Parts of speech
What parts of speech means
This skill helps you name the words that do different jobs in a sentence. You learn how nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions work, so you can read and write more clearly.
What you will practise
- Pick out nouns that name people, places, things and ideas.
- Identify verbs that show actions or states of being.
- Find adjectives that describe nouns in a sentence.
- Spot adverbs that tell how, when or where something happens.
- Choose prepositions that show place, time or direction.
Before you start
You should already be able to read simple sentences and understand common words. It also helps if you can spot the main action and the thing being described.
Not confident yet? Work through Tenses & subject-verb agreement first.
Worked example
One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.
In “The brave soldier fought well”, which word is an adjective?
- soldier
- brave
- fought
- well
Working: “Brave” describes the noun “soldier”, so it is an adjective.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up adjectives and adverbs because both can add detail. Check whether the word describes a noun or a verb.
- Thinking every action word is a verb in the same way. Look at whether the word shows an action or simply connects ideas.
- Choosing a preposition by meaning only. See if the word links one part of the sentence to another.
- Missing the noun because it appears more than once in a sentence. Read the whole sentence before you decide.
Curriculum and exam alignment
In Junior High School, this topic is usually covered in grammar and usage work that builds sentence understanding. It supports the kind of language skills you need for BECE English papers.
Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.
Related skills
Other JHS Grammar & Usage skills in English, at the same point in the course.
Other English topics
Related study guides
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Exams that assess parts of speech
Junior High work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the English topics that appear on it.
How this page was produced
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Practise parts of speech
6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.