How many parts of speechs are there?

Answer 1

Traditionally, there are 8 parts of speech, but there is still much disagreement over what qualifies as a separate part of speech, and how words are assigned to a specific part in a sentence. There are many dozens of specific sub-types.

According to the Purdue University, the eight parts of speech are:

nouns, pronouns, verbs, articles, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions. Interjections are considered either nouns or verbs.

According to the University of Ottawa, the eight parts of speech are:

nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections. Articles are considered a small subgroup of adjectives.

At first, it was thought that a compromise could solve this dilemma.

The University of Victoria English Language Centre says there are nine parts of speech, including both articles and interjections. South Texas College concurs.

The debate, however, is far from over.

The "Cambridge Grammar of the English Language" now claims that pronouns are a subset of nouns. It also drops the term "articles" and replaces it with with a new category called "determinatives."

Not to be outdone, the English Department (Linguistics) at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, openly admits that eight parts of speech "is not quite enough to cover the reality of English." It suggests that the list should number 12 and include nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, proforms, determiners, qualifiers, conjunctions, particles, expletives and interjections.

This issue is likely going to be discussed for years to come.

Answer 2

There are 9 speech parts.