Parts 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: noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, conjunction, preposition, and interjection.

= 1. Nouns = 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:

Amithab is very versatile.

Dogs can be extremely cute.

It is my birthday.

There are different types of nouns namely:

Proper Nouns :-
Proper nouns always start with a capital letter and refer to specific names of persons, places, or things.

Examples: Maruti Swift, Rajashekhar, Bombay.

Common Nouns :-
Common nouns are the opposite of proper nouns. These are just generic/general names of persons, things, or places.

Examples: car, boy, student, plant.

Concrete Nouns :-
This kind refers to nouns which you can perceive through your five senses.

Examples: folder, sand, board.

Abstract Nouns :-
Unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are those which you can’t perceive through your five senses.

Examples: happiness, wisdom, bravery.

Countable Nouns :-
This is the opposite of countable nouns. These nouns need to have “counters” to quantify them.

Examples of Counters: kilo, cup, meter

Examples of countable nouns: rice, flour, garter.

Collective Nouns :-
These refer to a group/collection of persons, animals, or things.

Example: faculty (group of teachers), class (group of students), pride (group of lions).

Function of Nouns :-
In a sentence, nouns can play the role of subject, direct object, indirect object, or complement.

Maria is happy.

Maria is the subject.

Seena gave the books to me.

Books is a direct object; her is the indirect object.

Mary is a teacher.

Teacher is a subject complement.

He painted the wall green

Green isobject complement

= 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:


 * Sunitha is a	very stubborn child. She doesn’t listen to	anyone.
 * The largest	slice is mine.
 * They	called him

Pronoun chart
= 3. Adjective = This part of speech is used to describe a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives can specify the quality, the size, and the number of nouns or pronouns.

Adjectives of Quality :-
These adjectives are used to describe the nature of a noun. They give an idea about the characteristics of the noun by answering the question ‘what kind’.

E.g. Honest, Kind, Large, Bulky, Beautiful, Ugly etc.

Adjectives of Quantity :-
These adjectives help to show the amount or the approximate amount of the noun or pronoun. These adjectives do not provide exact numbers; rather they tell us the amount of the noun in relative or whole terms.

E.g. All, Half, Many, Few, Little, No, Enough, Great etc.

Adjectives of Numbers :-
These adjectives are used to show the number of nouns and their place in an order.

E.g. One, Two, Twenty, Thirty-Three etc. (Cardinals)

First, Second, Third, Seventh etc. (Ordinals)

Demonstrative Adjectives :-
These adjectives are used to point out or indicate a particular noun or pronoun using the adjectives - This, That, These and Those.

That bag belongs to Ram.

Use this paintbrush in art class.

Interrogative Adjectives :-
These adjectives are used to ask questions about nouns or in relation to 	nouns, they are - What, Which and Whose.

= 3. 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 or state of having something.

Examples of “State of Being Verbs”: am, is, was, are, and were

Sample Sentences:


 * As usual,	the Pakistan team lost to India.
 * The	italicized word expresses the action of the subject “Pakistan	team.”


 * 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.

= 4. 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:	Amala danced gracefully.

Adverb of Time
This states “when” something happens or “when” it is done.


 * Example:	She came yesterday.

Adverb of Frequency
This states “how often” an action is done


 * Examples:	She comes here daily

Adverb of Place
This tells something about “where” something happens or “where” something is done.


 * Example:	 Of course, I looked everywhere!

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.

= 5. Preposition = This part of a speech basically refers to words that specify location or time. They also relate the subject to the other parts of speech.

Examples of Prepositions: above, below, of, in, outside, before, near, and since

Sample Sentences:


 * Manoj is	hiding under the bed.


 * This book	belongs to him

= 6. 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.
 * Reena has	start again because she failed the driving test.
 * Haqim always	wanted to join the play, but his parents didn’t	allow him.

The italicized words in the sentences above are some examples of conjunctions.

= 7. Interjection = This part of a speech basically refers to words that specify location or time. They also relate the subject to the other parts of speech.

Examples of Prepositions: above, below, of, in, outside, before, near, and since

Sample Sentences:


 * Manoj is	hiding under the bed.


 * This book	belongs to him.