1. COMMUNICATING IN THE WORKPLACE Sixth Canadian Edition
CHAPTER 3
EXPLORING LANGUAGE ELEMENTS
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

2. Section 3.1 The Parts of Speech
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Interjections
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

3. Section 3.1 The Parts of Speech
A noun is the name of a person, plae, thing, idea, concept, or quality.
Pronouns are words that replace nouns.
Some examples are:
I, you, he, it, we, they, me, her, us, them, my, its, your, his , mine, our, and their.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

4. Section 3.1 The Parts of Speech
Verbs are words that express action, a state of being, or a condition.
Action verbs express an obvious action.
Linking verbs include forms of the verb “to be” and sense verbs.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

5. Section 3.1 The Parts of Speech
Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns by limiting (or modifying), or making more specific, the noun or pronoun.
A, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.
Adverbs describe or limit adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs.
They specify how, when, where, why, in what manner, and to what extent.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

6. Section 3.1 The Parts of Speech
Prepositions are connecting words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.
Interjections are words used alone that express an extremely strong feeling. An interjection is followed by an exclamation mark.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

7. Section 3.1 The Parts of Speech
Conjunctions are words that join words, phrases, or clauses.
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank.
Subordinating conjunctions join subordinate clauses to main clauses.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

8. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought and contains a subject and a predicate.
The subject of a sentence names:
The person(s) speaking; or
The person spoken to; or
The person(s) or thing(s) spoken about.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

9. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
The simple subject is the main word in the complete subject – the core of the subject.
A compound subject is two or more equal subjects joined by a conjunction such as and, but, or, or nor.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

10. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells what the subject is or does, or what is done to the subject.
The simple predicate is the main verb of the sentence plus any helping verbs, usually in the form of the verb “to be.”
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

11. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
Type of Sentence
Definition
Example
Declarative
Makes a statement
We are leaving.
Interrogative
Asks a question
Is your name Sue?
Imperative
States a command or request
Send this package by courier.
Exclamatory
Expresses strong feeling
That’s amazing!
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

12. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
Clauses
A clause is a group of words containing both a subject and a predicate.
Independent clause – A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Dependent clause – cannot stand alone.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

13. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
A phrase is a group of words that has neither a subject nor a predicate.
Prepositional phrase – a preposition, an object, and any modifier of that object
Infinitive phrase – the infinitive (form of the verb “to be”) and any other words related to it.
Verb phrase – two or more verbs working together as one verb.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

14. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.2 The Sentence
Sentence fragments
A group of words that expresses an incomplete thought is called a sentence fragment.
Remember: A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought and contains a subject and a predicate.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

15. Principal Parts of Regular Verbs
Section 3.3 Verbs
Principal Parts of Regular Verbs
Present Tense
Past Tense
Past Participle
Present Participle
move
moved
moving
hire
hired
hiring
enter
entered
entering
study
studied
studying
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

16. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.3 Verbs
Verb Tenses
The verb tense is the form that tells when the action did or will occur.
Present Tense
Past Tense
Future Tense
The Perfect Tenses
Each of the present, past, and future tenses has a correlated “perfect” tense.
- Present Perfect Tense
- Past Perfect Tense
- Future Perfect Tense
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

17. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.3 Verbs
The Progressive Tenses
These tenses are used to depict actions that are still in progress.
Present Progressive Tense
Past Progressive Tense
Future Progressive Tense
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

18. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.3 Verbs
“Being” Verbs
The “being” verbs are forms of the verb “to be.” They show no action.
Present Tense
I am; you are; he/she/it is; we are; you(plural) are; they are
Past Tense
I was; you were; he/she/it was; we were; you (plural) were; they were
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

19. Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3
Section 3.3 Verbs
A transitive verb requires an object to complete its meaning.
e.g. John accepted the award.
An intransitive verb does not have an object.
e.g. John travels often.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

20. Examples of Irregular Verbs
Section 3.3 Verbs
Examples of Irregular Verbs
Present Tense
Past Tense
Past Participle
Present Participle
Infinitive
Lie
Lay
Lain
Lying
To lie
Laid
Laying
To lay
Sit
Sat
Set
Sitting
To sit
Rise
Rose
Risen
Rising
To rise
Raise
Raised
Raising
To raise
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

21. Section 3.4 Predicate Agreement
Predicate Agreement with Simple Subjects
Rule: A predicate must agree with its simple subject in number and in person.
e.g. Susan is; We are
The team wants to change its schedule.
The team members want to change their schedule.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

22. Section 3.4 Predicate Agreement
Indefinite-Pronoun Subject
Examples of indefinite pronouns:
Each, every, anybody, nothing
When used as subjects, and when they modify other subjects, their predicates must be singular.
E.g. Each of the mugs has a large handle that makes it easy to hold.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

23. Section 3.4 Predicate Agreement
Collective-Noun Simple Subjects
A collective noun is one that refers to a group or collection or persons or things. (e.g. class; jury; committee)
Treat the collective noun as singular if the class, jury, etc. acts as a group.
Treat the collective noun as plural if the members of the class, jury, etc. act as individuals.
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

24. Section 3.4 Predicate Agreement
Part, Portion, or Amount Subjects
May be singular or plural depending on the noun to which they refer.
If the complete subject is singular, then the verb is singular.
If the complete subject is plural, then the verb is plural.
e.g. One-quarter of the pie is mine.
e.g. Three-quarters of the pies are ours.
A number is always plural (A number of team leaders are going to the seminar.)
The number is always singular. (The number of team leaders is increasing.)
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

25. Section 3.4 Predicate Agreement
Predicate Agreement with Compound Subjects
A compound subject joined by and is plural and must take a plural verb. (Mary and Jean are …)
Exceptions:
Two nouns joined by and refer to one person.
(My accountant and business advisor is …)
Two or more subject joined by and are modified by each, every, or many a
(Each manager and supervisor is preparing a report.)
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3

26. Section 3.4 Predicate Agreement
Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
Match the predicate to the subject that follow or or nor.
(Neither the CEO nor her managers are attending the meeting.)
(Neither the CEO nor her assistant is attending the meeting.)
Clauses Introduced by Relative Pronouns
The pronouns who, that, and which are relative pronouns. They relate to other words called antecedents.
(Tony is one who is always on time. The relative pronouns is who. Its antecedent is one.)
(Lori is one of those employees who always do their best.)
Communicating in the Workplace Canadian Ed. 6 - Chapter 3