7
a b c d e g h i j k l m p q r s t u v w x y z
n
o
f
To help you find the right entry in the thesaurus,
it can help to know the type of word (or “part of
speech”) you’re looking up. Some words can be used
in different ways, such as “bend” – this can be a verb
(to bend over) or a noun (a bend in the river). Here are
the main parts of speech and how they fit together.Noun
An object, person, or place. A noun doesn’t have to be
a visible thing – “fact” and “history” are also nouns.
Things with a name (such as a country or a person)
are known as proper nouns.Interjection
A word that can be used
on its own without a full
sentence, such as “ouch”
and “hello”.Preposition
A word that shows how
one noun (person or
thing) relates to another,
such as “in”, “with”,
and “in spite of”.Adjective
A describing word, such
as green, big, or old. Adjectives
are used to describe nouns.Verb
An action (or “doing word”). These include any sort
of action – such as run, breathe, and sleep – and also
“helping” verbs, which may be used with other verbs
to show how possible or necessary an action is.
These include: have, will, be, must, may, and do.
For example, he must run to catch the bus; she will
come to the party.Adverb
A word that gives more information about a verb,
adjective, or another adverb. These often end in “ly”,
such as quietly and helpfully, but don’t have to –
today, very, and forwards are all adverbs.Sentence formation
This is how the parts of speech fit together in a sentence.The river has many bends.Pat arrived at exactly 5 o'clock. The dog leapt high in the air.John ran to catch the bus.Grace bent over to pick a flower.interjectionverb adverb
prepositionnoun(proper)
nounnounverb verb adjective“Oh!” whisperedonChloe,owl theasittingspotting smallquietly hedge.Lei wrinkled her nose when
she tasted the bitter lemon.The fairground has bright
lights and fun rides.Parts of speech
006-007_Why_use_thesaurus.indd 7 13/01/17 4:49 pm