One word in different part of speech

Here is a list of some of the most important words which belong to different parts of speech. Note that it is the function or use which determines which part of speech a particular word belongs to.

About

About can be used as an adverb or a preposition. As an adverb, about modifies the verb. As a preposition, it connects a noun or pronoun with some other word in the sentence. Study the examples given below.

They wandered about the town. (Here the word about modifies the verb wandered and hence it acts as an adverb.)

There was something affable about him. (Preposition)

Above

The word above can be used as an adverb, a preposition, an adjective or a noun.

Study the examples given below.

The heavens are above. (Adverb)

The moral code of conduct is above the civil code of conduct. (Preposition)

Read the sentence given above. (Adjective)

Our blessings come from above. (Noun)

After

The word after can be used as an adverb, a preposition, an adjective and a conjunction.

He left soon after. (Adverb)

She takes after her mother. (Preposition)

I went to bed after I had dinner. (Conjunction)

All

All children need love. (Adjective)

She lives all alone in a small hut. (Adverb)

She lost all she owned. (Noun)

Any

Have you got any pens? (Adjective)

Is he any better? (Adverb)

‘Did you get any strawberries?’ ‘There wasn’t any left.’ (Pronoun)

As

We walked as fast as we could. (Adverb)

As he was late, we went without him. (Conjunction)

She likes the same color as I do. (Relative pronoun)

The Same Word Used as Different Parts of Speech :

Some words belong to more than one part of sppech. We can’t know what part ofspeech a word is until we see what work it is doing in a sentiece. A word can do different jobs in diffenrt sentences.

Look at the following sentences.

1. Give me some water.

2. They water the plants daily.

In the first sentence the word WATER names something. So it is a noun.

In the second sentnce the same word WATER expresses an action. It tells what they do. Hre it is a verb.

Study the word FAST in the following sentences.

1. He didn’t take anything during the fast. (It names something. So it is a noun.)

2. Muslims FAST during Ramazan. (It expressess an action. It tells what Muslims do. So, it is a verb.)

3. I missed the FAST train. (It adds to the meaning of the noun train. What kind of a train? A fast train. So, it is an adjecyive.)

4. She speaks fast. (It adds to the meaning of the verb SPEAKS and tells how she speaks. So, it is an adverb.)

The word FAST is a noun in 1, a verb in 2, an adjective in 3 and an adverb in 4.

Here are futher examples.

Above :

We flew above the clouds. (Preposition)

Have you read the above sentce? (Adjective)

See above. (Adverb)

Back :

I have a pain in the back. (Noun)

I will come back in five minutes. (Adverb)

Have you closed the back door? (Adjective)

He backed his car throguth the gate. (Verb)

Better :

This watch is better than that. (Adjective)

He singes better than you. (Adverb)

You should respect your betters. (Noun)

Living conditions have bettered a great deal. (Verb)

Down :

The little girl feels down. (Adverb)

He ran down the hill. (Preposition)

We caught the down train. (Adjective)

The government downed the opposition. (Verb)

Like :

Children like sweets. (Verb)

He climbs like a cat. (Preposition)

You won’t see his like again. (Noun)

Ravindra and his brother are very like. (Adjective)

Near :

He lives near the station. (Preposition)

Most of my near relatives live abroad. (Adjective)

He got nervous as the examinations neared. (Verb)

I went near enough to see over it. (Adverb)

Right :

You are quite right. (Adjective)

Keep to the right. (Noun)

Go right to the end of the road. (Adverb)

They were able to right the boat. (Verb)

Round :

The earth is round. (Adjective)

The boys ran round the tree. (Preposition)

Will you come round to our house this evening? (Adverb)

We won the first round of the tennis cup. (Noun)

The child’s eyes rounded with excitment. (Verb)

Up :

You should stand up when the teacher comes in. (adverb)

He climbed up the hill. (Preposition)

What time is the next up train? (Adjective)

He hit the ball on the up. (noun)

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The Same Word as Different Parts of Speech :

The meaning of a word in the sentence determines to what part of speech it belongs.

The same word may be sometimes one part of speech, sometimes another.

Words of entirely separate origin, meaning and use sometimes look and sound alike such as in…
The minstrel sang a plaintive lay.

He lay on the ground.

But the following examples show that the same word may have more than one kind of grammatical office (or function). It is the meaning which we give to a word in the sentence that determines its classification as a part of speech.

The chief classes of words thus variously used are

(1) nouns and adjectives
(2) nouns and verbs
(3) adjectives and adverbs
(4) adjectives and pronouns
(5) adverbs and prepositions

1. Nouns and Adjectives

The same word can be used as noun as well as adjective.

Noun : Rubber comes from South America.
Adjective : This wheel has a rubber tire.

Noun : That brick is yellow.
Adjective : Here is a brick house.

Noun : The rich have a grave responsibility.
Adjective : A rich merchant lives here.

The first two examples show how words that are commonly nouns may be used as adjectives.

The third shows how words that are commonly adjectives.

2. Nouns and Verbs

The same word can be used as noun as well as verb.

Noun : Hear the wash of the tide.
Verb :Wash those windows.

Noun : Give me a stamp.
Verb :Stamp this envelope.

Noun : It is the call of the sea.
Verb :Ye call me chief.

Other examples are : act, address, ally, answer, boast, care, cause, close, defeat, doubt, drop, heap, hope, mark, offer, pile, place, rest, rule, sail, shape, sleep, spur, test, watch, wound.

3. Adjectives and Adverbs

The same word can be used as adjective as well as adverb.

Adjective : That is a fast boat.
Adverb : The snow is melting fast.

Adjective : Draw a straight line.
Adverb : The arrow flew straight.

Adjective : Early comers get good seats.
Adverb : Tom awoke early.

Some adverbs have the same form as the corresponding adjectives.

You have guessed right.
How fast the tide ebbs!
The horse was sold cheap.
Tired men sleep sound.
Other examples are wrong, straight, early, late, quick, hard, far, near, slow, high, low, loud, ill, well, deep, close, just, very, much, little.

4. Adjectives and Pronouns

The same word can be used as adjective as well as pronoun.

Adjective : This man looks unhappy.
Pronoun : This is the sergeant.

Adjective : That book is a dictionary.
Pronoun : That is a kangaroo.

Adjective : Each day brings its opportunity.
Pronoun : I received a dollar from each.

5. Adverbs and Prepositions

The same word can be used as adverb as well as preposition.

Adverb : Jill came tumbling after.
Preposition : He returned after the accident.

Adverb : We went below.
Preposition : Below us lay the valley.

Adverb : The weeds sprang up.
Preposition : We walked up the hill.

Other examples are aboard, before, beyond, down, inside, underneath.

Miscellaneous examples of variation are the following.

Noun : The calm lasted for three days.
Adjective : Calm words show quiet minds.
Verb : Calm your angry friend.

Other examples are iron, stone, paper, sugar, salt, bark, quiet, black, light, head, wet, round, square, winter, spring.

Noun….Wrong seldom prospers.
Adjective….You have taken the wrong road.
Adverb….Edward often spells words wrong.
Verb….You wrong me by your suspicions.

Noun….The outside of the castle is gloomy.
Adjective….We have an outside stateroom.
Adverb….The messenger is waiting outside.
Preposition….I shall ride outside the coach.

Adjective…..That boat is a sloop.
Pronoun…..That is my uncle.
Conjunction….You said that you would help me.

Adjective…..Neither road leads to Utica.
Pronoun…..Neither of us arrived in time.
Conjunction…..Neither Tom nor I was late.

Preposition…..I am waiting for the train.
Conjunction…..You have plenty of time, for the train is late.
Interjection…..Hurrah! The battle is won.
Noun….I heard a loud hurrah.
Verb….The enemy flees. Our men hurrah.

The Same Word as Different Parts of Speech :

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The Same Word as Different Parts of Speech To HOME PAGE

Your examples above are all homonyms. Homonyms are words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings.

Taking «top» as a single example; as a noun it can be used to describe an item of clothing (in UK English anyway) and obviously that is something entirely different to a «spinning top». So what you have are two different things that are spelled and pronounced the same. The fact they have the same root meaning is certainly relevant, but doesn’t make them the same.

One comment suggested that they are «homophones», but that isn’t completely accurate if they are spelled the same. True, a homonym is also by definition a homophone, but two words can be considered homophones if they simply sound the same (for example sea and see). If they are spelled and sound the same they are homonyms.

• Homophone — words that sound the same but have different meanings. (eg «sea» and «see»)
• Homograph — words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. (eg «wind» as in windmill, and «wind» as in the long and winding road)
• Homonym — words that are spelled and sound the same but have different meanings. (eg «fly» as in insect, or to travel by air)

The reason I feel this is the most appropriate answer is because «homonym» accurately describes the words above regardless of whether or not they are different word classes (what you call «parts of speech», eg nouns, adjectives, etc).

Also two words can be described as homonyms whether or not the words have the same derivation. For example, «mine» as a noun for an underground excavation is of French or possibly Celtic origin. The adjective «mine» meaning to dig such an excavation is clearly derived from it. However, «mine» as a possessive pronoun is of Germanic origin, so it cannot be referred to as a derivation. However, all three are homonyms.