At the core of the English language lies a simple truth: every word has a role to play. These roles are the 8 parts of speech, the building blocks that give structure and meaning to everything we say and write.

Think of them as the foundation of language, the essential elements that transform a jumble of words into clear, powerful sentences.

 Whether you’re writing a novel, jotting down a note, or simply having a conversation, these eight parts are at work, making communication possible when combined with grammar rules.

Let’s explore each one and learn how they form the foundation of the English language. 

What is a Part of Speech?

A part of speech (or a word class) is essentially the job a word performs in a sentence. Just like each musician in an orchestra has a role in bringing the music to life, every word in the English language has a specific function. These functions help us understand how words relate to one another, and they’re what give our sentences structure and clarity.

The eight parts of speech in English are nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Understanding these categories is key to mastering the art of communication. Whether it’s a noun naming a person, place, or thing, or a verb that brings action to the scene, each part of speech has a unique role that contributes to the overall meaning of what we say and write. Understanding these categories is key to mastering the art of communication.

1. Nouns

Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. Think of them as the bread and butter of your sentences that can function as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence.

Some Types of Nouns:

• Common nouns: general names (e.g., city, dog, book)
• Proper nouns: specific names (e.g., London, Fido, “To Kill a Mockingbird”)
• Concrete nouns: tangible things (e.g., chair, water, sun)
• Abstract nouns: intangible concepts (e.g., love, justice, time)
• Collective nouns: groups (e.g., team, flock, committee)

Example: The professor (common noun) from Oxford University (proper noun) discussed the importance of empathy (abstract noun) within the committee (collective noun) on leadership (abstract noun).

2. Pronouns

Imagine if you had to repeat a person’s name or a thing every time you mentioned it—your writing would become repetitive and less engaging. 

That’s where pronouns come in!

Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition and provide clarity in sentences.

Some Types of Nouns:

• Personal: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
• Possessive: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
• Relative: who, whom, whose, which, that
• Demonstrative: this, that, these, those
• Indefinite: anyone, someone, everyone, nobody

Example: ‘Sarah said she (personal pronoun) would bring her (possessive pronoun) report, which (relative pronoun) was due yesterday. This (demonstrative pronoun) surprised everyone (indefinite pronoun), as they (personal pronoun) thought the deadline was next week. Whose (relative pronoun) responsibility was it to keep track of that (demonstrative pronoun)?’

3. Verbs

Verbs have many roles, including driving action and expressing states of being. Without them, sentences would be static and lack the energy that propels your writing forward. Plus, they’re essential in forming complete sentences that convey clear meaning.

A Few Types of Verbs:

• Action Verbs: These are dynamic words that show what the subject is doing (e.g., run, write, sing, study). They bring life and movement to your sentences.

• Linking Verbs: These verbs don’t show action. Instead, they connect the subject with more information about it (e.g., is, am, are, was, were, seem, appear). They act like an equals sign in a sentence.

• Auxiliary Verbs: Also known as helping verbs, they pair with main verbs to express different tenses, moods, or voices (e.g., have, has, had, will, can, may, must). They add nuance and depth to the main verb.

Example: ‘The researchers are (linking verb) conducting (action verb) experiments and will (auxiliary verb) publish their findings next month.’

4. Adjectives

Adjectives are like the artists of the language, adding colour, detail, and depth to nouns and pronouns. They allow us to paint a clearer picture in the reader’s mind by providing more information about the qualities, quantities, or states of the things we describe.

Types of Adjectives:

• Descriptive: beautiful, tall, intelligent
• Quantitative: some, many, few
• Demonstrative: this, that, these, those
• Possessive: my, your, his, her, its, our, their

Example: ‘The diligent (descriptive) student completed three (quantitative) challenging (descriptive) assignments.’

5. Adverbs

Adverbs add detail to verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and help fine-tune the meaning of a sentence, making your writing more dynamic and specific. They often answer questions like how, when, where, or to what extent.

Types of Adverbs:

• Manner: Describes how something is done (e.g., quickly, carefully, well).

• Time: Indicates when something happens (e.g., now, soon, never).

• Place: Tells us where something happens (e.g., here, there, everywhere).

• Degree: Shows the intensity or extent (e.g., very, extremely, almost).

Example: ‘The team worked diligently (manner) and completed the project remarkably (degree) quickly (manner).’

6. Prepositions

Prepositions establish connections between words in a sentence, typically indicating relationships of time, place, or direction. They help provide context and clarify the relationships between different elements.

Common Prepositions:

• Time: at, on, in, during, before, after
• Place: in, on, at, over, under, between
• Direction: to, from, towards, into, onto

Example: ‘She arrived at the station (place) before noon (time) and walked towards the exit (direction).’

7. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. They are essential for creating complex sentences and showing relationships between ideas.

Types of Conjunctions:

• Coordinating Conjunctions: Join words or groups of words of equal importance (and, but, or, yet, for, nor, so ). An easy way to remember them is FANBOYS
• Subordinating Conjunctions: Introduce subordinate clauses and show the relationship between the main clause and the subordinate clause (because, although, if, when, since, while)
• Correlative Conjunctions: Work in pairs to connect related elements (either/or, neither/nor, such/that, whether/or, not only/but also, both/and, as many/as, no sooner/than)

Example: ‘Although (subordinating) it was raining, we decided to go for a walk, but (coordinating) we took umbrellas with us.’ 

8. Interjections

Interjections are the bursts of emotion in language, expressing strong feelings or reactions. They can stand alone or be inserted into sentences and are usually set apart by an exclamation mark or comma. These words bring energy and immediacy to your writing.

Examples:

 • Wow!
 • Oh!
 • Ouch!
 • Well,
 • Alas,
 • Indeed

Example in a sentence: “Ouch! I stubbed my toe. Well, I suppose I should be more careful.”

Are Articles and Determiners Parts of Speech?

Some people today regard articles and determiners as the 9th part of speech, yes. However, when categorised into 8 parts, articles/determiners are a subcategory of adjectives. 

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. There are three articles in English:

• ‘The’ (Definite Article): Specifies a particular noun that is known to the reader or listener. ‘The book on the table is mine.’ (A specific book)

• ‘A’ and ‘An’ (Indefinite Articles): Refer to a more general noun that is not specified. ‘I saw a dog in the park.’ (Any dog, not a specific one) ‘She wants an apple.’ (Any apple)

Determiners are a broader category that includes articles as well as other words that modify nouns to clarify what is being referred to. This category can include:

• Demonstratives: This, that, these, those ‘This book is interesting.’

• Possessives: My, your, his, her, its, our, their ‘Their car is parked outside.’

• Quantifiers: Some, many, few, several ‘She has some money left.’

Can 1 Word Belong To Different Parts of Speech?

Yes, it can! Understanding the 8 parts of speech is crucial for mastering English grammar, but it’s equally important to recognise how these components work together to create meaning. A single word can function as different parts of speech depending on its context within a sentence.

For example:

• “The paint (noun) is still wet.”
• “We need to paint (verb) the walls.”
• “I bought some paint (noun) brushes.”

Remember, while these categories provide a framework for understanding English grammar, language is dynamic and evolving. Some words can function as multiple parts of speech, and usage can change over time.

You Know the 8 Parts of Speech—Now, Put Them To Action!

Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections – we’ve covered the 8 parts of speech! These parts form the foundation of our communication.

Each part plays a unique role, helping us construct sentences that are clear, engaging, and effective. From the nouns that name objects to the verbs that bring action to our words, understanding these elements is key to mastering the art of language.

Grammar might seem daunting at first, but remember, every great writer once had to learn these basics. Keep practicing, keep experimenting, and let these parts of speech guide you in crafting sentences that sing.