Parts of Speech
To start off, lets break down the 9 parts of speech. But wait, what is a part of speech? A part of speech is a term used by traditional linguists to organize and structure grammar. English has 9 main grammar categories to categorize their functions in sentences. It is important to note, that based on the sentence structure, some words can be categorized as more than one part of speech, depending on the wording, usage, and context.
The nine categories are as follows
1. Noun
A noun is a person, place, thing, or an idea. The noun category is the broadest, as it can be an all encompassing object/person, or an object/ capable of action. Nouns are always capitalized when they're the official name of something or someone, this is referred to as a proper noun. Common nouns (nouns that are not capitalized) are often used with an article. Nouns can be singular or plural, concrete or abstract. Nouns also show possession by adding 's.
Examples: Jane, table, man, house...etc
Sentence example: This is my cat. She sleeps in my house. We both live in Los Angeles.
2. Pronoun
Pronouns stand in for nouns in a sentence. A pronoun is typically used to substitute for a specific noun, the noun has already been addressed, this is called a antecedent.
Examples: I, you, he, she, they, it
Sentence example: Adam is Irish. He is extremely handsome.
3. Verb
Verbs are action within a word. The verb tells the reader and/or speaker what happens in a sentence. A verb can also show a sentences subject's state of being (is, was). This is the very clear difference between lexical and auxiliary verbs. Verbs change based on the tense (past, present, continuous, singular, plural). A verb must be used in agreement with its subject in terms of number, whereas both are singular, or both are plural.
Examples: jump, run, love, write, is
Sentence example: Lisa smiled.
It is important to note that sometimes a sentence can contain multiple verbs. There is a main verb and there are sometimes one or more assisting verbs. In the sentence below, the verb is states the subjects being and also assists the second verb go.
Sentence example: Adam is going home.
4. Adjective
Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. An adjective can tell you which one, what state, what kind, how much and so much more. Adjectives give the ability for the reader and/or listener to use their own discernment to understand the speaker and/or writer more clearly. It is important to note that in some sentences, articles [a, an, the] are typically classified as adjectives.
Examples: lazy, cold, large, bright, young, beautiful, blue
Sentence example: The young man brought me a large apple and a bouquet of flowers to place on my desk.
5. Adverb
An adverb modifies or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adjective is never used to modify or describe a noun. An adverb specifies when, where, how, why, to what extent or degree. Adverbs, in English often end in -ly.
Examples: gently, carefully, well, quickly, very
Sentence example: My little sister runs quickly. When she is extremely late, she runs very quickly.
6. Preposition
A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun with the ability to modify another word within the sentence. A preposition is always a part of a prepositional phrase, the phrase contains a preposition and its object.
Examples: by, with, about, until
Sentence example: by the table, with our family, about the novel, until tomorrow
7. Conjunction
A conjunction joins words, clauses, and phrases.
Examples: and, while, because, nor, or, so
Sentence example: I like hats and I like scarves. I like headbands but I don't like hairpins.
8. Articles/determiners
Articles and determiners function much like adjectives by modifying nouns. Unlike adjectives, articles and determiners are necessary to a sentence to have proper syntax.
Article examples: a, an, the
Determiner examples: these, that, those, enough, much, few, which, what
Sentence example: I have a dog and some cats.
9. Interjections
An interjection is a word used to express complete emotion. Interjections also have the ability to form complete sentences on their own.
Examples: Oh! Wow! Oops!
