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Parts of Speech (with Examples)
Parts of Speech? (with Examples)
A "part of speech" refers to one of the nine word categories. There are nine parts of speech (i.e., word categories):
Videos on the Parts of Speech

The Part of Speech Is Determined by the Word's Function
In a sentence, every word or phrase can be classified as one of the nine parts of speech depending on its function in the sentence. Remember that, in English, a word that performs a particular function in one sentence might perform a different function in another. Let's take the word well for example.- You need to dig a well. (noun)
- You look well. (adjective)
- You dance well. (adverb)
- Well, I agree. (interjection)
- My eyes will well up. (verb)
The Parts of Speech
Below is a brief explanation for each part of speech with an example.Part of Speech | Basic Function |
---|---|
Adjective | modifies a noun or a pronoun |
Examples: happy, red, enormous Example in a sentence: That is an enormous fish. (The adjective enormous modifies the noun fish.) | |
Adverb | modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb |
Examples: happily, loosely, often Example in a sentence: They walked smartly to the counter. (The adverb smartly modifies the verb walked.) | |
Conjunction | joins words, phrases, and clauses |
Examples: and, but, or Example in a sentence: A large bass still eluded Mark and Lee. (The conjunction and joins the nouns Mark and Lee.) | |
Determiner | specifies a noun or a pronoun or states quantity |
Examples: my, this, some Example in a sentence: My dog is fine with those cats. (The determiner my specifies the dog. The determiner those specifies the cats.) There are two dogs but many cats. (The determiners two and many state the quantity.) | |
Interjection | expresses emotion |
Examples: indeed, well, oops Example in a sentence: Ouch, that hurt. (The interjection Ouch expresses pain.) | |
Noun | names a person, place, or thing |
Examples: man, city, dancing Example in a sentence: Take me to your leader. (The noun leader names a person.) | |
Preposition | shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence |
Examples: at, in, near, on, with Example in a sentence: Sarah sang with Jeremy. (The preposition with shows the relationship between Jeremy, sang, and Sarah.) | |
Pronoun | replaces a noun |
Examples: I, me, you, he, she, we, us, they Example in a sentence: Joanne is smart. She is also funny. (The pronoun She replaces the noun Joanne.) | |
Verb | identifies an action or state of being |
Examples: work, play, think, guess, write, exist, be Example in a sentence: Tony works down the pit now. He was unemployed. (The verb works expresses an action. The verb was expresses a state of being.) |
Are There 8 or 9 Parts of Speech?
Prior to the 1960s, determiners were classified as adjectives, meaning there were 8 parts of speech not 9. Since the 1960s, there has been a gradual acceptance among grammarians that determiners are different to adjectives. This acceptance has grown to the extent that determiners must now be considered a separate part of speech. However, even today, terms like "possessive adjective" and "demonstrative adjective" are far more commonly used than "possessive determiner" and "demonstrative determiner" [evidence].Also, the equivalents in foreign languages are still described as adjectives in those countries, adding to the confusion. This much is clear: Determiners are similar to adjectives, but there are differences. Nevertheless, there remains a strong argument for claiming there are 8 parts of speech not 9.
Our advice? Go with 9! (You'll get far fewer pedants sending you snotty emails.)
Do you have a view on this? Tell us using this form.
Read more about the differences between determiners and adjectives.
Why Should I Care about the Parts of Speech?
Most native English speakers master English grammar without ever consciously learning the parts of speech. However, when learning a foreign language (particularly in a classroom setting), mastering the grammar is a far less natural process. It must be done systematically. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the parts of speech because the teacher's explanations and the exercise books will be packed with them.As well as helping with foreign-language study, learning the parts of speech will also help you with analysing other people's writing and with taking your own writing to the next level.
The Top Issues
Below, under each heading, is the top writing issues related to that part of speech. For more issues related to the parts of speech, please follow to the link to the specific page.The Top Issue Related to Adjectives
When choosing adjectives, try to reduce your word count by selecting the right adjective. Typically, this means avoiding words like very and extremely. Don't use those words. Pick better adjectives.very happy boy ![]() | delighted boy ![]() | |
very angry ![]() | livid ![]() | |
extremely posh hotel ![]() | luxurious hotel ![]() | |
really serious look ![]() | stern look ![]() |
Read about other issues related to adjectives.
The Top Issue Related to Adverbs
Lots of adverbs end -ly and tell us how a verb is performed (e.g., slowly, erratically). As a general rule, professional writers try to avoid using adverbs ending -ly because they consider them as unnecessary clutter. Most professional writers believe that good word choice renders such adverbs as redundant.- Extremely annoyed, she stared menacingly at her rival. (Critics would attack this writing style.)
- Infuriated, she glared at her rival. (This is far sharper.)
Read about other issues related to adverbs.
The Top Issue Related to Conjunctions
The most commonly asked question related to conjunctions is "Do you put a comma before and?". Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn't short. Here's a summary of the rules:The Rule for Two Items
When and joins two items, don't use a comma.
- Mark has eaten all the pies and cakes.
- The Bakerloo line runs between Elephant and Castle, and Harrow and Wealdstone.
- I love King Rollo, and Rick and Morty.
The Exception to the Rule for Two Items
When and joins two (or more) independent clauses (i.e., ones that could stand alone as individual sentences), then use a comma.
- Bonzo eats ants, and he eats honey.
When there are three or more list items, it's more complicated because there are two different conventions.
Some people will write this:
- Burger, Fries, and a shake (The comma before the and is called an Oxford Comma. This is the convention followed by most (but not all) Americans.)
- Fish, chips and peas (This is the convention followed by most (but not all) Brits. The most notable exception is the Oxford University Press, after which the Oxford Comma is named.)
The Top Issue Related to Determiners
Don't confuse a possessive determiner (e.g., its, your, their) with an identical-sounding contraction (e.g., it's, you're, they're).It's is a contraction of it is or it has. This is a 100% rule. If you can't expand your it's to it is or it has, then it's wrong.
- A country can be judged by the quality of it's proverbs.
If you've used an apostrophe, test your apostrophe by expanding your word back into two words. If you can't, the apostrophe version is wrong.
Read more issues related to determiners.
The Top Issue Related to Interjections
The most common question related to interjections is "What punctuation follows an interjection?".If your interjection is not a question (e.g., Really? is an example of an interjection that is a question), then you have a choice. You can use a comma, a period (full stop), or an exclamation mark. Commas and periods are used for mild interjections, while exclamation marks are used for stronger expressions of emotion.
- Yes, that's correct.
- Crikey! Think before you speak!
The Top Issue Related to Nouns
Don't give a common noun (e.g., dog, brochure, mountain) a capital letter just because it's an important word in your sentence. Only proper nouns (e.g., Dexter, The Summer Brochure, Ben Nevis) get capital letters.- We value our Clients' opinions.
The Top Issue Related to Prepositions
The word or words that follow a preposition are called the object of a preposition. The object of a preposition is always in the objective case. This just means that words like I, she, we, and they change to me, her, us, and them when they follow a preposition (e.g., about me, with her, for us, against them). This is a pretty simple concept for a native English speaker, but it still catches some people out.- It is a present from my wife and I.
- Between you and I
- Between you and me
The Top Issue Related to Pronouns
Don't put an apostrophe in yours, hers, ours, or theirs. There are no apostrophes in any possessive pronouns.- There are gods above gods. We have ours, and they have theirs. That's what's known as infinity.
(French poet Jean Cocteau)
The Top Issue Related to Verbs
Writing can be boring, corporate, predictable, and structured abnormally. These bad traits are most often caused by an overuse of nouns. So, opting for verbs over nouns will help you to write better-flowing sentences. Also, using more verbs will also reduce your word count because you will avoid the articles (e.g., an, the) and prepositions (e.g., in, on) needed to make the nouns work.Unnatural (Overusing Nouns) | Natural (Using a Verb) |
---|---|
They are in agreement that he was in violation of several regulations. | They agree he violated several regulations. |
She will be in attendance to present a demonstration of how the weather will have an effect on our process. | She will attend to demonstrate how the weather will affect our process. |
Key Point
- Crack the parts of speech to help with learning a foreign language or to take your writing to the next level.
Interactive Exercise
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