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.
- 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.
- Dogs can be extremely cute.
- It is my birthday.
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.
- Common– common nouns are the opposite of proper nouns. These are just generic names of persons, things, or places.
- Concrete– this kind refers to nouns which you can perceive through your five senses.
- Abstract- unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are those which you can’t perceive through your five senses.
- Count– it refers to anything that is countable, and has a singular and plural form.
- 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.
- Collective– refers to a group of persons, animals, or things.
great list
of nouns can help you explore more nouns.
- 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.
- 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.
Use this link to get a list of
adjectives.
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.”
- 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.
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?”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Final Thoughts
You
must familiarize yourself with the different parts of speech discussed in this
article because they are among the most fundamental concepts that you will
encounter throughout your study of grammar. An in-depth knowledge of this topic
will not only make you a better writer, but an effective communicator as well.
Bibliography
1). http://partofspeech.org/
2).
https://arts.uottawa.ca/writingcentre/en/hypergrammar/the-parts-of-speech
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