In the English language, words can be
considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on
their use and functions, words are categorized into several types. Every single
word we use belongs to one of ninet word groups or parts of speech. We use
thousands of words, and they can all be separated into eight groups!
We can categorize them
into 9 basic types called "word classes". It's quite
important to recognize parts of speech. This helps you to analyze sentences and
understand them. It also helps you to construct good sentences.
Parts
of Speech Table
This
is a summary of the 9 parts of speech*. You can find more detail if you click
on each part of speech.
part
of speech
|
function
or "job"
|
example
words
|
example
sentences
|
action
or state
|
(to)
be, have, do, like, work, sing, can, must
|
EnglishClub is a
web site. I like EnglishClub.
|
|
thing
or person
|
pen,
dog, work, music, town, London, teacher, John
|
This
is my dog. He lives in my house. We live in London.
|
|
describes
a noun
|
good,
big, red, well, interesting
|
My
dogs are big. I like bigdogs.
|
|
limits
or "determines" a noun
|
a/an,
the, 2, some, many
|
I
have two dogs and somerabbits.
|
|
describes
a verb, adjective or adverb
|
quickly,
silently, well, badly, very, really
|
My
dog eats quickly. When he is very hungry, he eats reallyquickly.
|
|
replaces
a noun
|
I,
you, he, she, some
|
Tara
is Indian. She is beautiful.
|
|
links
a noun to another word
|
to,
at, after, on, but
|
We
went to school on Monday.
|
|
joins
clauses or sentences or words
|
and,
but, when
|
I
like dogs and I like cats. I like cats and dogs. I like
dogs but I don't like cats.
|
|
short
exclamation, sometimes inserted into a sentence
|
oh!,
ouch!, hi!, well
|
Ouch!
That hurts! Hi! How are you? Well, I don't know.
|
