The Parts of Speech

The parts of speech are really what makes English grammar what is. The language is
separated, or classified, by the function of the words or phrases within the greater
context of the language.

For example, in English we have eight parts of speech: the verb, the noun, the
pronoun, the adjective, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction, and the
interjection.

The speech parts don't necessarily explain what the word is, it tells us more how the
word is used. Many words, that is the very same word, can be used as a noun or
verb in one sentence, and then an adjective in another.

Verbs are probably the most important parts of speech as they tell us information
about the subject of the sentence, that is, the one who is doing the action. We learn
from verbs what actions are taking place and what state the subject is in.

Nouns and pronouns name people, places, things, ideas etc., and can function or
act as sentence subjects, direct or indirect objects, complements, plus more.

Adverbs typically modify verbs although they can modify other adverbs, phrases
and even adjectives. Adverbs tell us the time, manner, place, degree, or even cause
of actions occurring in a sentence.

Adjectives mostly modify nouns by describing, or identifying words. Many times

they quantify words as well.

Conjunctions, as the name implies, connect parts of sentences together. Phrases

and clauses are joined by conjunctions.

Prepositions are also parts of speech that connect words together. They mostly link
nouns, pronouns, and phrases, to other words in the same sentence.

Interjections usually show emotion, transition, or exclamation in sentences.

Parts of Speech - VERBS

For our purposes we will say that there are three main verb types. Transitive,
intransitive, and linking.

1.) A transitive verb passes action on to a direct object. In other words, a

tansitive verb requires an object.

Example: The dog ate. (incomplete - doesn't have an object)

Study Support Resources Sept 2013 EV SSC 1

The example is incomplete because eat is a transitive verb which typically requires
an object. The dog ate what?

Example: The dog ate a bone. (where bone is the object of the verb ate)

2.) Intransitive verbs do not indicate a transfer of action. Therefore, they do

not require an object.

Example: John went to the store for his mother. (went is intransitive, it does not
require an object)

3.) A linking verb joins a subject with a word that describes it. They don't
express action, but they do connect the subject of the verb to additional information
about the subject.

Example: My cat seems content to lie in the sun on our porch. (seems connects
cats to what else is said about them; namely, they like to lie in the sun on our
porch.)

The other verb types of which the three mentioned above can be classified as
include; main verbs, auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, finite verbs, non-finite verbs,
phrasal verbs, gerunds, and participles. There are others but the above will suffice
for our purposes.

For more information about parts of speech and how they are classified click on the
preceding link. For information on a variety of grammar items, plus many
free exercises designed to help you improve your knowledge of English
grammar, please visit our home page.

http://www.advanced-english-grammar.com/parts-of-speech.html

The Eight Parts of Speech

The eight parts of speech are commonly known as: verbs, nouns, pronouns,
adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Yes, some people are now saying that there are ten parts of speech by splitting
nouns into two categories (more on this on the Noun page) and counting the articles
(a, an & the) as a separate part of speech. (They have typically been considered
adjectives.)

For our purposes -- and to stay with the more traditional view -- we'll stick with the
eight parts of speech, although this site does contain information regarding the other
items. To learn more about those items, you can use the menu at the left of this
page

So, what do these eight parts of speech do?

Study Support Resources Sept 2013 EV SSC 2

Briefly, they explain how words are used in a sentence. Many words can be nouns,
verbs, and adjectives depending on how and where they are used in a sentence.

The following is a brief introduction concerning the eight parts of speech with more
information for the various parts on their respective pages which can be reached
from theMENU at the left.

Verbs = show actions, events, or a state of being. Verbs are typically referred to as
being regular or irregular, transitive or intransitive, main or auxiliary or modal. More
on these divisions on the verb page.

Nouns = are persons, places, things, or ideas (concepts). Nouns can be used in a
variety of ways including being the subject or object of a sentence. They can also be
indirect objects, subject or object complements or adjectives.

Pronouns = as one of the eight parts of speech are used to replace nouns, noun
phrases or even other pronouns.

Adjectives = modify nouns and pronouns by giving more information by describing,

quantifying, or identifying the words.

Adverbs = modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or phrases by answering the 'how'

something is done by indicating manner, time, place, cause, or degree.

Conjunctions = link words, phrases, and clauses. "FANBOYS" (i.e., for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so.)

Prepositions = link nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence by

showing time, manner, movement, place or position.

Interjections = are one of the eight parts of speech used to express emotion or
illustrate a feeling of exclamation.

http://www.advanced-english-grammar.com/eight-parts-of-speech.html

Identifying Parts of Speech

When identifying parts of speech you should to learn to ask some

important questions. When the questions are answered, you will have a pretty good
idea of what part of speech you are dealing with.

That's right, with some practice and a little bit of work on your part... you will be
identifying parts of speech easily, as opposed to struggling with the task.

Now, (that is, if you haven't done it yet) it's probably best to start with the parts of
speech definitions which are found on the eight parts of speech page which is clearly
marked in the Parts of Speech MENU at the left.

If you already know the definitions and are ready to start learning how to identify the
parts of speech, simply read the advice below.

Study Support Resources Sept 2013 EV SSC 3

So, how is identifying parts of speech done?

The word is probably a VERB if you can use a modal with it. For example, if you can
use will, should, would, may, must, might, have to, ought to, and can... then
the word is probably a verb.

Example: He (might stay, will go, should come, must leave) home. Where stay, go,
come,and leave are all verbs.

The word is probably a NOUN if you can... count it (one dog, two dogs) or make it
possessive(the dog's tail, the car's tires) or if it can take an article in front of it (a
house, an apple, the store) or if it can follow a prepositional phrase (from the ___ ,
to the ___ , with the ____ )

The word is probably a PRONOUN if you can substitute the word for a noun.

Example: Tom gave the book to John. OR with pronouns... He (Tom) gave it (the
book) tohim (John).

The word is probably an ADJECTIVE if you can add (er) or (est) to the word. (big--
bigger--biggest) Or, if you can use more or most in front of it (beautiful--more
beautiful--most beautiful) Or, if you can use the words very or quite in front of it.
(I'm very thirsty, he's quite short)

The word is probably an ADVERB if it has an ly suffix (happily, strangely) or if the

word or phrase can be moved to another place in the sentence and still make sense.

Example: He usually gets home at five o'clock. Usually, he gets home at five
o'clock. He gets home at five o'clock, usually.

The word is probably a PREPOSITION if it is followed by a noun object. He

stood betweenthem. He climbed over the fence.

The word is probably a CONJUNCTION if it serves as a connector between words,

phrases, or clauses.

Example: He was not tall, yet he was a very successful basketball player.
(remember FANBOYS)

The word is probably an INTERJECTION if it adds emotion to a sentence.

Example: (Ouch, that hurt! Oh no, I forgot my homework.)

http://www.advanced-english-grammar.com/identifying-parts-of-speech.html

Study Support Resources Sept 2013 EV SSC 4