What part of speech is the word "Jane" in the sentence "Jane, you read too rapidly"?

In the sentence "Jane, you read too rapidly," the word "Jane" functions as a noun. Specifically, it is a proper noun because it refers to a specific person. Proper nouns are a subtype of nouns and are capitalized to indicate that they represent unique entities, such as names of individuals, places, or organizations. "Jane" identifies the subject of the sentence directly, making it clear who is being addressed.

While "you" is indeed a pronoun that serves as the subject in the context of the sentence, it is important to clarify that "Jane" is the direct name given to the person being spoken to. Thus, the correct classification of "Jane" is that of a noun. Proper recognition of parts of speech is essential for understanding how words function within a sentence.