Part of Speech
In the English language, words can be considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on their use and functions, words are categorized into several types or parts of speech. This article will offer definitions and examples for the 8 major parts of speech in English grammar:
1. Noun
This part of a speech refers to words that are used to name persons, things, animals, places, ideas, or events. Nouns are the simplest among the 8 parts of speech, which is why they are the first ones taught to students in primary school.
Examples:
- Tom Hanks is very versatile.
- The italicized noun refers to a name of a person.
- Dogs can be extremely cute.
- In this example, the italicized word is considered a noun because it names an animal.
- It is my birthday.
- The word “birthday” is a noun which refers to an event.
There are different types of nouns namely:
- Proper– proper nouns always start with a capital letter and refers to specific names of persons, places, or things.
- Examples: Volkswagen Beetle, Shakey’s Pizza, Game of Thrones
- Common– common nouns are the opposite of proper nouns. These are just generic names of persons, things, or places.
- Examples: car, pizza parlor, TV series
- Concrete– this kind refers to nouns which you can perceive through your five senses.
- Examples: folder, sand, board
- Abstract- unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are those which you can’t perceive through your five senses.
- Examples: happiness, grudge, bravery
- Count– it refers to anything that is countable, and has a singular and plural form.
- Examples: kitten, video, ball
- Mass– this is the opposite of count nouns. Mass nouns are also called non-countable nouns, and they need to have “counters” to quantify them.
- Examples of Counters: kilo, cup, meter
- Examples of Mass Nouns: rice, flour, garter
- Collective– refers to a group of persons, animals, or things.
- Example: faculty (group of teachers), class (group of students), pride (group of lions)
2. Pronoun
A pronoun is a part of a speech which functions as a replacement for a noun. Some examples of pronouns are: I, it, he, she, mine, his, hers, we, they, theirs, and ours.
Sample Sentences:
- Janice is a very stubborn child. She just stared at me and when I told her to stop.
- The largest slice is mine.
- We are number one.
The italicized words in the sentences above are the pronouns in the sentence.
3. Adjective
This part of a speech is used to describe a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives can specify the quality, the size, and the number of nouns or pronouns.
Sample Sentences:
- The carvings are intricate.
- The italicized word describes the appearance of the noun “carvings.”
- I have two hamsters.
- The italicized word “two,” is an adjective which describes the number of the noun “hamsters.”
- Wow! That doughnut is huge!
- The italicized word is an adjective which describes the size of the noun “doughnut.”
4. Verb
This is the most important part of a speech, for without a verb, a sentence would not exist. Simply put, this is a word that shows an action (physical or mental) or state of being of the subject in a sentence.
Examples of “State of Being Verbs” : am, is, was, are, and were
Sample Sentences:
- As usual, the Stormtroopers missed their shot.
- The italicized word expresses the action of the subject “Stormtroopers.”
- They are always prepared in emergencies.
- The verb “are” refers to the state of being of the pronoun “they,” which is the subject in the sentence.
5. Adverb
Just like adjectives, adverbs are also used to describe words, but the difference is that adverbs describe adjectives, verbs, or another adverb.
The different types of adverbs are:
- Adverb of Manner– this refers to how something happens or how an action is done.
- Example: Annie danced gracefully.
- The word “gracefully” tells how Annie danced.
- Adverb of Time- this states “when” something happens or “when” it is done.
- Example: She came yesterday.
- The italicized word tells when she “came.”
- Adverb of Place– this tells something about “where” something happens or ”where” something is done.
- Example: Of course, I looked everywhere!
- The adverb “everywhere” tells where I “looked.”
- Adverb of Degree– this states the intensity or the degree to which a specific thing happens or is done.
- Example: The child is very talented.
- The italicized adverb answers the question, “To what degree is the child talented?”
6. Preposition
This part of a speech basically refers to words that specify location or a location in time.
Examples of Prepositions: above, below, throughout, outside, before, near, and since
Sample Sentences:
- Micah is hiding under the bed.
- The italicized preposition introduces the prepositional phrase “under the bed,” and tells where Micah is hiding.
- During the game, the audience never stopped cheering for their team.
- The italicized preposition introduces the prepositional phrase “during the game,” and tells when the audience cheered.
7. Conjunction
The conjunction is a part of a speech which joins words, phrases, or clauses together.
Examples of Conjunctions: and, yet, but, for, nor, or, and so
Sample Sentences:
- This cup of tea is delicious and very soothing.
- Kiyoko has to start all over again because she didn’t follow the professor’s instructions.
- Homer always wanted to join the play, but he didn’t have the guts to audition.
The italicized words in the sentences above are some examples of conjunctions.
8. Interjection
This part of a speech refers to words which express emotions. Since interjections are commonly used to convey strong emotions, they are usually followed by an exclamation point.
Examples of Interjections:
Sample Sentences:
- Ouch! That must have hurt.
- Hurray, we won!
- Hey! I said enough!
The bold words attached to the main sentences above are some examples of interjections.
9. Article
An article is a kind of adjective which is always used with and gives some information about a noun. There are only two articles a and the, but they are used very often and are important for using English accurately.
The word a (which becomes an when the next word begins with a vowel - a, e, i, o, u) is called the indefinite article because the noun it goes with is indefinite or general. The meaning of the article a is similar to the number one, but one is stronger and gives more emphasis. It is possible to say I have a book or I have one book, but the second sentence emphasizes that I do not have two or three or some other number of books.
The word the is known as the definite article and indicates a specific thing. The difference between the sentences I sat on a chair and I sat on the chair is that the second sentence refers to a particular, specific chair, not just any chair.
Many nouns, especially singular forms of countable nouns which you will learn about later, must have an article. In English, it is not possible to say I sat on chair without an article, but a demonstrative or possessive adjective can be used instead of an article as in the sentences I sat on that chair and I sat on his chair.
Whenever you see an article, you will find a noun with it. The noun may be the next word as inthe man or there may be adjectives and perhaps adverbs between the article and the noun as in the very angry, young man.
What Part of Speech is “WHAT”
In English texts and verbal communication, the word what also have various functions. It can be used as a adjective, an adverb, a pronoun, or an interjection.
- Adjective
This word is commonly classified as an adjective if it is used to introduce a noun or a noun phrase. In the sample sentence below:
What time is it?
The word “what” introduces the noun “time,” and is therefore considere d as a adjective.
Definition:
a. asking for information specifying something
- Example:
- What books did you buy?
- Adverb
In some cases, the word “what” is considered as an adverb if it modifies a verb. For instance, in the sample sentence below:
What does he care?
The word “what” functions as an adverb because it modifies the verb “care.”
Definition:
a. in what way
- Example:
- What does it matter?
- Pronoun
The word “what” is also normally categorized as a pronoun if it is used for asking questions about something or if it is used to substitute a noun. For example, in the sentence below:
What we need is commitment.
This “what” word is classified under pronouns because it replaces a thing or a noun.
Definition:
a. asking for information specifying something
- Example:
- What is beauty?
b. used to describe a question
- Example:
- What is this?
c. the thing or things that (used in specifying something)
- Example:
- I want to do what I can to make a difference.
- Interjection
Other times, this word is classified under interjections because it can be used to express sudden emotions. Take for example, the sentence:
What a suggestion!
In this sample sentence, the word “what” is used to exclaim and express a burst of emotion regarding the noun “suggestion.”
Definition:
a. emphasizing something surprising or remarkable
- Example:
- What a charming lady!
What Part of Speech is “WHICH”
Just like a lot of words in the English language, this word has a double purpose. It can either be used as an adjective or as a pronoun.
- Adjective
This word is considered as an adjective when it is used to modify a noun. It can either indicate what particular one or it can also mean “whichever.” For example, in the sentence below:
I’m still deciding on which coat should I wear.
The word “which” is an adjective that modifies the noun “coat,” and is thus considered as an adjective.
Definition:
a. what one or ones of a group
- Example:
- She kept an organized record of which employees took their vacations.
b. whichever
- Example:
Turn it which way you like.
2. Pronoun
This word can also act as a pronoun when it is used to refer to something that has already been mentioned. It is commonly used at the beginning of the clause that provides further details about the noun. In the example below:
The crocodile which weighs over 2000 pounds was captured.
The word “which” is a pronoun that refers to the mentioned noun “crocodile.”
Definition:
a. used referring to something previously mentioned when introducing a clause giving further information
- Example:
- The computer which keeps breaking down was finally replaced with a new one.
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