Word classes or grammatical classes are sets that serve to classify words under the morphological aspect.
There are 10 word classes: noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, article, numeral, preposition, conjunction, interjection and adverb.
Check out the questions on this topic commented by our expert professors.
question 1
(And either)
the world is big
The world is big and it fits
In this window over the sea.
The sea is big and it fits
In bed and mattress to love.
love is big and it fits
In the brief space of kissing.
ANDRADE, Carlos Drummond de. Poetry and prose. Rio de Janeiro: Nova Aguilar, 1983.
In this poem, the poet made a stylistic option: the reiteration of certain linguistic constructions and expressions, such as the use of the same conjunction to establish the relationship between sentences. This conjunction establishes, among the related ideas, a sense of:
a) opposition
b) comparison
c) conclusion
d) alternation
e) purpose
See Answer
Correct alternative: a) opposition
a) CORRECT. The conjunction used «and» («The world is big
and it fits», «The sea is big and it fits», «Love is great and fit») is classified as adversative coordinative, because it expresses opposition. For a better understanding, we can rewrite the verses with another adversative coordinating conjunction, for example, «however»: «The world is big, although fit», «The sea is big, although it fits», «Love is great, although fits».
b) WRONG. The conjunction used «and» («The world is big and it fits», «The sea is big and it fits», «Love is great and fit») does not establish the idea of comparison. An example of a comparative subordinative conjunction is «of what», which when substituted in the verses makes no sense: «The world is great than fits».
c) WRONG. The conjunction used «and» («The world is big and it fits», «The sea is big and it fits», «Love is great and fit») does not convey the idea of conclusion. An example of a concluding coordinative conjunction is «therefore», which when replaced in the verses makes no sense: «The world is big, therefore, fits in this window over the sea.».
d) WRONG. The conjunction used «and» («The world is big and it fits», «The sea is big and it fits», «Love is great and fits») does not convey the idea of choice. An example of an alternative coordinative conjunction is «wants…wants», which cannot be substituted in the verses because it makes no sense.
e) WRONG. The conjunction used «and» («The world is big and it fits», «The sea is big and it fits», «Love is great and fit») does not convey any idea of purpose. An example of a final subordinate conjunction is «for what», which cannot be substituted in the verses because it makes no sense.
question 2
(UFMG-Adapted) Expressions in bold correspond to an adjective, except in:
a) João Fanhoso is dawning unenthusiastic.
b) delayed on purpose in that complicated bath.
c) The animals from the earth they fled in a wild career.
d) Night closed on those lost wilderness of the caatinga without end.
e) And it still comes to me with this man talk From the farm.
See Answer
Correct alternative: b) It took too long on purpose in that complicated bath.
a) WRONG. The expression «without enthusiasm» has the same meaning as «dismayed», which is an adjective, because it attributes a characteristic to the noun «João Fanhoso».
b) CORRECT. The expression «on purpose» has the same meaning as «on purpose», which is an adverb of manner, because it modifies the verb «to delay».
c) WRONG. The expression «from the land» has the same meaning as «local» (local animals). Local is an adjective, because it attributes a characteristic to the noun «animals».
d) WRONG. The expression «without end» has the same meaning as «infinite», which is an adjective, because it attributes a characteristic to the noun «caatinga».
e) WRONG. The expression «da roça» has the same meaning as «caipira», which is an adjective, because it attributes a characteristic to the noun «man».
question 3
(UnB) Check the item that only contains prepositions:
a) during, enter, about
b) with, under, after
c) to, back, by
d) in, case, after
e) after, over, above
See Answer
Correct alternative: a) during, enter, over
a) CORRECT. «During» is an accidental preposition, that is, it is a word that, in addition to being a preposition, can also belong to other classes of words. «Between and above», in turn, are essential prepositions, because they only work as a preposition.
b) WRONG. «With and under» are essential prepositions, because they only work as a preposition. «After» is an adverb of time.
c) WRONG. «For and by» are essential prepositions, because they only work as a preposition. «Behind» is an adverb of place.
d) WRONG. «On and after» are essential prepositions, because they only work as a preposition. «Case» is conditional subordinate conjunction.
e) WRONG. «After and about» are essential prepositions, because they only work as a preposition. «Above» is an adverb of place.
question 4
(UMESP) In the phrase «The negotiations would be quite open only later part-time work», the highlighted words are, respectively:
a) adjective, adjective
b) adverb, adverb
c) adverb, adjective
d) numeral, adjective
e) numeral, adverb
See Answer
Correct alternative: b) adverb, adverb
a) WRONG. Adjectives attribute characteristics to nouns. In this sentence, «open» is the adjective, while «middle» is the adverb so that modifies it. «After» is also an adverb, in this case of time.
b) CORRECT. The word «middle» in this sentence has the function of an adverb, because it is modifying the adjective «open». When this happens, the word «middle» does not vary, but if, for example, «middle» had the function of an adjective, it could vary in gender and/or number, as in: half a cup of tea. The word «after», in turn, is an adverb of time.
c) WRONG. The word «middle» is an adverb because it is modifying the adjective «open». «After» is also an adverb, in this case of time, because it refers to a circumstance of time.
d) WRONG. The word «half» can be classified as a numeral (for example: I gave each one half chocolate.), but in this case, the word «middle» is modifying the adjective «open», so it is classified as adverb. «After» is an adverb of time, because it indicates a period of time.
e) WRONG. The word «half» can be classified as a numeral when it indicates quantity (for example: I took a half liter of water.), but in this case, the word «middle» is an adverb, because it’s modifying the adjective «open». «After», in turn, is also an adverb.
question 5
(Fesp) Check the option where «a» is, respectively, article, personal pronoun and preposition:
a) This is the meaning I referred to and not what you understood.
b) The difficulty is great and I know I will solve it in the short term.
c) The slave declared that she preferred death to slavery.
d) This is the house I bought and not the one I sold him.
e) The one who committed the offense will be punished.
See Answer
Correct alternative: b) The difficulty is great and I know I will solve it in the short term.
a) WRONG. «A (meaning)»: article, because it precedes noun; «to (which I referred to)»: preposition, because it links the elements «meaning» and «which I referred to»; «to (that you understood)»: article, because it precedes the noun «meaning» that is hidden in the sentence «that which you understood».
b) CORRECT. «A (difficulty»): article, because it precedes noun; «to (I will solve)»: personal pronoun, because it is replacing the personal pronoun of the straight case «she»; «a (short term)»: preposition, because it is linking the terms of the clause «I will resolve» and «short term».
c) WRONG. The first two «a» are articles, because they both precede, respectively, the nouns «slave» and «death». «À (slavery)» is the combination of an article with a preposition, since it precedes the noun «slavery», and also links the terms «death» and «slavery».
d) WRONG. The first two «a» are articles, because both precede the nouns «house», and in the second case the noun is hidden «the (house) I sold». The third «a» is preposition» because it links the terms «sold» and «he».
e) WRONG. All occurrences of «a» are articles, because they all precede nouns: «The (person) who committed», «the fault», «the punishment».
question 6
(UEPR) The forms that vividly translate the sudden, spontaneous and instinctive feelings of the speakers are called:
a) conjunctions
b) interjections
c) prepositions
d) phrases
e) coordinations
See Answer
Correct alternative: b) interjections
a) WRONG. Conjunctions have the function of linking words or sentences. Example: Ana and Maria left.
b) CORRECT. Interjections express emotions and feelings. Example: Ufa!
c) WRONG. Prepositions link terms of the clause. Example: The president has arrived with the first lady.
d) WRONG. Phrases are combinations of words that work as a unit. Example: Profit of the year didn’t pay for the expenses. (an adjective phrase that has the same meaning as «annual»).
e) WRONG. Coordination is not a grammar class. Coordinate clauses, studied in Syntax, are independent clauses. For example: I woke up, I lifted and prepared the coffee.
question 7
(PUC-SP) «It’s a kind… new… completely new! But already has a name… I baptized-The soon… I will-you Show…». From a morphological point of view, the highlighted words correspond in order, to:
a) conjunction, preposition, article, pronoun
b) adverb, adverb, pronoun, pronoun
c) conjunction, interjection, article, adverb
d) adverb, adverb, noun, pronoun
e) conjunction, adverb, pronoun, pronoun
See Answer
Correct alternative: e) conjunction, adverb, pronoun, pronoun
But: it is a conjunction, because it is establishing a relationship between two clauses — the one that starts with «It’s a species…» and the one that starts precisely with the conjunction «But now…».
In this case, the conjunction is performing the function of an adversative coordinating conjunction, because in addition to linking independent clauses, it is also expressing opposition.
already: is an adverb, because it is modifying the verb «has». In this case, «already» is classified as a tense adverb because it indicates a temporal circumstance.
The: is a pronoun, because it is replacing the noun «species» (I baptized the species). It is classified as a personal pronoun of the oblique case.
you: is a pronoun, because it is completing the verb «I will». It is classified as a personal pronoun of the oblique case.
Now, let’s explain the word classes suggested in the remaining alternatives:
a) WRONG. This alternative incorrectly suggests that «already» is a preposition and «a» is an article.
The word «already» only has the function of an adverb, while «a» can be an article, but for that it has to come before a noun.
b) WRONG. This alternative incorrectly suggests that «but» is an adverb. The word «but» only has the function of conjunction.
c) WRONG. This alternative incorrectly suggests that: «already» is an interjection, «a» is an article» and «lhe» is an adverb.
The word «already» only has the function of an adverb, while «a» can be an article, but for that it has to come before a noun. In turn, «lhe» only has the function of a pronoun.
d) WRONG. This alternative incorrectly suggests that: «but» is an adverb and «a» is a noun».
The word «but» only has the function of conjunction, while the word «a» only has the functions of article and pronoun. In this case, «a» is pronoun» because it is replacing the noun «species» (I baptized species).
question 8
(UFF) In “She broke the seal and gave The read the paper to Seixas”, the preposition indicated introduces an idea of:
a) consequence
b) cause
c) condition
d) end
e) mode
See Answer
Correct alternative: d) end
a) WRONG. There is no type of word class «preposition» that indicates consequence.
b) WRONG. The preposition may indicate cause, but that is not the idea conveyed in the sentence above. Example of preposition of cause: The flower withered with the sun.
c) WRONG. There is no type of word class «preposition» that indicates condition.
d) CORRECT. The preposition «a» is conveying the idea of purpose, which can be more easily perceived if we change the order of prayer, as well as replacing it with another preposition that indicates purpose: She broke the seal and gave for Seixas read the paper, instead of “She broke the seal and gave The read the paper to Seixas”.
e) WRONG. The preposition may indicate mode, but that is not the idea that the sentence above conveys. Mode preposition example: She tore letter in little pieces.
question 9
“if if I have money, I’ll go on vacation.»
The highlighted word is:
a) Interjection
b) Adverb
c) conjunction
d) Preposition
e) Pronoun
See Answer
Correct alternative c) conjunction
The «If» is a conditional subordinate conjunction that expresses a hypothesis or condition. It is worth remembering that the conjunction is a term that links two sentences or two words with the same grammatical value, establishing a relationship between them.
question 10
Learn to Call the Police
I’m a very light sleeper, and one night I noticed that there was somebody sneaking in the backyard of the house.
I got up in silence and followed the light noises coming from outside, until I saw a silhouette passing through the bathroom window.
As my house was very secure, with bars on the windows and internal locks on the doors, I wasn’t too worried, but it was clear that I wasn’t going to leave a thief there, spying. quietly.
(Luís Fernando Veríssimo)
The words highlighted above are, respectively:
a) pronoun; adjective; adverb
b) adverb; substantive; adjective
c) conjunction; adverb; substantive
d) noun; conjunction; pronoun
e) adjective; pronoun; conjunction
See Answer
Correct alternative: a) pronoun; adjective; adverb
The grammatical class of highlighted terms are:
- someone: indefinite pronoun that vaguely refers to the 3rd person of the speech.
- light: an adjective that attributes a quality to the noun “noise”.
- quietly: adverb so that means quietly.
question 11
Check the correct alternative on the classification of highlighted words.
a) I didn’t like pie, nor of cake. (interjection)
B) One day we will meet. (article)
c) Norma is getting more and more healthy. (substantive)
d) In the morning I had breakfast with milk. (conjunction)
e) I bought my computer a year ago. (preposition)
See Answer
Correct alternative: b) One day we will meet. (article)
“Um” is an indefinite article that indicates something vaguely or imprecisely, in this case: “day”. Thus, it is not clear which day it will be.
In the other alternatives, we have:
a) nor — additive coordinative conjunction that expresses sum.
c) healthy — adjective that attributes quality to the proper noun “Norma”.
d) with — preposition that links the two terms of the sentence: coffee + milk.
e) meu — possessive pronoun that indicates possession of something, in this case, the “computer”.
question 12
All highlighted words are pronouns, except:
The) That one avenue is the widest in the city.
B) Mariana she dropped the documents.
c) we will have others opportunities.
d) We visited the place Where did the footage.
and) Who was she in line at the bank?
See Answer
Correct alternative: b) Mariana dropped the documents.
The highlighted word in option b) is a proper noun that particularizes the noun, being always written in capital letters.
In the other alternatives, we have:
a) That — demonstrative pronoun
c) others — indefinite pronoun
d) where — relative pronoun
e) Who — interrogative pronoun
question 13
I. Superinteresting is a compound adjective
II. Pure is a primitive adjective
III. Abdominal is a derived adjective
From the above statements are correct:
a) only I
b) I and II
c) I and III
d) II and III
e) I, II and III
See Answer
Correct alternative: e) I, II and III
All of the above statements are correct:
- Superinteressante — compound adjective that presents more than one super + interesting radical.
- Pure — primitive adjective that does not derive from any word.
- Abdominal — adjective derived from the noun abdomen.
question 14
All of the alternatives below have multiplicative numerals, except:
a) double
b) double
c) quadruple
d) middle
e) triple
See Answer
Correct alternative: d) middle
Half (½) is a fractional numeral that indicates half of something. Remember that fractional numbers always represent part of a whole.
The multiplicative numbers, on the other hand, are those that refer to a quantity that has been multiplied:
- double or double: 2 times
- triple or triple: 3 times
- quadruple: 4 times
question 15
The sentence that contains an adverb of intensity is:
a) This morning we will have a meeting.
b) I would never do that to anyone.
c) We ate a lot on Sunday.
d) I will probably be late for parents’ meeting.
e) Juliana’s house is there.
See Answer
Correct alternative: c) We ate a lot on Sunday.
“Too much” is an adverb of intensity that indicates an excessive amount of something.
In the other alternatives, we have:
a) Today — adverb of time
b) Never — adverb of negation
d) Probably — adverb of doubt
e) there — adverb of place
You may also be interested in:
- What is part of speech?
- The 10 Word Classes or Grammar Classes
- Morphology Exercises
A. Find examples of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in the following sentences and write them below.
1 The alphabet has 26 letters.
2 750,000,000 people use the language.
3 It has five vowels: a, e, i, o and u.
4 The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
5 He studied the new words very carefully.
Nouns: alphabet, letters, …………………………………
Pronouns: ……………………………………………
Adjectives: ……………………………………………
Verbs: has, ……………………………………………
Adverbs: ……………………………………………
Answers
Nouns: people, language, vowels, fox, dog, words
Pronouns: it, he
Adjectives: quick, brown, lazy, new
Verbs: use, has, jumps, studied
Adverbs: very carefully
B. What is the subject in each of the sentences in Exercise A?
1 the alphabet
2 ………………………….
3 ………………………….
4 ………………………….
5 ………………………….
Answers
2 750,000,000 people 3 It
4 The quick brown fox 5 He
C. Complete the sentences with an appropriate word. Use the part of speech in brackets.
1 He’s a …happy…… child – he’s always smiling. (adjective)
2 ………………… loves her. (pronoun)
3 She ………………… to the pool every Saturday. (verb)
4 Can you speak more …………………? I can’t understand you. (adverb)
5 They’re both very ………………… and thin. (adjective)
6 Luckily, the weather is ………………… good. It has been sunny all week. (adverb)
7 I study at school. I’m a ………………… . (noun)
8 My teacher ………………… really good stories. (verb)
9 They work at the ………………… . They’re nurses. (noun)
10 My cousins live in Brazil. ………………… speak Portuguese. (pronoun)
Answers
Possible answers
2 He 3 goes/comes 4 slowly
5 tall 6 very 7 student 8 tells
9 hospital 10 They
D. Make sentences by putting the words in the correct order.
1 walks / he / quickly ………He walks quickly. ………….
2 we / speak / Russian ……………………………………
3 a / woman / strange / is / she ……………………………………
4 very badly / drives / my aunt ……………………………………
5 they / live / in this street ……………………………………
6 he / two brothers / has ……………………………………
7 the dog / my sandwich / ate ……………………………………
8 we / film / the / new / saw ……………………………………
Answers
2 We speak Russian.
3 She is (‘s) a strange woman.
4 My aunt drives very badly.
5 They live in this street.
6 He has two brothers.
7 The dog ate my sandwich.
8 We saw the new film.
E. Use the words in the box to complete the table below.
adjectives adverbs nouns pronouns verbs
1 |
……nouns……. |
bee country game giraffe leaves man moon Morocco pizza spider station tennis match woman |
2 |
………………….. |
I they we |
3 |
………………….. |
beautiful crazy purple small stripy tall ugly wonderful young |
4 |
………………….. |
be dance eat go have watch win |
5 |
………………….. |
angrily happily quickly quietly sadly slowly |
Now use the words from the table to make ten or more sentences and write them in your notebook. Use the verb in any appropriate tense. Your sentences must be correct but they can by crazy!
Example: The tall man ate his pizza slowly.
Answers
2 pronouns 3 adjectives 4 verbs 5 adverbs
Possible answers
The ugly giraffe danced happily.
The beautiful woman watched the purple moon sadly.
The stripy spider went to Morocco slowly.
We won a crazy tennis match quickly.
F. Circle the correct option.
1 My sister and I love computer games. ………… all the time.
a We play them
b Them play we
c Play we them
2 My uncle speaks four ………… .
a different languages
b languages differents
c differents languages
3 My mother is Spanish and my father is Japanese, but ………… both speak English with me.
a we b them c they
4 I like the book and my friend likes ………… too.
a book b him c it
5 Cat, rabbit, dog and snake are ………… .
a adverbs
b nouns
c pronouns
Answers
1 a 2 a 3 c 4 c 5 b
Related Posts
- English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Word order
- English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Both, either, neither
- English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Time and sequence adverbs: first, then, afterwards
- English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Linking words: and, but, or, so, because
- English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Defining relative clauses
- English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Say and tell
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Overview of exercises (parts of speech)
Parts of speech exercises
Here you will find an overview of exercises on the English word classes or categories (parts of speech). New quizzes are added continuously, so check back regularly.
List of topics with exercises on parts of speech
Grammar topic | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ and ‘-ed’ (excited, exciting, etc.) | easy | medium | |||
Comparison of adjectives (as … as & more … than) | medium | medium | |||
Comparison of adjectives (-er/-est & more/most) | medium | difficult | difficult | difficult | |
Adverbs in English (carefully, slowly, clearly, etc.) | easy | ||||
Articles in English (a, an & the) | easy | medium | |||
Conjunctions: general aspects (and, yet, so, for, etc.) | easy | easy | medium | ||
Prepositions of place and direction (in, on, at, down, up, etc.) | easy | easy | |||
Prepositions of time (at, before, by, since, after, past, etc.) | easy | easy | medium | ||
Prepositions of manner (with, without, by, in) | easy | ||||
Prepositions connected to verbs (belong to, apply for, listen to, etc.) | easy | medium | |||
Personal pronouns in English (I, you, they, we, etc.) | easy | easy | |||
Demonstrative pronouns (this, these, that, those) | easy | ||||
Relative pronouns in English (who, whose, which, that, whom) | easy | ||||
Long and short forms of auxiliary verbs (isn’t, he’d, etc.) | easy | easy | easy | ||
Present participle – ing form (eating, going, stopping, etc.) | easy | ||||
Past participle – ed form (seen, written, gone, talked, etc.) | easy | medium | medium |
Mixed exercises
Topic | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Adjectives and adverbs mixed (fast, carefully, high …) | easy | medium | medium | ||
Parts of speech mixed (noun, verb, preposition, adverb …) | easy |
Grammar in EAP
Exercise
Click on the nouns in the following text:
There is no equivalent history of the Liberal party during this period.
Click on the adjectives in this text.
There is no equivalent history of the Liberal party during this period.
Click on the verbs in this text.
There is no equivalent history of the Liberal party during this period.
Back to Grammar in EAP: Introduction Exercises