Parts of Speech Chart — Free Printable PDF for Students
All eight parts of speech on one page — noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection — each with what it does, an example sentence and a bank of common words. Hit Print or Download PDF for the whole chart on one page, no signup.
Aligned to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1a · Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in a sentence
Prints on one US Letter page in portrait. Set margins to "None" for the sharpest result.
The 8 Parts of Speech
What each kind of word does, with an example and common words
Noun
Names a person, place, thing, or idea.
The teacher put the book on her desk.
Word bank: dog · Maria · city · school · kindness
Pronoun
Stands in for a noun you already named.
Maria lost her hat, so she looked for it.
Word bank: I · you · he · she · it · we · they · him · my
Verb
Tells the action — or links the subject to what it is.
The dog runs fast. The dog is tired.
Word bank: run · jump · read · sing · is · are · was · have
Adjective
Describes a noun: which one, what kind, how many.
Three hungry puppies ate the warm food.
Word bank: big · red · soft · three · sleepy · funny
Adverb
Describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb: how, when, where, how often.
She sang loudly yesterday.
Word bank: quickly · slowly · always · here · soon · very
Many — but not all — end in -ly.
Preposition
Shows how a noun relates to the rest of the sentence — place, time, or direction.
The cat slept under the chair until dinner.
Word bank: in · on · under · over · with · before · between
Most answer “where can a squirrel go?” — up, around, through a tree.
Conjunction
Joins words, phrases, or whole sentences.
I like apples and pears, but not plums.
Word bank: and · but · or · so · because · when · if
The seven that join equals spell FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Interjection
Shows sudden feeling. Usually stands on its own with an exclamation point or a comma.
Wow! That was close. Oops, I dropped it.
Word bank: wow · oh · ouch · hey · oops · hooray · yikes
Name Any Word — Ask One Question
A word's part of speech comes from the job it does in that sentence, not from the word itself: play is a verb in "they play outside" and a noun in "we saw a play."
Aligned to CCSS L.1.1b–i, L.2.1e, L.3.1a & L.5.1a · printablepolly.com/parts-of-speech-chart
Common Core Alignment
The Common Core language standards introduce the eight categories across several grades rather than all at once. Third grade is where students are expected to explain what nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs do in a sentence (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1a) — the skill this chart is built for. Here is the standard behind each row:
Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.
Use personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns.
Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future.
Use frequently occurring adjectives.
Use adjectives and adverbs, and choose between them depending on what is to be modified.
Use frequently occurring prepositions.
Use frequently occurring conjunctions (and, but, or, so, because).
Explain the function of conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections in particular sentences.
Kindergarten starts the sequence with frequently occurring nouns, verbs and prepositions (L.K.1b and L.K.1e), and fifth grade closes it by asking students to explain conjunctions, prepositions and interjections (L.5.1a).
Printable PDF
The chart above is the whole thing — all eight parts of speech on one US Letter page, black-and-white friendly, with the eight identifying questions at the bottom. Print as many copies as you need for a classroom or a homework binder. No signup, no watermark.
More Printable English Practice
FAQ
What are the 8 parts of speech, and what does each one do?
Noun names a person, place, thing or idea. Pronoun stands in for a noun. Verb tells the action or links the subject to what it is. Adjective describes a noun. Adverb describes a verb, adjective or another adverb. Preposition shows place, time or direction. Conjunction joins words or sentences. Interjection shows sudden feeling.
What grade learns the parts of speech?
Children start using them long before they name them. Kindergartners use common nouns and verbs (CCSS L.K.1b), first graders add pronouns, adjectives, conjunctions and prepositions (L.1.1b–i), and second graders learn to choose between an adjective and an adverb (L.2.1e). Third grade is where students are asked to explain what each one does in a sentence (L.3.1a), and fifth grade adds the same explanation for conjunctions, prepositions and interjections (L.5.1a).
Can the same word be more than one part of speech?
Yes — the job the word does in that sentence decides. “Play” is a verb in “They play outside” and a noun in “We saw a play.” “Light” can be a noun (turn on the light), a verb (light the candle) or an adjective (a light box). Always ask what the word is doing where it sits, not what it usually is.
Is it 8 parts of speech or 9?
Traditional grammar teaches eight, which is what this chart shows, and files the articles a, an and the under adjectives. Some programs count determiners — articles plus words like this, that, my and some — as a ninth category. The Common Core teaches determiners as their own skill at L.1.1h, so if your child's worksheet lists nine, that is the extra one.
How do I use this chart at home?
Pin it where homework happens and let the child check it instead of guessing. Then use the eight questions at the bottom of the sheet as a quiz: read one sentence aloud, point at a word, and ask which question it answers. Labeling every word in a single sentence takes about a minute and covers all eight categories.
Is this parts of speech chart free to print?
Yes. Click Print or Download PDF and the whole chart comes out on one US Letter page — no signup, no watermark, and no limit on copies for a classroom or a homework binder.