Grammar Lab Anchor Chart
Notebook Reference • Spread 1/2 Grade 7 ELA Anchor Guide
LEFT PAGE
PARTS OF SPEECH HANDBOOK
Part 1: Core Sentence Anchors (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives)
Golden Rule: Function dictates part of speech!
1. NOUN (N) Names things
Names a person, place, thing, or idea. Answers Who? or What?
Abstract vs. Concrete:
• Abstract: Integrity, curiosity
• Concrete: Microscope, glacier
Proper vs. Common:
• NASA, Mars (capitalized) vs. agency, planet
Collective & Compound:
• Collective: committee, swarm • Compound: rainforest
Sentence Roles: • Subject: The hypothesis was confirmed.
• Object: She built a prototype.
2. PRONOUN (PRO) Replaces nouns
Replaces a noun (its antecedent) to eliminate repetition.
Personal (Subject vs. Object):
• Subject: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
• Object: me, you, him, her, it, us, them
Reflexive vs. Intensive (-self/-selves):
• Reflexive: He protected himself.
• Intensive: The pilot herself landed it.
Relative & Demonstrative:
• Relative: who, whom, whose, which, that
• Demonstrative: this, that, these, those
Antecedent Rule: The astronauts checked their suits before launch.
3. VERB (V) Action / State
Expresses physical/mental action or connects a subject to a state of being.
Action (Transitive vs. Intransitive):
• Transitive (has object): She analyzed the data.
• Intransitive (no object): The geyser erupted.
Linking Verbs (State of Being):
• is, become, seem, appear, feel, look.
• Ex: The specimen remained pristine.
Helping / Auxiliary Verbs:
• Pairs with main verb: has, was, will, could, should.
• Ex: We have been conducting trials.
Linking Test: Replace with is/was. If it makes sense, it's linking! (Soup tasted spicy → Soup was spicy).
4. ADJECTIVE (ADJ) Modifies N/Pro
Modifies nouns/pronouns. Answers: Which one? What kind? How many?
Descriptive Adjectives:
• Ex: luminous stars, treacherous path.
Proper Adjectives:
• Capitalized from proper nouns: Martian soil, Shakespearean play.
Demonstrative & Comparative:
• this fossil, those theories • denser, densest.
Predicate Adjectives: Follows linking verb: The climate was frigid.
Role Shifter Spotlight
Same Word, Different Job: Noun vs. Verb vs. Adjective
Context Dictates Role
Word: "LIGHT"
• Noun: Sunlight filled the lab.
• Verb: They light the burner.
• Adj: She wore a light coat.
Word: "CHALLENGE"
• Noun: It was a tough challenge.
• Verb: I challenge the claim.
• Adj: A challenge course.
Word: "IRON"
• Noun: Iron is a dense element.
• Verb: Iron the lab coat.
• Adj: An iron will to win.
Notebook Reference • Spread 2/2 Grade 7 ELA Anchor Guide
RIGHT PAGE
PARTS OF SPEECH HANDBOOK
Part 2: Modifiers, Connectors & Expressors (Adverbs, Preps, Conjunctions, Interjections)
Structure Tip: Prepositions take objects; conjunctions link clauses!
5. ADVERB (ADV) Modifies V, Adj, Adv
Modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. Answers: How? When? Where? To what extent?
Manner, Time, Place, & Degree:
• Manner (How): walked cautiously
• Time/Degree: departed yesterday, quite rapid
Conjunctive Adverbs (Clause Linkers):
• Links clauses: ; however, therefore, consequently, meanwhile
The -LY Trap: Some adverbs don't end in -ly (fast, often, well). Some -ly words are adjectives (friendly, lonely)!
6. PREPOSITION (PREP) Shows relationships
Shows time, space, or direction relationship between a noun and another word.
Prepositional Phrase Formula:
[Preposition] + (Modifiers) + [Object (Noun)]
• through the treacherous valley
• beneath the lunar surface
Common List:
aboard, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, before, behind, below, beside, between, beyond, by, during, from, in, into, near, of, on, past, through, toward, under, until, with
Prep vs. Adverb Test: • Has object: Preposition (Look inside the crate)
• No object: Adverb (Look inside)
7. CONJUNCTION (CONJ) Connects clauses
Connects words, phrases, or clauses with logical relationships.
1. Coordinating (FANBOYS):
• For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
• Ex: The alarm sounded, but none panicked.
2. Subordinating (AAAWWUUBBIS):
• After, Although, As, While, When, Until, Because, Before, If, Since
• Ex: Although faint, we detected the pulse.
3. Correlative: either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also
Comma Rule: Use comma before FANBOYS when connecting two complete sentences!
8. INTERJECTION (INT) Expresses emotion
Expresses sudden emotion or reaction. Standalone from sentence grammar.
Strong Emotion (!):
• Eureka! We solved the cipher.
• Ouch! That wire was energized.
Mild Emotion / Spoken (,):
• Well, we could run the test again.
• Oh, I see the pattern now.
Common: Alas, bravo, whew, yikes, hey, gosh
Takeaway: Punctuation dictates emotional intensity.
Master Matrix
Word Chameleon Lab: Function Dictates Part of Speech
How syntax transforms classification:
| Word | Role 1 | Role 2 | Role 3 |
|---|
| BEFORE | Preposition: | | |
| Arrive before noon. | Sub. Conjunction: | | |
| Leave before it rains. | Adverb: | | |
| Never seen it before. | | | |
| DOWN | Preposition: | | |
| Hiked down the trail. | Adverb: | | |
| The climber slid down. | Noun / Verb: | | |
| Duck down / Scored on 3rd down. | | | |
| THAT | Demonstrative Pro: | | |
| Look at that. | Demonstrative Adj: | | |
| Look at that sample. | Relative Pronoun / Sub. Conj: | | |
| The theory that we tested worked. | | | |
| FAST | Adjective: | | |
| A fast runner. | Adverb: | | |
| She runs fast. | Verb / Noun: | | |
| They fast / A 24-hour fast. | | | |
