Lexis and Semantics
Lexis – refer to vocabulary. We can do this by grouping words into word classes.
¾ main word classes – nouns, verbs and adjectives (Open/lexical word classes)
Noun = name things or a concept
Verb = word that shows state of being, action or event
Adjective = modifies noun
4th major word class – adverbs (modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs)
Closed / grammatical word classes – provide connections and cohension with other words
Pronoun – substitutes noun e.g. he
Determiner – adds detail or clarity to noun e.g. the
Preposition – provides sense of place or time e.g. in, on
Conjunction – connections between larger structures, phrases, clauses and
sentences
Nouns
1. Proper = people or places such as England or Bella
2. Abstract = states, feelings or concepts such as love or anger
3. Concrete = objects that exist physically such as a ball
Verbs
1. Material = actions or events such as jump
2. Relational = identify properties or show estates such as be or seem
3. Mental = show internal process such as think
4. Verbal = show external process such as shout
Adjectives and Adverbs
1. Base = basic form of an adjective or an adverb, modifying another word such as big,
interesting
2. Comparative = a form to compare two instances which include adding a ‘-er’ or
‘more’ such as fatter
3. Superlative = a form used to identify the best example e.g. cutest
Pronouns
1. Personal = refer to people and are differentiated in terms of person (1 st, 2nd or 3rd),
number (singular or plural) and gender (male or female)
2. Demonstrative = orientate the reader or listener towards a person, object or idea
either nearby or far away such as this, these, that, those
Lexis – refer to vocabulary. We can do this by grouping words into word classes.
¾ main word classes – nouns, verbs and adjectives (Open/lexical word classes)
Noun = name things or a concept
Verb = word that shows state of being, action or event
Adjective = modifies noun
4th major word class – adverbs (modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs)
Closed / grammatical word classes – provide connections and cohension with other words
Pronoun – substitutes noun e.g. he
Determiner – adds detail or clarity to noun e.g. the
Preposition – provides sense of place or time e.g. in, on
Conjunction – connections between larger structures, phrases, clauses and
sentences
Nouns
1. Proper = people or places such as England or Bella
2. Abstract = states, feelings or concepts such as love or anger
3. Concrete = objects that exist physically such as a ball
Verbs
1. Material = actions or events such as jump
2. Relational = identify properties or show estates such as be or seem
3. Mental = show internal process such as think
4. Verbal = show external process such as shout
Adjectives and Adverbs
1. Base = basic form of an adjective or an adverb, modifying another word such as big,
interesting
2. Comparative = a form to compare two instances which include adding a ‘-er’ or
‘more’ such as fatter
3. Superlative = a form used to identify the best example e.g. cutest
Pronouns
1. Personal = refer to people and are differentiated in terms of person (1 st, 2nd or 3rd),
number (singular or plural) and gender (male or female)
2. Demonstrative = orientate the reader or listener towards a person, object or idea
either nearby or far away such as this, these, that, those
