Explain the function of other parts of speech, including adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and articles

Now that we’ve learned about the most common parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, and verbs), we’re ready to move onto the other parts of speech.

First we have adjectives and adverbs, which modify other words: they change our understanding of things. For example, compare the phrase “the bear” to “the red bear” or the phrase “run” to “run slowly.” In both of these cases, the adjective (red) or adverb (slowly) changes how we understand the phrase. When you first read the word bear, you probably didn’t imagine a red bear. When you saw the word run you probably didn’t think of it as something done slowly.

We also have the little connecting word categories: conjunctions, prepositions, and articles. These small words may not seem as important as verbs, nouns, and adjectives, but they are the backbone of English: these are the words that give our language structure.

What You Will Learn to Do

• Explain the use of adjectives
• Explain the use of adverbs
• Explain the use of conjunctions
• Explain the use of prepositions
• Explain the use of articles

The Learning Activities for this Outcome Include

• Text: Adjectives
• Text: Adverbs
• Text: Comparing Adjectives and Adverbs
• Text: Conjunctions
• Text: Prepositions
• Text: Articles
• Self Check: Other Parts of Speech
• Try It: Other Parts of Speech