The Part of Speech Is Determined by the Word's Function. There are nine parts of speech :
- (1) Adjective
- (2) Adverb
- (3) Conjunction
- (4) Determiner
- (5) Interjection
- (6) Noun
- (7) Preposition
- (8) Pronoun
- (9) Verb
(1) Adjective
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun. Here are some examples of adjectives:
red, happy, enormous
Examples of adjectives in sentences:
Ask the boy in the red jumper.
(The adjective "red" modifies the noun "jumper.")
I live in a happy place.
(The adjective "happy" modifies the noun "place.")
I caught a fish this morning! I mean an enormous one.
(The adjective "enormous" modifies the pronoun "one.")
(2) Adverb
An adverb modifies a verb. Here are some examples of adverbs:
happily, loosely, often
Examples of adverbs in sentences:
They skipped happily to the counter.
(The adverb "happily" modifies the verb "skipped.")
Tie the knot loosely so they can escape.
(The adverb "loosely" modifies the verb "tie.")
I often walk to work.
(The adverb "often" modifies the verb "walk.")
Be aware that adverbs can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
It is an intriguingly magic setting.
(The adverb "intriguingly" modifies the adjective "magic.")
He plays the piano extremely well.
(The adverb "extremely" modifies the adverb "well.")
(3) Conjunction
A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. Here are some examples of conjunctions:
and, or, but
Examples of conjunctions in sentences:
it is a large and important city.
(The conjunction "and" joins the words "large" and "important," which are both adjectives.)
Shall we run to the hills or hide in the bushes?
(The conjunction "or" joins the phrases "run to the hills" and "hide in the bushes.")
I know you are lying, but I cannot prove it.
(The conjunction "but" joins the clauses "I know you are lying" and "I cannot prove it.")
(4) Determiner
A determiner specifies a noun or a pronoun or states quantity. Here are some examples of determiners:
my, those, two, many
Examples of determiners in sentences:
My dog is fine with those cats.
(The determiner "my" modifies the noun "dog" to specify it. The determiner "those" modifies the noun "cats" to specify them.)
There are two dogs but many cats.
(The determiner "two" modifies the noun "dogs" to state the quantity, and the determiner "many" modifies the noun "cats" to state the quantity.)
(5) Interjection
An interjection expresses emotion. Here are some examples of interjections:
ouch, oops, eek
Examples of interjections in sentences:
Ouch, that hurt.
(The interjection "ouch" expresses pain.)
Oops, it's broken.
(The interjection "oops" expresses dismay.)
Eek! A mouse just ran past my foot!
(The interjection "eek" expresses panic.)
(6) Noun
A noun names a person, place, or thing. Here are some examples of nouns:
leader, town, apple
Examples of nouns in sentences:
Take me to your leader.
(The noun "leader" names a person.)
I will see you in town later.
(The noun "town" names a place.)
An apple fell on his head.
(The nouns "apple" and "head" name things.)
All nouns are classified as either a common noun (i.e., the words we use like "man," "city," "river") or a proper noun (i.e., the personal names or titles we use like "Peter," "Boston," "The Mississippi").
Nouns are further classified depending on what they name (e.g., something abstract like "bravery" or something concrete like "mud"), their structure (e.g., one word like "pool" or two words like "whirlpool"), or a peculiarity about their grammar (e.g., "oxygen" does not have plural form).
(7) Preposition
A preposition shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. Here are some examples of prepositions:
in, near, on, with
Examples of prepositions in sentences:
Sarah is hiding in the box.
(The preposition "in" shows the relationship between "hiding" and "box.")
I live near the train station.
(The preposition "near" shows the relationship between "live" and "train station.")
Put your hands on your head.
(The preposition "on" shows the relationship between "hands" and "head.")
She yelled with enthusiasm.
(The preposition "with" shows the relationship between "yelled" and "enthusiasm.")
(8) Pronoun
A pronoun replaces a noun (or a noun phrase). Here are some examples of pronouns:
she, we, they, that
Examples of pronouns in sentences:
Joanne is smart. She is also funny.
(The pronoun "she" replaces the noun "Joanne.")
Our team has studied the evidence. We know the truth.
(The pronoun "we" replaces the noun phrase "our team.")
Jack and Jill went up the hill, but they never returned.
(The pronoun "they" replaces "Jack and Jill.")
That is clever!
(The pronoun "that" replaces the noun that names whatever the speaker is pointing at, a machine perhaps.)
(9) Verb
A verb identifies an action or state of being. Here are some examples of verbs:
work, be, write, exist
Examples of verbs in sentences:
Tony works down the pit now. He was unemployed.
(The verb "works" expresses an action. The verb "was" expresses a state of being.)
I will write a song for you.
(The verb "write" expresses an action.)
I think aliens exist.
(The verb "think" expresses an action (a mental action in this case). The verb "exist" expresses a state of being.)