Key Takeaways
- The eight parts of speech are: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection
- Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs; adjectives modify only nouns and pronouns
- Subject pronouns (I, he, she, they) differ from object pronouns (me, him, her, them)
- Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) join equal parts; subordinating conjunctions begin dependent clauses
- Verb tense must be consistent and appropriate to the time being described
Parts of Speech
Understanding the parts of speech is foundational to grammar and sentence construction. The TEAS tests your ability to identify and correctly use all eight parts of speech.
The Eight Parts of Speech
| Part of Speech | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Names a person, place, thing, or idea | nurse, hospital, syringe, health |
| Pronoun | Replaces a noun | she, they, it, who, themselves |
| Verb | Expresses action or state of being | run, administer, is, were |
| Adjective | Describes a noun | sterile, critical, three, blue |
| Adverb | Modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb | quickly, very, carefully, often |
| Preposition | Shows relationship between words | in, on, under, between, during |
| Conjunction | Connects words, phrases, or clauses | and, but, or, because, although |
| Interjection | Expresses emotion | oh, wow, ouch, hey |
Nouns
Types of Nouns:
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common | General names | doctor, city, medicine |
| Proper | Specific names (capitalized) | Dr. Smith, Chicago, Tylenol |
| Concrete | Can be perceived by senses | stethoscope, blood, bandage |
| Abstract | Ideas, concepts, feelings | health, recovery, pain |
| Collective | Groups | team, staff, committee |
| Compound | Two words combined | bloodstream, healthcare, check-up |
Pronouns
Types of Pronouns:
| Type | Examples | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | Replace specific nouns |
| Possessive | my, your, his, her, its, our, their | Show ownership |
| Reflexive | myself, yourself, himself, herself | Reflect back to subject |
| Demonstrative | this, that, these, those | Point to specific nouns |
| Interrogative | who, whom, whose, which, what | Ask questions |
| Relative | who, whom, whose, which, that | Introduce relative clauses |
| Indefinite | anyone, everyone, someone, none | Refer to unspecified nouns |
Verbs
Types of Verbs:
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Express physical or mental action | run, think, administer |
| Linking | Connect subject to complement | is, are, was, seem, become |
| Helping/Auxiliary | Help main verb | have, has, had, will, would, should |
Verb Tenses:
| Tense | Example | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Present | She walks | Now |
| Past | She walked | Before now |
| Future | She will walk | After now |
| Present perfect | She has walked | Started in past, continues |
| Past perfect | She had walked | Completed before another past event |
| Future perfect | She will have walked | Will be completed before future time |
Adjectives
Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.
Order of Adjectives: Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose
Example: "The small, old, round, brown, Italian, wooden table"
Types:
- Descriptive: beautiful, tall, cold
- Quantitative: three, many, few
- Demonstrative: this, that, these
- Possessive: my, your, their
- Comparative: taller, more beautiful
- Superlative: tallest, most beautiful
Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Common adverb types:
| Type | Question Answered | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Manner | How? | carefully, quickly, well |
| Time | When? | now, yesterday, soon |
| Place | Where? | here, there, nearby |
| Frequency | How often? | always, never, sometimes |
| Degree | To what extent? | very, extremely, quite |
Tip: Many adverbs end in "-ly" (but not all: fast, well, very).
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships in time, space, or direction.
Common prepositions: in, on, at, by, for, with, to, from, under, over, between, through, during, before, after
Prepositional phrase: preposition + object
- Example: "The patient is in the room."
Conjunctions
| Type | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinating | Join equal parts (FANBOYS) | for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so |
| Subordinating | Begin dependent clauses | because, although, when, if, unless |
| Correlative | Work in pairs | both...and, either...or, neither...nor |
In the sentence "The skilled nurse carefully monitored the patient," what part of speech is "carefully"?
Which sentence correctly uses a pronoun?
Which word is a subordinating conjunction?