Week 1: Introduction to English Grammar and Parts of Speech (Noun & Pronoun)

In the English language, words can be considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on their use and functions, words are categorized into several types or parts of speech. This article will offer definitions and examples for the 8 major parts of speech in English grammar:  noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, conjunction, preposition, and interjection.

Noun:

 

This part of a speech refers to words that are used to name persons, things, animals, places, ideas, or events. Nouns are the simplest among the 8 parts of speech, which is why they are the first ones taught to students in primary school.

Examples:

  • Tom Hanks is very versatile.
  • The italicized noun refers to a name of a person.
  • Dogs can be extremely cute.
  • In this example, the italicized word is considered a noun because it names an animal.
  • It is my birthday.
  • The word “birthday” is a noun which refers to an event.

There are different types of nouns namely:

  • Proper– proper nouns always start with a capital letter and refers to specific names of persons, places, or things.
  • Examples: Volkswagen Beetle, Shakey’s Pizza, Game of Thrones
  • Common– common nouns are the opposite of proper nouns. These are just generic names of persons, things, or places.
  • Examples: car, pizza parlor, TV series
  • Concrete– this kind refers to nouns which you can perceive through your five senses.
  • Examples: folder, sand, board
  • Abstract- unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are those which you can’t perceive through your five senses.
  • Examples: happiness, grudge, bravery
  • Count– it refers to anything that is countable, and has a singular and plural form.
  • Examples:  kitten, video, ball
  • Mass– this is the opposite of count nouns. Mass nouns are also called non-countable nouns, and they need to have “counters” to quantify them.
  • Examples of Counters: kilo, cup, meter
  • Examples of Mass Nouns: rice, flour, garter
  • Collective– refers to a group of persons, animals, or things.
  • Example: faculty (group of teachers), class (group of students), pride (group of lions)

This great list of nouns can help you explore more nouns.

 

Pronoun

 

A pronoun is a part of a speech which functions as a replacement for a noun. Some examples of pronouns are: I, it, he, she, mine, his, hers, we, they, theirs, and ours.

Sample Sentences:

  • Janice is a very stubborn child. She just stared at me and when I told her to stop.
  • The largest slice is mine.
  • We are number one.

The italicized words in the sentences above are the pronouns in the sentence.