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2.2 The Basic Structure of English Syntax 2.2.1 Word Class
One way to begin studying of logical relation is to consider the traditional parts of speech also called word classes: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives,
adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, articles, and interjections. To know surely what part of speech a word is, we have to look not only at the word itself but also at its
function.
2.2.1.1 Noun
A noun is the name of a person, place or thing Frank, 1972: 6. A noun can function in a sentence as a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, a subject
complement, an object complement, an appositive, an adjective, and an adverb. For examples: house, mother, Indonesia, person, place, thing or idea is usually preceded
by articles or demonstratives. Noun in English can be classified into two types, namely:
1.Concrete nouns
are words for a physical object that can be perceived by the sense – we can see, touch, smell the object. Concrete nouns can be classified into:
Common nouns are words used to name all member of a class or group such as: boy, girl, iron, glass, teacher, pupil, bus, and cup.
Proper nouns are words used to name a specific person, place, or thing. Such as: Bill Gates, Medan, and Mr. Andi Sirait.
Material nouns are words used to name all materials. Such as: gold, bronze, copper, steel, silver, zinc, and coal.
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Collective nouns are words for a group of people, animals, or objects considered as a single unit, such as press, public, team class, crew, crowd, enemy, faculty,
family, audience, committee, and government.
2.Abstract nouns
are words for concepts – it is an idea that exists in our minds only. Such as: beauty, justice, mankind, truth, happiness, sadness, and goodness.
2.2.1.2. Pronoun
A pronoun is a word that replaces or stands for “pro” = for a noun. For examples: I, you, and we. According to Burton 1986:54 pronoun can be divided
into five types. They are: 1. Definite Pronouns: sheher, it, I me, weus, you, theythem.
2. Indefinite Pronouns: some, something, someone, anything, anyone. 3. Demonstrative Pronouns: this, that, these, those.
4. Interrogative Question Pronouns: who, which, what, whose. 5. Possessive Pronouns: mymine, youryours, his, herhers, its, ourours, youryours,
their theirs.
2.2.1.3 Verb
A verb is word used to show an action or a state of being. According to the object they are requiring, verbs can be:
1.Transitive verbs: verbs which takes a direct object no prepositions are needed to connect verb and object. For example: I ride a car.
2.Intransitive verbs: verbs which does not require an object. This includes both intransitive verbs which take an indirect object usually with a preposition, such as
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He is walking in the park, and intransitive verbs which have no object at all, such as He fell down.
2.2.1.4 Adjective
