📚 English — English Language and Competitive English
13. Parts Of Speech
Exam-oriented Parts Of Speech notes, rules and revision facts
Quick Reference
Major Parts of Speech, Grammatical Functions & Examples
13. Parts Of Speech
| Part of Speech | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
Noun | उत्तर देखें Names a person, place, thing, concept, or quality | उत्तर देखें Honesty is respected everywhere. |
Pronoun | उत्तर देखें Replaces a noun to avoid repetitive naming | उत्तर देखें She completed her assignment promptly. |
Adjective | उत्तर देखें Modifies or qualifies a noun or pronoun | उत्तर देखें He made an extraordinary breakthrough. |
Verb | उत्तर देखें Expresses physical action, mental state, or occurrence | उत्तर देखें The engine runs smoothly. |
Adverb | उत्तर देखें Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb | उत्तर देखें She spoke exceptionally clearly. |
Preposition | उत्तर देखें Shows spatial, temporal, or logical relationship | उत्तर देखें He walked across the meadow. |
Conjunction | उत्तर देखें Connects words, phrases, or independent clauses | उत्तर देखें Stay here until I return. |
Interjection | उत्तर देखें Expresses sudden emotional outburst or reaction | उत्तर देखें Alas! We missed the flight. |
Determiner | उत्तर देखें Specifies, limits, or quantifies following noun | उत्तर देखें Every candidate submitted documents. |
Quick Reference
Commonly Confused Word Classes and Identification Clues
13. Parts Of Speech
| Part of Speech | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
Adjective vs Adverb (Fast) | उत्तर देखें Adjective modifies noun; adverb modifies action verb | उत्तर देखें A fast car vs ran fast. |
Adjective vs Adverb (Hard) | उत्तर देखें Hard is adjective or adverb; hardly is negative adverb | उत्तर देखें Hard work vs works hard. |
Preposition vs Adverb (Down) | उत्तर देखें Preposition governs object; adverb stands independently | उत्तर देखें Walked down stairs vs sat down. |
Preposition vs Conjunction (Before) | उत्तर देखें Preposition takes noun; conjunction introduces clause | उत्तर देखें Before noon vs before he arrived. |
Pronoun vs Determiner (This) | उत्तर देखें Pronoun stands alone; determiner precedes noun | उत्तर देखें This is mine vs this book. |
Noun vs Verb (Object) | उत्तर देखें Noun names thing; verb expresses opposition | उत्तर देखें A heavy object vs I object. |
Adjective vs Noun (Round) | उत्तर देखें Adjective describes; noun denotes game/stage | उत्तर देखें Round table vs next round. |
Verb vs Preposition (Past) | उत्तर देखें Past functions as preposition denoting beyond | उत्तर देखें Walked past the post office. |
Conjunction vs Preposition (Since) | उत्तर देखें Preposition takes time point; conjunction introduces clause | उत्तर देखें Since Monday vs since he left. |
General Concepts, Definitions & Traditional Classification
Definition of parts of speech in English grammar
Categories of words by syntactic function.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Total number of traditional parts of speech in English
Eight traditional parts of speech.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Modern ninth grammatical category frequently included
Determiners.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
The primary basis for classifying a word into a part of speech
Function within the sentence context.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can an English word belong to multiple word classes?
Yes, depending on sentence function.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of open word classes in morphology
Classes readily accepting new vocabulary words.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Which parts of speech belong to open classes?
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of closed word classes in morphology
Classes with fixed, unchanging membership.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Which parts of speech belong to closed classes?
Pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, determiners.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of form words or lexical words
Words carrying independent semantic dictionary meaning.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of structure words or grammatical words
Words establishing structural syntactic relationships.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech indicating emotional outbursts directly
Interjection.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech governing nominal objects via relations
Preposition.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech joining clauses or phrases together
Conjunction.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech that predicates an action or state
Verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech naming entities, places, and thoughts
Noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech qualifying or restricting nominal entities
Adjective.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech modifying actions, qualities, and clauses
Adverb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech standing in place of a noun
Pronoun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Grammatical category specifying definiteness and quantity
Determiner.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Concept of functional shift or conversion in linguistics
Word changing class without affixation.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of noun converted to verb via functional shift
Email (to email someone).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Role of inflectional suffixes in identifying word classes
Indicate tense, number, degree, case.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Role of derivational affixes in changing word class
Convert root words across parts of speech.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Primary test for identifying a word's part of speech
Analyze its relationship to adjacent words.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Nouns: Types, Properties & Syntactic Functions
Definition of a proper noun
Name of specific person, place, or entity.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Capitalization rule for proper nouns in English
Always capitalized regardless of position.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a common noun
Generic name for a class of entities.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a collective noun
Name denoting a unified collection or group.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of collective noun for cattle
Herd.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of collective noun for ships
Fleet.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of an abstract noun
Names intangible quality, concept, state, or idea.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Abstract noun derived from the adjective 'brave'
Bravery.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Abstract noun derived from the verb 'grow'
Growth.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a material (concrete) noun
Names physical substance or raw matter.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can material nouns take plural -s in general usage?
No, they are typically uncountable.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of countable nouns in syntax
Entities that can be enumerated individually.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of uncountable (mass) nouns
Substances or qualities measured, not counted.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can uncountable nouns take indefinite article 'a/an' directly?
No, never modified by a/an.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Syntactic function of a noun as grammatical subject
Performs or experiences the predication.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Syntactic function of a noun as direct object
Receives the direct action of transitive verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Syntactic function of a noun as indirect object
Recipient of direct object in clause.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Syntactic function of a noun as subject complement
Renames or defines subject following linking verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Syntactic function of a noun as object of preposition
Completes the prepositional phrase.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a noun in apposition
Noun placed alongside another explaining it.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of noun in apposition
My friend Ram arrived yesterday.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Case used to show possession with animate nouns
Possessive (genitive) case with apostrophe.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a compound noun
Noun formed by joining two words.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pluralization rule for compound noun 'passer-by'
Passers-by.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pluralization rule for compound noun 'commander-in-chief'
Commanders-in-chief.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pronouns & Determiners: Classification & Usage
Definition of personal pronouns
Pronouns referring to three grammatical persons.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject pronouns in English
I, we, you, he, she, it, they.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Object pronouns in English
Me, us, you, him, her, it, them.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of possessive pronouns
Mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Difference between possessive pronoun and possessive determiner
Pronoun stands alone; determiner precedes noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of reflexive pronouns
Pronouns ending in -self or -selves.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Syntactic role of an emphatic (intensive) pronoun
Adds dramatic emphasis to preceding noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of emphatic pronoun usage
I myself saw the incident.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of demonstrative pronouns
Point out specific entities (this, that, these, those).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'this' in: 'This book is interesting'
Demonstrative determiner (adjective).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'this' in: 'This is an interesting book'
Demonstrative pronoun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of indefinite pronouns
Refer to non-specific persons or things.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Examples of distributive indefinite pronouns
Each, either, neither.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by distributive pronouns
Always take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of relative pronouns
Introduce relative clauses and connect antecedents.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Relative pronoun used for persons as grammatical subject
Who.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Relative pronoun used for persons as grammatical object
Whom.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Relative pronoun showing possession for persons
Whose.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of interrogative pronouns
Pronouns used to formulate questions.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of reciprocal pronouns
Express mutual action (each other, one another).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reciprocal pronoun used strictly for two entities
Each other.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Reciprocal pronoun used for more than two entities
One another.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a determiner in modern English grammar
Word introducing and limiting a noun phrase.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Major subclasses of determiners
Articles, possessives, demonstratives, quantifiers, numerals.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can two central determiners modify the same singular noun?
No, central determiners are mutually exclusive.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verbs: Finite, Non-Finite, Transitive & Stative
Definition of a finite verb
Verb limited by tense, number, and person.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a non-finite verb
Verb form not limited by tense or person.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Three primary types of non-finite verbs
Infinitives, gerunds, and participles.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a gerund in syntax
V-ing form functioning as a noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'swimming' in: 'Swimming is great exercise'
Gerund (verbal noun).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a present participle in syntax
V-ing form functioning as an adjective.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'barking' in: 'A barking dog seldom bites'
Participle (verbal adjective).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a transitive verb
Verb requiring a direct object to complete sense.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of an intransitive verb
Verb making complete sense without an object.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can an intransitive verb be transformed into passive voice?
No, lacks direct object for subject position.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a ditransitive verb
Verb taking two objects: direct and indirect.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of a ditransitive verb in action
He gave me a valuable book.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a linking (copular) verb
Connects subject to subject complement.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Common examples of copular linking verbs
Be, become, seem, appear, taste, feel.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech following linking verbs as complement
Predicate adjective or predicate noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of an auxiliary (helping) verb
Assists main verb in expressing tense/aspect.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Two categories of auxiliary verbs in English
Primary auxiliaries and modal auxiliaries.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
The three primary auxiliaries in English
Be, do, and have.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a stative verb
Expresses state, perception, or condition, not action.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can stative verbs naturally take progressive continuous tenses?
No, avoid continuous tenses standardly.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a dynamic verb
Expresses deliberate physical action or process.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a bare infinitive
Base form of verb without 'to'.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Which verbs govern bare infinitives standardly?
Modals and causatives (make, let).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a phrasal verb
Verb paired with adverbial/prepositional particle.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why phrasal verb meanings are non-compositional
Meaning differs from separate component words.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Adjectives & Adverbs: Modification & Inversion
Definition of an adjective in descriptive syntax
Modifies, describes, or limits a noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of an attributive adjective
Adjective placed directly before modified noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a predicative adjective
Adjective placed after linking verb in predicate.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of an adjective used predicatively
The mango tastes delicious.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Three morphological degrees of comparison in adjectives
Positive, comparative, and superlative degrees.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of proper adjectives
Adjectives derived from proper nouns.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Proper adjective derived from 'India'
Indian.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of quantitative adjectives
Indicate amount or mass (much, little).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of numeral adjectives
Indicate exact number or numerical order.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Difference between cardinal and ordinal numerals
Cardinals count; ordinals indicate numerical rank.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Standard order of adjectives before a noun
Opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of an adverb in syntactic analysis
Modifies verb, adjective, or another adverb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Primary types of adverbs by meaning
Time, place, manner, frequency, degree, reason.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Adverb answering the question 'How?'
Adverb of manner.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Adverb answering the question 'When?'
Adverb of time.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Adverb answering the question 'Where?'
Adverb of place.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Adverb answering the question 'How often?'
Adverb of frequency.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Adverb answering the question 'How much / To what extent?'
Adverb of degree.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Position of adverbs of frequency in standard sentences
Before main verb, after auxiliary verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Standard positional sequence for multiple adverbs at sentence end
Manner, Place, Time (MPT rule).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can words ending in -ly be adjectives?
Yes (e.g. friendly, lovely, cowardly).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'friendly' in: 'He gave a friendly smile'
Adjective modifying noun smile.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
How to convert adjective 'friendly' into an adverbial form
In a friendly manner.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
What happens when a negative adverb begins a sentence?
Triggers auxiliary-subject grammatical inversion.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of inversion caused by initial negative adverb
Seldom have I seen such beauty.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections & Functional Shifts
Definition of a preposition in English syntax
Shows relationship between noun and other elements.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
What grammatical element must follow a true preposition?
Noun, pronoun, or gerund object.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a compound preposition
Preposition formed by prefixing noun/adjective.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a phrase preposition (complex preposition)
Multi-word group functioning as single preposition.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of a phrase preposition
In spite of, in front of.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Definition of a participle preposition
Present participle functioning as preposition.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of a participle preposition
Regarding, concerning, considering.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Difference between preposition and adverb for same word
Preposition takes object; adverb stands alone.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'in' in: 'Come in, please'
Adverb of place.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'in' in: 'He is in the room'
Preposition governing noun room.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'before' in: 'He stood before the judge'
Preposition.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'before' in: 'I had seen him before'
Adverb of time.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'before' in: 'Think before you leap'
Conjunction connecting clauses.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'down' in: 'The train went down the track'
Preposition.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'down' in: 'Sit down immediately'
Adverb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'down' in: 'The down train is late'
Adjective modifying train.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'down' in: 'He downed the medicine quickly'
Verb in simple past.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'but' in: 'He is poor but honest'
Coordinating conjunction.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'but' in: 'None but the brave deserve fair'
Preposition meaning except.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'but' in: 'There is no but about it'
Noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'right' in: 'Turn right at intersection'
Adverb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'right' in: 'It is my fundamental right'
Noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'right' in: 'This is the right answer'
Adjective.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Part of speech of 'right' in: 'Right this mistake immediately'
Transitive verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Core rule for solving parts of speech questions in exams
Determine syntactic role in specific sentence.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
कोई matching content नहीं मिला।