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Every part of speech

Eight jobs a word can do, the quick test for each, and where each job gets its own chapter.

You're looking at one word and need to name its part of speech. Don't reach for a memorized list: the same spelling can do different jobs (light is a noun, a verb, and an adjective in three different sentences). Find the word in its sentence and ask what it is doing there. Does it name a person, place, thing, or idea, and still sound fine with the or a in front? Noun. Does it stand in for a noun already named? Pronoun. Is it the action or state of being, the one word that changes form to show time (light, lit)? Verb. Does it describe? Ask what it's attached to: a thing or a person makes it an adjective; an action, an adjective, or another adverb makes it an adverb. Does it tie the noun after it to the rest of the sentence by place, time, or direction (under, before, with)? Preposition. Does it join words or clauses (and, but, because)? Conjunction. Does it only express a reaction, so the sentence is still complete when you cover it (wow, ouch)? Interjection.

Words that name

Term

noun

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A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

Example

Grab a drink from the cooler.

Names a person, place, thing, or idea; the test is to put the or a in front and listen.

Term

pronoun

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A word that takes the place of a noun already mentioned or understood.

Example

Omar packed his lunch, and he ate it at noon.

Stands in for a noun already named, so you don't repeat it.

Words that act

Term

verb

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A word expressing an action or a state of being.

Example

Please light the candle. → She lit the candle yesterday.

The action or state of being, and the only job that changes form to show time.

Words that describe

Term

adjective

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A word that describes a noun or pronoun.

Example

That's a fast car.

Attached to a thing or a person.

Term

adverb

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A word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

Example

She ran fast. / very tired

Attached to an action, an adjective, or another adverb, and it needs no -ly to do the job.

Words that connect or react

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A positioning word that tells where, when, or how something relates to a noun that follows it.

Example

under the porch, before the long meeting

Ties the noun after it to the rest of the sentence by place, time, or direction.

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A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses together.

Example

I cooked, and she cleaned. / We ate outside because the kitchen was hot.

Joins words, phrases, or clauses; a FANBOYS word joins equals, and a subordinator like because attaches a clause that can't stand alone.

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A word or short phrase that expresses emotion or reaction, standing apart from the sentence's grammar.

Example

Ouch, I just stubbed my toe on the coffee table.

A reaction with no grammar tie to the sentence; cover it and the sentence still stands.

One word, many jobs

Where each job goes deeper