Open class/closed class (Short notes)

 

Q. 5 A) Write short notes:

1.   Open class words:

Traditionally words were divided into eight types. They were known as the parts of speech. The modern grammar divides the words into open class words and closed class words.

Open class of words includes:

1.   Nouns

2.   Verbs

3.   Adjectives and

4.   Adverbs

This group is considered as the open class words because new words can be added to this class. For example, with new technology, emerge new words. With mobile phones, computers and social media a number of new words are emerged recently.

1)   I emailed the university.

2)   I will whatsapp you.

3)   I need a PD.

4)   I am available on an FB.

5)   The prime minister tweeted on the issue.

In these examples emailed (V), whatsapp (V), PD (N), FB (N), tweeted (V) are the new additions to word class.

 

2.   Closed class words:

Traditionally words were divided into eight types. They were known as the parts of speech. The modern grammar divides the words into open class words and closed class words.

Closed class of words includes:

1.   Pronouns

2.   Prepositions

3.   Conjunctions

4.   Interjections

5.   Operator verbs

6.   Determiners

7.   Enumerators

This group is considered as the closed class words because new words cannot be added to this class. There is a limited set of words in this class. For example, articles namely a, an, the come under determiners. But it is not possible to create new articles. 

3.   Nouns:

Noun is a part of open class category. It is a very rich class of words. It includes indefinite number of words. Noun is a name given to a person, object or thing. The main features of a noun are as follows:

i.             Nouns can be singular or plural. For example, boy – boys, pen – pens, bench – benches

ii.           Nouns take gender such masculine (पुल्लिंग), feminine (स्त्रीलिंग), neuter (नपुसकलिंग). All living things take masculine or feminine gender. Such nouns are replaced by pronouns he and she. For example, brother (he) – sister (she), tiger (he) – tigress (she), poet (he) – poetess (she).

All non-living things take neuter gender.  Such nouns are replaced by pronoun ‘it. For example, pen, bench, table.

iii.          Nouns take articles a/an, the. For example, a boy, an ant, the sun

There are several types of nouns. These types are formed on the basis of meaning and use. Some of the types are as follows:

a.    Proper nouns and common nouns:

Proper nouns are names of people, places, etc. for example, Satish, Seema, Radhanagari, India

Common nouns are general names given to objects. For example, boy, ant, chair, teacher, doctor

b.    Concrete nouns and abstract nouns:

Concrete nouns are objects that can be felt by five senses (पंचेंद्रिये). For example, apple, dog, music

Abstract nouns are related to ideas or qualities that cannot be touched or seen. For example, love, happiness, joy

c.    Countable and uncountable nouns:

Countable nouns can be counted. They have singular and plural forms. For example, boy, chair, apple

Uncountable nouns cannot be counted directly. They do not have plural forms. For example, water, air, sugar

 

4.   Verbs:

Verb is an important part in a sentence. A sentence is incomplete without a verb. Verb tells about the tense. Verb is divided into two types. They are: Full verbs and Operator verb

i.             Full verb:

—   It is a part of open category. It is possible to new verbs. For example, ‘to Google’ is a newly formed verb. A full verb indicates an action.

—   A full verb takes three forms: V1 (base verb), V2 (Past tense) and V3 (Past participle). V1 verb is used for present tense and V2 verb is used for past tense. V3 form is used for perfect tense aspect and passive voice. For example, paly-played-played; go-went-gone

—   A full verb is divided into regular verb and irregular verb. In regular verb, its V2 and V3 forms end with -ed. For example, play-played-played. In case of irregular verbs, V2 and V3 forms do not end with -ed forms. For example, go-went-gone

ii.           Operator verb:

—   Operator verb is also known as helping verb. These verbs come before a full verb. These are divided into auxiliary verb and modal verb.

—   Auxiliary verb: It includes: to be, to do and to have. The verbs such as am, is, are, was, were are termed as ‘to be’ verbs. The verbs do/does/did are ‘to do’ verbs. The verbs have/has/had are ‘to have’ verbs.

—   Modal verb: It includes the following verbs:

Can/could, shall/should, will/would, may/might etc.

 

5.   Adjectives:

—   An adjective is a word that gives additional information about a noun. For example, green shirt. Here, ‘shirt’ is a noun and ‘green’ is an adjective.

—   A noun can have one or more adjectives. For example, tall, dark and handsome man

—   An adjective can come either before a noun or after a noun. For example, (i) green shirt: here adjective comes before a noun; (ii) His shirt is green. Here adjective has come after a noun.

—   Adjectives can be formed from nouns. For example, nation (N)—national (Aj); gold (N)—gplden (Aj)

—   Comparative and superlative adjectives: These adjectives are used in comparative and superlative degree. These adjectives can be formed by adding suffix. For example, tall—taller—tallest; small—smaller—smallest

—   Some adjectives can be formed with the help of a verb. For example, eat (V)—eatable (Aj); walk (V)—walkable (Aj)