Parts of Speech By Brent Coley

Noun A noun is a person, place, thing or idea.A noun is a person, place, thing or idea. Examples:Examples: -boy, girl, Bob, Sally (person) -school, park, San Diego (place) -pencil, book, basketball (thing) -love, joy, friendship (idea)

Noun The man walked down the street.The man walked down the street. A large elephant ate the peanuts.A large elephant ate the peanuts. Susan and Jennifer bought new computers at Best Buy.Susan and Jennifer bought new computers at Best Buy. Her heart was full of joy.Her heart was full of joy.

Pronoun A pronoun takes the place of a noun.A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Examples:Examples: -I- it -you- we -he- they -she

Pronoun He walked to the park.He walked to the park. They gave it to the teacher.They gave it to the teacher. She and I wanted to go to the movies, but we had to stay home and do our homework.She and I wanted to go to the movies, but we had to stay home and do our homework.

Action Verb An action verb shows action.An action verb shows action. It explains what the subject of the sentence does.It explains what the subject of the sentence does. Examples:Examples: –eat- ate –throw- threw –run- ran –write- wrote

Action Verb The quarterback tossed the ball to the running back.The quarterback tossed the ball to the running back. Mrs. Smith wrote the problem on the whiteboard.Mrs. Smith wrote the problem on the whiteboard. Angela raised her hand and answered the question.Angela raised her hand and answered the question.

Linking Verb A linking verb connects the subject of the sentence with the predicate.A linking verb connects the subject of the sentence with the predicate. It explains what the subject of the sentence is.It explains what the subject of the sentence is. Examples:Examples: –am- was- been –is- were- being –are- be

Linking Verb I am hungry.I am hungry. The people were unhappy about the new taxes.The people were unhappy about the new taxes. It is hot during the summer.It is hot during the summer. She was happy at the party.She was happy at the party.

Helping / Main Verbs A helping verb helps the main verb of the sentence.A helping verb helps the main verb of the sentence. The helping verb usually goes right before the main verb.The helping verb usually goes right before the main verb. Examples:Examples: –am- was- has –is- were- had –are- have

Helping / Main Verbs The boy was doing his homework. (was = helping verb; doing = main verb)The boy was doing his homework. (was = helping verb; doing = main verb) I have finished my project. (have = helping verb; finished = main verb)I have finished my project. (have = helping verb; finished = main verb)

Adjective An adjective describes a noun or pronoun.An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. Examples:Examples: –large- tired –sleepy- excited –fast- bored –funny- new –hungry- electronic

Adjective The small boy played with his plastic truck.The small boy played with his plastic truck. We bought a blue umbrella at Costco, a big store with low prices.We bought a blue umbrella at Costco, a big store with low prices. The blue water sparkled in the warm sunlight.The blue water sparkled in the warm sunlight.

Adverb An adverb describes a verb or adjective.An adverb describes a verb or adjective. Many adverbs end in -ly.Many adverbs end in -ly. Examples:Examples: –quickly- slowly –quietly- finally –safely- impatiently –recently- carefully

Adverb The secret agent quietly entered the building.The secret agent quietly entered the building. My best friend’s family recently moved to another state.My best friend’s family recently moved to another state. “Drive safely,” she said.“Drive safely,” she said.

Direct Object A direct object is a noun that receives the action of a verb.A direct object is a noun that receives the action of a verb. A direct object usually comes after the verb.A direct object usually comes after the verb. A direct object answers the question, “What?” or “Whom?”A direct object answers the question, “What?” or “Whom?”

Direct Object The author wrote the book. (What did the author write? The book)The author wrote the book. (What did the author write? The book) My friend gave me a cookie. (What did my friend give me? A cookie)My friend gave me a cookie. (What did my friend give me? A cookie) Susan spoke to Allison. (To whom did Susan speak? To Allison)Susan spoke to Allison. (To whom did Susan speak? To Allison)

Prepositional Phrase A prepositional phrase is a group of words that tells where.A prepositional phrase is a group of words that tells where. Examples:Examples: –under the desk –on top of the refrigerator –in the closet –behind the barn –through the tunnel

Prepositional Phrase She put the roses on the table.She put the roses on the table. The class took a fieldtrip to the park.The class took a fieldtrip to the park. I parked my bicycle near the fence.I parked my bicycle near the fence. He hid under the bed.He hid under the bed.

Practice Time On the following slides, you will see a sentence with a green, underlined word. See if you can identify what part of speech it is.

What part of speech is the word in green? The children played in the sandbox.The children played in the sandbox.

Action Verb – played shows action. It tells what the children did.

What part of speech is the word in green? Since it was such a beautiful day, my family decided to walk to the park.Since it was such a beautiful day, my family decided to walk to the park.

Adjective – beautiful describes the noun (day). It tells what kind of day it was.

What part of speech is the word in green? My teacher returned the assignments to the students.My teacher returned the assignments to the students.

Direct Object – Assignments is a noun that receives the action of the verb, so that makes it a direct object. What did the teacher return? Assignments

What part of speech is the word in green? The hockey player skillfully skated down the ice.The hockey player skillfully skated down the ice.

Adverb – skillfully describes the verb (skated). It tells how the hockey player skated.

What part of speech is the word in green? The restaurant was crowded.The restaurant was crowded.

Linking Verb – was connects the subject (the restaurant) with the predicate (crowded). It is a linking verb because it does not show action.

What part of speech is the word in green? I parked my car in the garage.I parked my car in the garage.

Prepositional Phrase – in the garage tells where I parked the car.

What part of speech is the word in green? We bought a new telephone because our old one was broken.We bought a new telephone because our old one was broken.

Noun – telephone is a thing. Nouns can be people, places, things, or ideas.

What part of speech is the word in green? They came over to our house to watch the Super Bowl.They came over to our house to watch the Super Bowl.

Pronoun – they is a word that takes the place of some people’s names.

What part of speech is the word in green? I was eating a sandwich when the phone rang.I was eating a sandwich when the phone rang.

Helping / Main Verb – was is the helping verb, and eating is the main verb.