Understanding Parts of Speech

Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, APR, CPRC Florida A&M University, 2009 ©

UnderstandingUnderstanding

Parts of SpeechParts of SpeechDr. LaRae M. Donnellan, APR, CPRC

Language Skills for JournalistsSchool of Journalism & Graphic Communication

Florida A&M University


What Are Parts of Speech?

• What we call the words we use.• “…[P]arts of speech refer to what words are,

[while] the parts of a sentence [refer] to what words do – that is, how they are used in a sentence.” (Brooks, Pinson & Wilson, Working with Words)


Think VAINCAPP

• V erbs• A djectives• I nterjections• N ouns• C onjunctions

• A dverbs

• P ronouns

• P repositions


Verbs

Verbs are the most-powerful words in our writing.

1. Verbs show action.– Walk, stride, stroll, amble– See, observe, recognize, examine– Hold, embrace, support

As global climate change

overpowers our existence,

we must caress the Earth.


Verbs

2. Verbs indicate a “state of being.”– Am, is, are, was, were, has been, will be

Gloria is ecstatic because

school is out.

She was excited to learn the

concert will be in Tallahassee.


Adjectives

• Adjectives modify (or describe) a noun or noun substitute. They give us more details.– How many: three dogs, several ideas– What kind: excellent job, large house– Which/whose: that prize, Adam’s book

What an adorable pig holding that

beautiful daisy!


Interjections

• Interjections show emotion or a break in thought:– Geez! Hey! Oops! Bingo! Alleluia! Good lord! Hmm…

• Think of “Super hero” or “Batman” words: – Wow! Bam! Yikes!

Well, isn’t that special!

He said, you know, that it’s OK.


Nouns

• Nouns name people, places, things, ideas or qualities:– People: Josh, girl, family, choir, team– Places: backyard, Florida, library– Things: house, book, river– Ideas/qualities: freedom, greed, excitement

Amir bragged to his cousin abouthis baby daughter’s beauty.


Nouns

• Nouns take two forms:– Common nouns are not capitalized and refer to a

generic person or thing.– Proper nouns are capitalized and refer to a special

person/thing.

Marcus and his son, James,

romped in the park in Atlanta.


Conjunctions

• Conjunctions connect:– Words: this or that, Tom and Jerry– Phrases: skipping school but getting caught– Clauses: Either I’m going with Meg

or I’m going by myself.

Alex and Cassie are excited because school has begun.


Conjunctions

• Coordinate conjunctions join items of equal rank.– Think “FANBOYS”: For And Nor But Or Yet So

• Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and join items of equal rank.– either … or not only … but also if … then

• Subordinate conjunctions join items of unequal rank.– although, because, as long as, until

If their friends join the choir, then Jon and Kate will, too, because they love to sing.


Adverbs

• Adverbs modify (or describe) verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They tell us how, when, where, to what degree or how much:– Verbs: He rises slowly, sings beautifully, plays well– Adjectives: It’s a totally cool band, very pretty woman– Adverbs: She drove too recklessly, cooks very well

Mark watched very intently as the lead car rounded the exceedingly steep curve.


Pronouns

• Pronouns take the place of nouns.• Pronouns take one of three forms:

– Subjective: I, you, he, she, it, they, we– Objective: me, you, him, her, it, them, us– Possessive: my, your, his, her, its, theirs, ours

She crawled to my computer and stared at it, which made me giggle.


Prepositions

• Prepositions show the relationship between nouns and something else in the sentence.– They show direction: over, under, to, from, into, upon– They indicate time: until, during, at, in– They show connections: like, of, with, for, on top of – Prepositions are “anywhere a bird can go.”

The parrot soared over the forest and landed on top of the tent.


Identify the Parts of Speech

We adore cuddly babies. 1 2 3 4

1 We = pronoun

2 adore = verb

3 cuddly = adjective

4 babies = noun



Well, Michael is especially talented. 1 2 3 4 5

1 Well = interjection

2 Michael = noun

3 is = verb

4 especially = adverb

5 talented = adjective



Ben and Jerry partied until dawn. 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 Ben = noun2 and = conjunction3 Jerry = noun4 partied = verb5 until = preposition6 dawn = noun


What are the Parts of Speech?

Think VAINCAPP

Education

Understanding Parts of Speech