Chapter 3
Parts of Speech
THEORY
1. The Eight Parts of Speech — Recap and Function Test
Every English word belongs to one of eight classes, decided by function, not appearance (introduced in Chapter 1).
| No. | Part of Speech | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noun | Names a person, place, thing, or idea | Ram, Agra, table, honesty |
| 2 | Pronoun | Used in place of a noun | he, she, it, they, who |
| 3 | Adjective | Qualifies a noun or pronoun | tall, blue, some, this |
| 4 | Verb | Expresses an action or state | run, write, is, seem |
| 5 | Adverb | Modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb | quickly, very, soon, here |
| 6 | Preposition | Shows the relation of a noun/pronoun to another word | in, on, at, between, of |
| 7 | Conjunction | Joins words, phrases, or clauses | and, but, or, because, that |
| 8 | Interjection | Expresses sudden feeling | Oh! Alas! Hurrah! Bravo! |
Golden Rule: Decide the part of speech only after reading the whole sentence. The same word may belong to several classes.
2. The Noun — Kinds
| Kind | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Proper | Particular name of a person/place | Delhi, Gandhi |
| Common | A name common to a class | city, man, river |
| Collective | A group taken as one whole | team, crowd, jury |
| Material | The substance of which things are made | gold, water, wood |
| Abstract | A quality, state, or idea (cannot be touched) | honesty, beauty, childhood |
Five solved examples:
- The jury was divided. → Collective noun (group as one).
- Kindness never fails. → Abstract noun (quality).
- The ring is made of gold. → Material noun.
- Patna is on the Ganges. → Proper noun.
- The boy is clever. → Common noun.
3. The Pronoun — Kinds (Quick View)
| Kind | Examples |
|---|---|
| Personal | I, we, you, he, she, it, they |
| Possessive | mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs |
| Reflexive/Emphatic | myself, himself, themselves |
| Demonstrative | this, that, these, those |
| Relative | who, whom, whose, which, that |
| Interrogative | who? which? what? |
| Indefinite | some, any, all, none, few |
Exam Tip: "This", "that", "these", "those" are demonstrative adjectives when they qualify a noun (this book) but demonstrative pronouns when they stand alone (This is mine).
4. The Adjective vs. The Adverb — The Most Tested Distinction
An adjective describes a noun/pronoun; an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
| Word | As Adjective | As Adverb |
|---|---|---|
| hard | a hard stone | works hard |
| fast | a fast car | runs fast |
| late | a late arrival | came late |
| early | an early bus | woke early |
| well | I am well (healthy) | sings well |
Warning: "hardly", "lately", "shortly" are NOT the adverb forms of hard/late/short. Hardly = scarcely; lately = recently; shortly = soon.
Five solved examples:
- She is a fast runner. → Adjective (describes "runner").
- She runs fast. → Adverb (modifies "runs").
- He hardly spoke. → Adverb meaning "scarcely".
- The flowers smell sweet. → Adjective (after a sense verb, describing "flowers"), NOT "sweetly".
- He spoke softly. → Adverb (modifies "spoke").
5. The Verb — Finite vs. Non-finite
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Finite | Changes with subject/tense; forms the predicate | He writes; they wrote |
| Infinitive | "to + base"; acts as noun/adj/adv | To err is human |
| Gerund | "-ing" form used as a noun | Swimming is fun |
| Participle | "-ing"/"-ed" form used as an adjective | a running tap; a broken cup |
Memory Trick — Gerund or Participle? If the -ing word names an activity (works as a noun → subject/object), it is a gerund. If it describes a noun, it is a participle.
6. The Preposition vs. The Conjunction
A preposition is followed by a noun/pronoun (its object); a conjunction joins two clauses (each with its own verb).
| Word | As Preposition (+ object) | As Conjunction (+ clause) |
|---|---|---|
| since | since Monday | since you asked |
| before | before noon | before he came |
| after | after lunch | after the bell rang |
| but | all but him | poor but honest |
| for | for an hour | he hurried, for he was late |
7. The Interjection
Words like Oh! Ah! Alas! Hurrah! Bravo! Hush! express sudden emotion and stand grammatically apart from the sentence. They are usually followed by an exclamation mark.
COMMON EXAM ERRORS
| # | Wrong | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | She sings very sweetly and dances good. | …dances well. | "Well" (adverb) modifies "dances", not "good" (adjective). |
| 2 | He drives very careful. | He drives very carefully. | Adverb needed to modify "drives". |
| 3 | The rose smells sweetly. | The rose smells sweet. | After a sense verb, use an adjective describing the subject. |
| 4 | I have hardly any money left, isn't it? | …have I? | "Hardly" makes the clause negative; tag is positive. |
| 5 | He is more cleverer than his brother. | He is cleverer than his brother. | Avoid double comparatives. |
| 6 | This is the most unique design. | This is a unique design. | "Unique" is non-gradable; no "most". |
| 7 | Each of the boys have a pen. | Each of the boys has a pen. | "Each" is singular. |
| 8 | Swimming are good for health. | Swimming is good for health. | Gerund subject takes a singular verb. |
| 9 | He insisted to go. | He insisted on going. | "Insist" takes "on + gerund". |
| 10 | I look forward to meet you. | I look forward to meeting you. | "Look forward to" + gerund. |
| 11 | The two first chapters are easy. | The first two chapters are easy. | Ordinal before cardinal. |
| 12 | It is raining since morning. | It has been raining since morning. | "Since" needs a perfect tense. |
| 13 | He is senior than me. | He is senior to me. | Latin comparatives take "to". |
| 14 | One of my friend is a doctor. | One of my friends is a doctor. | "One of + plural noun". |
| 15 | He plays cricket good. | He plays cricket well. | Adverb modifies "plays". |
| 16 | She is enough kind to help. | She is kind enough to help. | "Enough" follows the adjective. |
| 17 | He was too glad to see me. | He was very glad to see me. | "Too" implies excess (negative); use "very". |
| 18 | Whom do you think will win? | Who do you think will win? | "Who" is the subject of "will win". |
| 19 | Let you and I decide. | Let you and me decide. | After "let", use the objective case. |
| 20 | These kind of mangoes are sweet. | This kind of mango is sweet. | "Kind" is singular; agreement. |
| 21 | He prevented me to go. | He prevented me from going. | "Prevent…from + gerund". |
| 22 | I am used to get up early. | I am used to getting up early. | "Used to" (habit) + gerund. |
| 23 | He is good in English. | He is good at English. | "Good at", not "good in". |
| 24 | The news are true. | The news is true. | "News" is a singular (uncountable) noun. |
| 25 | He is the most cleverest boy. | He is the cleverest boy. | Avoid double superlatives. |
EXAM TRICKS
- Slot-substitution: Replace the word with a clear noun/verb/adjective. If "a tall ___" fits, the slot is a noun; if "very ___" fits, it is an adjective/adverb.
- Object test for prepositions: If the word is followed by a noun/pronoun object and shows relation, it is a preposition; if it joins two verbs/clauses, it is a conjunction.
- Sense-verb trap: After look, smell, taste, feel, sound, the describing word is usually an adjective (it describes the subject), not an adverb.
- -ing test: Subject/object → gerund (noun); describes a noun → participle (adjective); part of the predicate with an auxiliary → verb.
- Distractor: Setters offer "good" where "well" is correct, or "sweetly" where "sweet" is correct after a sense verb.
FREQUENTLY CONFUSED PAIRS
| Pair | Distinction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| good / well | good = adjective; well = adverb (also "healthy") | a good singer / sings well |
| hard / hardly | hard = with effort; hardly = scarcely | works hard / hardly works |
| late / lately | late = not early; lately = recently | came late / met him lately |
| gerund / participle | gerund = noun; participle = adjective | Smoking is bad / a smoking gun |
| preposition / conjunction | prep + object; conj + clause | before noon / before he left |
| this / these | singular / plural demonstrative | this kind / these kinds |
EXCEPTIONS — Important, Rare & Advanced
- Determiners (Modern): Articles, demonstratives, and quantifiers (a, the, this, some, each) are grouped as determiners in Cambridge/Oxford grammar; Wren & Martin calls them adjectives. UPESSC may use either term.
- Noun used as adjective (Rare): A noun can qualify another noun — gold ring, school bag. Here "gold/school" function adjectivally.
- Adjective used as noun (Advanced): "the + adjective" denotes a class — the rich, the poor, the brave — and takes a plural verb.
- Verb used as noun: a long run, a good catch — the verb form serves as a noun.
- Relative adverbs: when, where, why can introduce adjective clauses (the day when…), straddling adverb and conjunction roles.
50 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Easy (1–15)
1. How many parts of speech are there traditionally?
(a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 8 (d) 9
Answer: (c) 8
Explanation: Noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection.
2. "Honesty" is a/an:
(a) Common noun (b) Abstract noun (c) Collective noun (d) Material noun
Answer: (b) Abstract noun
Explanation: It names a quality.
3. Identify the adverb: "She sang sweetly."
(a) She (b) sang (c) sweetly (d) none
Answer: (c) sweetly
Explanation: It modifies the verb "sang".
4. "Team" is a/an ______ noun.
(a) Abstract (b) Collective (c) Material (d) Proper
Answer: (b) Collective
Explanation: A group taken as one whole.
5. Which word is a preposition?
(a) and (b) under (c) quickly (d) oh
Answer: (b) under
Explanation: It shows relation and takes an object.
6. "Alas!" is a/an:
(a) Adverb (b) Conjunction (c) Interjection (d) Preposition
Answer: (c) Interjection
Explanation: It expresses sudden emotion.
7. In "He is a tall boy," the word "tall" is a/an:
(a) Adverb (b) Adjective (c) Noun (d) Verb
Answer: (b) Adjective
Explanation: It describes "boy".
8. Which is a pronoun?
(a) They (b) run (c) blue (d) under
Answer: (a) They
Explanation: It replaces a noun.
9. "Gold" in "a gold ring" functions as a/an:
(a) Noun used as adjective (b) Verb (c) Adverb (d) Pronoun
Answer: (a)
Explanation: A noun qualifying another noun.
10. Identify the verb: "Birds fly."
(a) Birds (b) fly (c) both (d) none
Answer: (b) fly
Explanation: It expresses the action.
11. "And" is a/an:
(a) Preposition (b) Conjunction (c) Adverb (d) Interjection
Answer: (b) Conjunction
Explanation: It joins words/clauses.
12. The plural demonstrative of "this" is:
(a) that (b) those (c) these (d) them
Answer: (c) these
Explanation: this → these.
13. "Patna" is a/an ______ noun.
(a) Common (b) Proper (c) Abstract (d) Collective
Answer: (b) Proper
Explanation: A particular place name.
14. Identify the adjective: "Some boys are absent."
(a) Some (b) boys (c) are (d) absent
Answer: (a) Some
Explanation: It qualifies "boys" (also a determiner).
15. "He runs fast." Here "fast" is a/an:
(a) Adjective (b) Adverb (c) Noun (d) Verb
Answer: (b) Adverb
Explanation: It modifies "runs".
Moderate (16–35)
16. In "Swimming is good exercise," the word "Swimming" is a/an:
(a) Participle (b) Gerund (c) Finite verb (d) Adverb
Answer: (b) Gerund
Explanation: An -ing form used as the subject (a noun).
17. In "a running tap," "running" is a/an:
(a) Gerund (b) Participle (c) Noun (d) Adverb
Answer: (b) Participle
Explanation: It describes "tap".
18. "The flowers smell ______." Choose correctly.
(a) sweetly (b) sweet (c) sweetness (d) more sweetly
Answer: (b) sweet
Explanation: After a sense verb, use an adjective describing the subject.
19. "He works ______ than his brother."
(a) more hard (b) harder (c) more harder (d) hardly
Answer: (b) harder
Explanation: "hard" forms "harder"; no double comparative.
20. Identify the part of speech of "since" in "I have known him since 2010."
(a) Conjunction (b) Preposition (c) Adverb (d) Verb
Answer: (b) Preposition
Explanation: Followed by a noun (its object).
21. Identify "since" in "Since you insist, I will go."
(a) Preposition (b) Conjunction (c) Adverb (d) Noun
Answer: (b) Conjunction
Explanation: It joins two clauses (cause).
22. "He hardly speaks." Here "hardly" means:
(a) with effort (b) scarcely (c) firmly (d) recently
Answer: (b) scarcely
Explanation: "Hardly" is a negative adverb of degree.
23. "This is the most ______ design." Choose the best word.
(a) unique (b) excellent (c) good (d) fine
Answer: (b) excellent
Explanation: "Unique" is non-gradable, so "most unique" is wrong; "excellent" fits the superlative slot.
24. In "the rich help the poor," "the poor" functions as a/an:
(a) Adjective (b) Plural noun (class) (c) Adverb (d) Verb
Answer: (b) Plural noun
Explanation: "the + adjective" denotes a class.
25. Choose the correct sentence:
(a) He is good in maths. (b) He is good at maths. (c) He is good for maths. (d) He is good on maths.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Correct collocation is "good at".
26. "Each of the students ______ a book."
(a) have (b) has (c) are having (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: "Each" is singular.
27. Identify the reflexive pronoun: "He hurt himself."
(a) He (b) hurt (c) himself (d) none
Answer: (c) himself
Explanation: It refers back to the subject.
28. "I look forward to ______ you."
(a) meet (b) meeting (c) met (d) have met
Answer: (b) meeting
Explanation: "look forward to" + gerund.
29. "She is kind ______ to help everyone."
(a) enough (b) too (c) very (d) so
Answer: (a) enough
Explanation: "enough" follows the adjective.
30. Identify the part of speech of "but" in "All but him were present."
(a) Conjunction (b) Preposition (c) Adverb (d) Interjection
Answer: (b) Preposition
Explanation: Here "but" means "except".
31. "This kind of ______ is sweet."
(a) mangoes (b) mango (c) mangos are (d) the mango
Answer: (b) mango
Explanation: "kind" is singular; agreement with singular noun.
32. Which word can be both a noun and a verb depending on use?
(a) quickly (b) under (c) catch (d) alas
Answer: (c) catch
Explanation: "a good catch" (noun) / "catch the ball" (verb).
33. "He prevented me ______ going."
(a) to (b) from (c) for (d) of
Answer: (b) from
Explanation: "prevent…from + gerund".
34. Identify the part of speech of "well" in "I am quite well."
(a) Adverb (b) Adjective (healthy) (c) Noun (d) Verb
Answer: (b) Adjective
Explanation: Here "well" means "in good health", describing "I".
35. "The news ______ true."
(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have been
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: "News" is a singular uncountable noun.
Difficult (36–50)
36. In "But me no buts," the first "but" is a/an:
(a) Conjunction (b) Verb (c) Preposition (d) Adverb
Answer: (b) Verb
Explanation: A classic function-shift; "but" is used as a verb, "buts" as a noun.
37. "To err is human." The phrase "To err" functions as a/an:
(a) Adverb (b) Noun (subject) (c) Finite verb (d) Adjective
Answer: (b) Noun
Explanation: An infinitive as the subject is a noun equivalent.
38. Identify the error: "He is the most cleverest boy in the class."
(a) the (b) most cleverest (c) boy (d) in the class
Answer: (b) most cleverest
Explanation: Double superlative; use "cleverest".
39. "Seeing is believing." Both -ing words are:
(a) Participles (b) Gerunds (c) Finite verbs (d) Adverbs
Answer: (b) Gerunds
Explanation: Subject and complement; both function as nouns.
40. "Who do you think will win the match?" "Who" is the:
(a) Object of "think" (b) Subject of "will win" (c) Object of "win" (d) Conjunction
Answer: (b)
Explanation: "who" is the subject of "will win"; hence not "whom".
41. In "a smoking room" vs. "a smoking man", the word "smoking":
(a) is a gerund in both (b) is a participle in both (c) is a gerund in the first, participle in the second (d) is a verb in both
Answer: (c)
Explanation: "smoking room" = a room for smoking (gerund-noun use); "smoking man" = a man who smokes (participle).
42. Identify the part of speech of "fast" in "He kept a fast."
(a) Adjective (b) Adverb (c) Noun (d) Verb
Answer: (c) Noun
Explanation: "a fast" (act of fasting) is a noun.
43. "He is used to ______ early."
(a) get up (b) getting up (c) got up (d) gets up
Answer: (b) getting up
Explanation: "used to" (habit) + gerund.
44. Identify the demonstrative pronoun (not adjective): "This is better than that."
(a) This (standing alone) (b) better (c) than (d) none
Answer: (a) This
Explanation: "This" stands alone (no noun follows) → pronoun.
45. "Let you and ______ settle this."
(a) I (b) me (c) myself (d) mine
Answer: (b) me
Explanation: After "let", objective case.
46. In "He ran a mile," "a mile" is the:
(a) Adverb of distance (b) Adverbial object (c) Adjective (d) Subject
Answer: (b)
Explanation: A noun used adverbially after the verb (adverbial object of distance).
47. Which sentence uses "lately" correctly?
(a) He came lately. (b) I have not seen him lately. (c) The bus is lately. (d) Walk lately.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: "lately" = recently; "came late" needs "late".
48. "The brave deserve the fair." The words "brave" and "fair" are:
(a) Adjectives only (b) Adjectives used as plural nouns (c) Adverbs (d) Verbs
Answer: (b)
Explanation: "the + adjective" denotes classes of people.
49. Identify the conjunction: "He hurried, for he was late."
(a) hurried (b) for (c) late (d) he
Answer: (b) for
Explanation: "for" here joins clauses (= because) — a coordinating conjunction.
50. "She sings ______ and dances ______." Choose the correct pair.
(a) good / good (b) well / well (c) good / well (d) well / good
Answer: (b) well / well
Explanation: Adverbs modify both verbs "sings" and "dances".