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English Grammar 101: Parts of Speech

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A word is a “part of speech” only when it is used in a sentence. The function the word serves in a sentence is what makes it whatever part of speech it is.

For example, the word “run” can be used as more than one part of speech:

Sammy hit a home run. (run is a noun, direct object of hit)

You mustn’t run near the swimming pool. (run is a verb, part of the verb phrase must (not) run)

Here is a simple overview of the English parts of speech and what they do. Each part of speech is linked to an DWT article that tells more about it.

NOUN – Nouns are naming words. We can’t talk about anything until we have given it a name.

PRONOUN – A pronoun is a word that stands for a noun.

VERBS – The verb is the motor that runs the sentence. A verb enables us to say something about a noun.

ADJECTIVE – An adjective is a word that describes a noun.

ADVERB – An adverb adds meaning to a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

PREPOSITION – a preposition is a word that comes in front of a noun or a pronoun and shows a connection between that noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentence

CONJUNCTION – a conjunction joins words and groups of words.

INTERJECTION — An interjection is a word or phrase thrown into a sentence to express an emotion, for example, Homer Simpson’s “Doh!”

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15 thoughts on “English Grammar 101: Parts of Speech”

  1. I’m really thankfull if you help me in improving my grammer and guide me to speak english fluently.

    thanks.
    Talha Malik

  2. It’s lovely to find this web. though we do not have background in English literary but all documents so helpful and give much benefits for me to talkative as if I am a native, even my original background as Javenese soundly influenced more.

    But, is any article due management thinking of speaking as a native? As we try to share English communication for our partner but seem difficult for them to absorb that idea……………………………

  3. i am not a native speaker I need to Improve my daily discussion in english there for i need a diologue list in speake

  4. Its a pleasure to find a site like this but my problem is i still have confusion over the difference between traditional and modern classifications of english parts of speech. I need more clarrification please.

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