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Welcome to the first lesson in your SET 11+ Vocabulary, Grammar & Literary Devices course! In this lesson, you will learn about word classes and how sentences are built. The Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET) is a two-stage exam used to select pupils for grammar schools in the London Borough of Sutton. In Stage 1, vocabulary and grammar knowledge is tested within the MCQ comprehension paper — you will need to identify word meanings, choose correct grammar, and understand how language works. In Stage 2, your grammar and vocabulary are rewarded in the extended writing task, where examiners look for accurate, varied, and ambitious sentence construction. Mastering word classes is the foundation for success across both stages.
Every word in the English language belongs to a word class (also called a part of speech). Knowing which class a word belongs to helps you understand how sentences are built and how to use language precisely.
There are eight main word classes:
| Word Class | What It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Names a person, place, thing, or idea | school, Sutton, bravery |
| Verb | Describes an action or state | write, think, is |
| Adjective | Describes a noun | enormous, cheerful, ancient |
| Adverb | Describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb | swiftly, extremely, often |
| Pronoun | Replaces a noun | he, she, it, they |
| Preposition | Shows position or relationship | beneath, during, between |
| Conjunction | Joins words, phrases, or clauses | and, although, because |
| Determiner | Introduces a noun | the, a, several, each |
Nouns are naming words. There are four types you need to know for the SET:
These name ordinary things: river, teacher, building. They do not start with a capital letter (unless they begin a sentence).
These name specific people, places, or things: London, Wednesday, Wilson's School. They always begin with a capital letter.
These name things you cannot touch or see — feelings, ideas, and qualities: courage, freedom, anxiety.
These name groups: a parliament of owls, an audience of listeners, a fleet of ships.
Tip: In the SET Stage 1 comprehension, you may be asked to identify the meaning of a word. Recognising whether a word is an abstract noun (naming an idea or feeling) helps you understand the author's deeper meaning.
Verbs are doing words or being words. Every sentence must contain at least one verb.
| Type | What It Does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Action verbs | Show physical or mental actions | sprint, consider, discover |
| Being verbs | Show a state of existence | is, am, are, was, were |
| Auxiliary (helping) verbs | Support the main verb | have (eaten), will (go), was (running) |
| Modal verbs | Show possibility, obligation, or permission | could, should, might, must |
Look at this sentence: "The students had been preparing diligently for months."
Adjectives describe nouns: "the towering building", "a delicious meal".
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs: "she spoke confidently", "the water was incredibly cold".
Many adverbs end in -ly, but not all. Some common adverbs that do not end in -ly include: fast, well, never, often, soon.
| Adjective | Adverb Form |
|---|---|
| careful | carefully |
| gentle | gently |
| brave | bravely |
| happy | happily |
Common mistake: Writing "She danced beautiful" instead of "She danced beautifully." In the SET Stage 2 writing task, this kind of error will cost marks.
Understanding sentence structure helps you write with variety and precision — both vital for the SET.
A simple sentence has one main clause with a subject and a verb:
The dog barked.
A compound sentence joins two or more main clauses with a co-ordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so):
The dog barked, and the cat ran away.
A complex sentence has a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence:
Although it was raining, the children played outside.
These combine both compound and complex structures:
When the bell rang, the students grabbed their bags, and they rushed to the playground.
Tip: In your SET Stage 2 writing, vary your sentence types. Starting with a subordinate clause (a fronted adverbial or fronted subordinate clause) is a great way to impress examiners.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Word class | A category a word belongs to based on its job in a sentence |
| Main clause | A group of words with a subject and verb that makes sense on its own |
| Subordinate clause | A group of words with a subject and verb that depends on a main clause |
| Co-ordinating conjunction | A word that joins clauses of equal importance (FANBOYS) |
| Subordinating conjunction | A word that introduces a subordinate clause (although, because, when) |
| Fronted adverbial | An adverb, phrase, or clause placed at the start of a sentence for effect |