Part of Speech

For the reader of any language, knowledge of part of speech is essential for understanding the morphology, syntax and semantics of a given text.

Knowledge of part of speech is necessary in order to determine the possible morphological possibilities for a given inflected word.

For indeclinable words, part of speech is the only clue that enables the reader to determine the syntactic function of the word in the sentence.

For example:

	Subordinating conjunctions can only be used as clause markers
	Coordinating conjunctions usually connect two syntactic equivalents
	Adverbs are always adverbial modifiers
	Prepositions function as part of prepositional phrases which are usually adverbial modifiers

	Adjective: a word that modifies a noun. Usually an adjectival modifier
	Adverb: a word that modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb. Usually an adverbial modifier.
	Conjunction: a word that connects two things together. There are two types of conjuctions: subordinating which connect two clauses and coordinating which connect two syntactic equivalents
	Interjection: an expression of strong feeling or emotion. It usually stands at the beginning of the sentence and stands outside of the syntax of the sentence.
	Noun: a word that names something (e.g. a person, animal, thing, place, feeling, quality, idea or action)
	Preposition: a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun (i.e. the object of a preposition) and another a verbal.
	Pronoun: a word that stands in the place of a noun.
	Verb: a word that expresses an act, occurrence or mode of being.

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Last Updated March 18, 2003

Questions, comments and corrections should be sent to Brian K. Harvey, Kent State University