Lesson 4: Grammar and Sentence Function in Context

🟦 Introduction
In WASSCE comprehension, you’ll often be asked to identify how grammar works within a sentence. This goes beyond just spotting a noun or verb—it’s about understanding the function each word or phrase performs in that context.

For example, what part of speech is the word “running” in this sentence?
📌 “Running every morning has improved my health.”
Here, “running” is a noun (a thing you do), not a verb!

This lesson will help you confidently answer questions about grammar, structure, and function by understanding how words behave within real passages.

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. Understanding Word Classes in Context

Each word in a sentence belongs to a part of speech (word class). Here are the most common ones WASSCE tests:

🔎 TIP: In context, some words change class. For example:

• “She is fast.” (adjective)

• “She runs fast.” (adverb)

2. Functions of Phrases and Clauses in Sentences

Let’s go deeper: words form phrases and clauses that play roles in a sentence.

🧠 REMEMBER: To find function, ask questions like:

• Who is doing the action? → Subject

• What is being done or received? → Verb/Object

• What completes the idea or adds details? → Complement/Adverbial

🧭 Step-by-Step Sample Walkthrough

Sample Sentence (from a passage):
“Despite the storm, the children played outside with great joy.”

Questions:

1. What is the grammatical function of “Despite the storm”?

2. What part of speech is “joy” in this context?

3. What role does “with great joy” play in the sentence?

✅ Answers:

1. Adverbial phrase – tells us the condition or situation

2. Noun – “joy” is the object of the preposition “with”

3. Adverbial phrase – tells us how they played

🟨 Practice Exercises

🔹 Exercise A: Identify the Part of Speech

Read each sentence and identify the part of speech of the bold word.

1. She sang beautifully at the concert.

2. Before the match, the coach gave a talk.

3. The silver necklace glowed in the sun.

4. He ran across the field.

✅ Answers:

1. Adverb – describes how she sang

2. Preposition – shows time relationship

3. Adjective – describes “necklace”

4. Verb – shows action

🔹 Exercise B: Identify Function in Sentence

Read each sentence and say whether the underlined portion is a subject, object, complement, or adverbial.

1. The children laughed loudly.

2. She gave her friend a gift.

3. He is the captain of the team.

4. They left after the meeting.

✅ Answers:

1. Subject

2. Object

3. Complement

4. Adverbial

🔹 Exercise C: Real Context Example

Excerpt:
Although he was tired, Kwame continued his journey across the desert.

Questions:

1. What part of speech is “Although”?

2. What is the function of “he was tired” in the first part?

3. What is the main clause in the sentence?

✅ Answers:

1. Subordinating conjunction – joins two clauses

2. Dependent/subordinate clause – gives a condition

3. “Kwame continued his journey across the desert” – it can stand alone

🔁 Recap

In this lesson, you learned:

• Words can play different roles depending on their context.

• You must identify both the word class (part of speech) and its function in a sentence.

• Look for key roles like subject, object, complement, and adverbial in real text.

• These skills help answer grammar-based comprehension questions with confidence.

🪞 Reflection Prompt
Next time you read a sentence in a book, pause and ask yourself: Who is doing what to whom? Can you spot the subject, verb, object, and any adverbials? Try analyzing a short paragraph this way. How does it help you understand the text better?