Noun
A noun is a naming word. It names a
person, place, thing, idea, living creatures, quality or action
Verb
A verb is a word which describes an
action ( doing something) or state (being something) - example: walk,
talk, think, believe, live
Adverb
An adverb is a word which usually
describes a verb. It tells you how something is done. It may also tell you when
or where something has happened. Example Slowly, Intelligently, Well,
Yesterday, Tomorrow, Here, everywhere.
Adjective
An adjective is a word that
describes a noun. It tells you something or describing about the noun. Example:
Big, Yellow, Thin, Fat, Amazing, Quick, Beautiful, Important
Pronoun
A pronoun is used instead of a noun,
to avoid repeating the noun. Pronouns are I , You, He, She, It, They, We.
Conjunction
A conjunction joins two words,
phrases or sentences together. Example: But, So, Because, and, Or
Preposition
A preposition usually comes before a
noun, pronoun or a noun phrase. It joins the noun to some other part of the
sentence. Example: On, in , by, with,under, through, at
Interjection
An interjection is a unusual kind of
word because it often stands alone. Interjections are words which express
emotions or surprise, and they are usually followed by exclamation mark !. example:
Ouch!, Hello!,
Hurray!, Oh No!, Hi!, Wow!
Parts
of Speech Review
(All answers are located at the end of the packet.)
Nouns
A noun is a word used to name a
person, animal, place, thing, and abstract idea.
Types
Of Nouns
There are
many different types of nouns. As you know, you capitalize some nouns, such as
"Canada" or "Louise," and do not capitalize others, such as
"badger" or "tree" (unless they appear at the beginning of
a sentence). In fact, grammarians have developed a whole series of noun types,
including the proper noun, the common noun, the concrete noun, the abstract
noun, the countable noun (also called the count noun), the non-countable noun
(also called the mass noun), and the collective noun. You should note that a
noun will belong to more than one type: it will be proper or common, abstract
or concrete, and countable or non-countable or collective.
You always write a proper noun with a capital letter, since the noun represents the name of a specific person, place, or thing.
A common noun is a noun referring to a person, place, or thing in a general sense.
A concrete noun is a noun which names anything (or anyone) that you can perceive through your physical senses: touch, sight, taste, hearing, or smell.
An abstract noun is a noun which names anything which you can not perceive through your five physical senses, and is the opposite of a concrete noun, such as, liberty, love or justice.
A countable noun (or count noun) is a noun with both a singular and a plural form, and it names anything (or anyone) that you can count.
A non-countable noun (or mass noun) is a noun which does not have a plural form, and which refers to something that you could (or would) not usually count, such as, oxygen, furniture or gravel.
A collective noun is a noun naming a group of things, animals, or persons, such as, flock, jury, committee or class.
Nouns A
Circle all the nouns in the following sentences.
1. The announcer said that the bus for Minneapolis would leave in thirty minutes.
2. Dr. Cooper was in college with my father.
3. John wanted to change the ribbon on his typewriter, but the ribbon would not cooperate.
4. There was a scream of skidding tires and then a metallic thud, followed by the sound of splintered glass.
5. Bob and his brother crossed the continent in their old car last summer.
6. Bob drove through the desert at night and slept in the daytime.
7. Helen is president of the class, and her sister is secretary.
8. Brad wrote a paper about Willa Cather and her life in Pittsburgh.
9. Half of the people in the world can neither read nor write.
10. There is a fine exhibition of paintings by Thomas Hart Benton at the Cleveland Public Library.
You always write a proper noun with a capital letter, since the noun represents the name of a specific person, place, or thing.
A common noun is a noun referring to a person, place, or thing in a general sense.
A concrete noun is a noun which names anything (or anyone) that you can perceive through your physical senses: touch, sight, taste, hearing, or smell.
An abstract noun is a noun which names anything which you can not perceive through your five physical senses, and is the opposite of a concrete noun, such as, liberty, love or justice.
A countable noun (or count noun) is a noun with both a singular and a plural form, and it names anything (or anyone) that you can count.
A non-countable noun (or mass noun) is a noun which does not have a plural form, and which refers to something that you could (or would) not usually count, such as, oxygen, furniture or gravel.
A collective noun is a noun naming a group of things, animals, or persons, such as, flock, jury, committee or class.
Nouns A
Circle all the nouns in the following sentences.
1. The announcer said that the bus for Minneapolis would leave in thirty minutes.
2. Dr. Cooper was in college with my father.
3. John wanted to change the ribbon on his typewriter, but the ribbon would not cooperate.
4. There was a scream of skidding tires and then a metallic thud, followed by the sound of splintered glass.
5. Bob and his brother crossed the continent in their old car last summer.
6. Bob drove through the desert at night and slept in the daytime.
7. Helen is president of the class, and her sister is secretary.
8. Brad wrote a paper about Willa Cather and her life in Pittsburgh.
9. Half of the people in the world can neither read nor write.
10. There is a fine exhibition of paintings by Thomas Hart Benton at the Cleveland Public Library.
Nouns B
Decide which of the following words are common nouns and which are proper nouns. Begin each proper noun with a capital letter.
1. german, science, language, english
2. lake, lake erie, mountain, mount everest
3. park, joshua national monument, gulf, cape cod
4. village, fairfield township, country, saint paul
5. labor, labor day, good Friday, birthday
6. secretary, governor brown, president johnson, mayor john lindsay
7. uncle, uncle harry, sister, father
8. brooklyn bridge, bridge, rittenhouse square, boston common
Decide which of the following words are common nouns and which are proper nouns. Begin each proper noun with a capital letter.
1. german, science, language, english
2. lake, lake erie, mountain, mount everest
3. park, joshua national monument, gulf, cape cod
4. village, fairfield township, country, saint paul
5. labor, labor day, good Friday, birthday
6. secretary, governor brown, president johnson, mayor john lindsay
7. uncle, uncle harry, sister, father
8. brooklyn bridge, bridge, rittenhouse square, boston common
9. cathedral, saint, saint luke’s church, church
10. college, harvard college, university, jefferson high school, indiana state university
Verbs A verb or compound verb asserts something about the subject of the sentence and express actions, events, or states of being. The verb or compound verb is the critical element of the predicate of a sentence.
10. college, harvard college, university, jefferson high school, indiana state university
Verbs A verb or compound verb asserts something about the subject of the sentence and express actions, events, or states of being. The verb or compound verb is the critical element of the predicate of a sentence.
Underline the verbs in the following sentences.
1. The band uniforms finally arrived just before Christmas.
2. The trainer stepped into the cage of the wounded lion.
3. The sophomore class has a very good attendance record.
4. Jack walked unsteadily to the stage and swallowed hard.
5. The author tells of his childhood in a Wyoming ranch.
6. Our team played over its head in the first half.
7. Once, a circus horse literally stuck his right hind foot into his mouth.
8. Helen enjoys responsibility.
9. The murderer appears in the second act.
10. All new cars have safety belts as standard equipment.
1. The band uniforms finally arrived just before Christmas.
2. The trainer stepped into the cage of the wounded lion.
3. The sophomore class has a very good attendance record.
4. Jack walked unsteadily to the stage and swallowed hard.
5. The author tells of his childhood in a Wyoming ranch.
6. Our team played over its head in the first half.
7. Once, a circus horse literally stuck his right hind foot into his mouth.
8. Helen enjoys responsibility.
9. The murderer appears in the second act.
10. All new cars have safety belts as standard equipment.
Helping Verbs
You construct a compound verb out of a helping verb and another verb. The most common helping verbs are: have, had, were, is, are, been, will, would, could, should, may, might, do, and does.
Underline the complete verb
1. The lighthouse keeper had never seen such a storm.
2. When will the next moon probe be launched?
3. The truck driver was completely blinded by the sudden flash of oncoming lights.
4. Our people have always had enough to eat.
5. The new school will almost surely be ready by fall.
6. The new law had been poorly enforced.
7. Do you and your brother have enough blankets?
8. The Norwegian freighter had apparently run aground in the fog.
9. The park bench had been freshly painted.
10. The fog was now rapidly lifting from the field.
Pronouns
A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun. You use pronouns like "he," "which," "none," and "you" to make your sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.
You construct a compound verb out of a helping verb and another verb. The most common helping verbs are: have, had, were, is, are, been, will, would, could, should, may, might, do, and does.
Underline the complete verb
1. The lighthouse keeper had never seen such a storm.
2. When will the next moon probe be launched?
3. The truck driver was completely blinded by the sudden flash of oncoming lights.
4. Our people have always had enough to eat.
5. The new school will almost surely be ready by fall.
6. The new law had been poorly enforced.
7. Do you and your brother have enough blankets?
8. The Norwegian freighter had apparently run aground in the fog.
9. The park bench had been freshly painted.
10. The fog was now rapidly lifting from the field.
Pronouns
A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun. You use pronouns like "he," "which," "none," and "you" to make your sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.
Underline the pronouns. In 1-10 also identify the pronoun antecedent.
1. The doctor told the boys that they could use his boat.
2. Bob, your father wants you to call him.
3. Helen and Karen finished the test first; they found it easy.
4. The long run brought the crowd to its feet.
5. Jane has her own ideas, but her family does not agree with the,.
6. On the third try, the Nautilus made her way under the North Pole.
7. The boys cooked their meal in the open.
8. Then Jim’s power mower broke, the neighbors let him use theirs.
9. Betty has a driver’s license, but she doesn’t have it with her.
10. The police found the car, but they couldn’t move it.
11. Someone had dropped her purse into the pool.
12. What have you done to make Mike so happy?
13. This is the kind of problem that baffles me.
14. Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?
15. Have you had anything to eat?
16. Which of these hats belongs to you?
17. Each one must fend for himself.
18. Nobody knew the answer to that question.
19. That is the best course to take.
20. Several of our students won valuable scholarships.
21. Who wrote the editorial?
22. What did he say?
23. This is the color I prefer.
24. The captain herself gave us permission.
25. Everyone arrived late.
26. That hat is mine.
27. Is that yours?
28. The boys cleaned up the kitchen themselves.
Adjectives
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.
Underline the adjectives and identify the word it modifies. 1. The old house had been empty for several years.
2. The second team played during the last quarter.
3. The new coach seems pleasant and competent.
4. The old elephant was suffering from a bad toothache. The enormous jet can not land at the regular airport.
5. A magnetic field surrounds the entire earth.
6. The new atomic submarines are spacious and comfortable.
7. The water in the lake tastes salty.
8. Many young Americans are making important scientific discoveries.
9. The two men in the other car seemed angry.
10. Most European students can speak the English language.
11. This little book contains some big ideas.
12. A cold wind drove the deep snow into the huge drifts.
13. Some small economy cars are neither small nor economical.
14. This new arrangement is good for all of us.
Adverbs
An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause, or degree and answers questions such as "how," "when," "where," "how much".
Underline the adverbs and identify the words they modify.
1. The bus almost always arrives late.
2. The class worked hard and successfully on the project.
3. The car usually starts on cold mornings.
4. The streets have become crowded recently.
5. The auditorium was soon filled.
6. The building was slowly deteriorating.
7. The doctor gave orders quietly and confidently.
8. Polio is sometimes rather difficult to diagnose.
9. Lately, the summers have been extremely hot.
10. There goes Mr. Garrison now.
Conjunctions
You can use a conjunction to link words, phrases, and clauses.
You use a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) to join individual words, phrases, and independent clauses.
A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause and indicates the nature of the relationship among the independent clause(s) and the dependent clause(s). The most common subordinating conjunctions are: after, although, as, because, before, how, if, once, since, than, that, though, until, when, where, whether, and while.
Correlative conjunctions always appear in pairs -- you use them to link equivalent sentence elements. The most common correlative conjunctions are: both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, so...as, and whether...or.
Underline the conjunctions (coordinating, correlative, subordinating) and conjunctive verbs.
1. Neither the speeches nor the music was very exciting.
2. Both the Japanese and the Italian delegates opposed the attack.
3. The search party worked quickly and carefully.
4. The policeman beckoned us forward, but we could not move.
5. Although the odds were against him, Washing drove forward.
6. We were not at home when the package arrived.
7. The dictionary is a valuable tool; however we must know how to use it.
8. The outfielders wear glasses so that the sun will not blind them.
9. We will go to Mexico and Peru.
10. The burglars went down the alley, into the basement, and up the stairs.
Prepositions
A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. Some common prepositions are: at, under, over, of, to, in, out, beneath, beyond, for, among, after, before, within, down, up, during, without, with, outside, inside, beside, between, by, on, out, from, until, toward, throughout, across, above, about, around.
Find the prepositions and their objects.
1. The truck was stopped at the border and searched for arms.
2. During the centuries, the continents have been drifting apart.
3. Booth jumped to the stage and screamed at the astonished audience.
4. For many years, there have been bad feelings between the towns.
5. After the game, the crowd rushed for the goal posts.
6. According to the morning paper, there will be no school on Friday.
7. Everyone but John had seen the car approaching.
8. Beyond the city limits there is no rule against fireworks.
9. All but one of the trees died during the winter.
10. To whom is the announcement addressed?
Mastery Test for Parts of Speech
Identify each underlined word.
1. Bernice is again enjoying the doldrums.
2. Never peel the bark from a birch tree.
3. Fasten your seat belt for the take-off.
4. When is the next orbital flight?
5. An iceberg was once sighted as far south as Bermuda.
6. Nobody in the room could identify the wallet.
7. The class became hilarious while the teacher was out.
8. The admiral himself gave the order.
9. Everyone except Eve had a smile for Jack.
10. The governor underwent a successful operation.
11. Dad is using his power saw.
12. Hot water is a good reviver of cut flowers.
13. The duck coats its feathers with oil.
14. Each year the firemen stage a water duel.
15. The crew rowed hard at the finish.
16. The suspect was wearing a tan jacket.
17. The police suspect the man’s chauffeur.
18. Outside the embassy, a crowd has gathered.
19. Leave your boats outside.
20. Before the telecast, we were all nervous.
21. Before you leave, let me have your address.
22. Few comic strips are really comical.
23. Few attended the meeting.
24. This isn’t Leslie’s handwriting.
25. This airplane luggage weighs only ten pounds.
Answer Key
Nouns A
1. announcer, bus, Minneapolis, minutes
2. Dr. Cooper, college, father
3. John, ribbon, typewriter, ribbon
4. scream, tires, thud, sound, glass
5. Bob, brother, continent, car, summer
6. Bob, desert, night, daytime
7. Helen, president, class, sister, secretary
8. Brad, paper, Willa Cather, life, Pittsburgh
9. half, people, world
10. Exhibition, paintings, Thomas Hart Benton, Cleveland Public Library
Nouns B
1. Garman, English
2. Lake Erie, Mount Everest
3. Joshua National Monument, Cape Cod
4. Fairfield Township, Saint Paul
5. Labor Day, Good Friday
6. Governor Brown, President Johnson, Major John Lindsay
7. Uncle Harry
8. Brooklyn Bridge, Rittenhouse Square, Boston Common
9. St. Luke’s Church
10. Harvard College, Jefferson High School, Indian State University
Verbs
1. arrived
2. stepped
3. has
4. walked, swallowed
5. tells
6. played
7. stuck
8. enjoys
9. appears
10. have
Helping Verbs
1. had seen
2. will be launched
3. was blided
4. have had
5. will be ready
6. has been enforced
7. Do have
8. had run
9. had been painted
10. was lifting
Pronouns
( ) = pronoun antecedent Page 11 of 16
1. they (boys), his (doctor)
2. your (Bob, you (Bob), him (father)
3. they (Helen and Karen), it (test)
4. its (crowd)
5. her (Jane), her (Jan), them (ideas)
6. her (Nautilus)
7. their (boys)
8. him (Jim), theirs (neighbors)
9. she (Betty), it (license), her (Betty)
10. they (police), it (car)
11. Someone, her
12. What, you
13. This, me
14. This
15. you
16. Which, these, you
17. Each, one, himself
18. Nobody, that
19. That
20. Several, our
21. Who
22. What, he
23. This, I
24. herself, us
25. Everyone
Page 12 of 16
26. That, mine
27. that, yours
28. themselves
Adjectives
( ) = noun modified
1. old (house), empty (house), several (years)
2. second (team), last (quarter)
3. new (coach), pleasant, competent (coach)
4. old (elephant), bad (toothache)
5. enormous (jet), regular (airport)
6. magnetic (field), entire (each)
7. new, atomic, spacious, comfortable (submarines)
8. salty (lake)
9. Many, young (Americans), important, scientific (discoveries)
10. two (men), other (car), angry (men)
11. Most, European (students), English (language)
12. This, little (book), some big (ideas)
13. cold (wind), deep (snow), huge (drifts)
14. some small economy (cars), small, economical
15. this new (arrangement), good
Adverbs
( ) = word modified
1. almost (always), always (arrives), late (arrives)
2. hard, successful (worked)
Page 13 of 16
3. usually (starts)
4. recently (have become)
5. soon (was filled)
6. slowly (deteriorating)
7. quietly, confidently (gave)
8. sometimes rather (difficult)
9. Lately (have been), extremely (hot)
10. now (goes)
Conjuctions
1. Neither…nor
2. and
3. and
4. but
5. Although
6. when
7. however
8. so that
9. and
10. and
Prepositions
1. at (border, for (arms)
2. During (centuries)
3. to (stage), at (audience)
Page 14 of 16
4. For (years), between (towns)
5. After (game), for (pools)
6. According to (paper), on (Friday)
7. but (John)
8. Beyond (limits), against (fireworks)
9. but (one), of (trees), during (winter)
10. To (whom)
Mastery Test
1. noun
2. verb
3. noun
4. adjective
5. adverb
6. pronoun
7. conjunction
8. pronoun
9. preposition
10. verb
11. adjective
12. adjective
13. verb
14. verb
15. adverb
16. noun
17. verb
18. preposition
19. adverb
20. noun
21. verb
22. preposition
23. adverb
24. preposition
25. conjunction
26. adjective
27. pronoun
28. pronoun
29. Adjective
1. arrived
2. stepped
3. has
4. walked, swallowed
5. tells
6. played
7. stuck
8. enjoys
9. appears
10. have
Helping Verbs
1. had seen
2. will be launched
3. was blided
4. have had
5. will be ready
6. has been enforced
7. Do have
8. had run
9. had been painted
10. was lifting
Pronouns
( ) = pronoun antecedent Page 11 of 16
1. they (boys), his (doctor)
2. your (Bob, you (Bob), him (father)
3. they (Helen and Karen), it (test)
4. its (crowd)
5. her (Jane), her (Jan), them (ideas)
6. her (Nautilus)
7. their (boys)
8. him (Jim), theirs (neighbors)
9. she (Betty), it (license), her (Betty)
10. they (police), it (car)
11. Someone, her
12. What, you
13. This, me
14. This
15. you
16. Which, these, you
17. Each, one, himself
18. Nobody, that
19. That
20. Several, our
21. Who
22. What, he
23. This, I
24. herself, us
25. Everyone
Page 12 of 16
26. That, mine
27. that, yours
28. themselves
Adjectives
( ) = noun modified
1. old (house), empty (house), several (years)
2. second (team), last (quarter)
3. new (coach), pleasant, competent (coach)
4. old (elephant), bad (toothache)
5. enormous (jet), regular (airport)
6. magnetic (field), entire (each)
7. new, atomic, spacious, comfortable (submarines)
8. salty (lake)
9. Many, young (Americans), important, scientific (discoveries)
10. two (men), other (car), angry (men)
11. Most, European (students), English (language)
12. This, little (book), some big (ideas)
13. cold (wind), deep (snow), huge (drifts)
14. some small economy (cars), small, economical
15. this new (arrangement), good
Adverbs
( ) = word modified
1. almost (always), always (arrives), late (arrives)
2. hard, successful (worked)
Page 13 of 16
3. usually (starts)
4. recently (have become)
5. soon (was filled)
6. slowly (deteriorating)
7. quietly, confidently (gave)
8. sometimes rather (difficult)
9. Lately (have been), extremely (hot)
10. now (goes)
Conjuctions
1. Neither…nor
2. and
3. and
4. but
5. Although
6. when
7. however
8. so that
9. and
10. and
Prepositions
1. at (border, for (arms)
2. During (centuries)
3. to (stage), at (audience)
Page 14 of 16
4. For (years), between (towns)
5. After (game), for (pools)
6. According to (paper), on (Friday)
7. but (John)
8. Beyond (limits), against (fireworks)
9. but (one), of (trees), during (winter)
10. To (whom)
Mastery Test
1. noun
2. verb
3. noun
4. adjective
5. adverb
6. pronoun
7. conjunction
8. pronoun
9. preposition
10. verb
11. adjective
12. adjective
13. verb
14. verb
15. adverb
16. noun
17. verb
18. preposition
19. adverb
20. noun
21. verb
22. preposition
23. adverb
24. preposition
25. conjunction
26. adjective
27. pronoun
28. pronoun
29. Adjective
Articles
are used to introduce a noun. Articles are - A, AN and THE
