Pre-Intermediate · Lesson 1 · Lesson guide
Parts of speech
Welcome to Pre-Intermediate, my dear student!
At this level we stop learning grammar word by word and start seeing how sentences work. Every word in a sentence has a job: it names something, it is an action, it describes, or it tells us how. These jobs are called parts of speech.
Why does it matter? Because when you know the job a word does, you know its form: decision or decide, careful or carefully. IELTS tests this in every part of the exam. Let’s become grammar detectives together.
Happy detective work,Your teacher
Your browser has no English voice, so the listen buttons are hidden. Everything is written on the page.
What we’ll learn today
- 8parts of speech
- 4big ones to master
- 12word families
- 25minutes with this guide
By the end of this lesson, you will
- find the noun, verb, adjective and adverb in any sentence
- see that one word can have two jobs: “I have work” (noun) / “I work” (verb)
- build word families with endings: decide → decision → decisive → decisively
- choose between an adjective and an adverb: careful driver / drives carefully
- use stronger words to upgrade your IELTS sentences
- use all of this in Academic IELTS tasks: a form to complete, TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN, word forms for a chart, Speaking answers
A note from your teacher
This lesson is a toolbox. Every grammar lesson after this one will use these words: noun, verb, adjective, adverb.
The jobs words do
Read each card, listen to the examples and find the word with that job.
Noun
Names a person, place, thing or idea
Nouns are the “things” of a sentence: teacher, Tashkent, phone, happiness, decision. They often come after a, an, the, my, and many have a plural: teachers.
- My teacher is from Tashkent.(Oʻqituvchim Toshkentdan.)
- Happiness is important.(Baxt muhim.)
Verb
An action or a state
Verbs tell us what happens: run, explain, decide. Be, have and seem are verbs too (states). Every sentence needs at least one verb. The verb changes with time: decide, decided, will decide.
- She explains grammar.(U grammatikani tushuntiradi.)
- We decided to stay.(Biz qolishga qaror qildik.)
Adjective
Describes a noun
Adjectives say what a noun is like: a beautiful city, a difficult test. They come before a noun, or after be, feel, look, seem: The test was difficult. Adjectives never take -s: beautiful cities.
- Samarkand is a beautiful city.(Samarqand — goʻzal shahar.)
- The test was difficult.(Test qiyin edi.)
Adverb
Says how, when, where or how often
Adverbs usually describe a verb: she speaks clearly, we left early, I usually walk. Many end in -ly. They can also make an adjective stronger: very cold, really good.
- She speaks English fluently.(U ingliz tilida ravon gapiradi.)
- It was really cold.(Haqiqatan sovuq edi.)
The small words
Pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, determiners
Pronouns take the place of nouns (she, it, we). Prepositions show place and time (in, at, after). Conjunctions join ideas (and, but, so). Determiners come before nouns (the, my, every, many).
- It rained, so we stayed at home.(Yomgʻir yogʻdi, shuning uchun uyda qoldik.)
- Many visitors come to Khiva every spring.(Har bahorda Xivaga koʻp mehmonlar keladi.)
One word, two jobs
The sentence decides
The same word can do different jobs. Look at its place: after “a / the” it is a noun; after a subject it is a verb. Fast and hard are adjectives and adverbs with the same form.
- I have a lot of work.(Ishim koʻp.)
- My aunt works in a pharmacy.(Xolam dorixonada ishlaydi.)
- She swims fast.(U tez suzadi.)
Remember!
Ask the word: “What is your job here?” Name it, do it, describe a noun, or describe how.
X-ray real sentences
Every word is coloured and labelled with its part of speech. Tap a word to hear it and see why. Switch the colours on and off, then press Test me: the colours disappear and you must find the word yourself.
In Uzbek: Opam chiroyli rasmlar chizadi.
Tap any word to see its part of speech and why.
A note from your teacher
Start with adverbs: they are the hardest to spot. Then try to find all the nouns before you look.
Endings are clues
Many English words show their job at the end. Learn these endings and you can guess the part of speech of a word you have never seen. Press listen to hear an example of each.
Noun endings
information, development, kindness, ability, teacher, importance
- -tion(maʼlumot)
- -ment(rivojlanish)
- -ness(mehribonlik)
- -ity(qobiliyat)
- -er(oʻqituvchi)
- -ance(ahamiyat)
Adjective endings
useful, famous, active, comfortable, national, careless
- -ful(foydali)
- -ous(mashhur)
- -ive(faol)
- -able(qulay)
- -al(milliy)
- -less(beparvo)
Verb endings
modernize, widen, simplify, create
- -ize(zamonaviylashtirmoq)
- -en(kengaytirmoq)
- -ify(soddalashtirmoq)
- -ate(yaratmoq)
Adverb ending
quickly, carefully, clearly (but: friendly and lovely are adjectives!)
- -ly(tez)
Remember!
-ly is usually an adverb, but not always: friendly, lovely, lonely are adjectives.
Word families
One root, four jobs. In IELTS Reading, Listening and Writing you often need the right member of the family. Learn them in fours.
success
noun · verb · adjective · adverb
- success(muvaffaqiyat)
- succeed(muvaffaqiyatga erishmoq)
- successful(muvaffaqiyatli)
- successfully(muvaffaqiyatli tarzda)
decide
noun · verb · adjective · adverb
- decision(qaror)
- decide(qaror qilmoq)
- decisive(qatʼiyatli)
- decisively(qatʼiyat bilan)
create
noun · verb · adjective · adverb
- creation(yaratish)
- create(yaratmoq)
- creative(ijodiy)
- creatively(ijodiy tarzda)
care
noun / verb · adjective · adverb
- care(gʻamxoʻrlik)
- careful(ehtiyotkor)
- carefully(ehtiyotkorlik bilan)
happy
noun · adjective · adverb
- happiness(baxt)
- happy(baxtli)
- happily(baxtiyor tarzda)
differ
noun · verb · adjective · adverb
- difference(farq)
- differ(farq qilmoq)
- different(boshqacha)
- differently(boshqacha tarzda)
A note from your teacher
Make a page in your notebook with four columns: noun, verb, adjective, adverb. Add a new family every week.
Family members that sound alike
Words from one family sound close, and the ending is often quiet. Tap to compare, then press Test me.
careful or carefully?
Only “-ly” is different, and it is short.
How to tell them apart Listen for the -lee at the end. Then check: does it describe a noun (careful) or a verb (carefully)?
success, succeed or successful?
Three members of one family.
How to tell them apart suc-CESS (noun), suc-CEED (verb), suc-CESS-ful (adjective). The stress stays on the second syllable.
interested or interesting?
Both are adjectives, but they mean different things.
How to tell them apart -ed: how you feel (I’m interested). -ing: what makes you feel it (an interesting book).
A note from your teacher
In IELTS Listening, writing “success” when the answer is “successful” is a wrong answer. Train your ears for endings!
Upgrade your IELTS sentences
Examiners reward a range of vocabulary. The secret is often just a stronger adjective or adverb, or another member of the word family. Listen to each upgrade and repeat it.
It was a very good film. → It was a fascinating film.
(Bu juda yaxshi film edi. → Bu maftunkor film edi.)
Speaking: replace “very good” with one strong adjective.
Prices went up a lot. → Prices increased dramatically.
(Narxlar ancha oshdi. → Narxlar keskin oshdi.)
Writing Task 1: verb + adverb (rose sharply, fell slightly, grew steadily).
There was a big increase. → There was a dramatic increase.
(Katta oʻsish boʻldi. → Keskin oʻsish boʻldi.)
The same idea as adjective + noun: dramatically → dramatic increase.
People who succeed work hard. → Successful people work extremely hard.
(Muvaffaqiyatga erishganlar qattiq ishlaydi. → Muvaffaqiyatli odamlar nihoyatda qattiq ishlaydi.)
Word family: succeed → successful; very → extremely.
Technology is important. → Technology plays an important role in education.
(Texnologiya muhim. → Texnologiya taʼlimda muhim rol oʻynaydi.)
Writing Task 2: important + role is a strong collocation.
I decided quickly. → I made a quick decision.
(Men tez qaror qildim. → Men tezkor qaror qabul qildim.)
Verb + adverb becomes adjective + noun: a great way to vary your sentences.
Mistakes I correct every day
Almost all of these are “right word, wrong part of speech”. Read why, and listen to the right sentence.
Not: She sings very good.Say: She sings very well.(U juda yaxshi kuylaydi.)
Good is an adjective; to say how she sings, use the adverb well.
Not: He writes careful.Say: He writes carefully.(U ehtiyotkorlik bilan yozadi.)
It describes the verb writes, so the adverb: carefully.
Not: She is interesting in history.Say: She is interested in history.(U tarixga qiziqadi.)
-ed is how you feel; -ing is what causes the feeling.
Not: It was an importance meeting.Say: It was an important meeting.(Bu muhim yigʻilish edi.)
Before a noun we need an adjective, not a noun.
Not: The garden looks beautifully.Say: The garden looks beautiful.(Bogʻ chiroyli koʻrinadi.)
After be, look, feel and seem, use an adjective.
Not: We need your helpful.Say: We need your help.(Bizga yordamingiz kerak.)
After your we need a noun: help.
Not: She is a success writer.Say: She is a successful writer.(U muvaffaqiyatli yozuvchi.)
Before the noun, the adjective: successful.
Not: They worked hardly all day.Say: They worked hard all day.(Ular kun boʻyi qattiq ishlashdi.)
The adverb is hard. Hardly means “almost not”, the opposite!
The exercises, part by part
Before your students start, here is exactly what each of the eight parts asks, with a worked example. Parts 1–3 build the grammar; Parts 4–7 use it in Academic IELTS tasks; Part 8 tests everything.
Part 1 of 8 · Grammar
The Big Four
Naming the part of speech of a word in a real sentence.
- Cards to hear
- Noun, verb, adjective or adverb?
How it works Students tap 24 cards to hear nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. Then each sentence shows one word in CAPITALS, and they choose its part of speech.
Example
Our NEIGHBOUR plays the piano.
Answer: noun
It names a person and comes after “our”.
For the teacher Ask for the reason out loud: “after my, so a noun”. The reason matters more than the label.
Open Part 1 →Part 2 of 8 · Grammar
Spot Them
Finding a part of speech among all the words, the small words, and words with two jobs.
- Find the word
- Same word, two jobs
- Sort: noun or verb
How it works Students find “the adverb” or “the verb” in a sentence, decide the job of words like work or fast, and sort uses into noun and verb.
Open Part 2 →Example
Which word is the adverb? “She answered the question quickly.”
Answer: quickly
It tells us how she answered.
Part 3 of 8 · Grammar · IELTS word formation
Word Families
Building the right form from a root: decide → decision → decisive → decisively.
- Type the right form
- Choose the form
- Sort by ending
- Match noun and adjective
How it works Most answers are typed, so spelling counts (a one-letter slip gets “Almost!”). The word in brackets is the root to change.
Example
They made a quick ___ about the trip. (decide)
Answer: decision
After an adjective (quick) we need a noun.
For the teacher Before typing, students say which part of speech the gap needs. That is the whole skill.
Open Part 3 →Part 4 of 8 · Academic IELTS
IELTS Listening
Hearing word endings, completing a form, choosing TWO answers.
- Adjective or adverb? (heard)
- Find the word (heard)
- Form completion
- Choose TWO
How it works A booking form: students read it first, listen, and write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER in each gap — more words is wrong, as in the exam. Then they tick TWO letters from five.
Example
Surname: ___ (the speaker spells it: T, U, R, S, U, N, O, V)
Answer: Tursunov
For the teacher Play each recording once without stopping, as in the exam; replay only after the answer.
Open Part 4 →Part 5 of 8 · Academic IELTS
IELTS Reading
TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN, completing sentences with one word from the text, choose TWO.
- TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
- Sentence completion (ONE WORD)
- Choose TWO
How it works One short text, “A new library for the city”. Questions follow the order of the text. Completion answers are copied from the text, so the word form matters (quietly, not quiet).
Example
Text: “The museum is open every day except Monday.” Statement: “You can visit the museum on Mondays.”
Answer: FALSE
It is closed on Mondays.
For the teacher The whole text and its answer key are in the next chapter, “Texts and answers”.
Open Part 5 →Part 6 of 8 · Academic IELTS
IELTS Writing: Academic
The right word form in Academic Writing: describing a chart (Task 1) and an essay sentence (Task 2).
- Task 1: a bar chart
- Adjective or adverb for a trend
- Type the word form
- Task 2 sentence
How it works A bar chart of library visitors. Students choose a sharp fall (adjective + noun) or rose sharply (verb + adverb), type forms like steady → steadily, and pick the correct Task 2 sentence.
Open Part 6 →Example
Between 2020 and 2024, sales grew ___. (steady / steadily)
Answer: steadily
After a verb (grew) we need an adverb.
Part 7 of 8 · Academic IELTS
IELTS Speaking
Adjectives and adverbs in spoken answers, and answers that reach a higher band.
- Adjective or adverb?
- Which answer gets the higher band?
- Which sentence is correct?
How it works Students choose the right word, type adverbs, and compare three answers to an IELTS question: the best one is full, natural and accurate.
Example
“Do you like your neighbourhood?”
Answer: Yes, it’s quiet and green, and the neighbours are really friendly.
Adjectives describe the place and the people, in a full answer.
For the teacher After the part, students answer the same questions aloud about themselves.
Open Part 7 →Part 8 of 8 · Test
Final Boss
Everything from Parts 1–7.
- 15 mixed questions
- One try each
- Pass mark: 80%
How it works Fifteen questions from every part with no second tries, ending with a reading question. Students need 80% to pass and can try again as often as they like.
For the teacher Use it as the end-of-lesson test. A pass means the lesson is done.
Open Part 8 →
Texts, recordings and answers
Every text and recording used in the exercises, with the answer key folded away. Read them before the lesson; open the key when you check answers with the class.
Recording (transcript) · Part 4
Language school: course booking
Hello, I’d like to book a course. My name is Lola Karimova, that’s K, A, R, I, M, O, V, A. I’d like the speaking course, please. Classes are on Saturday mornings, and the price is one hundred and twenty pounds.
Answer key (4 questions)For the teacher — tap to show the answersTap to hide the answers
- Surname: ___Karimova
- Course: ___ coursespeaking
- Day: ___ morningsSaturday
- Price: £___120
Recording (transcript) · Part 4
Which TWO adjectives do students use about the course and the teachers?
Students say the course is really useful, and the teachers are very friendly. It isn’t expensive, and it isn’t too difficult.
Answer key (1 questions)For the teacher — tap to show the answersTap to hide the answers
- Which TWO adjectives do students use about the course and the teachers?useful + friendly
Reading text · Part 5
A new library for the city
Last year, the city opened a beautiful new library in the centre. It is very popular with students, who study there quietly every evening. The building is modern and comfortable, and it uses solar energy.
The library has more than 50,000 books, and visitors can borrow up to six books at a time. Membership is free for children, but adults pay a small fee every year. The manager says that the library will open a café next spring.
Answer key (13 questions)For the teacher — tap to show the answersTap to hide the answers
- The library opened last year.TRUE
- Students are usually noisy in the library.FALSE
- It is the biggest library in the country.NOT GIVEN
- Children do not pay to become members.TRUE
- Visitors can borrow ten books at a time.FALSE
- The café is already open.FALSE
- Most visitors come by bus.NOT GIVEN
- The new library is very ___ with students.popular
- Students study ___ every evening.quietly
- The building is modern and ___.comfortable
- The library uses solar ___.energy
- Adults pay a small ___ every year.fee
- Which TWO things does the text say about the library building?It is modern. + It uses solar energy.
Can you answer my questions?
Detective time. Think, answer out loud, then open the card.
Find the adverb: “The children laughed loudly at the clown.”
Noun or verb: “Please book a table.”
What is the noun of decide?
Complete with the right form of beauty: “He dances ___.”
Good or well: “This soup is very ___.”
Is “friendly” an adverb?
Interested or interesting: “The lecture was ___.”
Upgrade: “Prices went up a lot.”
A note from your teacher
Seven or more? Excellent, you’re ready for the exercises. Fewer? Go back to the X-ray and practise finding words.
For teachers using this lesson
If you teach this lesson in a classroom, here is how I run it in about 60 minutes.
Class plan60 min
- 5 minWarm up
Write one sentence on the board. Students say what each word “does”, before you give any names.
- 10 minThe jobs words do
Name the big four with the cards. Then the small words. Ask for one example of each from the class.
- 10 minSentence X-ray
Project the X-ray. Switch the colours off, read a sentence, and students shout out the part of speech of each word.
- 10 minEndings and families
Groups build a four-column table for three families. Then compare tables.
- 5 minAdjective or adverb
Quick-fire: say a sentence with a gap (He drives ___), students answer careful / carefully.
- 15 minExercises: Parts 1 to 5
Open the Exercises tab. Play together on the projector, or students play on their phones.
- 5 minCheck and homework
Ask three “Check yourself” questions. Homework: Parts 6 and 7 (Academic Writing and Speaking), Part 8 (Final Boss) and two upgraded IELTS sentences.
Now it’s your turn!
Eight parts at Pre-Intermediate level: find words in sentences and build word families, then Academic IELTS — Listening (a form, choose TWO), Reading (TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN, ONE WORD completion), Writing (word forms for a chart and an essay) and Speaking — and beat the Final Boss. Many answers are typed: spelling counts here.
— Your teacher