To identify parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.), examine a word’s **function and role** in a sentence. Here’s a step-by-step analysis using the example:
**"Wow! She quickly gave her old book to me yesterday."**
### **Line-by-Line Breakdown**
1. **"Wow!"**
- **Interjection**: Expresses emotion ("Wow!" = surprise).
- *Clue*: Stands alone, ends with an exclamation mark.
2. **"She"**
- **Pronoun**: Replaces a noun (refers to an unnamed female).
- *Clue*: Refers to a person without naming her.
3. **"quickly"**
- **Adverb**: Modifies the verb "gave" (tells *how* she gave).
- *Clue*: Ends in *-ly* and answers "How?" or "In what manner?"
4. **"gave"**
- **Verb**: Shows action (what "she" did).
- *Clue*: Describes an event (giving).
5. **"her"**
- **Pronoun**: Shows possession (the book belongs to "her").
- *Clue*: Replaces a name (e.g., "Sarah’s book" → "her book").
6. **"old"**
- **Adjective**: Describes the noun "book" (tells *what kind*).
- *Clue*: Answers "Which book?" or "What type?"
7. **"book"**
- **Noun**: Names a thing (an object).
- *Clue*: Can be touched/seen (physical object).
8. **"to"**
- **Preposition**: Links "gave" and "me" (shows direction/recipient).
- *Clue*: Indicates relationship (book given *to* whom?).
9. **"me"**
- **Pronoun**: Replaces a noun (the receiver of the book).
- *Clue*: Refers to the speaker (object of the preposition "to").
10. **"yesterday"**
- **Adverb**: Modifies "gave" (tells *when*).
- *Clue*: Answers "When?" (no *-ly* ending, but still an adverb).
### **Key Questions to Identify Any Word**
| **Part of Speech** | **Function** | **Key Questions** |
|-------------------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Noun** | Names a person/place/thing/idea | *Who? What?* (e.g., "book") |
| **Verb** | Shows action/state | *What’s happening?* (e.g., "gave") |
| **Adjective** | Describes a noun | *What kind? Which one? How many?* (e.g., "old" book) |
| **Adverb** | Modifies verbs/adjectives/adverbs | *How? When? Where? To what extent?* (e.g., "quickly" gave) |
| **Pronoun** | Replaces a noun | *Refers to who/what?* (e.g., "she", "me") |
| **Preposition** | Links nouns to other words | *Shows relationship (time/place)* (e.g., "to" me) |
| **Conjunction** | Connects words/clauses | *Joins ideas?* (e.g., "and", "but" – not in example) |
| **Interjection** | Expresses emotion | *Sudden feeling?* (e.g., "Wow!") |
### **Why Context Matters**
- **Example**: "**Light** the **light**."
- First "light": **Verb** (action: to ignite).
- Second "light": **Noun** (object: a lamp).
- *Same word, different roles!*
**Golden Rule**: Always check **what the word DOES** in the sentence!
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