Download Study Advice Service Student Support Services Grammar: Parts of

Study Advice Service
Student Support Services
Grammar: Parts of speech checklist
A handy list of parts of speech, with examples of their use
If you want to know more about parts of speech, see the Study Advice Service leaflet:
“Grammar Series 1 - Word Classes”
Part of
speech
Adjective
When to use it
To describe things, people or
actions.
Tells more about a noun (see
below).
For example
Small, square, blue, old, beautiful, broken,
dangerous, terrible.
It is a beautiful day. The brown dog wagged its
short tail. The tall man won the race.
Comparative To compare two things or
Adjective
people.
Quicker, more expensive, easier.
I am taller than Jim. The vase is more expensive
than the teapot.
Superlative
Adjective
To compare more than two
things or people.
Tallest, fastest, most interesting, best.
Peter is the tallest in the group. I am the eldest of
five sisters.
Adverb
To describe the way an action
is carried out or how someone
does something — how, why,
when, or where.
Tells more about a verb (see
below).
Slowly, carefully, often, never, high, shyly, loudly.
The arrow flew upwards and straight. I often go to
the cinema. The postman runs quickly when he
sees the dog. The driver sounded the horn angrily.
Later, the snow stopped.
Article
Used with a noun (see below)
to define a particular thing or
person (definite) or any thing
or person (indefinite).
The describes a particular thing. This is the car I
would like (a specific car).
A, An describe any thing. I would like a car
(any car).
Conjunction
To join two sentences, two
phrases or two words.
And, because, or, but, although, whereas, if, as, for,
yet, that, when, since, while, until, though, unless,
whether.
Men and women. I was late because I missed the
bus. The wind was cold although it was May.
Common
Noun
To name or label things, places, Dog, elephant, hospital, cupboard, girl.
people, animals, ideas, groups The dog buries the bone.
of things etc.
Proper
Noun
To name or label a specific item Mary, John, Wednesday, Birmingham.
(usually one of a kind). Starts Shall we go and visit Carolyn at her home in
with a capital letter no matter
Scarborough on Tuesday?
where it occurs in a sentence.
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Collective
Noun
To name or label a group of
people or a collection of things
(more than one).
Committee, team, class, group, collection, set.
Preposition
To link a noun (see above) to
other words to give a sense of
time, place, direction etc.
In, at, on, from, to, until, since, for, before, after,
during, by, with, without, about, above, of.
I will see you on Tuesday. The purse is on the
table.
Look at those children. I have been waiting since
yesterday.
Subject
Pronoun
To replace a noun (see above) I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
that is a subject in a sentence to When George got up he had his breakfast. She
avoid repetition.
phoned to cancel the appointment.
Object
Pronoun
To replace a noun (see above) Me, him, her, us, them, it, you.
that is an object in a sentence to We met them when we were on holiday.
avoid repetition.
Possessive
Pronoun
To replace a noun (see above)
that shows ownership to avoid
repetition.
Ours, mine, yours, his, hers, theirs.
This handbag is mine. Yours is the correct
answer.
Verb
To state what is going on/action/
doing/ being in the past, present
or future: what is, what has gone
on or what was and what will go
on or will be.
I like the film (present tense). The dog catches the
ball (present tense). She sang in the choir (past
tense). Mike thought about Sue (past tense). Philip
will post the letter tomorrow (future tense). He will
see his friends next week (future tense).
All web addresses in this leaflet were correct at the time of publication.
The information in this leaflet can be made available in an alternative
format on request. Telephone 01482 466199.
© 11/2007
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