The Writing Center
Directed Learning Activities
Parts of Speech
Student Name:
Date:
Instructor:
Course:
IMPORTANT NOTE: All the activities (3) in this DLA must be completed in their entirety
before meeting with a tutor and receiving credit. Where indicated, complete your work on this
sheet.
Objectives: Through computer and other independent activities, this activity will familiarize you
with the various parts of speech and help you better understand their function in language.
Understanding Parts of Speech
All words in sentences in the English language comprise one of the eight categories: nouns,
verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
noun
verb
adverb
preposition
noun
The cat meowed noisily at the children.
pronoun
verb
adjective
noun
He wore an old brown hat.
pronoun
verb
noun
conjunction
noun
verb
adjective
She wanted pumpkin, but the pantry was bare.
Here are a few examples of the eight parts of speech:
Nouns
Verbs
-person, place, thing, or quality
-the subject of the action being
expressed in a sentence
- the object of the action being
expressed in a sentence
-the object of a preposition
-gerunds (verb + -ing)
-infinitives (to + verb)
- words that show action
-words that show a state of being or
non-action
Harry, England, broomstick, kindness
Harry ran to his room.
He told Ron to be quiet.
Harry gave the book to Ron.
Reading is fun.
Hermione wanted to study.
run, hide, sing
be, seem, know, have
DLA: Parts of Speech 2
-a single-word verb or verb plus helpers
-words that are used in place of a noun
-subject pronouns
Pronouns
Adjectives
-object pronouns
-possessive pronouns
-indefinite pronouns
-demonstrative pronouns
-relative pronouns
-reflexive pronouns
-words that provide description for
nouns and pronouns
-articles
-quantifiers/numbers
-possessive adjectives
-nouns that act like adjectives
-comparative
-superlative
Adverbs
-modify verbs, adjectives, other
adverbs, and tell how, when, where,
and to what extent
Preposition
s
-link nouns, pronouns and phrases to
other words; describe time, space, or
logic
Conjunctio
ns
-connect sentences, clauses, phrases
and words
Interjection
s
-words used for emphasis or to
convey an emotion; not needed to
complete a sentence
run, is running, has been running, should
run, must have been running
I, you, he, she, it, they, we, their, this,
these, that, those, who, which, each, either,
neither
me, you, her, him, it, them, us
mine, his, hers, its, theirs
one, anyone, everybody, something
this, these, that, those
who[m], whose, that, which
myself, herself, themselves
scared, scary, smart, difficult, proper
a[n], the
many, half, three, second
my, your, her, his, its, our, their
magic potion
more intelligent, stronger
the most intelligent, the strongest
very, here, there, ever, almost, no, now,
sometimes, perhaps, always, often, never,
seldom, therefore, however, thus, as a
result, tomorrow, and words ending in -/ly
in, on, at, through, by, for, to, after, up,
down, of, out, over, above, next to, below,
with, about, beside, until, & many more!
coordinating: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
subordinating: because, if, when, after,
although, before, since, while
ugh, oh, whoa, well, sure, holy smokes,
ouch, stop, aha, phew, yikes, ah, hey, duh,
wow, uh oh, whoops, bingo, yuck, yo, huh
Some words can have different functions. To understand what part of speech a word is, it is
important to pay attention to how it is functioning in a sentence.
adjective
pronoun
Professor McGonagall ordered two wands. They gave her two.
verb
noun
Harry Potter and Cho Chang kiss. They will always remember that kiss.
The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 594-5611 x5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/instruction/humanities/writingcenter/
DLA: Parts of Speech 3
Activities (approximately 1 hour): Follow the steps below and be prepared to explain your answers
when you meet with a tutor. Check off each box once you have completed the activity.
 1.
Open your internet browser and go to http://www.sporcle.com/games/ahermans/matchingparts-of-speech. Complete the online quiz by matching the part of speech with its definition
and example. You will have two minutes. After you complete the task, PLEASE ASK A
LAB TUTOR TO PRINT THE PAGE THAT HAS YOUR SCORE. DO NOT EXIT THE
PROGRAM UNTIL THE TUTOR HAS PRINTED THIS PAGE (FREE OF CHARGE).
 2.
Indicate the part of speech of each italicized word or group of words by placing the
appropriate abbreviations in the blanks.
n
noun
pro
pronoun
v
verb
adj
adjective
adv
adverb
conj conjunction
prep preposition
interj interjection
_____ _____ 1. The three-headed dog drooled all over Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they
entered the trapdoor.
_____ _____ 2. The love potion Seamus Finnigan brewed in potions class shattered his
copper cauldron.
_____ _____ 3. Arthur Weasley illegally bewitched a muggle car, which Harry and Ron
drove to Hogwarts.
_____ _____ 4. Two delicious-looking chocolate frogs leaped out of the Hogwarts Express
after they were unwrapped.
_____ _____ 5.Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is well-known for its magical
classes.
_____ _____ 6. Studying magic is fun but challenging for students at Hogwarts.
_____ _____ 7. Harry Potter is one such student.
_____ _____ 8. Harry has many friends at Hogwarts, but his best friends are the athletic
Ron and the brainy Hermione.
_____ _____ 9. Ron’s parents are wizards, but Hermione’s parents are dentists.
_____ _____ 10. Harry’s life is constantly threatened by the evil wizard Voldemort.
_____ _____ 11. He killed Harry’s mother and father.
_____ _____ 12. The Headmaster at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore, is a wise and
powerful wizard.
_____ _____ 13. Many Hogwarts students keep magical animals as pets.
The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 594-5611 x5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/instruction/humanities/writingcenter/
DLA: Parts of Speech 4
_____ _____ 14. When Harry put on the sorting hat, he was placed in Slytherin until he
repeated, “Not Slytherin,” to himself.
_____ _____ 15. Yeah, life at Hogwarts can be dangerous, but it is never boring!
 3a. Collect some of your graded work that identifies errors in parts of speech usage. Correct
all marked errors and look for others to correct as well. Bring this revised work with you
to the DLA tutoring session.
If you do not have your own essay to work with, please complete the supplemental
activity below (3b).
 3b. Review the above information on parts of speech. Write eight different sentences and
underline its part of speech.
Noun ____________________________________________________________________
Verb
Pronoun
______________________________________
_______
Adjective __________________________________________________________________
Adverb
Preposition
______________________________________
Conjunction
The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 594-5611 x5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/instruction/humanities/writingcenter/
_______
DLA: Parts of Speech 5
Interjection
______________________________________
 4.
_______
Review: Sign-up to see a tutor on the “DLA Walk-in” list. During your session with a tutor,
explain the different parts of speech. Refer to your own graded writing (or the completed
activity) and explain to the tutor strategies that you used to identify these various forms and
how knowledge of this can help improve your writing style.
Student’s signature:
Date:
Tutor’s signature:
Date:
IMPORTANT NOTE: All the activities (3) in this DLA must be completed in their entirety
before meeting with a tutor and receiving credit. If your instructor wants evidence of this
completed DLA, return this form to him or her with the tutor’s signature included.
The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 594-5611 x5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/instruction/humanities/writingcenter/