Navigate to Parts of Speech:

What Are Parts of Speech?

Parts of speech are categories that describe how words function in sentences. Every word in English belongs to at least one of these eight categories. Understanding parts of speech helps you construct grammatically correct sentences and communicate more effectively.

The Eight Parts of Speech
1. Nouns - People, places, things, or ideas
2. Verbs - Actions or states of being
3. Adjectives - Describe nouns
4. Adverbs - Describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
5. Pronouns - Replace nouns
6. Prepositions - Show relationships between words
7. Conjunctions - Connect words or phrases
8. Interjections - Express emotion
Complete Sentence Analysis

Wow, she ran quickly to the big store and bought fresh bread.

Nouns: Naming Words

People, places, things, and ideas

Nouns Beginner

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns are the subjects and objects in sentences.

Quick Test for Nouns
Can you put "the" or "a/an" in front of it? If yes, it's likely a noun!
Examples: the dog, a city, an idea

Types of Nouns

Type Definition Examples
Common Nouns General names dog, city, book, teacher
Proper Nouns Specific names (capitalized) Rex, London, Bible, Mr. Smith
Concrete Nouns Physical things you can touch table, water, flower, computer
Abstract Nouns Ideas and concepts love, freedom, happiness, courage
Collective Nouns Groups of things team, family, flock, committee
Example 1

The dog chased the ball.

Example 2

Sarah visited Paris last summer.

Example 3

Love conquers all obstacles.

Example 4

The team celebrated their victory.

Verbs: Action & Being Words

What something does or is

Verbs Beginner

A verb expresses an action or a state of being. Every complete sentence must have a verb.

Quick Test for Verbs
Can you add "-ing" to it? Can it show time (past, present, future)? If yes, it's a verb!
Examples: running, jumped, will go

Types of Verbs

Type Function Examples
Action Verbs Show physical or mental action run, think, write, dance
Linking Verbs Connect subject to description is, am, are, was, were, seem, become
Helping Verbs Help main verb show tense/mood have, has, had, do, does, will, can, should
Transitive Verbs Take a direct object kick (the ball), eat (dinner)
Intransitive Verbs Don't take a direct object sleep, arrive, laugh
Action Verb

She runs every morning.

Linking Verb

The cake is delicious.

Helping + Main Verb

They have been studying all day.

Multiple Verbs

He jumped and shouted with joy.

Adjectives: Describing Words

Modify and describe nouns

Adjectives Intermediate

An adjective modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives tell us which one, what kind, or how many.

Quick Test for Adjectives
Does it answer "What kind?", "Which one?", or "How many?" about a noun?
Examples: red car (what kind), three cats (how many), that book (which one)

Types of Adjectives

Descriptive
Describe qualities
beautiful, tall, happy
Quantitative
Show quantity
three, many, few
Demonstrative
Point to specific things
this, that, these, those
Possessive
Show ownership
my, your, his, her, their
Interrogative
Ask questions
which, what, whose
Articles
Specify nouns
a, an, the
Single Adjective

The beautiful sunset amazed everyone.

Multiple Adjectives

She wore a long, elegant, re