termed the ‘Deansgate Tunnel’.

Supposedly large enough to allow a horse and cart to go down it, this tunnel, 70ft below ground is built of brick, has an arched roof and even features erected brick walls along the way that some annoying bugger put in to stop anyone progressing further.

There’s not much else known about this tunnel, except that it perhaps runs right down the length of the city, from the Cathedral to Pomona at the Ship Canal.

Speculation is rife as to who built it, maintained it and even used it – with some believing it started as an old Roman tunnel used to transport togas, sandals and those little gold coins with Caesar’s face on them from one place to another – later being improved upon around 200-300 years ago.

Underground Tunnel in Manchester

https://www.manchestersfinest.com/articles/underground-manchester/

Extra Clues and Tips:

What effect do these combinations of adjectives and nouns have on your thoughts about the passage (as the reader)? Notice when adjectives and nouns have been paired together. 

  • Long, cold winter

  • Underground passage

  • Old Roman tunnel

  • Arched roof

  • Speculation 

  • Little gold coins

  • Annoying bugger

How do these words suggest it might feel in the tunnel? 

How does the author feel about the person who built the brick wall and why?

What effect do these verbs have? Are they dramatic or practical?

  • Uncovered

  • Built

  • Maintained

  • Used

  • Runs

Bonus Activity

Find examples of nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs in a piece of writing.

You could circle or highlight using different colours. 

Try this activity with one of these articles about weird news:

The Independent - Weird News Stories


Knowledge Check/Review

  1. What are the four main words classes?

  2. Describe them and give an example of each.