Parts of Speech

The Parts of Speech or Word Classes are a way to group the different kinds of words used in English grammar.

There have traditionally been 8 parts of speech:

• Verbs - open
• Nouns - open
• Pronouns - closed
• Adjectives - open
• Adverbs - open
• Prepositions - closed
• Conjunctions - closed
• Interjections - closed

Open or Closed

Some PoS are closed, that is no more words can be added to them. For example, we cannot extend Pronouns, Prepositions or Conjunctions.

Other PoS are open and can accept neologisms e.g. recent additions to the noun class include internet, wiki, blog and so on.

See Also

PoS Swap - an activity to practice different parts of speech.