Parts of Speech

Introduction

Function Comes Before Appearance

A part of speech names a word's job in a particular sentence. In The spring rain ended, spring is a noun used adjectivally; in We spring forward, it is a verb. Nouns and pronouns can head subjects or objects; finite verbs agree with subjects; adjectives modify nouns or pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or whole clauses. Prepositions begin phrases, conjunctions join elements or introduce dependent clauses, and interjections stand grammatically apart.

Pronoun form depends on function: I/she/we/they serve as subjects, while me/her/us/them serve as objects. Worked example: In After the long meeting, they quietly revised it, after is a preposition, meeting a noun, they and it pronouns, quietly an adverb, and revised a verb.

Why This Matters: Use language structure and context to choose clear, accurate sentences in academic and everyday writing.

What You Need to Know

Parts of speech are categories that describe how words function in sentences. There are eight traditional major parts of speech; articles are commonly treated as determiners within that framework.

Worked sentence breakdown

“The careful writer quickly revised the draft.”

Use the word's role in this sentence rather than assuming one word always has the same part of speech.

Use the reference to solve a sentence

Identify the subject and verb first. Then ask which word a modifier describes. You do not need a mnemonic for reciting the categories.

The Eight Parts of Speech

1. Noun

What it is: Person, place, thing, or idea

2. Pronoun

What it is: Replaces a noun

3. Verb

What it is: Action or state of being

4. Adjective

What it is: Describes a noun

Examples: red, large, painful, careful, three In a sentence: "The careful nurse assessed the elderly patient."

5. Adverb

What it is: Describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb Often ends in: -ly

Examples: quickly, carefully, very, extremely, never In a sentence: "She carefully administered the medication."

6. Preposition

What it is: Shows relationship between words (location, time, direction)

Examples: in, on, at, by, with, under, over, between, through In a sentence: "The chart is on the desk by the window."

7. Conjunction

What it is: Connects words, phrases, or clauses

8. Interjection

An interjection stands apart to express a reaction: “Oh! I forgot my notes.”

Worked correction

“The careful writer revised the draft quick.” Writer is the subject, revised is the verb, and draft receives the action. Careful correctly describes writer. Quick must describe the action revised, so use the adverb quickly: “The careful writer revised the draft quickly.” Endings alone are not enough: friendly is an adjective, and fast can be an adjective or an adverb.

Adjective vs. Adverb

Common confusion:

• Good (adjective) vs. Well (adverb)
• "She did a good job." (good describes job)
• "She performed well." (well describes performed)

💡 Pro Tips

• Find the verb first — every sentence needs one
• Nouns are often subjects or objects of sentences
• Adverbs often end in -ly (but not always: fast, well, very)
• Prepositions always have objects: "on the table" (table = object)
• On the TEAS: Most questions focus on using the correct form (adjective vs. adverb)

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Good vs. well: "I feel good" (describes how you feel) vs. "I did well" (describes how you performed)
• Using adjectives as adverbs: "She writes good" ✗ → "She writes well" ✓
• Confusing its/it's: its shows possession before a noun (its cover); it's = it is or it has
• Missing the linking verb: Some verbs (is, seems, appears) are followed by adjectives, not adverbs

Quick Reference

Parts of speech mastered! 💪 Next up: Subject-Verb Agreement