Part of Speech – Definition, 8 Types, and Examples

Part of Speech

In English grammar, every word belongs to a specific category based on the role it plays in a sentence. These categories are known as parts of speech. Learn about the definitions, types, and examples of Part of Speech in this article.

Table of Contents

1. What is Part of Speech?

2. Definition of Part of Speech

3. Types of Parts of Speech with Examples

4. Sentence Examples for the 8 Parts of Speech

5. Practice Exercise: Test Your Understanding of Part of Speech

6. Frequently Asked Questions on Part of Speech

What is Part of Speech?

Part of Speech is among the foundational concepts of grammar taught early in English language learning. They categorise words based on their function in a sentence. Some words can serve multiple roles, depending on the context in which they are used.

Definition of Part of Speech

• • The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines Part of Speech as “classes into which words are divided based on their grammatical roles, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.”

  • The Cambridge Dictionary offers a similar definition: “Groups into which words are categorised, such as noun, verb, and adjective.”

Types of Part of Speech with Examples

English has eight primary Parts of Speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

1. Nouns

Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas. They can be common (generic) or proper (specific).

Examples of nouns in sentences:

• • The dog is barking. (thing)
  • Emma lives in Paris. (person, place)
  • We value honesty. (idea)

 2. Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns in a sentence. Types include personal, possessive, relative, and indefinite pronouns.

Examples of pronouns in sentences:

• • She loves ice cream. (Personal)
  • Is this yours? (possessive)
  • Who is at the door? (relative)
  • Nobody was home. (indefinite)

3. Verbs

Verbs express actions, occurrences, or states. These action words form the core of most sentences.

Examples of verbs in sentences:

• • He runs every morning.
  • The flowers are blooming.
  • Do you know the answer?

4. Adverbs

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide details about time, manner, degree, place, or frequency.

Examples of adverbs in sentences:

• • She sings beautifully. (manner)
  • We will meet tomorrow. (time)
  • He rarely makes mistakes. (frequency)

5. Adjectives

Adjectives describe or modify nouns, providing more detail about their characteristics.

Examples of adjectives in sentences:

• • The tall man waved at us.
  • It was a delicious meal.
  • The colourful rainbow appeared after the rain.

6. Prepositions

Prepositions link nouns or pronouns to other words in a sentence, often indicating direction, place, or time.

Examples of prepositions in sentences:

• • The keys are on the table.
  • She walked through the park.
  • We stayed until midnight.

7. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. Types include coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions.

Examples of conjunctions in sentences:

• • I wanted to go, but I was too tired.
  • She stayed home because it was raining.
  • Neither Sam nor Kate showed up.

8. Interjections

Interjections express strong emotions or reactions and are often followed by exclamation marks.

Examples of interjections in sentences:

• • Wow! This cake is amazing.
  • Oh! I forgot my wallet.
  • Yay! We won the game.

Sentence Examples for the 8 Part of Speech

1. Noun – Sarah is reading a book.

2. Pronoun – Is this her jacket?

3. Verb – The dog barked loudly.

4. Adverb – The train arrived late.

5. Adjective – The view from the hill was breathtaking.

6. Preposition – The cat is under the table.

7. Conjunction – I stayed home, yet I managed to finish my work.

8. Interjection – Alas! The opportunity is lost.

Practice Exercise: Identify the Part of the Speech

Identify the Part of Speech for the highlighted words:

1. My sister is very kind.

2. They quickly ran to the store.

3. Wow! This is fantastic news.

4. The dog jumped over the fence.

5. I believe she is honest.

Check your answers:

1. Sister – Noun

2. Quickly – Adverb

3. Wow – Interjection

4. Over – Preposition

5. Believe – Verb

Frequently Asked Questions on Part of Speech

Q1. What is Part of Speech?
Part of Speech is a class of words that have specific grammatical roles within a sentence, contributing to its structure and meaning.

Q2. How many Parts of Speech are there in English?
There are eight primary Parts of Speech.

Q3. What are the 8 Parts of Speech?
The categories are nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.