Let’s look at all these categories of parts of speech with examples:
A name or title given to an object, person, group, or concept is known as a noun . It can either be the subject of a sentence (an individual who acts) or the object of the verb (receiver of the action).
Nouns can be further divided into common nouns (A generic term used to refer to somebody or something) and proper nouns (A specific name used to refer to an individual, place, or concept). The first letter of proper nouns has to always be capitalized, whereas the first letter of common nouns is only capitalized at the beginning of a sentence.
Other types of nouns include collective nouns, abstract nouns, and gerunds. Let’s look at the use of these nouns in a sentence.
To avoid repetition, pronouns are used as stand-ins for nouns. A pronoun is usually used to indicate a noun that is already mentioned. It can refer to people, places, objects, or concepts. Pronouns can further be divided into the following categories:
Let’s look at a few example sentences with these different types of pronouns:
A descriptive word that modifies a noun or pronoun is known as an adjective . It elaborates on characteristics and provides descriptions of the subject they modify. This may include physical characteristics, qualities, or quantity of the subject.
Adjectives can either be placed before or after nouns or pronouns. Here is an example:
My father gifted me a blue pen before my exams. It was a lovely pen with dark blue ink.
A word that indicates an action, an event, or a state of being is called a verb . It indicates the action the subject is performing by itself or on an object. A complete sentence must at least contain a subject and a verb.
Verbs can be altered according to the subject, tense, and tone of voice. They can further be divided into two categories:
Let’s take a look at examples of both these verbs:
Tara walked towards me and embraced me.
Jamil came to meet me.
An adverb is a descriptive word that gives more information about a verb, adjective, or another adverb. A rule of thumb to turn an adjective into an adverb is to simply add ly at the end. However, this rule is not applicable everywhere.
Adverbs can be further divided into the following types:
Here are a few examples of these adverbs in a sentence:
A conjunction is a word used to join two or more sentences, phrases, clauses, or words. There are three types of conjunctions :
Here are a few example sentences with all three types of conjunctions:
Most animals have a fight- or -flight response to potentially dangerous situations. (Coordinating conjunction)
Although it was snowing very heavily, the schools were still open. (Subordinating conjunction)
Both Trixie and Katya like to indulge in psychological thrillers. (Correlative conjunctions)
A preposition is a word or phrase that indicates the relationship of the noun or pronoun with the rest of the sentence. Prepositions can be used to indicate aspects of time, space, location, and direction. Here are a few example sentences with prepositions:
Sam is the head of the department.
Capybaras swim with their heads above the water.
Shall we meet by the river at 6 pm?
Interjections are exclamations that form a separate part of the sentence. They are used to indicate emotions such as awe, joy, pain, or hesitation. They can also be used as a command or a greeting. Here are some example sentences with interjections:
Wow! What a game.
Ouch! That hurt.
Psst! Do you have an extra pencil?
Hey! How are you today?
Shush! The baby is sleeping.
The following categories at one point were considered separate parts of speech, but are now more or less integrated with the other eight parts of speech. Let’s take a look.
Determiners are words that describe the qualities of a noun such as quantity, belonging as well as position. As per the traditional eight parts of speech, these are classified as adjectives or even pronouns.
Here are a few example sentences:
That is my chair.
Few people believe in the power of positive reinforcement.
We met plenty of tourists tourists in Bangkok, many of whom were from our city.
Articles are used to modify a noun to indicate if it is general or specific. There are two types of articles.
Here are some examples of these articles:
A cow was lazily grazing in the meadow.
He noticed that an eye of the pigeon was red.
Although articles can be classified as a separate part of speech, they are generally included under the category of determiners.
Certain words can function as multiple parts of speech depending on the way they’re used. Let’s look at a few example sentences with these words:
The word run can function as a verb, noun as well as an adjective depending on how it’s used. Here are a few example sentences with the word run used in different contexts.
Richard runs by the lake every morning. (Verb)
We should start going for evening runs together. (Noun)
Edgar scored the top grade but Violet certainly gave him a run for his money.(Adjective)
The word lead can function as a noun as well as an adjective. Here’s how it’s used in both these cases:
She is the only lead we have. (Noun)
The lead surgeon failed to show up for the operation. (Adjective)
Work can be used as a verb as well as a noun depending on the circumstances. Here are a few example sentences of work in both contexts:
I usually leave from work at 5:00 pm. (Noun)
You must work tirelessly to achieve success. (Verb)
These differences may seem trivial at first but are key to perfect writing. As editing and proofreading experts, we realize the importance of understanding grammar concepts for flawless writing.
We’ve created a useful list of resources to help you minimize such errors. We hope they help bring out the best in your words!
What are the eight parts of speech, how many parts of speech are there, eight or 9, how to identify parts of speech.
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General Education
If you’re trying to learn the grammatical rules of English, you’ve probably been asked to learn the parts of speech. But what are parts of speech and how many are there? How do you know which words are classified in each part of speech?
The answers to these questions can be a bit complicated—English is a difficult language to learn and understand. Don’t fret, though! We’re going to answer each of these questions for you with a full guide to the parts of speech that explains the following:
We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s begin!
Feature Image: (Gavina S / Wikimedia Commons)
The parts of speech definitions in English can vary, but here’s a widely accepted one: a part of speech is a category of words that serve a similar grammatical purpose in sentences.
To make that definition even simpler, a part of speech is just a category for similar types of words . All of the types of words included under a single part of speech function in similar ways when they’re used properly in sentences.
In the English language, it’s commonly accepted that there are 8 parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, interjections, and prepositions. Each of these categories plays a different role in communicating meaning in the English language. Each of the eight parts of speech—which we might also call the “main classes” of speech—also have subclasses. In other words, we can think of each of the eight parts of speech as being general categories for different types within their part of speech . There are different types of nouns, different types of verbs, different types of adjectives, adverbs, pronouns...you get the idea.
And that’s an overview of what a part of speech is! Next, we’ll explain each of the 8 parts of speech—definitions and examples included for each category.
There are tons of nouns in this picture. Can you find them all?
Nouns are a class of words that refer, generally, to people and living creatures, objects, events, ideas, states of being, places, and actions. You’ve probably heard English nouns referred to as “persons, places, or things.” That definition is a little simplistic, though—while nouns do include people, places, and things, “things” is kind of a vague term. I t’s important to recognize that “things” can include physical things—like objects or belongings—and nonphysical, abstract things—like ideas, states of existence, and actions.
Since there are many different types of nouns, we’ll include several examples of nouns used in a sentence while we break down the subclasses of nouns next!
As an open class of words, the category of “nouns” has a lot of subclasses. The most common and important subclasses of nouns are common nouns, proper nouns, concrete nouns, abstract nouns, collective nouns, and count and mass nouns. Let’s break down each of these subclasses!
Common nouns are generic nouns—they don’t name specific items. They refer to people (the man, the woman), living creatures (cat, bird), objects (pen, computer, car), events (party, work), ideas (culture, freedom), states of being (beauty, integrity), and places (home, neighborhood, country) in a general way.
Proper nouns are sort of the counterpart to common nouns. Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, events, or ideas. Names are the most obvious example of proper nouns, like in these two examples:
Common noun: What state are you from?
Proper noun: I’m from Arizona .
Whereas “state” is a common noun, Arizona is a proper noun since it refers to a specific state. Whereas “the election” is a common noun, “Election Day” is a proper noun. Another way to pick out proper nouns: the first letter is often capitalized. If you’d capitalize the word in a sentence, it’s almost always a proper noun.
Concrete nouns are nouns that can be identified through the five senses. Concrete nouns include people, living creatures, objects, and places, since these things can be sensed in the physical world. In contrast to concrete nouns, abstract nouns are nouns that identify ideas, qualities, concepts, experiences, or states of being. Abstract nouns cannot be detected by the five senses. Here’s an example of concrete and abstract nouns used in a sentence:
Concrete noun: Could you please fix the weedeater and mow the lawn ?
Abstract noun: Aliyah was delighted to have the freedom to enjoy the art show in peace .
See the difference? A weedeater and the lawn are physical objects or things, and freedom and peace are not physical objects, though they’re “things” people experience! Despite those differences, they all count as nouns.
Nouns are often categorized based on number and amount. Collective nouns are nouns that refer to a group of something—often groups of people or a type of animal. Team , crowd , and herd are all examples of collective nouns.
Count nouns are nouns that can appear in the singular or plural form, can be modified by numbers, and can be described by quantifying determiners (e.g. many, most, more, several). For example, “bug” is a count noun. It can occur in singular form if you say, “There is a bug in the kitchen,” but it can also occur in the plural form if you say, “There are many bugs in the kitchen.” (In the case of the latter, you’d call an exterminator...which is an example of a common noun!) Any noun that can accurately occur in one of these singular or plural forms is a count noun.
Mass nouns are another type of noun that involve numbers and amount. Mass nouns are nouns that usually can’t be pluralized, counted, or quantified and still make sense grammatically. “Charisma” is an example of a mass noun (and an abstract noun!). For example, you could say, “They’ve got charisma, ” which doesn’t imply a specific amount. You couldn’t say, “They’ve got six charismas, ” or, “They’ve got several charismas .” It just doesn’t make sense!
Verbs are all about action...just like these runners.
A verb is a part of speech that, when used in a sentence, communicates an action, an occurrence, or a state of being . In sentences, verbs are the most important part of the predicate, which explains or describes what the subject of the sentence is doing or how they are being. And, guess what? All sentences contain verbs!
There are many words in the English language that are classified as verbs. A few common verbs include the words run, sing, cook, talk, and clean. These words are all verbs because they communicate an action performed by a living being. We’ll look at more specific examples of verbs as we discuss the subclasses of verbs next!
Like nouns, verbs have several subclasses. The subclasses of verbs include copular or linking verbs, intransitive verbs, transitive verbs, and ditransitive or double transitive verbs. Let’s dive into these subclasses of verbs!
Copular verbs, or linking verbs, are verbs that link a subject with its complement in a sentence. The most familiar linking verb is probably be. Here’s a list of other common copular verbs in English: act, be, become, feel, grow, seem, smell, and taste.
So how do copular verbs work? Well, in a sentence, if we said, “Michi is ,” and left it at that, it wouldn’t make any sense. “Michi,” the subject, needs to be connected to a complement by the copular verb “is.” Instead, we could say, “Michi is leaving.” In that instance, is links the subject of the sentence to its complement.
Transitive verbs are verbs that affect or act upon an object. When unattached to an object in a sentence, a transitive verb does not make sense. Here’s an example of a transitive verb attached to (and appearing before) an object in a sentence:
Please take the clothes to the dry cleaners.
In this example, “take” is a transitive verb because it requires an object—”the clothes”—to make sense. “The clothes” are the objects being taken. “Please take” wouldn’t make sense by itself, would it? That’s because the transitive verb “take,” like all transitive verbs, transfers its action onto another being or object.
Conversely, intransitive verbs don’t require an object to act upon in order to make sense in a sentence. These verbs make sense all on their own! For instance, “They ran ,” “We arrived ,” and, “The car stopped ” are all examples of sentences that contain intransitive verbs.
Finally, ditransitive verbs, or double transitive verbs, are a bit more complicated. Ditransitive verbs are verbs that are followed by two objects in a sentence . One of the objects has the action of the ditransitive verb done to it, and the other object has the action of the ditransitive verb directed towards it. Here’s an example of what that means in a sentence:
I cooked Nathan a meal.
In this example, “cooked” is a ditransitive verb because it modifies two objects: Nathan and meal . The meal has the action of “cooked” done to it, and “Nathan” has the action of the verb directed towards him.
Adjectives are descriptors that help us better understand a sentence. A common adjective type is color.
Here’s the simplest definition of adjectives: adjectives are words that describe other words . Specifically, adjectives modify nouns and noun phrases. In sentences, adjectives appear before nouns and pronouns (they have to appear before the words they describe!).
Adjectives give more detail to nouns and pronouns by describing how a noun looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels, or its state of being or existence. . For example, you could say, “The girl rode her bike.” That sentence doesn’t have any adjectives in it, but you could add an adjective before both of the nouns in the sentence—”girl” and “bike”—to give more detail to the sentence. It might read like this: “The young girl rode her red bike.” You can pick out adjectives in a sentence by asking the following questions:
We’ll look at more examples of adjectives as we explore the subclasses of adjectives next!
Subclasses of adjectives include adjective phrases, comparative adjectives, superlative adjectives, and determiners (which include articles, possessive adjectives, and demonstratives).
An adjective phrase is a group of words that describe a noun or noun phrase in a sentence. Adjective phrases can appear before the noun or noun phrase in a sentence, like in this example:
The extremely fragile vase somehow did not break during the move.
In this case, extremely fragile describes the vase. On the other hand, adjective phrases can appear after the noun or noun phrase in a sentence as well:
The museum was somewhat boring.
Again, the phrase somewhat boring describes the museum. The takeaway is this: adjective phrases describe the subject of a sentence with greater detail than an individual adjective.
Comparative adjectives are used in sentences where two nouns are compared. They function to compare the differences between the two nouns that they modify. In sentences, comparative adjectives often appear in this pattern and typically end with -er. If we were to describe how comparative adjectives function as a formula, it might look something like this:
Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).
Here’s an example of how a comparative adjective would work in that type of sentence:
The horse was faster than the dog.
The adjective faster compares the speed of the horse to the speed of the dog. Other common comparative adjectives include words that compare distance ( higher, lower, farther ), age ( younger, older ), size and dimensions ( bigger, smaller, wider, taller, shorter ), and quality or feeling ( better, cleaner, happier, angrier ).
Superlative adjectives are adjectives that describe the extremes of a quality that applies to a subject being compared to a group of objects . Put more simply, superlative adjectives help show how extreme something is. In sentences, superlative adjectives usually appear in this structure and end in -est :
Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).
Here’s an example of a superlative adjective that appears in that type of sentence:
Their story was the funniest story.
In this example, the subject— story —is being compared to a group of objects—other stories. The superlative adjective “funniest” implies that this particular story is the funniest out of all the stories ever, period. Other common superlative adjectives are best, worst, craziest, and happiest... though there are many more than that!
It’s also important to know that you can often omit the object from the end of the sentence when using superlative adjectives, like this: “Their story was the funniest.” We still know that “their story” is being compared to other stories without the object at the end of the sentence.
The last subclass of adjectives we want to look at are determiners. Determiners are words that determine what kind of reference a noun or noun phrase makes. These words are placed in front of nouns to make it clear what the noun is referring to. Determiners are an example of a part of speech subclass that contains a lot of subclasses of its own. Here is a list of the different types of determiners:
Here are some examples of how determiners can be used in sentences:
Definite article: Get in the car.
Demonstrative: Could you hand me that magazine?
Possessive determiner: Please put away your clothes.
Distributive: He ate all of the pie.
Though some of the words above might not seem descriptive, they actually do describe the specificity and definiteness, relationship, and quantity or amount of a noun or noun phrase. For example, the definite article “the” (a type of determiner) indicates that a noun refers to a specific thing or entity. The indefinite article “an,” on the other hand, indicates that a noun refers to a nonspecific entity.
One quick note, since English is always more complicated than it seems: while articles are most commonly classified as adjectives, they can also function as adverbs in specific situations, too. Not only that, some people are taught that determiners are their own part of speech...which means that some people are taught there are 9 parts of speech instead of 8!
It can be a little confusing, which is why we have a whole article explaining how articles function as a part of speech to help clear things up .
Adverbs can be used to answer questions like "when?" and "how long?"
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives (including determiners), clauses, prepositions, and sentences. Adverbs typically answer the questions how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent? In answering these questions, adverbs function to express frequency, degree, manner, time, place, and level of certainty . Adverbs can answer these questions in the form of single words, or in the form of adverbial phrases or adverbial clauses.
Adverbs are commonly known for being words that end in -ly, but there’s actually a bit more to adverbs than that, which we’ll dive into while we look at the subclasses of adverbs!
There are many types of adverbs, but the main subclasses we’ll look at are conjunctive adverbs, and adverbs of place, time, manner, degree, and frequency.
Conjunctive adverbs look like coordinating conjunctions (which we’ll talk about later!), but they are actually their own category: conjunctive adverbs are words that connect independent clauses into a single sentence . These adverbs appear after a semicolon and before a comma in sentences, like in these two examples:
She was exhausted; nevertheless , she went for a five mile run.
They didn’t call; instead , they texted.
Though conjunctive adverbs are frequently used to create shorter sentences using a semicolon and comma, they can also appear at the beginning of sentences, like this:
He chopped the vegetables. Meanwhile, I boiled the pasta.
One thing to keep in mind is that conjunctive adverbs come with a comma. When you use them, be sure to include a comma afterward!
There are a lot of conjunctive adverbs, but some common ones include also, anyway, besides, finally, further, however, indeed, instead, meanwhile, nevertheless, next, nonetheless, now, otherwise, similarly, then, therefore, and thus.
There are also adverbs of place, time, manner, degree, and frequency. Each of these types of adverbs express a different kind of meaning.
Adverbs of place express where an action is done or where an event occurs. These are used after the verb, direct object, or at the end of a sentence. A sentence like “She walked outside to watch the sunset” uses outside as an adverb of place.
Adverbs of time explain when something happens. These adverbs are used at the beginning or at the end of sentences. In a sentence like “The game should be over soon,” soon functions as an adverb of time.
Adverbs of manner describe the way in which something is done or how something happens. These are the adverbs that usually end in the familiar -ly. If we were to write “She quickly finished her homework,” quickly is an adverb of manner.
Adverbs of degree tell us the extent to which something happens or occurs. If we were to say “The play was quite interesting,” quite tells us the extent of how interesting the play was. Thus, quite is an adverb of degree.
Finally, adverbs of frequency express how often something happens . In a sentence like “They never know what to do with themselves,” never is an adverb of frequency.
Five subclasses of adverbs is a lot, so we’ve organized the words that fall under each category in a nifty table for you here:
It’s important to know about these subclasses of adverbs because many of them don’t follow the old adage that adverbs end in -ly.
Here's a helpful list of pronouns. (Attanata / Flickr )
Pronouns are words that can be substituted for a noun or noun phrase in a sentence . Pronouns function to make sentences less clunky by allowing people to avoid repeating nouns over and over. For example, if you were telling someone a story about your friend Destiny, you wouldn’t keep repeating their name over and over again every time you referred to them. Instead, you’d use a pronoun—like they or them—to refer to Destiny throughout the story.
Pronouns are typically short words, often only two or three letters long. The most familiar pronouns in the English language are they, she, and he. But these aren’t the only pronouns. There are many more pronouns in English that fall under different subclasses!
There are many subclasses of pronouns, but the most commonly used subclasses are personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, and interrogative pronouns.
Personal pronouns are probably the most familiar type of pronoun. Personal pronouns include I, me, you, she, her, him, he, we, us, they, and them. These are called personal pronouns because they refer to a person! Personal pronouns can replace specific nouns in sentences, like a person’s name, or refer to specific groups of people, like in these examples:
Did you see Gia pole vault at the track meet? Her form was incredible!
The Cycling Club is meeting up at six. They said they would be at the park.
In both of the examples above, a pronoun stands in for a proper noun to avoid repetitiveness. Her replaces Gia in the first example, and they replaces the Cycling Club in the second example.
(It’s also worth noting that personal pronouns are one of the easiest ways to determine what point of view a writer is using.)
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate that something belongs to or is the possession of someone. The possessive pronouns fall into two categories: limiting and absolute. In a sentence, absolute possessive pronouns can be substituted for the thing that belongs to a person, and limiting pronouns cannot.
The limiting pronouns are my, your, its, his, her, our, their, and whose, and the absolute pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs . Here are examples of a limiting possessive pronoun and absolute possessive pronoun used in a sentence:
Limiting possessive pronoun: Juan is fixing his car.
In the example above, the car belongs to Juan, and his is the limiting possessive pronoun that shows the car belongs to Juan. Now, here’s an example of an absolute pronoun in a sentence:
Absolute possessive pronoun: Did you buy your tickets ? We already bought ours .
In this example, the tickets belong to whoever we is, and in the second sentence, ours is the absolute possessive pronoun standing in for the thing that “we” possess—the tickets.
Demonstrative pronouns include the words that, this, these, and those. These pronouns stand in for a noun or noun phrase that has already been mentioned in a sentence or conversation. This and these are typically used to refer to objects or entities that are nearby distance-wise, and that and those usually refer to objects or entities that are farther away. Here’s an example of a demonstrative pronoun used in a sentence:
The books are stacked up in the garage. Can you put those away?
The books have already been mentioned, and those is the demonstrative pronoun that stands in to refer to them in the second sentence above. The use of those indicates that the books aren’t nearby—they’re out in the garage. Here’s another example:
Do you need shoes? Here...you can borrow these.
In this sentence, these refers to the noun shoes. Using the word these tells readers that the shoes are nearby...maybe even on the speaker’s feet!
Indefinite pronouns are used when it isn’t necessary to identify a specific person or thing . The indefinite pronouns are one, other, none, some, anybody, everybody, and no one. Here’s one example of an indefinite pronoun used in a sentence:
Promise you can keep a secret?
Of course. I won’t tell anyone.
In this example, the person speaking in the second two sentences isn’t referring to any particular people who they won’t tell the secret to. They’re saying that, in general, they won’t tell anyone . That doesn’t specify a specific number, type, or category of people who they won’t tell the secret to, which is what makes the pronoun indefinite.
Finally, interrogative pronouns are used in questions, and these pronouns include who, what, which, and whose. These pronouns are simply used to gather information about specific nouns—persons, places, and ideas. Let’s look at two examples of interrogative pronouns used in sentences:
Do you remember which glass was mine?
What time are they arriving?
In the first glass, the speaker wants to know more about which glass belongs to whom. In the second sentence, the speaker is asking for more clarity about a specific time.
Conjunctions hook phrases and clauses together so they fit like pieces of a puzzle.
Conjunctions are words that are used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences in the English language. This function allows conjunctions to connect actions, ideas, and thoughts as well. Conjunctions are also used to make lists within sentences. (Conjunctions are also probably the most famous part of speech, since they were immortalized in the famous “Conjunction Junction” song from Schoolhouse Rock .)
You’re probably familiar with and, but, and or as conjunctions, but let’s look into some subclasses of conjunctions so you can learn about the array of conjunctions that are out there!
Coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions are three subclasses of conjunctions. Each of these types of conjunctions functions in a different way in sentences!
Coordinating conjunctions are probably the most familiar type of conjunction. These conjunctions include the words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (people often recommend using the acronym FANBOYS to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions!).
Coordinating conjunctions are responsible for connecting two independent clauses in sentences, but can also be used to connect two words in a sentence. Here are two examples of coordinating conjunctions that connect two independent clauses in a sentence:
He wanted to go to the movies, but he couldn’t find his car keys.
They put on sunscreen, and they went to the beach.
Next, here are two examples of coordinating conjunctions that connect two words:
Would you like to cook or order in for dinner?
The storm was loud yet refreshing.
The two examples above show that coordinating conjunctions can connect different types of words as well. In the first example, the coordinating conjunction “or” connects two verbs; in the second example, the coordinating conjunction “yet” connects two adjectives.
But wait! Why does the first set of sentences have commas while the second set of sentences doesn’t? When using a coordinating conjunction, put a comma before the conjunction when it’s connecting two complete sentences . Otherwise, there’s no comma necessary.
Subordinating conjunctions are used to link an independent clause to a dependent clause in a sentence. This type of conjunction always appears at the beginning of a dependent clause, which means that subordinating conjunctions can appear at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle of a sentence following an independent clause. (If you’re unsure about what independent and dependent clauses are, be sure to check out our guide to compound sentences.)
Here is an example of a subordinating conjunction that appears at the beginning of a sentence:
Because we were hungry, we ordered way too much food.
Now, here’s an example of a subordinating conjunction that appears in the middle of a sentence, following an independent clause and a comma:
Rakim was scared after the power went out.
See? In the example above, the subordinating conjunction after connects the independent clause Rakim was scared to the dependent clause after the power went out. Subordinating conjunctions include (but are not limited to!) the following words: after, as, because, before, even though, one, since, unless, until, whenever, and while.
Finally, correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that come in pairs, like both/and, either/or, and neither/nor. The two correlative conjunctions that come in a pair must appear in different parts of a sentence to make sense— they correlate the meaning in one part of the sentence with the meaning in another part of the sentence . Makes sense, right?
Here are two examples of correlative conjunctions used in a sentence:
We’re either going to the Farmer’s Market or the Natural Grocer’s for our shopping today.
They’re going to have to get dog treats for both Piper and Fudge.
Other pairs of correlative conjunctions include as many/as, not/but, not only/but also, rather/than, such/that, and whether/or.
Interjections are single words that express emotions that end in an exclamation point. Cool!
Interjections are words that often appear at the beginning of sentences or between sentences to express emotions or sentiments such as excitement, surprise, joy, disgust, anger, or even pain. Commonly used interjections include wow!, yikes!, ouch!, or ugh! One clue that an interjection is being used is when an exclamation point appears after a single word (but interjections don’t have to be followed by an exclamation point). And, since interjections usually express emotion or feeling, they’re often referred to as being exclamatory. Wow!
Interjections don’t come together with other parts of speech to form bigger grammatical units, like phrases or clauses. There also aren’t strict rules about where interjections should appear in relation to other sentences . While it’s common for interjections to appear before sentences that describe an action or event that the interjection helps explain, interjections can appear after sentences that contain the action they’re describing as well.
There are two main subclasses of interjections: primary interjections and secondary interjections. Let’s take a look at these two types of interjections!
Primary interjections are single words, like oh!, wow!, or ouch! that don’t enter into the actual structure of a sentence but add to the meaning of a sentence. Here’s an example of how a primary interjection can be used before a sentence to add to the meaning of the sentence that follows it:
Ouch ! I just burned myself on that pan!
While someone who hears, I just burned myself on that pan might assume that the person who said that is now in pain, the interjection Ouch! makes it clear that burning oneself on the pan definitely was painful.
Secondary interjections are words that have other meanings but have evolved to be used like interjections in the English language and are often exclamatory. Secondary interjections can be mixed with greetings, oaths, or swear words. In many cases, the use of secondary interjections negates the original meaning of the word that is being used as an interjection. Let’s look at a couple of examples of secondary interjections here:
Well , look what the cat dragged in!
Heck, I’d help if I could, but I’ve got to get to work.
You probably know that the words well and heck weren’t originally used as interjections in the English language. Well originally meant that something was done in a good or satisfactory way, or that a person was in good health. Over time and through repeated usage, it’s come to be used as a way to express emotion, such as surprise, anger, relief, or resignation, like in the example above.
This is a handy list of common prepositional phrases. (attanatta / Flickr)
The last part of speech we’re going to define is the preposition. Prepositions are words that are used to connect other words in a sentence—typically nouns and verbs—and show the relationship between those words. Prepositions convey concepts such as comparison, position, place, direction, movement, time, possession, and how an action is completed.
The subclasses of prepositions are simple prepositions, double prepositions, participle prepositions, and prepositional phrases.
Simple prepositions appear before and between nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences to convey relationships between people, living creatures, things, or places . Here are a couple of examples of simple prepositions used in sentences:
I’ll order more ink before we run out.
Your phone was beside your wallet.
In the first example, the preposition before appears between the noun ink and the personal pronoun we to convey a relationship. In the second example, the preposition beside appears between the verb was and the possessive pronoun your.
In both examples, though, the prepositions help us understand how elements in the sentence are related to one another. In the first sentence, we know that the speaker currently has ink but needs more before it’s gone. In the second sentence, the preposition beside helps us understand how the wallet and the phone are positioned relative to one another!
Double prepositions are exactly what they sound like: two prepositions joined together into one unit to connect phrases, nouns, and pronouns with other words in a sentence. Common examples of double prepositions include outside of, because of, according to, next to, across from, and on top of. Here is an example of a double preposition in a sentence:
I thought you were sitting across from me.
You see? Across and from both function as prepositions individually. When combined together in a sentence, they create a double preposition. (Also note that the prepositions help us understand how two people— you and I— are positioned with one another through spacial relationship.)
Finally, prepositional phrases are groups of words that include a preposition and a noun or pronoun. Typically, the noun or pronoun that appears after the preposition in a prepositional phrase is called the object of the preposition. The object always appears at the end of the prepositional phrase. Additionally, prepositional phrases never include a verb or a subject. Here are two examples of prepositional phrases:
The cat sat under the chair .
In the example above, “under” is the preposition, and “the chair” is the noun, which functions as the object of the preposition. Here’s one more example:
We walked through the overgrown field .
Now, this example demonstrates one more thing you need to know about prepositional phrases: they can include an adjective before the object. In this example, “through” is the preposition, and “field” is the object. “Overgrown” is an adjective that modifies “the field,” and it’s quite common for adjectives to appear in prepositional phrases like the one above.
While that might sound confusing, don’t worry: the key is identifying the preposition in the first place! Once you can find the preposition, you can start looking at the words around it to see if it forms a compound preposition, a double preposition of a prepositional phrase.
Since we’ve covered a lot of material about the 8 parts of speech with examples ( a lot of them!), we want to give you an opportunity to review and see what you’ve learned! While it might seem easier to just use a parts of speech finder instead of learning all this stuff, our parts of speech quiz can help you continue building your knowledge of the 8 parts of speech and master each one.
Are you ready? Here we go:
1) What are the 8 parts of speech?
a) Noun, article, adverb, antecedent, verb, adjective, conjunction, interjection b) Noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, determiner, clause, adjective, preposition c) Noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, conjunction, interjection, preposition
2) Which parts of speech have subclasses?
a) Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs b) Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions c) All of them! There are many types of words within each part of speech.
3) What is the difference between common nouns and proper nouns?
a) Common nouns don’t refer to specific people, places, or entities, but proper nouns do refer to specific people, places, or entities. b) Common nouns refer to regular, everyday people, places, or entities, but proper nouns refer to famous people, places, or entities. c) Common nouns refer to physical entities, like people, places, and objects, but proper nouns refer to nonphysical entities, like feelings, ideas, and experiences.
4) In which of the following sentences is the emboldened word a verb?
a) He was frightened by the horror film . b) He adjusted his expectations after the first plan fell through. c) She walked briskly to get there on time.
5) Which of the following is a correct definition of adjectives, and what other part of speech do adjectives modify?
a) Adjectives are describing words, and they modify nouns and noun phrases. b) Adjectives are describing words, and they modify verbs and adverbs. c) Adjectives are describing words, and they modify nouns, verbs, and adverbs.
6) Which of the following describes the function of adverbs in sentences?
a) Adverbs express frequency, degree, manner, time, place, and level of certainty. b) Adverbs express an action performed by a subject. c) Adverbs describe nouns and noun phrases.
7) Which of the following answers contains a list of personal pronouns?
a) This, that, these, those b) I, you, me, we, he, she, him, her, they, them c) Who, what, which, whose
8) Where do interjections typically appear in a sentence?
a) Interjections can appear at the beginning of or in between sentences. b) Interjections appear at the end of sentences. c) Interjections appear in prepositional phrases.
9) Which of the following sentences contains a prepositional phrase?
a) The dog happily wagged his tail. b) The cow jumped over the moon. c) She glared, angry that he forgot the flowers.
10) Which of the following is an accurate definition of a “part of speech”?
a) A category of words that serve a similar grammatical purpose in sentences. b) A category of words that are of similar length and spelling. c) A category of words that mean the same thing.
So, how did you do? If you got 1C, 2C, 3A, 4B, 5A, 6A, 7B, 8A, 9B, and 10A, you came out on top! There’s a lot to remember where the parts of speech are concerned, and if you’re looking for more practice like our quiz, try looking around for parts of speech games or parts of speech worksheets online!
You might be brushing up on your grammar so you can ace the verbal portions of the SAT or ACT. Be sure you check out our guides to the grammar you need to know before you tackle those tests! Here’s our expert guide to the grammar rules you need to know for the SAT , and this article teaches you the 14 grammar rules you’ll definitely see on the ACT.
When you have a good handle on parts of speech, it can make writing essays tons easier. Learn how knowing parts of speech can help you get a perfect 12 on the ACT Essay (or an 8/8/8 on the SAT Essay ).
While we’re on the topic of grammar: keep in mind that knowing grammar rules is only part of the battle when it comes to the verbal and written portions of the SAT and ACT. Having a good vocabulary is also important to making the perfect score ! Here are 262 vocabulary words you need to know before you tackle your standardized tests.
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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.
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Posted on Last updated: December 22, 2023
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Understanding the eight parts of speech is like unlocking the building blocks of language. We all use words every day, often without considering their specific roles in our sentences. By delving into the eight parts of speech, we gain the tools to express ourselves beautifully and powerfully.
Table of Contents
Nouns are the building blocks of sentences, naming everything from people and places to feelings and ideas. Let’s explore the different types of nouns that give substance to our language.
Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are used to name specific, one-of-a-kind items and are always capitalized to signify their uniqueness. Examples include:
Common Nouns
Common nouns are the general names for things and aren’t capitalized unless they start a sentence. These include:
Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns represent ideas or concepts that are not tangible or can’t be experienced with the five senses. We use them to describe feelings, qualities, and states, such as:
Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns are the opposite of abstract nouns; they name anything that can be experienced with our senses. Some examples are:
Through these categories, we see how nouns serve as the cornerstone for expressing everything we discuss, narrate, and describe in our language.
In our examination of the eight parts of speech, we turn our focus to pronouns, essential tools in language that stand in for nouns and keep our sentences fresh and less repetitive.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns are the ones we use to designate specific people or things. They can take on different forms depending on case, whether it’s the subject or object in the sentence, and number, singular or plural. For example, in the first person singular, we use “I” for the subject case and “me” for the object case. Here’s a simple table for reference:
Subject (Singular) | Object (Singular) | Subject (Plural) | Object (Plural) |
---|---|---|---|
I | me | we | us |
you | you | you | you |
he/she/it | him/her/it | they | them |
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns, these helpful words, point to specific things and typically vary depending on the proximity to the speaker. For objects near us, we use “this” for singular and “these” for plural. For objects farther away, “that” for singular and “those” for plural take their place.
Interrogative Pronouns
When we’re forming questions about people or objects, we use interrogative pronouns. The main interrogative pronouns are “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “what.” We use “who” and “whom” for asking about people, where “who” is in the subject case, and “whom” in the object case.
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns show ownership and are quite handy for avoiding repetition. They must match the number and sometimes gender of the noun being replaced. Some examples are “his,” “hers,” “its,” “ours,” “yours,” and “theirs.” Unlike possessive adjectives, these pronouns stand alone and do not precede the noun. Here’s a quick list:
Remember, pronouns are incredibly useful in our language, allowing us to maintain clarity while avoiding redundancy.
In our exploration of the parts of speech, we come to verbs, the words that express action or state of being in a sentence. They are essential for constructing meaningful statements, as they serve as the backbone of a sentence’s structure.
Action Verbs
Action verbs are the muscle of a sentence, driving forward the things characters and subjects do. Examples include run , jump , and think . These verbs can show physical actions like run , mental actions like think , or emotional states like love .
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs act like a bridge, connecting a subject to more information about it. These verbs do not represent action. Instead, they link the subject to a subject complement, which can be a noun or adjective that describes the subject. Common linking verbs include is , are , and seems .
Auxiliary Verbs
We use auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, to alter the mood, tense, or voice of the main verb in a sentence. They are the support system that expands the meaning of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “We have finished our project,” the word “ have ” is an auxiliary verb to the main verb finished . Auxiliary verbs include forms of be , have , and do .
Adjectives are words that modify nouns or pronouns by giving additional information about them such as quality, quantity, or identity. They are an essential tool we use to create vivid descriptions and provide specific details in our sentences.
Descriptive Adjectives
Descriptive adjectives are the words we use to describe a noun’s characteristics, such as color, size, shape, texture, feeling, sound, and more. They help us paint a clearer picture of the things we’re talking about. For example:
Quantitative Adjectives
Quantitative adjectives specify the quantity of nouns, giving us an idea of ‘how many’ or ‘how much’. These can be exact numbers or words that denote amounts that can be measured or estimated. For instance:
Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives point out particular nouns. We use them to demonstrate or indicate which one we’re referring to, especially when it’s clear from the context which noun the speaker means. They are often used in phrases like:
Adverbs play an integral role in adding detail to our sentences by modifying verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or even whole sentences. They answer questions like how, when, where, and to what extent. Now, let’s look closer at the adverbs of manner, time, and place.
Adverbs of Manner
These adverbs describe how an action is performed. They can often be spotted by their -ly ending, although there are exceptions. For instance, in “She sings beautifully,” the word ‘beautifully’ explains how she sings. Here’s a quick list of examples:
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time provide information about when something happens. They can refer to a specific time like ‘yesterday’ or ‘later’, or suggest frequency like ‘often’ or ‘always’. Here’s a mini-table to explain:
Yesterday | We met yesterday. |
Soon | We should see the results soon. |
Frequently | We visit the cafe frequently. |
Adverbs of Place
Lastly, adverbs of place tell us where an action takes place. These don’t follow a specific pattern in their formation. Words like ‘here’, ‘there’, and ‘everywhere’ are some of the various adverbs of place. We use them as in:
Prepositions are the words that connect the elements of a sentence, indicating relationships between different entities such as place, time, and movement. They help us give our listeners or readers a clearer picture of what we are trying to communicate.
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time describe when something happens. We use at for specific times, in for months, years, centuries, and long periods, and on for days and dates. Here’s how we might use them in sentences:
Prepositions of Place
When we talk about the location of something, we rely on prepositions of place to provide clarity. At indicates a specific point, in is used for enclosed spaces, and on shows a surface. Examples include:
Prepositions of Movement
To describe the direction of an action, we use prepositions of movement. To indicates direction towards something, into signifies movement from the outside to the inside of an enclosed space, and through demonstrates going from one side to another. Here’s how they work:
Conjunctions are the glue that holds sentences together, allowing us to combine words, phrases, and clauses to add complexity and clarity to our ideas.
Coordinating Conjunctions
We use coordinating conjunctions to join individual words, phrases, or independent clauses that are of equal grammatical importance. The acronym FANBOYS can help us remember them: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So . Here’s how we might use them in sentences:
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions help us link a dependent clause to an independent clause, giving us the means to show time, contrast, cause, and condition. Some common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, while, and if . Examples include:
Interjections are expressive words that we use to convey emotion or exclamation, often standing apart from standard sentences. Think of them as spontaneous sound bytes that capture our immediate reactions. They are unique in that they can often stand alone or be inserted into a sentence without affecting its grammatical structure.
Here’s a simple way to categorize interjections:
We use interjections to:
Remember, interjections often stand out because of their punctuation. While they typically end with an exclamation point, they can sometimes be followed by a comma or another punctuation mark if they’re part of a sentence.
When it comes to writing, use them sparingly. Since they pack a punch of emotion or emphasis, too many interjections can overwhelm our message and distract readers.
Here’s a quick run-down of how you might find interjections in sentences:
Interjections are lively and fun, giving us the freedom to express ourselves vividly and with emotional flair!
Exercise 1: identify the part of speech.
Read each sentence and identify the part of speech for the highlighted word. Choose from noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, or interjection.
Choose a word from the list that fits the correct part of speech to fill in the blank. The parts of speech you need to choose from are noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.
List: quickly, joy, and, blue, she, under, wow, runs, their, but
Can you explain the different types of nouns found in the English language?
Nouns in English are categorized primarily into two types: common nouns and proper nouns. Common nouns refer to general items, such as ‘city’ or ‘dog’, while proper nouns name specific ones, like ‘New York’ or ‘Rover’. Additionally, there are concrete nouns for physical objects, abstract nouns for ideas or qualities, and collective nouns that represent groups.
Could you provide some examples of sentences that include all 8 parts of speech?
Certainly! Here’s a sentence that includes all eight parts of speech: “Surprisingly, she loudly declared, ‘Wow, our diligent study pays off!’, as the teacher promptly handed out the results.” In this sentence, you’ll find an adverb (surprisingly), pronoun (she), verb (declared), interjection (wow), possessive adjective (our), adjective (diligent), noun (study), and a preposition (off).
What are the common functions of each part of speech in a sentence?
In a sentence, nouns name entities; pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition; verbs express actions or states; adjectives describe or qualify nouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs; prepositions show relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words; conjunctions connect words or groups of words; and interjections express emotions.
Where can I find a chart or diagram that clearly shows the 8 parts of speech?
Charts or diagrams illustrating the eight parts of speech can often be found in English grammar textbooks or online educational resources. They provide a visual guide to understanding how each part of speech fits into sentence structure.
Friday 21st of July 2023
thank you so much. It helped a lot for my exams
Monday 24th of October 2022
Thanks again for telling and bringing it out
Friday 23rd of September 2022
Wednesday 13th of October 2021
Teagan Alexander
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
This helped me in class. Thank you????????
Home » 8 Parts of Speech with Types, Definitions and their Examples
Are you curious to Speak or Learn the English Language? well, Every word in the English language is referred to as a component of speech. The 8 parts of speech are Nouns , Pronouns, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. we will go over the Common Eight parts of speech in this tutorial, along with their definitions, types, and Examples. This is the article on the different 8 parts of speech and Their examples and definitions as well as Example Sentences.
The 8 parts of speech are the regular grammar categories to which words are allocated based on their functions of syntax, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and so on. Stated differently, they talk about the varied roles that words might play in a sentence and the connections that words have to one another as defined by syntax and grammar .
Every single English word can be classified into one of the eight components of speech. A word’s part of speech is the purpose it fulfills in a sentence. These jobs were also designed to work as a team, much like any workplace or ensemble cast television series.
Also Check:
Table of Contents
Before delving into the specifics, let’s clarify what we mean by a “Part of speech.” In English grammar, a part of speech is a category of main and a lot of words. These types of categories help us to understand how the words we use and Speak within the daily life Conversation.
Names of 8 Parts of speech
Noun: the foundation of sentences.
Eight parts of Speech and their Types, Definition and Examples
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The Author is a Certified TEFL Trainer from Arizona State University having experience of 7 years in teaching English worldwide to the students with diverse culture. He is a passionate English language trainer by both profession and passion.
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Speaking and writing in any language involves using different parts of speech. Understanding what these parts are and how to use them correctly is important for effective communication. In English, there are 8 parts of speech, which include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. In this article, we will explore each of these parts of speech in detail, along with their definitions and examples. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the role and importance of the 8 parts of speech in English.
Content Guide
Parts of speech, also known as word classes, are categories that describe the role a word plays in a sentence. These categories help us understand how words work within sentences and how they relate to one another. In essence, parts of speech are a set of general rules that help us to form sentences that are clear, logical, and expressive. There are a total of 8 parts of speech in the English language, and each has its own set of rules.
The 8 parts of speech are:
The following chart lists the 8 parts of speech—along with brief descriptions and examples.
It’s time to explore them in detail. So, let’s go ahead and learn the 8 parts of speech with definitions and examples.
A noun is a word that refers to a person, animal, place, idea, or thing. For example, John, cat, dog, table, house, office, etc. In English, nouns come in many different forms, including proper nouns, which are names that refer to people or places; descriptive nouns, which describe things; and common nouns, which are words that are used to refer to a wide range of things.
Common nouns are often used to refer to everyday objects, such as “chair,” “table,” and “door.” Other common nouns are used to refer to abstract concepts, such as “love,” “hate,” and “peace.” Nouns can also be singular, plural, and neuter. A singular noun refers to one person or thing, while a plural noun refers to more than one person or thing. A neuter noun is used to refer to something that isn’t either a person or a thing.
Let’s see some examples of nouns in sentences:
Person- Her name is Amy . Place – This park is so crowded. Thing- You never sit on this chair . Animal – They have a dog .
Pronouns are words that we use to replace nouns in sentences that refer to people, animals, objects, or places. Pronouns help us to avoid the repetition of nouns while we speak or write. Words such as he, she, it, I, you, we, they, them, etc. are pronouns.
Let’s consider this paragraph without using pronouns:
Amy always wakes up early in the morning. Amy goes to the office and comes back in the afternoon. In the evening, Amy cooks dinner. After having dinner Amy goes to bed. This is Amy’s daily routine.
Did you find it a bit repetitive?
Now, when we replace the noun with pronouns, the paragraph becomes more engaging:
Amy always wakes up early in the morning. She goes to the office and comes back in the afternoon. She cooks dinner in the evening. And, after dinner, she goes to bed. This is her routine.
In this case, ‘She’ and ‘her’ are the pronouns we used instead of repeatedly mentioning Amy’s name.
Adjectives are words used to describe the person, place, or thing that a noun refers to. Adjectives are often used to add extra information about a noun. It can be used to describe a person’s age, gender, or personality. Adjectives are also used to describe the quality of a noun, such as its size, shape, or color. Some examples of adjectives are tall, short, good, bad, beautiful, large, funny, sad, etc.
Let’s see some examples of adjectives in sentences:
You look beautiful in this dress. It’s pleasant weather today. He is a kind person. She looks sad today. The movie we watched yesterday was engaging .
A verb is a word that describes specific actions, or an action that is being performed. They are also called action verbs. However, not all verbs are action verbs. There are non-action verbs that denote feelings or state of being. So, a verb can be either an action verb or a state verb. Action verbs are words such as “walk,” “run,” and “jump.” State verbs are words such as “be,” “look,” “love,” and “feel.”
Examples of verbs in sentences:
We play video games every day. They run very fast. I love pizza. He jumped off the bridge. She hates horror movies.
Adverbs describe or provide more information about verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They are often used to describe the way something is done, how something is done, or how something feels. Moreover, adverbs can highlight distinctions between things or actions. For instance, we use words such as “slowly” or “carefully” to describe the way something is done. We often use words such as “well” or “badly” to describe how something is done.
Some examples of adverbs are always, quickly, badly, quietly, early, slowly, etc.
He runs faster than me. Can you finish your work early ? She was badly injured while playing. Can you do it silently ? She was walking slowly towards me.
Prepositions are words that connect words in a sentence. Prepositions can be used to describe the location of something, as well as the time and manner in which something is done. The most common prepositions are: at, on, by, under, over, beside, before, after, behind, above, below, in, out, with, and without. Prepositions can also be used to indicate the relationship between two things (for example, beside means “next to”).
Prepositions are one of the most important parts of speech that you must learn to use correctly. They can make your writing clear and make your sentences more interesting.
Examples of prepositions in sentences:
My books are on the table. He leaves for home at 8 p.m. You can sit beside me. They came here after me. I travel by public transport.
A conjunction is a word or phrase that connects two ideas or clauses. For example, consider these sentences: “I like sports. I like music.” These are two separate sentences, but you can connect them using the conjunction “and” to say, “ I like sports and music. ” Conjunctions help make our sentences flow smoothly by joining related thoughts or actions.
There are many different types of conjunctions. Some examples of common conjunctions are: and, but, when, unless, or, nor, for, yet, although, but not, because, not only, etc.
Examples of conjunction in sentences:
I cannot go to work today because my mother is sick. My dad used to ride horses when he was young. You are likely to fail unless you work hard.
Interjections are words that show sudden feelings or emotions such as joy, surprise, or shock. We usually use the exclamation mark (!) with interjection words.
Some examples of interjections are:
Oh! Wow! Hello! Ouch! Bravo!
Examples of interjections in sentences:
Oh! I forgot the keys. Wow! It looks great. Hello! Is anybody there?
1. what are the parts of speech in english.
English has eight primary parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections.
Understanding parts of speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. It helps you structure sentences correctly, convey your thoughts clearly, and avoid grammatical errors.
You can identify parts of speech by understanding their functions and looking for clues within the sentence. Nouns name things, verbs show actions, adjectives describe nouns, and so on. Context and practice are essential tools for identification.
Yes, some words can function as different parts of speech depending on their usage and context. For example, “work” can be a noun (“I have a lot of work to do”) or a verb (“I need to work hard”).
Adjectives describe nouns and answer questions like “What kind?” or “Which one?” (e.g., “red car”). Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, addressing questions like “How?” “When?” “Where?” or “To what extent?” (e.g., “She sings beautifully”).
Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses to form more complex sentences. Common conjunctions are “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” and “because.”
Prepositions establish connections between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence, indicating aspects like location, direction, time, or manner. Examples of prepositions include “in,” “on,” “under,” “with,” and “between.”
Interjections are used to express strong emotions or sudden exclamations. They add emotional depth to your speech or writing. For instance, “Wow, that’s amazing!” or “Ouch, that hurts!”
Yes, there are many online grammar-checking tools and apps that can analyze and label the parts of speech in a sentence. They can be useful for practice and verification.
Improving your understanding of parts of speech requires practice. Analyze sentences from books, articles, or conversations. Engage in grammar exercises and quizzes. Reading widely and regularly can also help reinforce your knowledge.
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Basic English Grammar
Helping People Understand the Eight Parts of Speech!
The 8 parts of speech definitions with examples include nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections.
By using proper grammar in your writing and speaking, you will communicate clearly and effectively with your subject or audience! Moreover, by learning and understanding the 8 parts of speech, you will be able to master proper grammar in your writing and speaking. Below are the 8 parts of speech definitions with examples!
Definition of Parts of Speech: A part of speech is a category to which a word is assigned in accordance with its syntactic functions.
To put it very simply, a part of speech identifies a word in accordance with its function in a sentence such as: a noun, a verb, an adjective, a pronoun, an adverb, a preposition, a conjunction and an interjection.
Some Examples of Parts of Speech:
Definition of Nouns: Nouns are naming words and they name persons, places, things, animals, qualities, feelings, actions or ideas.
Examples of Nouns:
Examples of Types of Nouns:
You can learn more about the types of nouns in English grammar by checking out 10 Types of Nouns With Examples. You will find each type of noun explained with several examples so that your skill levels to recognize nouns will increase.
Examples of Functions of Nouns:
You can learn more about the functions of Nouns in English grammar by clicking on The 8 Noun Functions With Examples. You will find each function explained with examples to help you develop your skills in recognizing the different ways nouns function.
Definition of Verbs: Verbs show action or state-of-being.
Examples of Verb Types:
Examples of Verb Functions:
Examples of Verb Voices:
You can learn more about how to identify types, functions and voices of verbs by clicking on How To Identify Verbs With Examples. This will help you develop your writing and speaking gifts.
Definition of Adjectives: Adjectives are words that describe or modify other words in a sentence thus making your writing and speaking more specific and interesting.
Examples of Several Types Adjectives:
Learning to recognize the different types of adjectives will help you develop your speaking and writing skills so that you can be more specific, interesting and colorful in the way you express yourself.
Definition of Pronouns: Pronouns are words that replace nouns in sentence in order to avoid repeating the same noun over and over again.
Examples of Several Types of Pronouns :
You can learn more about the different types of pronouns in English grammar with examples by clicking on Types of Pronouns With Examples. You will find a brief explanation of each type of pronoun with some examples. This will help you understand how pronouns work in English sentences.
Definition of Adverbs: Adverbs are words or a group of words that modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They usually tell when, where, how or to what extent an action is performed or it may indicate the quality or degree of the action.
Examples of Different Types of Adverbs:
You can learn more about adverbs and how they are used in English sentences by clicking on What is an Adverb? Adverb can be confusing at times because they perform differently roles and they can be inserted at different place in English sentences. By learning to recognize the types of adverbs and how they function in sentences, you will certainly increase your ability to write and speak with interesting to your audiences.
Definition of Prepositions: Prepositions consist of words or groups of words that show the relationship between nouns or pronouns with other words in sentences.
Examples of Several Types of Prepositions:
You can learn more about the 8 types of prepositions with examples by clicking on 8 types of prepositions with examples. Once you identify the 8 types of preposition and how they function in sentence, you will become more creative in your writing and speaking skills.
Definition of Conjunctions: Conjunctions are words or groups of words that show how ideas are related to each other in English sentences.
Examples of Several Types of Conjunctions:
You can learn more about the 4 types of conjunctions with examples by clicking on 4 Types of Conjunctions With Examples. By learning these 4 types of conjunctions with examples, you will be able to identify how words, phrases and clauses relate to each other in English sentences.
Definition of Interjections: Interjections are used to express feelings and emotions in English sentences.
Examples of Interjections:
You can learn more about interjections by clicking on What is an Interjection?
The more you understand the 8 parts of speech in English grammar with examples, the better you will be able to write and speak to your designated audience. Enjoy!
Master comma placement by learning the 8 simple comma rules with examples.
A part of speech is a term used in traditional grammar for one of the nine main categories into which words are classified according to their functions in sentences, such as nouns or verbs. Also known as word classes, these are the building blocks of grammar.
Every sentence you write or speak in English includes words that fall into some of the nine parts of speech. These include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, articles/determiners, and interjections. (Some sources include only eight parts of speech and leave interjections in their own category.)
Learning the names of the parts of speech probably won't make you witty, healthy, wealthy, or wise. In fact, learning just the names of the parts of speech won't even make you a better writer. However, you will gain a basic understanding of sentence structure and the English language by familiarizing yourself with these labels.
The parts of speech are commonly divided into open classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs) and closed classes (pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, articles/determiners, and interjections). Open classes can be altered and added to as language develops, and closed classes are pretty much set in stone. For example, new nouns are created every day, but conjunctions never change.
In contemporary linguistics , parts of speech are generally referred to as word classes or syntactic categories. The main difference is that word classes are classified according to more strict linguistic criteria. Within word classes, there is the lexical, or open class, and the function, or closed class.
Read about each part of speech below, and practice identifying each.
Nouns are a person, place, thing, or idea. They can take on a myriad of roles in a sentence, from the subject of it all to the object of an action. They are capitalized when they're the official name of something or someone, and they're called proper nouns in these cases. Examples: pirate, Caribbean, ship, freedom, Captain Jack Sparrow.
Pronouns stand in for nouns in a sentence . They are more generic versions of nouns that refer only to people. Examples: I, you, he, she, it, ours, them, who, which, anybody, ourselves.
Verbs are action words that tell what happens in a sentence. They can also show a sentence subject's state of being ( is , was ). Verbs change form based on tense (present, past) and count distinction (singular or plural). Examples: sing, dance, believes, seemed, finish, eat, drink, be, became.
Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. They specify which one, how much, what kind, and more. Adjectives allow readers and listeners to use their senses to imagine something more clearly. Examples: hot, lazy, funny, unique, bright, beautiful, poor, smooth.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs. They specify when, where, how, and why something happened and to what extent or how often. Many adjectives can be turned into adjectives by adding the suffix - ly . Examples: softly, quickly, lazily, often, only, hopefully, sometimes.
Prepositions show spatial, temporal, and role relations between a noun or pronoun and the other words in a sentence. They come at the start of a prepositional phrase , which contains a preposition and its object. Examples: up, over, against, by, for, into, close to, out of, apart from.
Conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. There are coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions. Examples: and, but, or, so, yet.
Articles and determiners function like adjectives by modifying nouns, but they are different than adjectives in that they are necessary for a sentence to have proper syntax. Articles and determiners specify and identify nouns, and there are indefinite and definite articles. Examples of articles: a, an, the ; examples of determiners: these, that, those, enough, much, few, which, what.
Some traditional grammars have treated articles as a distinct part of speech. Modern grammars, however, more often include articles in the category of determiners , which identify or quantify a noun. Even though they modify nouns like adjectives, articles are different in that they are essential to the proper syntax of a sentence, just as determiners are necessary to convey the meaning of a sentence, while adjectives are optional.
Interjections are expressions that can stand on their own or be contained within sentences. These words and phrases often carry strong emotions and convey reactions. Examples: ah, whoops, ouch, yabba dabba do!
Only interjections ( Hooray! ) have a habit of standing alone; every other part of speech must be contained within a sentence and some are even required in sentences (nouns and verbs). Other parts of speech come in many varieties and may appear just about anywhere in a sentence.
To know for sure what part of speech a word falls into, look not only at the word itself but also at its meaning, position, and use in a sentence.
For example, in the first sentence below, work functions as a noun; in the second sentence, a verb; and in the third sentence, an adjective:
Learning the names and uses of the basic parts of speech is just one way to understand how sentences are constructed.
To form a basic complete sentence, you only need two elements: a noun (or pronoun standing in for a noun) and a verb. The noun acts as a subject, and the verb, by telling what action the subject is taking, acts as the predicate.
In the short sentence above, birds is the noun and fly is the verb. The sentence makes sense and gets the point across.
You can have a sentence with just one word without breaking any sentence formation rules. The short sentence below is complete because it's a verb command with an understood "you" noun.
Here, the pronoun, standing in for a noun, is implied and acts as the subject. The sentence is really saying, "(You) go!"
Use more parts of speech to add additional information about what's happening in a sentence to make it more complex. Take the first sentence from above, for example, and incorporate more information about how and why birds fly.
Birds and fly remain the noun and the verb, but now there is more description.
When is an adverb that modifies the verb fly. The word before is a little tricky because it can be either a conjunction, preposition, or adverb depending on the context. In this case, it's a preposition because it's followed by a noun. This preposition begins an adverbial phrase of time ( before winter ) that answers the question of when the birds migrate . Before is not a conjunction because it does not connect two clauses.
What are parts of speech.
Parts of speech are the building blocks or components of a sentence. All words belong to one part of speech or another; there are eight parts of speech in all. Knowing what they are will help you choose your words wisely and use them correctly in your writing.
Nouns sentences, pronouns sentences, verb sentences, adverb sentences, adjectives sentences, preposition sentences, conjunction sentences, interjection sentences.
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Every word is a part of speech playing a specific role in sentences or paragraphs. Parts of speech provide an organized way to align words and phrases, it is a fundamental meaning for a language to become more understandable and serve a specific purpose. Here, in this article, we will see what is Part of Speech, its types, and its uses. So let us dive in deeper to learn more about it!
Table of Content
Parts of speech chart.
The English language has thousands of words and every word has some function to perform. Some words are there to show action, some to join, and some to name something. There are 8 different parts of speech including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunction, and interjection. And together, all the functions performed by words in the English language fall under Parts of speech.
The parts of speech are the “traditional grammatical categories to which words are assigned in accordance with their syntactic functions, such as noun, verb, adjective, adverb, and so on.” In other words, they refer to the different roles that words can play in a sentence and how they relate to one another based on grammar and syntax.
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There are 8 different types of parts of speech i.e., Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverb, prepositions, Conjunction, and Interjection.
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, state, or quality. It can be singular or plural. Nouns are a part of speech.
The word used in place of a noun or a noun phrase is known as a pronoun. A pronoun is used in place of a noun to avoid the repetition of the noun.
A word that modifies a noun or a pronoun is an adjective. Generally, an adjective’s function is to further define and quantify a noun or pronoun.
A word or a group of words that describes an action, a state, or an event is called a verb. A verb is a word that says what happens to somebody or what somebody or something does.
A verb, adjective, another adverb, determiner, clause, preposition, or sentence is typically modified by an adverb . Adverbs often answer questions like “how,” “in what way,” “when,” “where,” and “to what extent” by expressing things like method, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc
A preposition is called a connector or linking word which has a very close relationship with the noun, pronoun or adjective that follows it . Prepositions show position in space, movement, direction, etc.
A conjunction is a word that connects clauses, sentences, or other words. Conjunctions can be used alone or in groups of two.
An interjection is a word or phrase expressing some sudden feelings of sadness or emotions.
These are the main parts of speech, but there are additional subcategories and variations within each. Understanding the different parts of speech can help construct grammatically correct sentences and express ideas clearly.
Choose the correct Parts of Speech of the BOLD word from the following questions.
1. Let us play, Shall We?
a. Conjunction b. Pronoun c. Verb
2. I t is a good practice to arrange books on shelves.
a. Verb b. Noun c. Adjective
3. Whose books are these?
a. Pronoun b. Preposition c. verb
4. Father, please get me that toy.
a. Pronoun b. Adverb c. Adjective
5. His mentality is rather obnoxious.
a. Adverb b. Adjective c. Noun
6. He is the guy whose money got stolen.
a. Pronoun b. Conjunction c. Adjective
7. I will have finished my semester by the end of this year.
a. Interjection b. Conjunction c. Preposition
8. Bingo! That’s the one I have been looking for
a. Interjection b. Conjunctio c. Preposition
Quiz Answers:
1. c, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. a, 6. b, 7. c, 8. a
Also Check:
A word is assigned to a category as per its function, and those categories are together known as Parts of Speech.
Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, Interjection.
There are a total of 8 parts of Speech.
“Our” is a adjective type of Part of Speech. Eg. Our car.
Adverb. let us understand it with this example – Milk sours quickly in warm weather.
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This lesson will analyze the 8 parts of speech definitions and examples including their types. Parts of Speech are part and parcel of English grammar. We can’t think of a sentence without using Parts of Speech. There are 8 Parts of Speech in English.
However, if you want to learn English, you must know the parts of speech. Otherwise, it won’t be easy to learn English grammar more accurately. Let us know the definition of parts of speech in English grammar. Just follow the below sentence.
This sentence will give a clear picture of the 8 parts of speech in English.
Every word underlined in the sentence is called parts of speech.
J.C. Nesfield: The different kinds of words are called P arts of Speech. Wren & Martin: Words are divided into different kinds of classes, called Parts of speech, according to their use; that is, according to the work they do in the sentence.
There are eight types of Parts of Speech in English grammar. They are:
Any naming word (person, place, thing, or idea) is called a Noun. Sometimes many students think a noun is the name of a person or place only, but it can be a thing, idea, feeling, etc.
Let us see some examples of nouns; John, boy, country, United Kingdom, New York City, cow, army, iron, honesty, etc. Nouns are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are five types of nouns in English. They are:
A word that is placed instead of a noun is called a Pronoun. If we use a single noun for every sentence, it doesn’t look good. For example, James goes to meet with his friends, and James is enjoying the party, and James recollects his old memories.
Here we use a single noun for every sentence, and that’s why it looks weird. But if we use the pronoun ‘he’ for the last two sentences instead of ‘James,’ it seems pretty good.
That’s why we need to use a pronoun instead of a noun. Let us see examples of pronouns; he, she, they, I, we, it, etc. Pronouns are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are nine types of pronouns. They are:
A word used to describe a noun or pronoun is called an Adjective . In other words, we can say an adjective usually modifies a noun or a pronoun.
For example, happy, good, clever, intelligent, lazy, large, etc. Adjectives are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are nine types of adjectives. They are:
A word that expresses an action or doing something is called a Verb. For example, am, is, are, was, were, have, has had, can, could, should, will, go, play, read, want, sing, etc.
Verbs are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are four types of verbs. They are:
A word that is used to add something to the meaning or modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb is called an Adverb.
For example, about, after, before, fast, slow, etc. Adverbs are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are three types of Adverbs. They are:
A word that is placed before a noun or a pronoun or a noun-equivalent to show its relation to any other term of the sentence is called a Preposition.
For example, on, in, to, for, with, within, above over, etc. Prepositions are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are three types of prepositions. They are:
A word that is usually used to join one word to another, one word to a clause, or one sentence to another is called a Conjunction.
Conjunctions are of three types. They are:
For example; and, but, or, if, though, than, since, so–that, as soon as, either–or, neither–nor, etc. Conjunctions are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
A word used to express a short sudden emotion or excitement is called an Interjection. For example, hurrah! alas! oops! Etc. Interjections are underlined in the below sentences for easy identification:
There are three kinds of Interjections. They are:
To sum up, we may say without parts of speech; we can’t make a sentence. These eight parts of speech are the fundamental parts of English grammar.
Please share this article with your friends to get a helpful guideline about these eight parts of speech with definitions and examples.
Parts of Speech Quiz
Your answer:
Correct answer:
Your Answers
Azizul Hakim is the founder & CEO of englishfinders.com . He is a passionate writer, English instructor, and content creator. He has completed his graduation and post-graduation in English language and literature.
Their functions
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Types should be discussed
We have separate lessons for each part of speech. Kindly check them out.
Define all types of noun
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If you want to elevate your public speaking game, storytelling is one of the best ways to do so. By weaving captivating tales into your presentations, you’ll forge a powerful emotional bond with your audience in a way you can’t with mere data and statistics. Not sure where to begin? Look no further than these narrative speech examples , designed to spark your creativity and help you craft your own compelling narratives.
From personal anecdotes to historical tales, these examples will demonstrate the power of storytelling to engage, persuade, and inspire. You’ll also see how great speakers use vivid language, descriptive details, and relatable characters to draw their listeners in and keep them hanging on every word. So get ready to take notes, because you’re about to unleash your inner storyteller!
If you’ve ever been captivated by a great story, then you know the power of storytelling. A narrative speech is a type of speech that uses a personal story or narrative to engage the audience and illustrate a point. It’s one of the most effective ways to connect with your listeners on an emotional level.
So, what makes a good narrative speech? First and foremost, it needs to have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Your story should have a strong opening that hooks the audience, a compelling middle that builds tension and keeps them engaged, and a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together.
If you want your story to pack a punch, don’t skimp on the specifics. Describe what you experienced using the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. When you paint a vivid picture with your words, your audience will feel like they’re right there with you, experiencing every thrilling moment firsthand.
But why bother with a narrative speech in the first place? Because stories have the power to change hearts and minds. They allow you to connect with your audience on a personal level, making your message more memorable and impactful. Think about it—when was the last time a list of facts and figures moved you to tears or inspired you to take action? Probably never. But a well-told story? That can stay with you for a lifetime.
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Now that you’ve unlocked the potential of narrative speeches, the next step is selecting the perfect topic. Look for a narrative that not only resonates with you on a personal level but will also strike a chord with your audience.
Start by brainstorming speech topics that are meaningful to you. Think about pivotal moments in your life, lessons you’ve learned, or challenges you’ve overcome. Consider stories that highlight your values, passions, or unique experiences.
One brainstorming technique is to make a list of “firsts”—first love, first job, first big failure, etc. These moments often make for compelling stories because they’re relatable and emotionally charged.
Once you have a list of potential topics, it’s time to narrow them down. Ask yourself which stories are most relevant to your audience and the message you want to convey. Which ones have the most dramatic arc or the most valuable lessons?
You also want to consider your comfort level with each story. Some stories may be too personal or emotionally raw to share in a public setting. Others may not have enough substance to sustain a full speech. Trust your gut and choose the story that feels right for you.
Finally, make sure your chosen topic is engaging and compelling. A good story should have some sort of conflict or tension that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. It should also have a clear theme or message that resonates with listeners.
To determine if your story is a crowd-pleaser, put it to the test by sharing it with your inner circle. As you weave your narrative, watch closely for signs of engagement or boredom. Then, afterwards, ask for feedback on how you can improve your narrative speech—and don’t be afraid to ask for examples of how you might re-write specific sections. Jot down these suggestions and use them to fine-tune your story, ensuring it’s a hit with any audience.
Now that you’ve nailed down your topic, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and craft a speech outline . Trust us, having a clear roadmap will make all the difference when it comes to delivering your message with confidence and clarity.
Begin your speech with a hook, something that will pique your audience’s interest and encourage them to keep listening. Oftentimes, speakers like to use a shocking statistic or a captivating anecdote to kick things off.
For example, if your narrative speech is about overcoming a fear of public speaking , you might start with something like, “Imagine standing in front of a room full of people, your heart racing, your palms sweating, your mind going blank. That was me, just a few years ago.”
The body of your speech is where you’ll tell your actual story. Break it down into clear, chronological segments with smooth transitions between each part. Use vivid details and sensory language to bring the story to life.
As you’re writing, consider incorporating dialogue, humor , or suspense to keep the audience engaged. You might also use rhetorical devices like repetition or metaphor to drive home your key points.
As you wrap up your story, consider the bigger picture. What insights did this journey reveal to you? How have you grown as a person because of it? Think about the key takeaway you want to leave with your readers—something that will stick with them long after they’ve walked away.
End with a call-to-action or a thought-provoking question that encourages the audience to reflect on your message. You might also circle back to the opening anecdote or question to create a sense of closure.
To make your story more engaging, consider incorporating characterization techniques. This means giving your characters distinct personalities, motivations, and quirks that make them feel like real people.
Firstly, bring your characters to life through their conversations. The words they choose, their facial expressions, and even their body language can speak volumes about who they are and what makes them tick.
Secondly, to help your audience visualize your characters, use rich descriptions of their physical attributes, fashion choices, and distinct behaviors. Paint a picture of what they look like, how they present themselves through their attire, and any idiosyncrasies that define who they are. By bringing your characters to life, you’ll make your story more relatable and memorable for the audience.
In order to create a narrative speech that truly stands out , you’ll need to put in the time and effort to refine your craft. The reward? An opportunity to share a personal story that not only entertains but also motivates and inspires your audience, forging a connection that lasts long after the final word is spoken.
Before we get to narrative speech examples, let’s take a look at speech delivery. Speech delivery isn’t just about the words you say, but how you say them. Your body language, eye contact, and vocal delivery all play crucial roles in engaging your audience and making your story memorable.
In addition, practice until you can recite your story in your sleep. When you know your content like the back of your hand, you can focus on engaging with your listeners and making your words come alive.
Rehearsing your speech is of utmost importance. It’s a step that many speakers overlook, but it can make a world of difference in your delivery. When you practice, you familiarize yourself with the flow of your story, allowing you to speak more naturally and confidently.
One technique you find particularly helpful is recording yourself delivering the speech. When you watch the playback, you can identify areas where you need to improve your vocal variety, adjust your speaking rate , or refine your body language. It’s a powerful tool for self-critique and growth as a speaker.
When you take the stage, your focus should be squarely on those who have gathered to hear you. Eye contact is just the beginning; truly engaging your audience means creating a genuine connection and making them feel like they’re right there with you, experiencing your story firsthand. Try using words like “we” and “us” to make your audience feel included. Asking questions can also get them thinking about what you’re saying.
Your narrative speech may revolve around your words, but don’t underestimate the impact of a carefully selected prop or visual aid. These tools can make abstract ideas tangible, evoke strong emotional responses, and ensure your message lingers long after you’ve left the stage.
However, it’s important to use these tools judiciously. Overreliance on props or visuals can distract from your message and undermine your credibility as a speaker. When selecting props or creating visual aids, always ask yourself: does this add value to my story, or is it just a gimmick?
Even seasoned speakers get the jitters sometimes. Before stepping up to the mic, take a moment to ground yourself with some breathing exercises. Visualize yourself delivering your story with confidence and poise, and watch as that nervous energy transforms into pure charisma on stage.
Remember, your listeners are your biggest supporters. They’ve gathered to hear your unique perspective and leave feeling uplifted. Rely on the effort you’ve put in, breathe deeply, and allow your fervor for your message to radiate throughout the room.
Great speakers have always known the secret to capturing an audience’s attention: storytelling. Whether it’s an ancient Greek orator spinning a yarn or a modern-day TED Talker sharing a personal journey, the ability to craft a compelling narrative is what sets the best speakers apart. So, what do these narrative speeches look like in action? Let’s dive into some narrative speech examples that have educated, inspired, and motivated people across the ages.
Inspirational stories are those that uplift and motivate us to be our best selves. They often involve overcoming adversity, achieving a seemingly impossible goal, or making a positive difference in the world. Take, for example, Amy Purdy’s narrative speech about the power of imagination. In case you aren’t familiar with the name, Amy Purdy is a Paralympic snowboarder who lost both her legs below the knee due to bacterial meningitis. In her TED talk, she shares her journey of resilience and adaptation, showing how she turned a devastating setback into an opportunity to inspire others.
Want to instantly connect with your audience? Try sprinkling in some humor. A well-timed joke or absurd anecdote can break the ice and leave your listeners in stitches. Keep them on their toes with unexpected twists, and they’ll be hanging on your every word.
Darren LaCroix, a professional speaker, frequently uses humorous stories in his talks. Take a look at how he uses his stories of failure in this speech to motivate his crowd to chase their dreams.
Emotional tales have a way of grabbing our hearts and not letting go. These stories frequently revolve around individual challenges, the pain of loss, or powerful moments of clarity that reshape a person’s path forward.
One example of an emotional narrative speech is Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address , in which he shares three personal stories that shaped his philosophy on life and work. From his adoption story to his battle with cancer, Jobs’ tales are raw, honest, and deeply moving.
Ever heard a story that made you want to jump up and take on the world? That’s the power of a motivational narrative. These inspiring tales feature everyday people doing incredible things—conquering challenges, chasing their passions, and proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
If you want to hear an inspiring tale, check out J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech . She shares her personal journey of failure and resilience, and how she used her imagination to create one of the most adored book series ever. It’s a beautiful story about the power of storytelling and never giving up on your dreams.
Want to hook your audience, tug at their heartstrings, and spur them to action? Take a look at some narrative speech examples from those who’ve mastered the craft. But as you do, don’t forget: your story, told in your unique voice, is the most powerful tool you have. Share it boldly, and watch as it transforms lives.
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How do you start a narrative speech.
Kick off with a hook that grabs attention. Maybe share an unexpected fact, ask a thought-provoking question, or launch into the heart of your tale.
An example would be recounting how overcoming acute anxiety before a big job interview taught resilience and self-confidence.
Dive straight into setting the scene or introduce your main character in action. Let listeners feel they’re right there with you from the get-go.
Narrative speeches might explore personal growth through volunteering experiences or share humorous anecdotes about learning to drive. They weave personal stories to engage and enlighten audiences.
Storytelling is a timeless art that has the power to captivate, inspire, and transform. By studying these narrative speech examples, you’ve seen firsthand how weaving narratives into your presentations can create an emotional connection with your audience and make your message unforgettable.
In order to engage your audience, focus on your characters. Additionally, include details that engage the senses. And don’t be afraid to get a little personal. After all, your own experiences can be the most powerful stories of all.
With these tips in mind, go forth and tell your stories with passion, authenticity, and purpose. Your audience is waiting to be inspired by the narratives only you can tell. Happy storytelling!
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This resource includes 3 worksheets on Subject Pronouns and Object Pronouns. Includes explanation, examples, and practice. These easy-to-use worksheets are great for both classroom and homeschool, and useful for sub plans.
Worksheets include:
Designed for students in Grades 3-4. These worksheets can be used as an introduction or for review and reinforcement.
These worksheets can be used for in-class work, take-home work, or homeschool, and are useful for sub plans.
Answer key is included for quick and easy grading.
Supports Common Core standards L.3.1, L3.1a, L.4.1
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Sunshine and jellybeans.
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Just like y is sometimes a vowel and sometimes a consonant, there are words that are sometimes one part of speech and other times another. Here are a few examples: "I went to work " (noun). "I work in the garden" (verb). "She paints very well " (adverb). "They are finally well now, after weeks of illness" (adjective).
A part of speech (also called a word class) is a category that describes the role a word plays in a sentence.Understanding the different parts of speech can help you analyze how words function in a sentence and improve your writing. The parts of speech are classified differently in different grammars, but most traditional grammars list eight parts of speech in English: nouns, pronouns, verbs ...
8 Parts of Speech Definitions and Examples: 1. Nouns are words that are used to name people, places, animals, ideas and things. Nouns can be classified into two main categories: Common nouns and Proper nouns. Common nouns are generic like ball, car, stick, etc., and proper nouns are more specific like Charles, The White House, The Sun, etc.
The 9 parts of speech are adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, determiners, interjections, nouns, prepositions, pronouns, and verbs. (These are also known as "word classes.") A Formal Definition. A "part of speech" is a category to which a word is assigned in accordance with its syntactic functions. In English, the main parts of speech are noun ...
Become an expert at knowing when and what parts of speech to use with these examples. ... Pronouns replace nouns to simplify speech and writing. They function as subjects and objects in sentences, just like nouns. Examples of pronouns include: She is the smartest kid in class.
The 8 parts of speech are: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Nouns represent people, places, things, or ideas. Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition. Verbs describe actions or states of being. Adjectives provide additional details about nouns.
The parts of speech refer to categories to which a word belongs. In English, there are eight of them : verbs , nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Many English words fall into more than one part of speech category. Take the word light as an example.
Every word you speak or write is a part of speech. In the English language, there are 8 parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and articles (determiners). These parts of speech represent categories of words according to their grammatical function.
The parts of speech are classified differently in different grammars, but most traditional grammars list eight parts of speech in English: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Some modern grammars add others, such as determiners and articles. Many words can function as different parts of ...
There are eight different parts of speech. Think of them as team members, each working together by fulfilling specific tasks to develop coherent sentences. The eight parts of speech are nouns ...
For instance, the verb "eats" is a present-tense verb, and its past form is "ate.". 4. Adjective. Another part of speech is the adjective, which modifies or describes a noun or a pronoun. It typically answers the questions "what kind," "which one," or "how much.". For example: Blue.
These nine parts of speech are namely: Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives, Determiners, Adverbs, Pronouns, Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections. Another additional classification is used as a part of speech, i.e., Articles, a subprogram of determiners. To comprehend the meaning and use of each word in the English language, it is essential to ...
The parts of speech we will cover are: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, determiner, and ; interjection. I've also put together a table with all the parts of speech and examples of their use in sentences. Below the table, you'll find a breakdown of each part of speech with further examples.
Let's look at all these categories of parts of speech with examples: 1. Nouns. A name or title given to an object, person, group, or concept is known as a noun.It can either be the subject of a sentence (an individual who acts) or the object of the verb (receiver of the action).
In the English language, it's commonly accepted that there are 8 parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, interjections, and prepositions. Each of these categories plays a different role in communicating meaning in the English language. Each of the eight parts of speech—which we might also call the "main ...
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks. Choose a word from the list that fits the correct part of speech to fill in the blank. The parts of speech you need to choose from are noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. List: quickly, joy, and, blue, she, under, wow, runs, their, but.
The 8 parts of speech are Nouns, Pronouns, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. we will go over the Common Eight parts of speech in this tutorial, along with their definitions, types, and Examples. This is the article on the different 8 parts of speech and Their examples and definitions as well as Example Sentences.
Team FEG. Speaking and writing in any language involves using different parts of speech. Understanding what these parts are and how to use them correctly is important for effective communication. In English, there are 8 parts of speech, which include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
By BEGG. The 8 parts of speech definitions with examples include nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections. By using proper grammar in your writing and speaking, you will communicate clearly and effectively with your subject or audience! Moreover, by learning and understanding the 8 parts of ...
Also known as word classes, these are the building blocks of grammar. Every sentence you write or speak in English includes words that fall into some of the nine parts of speech. These include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, articles/determiners, and interjections. (Some sources include only eight parts ...
Further Reading. The Parts of Speech Examples (127 Mixed Sentences): arts of speech are the building blocks or components of a sentence. All words belong to one part of speech or another; there are eight parts of speech in all. Knowing what they are will help you choose your words wisely and use them correctly in your writing.
All Parts of Speech with Examples. There are 8 different types of parts of speech i.e., Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverb, prepositions, Conjunction, and Interjection. Noun -. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, state, or quality. It can be singular or plural.
7. Conjunction. 8. Interjection. Conclusion. This lesson will analyze the 8 parts of speech definitions and examples including their types. Parts of Speech are part and parcel of English grammar. We can't think of a sentence without using Parts of Speech. There are 8 Parts of Speech in English.
PARTS OF SPEECH 📚 | English Grammar | Learn with examplesParts Of Speech | In English Grammar With Examples | Noun/Pronoun/Adjective/Verb/Adverb/Preposition...
Before we get to narrative speech examples, let's take a look at speech delivery. Speech delivery isn't just about the words you say, but how you say them. Your body language, eye contact, and vocal delivery all play crucial roles in engaging your audience and making your story memorable.
Parts of Speech Bundle 67 worksheets - Grammar, Writing Skills - Grades 3-4 The 67 worksheets in this Parts of Speech Bundle cover nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs for Grades 3-4. These easy-to-use language skills worksheets are great for both classroom and homeschool, and useful for sub plans.This Bundle includes 16 resources ...