Linguistics Girl

in Curriculum

Third Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Looking for ideas for a homeschool third grade curriculum? Check out the textbooks, workbooks, books, and other materials that I used in my home for grade 3 level work. Updated on July 28, 2024. More

in Form-Function Diagrams

Form-Function Diagram: My mom has bought my sister a gift.

Explore the form-function diagram of the sentence ‘My mom has bought my sister a gift.’ More

in Linguistics

Second Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Looking for ideas for a homeschool second grade curriculum? Check out the textbooks, workbooks, books, and other materials that I used in my home for grade 2 level work. Updated on July 17, 2024. More

in Form-Function Diagrams

Form-Function Diagram: Those students are looking at the sculpture.

Explore the form-function diagram of the sentence ‘Those students are looking at the sculpture.’ More

in Curriculum

First Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Looking for ideas for a homeschool first grade curriculum? Check out the textbooks, workbooks, books, and other materials that I used in my home for grade 1 level work. Updated on June 30, 2024. More

in Form-Function Diagrams

Form-Function Diagram: A tall kid ate some apples.

Explore the form-function diagram of the sentence ‘A tall kid ate some apples.’ More

in Curriculum

Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Looking for ideas for a homeschool kindergarten curriculum? Check out the textbooks, workbooks, books, and other materials that I used in my home for kindergarten level work. Updated on June 13, 2024. More

in Form-Function Diagrams

Form-Function Diagram: A pizza ate a cow with gray stripes.

Explore the form-function diagram of the sentence ‘A pizza ate a cow with gray stripes.’ More

in Curriculum

Preschool Homeschool Curriculum

Looking for ideas for a homeschool preschool curriculum? Check out the textbooks, workbooks, books, and other materials that I used in my home for preschool level work. Updated on June 8, 2024. More

in English Pronouns, Linguistics

The English Speaker That Used the ‘Wrong’ Relative Pronoun: Subordinating with Who and That

“Who is for people, that is for things” is a common prescriptive grammar rule that grammar teachers drill into English students. However, the rule is rather arbitrary and does not reflect actual use of the English language. More

in Form-Function Diagrams

Form-Function Diagram: Reading the books was exciting.

Explore the form-function diagram of the sentence ‘Reading the books was exciting.’ More

in Linguistics, Structured Word Inquiry

English Spelling Rules

Discover the rules of English spelling with Structured Word Inquiry (SWI). Explore lexical and functional spellings, suffixing rules, connecting vowels, compounding, prefixing, and more. More

in English Nouns, Linguistics

Using Nouns and Noun Phrases as Adjunct Adverbials

An adjunct adverbial modifies an entire clause. Learn about the use of nouns and nouns phrases as adjunct adverbials in English grammar. More

in Linguistics

German, Dutch, Deutsch, Teuton, Almain: A Germanic Etymology

What do the words German, Dutch, Deutsch, Teuton, and Almain have in common? I recently learned the Norwegian word tysk, which translates to “German, of or relating to the German people.” The word tysk comes from Old Norse þýðverskr, þýzkr, which comes from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz meaning “of or relating to a people.” The English cognate […] More

in Linguistics, Norwegian

Learning Norwegian as an English Speaker: Learn, Teach, Why, Live, Nearby

I love language, both language in general and specific languages. From my early encounters with grammar in elementary school to the depths of linguistic study during high school and throughout my undergraduate years, I have continually nurtured this fascination. Spanish served as my primary focus, complemented by semester-long studies in German and Old English. Embracing […] More

in English Prepositions, Linguistics

Using Prepositional Phrases as Noun Phrase Modifiers

Traditional grammars define prepositions as words that “link to other words, phrases, and clauses” and that “express spatial or temporal relations.” Prepositions are lexical-function words, expressing discernible lexical meanings and grammatical relationships. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition plus another nominal word, phrase, or clause functioning as the prepositional complement. In grammar, a noun […] More

in English Adjectives, Linguistics

Grammatical Functions of English Adjectives and Adjective Phrases

Adjective phrases including adjectives perform four main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language. The four functions of adjectives and adjective phrases are: Adjectives are traditionally defined as “words that describe nouns.” (But not all words that describe nouns are adjectives.) Adjective phrases are defined as phrases that consist of an adjective plus any […] More

in English Adjectives, Linguistics

Using Adjective Clauses as Noun Phrase Modifiers

As a type of dependent or subordinate clause, adjective clauses consist of a relativizer followed by a clause that consists of a subject and a predicate. Sometimes the relativizer also functions as the subject. Relativizers are a type of subordinating conjunction. Relative pronouns and relative adverbs are both relativizers. Also known as relative clauses, adjective […] More

in English Adjectives, English Nouns, Grammatical Function, Linguistics

Lies Your Grammar Teacher Told You: Nouns and Adjectives

Notional grammars define adjectives as “words that describe nouns.” Big, cute, green, small, and wonky are prototypical adjectives. In big bully, The baby is cute, and I painted the wall green, each adjective describes a noun. Big describes the noun bully, cute describes the noun baby, and green describes the noun wall. However, stating that […] More

in English Adjectives, English Determiners, Linguistics

Determiners Are Not Adjectives

Traditional grammars categorize determiners with either adjectives or pronouns. But determiners are not adjectives. Repeat after me: Determiners are not adjectives. Notional grammars define adjectives as “words that modify nouns.” (But not all words that modify nouns are adjectives.) Adjectives describe attributes of nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases, functioning as noun phrase modifiers, subject complements, […] More

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