Language Arts
Grammar, punctuation, figurative language, and clear writing.
1. Parts of speech
| Part | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | names a person, place, thing, or idea | teacher, city, freedom |
| Pronoun | takes the place of a noun | she, they, it |
| Verb | shows action or a state of being | run, is, think |
| Adjective | describes a noun | tall, blue, three |
| Adverb | describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb | quickly, very, often |
| Preposition | shows a relationship, usually of place or time | in, under, after |
| Conjunction | joins words or clauses | and, but, because |
| Interjection | shows sudden emotion | wow, ouch |
Example: "The tall boy quickly ran home." Quickly is an adverb because it tells how he ran.
2. Sentence types
By purpose
- Declarative makes a statement: The bus arrives at 7.
- Interrogative asks a question: When does the bus arrive?
- Imperative gives a command or request: Close the door.
- Exclamatory shows strong feeling: The bus is late again!
By structure
- Simple: one independent clause. I studied.
- Compound: two independent clauses joined by a conjunction. I studied, and she practiced.
- Complex: an independent clause plus a dependent clause. I passed because I studied.
3. Commas
- In a list of three or more: We packed sandwiches, fruit, and water.
- Before a conjunction joining two independent clauses: I wanted to go, but it was raining.
- After an introductory phrase: After the game, we got pizza.
- Around extra information that could be removed: My brother, who lives in Ohio, is visiting.
A handy memory trick for the conjunctions in rule 2 is FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
4. Figurative language
| Type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simile | compares using "like" or "as" | as brave as a lion |
| Metaphor | says one thing is another | Time is a thief. |
| Personification | gives human traits to a non-human thing | The wind whispered. |
| Hyperbole | extreme exaggeration | I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. |
| Idiom | a phrase whose meaning isn't literal | break the ice |
5. Writing a paragraph
- Topic sentence: states the main idea.
- Evidence: facts, examples, or quotes that support it.
- Explanation: says why the evidence matters.
- Concluding sentence: wraps up the idea.
Example: Reading every day improves vocabulary. Students who read for twenty minutes a night meet far more new words than those who do not. Seeing those words in context helps them stick. Daily reading is one of the simplest ways to build a stronger vocabulary.
Practice quiz
Tap an answer. You will see right away whether it is correct and why.