Parts of Speech
Verbs
Uses:
The focus of the sentence. An action or feeling
Things to know:
Helping (be, do, have and modals) and main
Linking (links the subject to something said about the subject)
Transitive and non-transitive
Action and Non-Action
Forms (Aspect)
Tense
Voice
Example:
She had been taught by her father to swim.
had been taught
Nouns
Persons, Places, Things, or Emotions
Uses:
Subjects, Objects and Objects of prepositions
Things to know:
Count/Non-count
Proper nouns
Possessive
Gerunds/Infinitives
Example:
My father met the teacher at my school.
father– subject
teacher – object
school – object of preposition
Adjectives
Uses:
Describes a noun
Things to know:
Determiners (articles, this, some, etc.)
Order (before noun or after linking verb)
Example:
The broken antique chair was on the decrepit porch.
the
broken
antique
the
decrepit
Adverbs
Uses:
Describe verbs, adjectives, other adverbs
Things to know:
Irregular forms
Adverbs of frequency
Position (beginning, middle, end)
Example:
He always worked silently at his desk everyday.
always
silently
everyday
Pronouns
Uses:
Take the place of a noun
Things to know:
Subject
Object
Relative
Indefinite
Example:
He picked up his test. He looked at mine to check his answers.
he
mine
Prepositions
Uses:
Word that shows relationship between the word that follows it and
another word.
Things to know:
Location, Direction, Time
Always followed by a noun
Example:
He picked up his test. He looked at mine to check his answers.
at
Conjunctions
Uses:
Makes connections between words
Things to know:
Coordinating and subordinating words
FANBOYS
Dependent words (since, because, if, although, unless)
Example:
Although he is a good student, he didn’t get an A, so he was
disappointed.
although
so
Interjection
Uses:
Used to express surprise, to address someone, to give the speaker time
to think.
Example:
Uh, dear, will you help me?
uh
dear
Practice
Identify the nouns.
1. The cow is revered in some cultures.
2. During the autumn, the leaves change color
and fall.
3. Without your understanding, I would be lost.
4. Explaining the process will take time.
5. While we looked on, she played the piano.
Practice
Identify the adjectives.
1. Throughout this endless year, she has
bravely faced numerous financial
challenges.
2. While the spotted fish swam lazily across the
pond, the white egret waited patiently to
attack.
3. His ego was enormous and his self-respect
was unfounded, considering his atrocious
behavior.
Practice
Identify the verbs.
1. The treatment of the prisoners who are held
in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has come under
scrutiny.
2. Without a reprieve, the death penalty will be
carried out against the convicted D.C.
sniper, John Mohammed on November 2nd.
3. The doctor administered the shot, while he
was discussing the latest epidemic with the
patient.
Practice
Identify the adverbs.
1. Throughout this endless year, she has
bravely faced numerous financial
challenges.
2. While the spotted fish swam lazily across the
pond, the white egret waited patiently to
attack.
3. Her brother was so kind and gentle, but he
never felt that he was truly appreciated by
his difficult family.