The 8 Parts of Speech, Their Definition, Examples, and Rules

Language is a very broad, and at the same time, a very powerful tool that allows us to convey our thoughts and emotions in words. Each of these words in English can be classified into what we know as parts of speech.

There are 8 parts of speech and they are noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. The meaning of each of these parts is explained and can be understood well throughout the discussion.

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1

What is a Noun?

A noun is a word that names a thing. Be it a place, an object, a person, among others. So when you're talking about your favorite cat, toy, or even your friend, they are all nouns.

We have common nouns and proper nouns. 

Common nouns pertain to items that are general in nature. Let's use the word dog as an example. It is a common noun because it can represent any dog. 

On the other hand, proper nouns are more specific. Remember that a proper noun always starts with a capital letter. So even if they fall in the middle or in the end of a specific sentence, they are still capitalized. Let's take Justin for example. The most jolly person I have ever met was Justin.

2

What is a Pronoun?

To avoid certain nouns from being repeated over and over again in a paragraph, you may use a pronoun. In other words, they act like a substitute for specific nouns to which the sentence is referring.

There is a term called personal pronoun. It includes he, she, it, and they, among others. For example: Anna is an intelligent student. She always gets high scores. 

Another one is the indefinite pronoun. This encompasses everyone, anybody, nobody, and the like. For example: Everyone heard the announcement earlier.

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3

What is an Adjective?

An adjective is simply a describing word. It adds flavor to nouns by stating descriptive words about such nouns.

One category is the comparative adjectives that involve comparison about two things or more. Some of these are taller, smaller, lighter, and the like. For example: Jake is taller than Marcus.

Another one is superlative adjectives. Superlative adjectives indicate the highest degree of comparison such as tallest, smallest, and lightest, among others. For example: Cassandra believes that the ant she had seen was the smallest.

4

What is a Verb?

A verb indicates an action. Hence, it can also be described as action words. Examples include eating, walking, running, jogging, and jumping, among others. To use it in a sentence, observe this example: I see him jogging in the morning.

We also have auxiliary verbs which means helping verbs.  Such verbs assist the main verb in a specific sentence. Another one is a gerund or a verb ending with ing. It functions as a noun in a particular sentence. In other words, it combines the state of a verb with the function of a noun.

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5

What is an Adverb?

If you see words that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, that are adverbs. An adverb conveys information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action occurs. 

Here's an example of an adverb that modifies a verb: Leah sings beautifully. With regard to an adverb that modifies an adjective, here is an example: His attire is very cool. For an adverb that modifies another adverb, observe this sentence: Mark Lowie spoke quite loudly.

6

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is the part of a speech that indicates the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.

When you say, the phone is on the table, you are indicating the location of the book. Another example: Missy walked toward the park. This is a preposition of direction.

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7

What is Conjunction?

Conjunctions are like glue; they connect words. They are commonly used in complex sentences. 

There are three main types. The first one is coordinating conjunctions that include and, but, or, and so among others. Another one is subordinating conjunctions that include because, although, when, and since, among others. As for correlative conjunction, some examples are not only...but also, and whether...or.

For example: Hannah loves to read, but she doesn't have much free time. Another one: Not only did she finish the assignment on time, but also she got the highest mark.

8

What is an Interjection?

An interjection is the eighth part of speech, and this is a word inserted into a sentence to convey an emotion or feeling. As such, they are commonly used to express surprise, joy, and frustration, among other emotions.

So what is an interjection? They are basically expressive words or phrases that are used to convey emotions and reactions in everyday communication.

For example: Bravo, that was a fantastic output! Here's another one: Hooray, we won the match!

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How Do We Distinguish Them?

Distinguishing between the eight parts of speech involves understanding their roles in a sentence. Nouns name things, pronouns replace nouns, adjectives describe nouns, verbs show action, adverbs modify verbs, prepositions link words, conjunctions connect clauses, and interjections express emotions. By recognizing these functions, you can identify the part of speech in a sentence.

A Few More Notes

You have read about the eight parts of speech, including their meanings, examples, and functions in the English language. Hopefully, at this point in time, you can now distinguish one from the others and be able to communicate with more clarity and confidence. 

JHS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many parts of speech are there?

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There are eight main parts of speech.

What are the eight parts of speech?

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The eight parts of speech are noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

Can you provide more examples of each part of speech?

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Noun: "Cynthia," "Philippines"
Pronoun: "he," "she"
Adjective: "wonderful," "magical"
Verb: "writing," "playing"
Adverb: "frequently," "sometimes"
Preposition: "between," "beneath"
Conjunction: "and," "since"
Interjection: "hooray," "yikes"

What is a gerund?

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A gerund is a verb that ends with "ing." For example, singing.

What is the part of speech that describes a noun or other words?

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Adjectives. As explained, adjectives are describing words.

Why are parts of speech so important?

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Parts of speech are so important because they are considered the building blocks when it comes to conveying our thoughts. Further, they are the core of grammar rules. In short, they are the foundation of language.