Parts of Speech

By Prof. Mark McDowell, M.A.

(eslwideworld.com)

 

Nouns: Names persons, places, things, or abstract ideas

Henry

Canada

fork

love

 

Adjectives: Describes nouns or pronouns.

blue, big, dark, . . . (a, an, & the are special adjectives called articles)

 

Pronouns: Takes the place of nouns.

I, He, she, it, whatever, they, them, . . .

 

Verbs: Two types -- Tells either what a noun does (action verb) or its state of being (linking verb).?Verbs are conjugated into five classes: The first three are the principle forms.

Present

(I, you & plural)

past

past participle

present

participle

s-form

(singular form)

run

speak

live

ran

spoke

lived

ran

spoken

lived

running

speaking

living

runs

speaks

lives

 

Adverbs: Describes or answers a question about verbs, adverbs, and adjectives.?They express time, manner, place, or degree:

very, well, now, quickly      ? See adverb chart ?next page

 

Prepositions: Gives the relationship (spatial or temporal (time)) between two nouns:

in, by, to, on, since, . . .

 

Connecting words are prepositions and conjunctions.

Conjunctions: Joins words, phrases, or clauses:

and, but, because, nor, . . .   see table of conjunctions p. 57

 

Interjections: Expresses emotion:

wow!

Gee!

Oh my God!