Parts of Speech – Definition, 8 Types with Examples

I still remember teaching my 5th-grade class about the parts of speech. It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon, and I had just handed out colorful worksheets with examples of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. One of my students, Emily, raised her hand and said, “So, nouns are like the stars of the sentence?” That simple observation stuck with me because it’s true—the parts of speech are the stars that light up our sentences, helping us express our thoughts and ideas clearly.

In the United States, students usually begin learning about the parts of speech around 3rd to 5th grade. It’s a fun and foundational part of grammar education that sets the stage for more advanced language skills later on.

Free Worksheets and PDF: Stick around until the end of this article for free downloadable worksheets and a PDF to practice and reinforce your understanding of the parts of speech.

What Are the 8 Parts of Speech?

1. Nouns

Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas.

Example Sentences:

1. The dog barked loudly.
2. She visited the museum yesterday.
3. I love eating chocolate.
4. His happiness was contagious.

All About Nouns PDF – download

2. Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition.

Example Sentences:

1. She is reading a book.
2. The teacher gave us homework.
3. This pen is mine.
4. They are going to the park.

3. Verbs

Verbs express actions or states of being.

Example Sentences:

1. He runs every morning.
2. The cat is sleeping on the couch.
3. She wrote a letter.
4. They were happy to see us.

4. Adjectives

Adjectives describe or modify nouns and pronouns. They tell us more about the “what kind” or “how many.”

Example Sentences:

1. The tall boy played basketball.
2. She wore a beautiful dress.
3. I saw three birds in the tree.
4. This book is more interesting than that one.

5. Adverbs

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often answer questions like “how,” “when,” “where,” or “to what extent.”

Example Sentences:

1. She ran quickly to catch the bus.
2. He arrived yesterday.
3. The book is very interesting.
4. The children played outside.

6. Prepositions

Prepositions show relationships between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence.

Example Sentences:

1. The book is on the table.
2. She arrived before the meeting started.
3. They walked to the park.
4. The keys are under the pillow.

7. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Example Sentences:

1. I wanted to go outside, but it started raining.
2. She stayed home because she was sick.
3. You can have either tea or coffee.
4. He likes to read and write in his free time.

8. Interjections

Interjections are words or phrases that express strong emotions or feelings.

Example Sentences:

1. Wow! That was an amazing performance!
2. Oh! I forgot my keys.
3. Ouch! That hurt.
4. Hey! How are you doing?

Parts of Speech PDF

The Parts of Speech PDF – download