How to Learn the Parts of Speech
Every word in English belongs to one of eight parts of speech — the building blocks of grammar. Knowing them lets you diagram sentences, learn other languages faster, and write with control. This deck pairs each part of speech with its job and an example.
There are 12 cards in the deck below. You can read through them, practise them right here with the flip-card player, and then save the deck to study properly with spaced repetition — the method that makes them stick for months, not minutes.
Why the eight parts of speech is hard to memorize (and the fix)
The tricky pairs are adjective vs adverb (describes a noun vs a verb) and preposition vs conjunction. Anchoring each to an example sentence keeps them distinct.
The fix is active recall plus spaced repetition. Instead of re-reading the list (which feels productive but barely works), you test yourself — pull each answer out of memory — and you review each card on a schedule that stretches over time. Every time you successfully recall a fact, the memory gets stronger and the next review is pushed further out. That's how you go from "I saw it once" to "I just know it."
The fastest way to learn the eight parts of speech
- Break it into small batches. Learn the "big four" first — noun, verb, adjective, adverb — then the connectors (preposition, conjunction) and the rest.
- Test, don't re-read. Look at the question, say the answer out loud before flipping the card. The little struggle to recall is what builds the memory — a smooth re-read does almost nothing.
- Review on a schedule. Spaced repetition shows you each card right before you'd forget it. Get one right and it comes back in a few days, then a week, then a month. Miss one and it comes back sooner.
- Keep sessions short and daily. Five to ten minutes a day beats a two-hour cram every time. Consistency is the whole game.
One fact per card. A word's part of speech can change with its job — "run" is a verb in "I run" but a noun in "a run".
The full deck: the Parts of Speech
Here's every card in the set. Practise them above, or save the deck and let spaced repetition schedule your reviews automatically.
| Part of speech | What it does (example) |
|---|---|
| What is a noun? | A person, place, thing or idea (dog, London, freedom) |
| What is a pronoun? | A word that replaces a noun (he, she, it, they) |
| What is a verb? | An action or state of being (run, is, think) |
| What is an adjective? | A word that describes a noun (blue, tall, happy) |
| What is an adverb? | A word that describes a verb, adjective or adverb — often ends in -ly (quickly, very) |
| What is a preposition? | A word showing position or relationship (in, on, under, before) |
| What is a conjunction? | A word that joins words or clauses (and, but, because) |
| What is an interjection? | A short exclamation showing emotion (Wow! Ouch! Oh!) |
| How many parts of speech are there? | Eight |
| Which part of speech describes a verb? | An adverb |
| Which part of speech describes a noun? | An adjective |
| In "She sings beautifully," what part of speech is "beautifully"? | An adverb |
Save this deck and actually remember it
Create a free account, keep this 12-card deck, and we'll schedule every review at the perfect moment. First deck free forever — no credit card.
Study this deck free →FAQ: learning the eight parts of speech
How long does it take to learn the eight parts of speech?
Most people can lock in the eight parts of speech within one to three weeks of short daily sessions. With spaced repetition doing 10–12 cards a day, you'll recognise them within days and recall them reliably within a couple of weeks.
What's the best way to memorize the eight parts of speech?
Active recall plus spaced repetition. Test yourself instead of re-reading, and review on a schedule that spaces the cards out over time. Flashcards are built for exactly this — which is why the deck above is the fastest path.
Is this deck free?
Yes. You can practise all 12 cards on this page for free with no account. Sign up (also free) to save the deck and let spaced repetition schedule your reviews so it sticks long-term.