Parts of Speech

Name
Definition

Function

Noun --also called a substantive--is a word, phrase, or clause that names just about anything -- a person, place, thing, or concept: for example, boy, John, city, Salzburg, desk, honesty A noun may function as a subject, a direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, subjective complement, objective complement, or an appositive.

Pronoun --also called a substantive--is a word that substitutes for a noun. There are various kinds of pronouns: personal, indefinite, relative, reciprocal, reflexive, and interrogative. Here are some examples: he, she, they, it, someone, anyone, who, which, what, each other, one another, myself, herself, himself Since a pronoun is a substitute for a noun, it performs many of the same functions as the noun does.

Verb is a word or phrase that expresses a physical or mental action as well as a state of being (that is, to indicate that something exists): run, think, is, appear, become. A verb is the heart of the sentence. It makes an assertion of some sort, telling us what the subject does, what happens to the subject, or in what state of existence the subject finds itself. There are both finite verbs and nonfinite verbs.

Adjective is a word, phrase, or clause that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun: large man, red house, running water. She is sympathetic. An adjective changes the quality of the noun or pronoun it is describing. Instead of our just saying "girl," we can add an adjective and say "intelligent girl."

Adverb is a word, phrase, or clause that describes or modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb: soon, fast, quietly. An adverb is the most flexible part of speech because it can often move more freely in the sentence and describe several other parts of speech

Preposition is a word--usually a small word--that connects a noun or pronoun (called its object) with another word in the sentence: in the water, on the table, against the war. The preposition, along with its object and modifiers of the object, is referred to as a prepositional phrase. This phrase may function in the sentence as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Conjunction is a word that joins one element in a sentence to another. If the elements are equals, the conjunction is called a coodinating conjunction. If the elements are not equal, the conjunction is called a subordinating conjunctiion: and, but, yet, so, nor, for, or, while, since, before, although, though, as. Since the conjunction is a joiner, it may join compound subjects, verbs, direct objects, and other elements of the sentence.

Determiner

is a category of words that includes articles (a, an, the, some), demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those), possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, their, its) and possessive noun phrases (the child's dog).
In that it modifies a noun, the determiner functions as an adjective.

Return to English 139

Name	Definition	Function
Noun	--also called a substantive--is a word, phrase, or clause that names just about anything -- a person, place, thing, or concept: for example, boy, John, city, Salzburg, desk, honesty	A noun may function as a subject, a direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, subjective complement, objective complement, or an appositive.
Pronoun	--also called a substantive--is a word that substitutes for a noun. There are various kinds of pronouns: personal, indefinite, relative, reciprocal, reflexive, and interrogative. Here are some examples: he, she, they, it, someone, anyone, who, which, what, each other, one another, myself, herself, himself	Since a pronoun is a substitute for a noun, it performs many of the same functions as the noun does.
Verb	is a word or phrase that expresses a physical or mental action as well as a state of being (that is, to indicate that something exists): run, think, is, appear, become.	A verb is the heart of the sentence. It makes an assertion of some sort, telling us what the subject does, what happens to the subject, or in what state of existence the subject finds itself. There are both finite verbs and nonfinite verbs.
Adjective	*is a word, phrase, or clause that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun: large* man, red house, running water. She is sympathetic.**	An adjective changes the quality of the noun or pronoun it is describing. Instead of our just saying "girl," we can add an adjective and say "intelligent girl."
Adverb	is a word, phrase, or clause that describes or modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb: soon, fast, quietly.	An adverb is the most flexible part of speech because it can often move more freely in the sentence and describe several other parts of speech
Preposition	*is a word--usually a small word--that connects a noun or pronoun (called its object) with another word in the sentence: in the water, on the table, against* the war.**	The preposition, along with its object and modifiers of the object, is referred to as a prepositional phrase. This phrase may function in the sentence as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Conjunction	is a word that joins one element in a sentence to another. If the elements are equals, the conjunction is called a coodinating conjunction. If the elements are not equal, the conjunction is called a subordinating conjunctiion: and, but, yet, so, nor, for, or, while, since, before, although, though, as.	Since the conjunction is a joiner, it may join compound subjects, verbs, direct objects, and other elements of the sentence.
Determiner	is a category of words that includes articles (a, an, the, some), demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those), possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, their, its) and possessive noun phrases (the child's dog).	In that it modifies a noun, the determiner functions as an adjective.