Word Classes

Word Classes

Word classes are also known as parts of speech. English words have been traditionally classified into eight parts of speech, and are still done so in most dictionaries. They are noun, verb, adjective, adverb, determiner, preposition, conjunction, and pronoun. In linguistics, we recap them into two classes: open class and closed class.

Closed class words are known as function words or grammatical words, which have little meaning, but instead serve to express grammatical relationships with other words in sentence. We almost never invent new determiners, prepositions, conjunctions or pronouns, so they are called closed word classes.

Open class words are known as content words or lexical words, which include nouns, verbs (except auxiliary verbs), adjectives, and most adverbs, to which new words can be added as the need arises. Not only are nouns naming words, all open class words are naming words. Verbs are names of action; Adjectives and adverbs are names of attribute.

Dictionaries list meanings focus many content words as possible, but describe the general usages of function words. By contrast, grammar describes the use of function words in detail, but treat content words in general terms only.