Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Blossom]

Welcome!

What part of speech is this?

Please help me.

[asterix]

An exclamation.

[Blossom]

Thank you, Asterix. However, I did not put my question properly.

Take the sentence, "Welcome to my home." What is the part "welcome to?"

That is not an exclamation, is it?

It comes from the verb "to wlecome." Similarly, take the verb to talk. If I say, "Talk to my sister." what part of speech is "talk to?"

Why do I have tyo use *to* in both cases?

[advoca]

Blossom:

When you say *welcome* this is the imperative mood of the verb to welcome.

The imperative mood expresses commands, requests, or wishes. Though it is not stated, the understood subject of imperative sentences is you.

Examples:
� Be here at seven o'clock! (Understood: You be here at seven o'clock!)
� Cook me an omelette! (Understood: You cook me an omelette!)
� Telephone me tomorrow! (Understood: You telephone me tomorrow!)
� Bring your books with you! (Understood: You bring your books with you!)
� Talk to my sister later! (Understood: You talk to my sister later!)
� Sleep well! (Understood: You sleep well!)
� Welcome to Beijing! (Understood: You are welcome to Beijing!)

It would be incorrect to say:

� Be here at seven o'clock, you!
� Cook me an omelette, you!
� Telephone me tomorrow, you!
� Bring you your books with you!
� Talk you to my sister later!
� Sleep well, you!
� Welcome you to Beijing!

I hope this helps.