This parts of speech quiz tests your ability to identify the function of a word in a sentence. To help you answer the questions correctly, look at the following sentence and identify how each word functions in the sentence:
“Wow! She quickly walked to the busy market, but I stayed because it was raining.”
Wow! — It is an interjection because it expresses emotion or surprise.
She, I, it — These words are pronouns because they are used in place of nouns.
quickly — This word is an adverb because it modifies the verb walked.
walked, stayed, raining — These words are verbs because they express actions or states.
to — This word is a preposition because it shows the relationship between walked and market.
busy — This word is an adjective because it describes the noun market.
market — This word is a noun because it names a place.
but — This word is a conjunction because it connects two clauses.
the — This word is a definite article because it specifies the particular noun market.
As the example above shows, a part of speech is a grammatical category that groups words according to how they are used. Traditionally, English has eight parts of speech (Vocabulary.com), although modern grammar often recognises nine by including determiners. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are examples of determiners.
The intermediate-level quiz has 20 questions (MCQs), each with four options. For each question, read the sentence and identify the part of speech of the bolded word by choosing the correct option.
There is no time limit, so take your time and answer all the questions at your own pace. When you are finished, click “Check My Score” at the end of the quiz to see your score and rating. You’ll also see answer explanations for each question.
Parts of Speech Quiz: Identify the Function of Words
Identify the part of speech for the bolded word in each sentence based on its contextual function.
1. She quickly realized that the fast path wasn't always the safest route.
2. The team decided to fast for twenty-four hours before the experiment.
3. We decided to head inside when the thunderstorm began.
4. Keep your tools stored inside the garage to prevent rust.
5. Well, I suppose we could try a different approach if this fails.
6. The old wooden bucket fell down into the deep water well.
7. We wanted to stay longer, for the weather was absolutely delightful.
8. Each of the candidates presented a convincing argument during the debate.
9. Each student must turn in their assignment before noon.
10. You can stay with us provided that you help clean the kitchen.
11. The local museum will house the rare artifact collection temporarily.
12. Ouch! That steam from the hot kettle burned my fingers.
13. She turned the corner and ran straight into her high school teacher.
14. Please draw a straight line using the wooden ruler.
15. They have lived in the same apartment since 2018.
16. Since you are already going downstairs, could you bring up the mail?
17. The committee members elected her chairperson of the board.
18. The traveler packed her luggage early in the morning.
19. He was tired; however, he continued working late into the night.
20. The ups and downs of starting a new business can test anyone's patience.
How to Improve Your Score
After the test is completed, see your score:
- 1-5/20: Fair
- 6-10/20: Good
- 11-15/20: Very Good
- 16-20/20: Excellent
Check your mistakes or wrong answers in the results. They are the weak areas you need to focus on for study.
Especially if your score is below 10 out of 20, it means you need to study more. To answer the questions correctly in a grammar test like this, learn these clearly:
- 8 parts of speech (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections) and examples
- How they function in sentences
- How words can change their functions contextually in different sentences
In addition, practice with more tests or quizzes.
Is this quiz difficult for you? Check out → Grammar Tests for Each Part of Speech and More
Are you preparing for a competitive exam? Read these guides:
