Grammar
- 1 Sentence structure
- 2 Nouns
- 3 Proper nouns
- 4 Plurals and Possessives
- 4.1 Basic rules for forming plurals
- 4.2 Irregular plural forms
- 4.3 Plural and possessive units of time
- 4.4 Forming plural compound nouns
- 4.5 Forming plural proper nouns
- 4.6 Plural personal titles
- 4.7 Forming plural academic titles
- 4.8 Forming plural when singular is dictated
- 4.9 Plural forms of abbreviations
- 4.10 Plural forms for microorganisms
- 4.11 Nouns that are false plurals
- 4.12 Nouns that are false singulars
- 4.13 Use of parenthetical plurals
- 4.14 Use of bilateral as a plural or singular form
- 4.15 Forming plurals of foreign nouns and terms
- 4.16 Basic rules for forming possessives
- 4.17 Forming possessive pronouns
- 4.18 Posessive forms of organizational names
- 4.19 Forming possessive compound nouns
- 4.20 Possessive forms of abbreviations
- 4.21 Eliminating possessive form of eponyms
- 4.22 Forming separate and joint possession
- 4.23 Possessives standing alone (solitary possessives)
- 4.24 Rules for inanimate objects and possessives
- 4.25 Possessives preceding verbal nouns
- 4.26 Use of possessives in of prepositional phrases
- 5 Compound Words
An excellent grasp of American English grammar is essential for transcriptionists. Spoken language is frequently less formal and accurate than a written legal record requires. In addition, the transcriptionist will encounter dictators for whom English is a second language (ESL) or who lack the time or training to dictate with attention to grammar. It is generally accepted that the transcriptionist should produce a grammatically correct record.
Parts of speech and sentence structure are an essential part of the transcription knowledge base.
This section is not meant to replace a basic knowledge of American English grammar.
Content words
Content words are parts of speech that have meaning. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are all content parts of speech.
Parts of speech: Noun
A noun names a person, place or thing.
Parts of speech: Verb
A verb shows action or a state of being.
Parts of speech: Adjective
Adjectives are words that describe nouns and pronouns. When they describe nouns and pronouns, adjectives typically answer the following questions:
Parts of speech: Adverb
Adverbs are words that describe verbs. Adverbs answer any of the following questions about verbs:
Function Words
Function words exist to explain or create grammatical or structural relationships into which content words may fit. For example, words like to, the, it have little meaning on their own.
Parts of speech: Pronouns
Pronouns are words that substitute for nouns. Every pronoun must have a clear antecedent (the word for which the pronoun stands).
Parts of speech: Prepositions and prepositional phrases
Prepositions are words which begin prepositional phrases. A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition, a noun or pronoun object of the preposition, and any modifiers of the object.
A preposition sits in front of (pre-position) its object.
Parts of speech: Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that are used to join other grammatical structures.
Parts of speech: Determiners
Determiners signal that a noun will follow. Unlike adjectives, which also signal that a noun will follow, determiners cannot add the inflections -er and -est. In addition, because they are function words, determiners do not have other forms or synonyms. Their meaning is their function; i.e., to signal that a noun will follow.
Determiner + noun soup
the soup | some soup | this soup
Adjective + noun soup
good soup | hot soup | vegetable soup
Parts of speech: Interrogatives
Interrogatives introduce questions when: (1) the question requires more than a yes or no answer and (2) the verb phrase has at least one auxiliary or is a be verb.
What is the patient's name?
Why are you making so much noise?
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