Words Used as Different Parts of Speech in English Grammar

There are many words which can be used as more than one parts of speech in a sentence.  A word is tagged or associated with any parts of speech on the basis of its use and function in a sentence.

ऐसे कई शब्द हैं जिनका प्रयोग एक वाक्य में एक से अधिक ‘पार्ट्स ऑफ स्पीच’ (शब्द भेद) के रूप में किया जा सकता है। किसी शब्द को वाक्य में उसके उपयोग और कार्य के आधार पर किसी ‘पार्ट्स ऑफ स्पीच’ (शब्द भेद) के साथ टैग या संबद्ध किया जाता है।

See the following examples showing the word ‘water’ used as ‘noun’ and ‘verb’ in a single sentence.

water – पानी (noun) – refers to a thing (यहाँ पर ‘water’ एक संज्ञा है क्योंकि यहाँ इसे एक वस्तु के रूप में दिखाया गया है)

water – पानी देना (verb) – refers to the action of giving water (irrigate) to the plants. (यहाँ ‘water’ एक क्रिया है क्योंकि यहाँ ये एक कार्य यानी पौधों को पानी देने या सींचने के कार्य के रूप में दिखाया गया है।

drop – गिरावट (noun) – refers to an expected position level of price (यहाँ ‘गिरावट’ की स्थिति की बात की जा रही है)

drop – गिरना (verb) – refers to the action of fall in prices (‘गिरने’ की क्रिया की तरफ इशारा है यहाँ)

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Examples of some words used a different ‘parts of Speech’

Word	Parts of Speech	Example Sentence
ABOUT	Adverb	His books were lying about on the floor.
	Preposition	The book is about flowers.
	Adjective	Used as idiom ‘be about to do something’ (कुछ कार्य जल्द ही करने या होने की बात ) example: I was just about to call you on phone.
ABOVE	Adverb.	Go above and bring the newspaper.
	Preposition.	The children above the age of 10 are not allowed.
	Adjective.	You can contact us the above address.
AFTER	Adverb.	They arrived soon after.
	Preposition.	He takes after his father.
	Adjective	After ages shall sing his glory.
	Conjunction	We went away after they had left.
ALL	Adjective	All men are mortal. Its was all profit and no loss.
	Adverb	He has all alone when I saw him.
	Pronoun	All spoke in his favour.
	Noun	He lost his all in speculation.
ANY	Adjective	Are there any witnesses present ?
	Pronoun	Does any of you know anything about it ?
	Adverb	Is that any better ?
AS	Adverb	We walked as fast as we could.
	Conjunction	As he was poor I helped him.
	Relative Pronoun	She likes the same colour as I do.
BEFORE	Adverb	I have seen you before.
	Preposition	He came before the appointed time.
	Conjunction	He went away before I came.
BETTER	Adjective	I think yours is a better plan.
	Adverb	I know better.
	Noun	Give place to your betters.
	Verb.	The boxes with which he provided me bettered the sample. – Froude
BOTH	Adjective	You cannot have it both ways.
	Pronoun	Both of them are dead.
	Conjunction	Both the cashier and the accountant are Hindus.
BUT	Adverb	It is but (only) right to admit our faults.
	Preposition	None but (except) the brave deserves the fair.
	Conjunction	We tried hard, but did not succeed.
	Relative Pronoun	There is no one but likes him. (=who does not like him
CATCH	Verb	He caught her up in his arms.
	Noun	He dropped several easy catches.
DOWN	Adverb	Down went the “Royal George.”
	Preposition	The fire engine came rushing down the hill.
	Adjective	The porter was killed by the down train.
	Noun	He has seen the ups and downs of life.
	Verb	Down with the tyrant !
EITHER	Adjective	Either bat is good enough.
	Pronoun	Ask either of them.
	Conjunction	He must either work or starve.
ELSE	Adjective	I have something else for you.
	Adverb	Shall we look anywhere else.
	Conjunction	Make haste, else you will miss the train.
ENOUGH	Adjective	There is time enough and to spare.
	Adverb	You know well enough what I mean.
	Noun	I have had enough of this.
EVEN	Adjective	The chances are even.
	Verb	Let us even the ground.
	Adverb	Does he even suspect the danger ?
EXCEPT	Verb	If we except Hari, all are to be blamed.
	Preposition	All the brethren were in Egypt except Benjamin.
	Conjunction	I will not let thee go except (=unless) thou bless me ($415).
FOR	Preposition	I can shift for myself.
	Conjunction	Give thanks unto the Lord ; for He is good.
LESS	Adjective	You are paying less attention to your studies than you used to do .
	Adverb	The population of India is less than that of China.
	Noun	He wants Rs. 500 for that watch. He won’t be satisfied with less.
LIKE	Adjective	They are men of like build and stature.
	Preposition	Do not talk like that.
	Adverb	Like as a father pitieth his own children.
	Noun	We shall not see his like again.
	Verb	Children like sweets.
LITTLE	Adjective	There is little danger in going there.
	Noun	Man wants but little here below.
	Adverb	He eats very little.
MORE	Adjective	We want more men like him.
	Pronoun	More of us die in bed than out of it.
	Adverb	You should talk less and work more.
MUCH	Adjective	There is much sense in what he says.
	Pronoun	Much of it is true.
	Adverb	He boasts too much.
NEAR	Preposition	His house is near the temple.
	Adjective	He is a near relation.
	Verb	The time nears.
NEEDS	Noun	My needs are few.
	Verb	It needs to be done with care.
	Adverb	He needs must come.
NEITHER	Conjunction	Give me neither poverty nor riches.
	Adjective	Neither accusation is true.
	Pronoun	It is difficult to negotiate where neither will trust.
NEXT	Adjective	I shall see you next Monday.
	Adverb	What next ?
	Preposition	He was sitting next to her.
	Noun	I shall tell you more about it in my next.
NO	Adjective	It is no joke.
	Adverb	He is no more.
	Noun.	I will not take a no.
ONCE	Adverb	I was young once.
	Conjunction	Once he hesitates we have him.
	Noun	Please help me for once.
ONE	Adjective	One day I met him in the street.
	Pronoun	The little ones cried for joy.
	Noun	One would think he was mad.
ONLY	Adjective	It was his only chance.
	Adverb	He was only foolish.
	Conjunction	Take what I have, only (= but) let me go.
OVER	Adverb	Read it over carefully.
	Noun	In one over he took three wickets.
	Preposition	At thirty a change came over him.
RIGHT	Verb	That is a fault that will right itself.
	Adjective	He is the right man for the position.
	Noun	I ask it as a right.
	Adverb	Serves him right ! He stood right in my way.
ROUND	Adjective	A square peg in around hole.
	Noun	The evening was a round of pleasures.
	Adverb	He came round to their belief.
	Preposition	The earth revolves round the sun.
	Verb	We shall round the cape in safety.
SINCE	Preposition	Since that day I have not seen him.
	Conjunction	Since there’s no help, come, let us kiss and part.
	Adverb	I have not seen him since.
SO	Adverb	I am so sorry.
	Conjunction	He was poor, so, they helped him.
SOME	Adjective	We must find some way out of it.
	Pronoun.	Some say one thing and others another.
	Adverb	Some thirty chiefs were present.
STILL	Verb	With his name the mothers still their babes .
	Adjective	Still waters run deep.
	Noun	Her sobs could be heard in the still of night.
	Adverb	He is still in business.
SUCH	Adjective	Don’t be in such a hurry.
	Pronoun	Such was not my intention.
THAT	Demonstrative Adjective	What is that noise ?.
	Demonstrative Pronoun	That is what I want.
	Adverb.	I have done that much only.
	Relative Pronoun	The evil that men do lives after them.
	Conjunction	He lives so that he may eat.
THE	Article	The cat loves comfort.
	Adverb	The wiser he is, the better.
TILL	Preposition	Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
	Conjunction	Do not start till I give the word.
UP	Adverb	Prices are up.
	Preposition	Let us go up the hill.
	Adjective	The next up train will leave here at 12.30.
	Noun.	They had their ups and downs of fortune.
WELL	Noun	Let well alone.
	Adjective	I hope you are now well.
	Adverb	Well begun is half done.
	Interjection	Well, who would have thought it ?
WHAT	Inter Adjective	What evidence have you got ?
	Interjection	What ! you don’t mean to say so ?
	Inter Pronoun	What does he want ?
	Relative Pronoun	Give me what you can. What happened then, I do not know.
	Adverb.	What by fire and what by sword, the whole country was laid waste.
WHILE	Noun.	Sit down and rest a while.
	Verb.	They while away their evenings with books and games.
	Conjunction.	While a great poet, he is a greater novelist.
WHY	Interrogative Adverb	Why did you do it ?
	Relative Adverb	I know the reason why he did it.
	Interjection.	Why it is surely Nanak !
	Noun	This is not the time to go into the why and the wherefore of it.
YET	Adverb	There is more evidence yet to be offered.
	Conjunction	He is willing, yet unable.

Click for ‘Parts of Speech’

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Click for Practice Exercise on ‘Same word as different ‘Parts of Speech’

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