Parts of Speech ESL Games, Worksheets & Activities
Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs
ESL Parts of Speech Worksheet - Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises: Identifying, Multiple Choice, Gap-fill, Writing Sentences
In this introductory parts of speech worksheet, students learn how nouns, adjectives and verbs work together to give sentences meaning. First, students read about nouns and underline...
Word Swap
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Grammar, Vocabulary and Speaking: Identifying, Guessing - Pair Work
In this engaging parts of speech game, students use sentence clues to recognise nouns, adjectives and verbs. In pairs, students take turns reading a sentence aloud to their partner, saying 'blank'...
Word Whiz
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Grammar: Identifying, Matching, Providing Vocabulary, Gap-fill - Group Work
In this fast-paced parts of speech game, students identify missing nouns, adjectives and verbs and suggest suitable words to complete sentences. In groups, students take turns picking up a...
Parts of Speech Parley
ESL Parts of Speech Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Gap-fill, Asking and Answering Questions - Group and Pair Work
In this insightful parts of speech speaking activity, students review their knowledge of the basic parts of speech while completing, asking and answering conversation questions. First, in two groups, students...
Silly Sentences
ESL Parts of Speech Activity - Vocabulary and Grammar: Brainstorming, Categorising, Forming Sentences - Pair Work
This creative parts of speech activity helps students learn and practice how to use nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in sentences. First, brainstorm nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs as a class. Students...
Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs
ESL Parts of Speech Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Categorising, Binary Choice, Error Correction, Gap-fill - Speaking Game: Forming Sentences - Pair Work
This free parts of speech worksheet helps students learn how to identify verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs and use them in sentences. First, students...
What Type of Word?
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Grammar: Gap-fill, Guessing, Sentence Completion, Freer Practice - Group Work
Here is a useful parts of speech game to help students identify the position of verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs in sentences. In groups of three, two students play the first game and one student acts...
Crucial Combinations
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Vocabulary: Identifying, Gap-fill, Guessing - Pair Work
In this fun parts of speech game, students race to guess missing parts of speech in sentences. First, in two groups, students identify the two missing parts of speech in each sentence on their worksheet, writing down their answers. Next...
Parts of Speech Dominoes
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Grammar, Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences - Group Work
In this productive parts of speech game, students match words with parts of speech and make sentences using the words. The first player places one of their dominoes at either end of the domino...
Parts of Speech Practice
ESL Parts of Speech Worksheet - Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Categorising, Identifying, Gap-fill
Here is a free parts of speech worksheet to help students learn and practice the eight parts of speech. Students start by matching definitions to the correct parts of speech. Next, students put words...
Word Family Races
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Grammar and Vocabulary: Multiple Choice, Identifying, Matching - Group Work
In this engaging parts of speech game, students identify which of several related words is the correct part of speech to complete sentences. In groups, students take turns picking up a card...
Word Wizard
ESL Parts of Speech Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Identifying, Categorising, Error Correction, Unscrambling
In this comprehensive parts of speech worksheet, students identify parts of speech and use them to construct grammatically correct sentences. Students start by completing sentences with...
Parts of Speech Bingo
ESL Parts of Speech Game - Vocabulary and Listening: Matching - Group Work
In this enjoyable parts of speech game, students play bingo by matching advanced parts of speech with words. You or a student reads a word at random from the caller's sheet. There are four words to choose from for each part of speech...
Understanding Parts of Speech
Parts of speech group words according to their grammatical roles, such as naming things, expressing actions or describing qualities. Recognising these roles helps students choose suitable word forms and understand how sentences fit together.
This page covers parts of speech from elementary (A1-A2) to advanced (C1), with 13 resources comprising games, worksheets and activities, including two free downloads.
The table introduces eight traditional parts of speech. A word's class can change with its use: 'work' is a noun in 'My work is interesting' and a verb in 'I work at home'.
| Part of Speech | Function | Example Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun | Names a person, place, thing or idea | city | 'The city never sleeps.' |
| Verb | Expresses an action or state | run | 'They run every morning.' |
| Adjective | Describes a noun or pronoun | bright | 'She wore a bright jacket.' |
| Adverb | Modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb or a whole clause | quickly | 'He quickly finished his work.' |
| Preposition | Introduces a phrase showing a relationship such as place or time | on | 'The book is on the table.' |
| Conjunction | Connects words, phrases or clauses | but | 'I wanted to go, but I was tired.' |
| Pronoun | Refers to someone or something without repeating a noun phrase | they | 'The children left early. They were tired.' |
| Interjection | Expresses a feeling or reaction | wow | 'Wow, that was unexpected!' |
How to Use Parts of Speech
Check the word's job in context: Look at the whole sentence before assigning a label. In 'We drink water', 'drink' expresses an action; in 'Would you like a drink?', it names something.
Use surrounding words as clues: Consider what a sentence needs before choosing a word form. Compare 'It was a success' with 'It was successful': the first names an outcome, while the second describes it.
Check meaning as well as word class: A word can fit grammatically without expressing the intended idea. Both 'hot' and 'cold' fit 'The soup is...', but the speaker must choose the adjective that matches the situation.
3-Step Framework for Teaching Parts of Speech
This progression focuses on nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs for pre-intermediate learners. Select other resources on the page to match a different level or a wider set of word classes.
1. Recognise Words in Sentences: Begin with a worksheet in which students sort words from a sentence into parts of speech and identify word classes from descriptions. Use this recognition work to establish the categories students will need when choosing words for sentence gaps.
2. Choose Words Together: Brainstorm nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, then have students copy them into a word bank. In pairs, students take turns choosing words to complete sentences with the indicated parts of speech, crossing off each word after using it. This provides shared practice before students identify the required category themselves.
3. Identify the Category and Supply a Word: Use a grid game in groups of three, with two players and a judge. Players identify the missing part of speech in a sentence, then suggest a suitable word. Correct answers let them mark a square as they aim for five in a row. This brings classification and word choice together without a supplied category label.
Common Mistakes with Parts of Speech
Using a noun where an adjective is needed: Choose an adjective when describing the weather in this sentence. Incorrect: 'The weather was beauty yesterday.' Correct: 'The weather was beautiful yesterday.'
Confusing subject and object pronouns: A pronoun used as the object of a verb needs the object form. Incorrect: 'I saw she at school.' Correct: 'I saw her at school.'
Common Questions About Teaching Parts of Speech
What is a good worksheet for teaching parts of speech?
The free worksheet Parts of Speech Practice moves from recognising word classes to choosing words for sentences. Students match definitions, categorise words, identify missing parts of speech and find the word that does not belong in each group. They finish by completing sentences with their own words.
What is an engaging game for practicing parts of speech?
In the game Word Whiz, students race to identify a missing noun, adjective or verb and supply a suitable word. After a sentence is read aloud, all players can compete. Correct answers let students discard cards, so the race combines recognising word classes with choosing words that fit the sentence.
What speaking activity can I use for practicing parts of speech?
The speaking activity Parts of Speech Parley connects word classification with conversation. Students complete questions using words from a box and identify each word as a noun, verb, adjective or adverb. They then ask and answer the questions with a partner and share what they learnt with the class.
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