ref – https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-part-of-speech-is-the-word-the

the is classified as an article, which is a word used to define a noun.

When ‘the’ is functioning as an adjective, it comes before a noun in order to clarify/describe whether it’s specific or non-specific.

However, the can also sometimes function as an adverb in certain instances, too.

“the” is an article that functions as both an adjective and an adverb, depending on how it’s being used.
In other words, it’s an article, adjective, and an adverb!

definite articile

The word ‘the’ is considered a definite article because it defines the meaning of a noun as one particular thing.

We went to the rodeo on Saturday. Did you see the cowboy get trampled by the bull?

This sentence has three instances of “the” functioning as a definite article:

the rodeo,
the cowboy,
the bull.

Notice that in each instance, ‘the’ comes directly before the noun. That’s because it’s an article’s job to identify nouns.

In each of these three instances, ‘the’ refers to a specific (or definite) person, place, or thing.

When the speaker says the rodeo, they’re talking about one specific rodeo that happened at a certain place and time.

The same goes for the cowboy and the bull: these are two specific people/animals that had one kinda terrible thing happen to them!

indefinite article

It can be a bit easier to see how definite articles work if you see them in the same sentence as an indefinite article (a or an).
This sentence makes the difference a lot more clear:

A bat flew into the restaurant and made people panic.

Okay. This sentence has two articles in it: a and the. So what’s the difference?

Well, you use ‘a’ when you’re referring to a general, non-specific person, place, or thing because its an indefinite article. So in this case, using ‘a’ tells us this isn’t a specific bat. It’s just a random bat from the wild that decided to go on an adventure.

Notice that in the example, the writer uses ‘the’ to refer to the restaurant. That’s because the event happened at a specific place.

A bat flew into one particular restaurant to cause havoc, which is why it’s referred to as the restaurant in the sentence.

‘The’ as an Adverb

Finally, we mentioned that ‘the’ can also be used as an adverb, which is one of the eight main parts of speech. Adverbs modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, but never modify nouns.

Sometimes, ‘the’ can be used to modify adverbs or adjectives that occur in the comparative degree. Adverbs or adjectives that compare the amounts or intensity of a feeling, state of being, or action characterizing two or more things are in the comparative degree. Sometimes ‘the’ appears before these adverbs or adjectives to help convey the comparison!

Here’s an example where ‘the’ functions as an adverb instead of an article/adjective:

Lainey believes the most outrageous things.

Okay. We know that when ‘the’ is functioning as an adjective, it comes before a noun in order to clarify whether it’s specific or non-specific.

In this case, however, ‘the’ precedes the word most, which isn’t a noun, it’s an adjective.

And since an adverb modifies an adjective, adverb, or verb, that means ‘the’ functions as an adverb in this sentence.

Giovanni’s is the best pizza place in Montana.

The trick to figuring out whether the article ‘the’ is functioning as an adjective or an adverb is pretty simple:

just look at the word directly after ‘the’ and figure out its part of speech.

If that word is a noun, then the is functioning as an adjective.

If that word isn’t a noun, then the is functioning like an adverb.

Comparisons

Remember how we explained that ‘the’ can be combined with adverbs that are making a comparison of levels or amounts of something between two entities? The example above shows how the can be combined with an adverb in such a situation. The is combined with more and likely to form an adverbial phrase.

So how do you figure this out? Well, if the words immediately after the are adverbs, then the is functioning as an adverb, too!

Here’s another example of how the can be used as an adverb:

I had the worst day ever.

In this case, ‘the’ is being combined with the adverb worst to compare the speaker’s day to the other days. Compared to all the other days ever, this person’s was the worst…period. Some other examples of adverbs that you might see the combined with include all the better, the best, the bigger, the shorter, and all the sooner.

You are the best!

He’s the worst player I have ever seen.

ref – https://www.grammarly.com/blog/subordinating-conjunctions/

A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an independent clause. This word or phrase indicates that a clause has informative value to add to the sentence’s main idea, signaling a cause-and-effect relationship or a shift in time and place between the two clauses.

For example, ‘because’.

Because is a conjunction with just one purpose: to show a cause-and-effect relationship between a subordinate clause and a main clause. On its own, a clause beginning with because is incomplete.

Because he wouldn’t wear a seat belt.

We have the sense that there is something missing here. Let’s add an independent clause so this statement has something to lean on.

Independent clause:

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.

Now we will combine the two in a complex sentence.

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.
He wouldn’t wear a seat belt

[Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer] because [he wouldn’t wear a seat belt].

because links them together. The first clause explains the effect. The 2nd clause, the ’cause’.

Other subordinate conjunctions include:

for, as, since, though, due to, provided that, because of, unless, and so/so that.

Example:

subordinate conjunction: hence

ind clause – Batman required strict compliance with seat belt rules
ind clause – Robin was not allowed to ride in the Batmobile

[Batman required strict compliance with seat belt rules], hence [Robin was not allowed to ride in the Batmobile].

Example:

sub onjunction – Since
ind clause – Robin refused to wear his seat belt
ind clause – Batman has banned him from the Batmobile

Since Robin refused to wear his seat belt, Batman has banned him from the Batmobile.

Subordinating conjunctions signaling relationships of time or place

Another function of subordinating conjunctions is to show a relationship between two clauses involving a transition of time or place. Some examples of such subordinating conjunctions are once, while, when, whenever, where, wherever, before, and after.

sub conj – Once
ind clause – Batman learned that Robin had not been wearing his seat belt
ind clause – he took away his keys to the Batmobile

Once Batman learned that Robin had not been wearing his seat belt, he took away his keys to the Batmobile.

subj conjunction – whenever
ind clause – Robin looked regretfully at the Batmobile
ind clause – he passed it in the Batcave.

Robin looked regretfully at the Batmobile whenever he passed it in the Batcave.

subj conjunction – After
ind clause – Batman was done working for the night
ind clause – Robin took a secret ride in the Batmobile

After Batman was done working for the night, Robin took a secret ride in the Batmobile.

subj conjunction – Before
ind clause – he must promise to stop playing with the Batmobile
ind clause – Robin gets his job in the Batcave back
Before Robin gets his job in the Batcave back, he must promise to stop playing with the Batmobile.

Comma placement and subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions that fall in the middle of a sentence are generally not preceded by a comma.

Here, we have subordinate conjunction ( whenever ) falls in the middle of the sentence:

[Robin drove the Batmobile] whenever [Batman was away].

However, when a subordinate clause begins a sentence, the whole clause (but not the subordinating conjunction itself) is followed by a comma.

Whenever Batman was away, Robin drove the Batmobile.

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as much as
as soon as
as though
because
before
by the time
even if
even though
if
in case
in order that
in the event that
lest
now that
once
only
only if
provided that
since
so
supposing
than
that
though
till
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether or not
while

ref – https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/object_complement.htm

They come right after the direct object, and is a noun/pronoun/adjective.

Here are some more examples of object complements:

I found the guard sleeping.

direct object – guard
object complement – sleeping

We all consider her unworthy.

direct object – her
object complement – unworthy

I declare this centre open.

direct object – this centre
object complement – open

We consider fish spoiled once it smells like what it is.

direct object – fish
object complement – spoiled

To obtain a man’s opinion of you, make him mad. (Physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes)

direct object – him
object complement – mad

An object complement is not always one word. It could be a phrase.

For example:

I found the guard sleeping in the barn.
direct object – the guard
object complement – sleeping in the barn

We all consider her unworthy of the position.

direct object – her
object complement – unworthy of the position

They (subj) named (verb) Jeremy Line (direct object) their favorite player (obj complement).

ref –

• https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/subject_complement.htm
• https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/predicate_nominative.htm

What is a subject complement?

A subject complement is a word or phrase that appears after a linking verb in a sentence and is closely related to the sentence’s subject—identifying, defining, or describing it. A subject complement’s job, along with a linking verb, is to clarify the subject of a sentence. Subject complements never appear without linking verbs, and linking verbs never appear without them.

Note that a linking verb links the subject to its complement (subject complement). It is followed by either a noun or an adjective. So, a linking verb works like a bridge that connects two parts: the subject and the subject complement.

Easy Examples of Subject Complements

In the examples below, the linking verbs are in bold and the subject complements are shaded:

Ben is a policeman.

(The linking verb is “is” (i.e., the verb “to be”). The subject complement identifies the subject “Ben.” It is a noun.)

He will be fine.

(The linking verb is “will be” (i.e., the verb “to be”). The subject complement describes the subject “He.” It is an adjective.)

I am he.

(The linking verb is “am” (i.e., the verb “to be”). The subject complement identifies the subject “I.” It is a pronoun.)

Types of Subject Complement

Predicative Nominative

Subject complements that are headed by nouns or pronouns are called predicate nominatives.

A predicate nominative is always a noun or a pronoun.

In other words, a predicate nominative follows a linking verb, which is a verb that connects the subject with another word that describes or modifies it.

For example:

I am a ghost

(In this example, “ghost” is a noun. It heads the noun phrase “a ghost.” Therefore, “a ghost” is a predicate nominative.)

Reece was a politician.

‘politician’ is a noun. It describes Reece’s occupation.

A dog is man’s best friend.

Subject – A dog
linking verb – is
predicate nominatives – man’s best friend. (noun phrase)
(In this case, our predicate nominative is a noun phrase, i.e., a noun made up of more than one word.)

She will be the fairy.

Subject – She
linking verb – will be
predicate nominative – the fairy.

I could have been a contender.

Subject – I
linking verb – could have been
predicate nominative – a contender.

The best chair is the red one.

Subject – best chair
linking verb – is
predicate nominative – the red one

Remember that a predicate nominative, as shown in our examples above, is a noun (or a pronoun) that renames the subject.

What Is a Compound Predicate Nominative?

A predicate nominative can be made up of more than one noun. In other words, it can be a compound.

For example:
The new law is an opportunity and a risk.
(An opportunity and a risk is a compound predicate nominative.)

I will be your employer, your friend, and your uncle.

(Your employer, your friend, and your uncle is a compound predicate nominative.)

Subject complements that are headed by adjectives are called predicate adjectives.

framework: subject + linking verb + predicative adjective

For example:
I am extremely happy.

(In this example, “happy” is an adjective. It heads the adjective phrase “extremely happy.” Therefore, “extremely happy” is a predicate adjective.)

My hair looks funny.

subject – My hair
linking verb – looks
adjective – funny

That duck sounds loud.

Subject – That duck
linking verb – sounds
adjective – loud

Maria feels annoyed.

Subject – Maria
linking verb – feels
adjective – annoyed

John is brilliant.

(The adjective ‘brilliant’ is a predicate adjective, not a predicate nominative. Of note, predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives are classified as subject complements, but they are not the same.)

It feels great.

(The adjective great is a predicate adjective not a predicate nominative.)

Now compare these two examples:

The sea is dangerous.

(The adjective dangerous is a predicate adjective, not a predicate nominative.)

The sea is a danger.

(The noun a danger is a predicate nominative.)

Tips and Tricks – Identifying Predicate Adjectives

The trick to identifying predicate adjectives is spotting linking verbs. The linking verbs include the following:

The verb to be (in its various forms, e.g., am, are, is, was, were, will be, has been, have been).

The sense verbs (e.g., to feel, to look, to smell, to taste, to sound).

The status verbs (e.g., to appear, to become, to continue, to grow, to seem, to turn).

ref – https://www.grammarly.com/blog/nouns/

A noun is a word that names something, such as a person, place, thing, or idea.

In a sentence, nouns play the role of:

• subject
• direct object
• indirect object
• subject complement
• object complement
• appositive
• modifier

Some noun examples include cat, bicycle, Taylor Swift, Kuala Lumpur.

Types of nouns
Nouns form a large proportion of English vocabulary, and they come in a wide variety of types.

Nouns can name a person:

• Albert Einstein
• the president
• my mother
• a girl

Nouns can name a place:

• Mount Vesuvius
• Disneyland
• my bedroom

Things might include intangible things, such as concepts, activities, or processes. Some might even be hypothetical or imaginary things.

• shoe
• faucet
• freedom
• The Elder Wand
• basketball

Proper nouns vs. common nouns

One important distinction to be made is whether a noun is a proper noun or a common noun.

A proper noun is a specific name of a person, place, or thing and is always capitalized.

Does (Tina) have much homework to do this evening?
Tina is the name of a specific person.

I would like to visit (Old Faithful).
Old Faithful is the specific name of a geological phenomenon.

The opposite of a proper noun is a common noun, sometimes known as a generic noun.

A common noun is the generic name of an item in a class or group and is not capitalized unless appearing at the beginning of a sentence or in a title.

ex: The girl crossed the river.

Types of common nouns

Common can be broken down into three subtypes:

• concrete nouns – (physical or real) – can be perceived by our senses
• abstract nouns – cannot be perceived by our senses.
• collective nouns

A concrete noun is something that is perceived by the senses; something that is physical or real.

example:

I heard the (doorbell).
My (keyboard) is sticky.

Doorbell and keyboard name real things that can be sensed.

Conversely, an abstract noun is something that cannot be perceived by the senses.

We can’t imagine the courage it took to do that.

Courage is an abstract noun. Courage can’t be seen, heard, or sensed in any other way, but we know it exists.

A collective noun denotes a group or collection of people or things.

That (pack) of lies (is) disgraceful.

Pack as used here is a collective noun. Collective nouns take a singular verb, as they refer to the collection of people or things they identify as one entity—in this case, the singular verb is.

A (pride) of lions roamed the savanna.

Pride is also a collective noun.

Forming plural nouns

Many English plural nouns can be formed by adding -s or -es to the singular form, although there are also many exceptions.

cat –> cats

These two cats are both black.
Note the plural verb are.

tax –> taxes
house –> houses

Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns, or mass nouns, are nouns that are impossible to count, whether because they name

– intangible concepts: (e.g., information, animal husbandry, wealth),
– collections of things that are considered as wholes (e.g., jewelry, equipment, the working class)
– or homogeneous physical substances (e.g., milk, sand, air). Although most of these nouns are singular in form, because they refer to things that can’t be isolated and counted on their own, they are never used with the singular indefinite article a or an.

Singular concrete uncountable nouns can often be expressed in countable units by adding a countable noun like piece (with of).

example:
They’d love to rent a (piece) of property around here.
Students don’t seem to have (much) homework these days.

On their own, uncountable nouns can be modified by the definite article the:

example:
Could you help me move (the) furniture into the other room?

or indefinite adjectives like some.
They’d love to rent (some) property around here.

ref – https://www.grammarly.com/blog/can-vs-could/

It works!!!!!

ref – https://www.grammarly.com/blog/antecedents/

ref – https://pediaa.com/what-are-demonstrative-adjectives/

Demonstrative adjectives are used to modify a noun so that we can know which specific person, object or place is mentioned in a sentence.

There are four main demonstrative adjectives in English. They are

• this
• these
• that
• those

This (singular) – close by

This is used with singular nouns.

This can be used to indicate a specific person or object that is close by.
This can also refer to a specific thing just mentioned.

This book (noun) is very interesting.

Can you believe this story (noun)?

These (plural of this) – close by

These is the plural form of this.

It is used to point out something that is close by. It can be also used in introductions.

• These books are not mine.
• These are my friends: Martha, Jane and Viola.

That (singular) – far away

That is used to indicate a specific person or object that is further away. That is also used with singular nouns.

• Can you see that book over there?
• Look at that head. It is so round and big.

Those (plural) form of ‘that’

Those is the plural form of that; it is used to point out something farther away.

Those houses are very small.
Those are not chocolates! They are dog poo poo!

Examples

Please give me this ball pen to write something.
He wants those skating shoes for practice.
She accepts her fault at that moment.
We are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior again.
Your father wants you to become a hero like those heroes.
These flowers smell adorable.
That incident was unforgettable for me.
I don’t want to sleep with these people.
I’m so grateful for all that you’ve done.
This place is better than that one.
My dream came true by visiting this place.
That house was looking good in appearance.
Please forgive me for that incident.
I am accepting that I was wrong at that moment.
This pen has a beautiful writing experience.
Why were you following that person last night?
This dress looks so pretty on you.
This room is not hygienic for our health.
She made some delicious cookies for these poor children.
The peace that this hut is providing to us is always better than that house.

ref – https://pediaa.com/difference-between-it-and-this/

Referencing

You can use both this and it to refer back to something that has already been mentioned, BUT there is a difference in usage.

it

Subject and object pronoun

It can replace a subject or object that has already been referred to in a sentence. In this usage, we only use it to refer to an inanimate object or an animal, not a person. It is a third-person singular pronoun.

We use it to refer back to a single thing that has already been mentioned. We do this to simply ‘reference it’.

• Look at the cat! It is about to pounce on that poor bird.
• Please pick up the book on your way out. It is on the table.

It can be used as a dummy subject when talking about the weather, time and distances.

• It is really hot today.
• It’s ten o’clock.
• It is a long way to Los Angeles from here.

You can also use it as a dummy subject in several constructions.

• It is important to be on time for the meeting.
• It is essential that you learn how to drive as we live in a village.
• It is thought that Dr. Jameson will give a presentation.
• It has been shown that paracetamol is helpful in such cases.

this

‘this’ is a demonstrative adjective/pronoun.

On the other hand, we use this to

• refer back to a whole sentences that needs to be explained.
• Simply reference a whole part of the sentence to further talk about something

Take a look at these examples to see the difference between using it and this in this way.

Examples

My computer is essential to me.
It is the one thing I can’t do without at work.

(It refers back to the computer only.)

Computers have become essential in the modern workplace.

This means that all employers must provide them to their employees.

(This refers back to the whole sentence because that sentence is thesis like, or needs to be explained.)

Our garden is pretty small.
It is big enough for us, though.

Our 2nd sentence continues with the paragraph, so we use ‘it’ as a reference.

Our garden gets a lot of sun year-round. This allows us to sit outside even in the winter.

(‘This’ now references the first sentence as a whole.)

This is used to introduce someone or something

• This is my mother.
• This is my village.

This refers to a specific thing just mentioned

• This is their trip abroad.
• She made lunch, and this made her late.

This is used to identify a specific person or thing close by or being indicated or experienced

• This is the book I told you about.
• Is this yours?