9 Parts of Speech

by Carrie Bailey

While I was helping my son study for his 8th grade Language Arts class, I came across a dated but relevant poem. Now, I can write a sentence and follow all the normal rules of grammar, but I often forget what they are called.

Three little words you often see,

Are Articles - an, an, and the.

A Noun's the name of anything,

As school, or garden, hoop, or swing.

Adjectives tell the kind of Noun,

As great, small, pretty, white, or brown.

Instead of Nouns the Pronouns stand-

Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.

Verbs tell of something to be done-

To read, count, sing, laugh, jump, or run.

How things are done, the Adverbs tell,

As slowly, quickly, ill, or well.

Conjunctions join the words together

As man and woman, wind or weather.

The Preposition stands before

A noun, as in, or through a door.

The Interjection shows surprise,

As oh! How pretty - ah! How wise.

The whole are called Nine Parts of Speech,

Which reading, writing, speaking teach.

~Dr. Chase 1867

I think it's a pity they never turned this in to a corny 90's style educational rap performed by a low budget cartoon dog in a jean jacket.  Hopefully, this idea's time hasn't passed.