Word classes | Year 2 | Grasp English

💡Understand

A NOUN names something. A VERB is an action. An ADJECTIVE describes a noun (like 'happy' or 'red'). An ADVERB describes a verb, often telling us HOW something happens (like 'quickly' or 'quietly'). An EXPANDED NOUN PHRASE adds extra describing words before a noun, like 'the big, fluffy dog'.

“The tiny, brown mouse scurried quickly.”

'Mouse' is the noun. 'Tiny' and 'brown' are adjectives describing it — together they make an expanded noun phrase: 'the tiny, brown mouse'. 'Scurried' is the verb, and 'quickly' is the adverb describing HOW it scurried.

🔍Spot it

What word class is the underlined word?

Question 1

The happy dog barked.

💡 'Happy' describes the noun 'dog' — that makes it an adjective.

Question 2

She ran quickly.

💡 'Quickly' describes HOW she ran — that makes it an adverb.

Question 3

Which is an expanded noun phrase?

💡 This adds two adjectives ('big', 'scary') before the noun 'monster' — an expanded noun phrase.

🧠Think about it

How can you tell the difference between an adjective and an adverb?

✍️Try it

Identify the word class.

The fluffy kitten slept peacefully.

Question 1

What word class is 'peacefully'?

💡 This word ends in '-ly' and tells us how the sleeping happened.

📝Practise

Identify the word class in each example.

Question 1

Is 'jump' a noun or a verb?

Question 2

Is 'blue' an adjective or an adverb?

Question 3

Is 'slowly' an adjective or an adverb?

Question 4

In one phrase, what do we call adding describing words before a noun, like 'the big, red ball'?

💡 It's the fourth skill named in this lesson's introduction.

Question 5

Which is an expanded noun phrase?

Question 6

Is 'sing' a noun or a verb?

🎯Apply

Read the passage, then answer the questions below.

The small, brave mouse crept silently past the sleeping cat.

Question 1

What is the expanded noun phrase in this sentence?

💡 Look for the describing words before the noun 'mouse'.

Question 2

What is the verb in this sentence?

Question 3

What adverb describes how the mouse crept?

💡 This word ends in '-ly' and tells us how the mouse moved.

🏆Challenge

Can you build an expanded noun phrase for 'dog' using two adjectives?

🔄Review

A quick mastery check — 3 questions.

Question 1

Is 'happy' an adjective or a verb?

Question 2

Is 'loudly' an adverb or a noun?

Question 3

Which is an expanded noun phrase?

Want more practice mixing this with other grammar rules? Try Grammar practice →