using sentence structure and part of speech to determine word meaning created by kathryn reilly
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Using Sentence Structure and Part of Speech
to Determine Word Meaning
Created by Kathryn Reilly
Using Sentence Structure
• Sometimes authors will use a sentence’s structure to define a word.
• Hints may be enclosed in parentheses or commas.
Using Sentence Structure• Parentheses may reveal a word’s meaning:
– Joe had always wanted to be an ornithologist (birds had fascinated him since the age of three).
– An ornithologist studies birds.
• Words within commas may reveal a word’s meaning.
– Algophobia, the fear of pain, is common in many people.
Identifying Parts of Speech
Identifying Verbs• Verbs, which show action, may
end several ways:– -ed– -s– -ing
• Several words may precede a verb:– will– have– am– did
Identifying Nouns• Nouns are people, places or things.
– doctor, park, coffee
• Plural nouns may end with -s.
– books, lessons, concerts
• Proper nouns are capitalized.– Macy’s– Isiah
• Several words may precede a noun:– a– an– the– those
Identifying Parts of Speech
Identifying Adjectives• Adjectives describe nouns.
• In English, adjectives always precede nouns.
– The beautiful woman…
– The angry customer…
Identifying Adverbs• Adverbs describe verbs.
• Adverbs may come before or after verbs.
• Many, but not all, adverbs end in –ly.
– She screamed loudly…
– Jaime arrived yesterday…
Literary ExampleThis excerpt is from the Sherlock Holmes mystery The Hound of the Baskervilles:
The baronet has been in communication with the architect who prepared the plans for Sir Charles, and with a contractor from London, so that we may expect great changes to begin here soon.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles. Project Gutenberg. Web. 15 March 2012.
• Vocab word: baronet
– The word the suggests baronet is a noun.
– Since the baronet has communicated with an architect, this suggests baronet is a person.
– A baronet is a minor member of royalty.
Literary ExampleThis excerpt was taken from the Sherlock Holmes mystery The Hound of the Baskervilles:
I looked round, with a chill of fear in my heart, at the huge swelling plain, mottled with the green patches of rushes. Nothing stirred over the vast expanse save a pair of ravens, which croaked loudly from a tor behind us.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles. Project Gutenberg. Web. 15 March 2012.
• Vocab word: mottled
– -ed ending suggests it is a verb
– This verb describes the landscape “swelling plain” and the plants on it “green patches of rushes”
– This verb has a negative connotation “chill of fear”.
– Mottled means dotted or spotted.
Review
• A sentence’s structure may help determine an unknown word’s meaning.– Look for hints within parentheses.– Look for hints within commas.
• Use the part of speech to help determine an unknown word’s meaning.
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