Parts of speech are essential in grammar since they are the groups in which words are categorized. They allow you to identify a word in a sentence and provide the structure for the rules to follow.
Nouns
1. Common Nouns – one particular class or group that is not capitalized.
Examples: dog, lock, pen
2. Noun as a subject:
Example:
The animal broke the lock.
3. Noun as a direct object :
Example: The dog broke the lock.
4. Noun as an indirect object:
Example: I gave Harold the lock.
Pronouns
Pronouns are used to replace a noun so that they do not become repetitive
Types of Pronouns:
1. Personal (subject):
Examples: I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they
2. Interrogative :
Examples: who, what, where, when, how, why, which, whom Relative – who, which, that, when, whose
3. Indefinite:
Examples: anyone, someone, somebody, anybody, nobody, no one
Adjectives
Words used as a description for a noun or a pronoun. What kind, how many, or which one.
Examples: Tall, short, beautiful, strong, bold, ugly.
Types of Adjectives:
1. Comparative:
Examples: bigger than richer than, better than (John is bigger than Peter)
2. Superlative:
Examples: the biggest, the richest, the best (He is the richest man in the world)
Verbs
Verbs can be used to describe or to show physical or mental action.
Examples:
eat, jump, read, write, dance, fix
Types of Verbs:
1. Transitive: relates an action that has an object. (Gives transit)
Example: Helen baked a cake.
2. Intransitive: does not need an object.
Example: The baby cried.
3. Linking: links the subject and the complement.
Example: The older man seems tired.
4. Regular: form their past and past participle form with –d and –ed.
Examples: work-worked, dance-danced
5. Irregular: forms completely change.
Examples: go-went, sleep-slept
6. Auxiliary: helping verbs; when used with the main verb, it shows mood and tense.
Examples: will have, to be
7. Modal: used to indicate the possibility, a need, willingness, ability, or obligation.
Examples: can, could, may, should
8. Infinitive: verbs that are always preceded by a “to”.
Examples: to go, to dance, to speak
9. Bare infinitive: verbs that are not preceded by a “to”
Examples: go, dance, speak
Active and Passive Voices
Verbs can also be used in active or passive voices.
1. Active Voice: When the subject performs the action.
Examples:
Mary had helped John.
The French built the Eiffel Tower.
Colombians grow coffee.
2. Passive Voice: When the subject becomes the receiver of the action.
Examples:
The Eiffel Tower was built by the French.
John had been helped by Mary.
Rice is grown by Chinese.
Guiltless Structure
1. Active Voice –
Example:
Who broke the lamp?
2. Passive Voice –
Example:
The lamp was broken before I came in.
Adverbs
Adverbs describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Examples: seriously, quickly, extremely.
When, where, why, how much, to what extent.
Many adverbs are formed by simply adding a –ly to an adjective or a noun.
Examples:
He is very rich. It is extremely dangerous.
Types of Adverbs
1. Adverbs of Frequency
Examples: always, often, never
2. Adverbs of Time
Examples: before, yet, still
3. Adverbs of Place
Examples: there, here, everywhere, somewhere, anywhere Adverbs of Degree – almost, nearly, barely, hardly, just.
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between things, people, and actions by placing words in front of nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases to connect them to other words.
Examples:
He was in the garden.
I spoke to Mr Hall on Friday about the hole in our roof.
They can also be used as an introduction to a phrase that completes the meaning of a verb. I told him about …
Types of Prepositions
1. Prepositions of Time:
Examples: in, on, about, off, at, on
2. Prepositions of Place:
Examples: in, at, beside, between, behind, for, off, on
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that connect parts of speech.
Examples: but, because, and
I like tea, but I don ́t like coffee because it ́s too strong for me.
Interjections
Interjections are words used to verbalize feelings or emotions.
Examples:
HELP! OUCH! Yummy! Wow! Yuck Help! Call the police!