LESSON 5

NB
The boundaries between lexical and grammatical words are not always clear-cut (cf. for
example modal verbs, auxiliaries, adverbial particles, numerals, some types of inserts,
etc.).

CRITERIA TO IDENTIFY WORD CLASSES

1. MORPHOLOGICAL
2. SEMANTIC
3. SYNTACTIC
 HOWEVER

A word may belong to several word classes:

e.g. light

Exercise 1
Think of other words which can belong to different word classes and write down
some sentences using these words.
NOUNS
common vs proper
countable vs uncountable

Exercise 2
Write down sentences using the words advice, information, pollution, pride, furniture.
(Air / environmental / noise / light / soil / thermal pollution)
 ADJECTIVES
Attributive vs predicative
Blue sky – the sky is blue
Gradable vs ungradable
Epithets express quality, properties. They generally express subjective
judgements with different degrees of subjectivity (e.g. heavy, long, small, old,
new, recent, beautiful, interesting, precious, appropriate, boring). They are
generally gradable.
Classifiers indicate the belonging of a noun to a certain category and in general to
limit or restrict a noun’s referent (e.g. last, main, following). They refer to colours
and materials (e.g. black, blue, wooden), to national or social groups (e.g. French,
Italian, Catholic), to subject areas (e.g. commercial, medical, oral). They are
generally non-gradable
E.g. the large apples –vs- the delicious Russet apples
- Adjectives can sometimes act as nouns when they describe a particular group or
characteristic. We usually use the definite article and a plural verb:
E.g. Old people are becoming more numerous
The old are becoming more numerous

- Some adjectives can follow a noun if the noun follows a superlative adjective or
the first, last, next, only:
E.g. They say she is the oldest woman alive
-Some adjectives have a different meaning when used before or after a noun:
E.g. The meeting was full of concerned residents. (worried)
The students concerned were a small minority (who were involved)
E.g. The present chairman is getting on a bit (current)
E.g. We took a vote of all members present (physically there)
-We often use –ing (have an active meaning) and –ed (have a passive meaning)
participles as adjective.
E.g. I never find fast food very satisfying.
! Some participles adjectives can be used only after a noun: applying, caused,
discussed, found, provided, questioned, taken
E.g. Please dispose of your cigarettes in the ashtrays provided.

(Formentelli 2020)
Exercise 3 Underline the correct options. Note that in some cases both options are
correct.
REVISION

WORD FORMATION PROCESSES

DERIVATION agree > agreement
COMPOUNDING good-looking pageboy / page boy
SHIFT/CONVERSION > light (noun) > light (verb)
- SECONDARY SHIFT:

(Formentelli 2020)