English Grammar - Parts Of Speech - Exercise

Go To Part Of Speech

Exercise No.1

Name the part of speech of each italicized word in the following sentences, giving in each case your reason for, the classification:-

1: Still waters run deep.

Still is an Adjective. Still adds to the meaning of ‘waters’.

2: He still lives in that house.

Still is an Adverb - because Still is an adverb (of quality) and add meaning to the "lives" (verb).

3: After the storm comes the calm.

After is a preposition - that shows the relationship between storm and calm

4: The after effects of the drug are bad.

After-effect is a compound noun - As 'aftereffects' is the name given to a concept
After is also used an adjective to modify the meaning of effects.

5: The up train is late.

Up is an adjectives - because it modify its meaning

6: It weighs about a pound.

Weighs is a verb. - Because its show action.

7: He told us all about the battle.

About is a preposition - that shows the relationship between ‘us’ and ‘the battle’.

8: He was only a yard off me.

off is a preposition,

9: Suddenly one of the wheels came off.

Off is an Adverb - 'off' adds meaning to the verb 'came'.

10: Mohammedans fast in the month of Ramzan.

Fast is a verb - It shows action.

11: He kept the fast for a week.

the fast – noun - the noun fast acts as the object of the verb kept

12: He is on the committee.

on is a preposition - it is used to show that he belongs to committee.

13: Let us move on.

On is an adverb - On adds meaning to the verb 'move'.

14: Sit down and rest a while.

While is an adverb - It modifes the verbs it follows.

15: I will watch while you sleep.

while is a conjunction - It connect two sentences.

16: They while away their evenings with books and games.

while is a verb - In this sentence, "while" means "as a pass time in a leisurely manner"

Exercise No.2

Study the words in these sentences and say what part of speech each is:-

1: I eat an apple.

I(Pronoun) eat(Verb) an apple(Noun).

2: Run quickly to the bazaar.

Run(Verb) quickly(Adverb) to(Preposition) the bazaar(Noun).

3: Lahore is a big city.

Lahore(Noun) is(Verb) a big(Adjective) city(Noun).

4: Afzal is a lazy boy.

Afzal(Noun) is(Verb) a lazy(Adjective) boy(Noun).

5: The horse runs fast.

The horse(Noun) runs(Verb) fast(Adverb).

6: We help our friends.

We(Pronoun) help(Verb) our(Pronoun) friends(Noun).

7: He is wiser than I.

He(Pronoun) is(Verb) wiser(Adjective) than(Preposition) I(Pronoun).

8: She went with her mother.

She(Pronoun) went(Verb) with(Preposition) her(Pronoun) mother(Noun).

9: Hurrah ! we have a holiday.

Hurrah!(Interjection) we(Pronoun) have(Verb) a holiday(Noun).

10: He called on me.

He(Pronoun) called(Verb) on(Preposition) me(Pronoun).

11: They fought bravely.

They(Pronoun) fought(Verb) bravely(Adverb).

12: The boys are in the room.

The boys(Noun) are(Verb) in(Preposition) the room(Noun) .

13: He went to school.

He(Pronoun) went(Verb) to(Preposition) school(Noun).

14: Nasir and Ajmal are brothers.

Nasir(Noun) and(Conjunction) Ajmal(Noun) are(Verb) brothers(Noun).

15: Ali is poor but he is honest.

Ali(Noun) is(Verb) poor(Adjective) but(Conjunction) he(Pronoun) is(Verb) honest(Adjective).

16: She writes carelessly.

She(Pronoun) writes(Verb) carelessly(Adverb).

Exercise No.3

Say whether each word in italics is a noun or a verb:

1: He likes his work.

work is a noun.

2: We work at night.

work is a verb.

3: Let us go for a walk.

walk is a noun.

4: Walk quickly lest you should miss the train.

walk is a verb.

5: Do not talk too much.

talk is a verb.

6: I had a good talk with Ali.

talk is a noun.

7: Boys are fond of play.

Play is a noun.

8: We play in the evening.

Play is a verb.

9: I drink cold water.

water is a noun.

10: Gardeners water their plants.

water is a verb.

Exercise No.4

Say whether each word in italics is a noun or an adjective:

1: My cap is made of cloth.

cloth is a noun.

2: He wears a cloth cap.

cloth is a adjective.

3: I have a horse.

horse is a noun.

4: He has a horse carriage.

horse is a adjective.

5: Cotton is grown in Pakistan.

cotton is a noun.

6: I bought a cotton suit.

cotton is a adjective.

7: My ring is made of gold.

gold is a noun.

8: She has a gold watch.

gold is a adjective.

9: The rich should help the poor.

rich and poor are nouns.

10: Ali is a rich man but Zia is a poor man.

rich and poor are adjectives.