Parts of Speech – Definition, Types & Examples
What Are Parts of Speech in English?
In English grammar, parts of speech are categories of words based on:
What the word does
How the word is used in a sentence
Every sentence in English is made by combining words from different parts of speech.
Understanding parts of speech helps learners:
Build correct sentences
Improve grammar accuracy
Speak and write English more confidently
The 8 Main Parts of Speech in English
English grammar has eight main parts of speech:
Noun
Pronoun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Conjunction
Interjection
Let’s understand each one clearly with definitions, rules, and examples.
1. Noun
What is a Noun?
A noun is the name of:
A person
A place
A thing
An idea
Examples of Nouns
Person: teacher, student, doctor
Place: school, city, India
Thing: book, phone, computer
Idea: confidence, honesty, freedom
Examples in sentences:
English grammar is important.
She lives in Mumbai.
Practice improves fluency.
2. Pronoun
What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun to avoid repetition.
Common Pronouns
I, you, he, she, it, we, they
me, him, her, us, them
this, that, these, those
Examples in Sentences
She is learning English.
I know him well.
They are practicing daily.
3. Verb
What is a Verb?
A verb shows:
An action
A state
An occurrence
Every sentence must have a verb.
Examples of Verbs
Action: learn, speak, write
State: is, am, are
Occurrence: become, grow
Examples in sentences:
She is learning English.
They practice every day.
He became confident.
4. Adjective
What is an Adjective?
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun.
It tells us:
What kind?
How many?
Which one?
Examples of Adjectives
good, bad, easy, difficult
many, few, several
this, that, those
Examples in sentences:
English is an important language.
She is a good speaker.
I attended an online class.
5. Adverb
What is an Adverb?
An adverb describes:
A verb
An adjective
Another adverb
It often tells us:
How?
When?
Where?
How often?
Examples of Adverbs
quickly, slowly
today, yesterday
here, there
always, often
Examples in sentences:
She speaks English fluently.
I practice daily.
He answered correctly.
6. Preposition
What is a Preposition?
A preposition shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word in the sentence.
It usually shows:
Place
Time
Direction
Common Prepositions
in, on, at, under, over, before, after, between, among
Examples in Sentences
The book is on the table.
She studies at night.
He came after the class.
7. Conjunction
What is a Conjunction?
A conjunction joins:
Words
Phrases
Clauses
Sentences
Common Conjunctions
and, but, or, so, because, although
Examples in Sentences
I practice daily and I improve.
She was tired but she continued.
He stayed home because it was raining.
8. Interjection
What is an Interjection?
An interjection expresses sudden feelings or emotions.
Examples of Interjections
wow!
oh!
hey!
alas!
Examples in sentences:
Wow! You speak English well.
Oh! I forgot my book.
Hey! Listen to me.
Parts of Speech in a Sentence (Example)
Sentence:
She is learning English very seriously.
| Word | Part of Speech |
|---|---|
| She | Pronoun |
| is | Verb |
| learning | Verb |
| English | Noun |
| very | Adverb |
| seriously | Adverb |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ She very speaks English.
✅ She speaks English very well.
❌ He is a confidence person.
✅ He is a confident person.
❌ Wow you did great!
✅ Wow! You did great!
Why Parts of Speech Are Important
Help you understand sentence structure
Improve grammar accuracy
Make speaking and writing clearer
Reduce common errors
Quick Summary
English has 8 main parts of speech
Every word belongs to a category
Each part has a specific role
Learning them improves fluency and clarity
✅ Tip for Learners
When confused about grammar, ask:
What job is this word doing in the sentence?
That will help you identify the part of speech correctly.