Grammar at its best !!!

Overview
English words are divided into one of the
following groups: noun, pronoun, adjective, verb,
adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection.
Parts of Speech is one of the fundamental facts
of English grammar. A word may function as
more
than
one
part
of
speech.
You may spell a word. (noun)
Write a word picture. (adjective) or
Word a message.
(verb)

This shows that the part of speech to which a

word belongs cannot be definitely decided by
looking at the word by itself.

We therefore, need to know what function it

does or how it is used in a sentence.

There are eight Parts of Speech in English

grammar.

Noun
Pronoun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Conjunction
Interjection

Noun
Noun
A word used as the name of a person, place,
animal, thing, quality, event, etc. is called a
noun. Words like John, table, school, kindness, skill
and party are nouns.
Forms of Nouns
Nouns may be single words or compound
words written solid or as two words or
hyphened: ceremony, bookcase, high school, gogetter.
Most nouns change their form to make the
plural, most of them adding s or es: boys,
kindness, manufacturers.

Nouns change their form for case only in the

genitive or possessive, typically by adding-s:
boys, Nicks.
A very few nouns in English may have different
forms for male and female sex: actor-actress,
confident-confidante, executor-executrix, man-woman
etc.
Some nouns originally singular are now
generally used in the plural; as,
Riches: - Riches have wings.
Eves: - The eves are finished.
Alms: - The alms have been distributed.

The following nouns which are plural in form

but singular in meaning take a singular verb; as,
Mathematics: - Mathematics is my favorite
study.
News: - Ill news runs apace.

Innings: - We won by an innings and fifty runs.

Gallows: - A gallows was built.
Wages: - The wages of sin is death.
Politics: - Politics is his chief interest.

Means is used either as singular or plural.

When it is used in the sense of wealth it
always plural; as,
This is a means to an end.
His means are small, but he has saved much.

There are certain collective nouns which,

though singular in form, are always used as
plurals; as,

Poultry: - These poultry are Mr. Michaels.

Cattle: - The cattle are grazing in the field.
Vermin: - Vermin spread disease.
People: - Who are these people (=persons)?
Gentry: - The gentry of this town are not
social.

 Study the following Examples

We have received no information. (Not,
information's.)
He gave me some good advice. (Not, advices.)
She has jet black hair. (Not, hairs.)
Our house is built of stone. (Not, stones.)
I like this poetry (or these poems). (Not, these
poetries.)
The scenery of Switzerland is charming. (Not, the
sceneries)
The rich should help the poor. (Not, the richesthe
poor's.)
The members of his family are here. (Not, his family
members.)
Give me some blotting paper. (Not, blotting.)
There is no room for you here. (Not, place.)
He gave me ten dollar bill. (Not, ten dollars bill.)

Use of Possessive
Case
The possessive case was once used with any
kind of noun, but is now limited to: Nouns denoting living beings; as, Johns books;
mens wants; a birds feathers.
Nouns denoting personified things; as, fortunes
favorite; Sorrows tear; Americas hope.
Nouns denoting time, space, or weight; as, a days
march; a months holiday; a stones throw; hairs
breadth; a tons weight.
Nouns signifying certain dignified objects; as, the
oceans roar; dutys call; the laws delays; the courts
decree; the souls delight.
A few familiar phrases for the sake of shortness; as,
at his fingers ends; at his wits end; to his hearts

content; for mercys sake; the ships crew.

When the thing possessed is described as the

common property of several individuals, the
sign of the possessive is affixed only to the last
named possessor; as,
William, John, and Jacks firm.
Henry, Thompson and Palmers estates

When a separate possession is ascribed to each,

the sign of the possessive is repeated; as,
Williams, Johns and Jacks firms.
Henrys, Thompsons and Palmers estates.

When the possessors name consists of more

than one word the last word is put in the
possessive; as,
Edward VIIIs reign.
The Duke of Yorks death.

When two nouns in the possessive case are in

apposition, the s is added to the second only;
as,
This is my brother Henrys house.
Alexander, the King of Macedons invasion.

The words house, shop, cathedral, school, or

church are generally omitted after a possessive
case; as,

We stayed at Miss Williams.

You can get this hat at Whitleys.
They went to St. Pauls.
He goes to St. Stephens.

Double Possessives
Both the forms (s) and (of) are sometimes used.
Note the following expressions: A picture of the King = a picture presenting a
likeness of the King.
A picture of the Kings = a picture of which the
King is owner.
Hamlet is a play of Shakespeares = Hamlet is a
play of Shakespeares plays.
Hamlet is a play of Shakespeare = Hamlet is a play
written by Shakespeare.