THE 8ESSENTIALPARTS OFSPEECHyou need to know!

AURORA WORLD EDUCATION

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NTS PARTS OF ENGLISH SPEECH

NounsArticlesAdjectivesVerbsAdverbsPrepositionsConjunctionsInterjections

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

NOUNS1.

A noun is a word used to name something,such as a person, place, animal, object, idea,or feeling. There are nouns all around us!

A proper noun is a name for a specific person, place, orthing and they are always capitalised in English. Examples: Harvard University, Hilton Hotel, Maria,London, Microsoft, Samsung, Burj Khalifa, Kite Beach,Atlantic Ocean.

PROPER NOUNS:

A common noun is the general, non-specific word for aperson, place, thing or idea. They are not capitalised.Examples: city, country, school, place, hotel, house,friend, movie, man, website

COMMON NOUNS:

NOUNS

A noun can function as a subject or an object.See below examples:

She works at a university. (‘university’ functions as the object of the sentence.)

Italy is a beautiful country. (‘Italy’ functions as the subject of the sentence.)

Kate lives with her sister. (‘Kate’ functions as the subject of the sentence.)

Countable nouns, for example: apples, tables, chairs,cars, phones, cups, eggs are nouns that can be counted.They are also used with articles* such as a, an, the.

We can use these quantifiers with countable nouns: a few, many, some

For plural countable nouns, just add ‘s’.

I have an orange. (singular)I’d like four bananas, please. (plural)There aren’t many seats. (plural)There are a few books I want to read. (plural)

COUNTABLE NOUNS

singular = 1

plural = more than 1

Uncountable nouns, such as coffee, sugar, cheese, water,love, air, rain, science, music, light, time, advice, information,do not require articles (a, an, the) and they cannot be pluralbecause you can't count them.

Uncountable nouns are usually categories, subjects, orabstract things. However, you might see uncountable nounsin plural form. For example:

"Can I have two coffees?"

NOTE: In this sentence, the speaker is actually referring tothe cups of coffee and not the actual coffee liquid, and cup isa countable noun.

UNCOUNTABLENOUNS

We can use these quantifiers with uncountable nouns:a lot of, much, some, a little.

UNCOUNTABLENOUNS

I have a lot of time. How much information do you have?May I have some cheese? I have a little milk left.

NOTE: A quantifier is a word that usually goesbefore a noun to express the quantity of the object.

PRONOUNS

A pronoun is used to replace orsubstitute nouns and noun phrases.There are different types of pronouns. Keep reading to learn more!

TYPES OF PRONOUNS

PERSON SUBJECT OBJECT POSSESSIVE

1st Person Singular I Me Mine

1st Person Plural We Us Ours

2nd Person Singular You You Yours

TYPES OF PRONOUNS

His/Hers/Its

PERSON SUBJECT OBJECT POSSESSIVE

2st Person Plural You You Yours

3rd Person

SingularHe/She/It Him/Her/It

3rd Person Plural They Them Theirs

Personal pronouns allow us to speak and write with simplicity, and toavoid repetition of nouns. For example:

Look at this beautiful watch. The watch is gorgeous. The watch has agold strap and the watch’s face is white. I really want to buy this watch.

The noun ‘watch’ is repeated four times. After the first time, we can usea pronoun (it), to make the sentence shorter, simpler and more natural:

Look at this beautiful watch. It is gorgeous. It has a gold strap and itsface is white. I really want to buy it.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS

EXAMPLE SENTENCES WITHPRONOUNS

She works in the same building as me. (3rd person singular) Can I have your number? (2nd person possessive)We are going out tonight. (1st person subjective)That’s mine! (1st person possessive)

We use relative pronouns to introduce relative clauses:

Marie Curie is the woman who discovered radium.

The most common relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that In some situations, what,when, and where can also function as relative pronouns.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

A relative pronoun is used as the subject/object of a relativeclause. Therefore, we do not repeat the subject/object in aclause. See below example:

Steve Jobs is the man who he invented the iPhone.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Demonstrative pronouns show or modify a person or thing. Thereare four demonstrative pronouns: this and that (for singular words),and these and those (for plural words). See below examples:

This bag is very expensive, but that one over there is moreaffordable.

These are for you and those are for me.

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

Interrogative pronouns are pronouns that ask questions.There are five interrogative pronouns: who, whom, andwhose (for questions that involve people), and which andwhat (for questions that involve things).

Who is he?Which keys are yours?Whose phone is this?

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

2. ARTICLES

English has two articles: the and a/an.

‘The’ is used to refer to specific or definednouns, and ‘a’ or ‘an’ is used to refer to non-specific or non-defined nouns.

the = definite articlea/an = indefinite article

Example 1:Let's read the book that you bought yesterday. (‘the book’ is defined because it refers to a specific bookthat is known to everyone in the conversation.)

Let’s read a book. (‘a book’ is non-specific; it means any book so we mustuse 'a'.)

Example 2:Andrew: “I bought a new car!” Jack: “Do you mean the car you’ve always wanted?”

(In Jack's sentence, 'the car' is now specific/defined.)

ARTICLES

Example 3 (an)

For countable nouns that start with vowels or vowelsounds, we use ‘an’ not ‘a’ before it.

I would love to visit an island. Can I have an orange?

(The word 'island' starts with the vowel sound 'i').(The word 'orange' starts with the vowel sound 'o').

ENGLISH VOWELS: A , E , I , O , U

ARTICLES

We do not use articles before uncountable nouns used in ageneral sense:

Honey is sweet. (Generally, all types of honey.)Sugar is bad for your teeth. (Generally all sugar.)Education is important. (Education in general.)He is at university. (General statement that he is studying atuniversity. The name of the university isn’t important.)

We do not use articles before plural countable nouns usedin a general sense:

Computers are useful machines. (Computers in general.)Dogs are the best pets to have. (Dogs in general.)

SOMETIMES NOUNS DON’T NEED AN ARTICLE:

We also do not use articles before: proper nouns, names ofcountries, people, continents, cities, languages. Seeexamples below:

Russia is considered a cold country. (NOT The Russia…)London is the capital of England. (NOT The London…)Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth. (NOT TheMount Everest…)James is very smart. (NOT The James…)Can you speak French? (NOT Can you speak the French?)

...

3. ADJECTIVES

An adjective is a word that tells us more abouta noun. Adjectives describe or modify nouns.

Examples: good, beautiful, nice, blue, small,important, friendly, fast, happy, hot, tired

The house is big and beautiful.The phone is expensive.Paris is a romantic city.

ADJECTIVES

fast, faster, fastestgood, better, bestbeautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful

Adjectives can also modify pronouns: “She is pretty.” “They are cheap.” “He is brave.”

Many adjectives have comparative or superlativeforms, for example:

4. VERBS

A verb is used to describe an action or a stateof being. There are many different types ofverbs. Here are the two types of verbs youshould know: main verbs and auxiliary verbs.

Examples of main verbsstart, go, play, read, have, live, work, write, make, cook

I live in Dubai.He works as a doctor.She writes during her free time.

VERBS

Auxiliary verbs are ‘helping verbs’ and are used togetherwith a main verb to show the verb's tense or to make aquestion or negative sentence.

Common auxiliary verbs: have, might, will, be, do

Anna will start school soon.Have you started work yet?Does he play football?Matt is writing an email.

VER

BS

5. ADVERBS

An adverb is used to modify a verb, adjective,and other adverbs. Adverbs can tell you HOWsomething is done, for example, speak slowlyor walk quickly. Adverbs can also tell you howmuch or how many of something you have.

She completely forgot about the birthday party!This adverb modifies the verb 'forgot'. It's really hot outside.This adverb modifies the adjective 'hot'.

My sister runs very fast.This adverb modifies the adverb 'fast'.

SOME COMMON ADVERBS:Always, sometimes, completely, slowly, never, really, very, nearly,safely, generally, loudly, carefully, daily, easily

AD

VE

RB

S

(Many adverbs end in -ly. But not all!)

5 BASIC TYPES OF ADVERBS

1. Adverbs of Frequency: always, often, sometimes, rarely,

These adverbs describe how frequent a verb happens:I always go to the cinema. I often exercise at home.

2. Adverbs of Time: lately, recently, so far, until now

These adverbs describe when a verb happens:I’ve been learning French recently.

3. Adverbs of Manner: slowly, quickly, sadly, calmly, politely,loudly, kindly, lazily

These adverbs describe how a verb is done:He always drives slowly.

4. Adverbs of Degree: almost, nearly, too, enough, just

These adverbs describe the level of intensity of the verb:Is there enough for everyone?

5. Adverbs of Place: here, there, nowhere, everywhere, out, in,above, below, inside, outside, into

These adverbs describe where the verb is: We want to go there.

6. PREPOSITIONS

A preposition is a short word that connects anoun or pronoun to another word in a sentence. Aproposition can also join parts of a clause.Prepositions often show where, when, how, orwhy.

NOTE: There is always a noun or pronoun after apreposition.

Example Sentences

She has classes in the morning.

This preposition describes when she has classes.

He drove over the bridge.

This preposition tells us where he drove.

She went to London to improve her English.

These prepositions tell us why she went to London.

Basic types ofprepositions

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME

Prepositions of time show the relationship of time. Examples: on, at, in, from, to, for, since, ago,before, till/until, by

He starts work at 09:00.She works from 9am till 6pm.Her birthday is on 12th December.There is a holiday in December.He has been on holiday since Monday.

Basic types ofprepositions

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE & DIRECTION

These prepositions show the relationship of placeand direction. Examples: in, on, at, by, from, to,towards, up, down, between, through, in frontof, behind, above, over, under, below, next to

She is at the office.He arrived from New York. Our house is beside the supermarket.The bank is in front of the mall.She swam towards him.

Basic types ofprepositions

PREPOSITIONS OF AGENTS OR THINGS

Prepositions of agents or things show a connectionbetween nouns and other parts of the sentence. Examples: of, for, by, with, about

This article is about health.I will always take care of you.He is studying with his friends.This book is written by Shakespeare.

Basic types ofprepositions

PREPOSITIONS OF INSTRUMENT OR DEVICE

Some prepositions are used by different devices,instruments or machines. Examples: by, with, on

She comes to work by bus.She sends all of her emails by phone.Can I finish my homework on your computer?Jack is cutting the tree with his electric chainsaw.All their toys are made by hand.What's on TV right now?

Basic types ofprepositions

PREPOSITIONS OF REASON OR PURPOSE

A preposition of reason or purpose describes WHYsomething has happened or will happen in the future. Examples: through, because of, on account of,from

I changed jobs for reasons of love.Through her good management, we could learn a lot.Because of the traffic accident, I was late.The employees refused to work on account of theirlow pay.The show was cancelled due to bad weather.

7. CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions are connecting words thatjoin other words, phrases, or clausestogether.

Coordinating conjunctions join a noun with anothernoun or an adjective with another adjective. There are7 in total: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. You canremember them using the mnemonic F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.

We'd love to come to the party, but we have plans

that day.

I have visited Rome and Venice.

I don’t eat fruit, nor do I eat vegetables.

I'm vegetarian, so I don't eat meat.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Subordinating conjunctions join subordinate(dependent) clauses to main (independent) clauses.Common examples are: although, as, because, if,since, unless, until, while, whereas, as soon as, after,before

She failed her exam because she didn’t study enough.

As you were out, I left a message.

I’ll call you as soon as I get home.

I’ll wait until my friends arrive.

Martin is tall and skinny, whereas his brother is short

and overweight.

CORRELATIVECONJUNCTIONS

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to connecttwo parts of a sentence with equal value. The mostcommon pairs are: either/or, neither/nor, notonly/but also, both/and

Neither Maria nor Anna came to the party.

We can either go to a restaurant or order in.

She is both intelligent and beautiful.

Not only is she good at dancing, but singing as well.

Interjections are words or phrases used to show surpriseor emotion. Examples: Oh, Wow, Ah-ha, Oh, really?

Wow! She passed the test!This interjection shows surprise or amazement. Congrats! You finally got your master's degree.This interjection is used to informally expresscongratulations to someone.

Phew, I’m glad the test is over. It was very stressful.This interjection shows relief.

8. INTERJECTIONS

Ahem! I’m still waiting! This interjection is a sound of someone clearing theirthroat to try and get someone’s attention.

Oops! I dropped the plate.This interjection is an exclamation used to express thatsomething happened by accident.

Hmm… This interjection shows you're thinking or hesitating.

Yay! You got the job!This interjection is used to informally expresscelebration.

Er…This interjection is used to show when you don’t knowwhat to say.

Um, I’m not sure about that.This interjection is used to show when you are pausing orbeing skeptical.

Yum! This is so good!This interjection is used to express enjoyment orsatisfaction, especially in the taste of food.

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