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Grammar and Usage Unit 1: Parts of speech

Every word in a sentence plays a role. Knowing the parts of speech makes every other grammar rule easier.

Covers: Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections

Study guide

Every word in a sentence plays a role called its part of speech. Nouns name people, places, things and ideas (teacher, city, freedom); proper nouns are capitalized. Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition, including personal pronouns (I, she, they), possessive pronouns (his, theirs), relative pronouns (who, which, that) and indefinite pronouns (everyone, some).

Verbs show actions (run, write) or states of being (is, seem). Helping verbs like has, will and can combine with main verbs, and verbs change form to show tense.

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns, answering which one, what kind or how many (tall, three, blue). Articles (a, an, the) are a kind of adjective. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs, answering how, when, where or to what extent, and many end in -ly (quickly, very, yesterday).

Prepositions show relationships between a noun and other words, often location or time (in, on, under, before, during). A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with its object (under the table).

Conjunctions connect words and clauses. Coordinating conjunctions join equal parts and can be remembered as FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, when, if, since) start dependent clauses. Correlative conjunctions come in pairs (either…or, neither…nor).

Interjections express emotion and stand apart from the sentence (Wow! Oh no!). The same word can be different parts of speech depending on how it's used: "run" is a verb in "I run" and a noun in "a long run."

Linking verbs (be, seem, become, appear, and the sense verbs look, sound, smell, taste and feel) connect the subject to a word that describes it, so they are followed by an adjective, not an adverb. Write "The soup smells delicious" and "She feels bad," not "deliciously" or "badly." Good is an adjective ("a good game," "The pie tastes good"), and well is usually an adverb ("She played well"). Well is also an adjective when it means healthy ("I feel well today").

After verbs like find, make, consider and keep, an adjective can describe the object rather than the verb: "I found the book interesting," "The news made her happy." The word describes the noun, so it stays an adjective. Most adverbs form comparisons with more and most ("more easily," "most carefully"). A few short adverbs take -er and -est (faster, harder), and well becomes better and best.

Key ideas

• Nouns name; pronouns replace nouns; verbs show action or being.
• Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
• Prepositions show relationships (in, on, under, before).
• Coordinating conjunctions join equals: FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
• A word's part of speech depends on how it's used in the sentence.

Formulas and rules

Common mistakes

• Using an adjective where an adverb is needed ("She sings good").
• Assuming a word always has the same part of speech.

Words to know

Adverb

Modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb.

Preposition

Shows a relationship, like in, on, under.

FANBOYS

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Pronoun

A word that replaces a noun.

Interjection

A word expressing emotion, like 'Wow!'

Noun

Names a person, place, thing or idea.

Proper noun

A specific name, capitalized (Chicago).

Verb

Shows action or a state of being.

Helping verb

Combines with a main verb: has, will, can.

Adjective

Describes a noun or pronoun.

Article

A, an, the.

Coordinating conjunction

Joins equal parts: FANBOYS.

Subordinating conjunction

Starts a dependent clause: because, although, when, if.

Correlative conjunctions

Pairs like either…or, neither…nor.

Prepositional phrase

A preposition plus its object: under the table.

Sample practice questions

5 more questions like these, from level 1 to 5, are in the practice set.