Parts of speech

The parts of speech (also known as word classes) explain how a word is used in a sentence.

There are eight main parts of speech:
1. nouns, 
2. pronouns, 
3. adjectives, 
4. verbs, 
5. adverbs,
6. prepositions,
7. conjunctions and 
8. interjections.

Most parts of speech can be divided into sub-classes;
Nouns can be divided into proper nouns, common nouns, concrete nouns etc.
Prepositions can be divided into prepositions of time, prepositions of place etc.

It is important to know that a word can sometimes be in more than one part of speech. For example with the word "go"

Go can be a verb e.g. She goes to campus everyday.
and go can also be a noun e.g. There was a go to ask but we kept silent.

Here are the details:

1. NOUN - (Naming word)
A noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea.

Examples of nouns: Lisa, London, chair, cat, student, pencil, city, happiness, hope

Example sentences: Lies coco iteung lives in Malaysia.
                                 Aisyah uses pen and paper to write lessons.

Learn more about the different types of nouns.


2. PRONOUN - (Replaces a Noun)
A pronoun is used in place of a noun or noun phrase to avoid repetition.

Examples of pronouns: I, you, we, they, he, she, it, me, us, them, him, her, this, those

Example sentences: Lisa is tired. She wants to sleep.
                                I want her to spend her rest of life with me.


3. ADJECTIVE - (Describing word)
An adjective describes, modifies or gives more information about a noun or pronoun.

Examples: big, happy, green, young, fun, fried, amazing

Example sentences: My little kid likes fried chicken.
                                 Lisa's favourite colours are blue and black


4. VERB - (Action Word)
A verb shows an action or state of being. A verb shows what someone or something is doing.

Examples: pray, eat, love, go, speak, run, eat, play, live, walk, have, like, are, is

Example sentences: Lisa prays before eating.
                                 We love each other.


5. ADVERB - (Describes a verb)
An adverb describes/modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. It tells how, where, when, how often or to what extent. Many adverbs end in -LY

Examples: then, now, slowly, quietly, sometimes, very, always, never, too, well, tomorrow, here

Example sentences: My wife is always busy.
                                Yesterday, I ate my lunch alone.


6. PREPOSITION - (Shows relationship)
A preposition shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word. They can indicate time, place, or relationship.

Examples: at, on, in, by, below, from, with, near, next to, between, about, under, opposite

Example sentences: I left my keys above the door for you.
                                 We spent the night on the beach.

7. CONJUNCTION - (Joining word)
A conjunction joins two words, ideas, phrases or clauses together in a sentence and shows how they are connected.

Examples: for, and, or, but, because, so, yet, unless, since, if. next

Example sentences: I was hot and exhausted.
                                They haven't finished their work yet.


8. INTERJECTION - (Expressive word)
An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses a strong feeling or emotion. It is a short exclamation.

Examples: Oops, Ouch! Wow! Great! Help! Oh! Hey! Hi!Hello!

Example sentences: Wow! I passed my English test. Great! – Ouch! That hurt.


= Sometimes teachers include Articles as a ninth part of speech so we have included it here. Note, an article is a type of adjective.


                                                                                 #

ARTICLES - (Defining word)
An article is used before a noun. These are divided into definite (the) and indefinite (a, an). Articles help define nouns.

Examples: a, an, the

Example sentences: I need a dictionary.
                                The dictionary is usually needed when we study English.