The Primary Parts of Speech

An extremely simple guide to using nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs

ADJECTIVE

ADVERB NOUN

Right, because English is so extremely

simple.

[featuring Karl Pilkington]

USE

D AFTER

NOUNS (things and people) ACTION VERBS

(words that express action)

LINKING VERBS(words that express

state of being)

VERBS(words that express action or

state of being)

ADJECTIVES(descriptive words)

MO

DIFI

ES

ADVERBS(words that modify an action

verb, adjective, or another adverb)

MO

DIFI

ES

Modifies

Parts of Speech Flow Chart

NOUNS (things and people)

• broccoli• blender• Mr. Rodgers

ADJECTIVES(descriptive words)

• red• short• demonic• friendly• fiendish

MODIFIES

Yeah, but I learned this in

2nd grade…

Nouns

TIP: If you can place “the” or “a” in front of a word in a sentence, the word is a noun!

The purple cow chewed grass.

the

ADJECTIVE

ACTION VERBS(words that express action)

•Decide•Stink•Read•Advocate•splash

LINKING VERBS(words that express

a state of being)

VERBS(words that express action or state of being)

Linking VerbsLinking verbs show a “state of being.” For example:

The soccer ball is round.

In the above example, the soccer ball is in the state of being round. Which brings us to our rule:

The rule: After you use a linking verb, you must use an adjective. (Or, in rare cases a noun.)

ADJECTIVENOUNADJECTIVE

USE

D AFTER

NOUNS (things and people) ACTION VERBS

(words that express action)

LINKING VERBS(words that express

state of being)

VERBS(words that express action or

state of being)

ADJECTIVES(descriptive words)

MO

DIFI

ES

ADVERBS(words that modify an action

verb, adjective, or another adverb)

MO

DIFI

ES

Modifies

Now one more time…

Linking Verbs (continued)• 90 percent of linking verbs are a form of the

verb “(to) be”

be is

wasamare

werewill be

Brant is lanky. Brant was lanky. I am lanky. You are lanky. They were lanky. Brant will be lanky.

ADJECTIVES

Here’s where it gets tricky…

Brant was lanky.

Brant was eating ice cream.

Action verbs (like the one below) often use forms of “to be” to show when (tense).ACTION VERB

LINKING VERB

ADJECTIVE

NOUN

You will need to be able to tell the difference between the two circumstances!

ADVERBS(words that modify an action verb, adjective, or

another adverb)

Many end with “-ly”

• passionately• slowly• quickly• neurotically• historically• significantly

Some, however, do not

• quite• well• very• often• almost• less

Adverbs have 3 jobs1. Adverbs modify verbs

2. Adverbs modify adjectives

3. Adverbs modify other ADVERBS

Sampson spoke condescendingly to the waiter.

Karl Pilkington was extremely hilarious.

Bob very often travels to Wal-Mart.

condescendingly

extremely

very

USE

D AFTER

NOUNS (things and people) ACTION VERBS

(words that express action)

LINKING VERBS(words that express

state of being)

VERBS(words that express action or

state of being)

ADJECTIVES(descriptive words)

MO

DIFI

ES

ADVERBS(words that modify an action

verb, adjective, or another adverb)

MO

DIFI

ES

Modifies

Now one more time…

Practice!

1. Locate nouns (they’re the easiest).2. Locate verbs. Every sentence has at least one verb – no

matter what.3. Any word that modifies one of the nouns must be an adjective.4. Any word that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb must be an

adverb.

The elusive albatross soared quite blazingly.

NOUN ACTION VERB

ADJECTIVE ADVERB ADVERB

“Good” and “Well”

ADJECTIVE ADVERB

The rule: Use the word “good” when an adjective is called for and the word “well” when an adverb is called for.

EXAMPLES

1. The _______ priest baptized _______ .

2. I am ________ .2. The hedgehog is _________ equipped to defend itself.

3. I am doing ________.

4. You eat _______ for a teenager; that is _______.

Remember, after a linking verb, you need to use an adjective (“good”).

goodNOUN

good(PRO)NOUN

good (PRO)NOUN

wellVERB

wellVERB

wellVERB