By Mark Nkworji

English language is Nigeria’s lingua franca. A lingua franca is a language that is adopted as a common language among speakers whose native languages are different. A mastery of English language is therefore crucial for effective communication.

1. English Grammar:
   This refers to the right application of the rules of English language during communication, written or spoken.

Grammar has nothing to do with high sounding, mouth tearing or jaw breaking words. It is all about the right application of the rules (formulas) of the language.
One cannot communicate effectively in English language if one fails to have a comprehensive knowledge of the word class.

1. It means the English language parts of speech.
2. Parts of Speech: Every English word belongs to a particular part of speech or (word class).
   How many Parts of Speech are there in English language? Often, we are told there are 8. But research has shown that there are actually 9 Parts of Speech in English language.
   They are:
3. Noun
   2 Verb
4. Adjective
5. Adverb
6. Pronoun
7. Preposition
8. Conjunction
9. Determiner
10. Interjection.
    In our next lecture, we shall be treating each of the parts of speech in detail with examples, highlighting their usage, the rules governing their usage and the exceptions to the rules.

Continues next Sunday.