7.2.
Grammar - Parts of Speech
Parts of speech are very important in grammar since they are the groups in which words are
categorised. They allow you to label a word in a sentence and provide the framework for the rules
to follow in a sentence. Learn these parts of speech and be able to label or name a part of speech in
a sentence.
Nouns: Nouns point out or name people, places, things or ideas.
E.g. chair, computer, car, pen
Types of Nouns
Proper Nouns – a name of one specific person, place or thing that is capitalised.
E.g. Peter, London, Washington
Common Nouns – one specific class or group that is not capitalised.
E.g. dog, lock, pen
Noun as a subject – The dog broke the lock.
Noun as a direct object – The dog broke the lock.
Noun as an indirect object – I gave Harold the lock.
Pronouns: Pronouns are used in place of a noun.
Types of Pronouns
Personal (subject) – I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they
Interrogative – who, what, where, when, how, why, which, whom
Relative – who, which, that, when, whose
Indefinite – anyone, someone, somebody, anybody, nobody, no one
Demonstrative – these, those, this, that
Reflexive – myself, himself, herself, itself, themselves, yourselves, ourselves
Possessive – mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs
Possessive Adjectives – my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their
Object – me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them
Adjectives: Words used to describe a noun or a pronoun. What kind, how many or which one.
E.g. Tall, short, beautiful, strong, bold, ugly
Types of Adjectives
Comparative – bigger than, richer than, better than (John is bigger than Peter)
Superlative – the biggest, the richest, the best (He is the richest man in the world)
Verbs: Verbs describe the state of being of a subject. It can also be used to describe or to show
physical or mental action.
E.g. eat, jump, read, write, dance, fix,
Types of Verbs
Transitive – relates an action that has an object. (Gives transit)
E.g. Helen baked a cake.
Intransitive – does not need an object.
E.g. The baby cried.
Linking – links the subject and the complement.
E.g. The old man seems tired.
Regular – form their past and past participle form with –d and –ed. (work-worked, dance-danced)
Irregular – forms completely change. (go-went, sleep-slept)
Auxiliary – helping verbs; when used with main verb it shows mood and tense. (will, have, to be)
Modal – used to indicate possibility, a need, willingness, ability or obligation. (can, could, may,
should)
Infinitive – verbs that are always preceded by a “to”. (to go, to dance, to speak)
Bare infinitive – verbs that are not preceded by a “to” (go, dance, speak)
Active and Passive Voices
Verbs can also be used in active or passive voices.
Active Voice – When the subject is the doer of the action.
E.g. Mary had helped John.
The French built the Eiffel Tower.
Colombians grow coffee.
Passive voice – When the subject becomes the receiver of the action.
E.g. The Eiffel Tower was built by the French.
John had been helped by Mary.
Rice is grown by Chinese.
Guiltless Structure – Active Voice - e.g. Who broke the lamp?
Passive Voice - e.g. The lamp was broken before I came in.
Adverbs: Adverbs describe a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
E.g. 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.
E.g. He is very rich. It is extremely dangerous.
Types of Adverbs
Adverbs of Frequency – always, often, never
Adverbs of Time – before, yet, still
Adverbs of Place – there, here, everywhere, somewhere, anywhere
Adverbs of Degree – almost, nearly, barely, hardly, just
Prepositions: Prepositions express relationships between people, things and actions by placing
words in front of nouns, noun phrases or pronouns to connect them to another word.
He was in the garden.
I spoke to Mr. Hall on Friday about the hole in our roof.
They can also be used to introduce a phrase which completes the meaning of a verb.
I told him about …
Types of Prepositions
Prepositions of Place: at, in, beside, between, for, behind, off, on
Prepositions of Time: in, on, at, about, off, on
Conjunctions: Conjunctions are words that connect parts of speech.
E.g. but, because, and
I like tea but I don´t like coffee because it´s too strong for me.
Interjections
Interjections are words to express feelings or emotions.
E.g. HELP! OUCH! Yummy! Wow! Yuck! OH GOD!
Help! Call the police.
