School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Unpack Your Adjectives
Music & Lyrics: George R. Newall
Performed by: Blossom Dearie
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
Got home from camping last spring.
Saw people, places and things.
We barely had arrived,
Friends asked us to describe
The people, places and every last thing.
So we unpacked our adjectives.
I unpacked "frustrating" first.
Reached in and found the word "worst".
Then I picked "soggy" and
Next I picked "foggy" and
Then I was ready to tell them my tale.
'Cause I'd unpacked my adjectives.
Adjectives are words you use to really describe things,
Handy words to carry around.
Days are sunny or they're rainy
Boys are dumb or else they're brainy
Adjectives can show you which way.
Adjectives are often used to help us compare things,
To say how thin, how fat, how short, how tall.
Girls who are tall can get taller,
Boys who are small can get smaller,
Till one is the tallest
And the other's the smallest of all.
We hiked along without care.
Then we ran into a bear.
He was a hairy bear,
He was a scary bear,
We beat a hasty retreat from his lair.
And described him with adjectives.
Next time you go on a trip,
Remember this little tip:
The minute you get back,
They'll ask you this and that,
You can describe people, places and things...
Simply unpack your adjectives.
You can do it with adjectives.
Tell them 'bout it with adjectives.
You can shout it with adjectives.
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 1 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here!
Music & Lyrics: Bob Dorough
Performed by: Bob Dorough
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
Hmmmmm... hmmmmm... hmmmmm!!! Get your adverbs!
Ready pop? Use it with an adjective, it says much more,
Yep. Anything described can be described some
Ready son? more.
Uh-huh. Anything you'd ever need is in the store,
Let's go! And so you choose very carefully every word
Let's go! you use.
One! two! Use it with a verb, it tells us how you did,
Where it happened, where you're going, where
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here. you've been.
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, got some adverbs here. Use it with another adverb -- that's the end.
Come on down to Lolly's, get the adverbs here! And even more...
You're going to need How, where, or when,
If you write or read, Condition or reason,
Or even think about it. These questions are answered
When you use an adverb.
Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here. Come and get it!
Got a lot of lolly, jolly adverbs here.
Anything you need and we can make it Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here.
absolutely clear... Quickly, quickly, quickly, get those adverbs
An adverb is a word here.
(That's all it is! and there's a lot of them) Slowly, surely, really learn your adverbs here.
That modifies a verb, You're going need 'em if you read 'em,
(Sometimes a verb and sometimes) If you write or talk or think about 'em ... Lolly!
It modifies an adjective, or else another adverb (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly)
And so you see that it's positively, very, very, Announcer: If it's an adverb, we have it at
necessary. Lolly's! Bring along your old adjectives, too -
like slow, soft, and sure. We'll fit 'em out with
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here. our L-Y attachment and make perfectly good
Father, son, and Lolly selling adverbs here. adverbs out of them!
Got a lot of adverbs, and we make it clear, (Get your adverbs here!) Lots of good tricks at
So come to Lolly! (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly) Lolly's so come on down.
(Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!)
Hello, folks, this is Lolly, Sr., saying we have Adverbs deal with manner, place, time,
every adverb in the book, so come on down (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!)
and look. Condition, reason,
Hello folks, Lolly, Jr. here. Suppose your (Father, son, and Lolly)
house needs painting -- how are you going to Comparison, contrast
paint it? That's where the adverb comes in. (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly)
We can also give you a special intensifier so Enrich your language with adverbs!
you can paint it very neatly or rather (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly)
sloppily. Besides, they're absolutely free!
Hi! Suppose you're going nut-gathering; your (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly)
buddy wants to know where and when. Use At your service!
an adverb and tell him! Indubitably!
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 2 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Conjunction Junction
Music & Lyrics: Bob Dorough
Performed by: Jack Sheldon
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Hooking up words and phrases and clauses. Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Conjunction Junction, how's that function? Hooking up phrases and clauses that balance,
I got three favorite cars like:
That get most of my job done. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
He cut loose the sandbags,
Conjunction Junction, what's their function? But the balloon wouldn't go any higher.
I got "and", "but", and "or", Let's go up to the mountains,
They'll get you pretty far. Or down to the sea.
"And": You should always say "thank you",
That's an additive, like "this and that". Or at least say "please".
"But":
That's sort of the opposite, Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
"Not this but that". Hooking up words and phrases and clauses
And then there's "or": In complex sentences like:
O-R, when you have a choice like
"This or that". "In the mornings, when I am usually wide
"And", "but", and "or", awake, I love to take a walk through the gardens
Get you pretty far. and down by the lake, where I often see a duck
and a drake, and I wonder as I walk by what
Conjunction Junction, what's your function? they'd say if they could speak, although I know
Hooking up two boxcars and making them run that's an absurd thought."
right.
Milk and honey, bread and butter, peas and rice.
Hey that's nice! Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Dirty but happy, digging and scratching, Hooking up cars and making them function.
Losing your shoe and a button or two.
He's poor but honest, sad but true, Conjunction Junction, how's that function?
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! I like tying up words and phrases and clauses.
Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Conjunction Junction, watch that function.
Hooking up two cars to one I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.
When you say something like this choice:
"Either now or later" Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Or no choice: I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.
"Neither now nor ever"
Hey that's clever! Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Eat this or that, grow thin or fat, I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.
Never mind, I wouldn't do that,
I'm fat enough now!
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 3 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Interjections!
Music & Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Performed by: Essra Mohawk
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
(Cough! Cough! Cough!) So when you're happy (Hurray!) or sad (Aw!)
Or frightened (Eeeeeek!) or mad (Rats!)
When Reginald was home with flu, uh-huh-huh, Or excited (Wow!) or glad (Hey!)
The doctor knew just what to do-hoo. An interjection starts a sentence right.
He cured the infection
With one small injection The game was tied at seven all, uh-huh-huh,
While Reginald uttered some interjections… When Franklin found he had the ba-hall.
He made a connection
Hey! That smarts! In the other direction,
Ouch! That hurts! And the crowd starting shouting out
Yow! That's not fair givin' a guy a shot down interjections...
there!
Aw! You threw the wrong way!
Interjections (Hey!) show excitement (Yow!) or Darn! You just lost the game!
emotion (Ouch!). Hurray! I'm for the other team!
They're generally set apart from a sentence by an Interjections (Well!) show excitement (Oh!) or
exclamation point, emotion (Hey!).
Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong. They're generally set apart from a sentence by an
exclamation point,
Though Geraldine played hard to get, uh-huh- Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.
huh
Geraldo knew he'd woo her ye-het
He showed his affection So when you're happy (Hurray!) or sad (Aw!)
Despite her objections Or frightened (Eeeeeek!) or mad (Rats!)
And Geraldine hollered some interjections... Or excited (Wow!) or glad (Hey!)
An interjection starts a sentence right.
Well! You've got some nerve!
Oh! I've never been so insulted in all my life! Interjections (Hey!) show excitement (Hey!) or
Hey! You're kinda cute! emotion (Hey!).
They're generally set apart from a sentence by an
Interjections (Well!) show excitement (Oh!) or exclamation point,
emotion (Hey!). Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.
They're generally set apart from a sentence by an
exclamation point, Interjections show excitement or emotion,
Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah... YEA!
Darn! That's the end!
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 4 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla
Music: Bob Dorough
Lyrics: Kathy Mandary
Performed by: Jack Sheldon
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
Now, I have a friend named Rufus Xavier Armadillo found an aardvark, a kangaroo, and a
Sarsaparilla, rhinoceros. And now that aardvark and that
And I could say that Rufus found a kangaroo kangaroo and that rhinoceros belong
That followed Rufus home respectively to Rafaella Gabriela Sarsaparilla
And now that kangaroo belongs and Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and Albert
To Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla. Andreas Armadillo!
Whew! I could say that, but I don't have to, Whew! Because of pronouns I can say, in this
'Cause I got pronouns, way:
I can say, "HE found a kangaroo that followed "WE found THEM and THEY found US, and
HIM home and now IT is HIS" now THEY are OURS and WE're so happy."
You see, (uh) HE, HIM, and HIS are pronouns, Thank you pronoun!
Replacing the noun
Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla, You see a pronoun was made to take the place of
A very proper noun. a noun,
And IT is a pronoun, replacing the noun, 'Cause saying all those nouns over and over
kangaroo! (How common!) Can really wear you down.
Now Rufus has a sister named Rafaella Gabriela Sometimes, when we take 'em all on the bus
Sarsaparilla. People really raise a fuss.
If she found a kangaroo I'd say to you: They start shouting out a lot of pronouns at us,
"SHE found a kangaroo that followed HER like
home, and now it is HERS." "WHO brought that rhinoceros on this bus?" and
But I can't say that... "WHAT made that horrible noise?" and
'Cause she found an aardvark "WHICH one of them is getting off first?"
That fell in love with HER and THEY're so WHO, WHAT, and WHICH are special
happy. pronouns that can ask a question
In a sentence where you do not know the name
And my name's Albert Andreas Armadillo. of the noun,
(No relation to the Sarsaparillas.)
Because of pronouns, I can say: But I know:
"I wish SHE would find a rhinoceros for ME, I have MINE, and SHE has HERS,
and WE'd be happy." and he has his. Do YOU have YOURS?
You see, a pronoun was made to take the place THEY love US, and WE love THEM,
of a noun, WHAT's OURS is THEIRS--
'Cause saying all those nouns over and over That's how it is with friends,
Can really wear you down! And pronouns, you are really friends, yeah!
'Cause saying all those nouns over and over
Now I could tell you Rafaella Gabriela and Can really wear you down.
Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and Albert Andreas
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 5 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Verb: That's What's Happening!
Music & Lyrics: Bob Dorough
Performed by: Zachary Sanders
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
I get my thing in action (Verb!) (Verb! That's what's happening.)
To be, to sing, to feel, to live (Verb!) I can tell you when it's happening,
That's what's happening (Past, present, future tense)
Ooh! Tell you more about what's happening,
I put my heart in action (Verb!) (Say it so it makes some sense)
To run, to go, to get, to give (Verb!) I can tell you who is happening!
(You're what's happening) (Verb, you're so intense)
Every sentence has a subject.
That's where I find satisfaction, yeah! (Yeah!) (Noun, person, place, or thing)
To search, to find, to have, to hold Find that subject: Where's the action?
(Verb! To be bold) (Verb can make a subject sing)
When I use my imagination (Verb!) Take the subject: What is it? (What!)
I think, I plot, I plan, I dream What's done to it? (What!)
Turning in towards creation (Verb!) What does it say?
I make, I write, I dance, I sing (Verb, you're what's happening)
When I'm feeling really active (Verb!) I can question like: What is it?
I run, I ride, I swim, I fly! (Verb, you're so demanding.)
Other times when life is easy I can order like: Go get it!
(Oh!) I rest, I sleep, I sit, I lie. (Verb, you're so commanding.)
When I hit I need an object
(Verb! That's what's happening) (Verb, hit! Hit the ball!)
I can take a noun and bend it, When I see, I see the object
Give me a noun - (Do you see that furthest wall?)
(Bat, ball, rake, and plow) If you can see it there, put the ball over the
Make it a verb and really send it! fence, man!
(Show me how) Go ahead. Yeah, all right.
Oh, I don't know my own power. (Verb!) What?! He hit it. It's going, it's going, it's
I get my thing in action (Verb!) gone!
In being, (Verb!) In doing, (Verb!) (What!)
In saying I get my thing in action.
A verb expresses action, being, or state of (Verb, that's what's happening)
being. A verb makes a statement. Yeah, a To work, (Verb!)
verb tells it like it is! To play, (Verb!)
To live, (Verb!)
To love... (Verb!...)
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 6 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing
Music & Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Performed by: Lynn Ahrens
Animation: Phil Kimmelman and Associates
Well every person you can know, I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
And every place that you can go, My best friend was waiting' there for me. (He
And anything that you can show, took an early ferry.)
You know they're nouns. We went for a walk on the island you know,
And in the middle of summer it started to snow,
A noun's a special kind of word, When I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
It's any name you ever heard,
I find it quite interesting, Well every person you can know (Like a friend
A noun's a person, place, or thing. or the captain of a ship)
And every place that you can go (An island or a
Oh I took a train, took a train to another state. sea)
The flora and fauna that I saw were really great. And anything that you can show (Like a statue,
I saw some bandits chasing the train. a ferry, or snow)
I was wishing' I was back home again. You know they're nouns - you know they're
I took a train, took a train to another state. nouns
Well, every person you can know (Like a Oh, I put a dime in the drugstore record
bandit or an engineer) machine.
And every place that you can go (Like a state Oldies goldies started playing if you know what
or a home) I mean.
And anything that you can show (Like animals I heard Chubby Checker, he was doin' the twist
and plants or a train) And the Beatles and the Monkees, it goes like
You know they're nouns - you know they're this!
nouns, oh... I put a dime in the drugstore record machine.
Mrs. Jones is a lady on Hudson Street. Well every person you can know (The Beatles
She sent her dog to bark at my brother and me. and the Monkees, Chubby Checker)
We gave her dog a big fat bone, And every place that you can go (Like a
And now he barks at Mrs. Jones. neighborhood or a store)
She's a lady who lives on Hudson Street. And anything that you can show (Like a dime
or a record machine)
Well, every person you can know (Mrs. Jones, You know they're nouns.
a lady, or a brother)
And every place that you can go (Like a street A noun's a special kind of word,
or a corner) It's any name you ever heard,
And anything that you can show (Like a dog or I find it quite interesting,
a bone) A noun's a person, place, or thing.
You know they're nouns - you know they're
nouns. A noun is a person, place or thing.
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 7 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
Busy Prepositions
Music & Lyrics: Bob Dorough
Performed by: Jack Sheldon and Bob Dorough
Animation: Kim and Gifford Productions
Like a butterfly, or like a bee In between the action.
Like and ant, as busy as can be Stating clearly to your satisfaction,
These little words we call the "busy P's" The location and direction.
Prepositions Prepositions give specific information.
Nine or ten of them Though little words they are,
Do most all of the work They never stand alone
Of, on, to, with, in, from Gathering words behind them,
By, for, at, over, across You soon will see how they have grown
And many others do their jobs, Into a parade; a prepositional phrase.
Which is simply to connect With a noun, or at least a pronoun, bringing up
Their noun or pronoun object the rear.
To some other word in the sentence. A little phrase of two or three or four or more
words.
Busy p's,
If you please. Prepositions! Attention! Forward, March!
"On the top is where you are!" Busy prepositions,
Top relates to where you are. Always on the march.
"With a friend you'll travel far!" Like a horde of solider ants,
With a friend you'll go. Inching bravely forward on the slimmest chance
"If you try you know that you can fly That they might better their positions.
Over the rainbow!" Busy, busy prepositions.
Over the rainbow is where you can fly. In the air, on the ground, everywhere.
Busy prepositions, The sun sank lower in the west.
Always on the go. "In the west it sank."
Like a bunch of busy bees, And it will rise in the morning,
Floating pollen on the breeze. And will bring the light of day;
Buzzing over the meadows, We say the sun comes up in the east every day!
Beyond the forest, "In the east it rises."
Through the trees,
In to the beehive. Busy prepositions,
Busy, busy P's Busy, busy, busy!
In, to, beyond, over, on, through! On the top is where you are!
On the top.
Busy prepositions always out in front, If you try you know that you can fly!
On the edges, in the crack. Fly where?
'Round the corner, from the back. Over the rainbow.
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 8 of 9 8/12/2010
School House Rock – Grammar Rock
The Tale of Mr. Morton
Music & Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Performed by: Jack Sheldon
Animation: J.J. Sedelmaier Productions
This is the tale of Mister Morton Mister Morton wrote Pearl a poem
Mister Morton is who? Mister Morton wrote
He is the subject of our tale Pearl replied in the afternoon
and the predicate tells what Mister Pearl replied by a note
Morton must do Mister Morton was very nervous
Mister Morton was
Mister Morton walked down the street
Mister Morton walked Mister Morton is the subject of the
Mister Morton talked to his cat sentence, and what the predicate says,
Mister Morton talked he does!
(Hello, cat. You look good.)
Mister Morton was lonely The cat stretched,
Mister Morton was the sun beat down,
a neighbor chased his kid.
Mister Morton is the subject of the (come here kid - come on!)
sentence, and what the predicate says, Each sentence is completed when
he does you know the subject did.
Mister Morton knew just one girl Mister Morton knocked on her door
Mister Morton knew Mister Morton knocked
Mister Morton grew flowers for Perl Mister Morton sat on her porch
Mister Morton grew Yes, he just sat and rocked
Mister Morton was very shy when she opened up the door he ran.
Mister Morton was
Mister Morton climbed up his stairs
Mister Morton is the subject of the Mister Morton climbed
sentence, and what the predicate says, Mister Morton rhymed pretty words
he does Mister Morton rhymed
Mister Morton was lonely
The subject is a noun, Mister Morton was
that's person, place or thing until Pearl showed up with a single rose.
It's who or what the sentence is about Who says women can't propose?
And the predicate is the verb Now Mister Morton is happy
That's the action word and Pearl and the cat are too
that gets the subject up and out
They're the subjects of the sentence
and what the predicate says, they do
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html 9 of 9 8/12/2010