Word classes and their functions

Complete the table with an example of each word class and an explanation of its function in a sentence.

Word class Examples Function

noun table, Mt Fuji, joy Names a person, place, thing, quality or action

Truth, bravery, justice General, non-specific nouns

common noun

Imogene and Nguyen Specific, individual entities

proper noun

Tree, Car, Rock Refers to tangible, physical objects

concrete noun

Love, Happiness, Idea Refers to intangible concepts or qualities

abstract noun

Run, Jump, Sing

verb
Describes an action or state of being

is, have, will Assists the main verb in forming tenses, voices, etc.
auxiliary verb

Can, Must, Should Expresses possibility, necessity, or permission

modal verb

Happy, Blue, Tall Modifies a noun to provide more information or

adjective
description

Faster, Smaller Compares two or more things

comparative adjective

Fastest, smallest Indicates the highest degree among a group

superlative adjective

Quickly, Quietly Modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

adverb

He, She, It Takes the place of a noun in a sentence

pronoun

I, You, They Refers to specific persons or things

personal pronoun

Who, What, Which

interrogative pronoun
Used to ask questions
 Anyone, Everything
indefinite pronoun
Refers to non-specific persons or things

His, Her, Their Indicates ownership or possession

possessive pronoun

Each other, Themselves Indicates a mutual action or relationship

reciprocal pronoun

In, On, Under Shows the relationship between a noun and

preposition
another element

And, but, or Connects words, phrases, or clauses

conjunction

coordinating And, but, or Connects elements of equal importance

conjunction

subordinating Although, because Connects a subordinate clause to a main clause

conjunction

This, my, some Introduces a noun and indicates quantity or

determiner
possession

A, An, The Introduces a noun and specifies its definiteness

article

demonstrative This, These, That Points to a specific person or thing

determiner

My, Your, Their Indicates ownership or possession

possessive determiner

Interjection Wow, Ouch, Hey Expresses emotion or surprise

Many, Few, All Indicates the quantity or extent of a noun

quantifier

One, Two, Hundred Represents a numerical value

number

First, Second, Third Indicates the position in a sequence or order

ordinal