PARTS OF SPEECH - INTRODUCTION by Samson Mwita

PARTS OF SPEECH

Words in English language serve different purposes in sentences. As you construct sentences, you use words for these purposes. The different kinds of words are called the PARTS OF SPEECH.

Parts of speech or word classes can be grouped into two major categories.

1)      Major word classes (open set)

2)      Minor word classes (closed set)

Major word chases (open set).

These are word classes that have unlimited number of members and they allow new members to be added. They include;

a)      Nouns

b)      Verbs

c)      Adjectives

d)      Adverbs.

Minor word classes (closed set).

These are word classes that have a fixed number of members and do not accept new members to be added. These include;

a)      Pronouns

b)      Prepositions

c)      Conjunctions

d)      Interjections

NOTE:

Before we discuss these word classes in great details it should be born in mind that there are some words that can be used in more than one word class /part of speech. The following are just a few cases in point.

1.      I met him before (Adverb)

I met Juma before his graduation (preposition)

Juma got the job before he completed his studies (conjunction)

2.      I had a sweet dream yesterday (noun)

It was the kind of trip most of us only dream about (Verb)

Poets often live in a dream world (adjective)

3.      He made a better choice (Adj)

Sound travels better in water than in air. (adv)

She always gets the better of an argument. (noun)

I read many books to better my knowledge (verb)

4.      We have to book a bus ticket two days before. (Verb)

I wrote an interesting book. (noun)