Grammar glossary
Function and parts of speech
A word in itself cannot be identified as a particular part of speech unless we know what job it is doing in the sentence. The function defines the part of speech.
The parts of speech below will explain their functions and show examples of when they are used in a sentence.
The guidelines in this section are taken from the Plain English grammarcheck course.
Adjectives
The function of an adjective is to describe a noun. Adjectives are words such as: quick, slow, happy, careful, beautiful, reliable.
Adverbs
The main function of an adverb is to show how, where or when a verb happens, such as:
- quickly, slowly, happily, carefully, beautifully, reliably.
Most adverbs end in -ly, but some don't, such as:
- fast, well, often, now, there, later.
Adverbs can also be linked to adjectives or other adverbs, as in:
- completely safe
- totally worn-out
- very gently
- too quickly
Articles
There are two kinds of article: definite and indefinite. Articles are used to define nouns.
The definite article is 'the'.
- the table
- the committee
The indefinite article is 'a' or 'an'.
- a complaint
- an agreement
We use 'an' before a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) and 'a' before a consonant. But there are some exceptions, for example:
- a unique suggestion
- a university
- a European country
- an MP
- an hour
- an honour
- an heir.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are linking words.
They can link words, sentences or parts of a sentence.
- The wind and rain were frightening.
- You were told over and over again. But still it made no difference.
- We cancelled the policy because your cheque was late.
Some other common conjunctions are 'although', 'so', 'until', 'when', 'since', 'as', 'while'.
Nouns
The function of a noun is to name a person, place or thing.
There are four types of noun.
- Common nouns, such as: desk, computers, car, trees, man, offices.
- Proper nouns, which are names and begin with a capital letter, such as: London, Louise, France, Plain English Campaign, Tuesday, January.
- Abstract nouns, which are things we can't see or touch, such as: decision, concentration, honour, friendship, bravery, ability.
- Collective nouns, which are the names of groups, such as: team, crew, herd, audience, committee, crowd, membership.
Prepositions
Prepositions come before nouns or pronouns and usually show a connection.
- in the office
- to the meeting
- on the desk
- for me
- with him
- from us
Some other common prepositions are 'at', 'up', 'over', 'by', 'near'.
Pronouns
Personal pronouns take the place of nouns to make sentences run more smoothly.
So: We wrote to the customers because the customers were confused. Becomes: ... because they were confused.
And: Chris was late because Chris was delayed on the motorway. Becomes: ... because he was delayed ...
| person | type | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| first person | subject | I | we |
| object | me | us | |
| possessive | mine | ours | |
| second person | subject | you | you |
| object | you | you | |
| possessive | yours | yours | |
| third person | subject | she, he | it, they |
| object | her, him | it, them | |
| possessive | hers, his | its, theirs |
Verbs
The function of a verb is to show doing, having or being. Verbs have tenses, to show when they take place.
Present tense
- I am writing to him now.
- It is raining.
- I have a headache.
- You are late again.
- The phone rings constantly.
Past tense
- I wrote to him yesterday.
- It was raining yesterday.
- I had a headache.
- You have been late every day this week.
- The phone rang all morning.
Future tense
- I will be writing to him tomorrow.
- It will rain later.
- I will have a headache.
- You will be late.
- The phone will be ringing constantly.