PARTS OF SPEECH

1) NOUNS

Common Nouns

Common nouns are used to name a GENERAL type of person, place or thing.

Common nouns can be divided into smaller classes such as countable and uncountable
nouns, concrete and abstract nouns and collective nouns.

Examples of common nouns: girl, city, animal, friend, house, food

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are used to name a SPECIFIC person, place or thing. In English, proper
nouns begin with a capital letter. Prope r nouns do not normally have a determiner before
them (e.g. the London, the Mary etc.) though there are some exceptions (e.g. Is
she the Mary that we met at the conference?).

Examples of proper nouns: John, London, Pluto, Monday, France

Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are two or more words that create a noun. Compound nouns are
sometimes one word (haircut), words joined by a hyphen (son-in-law) or as separate words
(bus stop). The main stress is normally on the first part of the compound word
(sunglasses, swimming pool)

Examples of compound nouns: toothbrush, rainfall, sailboat, mother-in-law, well-being,

alarm clock, credit card

Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are nouns that CAN be counted. They have a singular and a plural form
and can be used with a number. Sometimes countable nouns are called count nouns.

Examples of countable nouns: car, desk, cup, house, bike, eye, butterfly

See more information about Countable vs Uncountable Nouns.

Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are nouns that CANNOT be counted. These are sometimes called Mass
Nouns. Uncountable nouns often refer to:

substances: paper, wood, plastic

liquids: milk, oil , juice
gases: air, oxygen
abstract ideas: happiness, time, information

Examples of uncountable nouns: water, coffee, cheese, sand, furniture, skin, wool, gold,
fur

See more information about Countable vs Uncountable Nouns.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are words that refer to a set or group of people, animals or things.

Examples of collective nouns: staff, team, crew, herd, flock, bunch

See our list of Collective Nouns

Concrete Nouns

Concrete nouns are nouns which refer to people and things that exist physically and that at
least one of the senses can detect (can be seen, felt, heard, smelled/smelt, or tasted).

Examples of concrete nouns: dog, tree, apple, moon, coin, sock, ball, water

Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns are nouns that have no physical existence and are not concrete. They refer
to ideas, emotions or concepts so you CANNOT see, touch, hear, smell or taste something
that is an abstract noun. Many abstract nouns are uncountable.

Examples of abstract nouns: love, time, happiness, bravery, creativity, justice, freedom,
speed

Gerunds

A gerund, sometimes called a verbal noun, is a noun formed from a verb. Since all gerunds
end in -ing, they are sometimes confused as being a verb (present participle).

Example: Running is good for you.

Here running looks like a verb because of its -ing ending but it is a noun (gerund) because
we are talking about the concept of running, we are talking about a thing.
Examples of gerunds: reading, writing, dancing, thinking, flying

2) PRONOUNS

Pronoun: a word which is used to take the place of a noun.

A pronoun can be used to do any of the jobs which a noun can do in a sentence

Antecedent: word(s) which the pronoun replaces.

Kinds of Pronouns:

Personal: Most commonly used pronouns.

I, me, my, mine

you, your, yours
he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its
we us, our, ours
you, your, yours
they, them, their, theirs

Interrogative: Used to ask questions

who
whose
whom
which
what

Demonstrative: Used to point things out or call attention.

this
that
these
those

Indefinite: Do not have antecedents

 another, anybody, anyone, anything
each, either, everybody, everyone, everything
little, much, neither, nobody, no one
both, few, many, others, several
all, any, more, most, none, some

Reflexive/Intensive: Ends in self or -selves

himself
myself
yourself

Reciprocal:

each other
one another

3) VERBS

A verb is one of the main parts of a sentence or question in English.

In fact, you cant have a sentence or a question without a verb! Thats how important
these action parts of speech are.

The verb signals an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. Whether mental,

physical, or mechanical, verbs always express activity.

Physical Verbs Definition and Examples

Physical verbs are action verbs. They describe specific physical actions. If you can
create a motion with your body or use a tool to complete an action, the word you use
to describe it is most likely a physical verb.

Physical Verb Examples

The physical verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy
identification.

Lets run to the corner and back.

I hear the train coming.
Call me when youre finished with class.
Mental Verbs Definition and Examples

Mental verbs have meanings that are related to concepts such as discovering,
understanding, thinking, or planning. In general, a mental verb refers to a cognitive
state.

Mental Verb Examples

The mental verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy
identification.

I know the answer.

She recognized me from across the room.
Do you believe everything people tell you?
States of Being Verbs Definition and Examples

Also known as linking verbs, state of being verbs describe conditions or situations
that exist. State of being verbs are inactive since no action is being performed. These
verbs are usually complemented by adjectives.

States of Being Verb Examples

The state of being verbs in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.

I am a student.
We are circus performers.
Please is quiet.
Types of Verbs
How many types of verbs are there? In addition to the main categories of physical
verbs, mental verbs, and state of being verbs, there are several other types of verbs.
In fact, there are more than ten different types of verbs that are grouped by function.
List of all Verb Types

Action Verbs

Action verbs express specific actions, and are used any time you want to show action
or discuss someone doing something.

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities. These verbs
always have direct objects, meaning someone or something receives the action of
the verb.

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities. No direct
object follows an intransitive verb.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs are also known as helping verbs, and are used together with a main
verb to show the verbs tense or to form a question or negative.

Stative Verbs

Stative verbs can be recognized because they express a state rather than an action.
They typically relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being,
and measurements.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express abilities, possibilities,
permissions, and obligations.

Phrasal Verbs
 Phrasal verbs arent single words; instead, they are combinations of words that are
used together to take on a different meaning to that of the original verb.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are those that dont take on the regular spelling patterns of past
simple and past participle verbs.

4) ADVERBS

Adverbs describe verbs (actions). They give more detail about the action.

My cat eats slowly.

Slowly is an adverb since it describes the way my cat eats.

How does my cat eat? Slowly.

Adverbs will generally answer the question 'How'.

Some adverbs are used to modify an adjective.

Adverbs that do this are: very, extremely, really, totally, absolutely, quite, fairly, well. These
are normally placed before the adjective.

It was very hot yesterday.

He is totally crazy.

Types of Adverbs

There are many types of adverbs, such as:

Adverbs of Frequency - always, sometimes, never, etc.

Adverbs of Manner - carefully, slowly

Adverbs of Time and Place - here, yesterday, then

Adverbs of Relative Time - recently, already, soon

Adverbs of Degree - very, extremely, rather

Adverbs of Quantity - a few, a lot, much

Adverbs of Attitude - fortunately, apparently, clearly

Adverbs Word Order

Adverbs are usually placed after the verb:

He speaks clearly.

When there is an object, the adverb is usually placed after the verb + object:

I put the vase carefully on the table.

However, adverbs are never positioned between the verb and the object.

I read the book quickly. - (Correct)

I read quickly the book. - (Incorrect)

Sometimes adverbs are placed at the beginning of a clause.

Quickly, I changed my opinion.

5) ADJECTIVES

Traditionally, adjectives are defined as words that describe nouns or pronouns. When they
describe nouns or pronouns, adjectives typically answer the following questions:

What kind? Which one? How many?

For example, in the phrase

 Tall is an adjective describing the noun man.
Tall answers the question "which man?" or "what kind of man?"

Similarly, in the phrase,

Easy is an adjective describing the noun assignment.

Easy answers the question, "what kind of assignment?"

Adjectives are usually placed before the nouns they describe, as in the examples, tall
man and easy assignment, above.

Thus, one may identify an adjective by using the following word-order test:

*
*
Adjectives may also follow the noun they describe.

Example:

Finally, adjectives may follow a verb of being or a linking verb, thus completing the noun
subject
Examples
Like nouns, adjectives are often recognizable by their suffixes.
Endings such as -ous -ful -ish -able usually designate adjectives.

Examples:

Comparative and superlative forms

Single-syllable adjectives use -er and -est endings to designate comparative and superlative forms:

Examples:

Adjectives of two or more syllables use more and most for comparative and superlative forms.

Examples:
Note: Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y may also use the -er / -est endings to designate
comparative and superlative.

Examples:

Note: the following adjectives do not follow the regular rules for forming comparative and
superlative forms: good, bad, little, ill.

To create negative comparative and superlative forms, use

less for er and least for est

Examples:
 6) CONJUNCTION

Conjunctions are words used as joiners.

Different kinds of conjunctions join different kinds of grammatical structures.

The following are the kinds of conjunctions:

A. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (FANBOYS)

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Coordinating conjunctions join equals to one another:

words to words, phrases to phrases, clauses to clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser connections than other conjunctions do.
Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.

Punctuation with coordinating conjunctions:

When a coordinating conjunction joins two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, no

comma should be placed before the conjunction.

A coordinating conjunction joining three or more words, phrases, or subordinate

clauses creates a series and requires commas between the elements.
A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound
sentence and requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction

B. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

either. . .or both. . . and

neither. . . nor not only. . . but also

These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each one.
C. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

These conjunctions join independent clauses together.

The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs:

after all in addition next

also incidentally nonetheless
as a result indeed on the contrary
besides in fact on the other hand
consequently in other words otherwise
finally instead still
for example likewise then
furthermore meanwhile therefore
hence moreover thus
however nevertheless

Punctuation: Place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after
theconjunctive adverb.

D. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions

after in order (that) unless

although insofar as until
as in that when
as far as lest whenever
as soon as no matter how where
as if now that wherever
as though once whether
because provided (that) while
before since why
even if so that
even though supposing (that)
how than
if that
inasmuch as though
in case (that) till

Subordinating conjunctions also join two clauses together, but in doing so, they make one
clause dependent (or "subordinate") upon the other.

A subordinating conjunction may appear at a sentence beginning or between two clauses in

a sentence.

A subordinate conjunction usually provides a tighter connection between clauses than a

coordinating conjunctions does.
Loose: It is raining, so we have an umbrella.
Tight: Because it is raining, we have an umbrella.

Punctuation Note:

When the dependent clause is placed first in a sentence, use a comma between the two clauses. When the
independent clause is placed first and the dependent clause second, do not separate the two clauses with a
comma.

7) PREPOSITIONS

A preposition is defined as a word which is placed before a noun or a pronoun or a

noun equivalent to show some relationship between that and some other word
present in the sentence.

For instance;
 John gave a lecutre on socialism.

The award is given to him.

Her objection is to what all you say.

The italicised words are known as prepositions because they generally take
position before(pre) a noun.The preposition is understood to govern the noun which follows
it. The object of the preposition is the noun.

Moving on from single word prepositions, there are also phrases which perform
the work of prepositions. They are called Phrase Prepositions. Therefore, to sum up the
type of prepositions:

Single word prepositions :simple prepositions

[on, in, at, after, with, above, under, etc.]

Phrase Prepositions : Complex prepositions

Complex Prepositions are formed by following major ways:

Verb/adjective/conjunction + preposition [except for, due to, because of, owing to,
but for, etc.]

Adverb + preposition [apart from, along with, on to, away from, as for, out of,
upto, such as, together with, etc.]

Preposition + noun + preposition [on account of, in comparison with, by means of,
in view of, in accordance with, instead of, in spite of, etc.]

P.S. Under certain circumstances, it becomes necessary to end a sentence with

a preposition. English grammar has the flexibility to allow for that. Take the following
example to understand the point;
 This is the girl I gave the book to.Rules for Prepositions - English Study Material
& Notes

This is the hospital that I was born in.

Rules for Prepositions:

1. A preposition is placed at the end of a sentence in either of the following ways:

When a relative pronoun is understood in the sentence. [This is the girl you
spoke to.]

When the relative pronoun in a sentence is that. [ Here is the pencil that you are
looking for.]

If a preposition governs an interrogative pronoun or an interrogative adverb, it is

placed at the end of sentence. [What are you looking at? ]

If a preposition governs a relative pronoun, then it is placed at the end of

sentence. [ This is the teacher whom I spoke about.]

When the preposition is used with the infinitive that is placed at the end of
sentence. [ Do you have a place to sit on?]

2. Some words with prepositions can take the gerund as well as the infinitives.
For instance;

She is afraid of going out alone at night.

 She is afraid to go out alone at night.

3. A preposition can be used at the beginning of an interrogative sentence. For

instance,

To whom are you referring?

In which country do yo live?

4. Prepositions [from, since, for] are used with reference to time. More
specifically, [from, since] indicate a point of time. And [for] indicates a period or length of
time. For instance;

I have not seen her since March..

I have not seen her from March.

I have not seen him for seven months.

5. The verbs which are placed immediately after prepositions are written usually
in gerund form. For instance;

Jacob insisted on buying a computer.

He left the hotel without paying the bill.

8) INTERJECTIONS

Interjections are words used to express strong feeling or sudden emotion. They are
included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment such as surprise,
disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm.

An interjection is not grammatically related to any other part of the sentence.

Examples of interjections (shaded):
Hey! Get off that floor!
Oh, that is a surprise.
Good! Now we can move on.
Jeepers, that was close.
Yes and No
Introductory expressions such as yes, no, indeed, and well are also classed as
interjections.

Examples:
Indeed, this is not the first time the stand has collapsed.
Yes, I do intend to cover the bet.
I'm sure I don't know half the people who come to my house. Indeed, for all I hear, I
shouldn't like to. (Oscar Wilde)
Well, it's 1 a.m. Better go home and spend some quality time with the kids. (Homer
Simpson)
Phew!
Some interjections are sounds.

Examples:
Phew! I am not trying that again.
Humph! I knew that last week.
Mmmm, my compliments to the chef.
Ah! Don't say you agree with me. When people agree with me, I always feel that I
must be wrong. (Oscar Wilde)
Interactive Test

Your scorecard:

Q1: An interjection is:

A: A word used to express strong feeling or sudden emotion.
B: A word used to modify a verb or an adjective.
Click for a printable version of this test.
Take another test on interjections.
Top Tip
Punctuation with Interjections
An interjection can be followed by either a comma or an exclamation mark. A comma
is used for a mild interjection, while an exclamation mark is used for a more abrupt
display of surprise, emotion, or deep feeling.
Hurry! The bus is about to leave!
Jeepers! That is the largest beetle I have ever seen.
No, I'm not going tomorrow night.
Well, the larva moves more quickly than you would expect.
Absolutely, a fifth of them do not count.
Very often (as in the first example above), an interjection with an exclamation mark is
followed by a sentence with an exclamation mark.