crucial is what part of speech

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Modal title

What part of speech is crucial.

Crucial can be categorized as an adjective .

• 1. crucial is an adjective.

Inflections

• Positive Comparative Superlative
• crucial   more crucial most crucial
• Positive : crucial  
• Comparative : more crucial
• Superlative : most crucial

Adjective to adverb

• Adjective Adverb
• crucial crucially  
• adjective : crucial
• adverb : crucially  

What does crucial mean?

Examples of crucial, last searches.

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Definition of crucial

acute , critical , crucial mean of uncertain outcome.

acute stresses intensification of conditions leading to a culmination or breaking point.

critical adds to acute implications of imminent change, of attendant suspense, and of decisiveness in the outcome.

crucial suggests a dividing of the ways and often a test or trial involving the determination of a future course or direction.

Examples of crucial in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crucial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

French, from Latin cruc-, crux cross

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Dictionary Entries Near crucial

crucethouse

Cite this Entry

“Crucial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crucial. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of crucial.

from French crucial "having the form of a cross, being or involving a crisis," from Latin cruc-, crux "cross, trouble, torture" — related to cross , crucify , crux

More from Merriam-Webster on crucial

Nglish: Translation of crucial for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of crucial for Arabic Speakers

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The 9 Parts of Speech: Definitions and Examples

• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

A part of speech is a term used in traditional grammar for one of the nine main categories into which words are classified according to their functions in sentences , such as nouns or verbs. Also known as word classes , these are the building blocks of grammar.

Parts of Speech

• Word types can be divided into nine parts of speech:
• prepositions
• conjunctions
• articles/determiners
• interjections
• Some words can be considered more than one part of speech, depending on context and usage.
• Interjections can form complete sentences on their own.

Every sentence you write or speak in English includes words that fall into some of the nine parts of speech. These include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, articles/determiners, and interjections. (Some sources include only eight parts of speech and leave interjections in their own category.)

Learning the names of the parts of speech probably won't make you witty, healthy, wealthy, or wise. In fact, learning just the names of the parts of speech won't even make you a better writer. However, you will gain a basic understanding of sentence structure  and the  English language by familiarizing yourself with these labels.

Open and Closed Word Classes

The parts of speech are commonly divided into  open classes  (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs) and  closed classes  (pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, articles/determiners, and interjections). The idea is that open classes can be altered and added to as language develops and closed classes are pretty much set in stone. For example, new nouns are created every day, but conjunctions never change.

In contemporary linguistics , the label  part of speech has generally been discarded in favor of the term word class or syntactic category . These terms make words easier to qualify objectively based on word construction rather than context. Within word classes, there is the lexical or open class and the function or closed class.

The 9 Parts of Speech

Read about each part of speech below and get started practicing identifying each.

Nouns are a person, place, thing, or idea. They can take on a myriad of roles in a sentence, from the subject of it all to the object of an action. They are capitalized when they're the official name of something or someone, called proper nouns in these cases. Examples: pirate, Caribbean, ship, freedom, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Pronouns stand in for nouns in a sentence. They are more generic versions of nouns that refer only to people. Examples:​  I, you, he, she, it, ours, them, who, which, anybody, ourselves.

Verbs are action words that tell what happens in a sentence. They can also show a sentence subject's state of being ( is , was ). Verbs change form based on tense (present, past) and count distinction (singular or plural). Examples:  sing, dance, believes, seemed, finish, eat, drink, be, became

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. They specify which one, how much, what kind, and more. Adjectives allow readers and listeners to use their senses to imagine something more clearly. Examples:  hot, lazy, funny, unique, bright, beautiful, poor, smooth.

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs. They specify when, where, how, and why something happened and to what extent or how often. Examples:  softly, lazily, often, only, hopefully, softly, sometimes.

Preposition

Prepositions  show spacial, temporal, and role relations between a noun or pronoun and the other words in a sentence. They come at the start of a prepositional phrase , which contains a preposition and its object. Examples:  up, over, against, by, for, into, close to, out of, apart from.

Conjunction

Conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. There are coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions. Examples:  and, but, or, so, yet, with.

Articles and Determiners

Articles and determiners function like adjectives by modifying nouns, but they are different than adjectives in that they are necessary for a sentence to have proper syntax. Articles and determiners specify and identify nouns, and there are indefinite and definite articles. Examples: articles:  a, an, the ; determiners:  these, that, those, enough, much, few, which, what.

Some traditional grammars have treated articles  as a distinct part of speech. Modern grammars, however, more often include articles in the category of determiners , which identify or quantify a noun. Even though they modify nouns like adjectives, articles are different in that they are essential to the proper syntax of a sentence, just as determiners are necessary to convey the meaning of a sentence, while adjectives are optional.

Interjection

Interjections are expressions that can stand on their own or be contained within sentences. These words and phrases often carry strong emotions and convey reactions. Examples:  ah, whoops, ouch, yabba dabba do!

How to Determine the Part of Speech

Only interjections ( Hooray! ) have a habit of standing alone; every other part of speech must be contained within a sentence and some are even required in sentences (nouns and verbs). Other parts of speech come in many varieties and may appear just about anywhere in a sentence.

To know for sure what part of speech a word falls into, look not only at the word itself but also at its meaning, position, and use in a sentence.

For example, in the first sentence below,  work  functions as a noun; in the second sentence, a verb; and in the third sentence, an adjective:

• The noun  work  is the thing Bosco shows up for.
• The verb  work  is the action he must perform.
• The  attributive noun  [or converted adjective]  work  modifies the noun  permit .

Learning the names and uses of the basic parts of speech is just one way to understand how sentences are constructed.

Dissecting Basic Sentences

To form a basic complete sentence, you only need two elements: a noun (or pronoun standing in for a noun) and a verb. The noun acts as a subject and the verb, by telling what action the subject is taking, acts as the predicate. 

In the short sentence above,  birds  is the noun and  fly  is the verb. The sentence makes sense and gets the point across.

You can have a sentence with just one word without breaking any sentence formation rules. The short sentence below is complete because it's a command to an understood "you".

Here, the pronoun, standing in for a noun, is implied and acts as the subject. The sentence is really saying, "(You) go!"

Constructing More Complex Sentences

Use more parts of speech to add additional information about what's happening in a sentence to make it more complex. Take the first sentence from above, for example, and incorporate more information about how and why birds fly.

• Birds fly when migrating before winter.

Birds and fly remain the noun and the verb, but now there is more description. 

When  is an adverb that modifies the verb fly.  The word before  is a little tricky because it can be either a conjunction, preposition, or adverb depending on the context. In this case, it's a preposition because it's followed by a noun. This preposition begins an adverbial phrase of time ( before winter ) that answers the question of when the birds migrate . Before is not a conjunction because it does not connect two clauses.

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Definition of crucial adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• The next few weeks are going to be crucial.
• Private security cameras can prove crucial in some investigations.
• Parents play a crucial role in preparing their child for school.
• This step is a crucial part of the process.
• a crucial step/point
• He wasn't there at the crucial moment (= when he was needed most) .
• a crucial element/factor/question/issue
• topics of crucial importance
• crucial to something Winning this contract is absolutely crucial to our long term success.
• crucial for something The talks are crucial for the success of the plan.
• Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer.
• it is crucial that… It is crucial that we get this right.
• crucial in doing something The summit was crucial in shaping the reform process.
• Experience is essential for this job.
• The police play a vital role in our society.
• It is crucial that we get this right.
• Your decision is critical to our future.
• She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.
• Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives.
• essential/​vital/​crucial/​critical/​decisive/​indispensable for something
• essential/​vital/​crucial/​critical/​indispensable to something
• essential/​vital/​crucial/​critical that…
• essential/​vital/​crucial/​critical to do something
• a(n) essential/​vital/​crucial/​critical/​decisive/​indispensable part/​factor
• of vital/​crucial/​critical/​decisive importance
• absolutely essential/​vital/​crucial/​critical/​decisive/​indispensable
• This case emphasizes the importance of honest communication between managers and employees.
• The study highlights how important good communication is for an organization.
• Effective communication skills are essential .
• Excellent communication skills are crucial for a negotiator.
• Good communication skills are vital to career success.
• It should be noted that this study considers only verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is not dealt with here.
• It is important to remember that non-verbal communication plays a key role in getting your message across.
• An important point to remember is that good communication is a two-way process.
• Communication is not only about the words you use but also your body language and, especially / above all , the effectiveness with which you listen.
• I would like to draw attention to the role of listening in effective communication.
• Choose your words carefully: in particular , avoid confusing and ambiguous language.
• Finally, and perhaps most importantly , you must learn to listen as well as to speak.
• It is vital that journalists can verify the accuracy of their reports.
• Journalists play a vital role in educating the public.
• Public trust is a crucial issue for all news organizations.
• The ability to write well is essential for any journalist.
• The internet has become an indispensable tool for reporters.
• In journalism, accuracy is paramount .
• Checking and verifying facts are of paramount importance for any journalist.
• It is imperative that journalists maintain the highest possible standards of reporting.
• Secrecy is crucial to this police operation.
• A crucial factor affecting educational performance is the competence of the teacher.
• Getting these procedures right is of crucial importance.
• Winning this contract is crucial to the success of the company.

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Parts of Speech

What are the parts of speech, a formal definition.

Table of Contents

The Part of Speech Is Determined by the Word's Function

Are there 8 or 9 parts of speech, the nine parts of speech, (1) adjective, (3) conjunction, (4) determiner, (5) interjection, (7) preposition, (8) pronoun, why the parts of speech are important, video lesson.

• You need to dig a well . (noun)
• You look well . (adjective)
• You dance well . (adverb)
• Well , I agree. (interjection)
• My eyes will well up. (verb)
• red, happy, enormous
• Ask the boy in the red jumper.
• I live in a happy place.
• I caught a fish this morning! I mean an enormous one.
• happily, loosely, often
• They skipped happily to the counter.
• Tie the knot loosely so they can escape.
• I often walk to work.
• It is an intriguingly magic setting.
• He plays the piano extremely well.
• and, or, but
• it is a large and important city.
• Shall we run to the hills or hide in the bushes?
• I know you are lying, but I cannot prove it.
• my, those, two, many
• My dog is fine with those cats.
• There are two dogs but many cats.
• ouch, oops, eek
• Ouch , that hurt.
• Oops , it's broken.
• Eek! A mouse just ran past my foot!
• leader, town, apple
• Take me to your leader .
• I will see you in town later.
• An apple fell on his head .
• in, near, on, with
• Sarah is hiding in the box.
• I live near the train station.
• Put your hands on your head.
• She yelled with enthusiasm.
• she, we, they, that
• Joanne is smart. She is also funny.
• Our team has studied the evidence. We know the truth.
• Jack and Jill went up the hill, but they never returned.
• That is clever!
• work, be, write, exist
• Tony works down the pit now. He was unemployed.
• I will write a song for you.
• I think aliens exist .

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

Video for Each Part of Speech

The Most Important Writing Issues

The top issue related to adjectives, the top issue related to adverbs.

• Extremely annoyed, she stared menacingly at her rival.
• Infuriated, she glared at her rival.

The Top Issue Related to Conjunctions

• Burger, Fries, and a shake
• Fish, chips and peas

The Top Issue Related to Determiners

The Top Issue Related to Interjections

The top issue related to nouns, the top issue related to prepositions, the top issue related to pronouns, the top issue related to verbs.

• Crack the parts of speech to help with learning a foreign language or to take your writing to the next level.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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OASIS: Writing Center

Grammar: main parts of speech, definitions and examples.

The name of something, like a person, animal, place, thing, or concept. Nouns are typically used as subjects, objects, objects of prepositions, and modifiers of other nouns.

• I = subject
• the dissertation = object
• in Chapter 4 = object of a preposition
• research = modifier

This expresses what the person, animal, place, thing, or concept does. In English, verbs follow the noun.

• It takes a good deal of dedication to complete a doctoral degree.
• She studied hard for the test.
• Writing a dissertation is difficult. (The "be" verb is also sometimes referred to as a copula or a linking verb. It links the subject, in this case "writing a dissertation," to the complement or the predicate of the sentence, in this case, "hard.")

This describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives typically come before a noun or after a stative verb, like the verb "to be."

• Diligent describes the student and appears before the noun student .
• Difficult is placed after the to be verb and describes what it is like to balance time.

Remember that adjectives in English have no plural form. The same form of the adjective is used for both singular and plural nouns.

• A different idea
• Some different ideas
• INCORRECT: some differents ideas

This gives more information about the verb and about how the action was done. Adverbs tells how, where, when, why, etc. Depending on the context, the adverb can come before or after the verb or at the beginning or end of a sentence.

• Enthusiastically describes how he completed the course and answers the how question.
• Recently modifies the verb enroll and answers the when question.
• Then describes and modifies the entire sentence. See this link on transitions for more examples of conjunctive adverbs (adverbs that join one idea to another to improve the cohesion of the writing).

This word substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase (e.g. it, she, he, they, that, those,…).

• they = applicants
• He = Smith; that = ideas; those = those ideas

This word makes the reference of the noun more specific (e.g. his, her, my, their, the, a, an, this, these, … ).

• Jones published her book in 2015.
• The book was very popular.

Preposition

This comes before a noun or a noun phrase and links it to other parts of the sentence. These are usually single words (e.g., on, at, by ,… ) but can be up to four words (e.g., as far as, in addition to, as a result of, …).

• I chose to interview teachers in the district closest to me.
• The recorder was placed next to the interviewee.
• I stopped the recording in the middle of the interview due to a low battery.

Conjunction

A word that joins two clauses. These can be coordinating (an easy way to remember this is memorizing FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or subordinating (e.g., because, although, when, …).

• The results were not significant, so the alternative hypothesis was accepted.
• Although the results seem promising, more research must be conducted in this area.

Auxiliary Verbs

Helping verbs. They are used to build up complete verbs.

• Primary auxiliary verbs (be, have, do) show the progressive, passive, perfect, and negative verb tenses .
• Modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) show a variety of meanings. They represent ability, permission, necessity, and degree of certainty. These are always followed by the simple form of the verb.
• Semimodal auxiliary verbs (e.g., be going to, ought to, have to, had better, used to, be able to,…). These are always followed by the simple form of the verb.
• primary: have investigated = present perfect tense; has not been determined = passive, perfect, negative form
• The modal could shows ability, and the verb conduct stays in its simple form; the modal may shows degree of certainty, and the verb lead stays in its simple form.
• These semimodals are followed by the simple form of the verb.

Common Endings

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs often have unique word endings, called suffixes . Looking at the suffix can help to distinguish the word from other parts of speech and help identify the function of the word in the sentence. It is important to use the correct word form in written sentences so that readers can clearly follow the intended meaning.

Here are some common endings for the basic parts of speech. If ever in doubt, consult the dictionary for the correct word form.

Common Noun Endings

Common verb endings, common adjective endings, common adverb endings, placement and position of adjectives and adverbs, order of adjectives.

If more than one adjective is used in a sentence, they tend to occur in a certain order. In English, two or three adjectives modifying a noun tend to be the limit. However, when writing in APA, not many adjectives should be used (since APA is objective, scientific writing). If adjectives are used, the framework below can be used as guidance in adjective placement.

• Determiner (e.g., this, that, these, those, my, mine, your, yours, him, his, hers they, their, some, our, several,…) or article (a, an, the)
• Opinion, quality, or observation adjective (e.g., lovely, useful, cute, difficult, comfortable)
• Physical description
• (a) size (big, little, tall, short)
• (b) shape (circular,  irregular, triangular)
• (c) age (old, new, young, adolescent)
• (d) color (red, green, yellow)
• Origin (e.g., English, Mexican, Japanese)
• Material (e.g., cotton, metal, plastic)
• Qualifier (noun used as an adjective to modify the noun that follows; i.e., campus activities, rocking chair, business suit)
• Head noun that the adjectives are describing (e.g., activities, chair, suit)

For example:

• This (1) lovely (2) new (3) wooden (4) Italian (5) rocking (6) chair (7) is in my office.
• Your (1) beautiful (2) green (3) French (4) silk (5) business (6) suit (7) has a hole in it.

Commas With Multiple Adjectives

A comma is used between two adjectives only if the adjectives belong to the same category (for example, if there are two adjectives describing color or two adjectives describing material). To test this, ask these two questions:

• Does the sentence make sense if the adjectives are written in reverse order?
• Does the sentence make sense if the word “and” is written between them?

If the answer is yes to the above questions, the adjectives are separated with a comma. Also keep in mind a comma is never used before the noun that it modifies.

• This useful big round old green English leather rocking chair is comfortable . (Note that there are no commas here because there is only one adjective from each category.)
• A lovely large yellow, red, and green oil painting was hung on the wall. (Note the commas between yellow, red, and green since these are all in the same category of color.)

Position of Adverbs

Adverbs can appear in different positions in a sentence.

• At the beginning of a sentence: Generally , teachers work more than 40 hours a week.
• After the subject, before the verb: Teachers generally work more than 40 hours a week.
• At the end of a sentence: Teachers work more than 40 hours a week, generally .
• However, an adverb is not placed between a verb and a direct object. INCORRECT: Teachers work generally more than 40 hours a week.

More Detailed Rules for the Position of Adverbs

• Adverbs that modify the whole sentence can move to different positions, such as certainly, recently, fortunately, actually, and obviously.
• Recently , I started a new job.
• I recently started a new job.
• I started a new job recently .
• Many adverbs of frequency modify the entire sentence and not just the verb, such as frequently, usually, always, sometimes, often , and seldom . These adverbs appear in the middle of the sentence, after the subject.
• INCORRECT: Frequently she gets time to herself.
• INCORRECT: She gets time to herself frequently .
• She has frequently exercised during her lunch hour. (The adverb appears after the first auxiliary verb.)
• She is frequently hanging out with old friends. (The adverb appears after the to be verb.)
• Adverbial phrases work best at the end of a sentence.
• He greeted us in a very friendly way .
• I collected data for 2 months .

Main Parts of Speech Video Playlist

Note that these videos were created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

• Mastering the Mechanics: Nouns (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Introduction to Verbs (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Articles (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Introduction to Pronouns (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Modifiers (video transcript)

Writing Tools: Dictionary and Thesaurus Refresher Video

Note that this video was created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

• Writing Tools: Dictionary and Thesaurus Refresher (video transcript)

Related Resources

Knowledge Check: Main Parts of Speech

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Parts of Speech: A Guide to Learning English Grammar

By: Author English Study Online

Posted on Last updated: December 27, 2023

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In this page, we will break down each part of speech and provide examples to help you understand their usage. We will also discuss how to identify the different parts of speech in a sentence and provide tips on how to use them correctly. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced English learner, this article will provide valuable insights into the parts of speech and improve your language skills. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Overview of Parts of Speech

In this section, we will provide a brief overview of the eight parts of speech in English. Understanding the parts of speech is essential for anyone learning the English language, as it enables them to construct meaningful sentences and communicate effectively.

The eight parts of speech are:

Prepositions

Conjunctions, interjections.

Each part of speech has a specific function in a sentence. For example, nouns are used to name people, places, things, or ideas, while verbs are used to describe an action or state of being. Adjectives are used to describe nouns, while adverbs are used to describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Pronouns are used to replace nouns in a sentence, while prepositions are used to indicate the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses, while interjections are used to express emotions or feelings.

Nouns are words that represent people, places, things, or ideas. They are one of the most important parts of speech in English and are used in nearly every sentence. In this section, we will explore the different types of nouns and their functions.

Common Nouns

Common nouns are general names for people, places, or things. They are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence.

• Examples of common nouns include “book,” “city,” and “teacher.”

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are specific names for people, places, or things. They are always capitalized.

• Examples of proper nouns include “Harry Potter,” “New York City,” and “Ms. Johnson.”

Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns are names for ideas, concepts, or emotions. They are intangible and cannot be seen, heard, or touched.

• Examples of abstract nouns include “love,” “happiness,” and “freedom.”

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are names for groups of people or things. They can be singular or plural, depending on the context.

• Examples of collective nouns include “team,” “family,” and “herd.”

In this section, we will discuss the different types of pronouns used in English grammar. Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence. They help to avoid repetition and make sentences more concise.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. They can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. Here are the personal pronouns in English:

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point to specific people or things. They can be used to indicate distance or location. Here are the demonstrative pronouns in English:

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They are typically used at the beginning of a sentence. Here are the interrogative pronouns in English:

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things. They can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. Here are the indefinite pronouns in English:

Verbs are one of the most important parts of speech in English. They are used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this section, we will cover the three types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs.

Action Verbs

Action verbs are used to describe an action that is being performed by the subject of the sentence. They can be used in the present, past, or future tense. Here are a few examples of action verbs:

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs are used to connect the subject of the sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes it. They do not show action. Here are a few examples of linking verbs:

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs are used in conjunction with the main verb to express tense, voice, or mood. They do not have a meaning on their own. Here are a few examples of helping verbs:

In conclusion, verbs are an essential part of English grammar. Understanding the different types of verbs and how they are used in a sentence can help you communicate more effectively in both written and spoken English.

In this section, we will discuss adjectives, which are an important part of speech in English. Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. They provide more information about the noun or pronoun, such as its size, shape, color, or quality.

Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives are the most common type of adjectives. They describe the physical or observable characteristics of a noun or pronoun. For example, in the sentence “The red car is fast,” “red” is a descriptive adjective that describes the color of the car, and “fast” is another descriptive adjective that describes its speed.

Here are some examples of descriptive adjectives:

Quantitative Adjectives

Quantitative adjectives are used to describe the quantity or amount of a noun or pronoun. They answer the question “how much” or “how many.” For example, in the sentence “I have two apples,” “two” is a quantitative adjective that describes the number of apples.

Here are some examples of quantitative adjectives:

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out or indicate a specific noun or pronoun. They answer the question “which one” or “whose.” For example, in the sentence “This book is mine,” “this” is a demonstrative adjective that indicates the specific book that belongs to the speaker.

Here are some examples of demonstrative adjectives:

In conclusion, adjectives are an important part of speech in English. They provide more information about nouns and pronouns, and they help to make our language more descriptive and precise. By understanding the different types of adjectives, we can use them effectively in our speaking and writing.

In this section, we will discuss adverbs, which are words that modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverbs give more information about the action, manner, place, time, frequency, degree, or intensity of a verb.

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed. They answer the question “how?” and usually end in “-ly”, but not always. Here are some examples:

• She sings beautifully.
• He speaks softly.
• They ran quickly.
• The dog barked loudly.

Adverbs of manner can also be formed by adding “-ly” to some adjectives. For example:

• She is a quick learner. (adjective: quick)
• He is a careful driver. (adjective: careful)

Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place describe where an action takes place. They answer the question “where?” and usually come after the verb or object. Here are some examples:

• She looked everywhere.
• He lives nearby.
• They went outside.
• The cat hid underneath the bed.

Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time describe when an action takes place. They answer the question “when?” and can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Here are some examples:

• She wakes up early every day.
• He arrived yesterday.
• They will leave soon.
• The concert starts tonight.

Adverbs of time can also be used to show the duration of an action. For example:

• She studied for hours.
• He worked all day.
• They talked for a long time.

In this section, we will discuss prepositions and their usage in English. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They usually indicate the position or direction of the noun or pronoun in relation to other elements in the sentence.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time are used to indicate when an action took place. They include words such as “at,” “in,” and “on.”

• “At” is used for specific times, such as “at 2 pm” or “at midnight.”
• “In” is used for longer periods of time, such as “in the morning” or “in October.”
• “On” is used for dates, such as “on Monday” or “on July 4th.”

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place are used to indicate where something is located. They include words such as “in,” “on,” and “at.”

• “In” is used for enclosed spaces, such as “in the house” or “in the car.”
• “On” is used for surfaces, such as “on the table” or “on the floor.”
• “At” is used for specific locations, such as “at the park” or “at the beach.”

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction are used to indicate movement. They include words such as “to,” “from,” and “towards.”

• “To” is used to indicate movement towards a specific destination, such as “I am going to the store.”
• “From” is used to indicate movement away from a specific location, such as “I am coming from the park.”
• “Towards” is used to indicate movement in the direction of a specific location, such as “I am walking towards the museum.”

In this section, we will discuss the different types of conjunctions and their functions in English grammar. Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. They are essential in creating complex sentences and conveying relationships between ideas.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses that are of equal importance. They are easy to remember using the mnemonic device FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Here are some examples:

• I like pizza and pasta.
• She is neither tall nor short.
• He wanted to go to the beach, but it was raining.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions connect dependent clauses to independent clauses and establish a relationship between them. They are used to show cause and effect, time, condition, and contrast. Some examples of subordinating conjunctions are:

Here are some examples:

• Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
• Although she was tired, she stayed up to finish her work.
• While I was studying, my roommate was watching TV.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to connect words, phrases, or clauses. They are used to show a relationship between two elements. Here are some examples:

• both…and
• either…or
• neither…nor
• not only…but also
• Both my sister and I like to read.
• Either you come with us or you stay here.
• Not only was he late, but he also forgot his homework.

In conclusion, conjunctions are important in creating complex sentences and conveying relationships between ideas. By understanding the different types of conjunctions and their functions, you can improve your writing and communication skills.

In English grammar, interjections are words or phrases that express strong emotions or feelings. They are also known as exclamations and are one of the eight parts of speech in English. Interjections are grammatically independent from the words around them, and they can often be removed from a sentence or context without affecting its basic meaning.

Interjections can be used to express a wide range of emotions, including surprise, joy, anger, frustration, and pain. Some common examples of interjections include “ wow ,” “ ouch ,” “ yay ,” “ oh no ,” and “ oops .” They can be used to add emphasis to a sentence or to convey a particular tone or mood.

It is important to note that interjections do not have any grammatical function in a sentence. They are not nouns, verbs, adjectives, or any other part of speech. Instead, they simply stand alone as a way to express emotion.

When using interjections in writing, it is important to consider the context in which they are being used. While they can be a useful tool for adding emphasis or conveying emotion, they can also be overused or misused, which can detract from the overall effectiveness of the writing.

Articles/Determiners

In English grammar, articles and determiners are words that are used with nouns to provide more information about them. They help us to understand the context and meaning of a sentence.

There are three articles in the English language: “ the ,” “ a, ” and “ an. ” “The” is known as the definite article because it refers to a specific noun that has already been mentioned or is known to the reader. For example, “The cat is sleeping on the sofa.” In this sentence, “the” refers to a specific cat that has already been mentioned or is known to the reader.

“A” and “an” are known as indefinite articles because they refer to any member of a group or class of nouns. “A” is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, while “an” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. For example, “I need a pen” and “She ate an apple.”

Determiners

Determiners are words that come before a noun to provide more information about it. They can include articles, as well as words like “ this ,” “ that ,” “ these ,” and “ those .”

In addition to these, there are other types of determiners such as possessive determiners (e.g. “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their”), demonstrative determiners (e.g. “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those”), and quantifying determiners (e.g. “some,” “any,” “many,” “few,” “several,” etc.).

Determiners can also be used with adjectives to provide more information about a noun. For example, “She ate the delicious apple” and “I saw that beautiful sunset.”

Understanding articles and determiners is crucial for mastering English grammar. By using them correctly, you can convey your thoughts and ideas more clearly and effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 8 parts of speech in English?

In English, there are eight parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Each part of speech serves a different function in a sentence and helps to convey meaning.

What are some examples of different parts of speech?

Here are a few examples of different parts of speech:

• Noun: dog, cat, book, table
• Pronoun: he, she, it, they
• Verb: run, jump, sing, dance
• Adjective: happy, sad, tall, short
• Adverb: quickly, slowly, loudly, softly
• Preposition: in, on, at, under
• Conjunction: and, but, or, so
• Interjection: wow, oh, ouch, hooray

What is the difference between a noun and a verb?

A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. A verb is a word that represents an action, occurrence, or state of being. In other words, a noun is a subject or object in a sentence, while a verb is the action or occurrence that takes place.

What are the different types of nouns?

There are several different types of nouns, including:

• Common nouns: refer to general, non-specific people, places, things, or ideas (e.g. dog, city, book)
• Proper nouns: refer to specific people, places, things, or ideas and are always capitalized (e.g. John, Paris, The Great Gatsby )
• Concrete nouns: refer to tangible, physical objects (e.g. table, chair, car)
• Abstract nouns: refer to intangible concepts or ideas (e.g. love, happiness, freedom)
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What is a Part of Speech?

A part of speech is one of the nine types of English words : VERB, NOUN, ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, PRONOUN, PREPOSITION, DETERMINER, CONJUNCTION, INTERJECTION

There are thousands of words but they don't all have the same job. For example:

• some words express action
• other words express things
• other words join one word to another word

And when we want to build a sentence, we use the different types of word .

Each type of word has its own job.

There are 9 basic types of word , and they are called " parts of speech ".

The most important parts of speech are the BIG FOUR, and the verb is the king of these. Here they are, each with an example and its basic "job":

• verb ( deliver - expresses action)
• noun ( computer - expresses a thing)
• adjective ( yellow - tells us more about a noun)
• adverb ( quickly - tells us more about a verb)

The other parts of speech are mostly small words:

• pronoun ( it - replaces a noun)
• preposition ( on - links a noun to another word)
• determiner ( the - limits a noun)
• conjunction ( and - joins words)
• interjection ( ouch ! - expresses feeling)

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The 9 Types of Parts of Speech: Definitions, Rules and Examples

What are the parts of speech in english.

There are nine parts of speech in English. Together, these parts of speech provide the building blocks for creating meaning in language:

Prepositions

Conjunctions, articles and determiners, interjections.

Each part of speech serves a different purpose and can be used in different ways. For example, a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. A verb is a word that expresses an action or state of being. An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun, while an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Pronouns take the place of nouns and can function as the subject or object of a sentence. Prepositions show relationships between words in a sentence. Conjunctions join words or groups of words together. Interjections are exclamatory words or phrases that express strong emotion.

What is the Definition of Parts of Speech?

The context in which the word is used will determine its function. Parts of speech are an important part of language learning, as they help students to understand how sentences are constructed and how meaning is conveyed. Most of us are familiar with the parts of speech: noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. They are the categories into which words are classified according to their function in a sentence. Learning about parts of speech can also help students to improve their writing skills by using more accurate and varied sentence structures.

For example, ” cat” is a noun, and ” quickly” is an adverb. The direct objects can be divided into two main groups: content words and structure words. Content words include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. These are the words that carry the meaning in a sentence.

Open and Closed Word Classes

There are two main types of parts of speech, or word classes: open and closed. Open word classes, also known as content words, include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. They are so called because they can have new members added to them (open class), as opposed to closed word classes (e.g. prepositions, conjunctions, determiners), which are much more limited in number (closed class).

Open word classes are usually more central to the meaning of a sentence than closed classes, which often just provide grammatical information. For example, in the sentence “The big dog barked,” the words “big” and “dog” are more essential to the meaning of the sentence than the word “the,” which simply tells us that we are talking about a specific dog. However, all parts of speech are important in creating well-formed sentences.

The 9 Parts of Speech

A noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns are often used as the subject or object of a sentence. They can be used as the object of a verb (I saw the cat) or a preposition (We walked in the park). Types of nouns also include:

• Plural nouns (cats, parks)
• Possessive nouns (cat’s, park’s)
• Proper (Mr. Smith, Times Square)

In addition to these types, others include; Common nouns, which are words that refer to general objects or ideas (chair, city), while proper nouns refer to specific people or places (John, New York). Collective nouns are words that refer to groups of things (class, team). Abstract nouns are words that refer to ideas or concepts (love, freedom). Concrete nouns are words that refer to physical objects that can be perceived by the five senses (sound, smell, taste, touch, and sight).

Pronouns are one of the parts of speech in English. A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun or a noun phrase. Pronouns are used to refer to people or things, either directly or indirectly. The most common possessive pronouns are:

There are also reflexive pronouns and relative pronouns. Pronouns are usually found after the noun or the phrase that they are replacing. For example: “I saw John in the park.” In this sentence, “I” is a pronoun that is replacing the speaker’s name. “John” is the noun that is being replaced by the pronoun “I”. “He” is also a pronoun and it is replacing John.

You can also use pronouns to refer to yourself: “I’m going to the store.” Here, “I” is a reflexive pronoun because it is referring back to the subject of the sentence. Relative pronouns are used to introduce clauses: “The man who was at the store was looking for a book.” In this sentence, “who” is a relative pronoun that introduces the clause “who was at the store.”

Verbs are one of the eight parts of speech. They are words that indicate action or state of being. In English, verbs are usually denoted by the suffix “-ed” added to the root form of the word, as in “walk-ed,” “study-ed,” and “live-ed.” The root form is also known as the base form. There are three main types of verbs:

• Action verbs
• Linking verbs
• Helping verbs

Action verbs describe physical or mental actions and include words such as “run,” “jump,” “read,” and “think.” Linking verbs connect the subject to a word or entire sentence that describes or identifies it and include words such as “is,” “seems,” and “becomes.” Helping verbs assist the main verb in a sentence by providing more information about time, tense, mood, or condition and include words such as “can,” “should,” and “would.” All three types of verbs are necessary for constructing sentences in English. Knowing how to use them correctly is essential for effective communication.

Adjectives are one of the eight parts of speech. They modify verbs, nouns, and other adjectives and show the degree, size, shape, age, colour, origin, and material of the things they modify. For example: “a hot stove,” “a round ball,” “an old car,” and ” Cuban cigars.” Adjectival meanings usually come before the noun or pronoun they modify but sometimes come after it: “He is slow.” “That car is mine.” When two or more adjective categories modify the same noun, they are usually listed in a specific order:

• Quantity or Number
• Quality or Opinion
• Nationality or Origin

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In English, adverbs are typically formed by adding the suffix “-ly” to an adjective, as in the words “slowly” and “quickly.” Adverbs can express manner, degree, frequency, time, place, or other aspects of how an action is performed. For example, the adverb “slowly” in the sentence “He slowly walked across the room” modifies the verb “walked.” The word “slowly” tells us how he walked. Similarly, the adverb “quickly” in the sentence “She quickly ran out of the room” modifies the verb “ran.” The word “quickly” tells us how she ran. Other examples of adverbs include words like:

Adverbs can be placed either before or after the word they modify. In general, however, they are placed after verbs and before adjectives and other adverbs.

A preposition is a word (often a short word) that shows the relationship between two parts of a sentence. A preposition usually comes before a noun or a pronoun. For example, in the sentence “I looked for my watch under the couch,” the word “under” is a preposition that shows the relationship between “I” and “my watch.” The word “under” tells us where to find the watch. Other examples of prepositions are:

Many of these prepositions also have multiple meanings. The meaning of a preposition often has to do with time or location. Some people say there are only about 150 prepositions in English; others say there are closer to 250. It’s hard to be exact because new words are always being created. In addition, some words can be used as more than one part of speech.

Conjunctions are one of the parts of speech. They are words that join other words, phrases, or clauses together. There are three main types of conjunctions:

• Coordinating conjunctions
• Subordinating conjunctions
• Correlative conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions join two words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. Some common coordinating conjunctions include “and,” “but,” and “or.” Subordinating conjunctions join a subordinate clause to the main clause. Some common subordinating conjunctions include “after,” “although,” and “because.” Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and are used to join two words, phrases, or clauses that are of equal importance. Some common correlative conjunctions include “both…and,” “either…or,” and “neither…nor.”

While conjunctions are small words, they play an important role in sentence construction. Without them, sentences would be choppy and difficult to understand.

Articles and determiners are parts of speech that are used to modify nouns. They can indicate whether a noun is specific or unspecific, and can also be used to denote possession. There are two types of articles:

• Definite articles, which refer to a specific noun
• Indefinite articles, refer to any member of a group of nouns.

There are also three types of determiners:

• Demonstrative determiners, which point out a particular noun
• Possessive determiners, which show ownership
• Quantitative Determiners, which denote quantity

Although they perform different functions, both articles and determiners play an important role in communication. By using these parts of speech correctly, speakers can provide clarity and precision in their writing and speech.

An interjection is a word or phrase that can be used to express emotion. It is typically used as a standalone exclamation, such as:

• “Wow!”
• “Oh no!”
• “No way!”
• “Holy Cow!”
• “Ouch!”
• “Yay!”

Interjections can also be used to express excitement, surprise, or dismay. In some cases, they can even be used to fill in awkward pauses in conversation. While interjections are not always considered part of standard English grammar, they can be useful for adding emphasis or lending flavour to writing. As such, they are often used in fiction and other creative writing.

However, it is important to use them sparingly, as too many interjections can make writing feel choppy or amateurish. When used judiciously, however, interjections can add personality and flair to your writing.

Figuring out parts of speech

When you are trying to figure out the parts of speech in traditional grammar, the first step is to identify the verb. The verb is the action word in the sentence, and it will usually come before the subject. For example, in the sentence “The cat slept on the mat,” the verb is “slept.” Once you have identified the verb, you can then identify the subject. The subject is the noun or pronoun that is acting as the verb. In our example sentence, “The cat slept on the mat,” the subject is “cat.”

After you have identified the verb and subject, you can then begin to look for other parts of speech. Common parts of speech include adjectives (descriptive words), adverbs (words that modify verbs), and prepositions (words that show relationships between objects).

To identify these parts of speech, look for words that come before or after verbs and nouns. For example, in the sentence “The red cat slept on the soft mat,” the category of color and adjective “red” modifies the adjectival noun “cat” and the adjective “soft” modifies the noun “mat.” The adverb “on” modifies the verb “slept” by showing where the action took place.

By breaking down sentences into their parts, you can more easily identify the function of each word and understand how they work together to form a complete thought.

When a word is two different kinds of speech

There are parts of speech in the English language that can be difficult to identify.

• For example, the word “you” can function as both a pronoun and an adjective. When used as a pronoun, “you” is the subject of a sentence or clause.
• For example, “You are going to the store.” When used as an adjective, “you” modifies a noun or pronoun.

To identify when a word is two different kinds of speech, it is important to understand the parts of speech and how they function in a sentence. With a little practice, you will be able to identify when a word is being used as two different parts of speech.

Common Endings

Common noun endings.

In English, there are three parts of speech: nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Nouns are words that refer to people, places, things, or ideas. Verbs are words that describe actions or states of being. Adjectives are a word that classes nouns or pronouns. Common noun endings include:

These suffixes change the meaning of the word and often indicate whether the word is a subject or an object. For example, the word “read” is a verb meaning “to look at something closely.” The word “reader” is a noun phrase meaning “one who reads.” The word “reading” is a gerund meaning “the act of reading.” By understanding common noun endings, you can better understand the function of words in a sentence. This can help you to avoid breaking grammar rules and to communicate more effectively.

Common Verb Endings

There are a few basic combinations of verb endings that you will see in English. These are:

Each of these endings has a different function depending on the closedness of verbs. The -s ending is used to indicate present tense verbs, while -ed is used for past tense verbs. The -ing form is used for verb phrases and gerunds, and the -en form is used for irregular verbs.

While there are some exceptions to these rules, they generally apply to most verbs in English. By knowing these common verb endings, you can better understand how to use brand new verbs in sentence structure.

Common Adjective Endings

Adjectives are one of the eight parts of speech in English. They are used to modify nouns and pronouns. Adjectives are a broader category and can be used to describe almost anything, from physical attributes to personality traits. There are dozens of adjective endings in English, but some of the most common are:

Common Adverb Endings

Adverbs are one of the eight parts of speech in English. They modify present tense verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, phrases, and clauses. Adverbs give us more information about how, when, where, and to what extent an action is carried out. In short, they tell us more about the verbs. Common adverb endings include:

The most common ending for adverbial phrases is -ly. This is because most adverbs are formed by taking an adjective and adding -ly to the end of it. For example, the adjective slow becomes the adverb slowly. Other examples include softly, bravely, happily, yearly, monthly, daily, etc. You can usually tell if a word is an adverb by its spelling; if it ends in -ly, chances are it’s an adverb.

Order of Adjectives

As previously mentioned, one of the most essential aspects of adjectives is their order of use. When more than one adjective is used to modify a noun, there is a specific order that they should follow. This order is:

• Quantity or number
• Quality or opinion
• Origin or material

Let’s take a closer look at each category. First, quantity or number refers to how many of something there are, like “five dogs.”

Quality or opinion covers adjectives that express someone’s opinion, such as “amazing” or “delicious.”

Size adjectives describe how large or small something is and include class sizes like “huge” or “tiny.”

Age tells us how old something is and can be either specific, like “twenty-year-old,” or general, like “ancient.”

Shape covers the physical form of an object and can be either geometric, like “square,” or organic, like “slippery.”

Colour tells us what colour something is while origin or material describes where something comes from or what it is made of and can include adjectives like “Italian” or “wooden.”

Finally, purpose tells us why something exists and can be either functional, like “safety goggles,” or decorative, like “ornate.” Now that we know the order of adjectives, we can use them correctly in our writing.

Commas With Multiple Adjectives

A good rule of thumb is that if omitting the comma would change the meaning of the sentence, then you should include it. For example, “The red, white, and blue flag” versus “The red white and blue flag.” In the first sentence, the colours are independent (coordinate) descriptors; in the second sentence, they create a single cumulative description.

Position of Adverbs

Adverbs usually come after the verb, but there are some exceptions. For example, in the sentence “He slowly walks to the door,” the adverb “slowly” describes the verb “walks.” In contrast, “He walked quickly to the door” emphasizes how fast he walked.

Adverbs can also be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence for added emphasis. For instance, “Sadly, I have to go” emphasizes the speaker’s regret, while “I have to go sadly” emphasizes how they will leave. Adverbs can thus add depth and meaning to sentences by providing insight into the speaker’s attitude or point of view.

More Detailed Rules for the Position of Adverbs

There are some detailed rules about the position of adverbs in a sentence.

Adverbs that modify verbs usually come after the main verb or after the auxiliary verb. For example:

• He slowly walked across the room.
• He has slowly been walking across the room.

Adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs usually come before the word they are modifying. For example:

• That is a very careful driver.
• She drives quite slowly.

There are some exceptions to these general rules. For example, certain types of adverbs (such as those that express frequency) can go in different positions in a sentence without changing the meaning. In addition, some adverbs can be moved to a different position for emphasis. However, in general, these are the basic rules for adverb placement in English sentences.

Frequently Asked Questions on Parts of Speech

The introduction, body, and conclusion are the parts of the speech where the speaker should start with an attention grabber, state the main points, and then finish with a strong conclusion. They add color to language and keep things organized. – The introduction is the part of the speech where the speaker gets the audience’s attention. The speaker can use a quotation, question, story, or statistic. – The body is the meat of the speech. This is where the speaker states the main points. The main points should be clear and concise. The body should also flow smoothly from one point to another. – The conclusion is the last part of the speech. The speaker should restate the main points and end with a strong statement that leaves the audience thinking.

Each part of speech plays a different role in a sentence, and understanding how they work together is essential for clear communication. For example, verbs describe an action, while adjectives modify nouns. If you don’t know the basic types of speech, it can be difficult to construct a grammatically correct sentence. In addition, parts of speech can affect the meaning of a sentence. For instance, using the wrong pronoun can change the subject of a sentence entirely.

“You” is a personal pronoun. Pronouns take the place of a noun phrase or a group of words acting as a noun in a sentence. There are three types of pronouns: personal pronouns, relative pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns. “You” is a personal pronoun. Personal pronouns represent specific people or things in blocks of grammar.

Many people are unsure of the parts of speech for “either” and “or.” The word “either” is always a conjunction, while “or” can be either a conjunction or a disjunctive pronoun, depending on its usage. When used as a conjunction, “or” joins two distinct parts of a sentence together, such as two nouns or two verbs.

Us and we are both personal pronouns, which are words that take the place of a noun or noun phrase. Pronouns allow us to avoid repeating the same noun over and over again. For example, instead of saying “John went to the store. John bought some milk. John drank the milk,” we can use demonstrative pronouns to say “John went to the store. He bought some milk. He drank the milk.”

Near is what is known as a preposition. A preposition is a word that expresses spatial or temporal relationships between its object and the rest of the sentence (e.g., “over,” “under,” “before,” “after”). In the sentence, “The book is near the lamp,” the word “near” functions as a preposition because it expresses the spatial relationship between the book and the lamp.

English is a complex language with many nuances and subtleties. A key part of understanding and using English correctly is knowing the parts of speech. These are the different categories that words can be classified into, based on their function in a sentence.

The word “would” is a verb. It typically expresses past tense actions, but it can also be used to express future actions. For example, “I would go to the store” means that in the past, I went to the store. “I would go to the store” can also mean that in the future, I will go to the store.

The parts of speech that are universally recognized are nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. These parts of speech are essential for conveying information about people, places, things, and actions. Together, they provide the building blocks for creating complete sentences. Without them, communication would be impossible. Consequently, parts of speech are universal features of language that play a vital role in human communication.

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What Are The Nine Parts of Speech?

3-minute read

• 1st December 2022

The words we use when we communicate can be divided into nine parts, also known as word classes . The nine parts of speech refer to the different types of words and the functions they serve. In this post, we’ll detail each of the nine parts of speech and provide examples for each.

You may remember learning that a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. We use nouns all the time – sometimes they’re the subject of the sentence, and sometimes they’re the object. If a noun is proper, meaning it’s an official name, you should capitalize it in your writing. In the following examples, the nouns are in bold:

These words are generic stand-ins for the noun in a sentence. They allow us to avoid repeating the name of something over and over. Certain pronouns refer to people or animals ( he , she , we , who , us , etc.), while others can be used for inanimate things ( it , this , which , etc.), as seen in the following examples:

Verbs are action words. They tell us what’s happening, whether it’s physical ( run , walk , dance , etc.), non-physical ( agree , believe , assume , etc.), or a state of something ( become , was , etc.). They change form depending on the tense – past, present, or future – like in the examples below:

These words are used to describe nouns and pronouns. Not only do they describe things in terms of the five senses – how something looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes – they also specify quantities of things, types of things, etc. Speech would be pretty boring and nondescript without adjectives!

Adverbs describe verbs and adjectives. Often, they end in – ly , but not always! If you want to describe how, where, when, why, how often, or to what extent something happens, you’ll use an adverb.

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Prepositions

There are many prepositions in the English language. These words indicate physical relationships between words. They refer to spatial, temporal, or role dynamics between a noun and the other words around it. For example:

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are like joints. They connect or coordinate words, phrases, and clauses. Like prepositions, they indicate relationships, but not in a physical sense. They can indicate a cause-and-effect relationship or a contrast (e.g., because , though , since ), or they can coordinate words (e.g., and , but , or ).

Articles/Determiners

These words specify and modify nouns, and they’re necessary for a sentence to be grammatically correct. The most common articles are the , a , and an. Determiners identify and quantify nouns (e.g., these , those , which ).

Interjections

Interjections are short phrases and words that stand on their own. They contain a complete thought or feeling without needing to be worked into a sentence. We use them all the time, often without realizing it! Some examples include:

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Understanding Parts of Speech (9 Types With Examples)

What are parts of speech? In the American English language, parts-of-speech is a category to which a word is assigned in accordance with its syntactic functions. They exist under the verb , noun, pronoun, interjection , adjective , conjunction, adverb, and preposition forms.

Learn more about parts of the speech in this comprehensive worksheet…

What are parts of speech?

“Parts of speech” refers to the essential words used in sentence formation in the English language.

Every word used in a sentence structure plays an important role in defining the sentence’s meaning. These words use and placement give proper intentions in sentence structures.

Parts of speech are the basic grammar lessons taught during the primary phases of learning English.

Any word used in sentence formation falls into one of these categories for proper sentence structure.

Some of those words can be a part of one or more parts of speech. This topic further explores the essential parts of speech used in the English language.

Watch this as a video lesson

In total, there are nine categories of parts of speech

These nine parts of speech are namely: Verbs, Nouns , Adjectives, Determiners, Adverbs , Pronouns, Prepositions , Conjunctions, and Interjections.

Another additional classification is used as a part of speech, i.e. , Articles, a subprogram of determiners.

To comprehend the meaning and use of each word in the English language, it is essential to clearly understand the various parts of speech and select the right parts of speech form at the appropriate place in the sentence.

What are the 9 parts of speech with their functions?

Here are the nine parts of speech and how they impact the English language.

‘Verbs’ are the words used in a sentence to define the action/state of action being performed. Most of the sentences in sentence formation require the inclusion of verbs.

Some examples of verbs used in the English language are Love, Break, Fall , and Cry . These are the basic forms of verbs and are known as infinitives .

Most of the verbs used have two other major forms called participles . The use of these participles is for the formation of various verb-tense combinations.

These participles define the forms of verbs concerning the time of action/performance. These verb-tense combinations can be used in two types: Active voice and passive voice .

A ‘noun’ are words used in a sentence to give recognition or the name of an object, individual, or animal.

Nouns can be sub-classified into two major categories: Common nouns , which give generic descriptor names to things, and common items, such as a bat, a bicycle , etc. The other category of nouns is Proper nouns , which have specific descriptor names to refer to a specialized object, place, or individual, such as Charley, The Empire State Building, The Telegraph , etc.

Additionally, nouns can be classified as singular nouns and plural nouns based on the number of individuals/objects.

Singular Nouns

The definition of a Singular Noun is the same as that of a noun when used commonly. It carries the same definition as the noun: “A word referring towards an individual/object/event/material/place.”

Plural Nouns

The word plural relates to “more than one in certain languages or more than two in certain languages.”

Thus singular nouns can be converted to their plural noun format when there is an implication of more than one or two objects/individuals/places.

A general Singular/Common Noun can be turned into the appropriate form of a Plural Noun by adding a ‘s’/’es’/’ ies’/’ves.’ It is also initiated by changing ‘us’ to ‘i’, ‘is’ to ‘es’ , or ‘on’ to ‘a’ .

Some common nouns do not change when interchanged between their singular and plural noun forms. Some other common nouns do not fall under plural nouns and are called irregular nouns, which are made plural by changing the spelling or adding a suffix to the word.

‘Adjectives’ are words that give a description or modify the scope of nouns/pronouns by being specific. For example, adjectives used to define a noun can be red, small, hot, common, etc.

An adjective is usually placed before a noun or after the verb that it modifies. Three forms of adjectives are used to compare similar characteristics of different individuals/objects. These three degrees of comparison are:

• Positive/Absolute form

This comparison of adjectives defines the original form of the adjective as stated in English. For example, “this candy is tasty .” This degree of comparison states that no relative subject is available for comparison.

• Comparative form

This form of the adjective gives a relative comparison between two objects performing similar actions with identical characteristics. For example, “the candy we had today is tastier than the one we received yesterday.”

• Superlative form

This form of the adjective gives the superiority declaration of one object over similar objects possessing similar characteristics. For example, “this candy is the tastiest I have ever had in the last two years .”

Adjectives can be sub-classified based on their function in sentence formation. This sub-classification is:

• Possessive Adjectives

These adjectives show/represent the possessiveness of an object. For example, mine, my, his/her, their, its, etc.

• Interrogative Adjectives

These adjectives modify the noun/pronoun by interrogation. Only a select few adjectives are available in this form. For example, whose, which, what, and where.

• Demonstrative Adjectives

These adjectives describe the current state/position of the noun/pronoun concerning space/time. For example, this, these, those, that.

• Compound Adjectives

These adjectives are a result of the combination of two or more adjectives. The resulting adjective modifies the subject in the sentence. For example, hand-dried, heavy-weighted, spike-haired, etc.

‘Determiners’ are the words placed before a noun/pronoun group terms to refer to a single/multiple things. Some commonly used determiners in English are ‘a’, ‘the’, ‘some’, ‘any’, and ‘this.’ Determiners are generally placed before descriptive adjectives . It tells the reader more about the description of the noun being referred to.

Determiners are classified into sub-categories, articles, and demonstratives.

An ‘Article’ can be either definite or indefinite. An article modifies a noun/pronoun without specifying any description of the object. In English, an example of a ‘definite article’ is the , whereas examples of two ‘indefinite articles’ are a and an .

Here, the refers to specific things or things that are identified beforehand. A or a refer to non-specific things that have not been identified beforehand.

Demonstratives

A ‘Demonstrative’ is defined as a demonstrative adjective/pronoun based on its usage in the sentence. Some examples of demonstratives are ‘this’, ‘that’, and ‘those’ .

A determiner has the same rules of use as in the case of adjectives in sentence formation. Thus, confusion takes place when carefully choosing the type of parts of speech to assign when given a choice of either a determiner or adjective.

An ‘Adverb’ defines essential information about the verb, similar to what an adjective is to a noun. It provides a descriptor for a verb used in a sentence and some cases, can also describe an adjective or another adverb.

Some adverbs used in sentences with verbs are ‘slowly’, ‘hastily’, ‘unfortunately’, and ‘angrily’.

Adverbs are further sub-classified into various types based on their application in a sentence.

• Adverbs of Time (to inform about the occurrence of a verb), For example, ‘now’, ‘tomorrow’, and ‘soon’.
• Adverbs of Manner (to describe the action of a verb), For example, ‘hastily’, ‘slowly’, and ‘minutely’.
• Adverbs of Place (to indicate the place of action of the verb),
• Adverbs of Frequency (to describe the frequency of a verb action),
• Adverbs of Degree (to describe the intensity of an action),
• Conjunctive Adverbs (are used to link/act as a conjunction to two sentences).

A ‘Pronoun’ is a word used in specifically providing an alternate name for a non/noun phrase. They are alternate words for referring to an object/individual when the requirement of a noun is unnecessary, as the noun has been mentioned previously in some parts of the sentence.

Some examples of pronouns are ‘it’, ‘he/she’, and ‘himself/herself’.

Pronouns are sub-classified into different categories based on their use in the sentence.

Some of these sub-categories are:

• Relative Pronouns (to relate a part of a sentence with the other)
• Possessive Pronouns (to show possessiveness)
• Reflexive Pronouns (to refer back to the subject of discussion)
• Demonstrative Pronouns (to refer to specific objects/individuals)
• Interrogative Pronouns (to ask questions)
• Indefinite Pronouns (to avoid reference to any specific object/individual/place)
• Personal Pronouns (to use as substitutes for proper names)
• Subject Pronouns (to assign acting on an object)
• Object Pronouns (to assign receiving action towards an object)
• Reciprocal Pronouns (to express two-way/mutual relationship)
• Preposition

A ‘Preposition’ is a word used as a connective between a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun with another word.

Prepositions are used in sentence formations to convey these meanings:

• To show the direction towards/of something/someone
• To refer to the period of an action taking place
• To specify the location/position of an object
• To present the space and time relationship between objects

Based on their use and function, prepositions are classified into four subtypes:

• Prepositions of Time (to indicate the happening of an action/event)
• Preposition of Place (to indicate the location of an object)
• Preposition of Direction (to indicate the direction/orientation of an object)
• Prepositions of Spatial Relationship (to indicate an object moving away/towards a source)
• Conjunction

A ‘Conjunction’ is a word that combines two/more objects and behaves as connectives in a sentence. These can appear in the beginning/middle/end of the sentence following the location of the objects.

There are three types of conjunctions used in sentence formation:

• Coordinate conjunction (to combine two independent clauses )
• Subordinate conjunction (to combine an independent with a dependent clause)
• Correlation conjunction (to combine two phrases having equal weightage)

Interjection

An ‘Interjection’ is a word to convey the expression of a variety of emotions/feelings. As such, there is no specific rule for the use of interjection and where it is to be placed.

However, in most cases, it is placed at the beginning of the sentence. For example, some of the most commonly used interjections are ‘ouch’, ‘phew’, and ‘well’.

Parts of speech examples

Here are some examples of the parts of speech used in sentences. Note the placement and its relation with other parts of speech present in the sentence format.

• John is  cutting  a pipe.
• John intends to  come  to the office this Monday .
• Jogging  regularly is good for health.
• Drinking  and  driving  put other motorists in danger.
• Would you want to wear  a suit?
• I love  to sing  in between classes.

See another example in the image below.

• Juno  ran towards the classroom.
• The janitor  requested the students to clear their lockers.
• The monkey  was caged after being sedated.
• I gifted my brother a  phone .
• Why did you purchase the  book ?
• I misplaced the  manuscript .
• Do you want to eat some  ice cream ?
• Mum loved my new car .
• Daniel gifted  his brother  a Porsche.

• I purchased a blue suit for the reception.
• Mary purchased two oranges from the fruit seller.
• The curry is tasty .
• Juno’s brother is arrogant .
• The documentary that premiered on television was fascinating .
• Giovanni Giorgio is a great music composer.

• My house is currently under lease.
• This novel is lengthy.
• I purchased some fruits and vegetables.
• She sent me an expensive watch.
• Velma loved  the  dress gifted by her parents.
• Joyce and Jill watched  a  movie together.
• Grandma gave us materials to prepare  the   dessert.

• Typically , we visit Mom on Mondays.
• Don’t you taste the coffee to be  too  bitter?
• Do not be nervous. You will  eventually get the hang of it.
• The movie I watched was  very  scientific.
• It is  scorching hot inside the workshop.
• Can I visit the office  today ?

• His aunt will be staying at the apartment for a while .
• He is the man I was referring to.
• I found my missing luggage outside the airport.

• I won’t be coming  to  the office  in  the afternoon.
• He arranged the cutlery  on  the table.
• Bhaskar made the dog hide  under  its bed.
• I enjoy strolling by the lake in the mornings.

• James  and  I trekked to the hilltop today.
• I stayed back home  because  I felt uneasy.
• He did not enjoy the yogurt ,  yet  he finished it.

• Interjection
• Hurray!  We got the funding.
• Ouch!  That wound looks severe.
• Wow!  You look great in the wedding gown.
• Oh my God !  I hope he is safe.

See an example in the image below.

Words with more than one job

Many parts of speech can have more than one function/job in the sentence. This improves the versatility of the words being used and makes the use more situational in its placement and conveyance of meaning.

• Myers can shift for herself (Preposition)
• Give prayers to the Almighty; for He is the one above all (Conjunction)
• We require more women to have the same vigor. (Adjective)
• More of the women died in the operating room than in the cabin. (Pronoun)
• Agatha needs to shut the gossiping and work more (Adverb)

To see how all the objects work together, see the table below.

Here is a chart showing the parts of speech:

How to identify parts of speech

In sentence formation, it often becomes difficult to ascertain the parts of speech represented by each word. To help out and to make the process of identification easier, follow these steps:

• Identify any word which names an object/individual/place in a generalized form as a noun .
• To identify a specific noun, use pronouns .
• Any words which describe/identify actions/performance are verbs .
• Any word that modifies or gives a greater definition to nouns is an adjective.
• Any word that modifies or gives meaning to the actions of verbs, are adverbs.
• It is easy to pick out prepositions as they describe relationships between a noun/pronoun with other nouns/pronouns.
• Any joiner used to join two clauses is a conjunction .
• Exclamations generally follow any interjections in the text.

• Parts of speech

More parts of speech:

• Conjunctions
• Prepositions
• Possessive nouns
• Irregular plural nouns
• Proper nouns
• Concrete nouns
• Collective nouns
• Possessive and plural nouns
• Verbs: The Definitive Guide
• Nouns | Explore Definition, Examples & Types with Examples
• What Are Pronouns? Definitions and Examples
• What Are Adverbs? (with Examples)
• Interjections – Explore Meaning, Definition, Usage and Examples
• What Is A Conjunction? Types & Examples
• The 9 Parts of Speech: Definitions and Examples
• What Is a Determiner?
• The 8 Parts of Speech: Examples and Rules
• Adverbs – What is It? Explore the Meaning, Definition, Types, Usage and Examples

Inside this article

Fact checked: Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

Core lessons

• Abstract Noun
• Accusative Case
• Active Sentence
• Alliteration
• Adjective Clause
• Adjective Phrase
• Adverbial Clause
• Appositive Phrase
• Body Paragraph
• Compound Adjective
• Complex Sentence
• Compound Words
• Compound Predicate
• Common Noun
• Comparative Adjective
• Comparative and Superlative
• Compound Noun
• Compound Subject
• Compound Sentence
• Copular Verb
• Collective Noun
• Colloquialism
• Conciseness
• Conditional
• Concrete Noun
• Conjugation
• Conditional Sentence
• Comma Splice
• Correlative Conjunction
• Coordinating Conjunction
• Coordinate Adjective
• Cumulative Adjective
• Dative Case
• Declarative Statement
• Direct Object Pronoun
• Direct Object
• Dangling Modifier
• Demonstrative Pronoun
• Demonstrative Adjective
• Direct Characterization
• Definite Article
• Doublespeak
• Equivocation Fallacy
• Future Perfect Progressive
• Future Simple
• Future Perfect Continuous
• Future Perfect
• First Conditional
• Gerund Phrase
• Genitive Case
• Helping Verb
• Irregular Adjective
• Irregular Verb
• Imperative Sentence
• Indefinite Article
• Intransitive Verb
• Introductory Phrase
• Indefinite Pronoun
• Indirect Characterization
• Interrogative Sentence
• Intensive Pronoun
• Inanimate Object
• Indefinite Tense
• Infinitive Phrase
• Intensifier
• Indicative Mood
• Juxtaposition
• Linking Verb
• Misplaced Modifier
• Nominative Case
• Noun Adjective
• Object Pronoun
• Object Complement
• Order of Adjectives
• Parallelism
• Prepositional Phrase
• Past Simple Tense
• Past Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• Past Progressive Tense
• Present Simple Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Personal Pronoun
• Personification
• Persuasive Writing
• Parallel Structure
• Phrasal Verb
• Predicate Adjective
• Predicate Nominative
• Phonetic Language
• Plural Noun
• Punctuation
• Punctuation Marks
• Preposition of Place
• Parts of Speech
• Possessive Adjective
• Possessive Determiner
• Possessive Case
• Possessive Noun
• Proper Adjective
• Proper Noun
• Present Participle
• Quotation Marks
• Relative Pronoun
• Reflexive Pronoun
• Reciprocal Pronoun
• Subordinating Conjunction
• Simple Future Tense
• Stative Verb
• Subjunctive
• Subject Complement
• Subject of a Sentence
• Sentence Variety
• Second Conditional
• Superlative Adjective
• Slash Symbol
• Topic Sentence
• Types of Nouns
• Types of Sentences
• Uncountable Noun
• Vowels and Consonants

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Why learning the parts of Speech in English is essential for reaching fluency

Published: Nov 28, 2023 | By: Lucas Weaver

Are you struggling to understand English grammar? Finding it hard to create proper sentences or communicate your more advanced ideas clearly and easily? 

One of the most important building blocks for unlocking fluent communication in English is learning the parts of speech. 

We often gloss over the parts of speech in school, not realizing how essential they are as English language skills. 

But understanding nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more, forms the foundation for everything from sentence structure to punctuation to writing style.

In this blog post, I’ll cover what exactly the parts of speech are, why you need to learn them to master English, common challenges English learners face, and how my online course can help fill in any gaps in your knowledge.

What are the parts of speech?

Why are the parts of speech important, proper sentence structure, correct punctuation, more engaging writing style, improved reading comprehension, common challenges for english learners, confusing similarities , incorrect grammar, putting them together, remembering rules , repeated mistakes , how learning the parts of speech in english improves your english fluency, the neuroscience behind learning the parts of speech, how my parts of speech english course can help, take your english skills to the next level.

The main parts of speech in English are:

Nouns: 

People, places, things, and ideas. For example: teacher, Miami, pencil, education. Comprised of proper nouns and common nouns. Nouns can also be used in a noun phrase which can serve as the subject of a sentence.

Pronouns: 

Words used in place of nouns. For example: she, we, them. These can be either a personal pronoun, possessive pronoun, reflexive pronoun, indefinite pronoun, or relative pronoun.

Verbs: 

Action words, linking words, and auxiliary verbs (helping verbs). For example: run, speak, read, is.

Adjectives: 

Words that describe or modify nouns. For example: tall, boring, expensive.

Adverbs: 

Words that describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. Some examples of an adverb are: quickly, very, politely.

Prepositions: 

Words that link nouns to other words in a sentence. For example: on, by, with, into. Commonly used in a prepositional phrase. A preposition is commonly known as "anywhere a rabbit can go."

Conjunctions: 

Words that join phrases, clauses, and sentences together. For example: and, but, so, because. These are broken down into coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and others.

Interjections: 

Short exclamations to express emotion. For example: ouch, wow, uh-oh.

These building blocks allow us to construct sentences and communicate complete ideas. Without them, we would just have disorganized words and sounds with no meaning. 

Each part of speech plays a specific role. Once you understand the role of every word in a sentence, you can use grammar correctly, avoid mistakes, and understand how ideas fit together.

Learning the parts of speech also unlocks more advanced grammar and writing concepts.

For instance, as we move into a little bit more advanced English lessons about sentence structure, we will start to discuss the different types of sentences, like complex sentences, simple sentences, and compound sentences.

We'll also discuss how to identify the direct object and indirect object of a sentence. Then we'll talk about the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause.

You'll also need to know the difference between a main verb and a helping verb when we learn things like English word order.

This might all seem like boring grammar topics now, but learning all of these building blocks will make your life so much easier when you try to speak and write fluently in English.

The order words appear in a sentence depends on their part of speech. Knowing if a word is a noun, verb, adjective, etc. allows you to structure sentences properly.

For example, English sentences often follow a subject-verb-object order. The subject is usually a noun or pronoun, the verb is an action word, and the object receives the action. Parts of speech tell you which words play those roles.

Using the right sentence structure makes your writing clear, coherent, and easy to understand.

Punctuation like periods, commas, and semicolons belong in certain places around parts of speech.

For instance, commas go between items in a list of adjectives. Periods indicate the end of a sentence containing a subject and predicate. Knowing parts of speech guides you to use punctuation correctly.

Proper punctuation makes writing flow smoothly and conveys ideas clearly.

Relying too much on one part of speech makes writing boring. Overusing nouns and verbs leads to a repetitive, unsophisticated style.

Varying your parts of speech adds flavor to your writing. Well-placed adjectives and adverbs add vivid description. A strategically used interjection can grab the reader’s attention.

Understanding parts of speech unlocks your ability to craft more engaging prose.

When reading, identifying the role each word plays as a part of speech helps you analyze the text critically.

Seeing how the author uses nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech provides deeper insight into the meaning. It allows you to discern subtleties and patterns that create a richer reading experience.

In short, parts of speech provide the essential nuts and bolts of language. Mastering them is key to improving English skills. Keep reading to learn about common challenges and how my course can help.

Here are some common problems English learners often have with parts of speech:

Some parts of speech are easily mixed up, like adjectives and adverbs. For example, learners often struggle to know when to use "quick" or "quickly." Using the wrong one changes the sentence's meaning.

Without knowing parts of speech, it's easy to use grammar the wrong way and make sentences sound awkward. You might use adjectives instead of adverbs, or put verbs in the wrong form, or mix up prepositions. This grammar confusion makes writing hard to understand.

Understanding how parts of speech connect in a sentence can be tricky. If you don't know the role each one plays, it's hard to make sentences that flow well. Knowing definitions isn't enough - you need to see how nouns, verbs, and adjectives fit together.

Many grammar rules for parts of speech must be memorized. It's not intuitive for learners when to use "a" or "an" based on the next word's sound. Or why verbs change form for third-person. Or irregular plural nouns. Learning these quirks takes repetition.

Even when you know parts of speech, some errors keep happening in speech and writing. Each language has tricky spots. Spanish speakers may mess up verb tenses, while Chinese speakers mix up prepositions. These mistakes continue until noticed and fixed.

These problems can hide your bigger ideas. That's why truly understanding parts of speech is so important for clear English communication.

Studies in language acquisition and learning show the importance of understanding the parts of speech. 

For example, a 2016 study published in the Journal of Writing Research looked at writing samples from both native English speakers and English language learners (Crossley & McNamara, 2016).

The researchers found that ELL students often lacked grammatical cohesion in their writing compared to native speakers. 

Their essays tended to jump around randomly between ideas without proper transitions. 

The authors concluded from the study that understanding how the parts of speech work together in a sentence is key to improving overall cohesion and writing quality. 

Their instruction focused specifically on how conjunctions and transition words can help English learners properly connect ideas and write more smoothly flowing texts.

This study clearly shows the value of really understanding the parts of speech for English learners. 

A deeper knowledge, not just of definitions and rules, but of how parts of speech function together to create coherent and readable sentences is a huge benefit when you want to speak and write fluent English.

Learning a new language involves developing new connections in the brain . At first, it takes a lot of effort for English learners to understand and use grammar properly.

Parts of speech like nouns, verbs, and adjectives provide an easy framework to organize words and sentences. With practice, these categories become automatic patterns the brain can access more smoothly.

For example, recognizing “book” as a noun quickly tells the brain it needs a verb to make a sentence. This basic knowledge allows the brain to search through the category of verbs when looking for a word, which then frees up energy for more complex writing tasks.

In this way, mastering the fundamentals of parts of speech makes using English more fluent and natural. The brain can rely on these building blocks to comprehend and communicate ideas better.

When you start to express longer and more advanced ideas in your writing, your brain will be able to think in patterns. Rather than just staring at a blank page, it can think in terms of subjects, verbs, and objects, rather than creating from scratch over and over. 

These patterns help the brain create more easily with less effort.

So learning parts of speech helps create stronger pathways in the brain for understanding English. They provide beginner scaffolds that, with time, support fluency and confidence using the language.

My online English course about the parts of speech breaks down parts of speech into bite-sized lessons so you can master English grammar. Here’s what the course provides:

Video lessons with explanations on each part of speech: I explain the role of each one and how to use them properly.

Plenty of relevant examples: You’ll see parts of speech used in different sentences and scenarios that are relevant to your real life so you can understand them more easily. 

Purposefully designed exercises and quizzes: I’ve personally designed a “Guided Practice” and a “Free Practice” exercise at the end of the lesson to help you actually absorb and learn the information. 

It’s one thing to just watch a video lesson in a course. It’s another thing to actually process the information so you can use it later. That’s what these exercises do.

End of lesson quiz: After you’ve completed both of the practice exercises, you’ll take a quiz to make sure you’ve mastered all the information before moving on to the next lesson. The goal is always for you to actually learn the information, not just see it once in a video.

The course curriculum is designed to help both intermediate and advanced English learners fill in any gaps in their grammar knowledge.

By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of English parts of speech and the confidence to speak and write accurately.

Parts of speech are the building blocks that allow us to use language. Without them, we can’t construct proper sentences or communicate ideas effectively.

If you feel unsure about parts of speech, it will hold back your English abilities. Use my course to master nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more, unlocking the door to writing, reading, and speaking English confidently.

Check out the course today and take your grammar knowledge to the next level.

Lucas Weaver founded The Weaver School in 2016. He's passionate about using the latest learnings in neuroscience and education to create the best language learning experience possible for our students, so they can quickly build effective language learning habits that will last for years. Lucas is a graduate of Texas A&M University and after 7 years of living in the Netherlands, he is currently traveling through Southeast Asia while learning their languages along the way.

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• English Grammar
• Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech - Definition, 8 Types and Examples

In the English language , every word is called a part of speech. The role a word plays in a sentence denotes what part of speech it belongs to. Explore the definition of parts of speech, the different parts of speech and examples in this article.

Table of Contents

Parts of speech definition, different parts of speech with examples.

• Sentences Examples for the 8 Parts of Speech

A Small Exercise to Check Your Understanding of Parts of Speech

Frequently asked questions on parts of speech, what is a part of speech.

Parts of speech are among the first grammar topics we learn when we are in school or when we start our English language learning process. Parts of speech can be defined as words that perform different roles in a sentence. Some parts of speech can perform the functions of other parts of speech too.

• The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines parts of speech as “one of the classes into which words are divided according to their grammar, such as noun, verb, adjective, etc.”
• The Cambridge Dictionary also gives a similar definition – “One of the grammatical groups into which words are divided, such as noun, verb, and adjective”.

Parts of speech include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections.

8 Parts of Speech Definitions and Examples:

1. Nouns are words that are used to name people, places, animals, ideas and things. Nouns can be classified into two main categories: Common nouns and Proper nouns . Common nouns are generic like ball, car, stick, etc., and proper nouns are more specific like Charles, The White House, The Sun, etc.

Examples of nouns used in sentences:

• She bought a pair of shoes . (thing)
• I have a pet. (animal)
• Is this your book ? (object)
• Many people have a fear of darkness . (ideas/abstract nouns)
• He is my brother . (person)
• This is my school . (place)

Also, explore Singular Nouns and Plural Nouns .

2. Pronouns are words that are used to substitute a noun in a sentence. There are different types of pronouns. Some of them are reflexive pronouns, possessive pronouns , relative pronouns and indefinite pronouns . I, he, she, it, them, his, yours, anyone, nobody, who, etc., are some of the pronouns.

Examples of pronouns used in sentences:

• I reached home at six in the evening. (1st person singular pronoun)
• Did someone see a red bag on the counter? (Indefinite pronoun)
• Is this the boy who won the first prize? (Relative pronoun)
• That is my mom. (Possessive pronoun)
• I hurt myself yesterday when we were playing cricket. (Reflexive pronoun)

3. Verbs are words that denote an action that is being performed by the noun or the subject in a sentence. They are also called action words. Some examples of verbs are read, sit, run, pick, garnish, come, pitch, etc.

Examples of verbs used in sentences:

• She plays cricket every day.
• Darshana and Arul are going to the movies.
• My friends visited me last week.
• Did you have your breakfast?
• My name is Meenakshi Kishore.

4. Adverbs are words that are used to provide more information about verbs, adjectives and other adverbs used in a sentence. There are five main types of adverbs namely, adverbs of manner , adverbs of degree , adverbs of frequency , adverbs of time and adverbs of place . Some examples of adverbs are today, quickly, randomly, early, 10 a.m. etc.

Examples of adverbs used in sentences:

• Did you come here to buy an umbrella? (Adverb of place)
• I did not go to school yesterday as I was sick. (Adverb of time)
• Savio reads the newspaper everyday . (Adverb of frequency)
• Can you please come quickly ? (Adverb of manner)
• Tony was so sleepy that he could hardly keep his eyes open during the meeting. (Adverb of degree)

5. Adjectives are words that are used to describe or provide more information about the noun or the subject in a sentence. Some examples of adjectives include good, ugly, quick, beautiful, late, etc.

Examples of adjectives used in sentences:

• The place we visited yesterday was serene .
• Did you see how big that dog was?
• The weather is pleasant today.
• The red dress you wore on your birthday was lovely.
• My brother had only one chapati for breakfast.

6. Prepositions are words that are used to link one part of the sentence to another. Prepositions show the position of the object or subject in a sentence. Some examples of prepositions are in, out, besides, in front of, below, opposite, etc.

Examples of prepositions used in sentences:

• The teacher asked the students to draw lines on the paper so that they could write in straight lines.
• The child hid his birthday presents under his bed.
• Mom asked me to go to the store near my school.
• The thieves jumped over the wall and escaped before we could reach home.

7. Conjunctions are a part of speech that is used to connect two different parts of a sentence, phrases and clauses . Some examples of conjunctions are and, or, for, yet, although, because, not only, etc.

Examples of conjunctions used in sentences:

• Meera and Jasmine had come to my birthday party.
• Jane did not go to work as she was sick.
• Unless you work hard, you cannot score good marks.
• I have not finished my project,  yet I went out with my friends.

8. Interjections are words that are used to convey strong emotions or feelings. Some examples of interjections are oh, wow, alas, yippee, etc. It is always followed by an exclamation mark.

Examples of interjections used in sentences:

• Wow ! What a wonderful work of art.
• Alas ! That is really sad.
• Yippee ! We won the match.

Sentence Examples for the 8 Parts of Speech

• Noun – Tom lives in New York .
• Pronoun – Did she find the book she was looking for?
• Verb – I reached home.
• Adverb – The tea is too hot.
• Adjective – The movie was amazing .
• Preposition – The candle was kept under the table.
• Conjunction – I was at home all day, but I am feeling very tired.
• Interjection – Oh ! I forgot to turn off the stove.

Let us find out if you have understood the different parts of speech and their functions. Try identifying which part of speech the highlighted words belong to.

• My brother came home  late .
• I am a good girl.
• This is the book I  was looking for.
• Whoa ! This is amazing .
• The climate  in  Kodaikanal is very pleasant.
• Can you please pick up Dan and me on  your way home?

Now, let us see if you got it right. Check your answers.

• My – Pronoun, Home – Noun, Late – Adverb
• Am – Verb, Good – Adjective
• I – Pronoun, Was looking – Verb
• Whoa – Interjection, Amazing – Adjective
• Climate – Noun, In – Preposition, Kodaikanal – Noun, Very – Adverb
• And – Conjunction, On – Preposition, Your – Pronoun

What are parts of speech?

The term ‘parts of speech’ refers to words that perform different functions in a sentence  in order to give the sentence a proper meaning and structure.

How many parts of speech are there?

There are 8 parts of speech in total.

What are the 8 parts of speech?

Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections are the 8 parts of speech.

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UN calls for united action to combat rising Islamophobia

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Amid a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate, top UN officials condemned the scourge on Friday as the General Assembly adopted a resolution to push back against it during commemorations marking the  International Day to Combat Islamophobia .

The new resolution, tabled by Pakistan, calls for, among other things, concerted action to fight ongoing violence against Muslims and requests the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia.

The world body  created the International Day through a  resolution adopted following attacks on two mosques Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 51 people dead on this day in 2019.

Prior to adopting the new resolution, by a vote of 113 in favour to none against, with 44 abstentions, a divided Assembly rejected by a close margin two amendments proposed by a group of European nations.

The proposals would have replaced key language in the resolution, including calling for a focal point instead of a UN special envoy and removing references to the desecration of the Quran.

Online hate speech ‘fuelling real-life violence’

The UN chief on Friday said “divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatising communities ” and everyone must unite to combat intolerance, stereotypes and bias.

“ Online hate speech is fuelling real-life violence ,” Secretary-General António Guterres said in a  statement , emphasising that digital platforms must moderate hateful content and protect users from harassment.

Institutional discrimination and other barriers are violating the human rights and dignity of Muslims, and much of this disturbing trend is part of a wider pattern of attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations, also including Jewish people, minority Christian communities and others, he added.

“We must confront and root out bigotry in all its forms,” he declared. “Leaders must condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom. “Together, let us commit to promoting mutual respect and understanding, foster social cohesion and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for all.”

‘Faith literacy’ must combat religion-based hate

In Geneva, Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ), said all forms of religious hatred and intolerance are unacceptable.

“The message today is perhaps more urgent than ever: we are all well past the hour to restore peace, tolerance and respect ,” he said. “We know that fear breeds hate, ignorance and distrust of the other.”

“Islamophobia has stolen lives”, dehumanising entire communities and sparking “torrents of hate speech, magnified by social media”, he said, citing multiple reports on “huge spikes” in Islamophobic incidents amid the current conflict in the Middle East, with a nearly 600 per cent increase in some countries in North America and Europe.

UN_SPExperts

States must record such incidents and urgently step up their efforts to combat intolerance against people based on religion or belief using the many available tools at their disposal, including the OHCHR  guide to developing anti-discrimination legislation.

“Faith literacy – in other words, knowledge and understanding about the values of each religion and belief – is also crucial,” Mr. Türk said, urging States to include it as part of comprehensive training initiatives on combating religious hatred for law enforcement officers and the judiciary, faith-based actors, teachers and media professionals.

Anti-Muslim hate spikes

Also in Geneva, Nassima Baghli, Permanent Observer of the OIC, hosted a  commemorative event on Friday, saying that “Islamophobia is on the rise following the Israeli aggression on Gaza”.

Citing recent anti-Muslim incidents, she pointed to cases several months ago of the desecration of the Quran .

“Discrimination and stereotypes based on religion or belief are doing a lot of harm as they dehumanise people and prevent them from enjoying their rights,” Ms. Baghli said.

“We need to combat these scourges with great resolve with all the tools at our disposal,” she said. “Our common goal is to promote mutual understanding and respect for all.”

UN rights experts: Nobody should fear having a religion

UN independent rights experts raised a range of concerns in a  statement issued on Friday, stressing that “States and faith-based actors have human rights responsibilities, and they have to step in to counter such violations” in line with the Rabat Plan of Action and the UN Faith for Rights framework and the #Faith4Rights toolkit to encourage respect for religious diversity.

“Across the world, we have witnessed attacks on mosques, cultural centres, schools and even private property belonging to Muslims ,” said the Human Rights Council -appointment experts, who are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.

“During this holy month of Ramadan, we are appalled at the continued refusal by Israel to allow adequate humanitarian assistance and food aid to be provided to the mainly Muslim civilian population in Gaza despite the widespread hunger and signs of severe malnutrition,” the experts said, also raising serious concerns about undue restrictions imposed on access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the destruction of a significant number of places of worship in Gaza .

“Nobody should suffer fear for having or manifesting their religion or belief,” they said. “ Everyone should feel safe and benefit from the equal protection of their human rights, which must be guaranteed by all States.”

• Hate Speech

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Biden holds record-breaking New York City fundraiser with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton

By Aaron Navarro , Jordan Freiman

Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 6:54 AM EDT / CBS News

President Biden participated in a star-studded fundraiser with former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Thursday in New York City in an event expected to raise more than $25 million for the president's re-election campaign.

Thursday's New York City fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall was hosted by actress Mindy Kaling and featured performances by several musical guests and artists, including Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele. The event was capped off with a nearly hourlong discussion between Mr. Biden, Obama and Clinton moderated by "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert. 

Obama accompanied Mr. Biden on the Air Force One flight from Washington, D.C., to New York earlier in the day.  

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and first lady Jill Biden also delivered remarks during the event. 

Schumer touted several of Mr. Biden's accomplishments and spoke of the potential for not just the president's re-election, but for Democrats to control all three branches of government with key wins in the 2024 election.

"Re-elect Joe Biden as president, put Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker, keep me as Majority Leader, and the next four years will be better than this. You ain't seen nothing yet," the Senate majority leader said.

The first lady, joined by several other members of the Biden family, recalled that after she agreed to marry Mr. Biden, "He said, 'Jill, I promise you, your life will never change.' Well that, of course, turned out to be wildly untrue."

She also spoke of the large sum raised for her husband's campaign.

"This is the biggest fundraiser the DNC has ever held – the fundraiser to end all fundraisers – and we've raised a record amount," Jill Biden said.

Mr. Biden, Obama and Clinton discussed a wide variety of topics, from the economy to the border to the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, which Mr. Biden bluntly referred to as an insurrection. 

"I was supposed to make a speech on the economy, and I decided I couldn't remain silent," Mr. Biden said. "So what I did was I made a speech about January the sixth, what was happening. And I said it was an insurrection underway, and it must be dealt with and I plead with the president to stop and do his job, call these people off. He sat there in the dining room off the Oval Office for several hours and watched, didn't do a damn thing. That's why I felt obliged even though I wasn't sworn in yet. I was president-elect."

The fundraiser was interrupted by demonstrators protesting against the war in Gaza multiple times, and one who appeared to be yelling something about nuclear with Russia, throughout the night. One interruption came while Obama was discussing Gaza, to which he replied "You can't just talk and not listen," leading the audience to give him a standing ovation.

"It is also possible for us to have our hearts broken watching innocent people being killed and try to manage through that in a way that ultimately leads to both people being able to live in peace side by side," Obama said. "That is not an easy thing."

"It is important for us to understand that it is possible to have moral clarity and have deeply held beliefs, but still recognize that the world is complicated and it is hard to solve these problems," the former president added.

There were also Pro-Palestinian protests outside the music hall, CBS News New York reported . The New York Police Department told CBS News one person was detained. There was no word on why.

The demonstrators were chanting and screaming their messages, directing their anger toward Mr. Biden and, at times, at police officers.

Mr. Biden reiterated his support for Israel and its right to self defense, but said there were "too many innocent victims" and that more aid needs to get into Gaza. Mr. Biden also expressed support for a two-state solution.

"It's understandable there's such a profound anger, and Hamas is still there, but we must in fact, stop the effort resulting in significant deaths of innocent civilians, particularly children," Mr. Biden said.

The campaign has billed the event as the "most successful political fundraiser in American history." 

During a swing through Texas earlier this month, the Biden campaign raised a combined $7 million from three separate fundraisers. A fundraiser for Mr. Biden in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday raised $2.3 million. 

Mr. Biden's largest single-day haul prior to Thursday came in the 24 hours after his  State of the Union address earlier in March, when he raised $10 million, according to his campaign.

But Thursday's staggering sum is a new record for the campaign, and it further illustrates the growing cash gap between Mr. Biden and his presumptive general election opponent, former President Donald Trump. 

Trump raised $20 million in the whole month of February and $8.8 million in January. He's also been dogged by legal bills and payments , with his campaign and the political action committees supporting him spending over $10 million in legal fees this year.

Mr. Biden's campaign committees have more than double the cash on hand of Trump's equivalent groups, $155 million for Mr. Biden and $74 million for Trump as of late March.

"Unlike our opponent, every dollar we're raising is going to reach the voters who will decide this election — communicating the President's historic record, his vision for the future and laying plain the stakes of this election," said Biden-Harris campaign co-chair and Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg. 

Trump's campaign sent out two fundraising emails Wednesday mentioning Mr. Biden's Thursday fundraiser, with one calling on "one million Trump supporters to donate to beat the "Obama-Clinton cartel" and the other reading, "We can't lose to Obama!"

• Democratic Party

Aaron Navarro is a CBS News digital reporter covering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign and the 2024 election. He was previously an associate producer for the CBS News political unit in the 2021 and 2022 election cycles.

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At least two people killed in Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy network

Lviv governor says more people may be under rubble after cruise missile attack as Moscow ratchets up targeting of infrastructure

Russia has carried out another round of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s much-depleted energy network, killing at least two people.

One man died in a cruise missile attack on infrastructure in the western Lviv region, and another was killed after a projectile hit a petrol station in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, officials said on Sunday.

Lviv’s governor, Maksym Kozytsky, said there “may still be people under the rubble” and that firefighters had extinguished a blaze that broke out at an administrative building damaged in the strikes.

Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent days, causing significant damage in several regions.

On Saturday the Ukrainian energy company Centrenergo said the Zmiiv thermal power plant, one of the largest in the Kharkiv region, had been completely destroyed as a result of Russian shelling last week. Power outage schedules were still in place for about 120,000 people in the region, where 700,000 had lost electricity after the plant was hit on 22 March.

The national energy operator, Ukrenergo, said Russia had targeted high-voltage facilities in the south on Sunday, forcing emergency shutdowns in the Black Sea city of Odesa and nearby areas that left hundreds of thousands of people without power.

In an Easter Sunday message to Ukrainians on social media, the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said: “There is no night or day when Russian terror does not try to break our lives … But we defend ourselves, we endure, our spirit does not give up and knows that it is possible to avert death. Life can prevail.”

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down nine of the 11 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, as well as nine out of 14 cruise missiles.

Russia’s defence ministry said the air force had used “high-precision long-range air-based weapons” to conduct a large strike against Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastructure.

“As a result of this strike, the operation of defence industry enterprises involved in the manufacture and repair of weapons, equipment and ammunition has been disrupted,” it said in a statement. “All the goals of the strike have been achieved. The assigned objects were hit.”

In the Russian border village of Dunayka, Ukrainian shelling killed a woman on Sunday, according to the local governor.

Since Moscow launched its assault on Ukraine two years ago, Russia’s Belgorod region has been repeatedly targeted by what authorities say is indiscriminate Ukrainian bombardment, which has increased in recent months.

“The village of Dunayka, in the Graivoron urban district, came under Ukrainian fire. To much grief, a civilian was killed,” Vyacheslav Gladkov said on social media. “She died of her wounds on the spot before the ambulance crew arrived. I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”

The latest wave of strikes came as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, signed orders heralding the start of the country’s annual spring recruitment season, officially drafting 150,000 conscripts.

Russia’s parliament raised the upper age limit for conscripts from 27 to 30 in July 2023 in a move that appeared to be part of efforts to expand the military during the fighting in Ukraine. In September, Putin signed an order calling up 130,000 people for the autumn campaign, and last spring Russia planned to conscript 147,000.

On Sunday, France’s defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said his country would send Ukraine a fresh military aid package including new surface-to-air missiles and hundreds of old armoured vehicles.

“The Ukrainian army needs to defend a very long frontline, which requires armoured vehicles; this is absolutely crucial for troop mobility and is part of the Ukrainian requests,” Lecornu told La Tribune Dimanche.

He said France was looking at providing hundreds of VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé) frontline troop carriers in 2024 and early 2025.

France’s army is gradually replacing its thousands of VABs, which first went into operation in the late 1970s, with new multi-role troop carriers.

Lecornu said France was also preparing to release a new batch of Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles for the Samp/T system provided to Kyiv. The Aster 30 can intercept warplanes, drones and cruise missiles within a range of 75 miles (120km).

France is also speeding up the development of remotely operated ammunition for delivery to Ukraine as early as this summer, Lecornu said.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, last month refused to rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine, although he cautioned that there was no consensus as allies agreed to ramp up efforts to deliver more munitions to Kyiv.

Pope Francis used his Easter Sunday address to call for a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine as well as a ceasefire in Gaza. The pontiff said his thoughts were with the people of Ukraine and Gaza and all those facing war, especially the children who, he said, had “forgotten how to smile”.

“In calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, all for the sake of all,” he said.

More on this story

Russia demands extradition of Ukraine security chief and others for ‘terrorism’

Russia-Ukraine war: ‘Our spirit does not give up,’ Zelenskiy says in Easter message; Russia hits Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – as it happened

Europe must get ready for looming war, Donald Tusk warns

Ukraine war briefing: Russian fighter jet crashes off Crimea

Russia criticised for using veto to end UN monitoring of North Korea sanctions

Ukraine pleads for air defence aid after Russia launches more missile strikes on Kyiv

Amid air raids and electricity shortages, a Ukrainian artist paints the Russian invasion

Ukraine's qualification for Euro 2024 'for our supporters, for our country, for our people' – video

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Hamas Took Her, and Still Has Her Husband

The story of one family at the center of the war in gaza..

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Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence.

It’s been nearly six months since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, when militants took more than 200 hostages into Gaza.

In a village called Nir Oz, near the border, one quarter of residents were either killed or taken hostage. Yocheved Lifshitz and her husband, Oded Lifshitz, were among those taken.

Today, Yocheved and her daughter Sharone tell their story.

On today’s episode

Yocheved Lifshitz, a former hostage.

Sharone Lifschitz, daughter of Yocheved and Oded Lifshitz.

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Yocheved Lifshitz was beaten and held in tunnels built by Hamas for 17 days.

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Kirsten dunst on that memorable spider-man upside-down kiss: “it was almost like i was resuscitating him”, steven spielberg rails against anti-semitism & “history repeating itself” at stirring usc shoah foundation ceremony.

By Dominic Patten

Dominic Patten

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“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said Steven Spielberg today. “I am increasingly alarmed that we may be condemned to repeat history–to once again have to fight for the very right to be Jewish,” the Schindler’s List  director added at an event Monday celebrating the 30 th anniversary of the Spielberg founded Shoah Foundation .

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Read Spielberg’s full remarks below.

Receiving USC’s University Medallion at the packed lunch Monday, the Oscar winner’s poignant comments come as friction in the Middle East took another turn.

(WATCH) Today at a USC Shoah Foundation ceremony, Steven Spielberg spoke out against antisemitism & in favor of the power of empathy https://t.co/cZs2lntQno pic.twitter.com/PR9a1etrRv — Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 25, 2024

Just hours before the Shoah Foundation gathering in LA, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. As President Joe Biden and others in the administration have increasingly called for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take a more circumspect response amidst a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian region, the U.S. today abstained at the UN, allowing the ceasefire vote to succeed.

“A ceasefire could have come about months ago if Hamas had been willing to release hostages,” Ambassador  Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the vote in New York as Netanyahu pulled a scheduled top level meeting set between American and Israeli officials in response. “Any ceasefire must come with the release of all hostages,” the U.S. UN representative went on say, adding the terrorist group “accepts the deal on the table” — mirroring the President’s previous words on the matter.

A longtime contributor to Democrats, Spielberg was one of the co-hosts for a re-election fundraising event for Biden in early December.

“This makes us a unique force for good in the world and is why we are here today to celebrate the work of the Shoah Foundation, which is more crucial now even than it was in 1994,” Spielberg said with Celina Biniaz, one of the last living Holocaust survivors from Schindler’s List in attendance. 

Holocaust survivors were also the recipients of the University Medallion Monday.

Praising Spielberg’s speech as “perfection” when she came to speak herself today, Biniaz was literally the youngest person on Oscar Schindler’s list against deportation to a certain death by the Nazis during those terrible days in the Second World War.                             

“It is crucial in the wake of the horrific October 7 massacre,” Spielberg asserted bluntly earlier in tones similar to those he used late last year responding to the brutal surprise attack by Hamas that left over 1400 civilians and soldiers dead, hundreds taken hostage and reports of mass rapes. “It is crucial to the stopping of political violence caused by misinformation, conspiracy theories and ignorance. It is crucial because stopping the rise of anti-semitism and hate of any kind is critical to the health of our democratic republic and the future of democracy all over the civilized world.”   

With the 1994-formed Shoah Foundation’s archive of  nearly 60,000 testimonies of Holocaust survivors and witnesses to acts of genocide and crimes against humanity, Spielberg is only the fourth recipient of USC’s University Medallion.

The award is a recognition of an individual who has made “exceptional contributions to USC, society and humankind,’ as USC president Carol Folt told the crowd of 265 in the Town and Gown ballroom Monday. In that context and with Spielberg and survivors sitting nearby, Folt stated: “We feel the searing pain of October 7 and we must fight anti-Semitism.”

Media mogul  and former US Ambassador to the UK, Walter Annenberg was awarded the first University Medallion in 1994, the same year the Shoah Foundation was founded. Dana and David Dornsife were jointly given the second University Medallion in 2011 for the  architectural electronic and lighting design firm founder and the steel executive’s support of neuroscience research.

Here is Spielberg’s speech in full:

Good afternoon everyone. “It fills me up,” as my late mom Leah used to say, to be here with you today–30 years after the Shoah Foundation was founded and 20 years after the University of Southern California became our dedicated partner in this endeavor–to celebrate what we have accomplished and reflect on all that we hope to achieve.  I am grateful to President Folt for bringing us together and for her unflagging leadership and support. Please join me in thanking her for her ongoing commitment to our mission. For many years, I have been incredibly fortunate to spend much of my professional life telling stories. Stories are the foundation of history. Stories can be magical, inspirational, terrifying, and unforgettable. They offer a snapshot of humanity in all its beauty and tragedy. And they are one of our strongest weapons in the fight against anti-Semitism and racial and religious hatred.  The Holocaust, or as my parents called it, “The Great Murders,” is one of the stories I heard growing up.  In my grandparents’ home in Cincinnati, where I lived until I was three, my grandmother taught English to Hungarian Holocaust survivors.  During these lessons, I would often sit at the table with her, and it was there that I learned to count… not in school but by being taught the numbers tattooed on survivors’ arms.  One man rolled up his sleeve showed me what the number 5 looked like, then a 3 then a 7. Then he said, “Wanna see a trick:  this is a 9, but when I go like this, now it’s a 6.  I was only three, but I never forgot.  Years later, when I was in high school in California, I was one of a small number of Jews at my school, and I got to experience what it was like to be on the receiving end of anti-semitism both verbally & physically and through silent exclusion.  It was a stark reminder that even though decades had passed since the Holocaust, the distance between my grandmother’s table and the halls of my high school wasn’t very far and that discrimination against the Jews was not something that started or ended with World War II. In the years leading up to and during the production of Schindler’s List , immersing myself in the darkness of the Holocaust was imperative.  The one thing that always punctured the darkness was when Holocaust survivors would visit us in Krakow.  I remember every survivor had a story to recount.  But I also remember that it pained me that their stories were not being documented as proof of what had been done to them and to all the Jews of Europe. By coming forward to share their stories on camera, a permanent record would be preserved for their families, for history, for education, and for every future generation.  This became my mission, this became our work. This became the Shoah Foundation. And here we are, 30 years later, still determined to give those voices every opportunity to be heard.  The 56,000 testimonies we have recorded are invaluable in teaching new generations what survivors have intoned for 80 years. Never again. Yet in listening to them, the echoes of history are unmistakable in our current climate.  The rise of extremist views has created a dangerous environment, and radical intolerance leads a society to no longer celebrate differences but instead conspire to demonize those who are different to the point of creating “The Other.” The idea of “The Other” is an idea that poisons discourse and creates a dangerous wedge throughout our communities.  “Othering” rationalizes prejudice and encourages the willful denial and distortion of reality to enforce preconceptions.  “Othering” is the kindling that fuels extremism and illiberalism. We see every day how the machinery of extremism is being used on college campuses…where now, fully 50 percent of students say they have experienced some discrimination because they are Jewish. This is happening alongside anti-Muslim, Arab, and Sikh discrimination. The creation of “the Other” and the dehumanization of ANY GROUP based on their differences, is the foundation of fascism. It’s an old playbook dusted off and being widely distributed today! “Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I am increasingly alarmed that we may be condemned to repeat history–to once again have to fight for the very right to be Jewish. In the face of brutality and persecution, we have always been a resilient and compassionate people who understand the power of empathy.  We can rage against the heinous acts committed by the terrorists of October 7th and also decry the killing of innocent women and children in Gaza. This makes us a unique force for good in the world and is why we are here today celebrate the work of the Shoah Foundation, which is more crucial now it even was in 1994. It is crucial in the wake of the horrific October 7 massacre. It is crucial to the stopping of political violence caused by misinformation, conspiracy theories and ignorance. It is crucial because stopping the rise of anti-semitism and hate of any kind is critical to the health of our democratic republic and the future of democracy all over the civilized world.    This brings me back to our celebration of 30 years of capturing the stories that the world must never forget.   The 56,000 testimonies that we have recorded are a foundation upon which bridges can be built and we are building those bridges.  A few months ago, at a gathering of a group of survivors, an 82-year-old woman named Hana Rychik shared what I know so many of us are wishing–that those who are currently being held hostage in Gaza should be safe and have hope that they will return home.  And then she added something that I know means something to everyone here.  “We need Peace.  Peace and understanding. We should respect each other.” She said. I want future generations to hear that story when they sit at their grandparent’s kitchen table, as I did so many years ago. I want them to hear the stories of courage from the past that the Shoah Foundation will continue to record. I also want them to know that we have fought against history repeating itself by celebrating Jewish survival and vitality. I want them to know that we believe in a just world for everyone and will always embrace Hana’s eternal wish for peace, understanding, and human dignity.  When her wish becomes reality–and we can live in a world where our essential freedoms are common across all countries, peoples, and religions- that will be the most joyful story ever told.  It is now my great honor and privilege to introduce a survivor who has become one of the Shoah Foundation’s greatest champions and a treasured friend. Please welcome Ms. Celina Biniaz.

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Pope overcomes health concerns to lead Easter Sunday Mass

Posted: March 31, 2024 | Last updated: March 31, 2024

Pope Francis overcame concerns about his health to preside over Easter Sunday Mass, leading tens of thousands of people in a flower-decked St Peter's Square in one of the most important events of the year. Just hours after celebrating the two-and-a-half-hour night-time Easter Vigil, the 87-year-old pontiff appeared in good form at the start of the liturgy in the blustery piazza on Sunday. Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has had respiratory problems all winter that the Vatican and he have said were bronchitis, the flu or a cold. Easter Mass is one of the most important dates on the liturgical calendar, celebrating what the faithful believe was Jesus's resurrection after his crucifixion. The Mass precedes the Pope's "Urbi et Orbi" - to the city and the world - blessing, a lengthy speech that traditionally rounds up all the threats facing humanity.

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