Knowing the parts of speech can help you understand how words are used in English sentences. You can find a word's part of speech in a dictionary for each word meaning. Usually the part of speech is listed directly after the word or its pronunciation. Look at your dictionary to see how the parts of speech are abbreviated; the abbreviations are often listed on a separate page at the beginning or end of the book.
ADJECTIVES
An adjective modifies a noun, a pronoun, or other substantive (a group of words functioning as a noun) by limiting, qualifying, or specifying. An adjective phrase is a group of words that includes an adjective as the main word: exceptionally intelligent.
ADVERBS
An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or an entire sentence by limiting, qualifying, or specifying.
ARTICLES
An article is a word used to signal a noun and to specify its application. In English, there are three articles. The indefinite articles are a and an and the definite article is the.
CONJUNCTIONS
A conjunction is a word that joins two or more words, phrases, or clauses. These are the coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, so, nor, for, yet. These are the correlative conjunctions: both...and, either...or, neither...nor.
INTERJECTIONS
An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion. An interjection occurs in spoken conversation separately from other sentences.
NOUNS
A noun names a person, place, thing, action, or idea. A noun can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive. A noun phrase is a group of words comprised of a noun or a pronoun as the main word: a memorable adventure. Some nouns are countable, or count nouns: dollar-dollars. Other nouns are uncountable, or noncount nouns: money. Some nouns can function as both a count and noncount function, depending on their meaning in context.
PREPOSITIONS
A preposition shows a relationship, such as time, place, or direction. A preposition comes before a substantive and indicates the relation of that substantive to a verb, an adjective, or another substantive. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that includes a preposition followed by a noun or noun phrase: into the conference room.
PRONOUNS
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or noun phrase. A pronoun designates a person, place, or thing asked for, previously specified, or understood from the context.
VERBS
A verb expresses existence, action, or occurrence. A verb phrase may be one word, or it may consist of one or more auxiliary verbs plus a main verb. Some verbs are transitive (vt); they must be followed by a direct object: like. Other verbs are intransitive (vi): happen. Some verbs can function as both a vt and a vi, depending on their meaning in context.
WORDS HAVE MANY FUNCTIONS
One word may have more than one function, depending on how it is used in a sentence.
Updated September 7, 2004
Marsha Chan
Mission College
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Santa Clara, CA 95054-1897
(408) 855-5314