Parts of Speech in English – Definition, Types & Examples
Parts of speech are the basic building blocks of the English language. Every word in a sentence belongs to a specific category based on the role it plays. Understanding parts of speech helps learners form correct sentences, improve grammar, and communicate clearly.
In English, there are 8 main parts of speech.
- Noun
A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea.
Examples:
- Person: teacher, student
- Place: school, city
- Thing: book, phone
- Idea: freedom, happiness
Example sentences:
- The teacher explained the lesson.
- She bought a new phone.
- Pronoun
A pronoun replaces a noun to avoid repetition.
Common pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
Example sentences:
- John is my friend. He lives nearby.
- This book is mine. It is interesting.
- Verb
A verb shows action or state of being.
Action verbs: run, write, eat
State verbs: is, am, are, seem
Example sentences:
- She writes every day.
- They are happy.
- Adjective
An adjective describes a noun.
Examples: big, small, beautiful, fast
Example sentences:
- She wore a beautiful dress.
- It was a cold morning.
- Adverb
An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Most adverbs end in -ly.
Examples: quickly, slowly, very
Example sentences:
- He ran quickly.
- She speaks very clearly.
- Preposition
A preposition shows the relationship between a noun and another word.
Common prepositions: in, on, at, under, between
Example sentences:
- The book is on the table.
- She sat between her friends.
- Conjunction
A conjunction joins words, phrases, or sentences.
Common conjunctions: and, but, or, because
Example sentences:
- I wanted to go, but it was raining.
- She studied hard because she had an exam.
- Interjection
An interjection expresses emotion.
Examples: wow, oh, hey, alas
Example sentences:
- Wow! That’s amazing.
- Oh! I forgot my keys.
Why Parts of Speech Are Important
- Help form correct sentences
- Improve writing and speaking
- Make grammar learning easier
Understanding parts of speech is the foundation of mastering English grammar.