Basic Parts of Speech An Overview
Basic Parts of Speech Noun Pronoun Verb Adverb Adjective Preposition Conjunction Interjection
Noun Definition: a person, place, or thing Often used with an article (a, the, an) Proper nouns are always capitalized Can be singular or plural
Noun Examples Catherine went to the store. Catherine=person=noun Store=place=noun The boy set the book on the table. Boy=person=noun Book=thing=noun Table=thing=noun Proper nouns: California The White House Michael
Pronoun Definition: Used in place of a noun Refers to a specific noun, called an antecedent Includes words like he, she, they, it, me, myself, we, our
Pronoun Examples She went to the store. She=pronoun On Saturday they will go to the mall. They=pronoun Jacob came over yesterday. He left his book on the table. Jacob=noun He=pronoun His=pronoun
Verb Definition: Describes an action Can have different tenses Can include helping verbs and main verb Must agree with the subject Subject and verb must both be singular or both be plural
Verb Examples Next month I will travel to Canada. will=helping verb Travel=main verb Today she ate dinner at six o’ clock. Ate=verb Can you help him clean the dishes? Help=verb Clean=verb We will watch television while we do homework. Watch=verb Do=verb
Adverb Definition: changes or describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb Answers when, where, how, why, or what Often end in –ly Never describes a noun or pronoun
Adverb Examples Sam walked quickly around the block. Walked=verb Quickly=adverb Her paper was well written. well=adverb First they drove to the mall, and then they stopped at the gas station. Then=adverb
Adjective Definition: Describes a noun or pronoun Includes articles, i.e. a, an, the Answers which one, what kind, or how many
Adjective Examples The yellow basket is full of flowers. Yellow=adjective She sent me a short letter. Short=adjective The truck is old and rusty. Old=adjective rusty=adjective Rachel has beautiful handwriting. Beautiful=adjective
Preposition Definition: Modifies a word in the sentence Placed before a noun or pronoun Part of a prepositional phrase Prepositional phrases usually tell where, when, or show relationship Example: at the mall At=preposition Prepositional phrases often function as adjectives or adverbs
Preposition Examples For some common prepositions see the following website: list of prepositions.list of prepositions. The rabbit jumped into the hole. into=preposition John walked home with Mary. With=preposition The conference will be held in October. in=preposition Sam checked his phone for messages throughout the day. Throughout=preposition
Conjunction Definition: Joins words, clauses, and phrases together Shows the relationship between the joined words, phrases, or clauses There are different types of conjunctions Coordinating—connects equal words, phrases, or clauses Subordinating—connects unequal words, phrases, or clauses
Conjunction Examples The most common conjunctions can be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so Other conjunctions can be found here.here. Catherine and John went to the store. And=conjunction Before you go out, you must finish your homework. Before=conjunction She raised her hand because she had a question. Because=conjunction
Interjection Definition: A word or phrase that expresses emotion Often followed by an exclamation point
Interjection Examples Oops! I forgot to take out the trash! Oops=interjection Oh my gosh, it’s snowing outside. Oh my gosh=interjection When Matt got injured he said, “Ow!” Ow=interjection Well, I guess he can come if he wants. Well=interjection
Further help… For further information on the basic parts of speech, see the following: Butte College’s The Eight Parts of Speech Butte College’s The Eight Parts of Speech Purdue Owl Purdue Owl About.com About.com