Parts of Speech
+18. Parts of Speech.+—When we examine the different words in sentences we find that, in spite of these fundamentally similar qualities, the words are serving different purposes. This difference in purpose or use serves as the basis for dividing words into eight classes, called Parts of Speech. Use alone determines to which class a word in any given sentence shall belong. Not only are single words so classified, but any part of speech may be represented by a group of words. Such a group is either a phrase or a clause.
A phrase is a group of words, containing neither subject nor predicate, that is used as a single part of speech.
A clause is a group of words, containing both subject and predicate, that is used as part of a sentence. If used as a single part of speech, it is called a subordinate, or dependent, clause. Some grammarians use the word clause for a subordinate statement only.
+19. Classification.+—The eight parts of speech may be classified as follows:—
I. Substantives: nouns, pronouns.
II. Assertives: verbs.
III. Modifiers: adjectives, adverbs.
IV. Connectives: prepositions, conjunctions.
V. Interjections.
+20. Definitions.+—The parts of speech may be defined as follows:—
(1) A noun is a word used as a name.
(2) A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun, designating a person, place, or thing without naming it.
(3) An adjective is a word that modifies a substantive.
(4) A verb is a word that asserts something—action, state, or being—- concerning a substantive.
(5) An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
(6) A preposition is a word that shows the relation of the substantive that follows it to some other word or words in the sentence.
(7) A conjunction is a word that connects words or groups of words used in the same way.
(8) An interjection is a cry expressing emotion, but not forming part of the sentence.