Eight  parts of speech

Nouns and pronouns

 

I was asked recently to explain pronouns, adverbs, prepositions and conjunctions. Despite being a native English speaker, I was not able to provide an easy answer as it has been so long since I even thought about it! 

 

I'm sure even native English speakers would also struggle to answer the question, but so I have created a lesson, it is on my page. In the meantime, please feel free to read below.

Every word you say has a role in a sentence. Every word is a part of speech. Today we are going to take a closer look at these eight parts of speech that make up nearly everything we say in English.

 

1. Nouns

Nouns a noun is a word that's named something such as a person, place, thing or idea.

In a sentence, nouns can play the role of: 

·      subject 

·      indirect object 

·      direct object 

·      subject complement

·      object complement

·      appositive 

·      adjectives

 

Nouns can name people: 

·      a Girl

·      Mick Jagger

·      my day

 

Nouns can name a place:

·      a mountain 

·      Japan 

·      the kitchen

 

Nouns can also name things, concepts, activities ideas or processes:

·      love 

·      soccer 

·      trousers

·      knowledge

 

2. Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun Pacific noun you're referring to or noun phrase. You use them when the reader or listener knows which specific noun you're referring to.  If I tell a story about my fiancé Mary it will get so boring and repetitive if I keep saying Mary over and over again look at this example without pronouns.

 

Mary is my fiancé. Mary is extremely short. Mary told me that Mary wants to make me dinner.

 

Now look at this example WITH pronouns:

Mary is my fiancé. She is extremely short. She told me that she wants to make me dinner.

 

There are quite a few different types of pronouns. Some pronouns are found in more than one category. Here are some of the most common.

Personal pronouns:

·      I – me – you – she – he – him – us – we – why - then

 

Demonstrative pronouns: 

·      That – this – these - those

 

We also have indefinite pronouns used when you need to refer to a person or thing that doesn't need to be specifically identified for example:

·      One - other - everybody - anybody - nobody

 

·      Everybody loves my homemade chocolate.

·      Some love Vegemite, others might hate it.

 

Interrogative pronouns: 

·      Who – what – bought – which - whose

 

Progressive pronouns 

·      My – your – their - whose

 

Reflective and intensive pronouns 

·      myself, yourself, themselves 

 

Relative pronouns

·      whom, what, which

 

Adjectives and verbs tomorrow! I have started a new lesson, 50 minutes detailing the eight parts, for details see my page.