How and why do we use the same word differently?What is the difference between a school master and a tailor master or station master?A school master trains (V.) the mind (N.) but a stationmaster minds (V.) the train (N.)!Some words may belong to different parts of speech as to the way in which they are used in different sentences. Always remember that it is the function or use that determines to which parts of speech a word belongs in a given sentence.
Examples of Same Words Used as Different Parts of Speech:
Now study the use of the following words in different parts of speech.
ABOVE
Noun: Our blessing comes from above.
Adjective: Read the above sentence carefully.
Adverb: The heavens are above.
Preposition: The ethic law is above the criminal law.
AFTER
Adjective: After ages will sing his glory.
Adverb: After a while they arrived.
Preposition: She takes after her mother.
Conjunction: They arrived after the ship had left the port.
ALL
Noun: He lost his all in a hurry.
Pronoun: All spoke in his favour.
Adjective: All men are mortal.
Adverb: He was all alone at that timer.
ANY
Pronoun: Does any of you know anything about it?
Adjective: Is there any witness?
AS
Adverb: He ran as fast as he could.
Conjunction: I helped her as she was poor.
BEFORE
Adverb: I have seen you before.
Preposition: He came before the fixed time.
Conjunction: He went away before I came.
BETTER
Noun: Give place to your betters.
Adjective: I think yours is a better plan.
Adverb: I know her better.
BUT
Rel. Pronoun: There is no one but likes him = There is no one who doesn`t like him.
Adverb: It is but (=only) right to admit our faults.
Preposition: None but (=except) the brave deserves the fair.
Conjunction: We tried hard but didn`t succeeds.
DOWN
Noun: He has seen the ups and downs of life.
Verb: Try to down her.
Adjective: The down train has left the station.
Adverb: Down went the Royal George.
Preposition: She came down the hill.
EITHER
Pronoun: Ask either of them.
Adjective: He is watching either side of the canal.
Conjunction: You must either work or starver.
ENOUGH
Noun: I have had enough of this.
Adverb: You know well enough what I mean.
EVEN
Verb: Let us even the ground.
Adjective: The chances are even.
Adverb: Does he even suspect the danger?
FOR
Preposition: I can do it for myself.
Conjunction: He can`t does this now for he is ill.
HEAD
Noun: Head is the vital part of the body.
Verb: He headed the ball in the right time.
HONOUR
Noun: He is a man of great honours.
Verb: Everyone honours him.
LESS
Noun:He wants one hundred dollar for that book. He won`t be satisfied with less.
Adjective: You are paying less attention.
Adverb: The soil of Bahawalpur is less fertile than that of Multan.
LIKE
Noun: We shall not see his like again.
Verb: Children like sweets.
Adjective: They are men of like build and stature.
Preposition: Don`t talk like that.
LITTLE
Noun: I want but little.
Adjective: There is little danger in going there.
Adverb: She eats very little.
MORE
Pronoun: More of us die in bed than out of it.
Adjective: We want more men like him.
Adverb: You should talk less and work more.
MUCH
Pronoun: Much of it is true.
Adjective: There is much sense in what he says.
Adverb: He boasts too much.
NEAR
Verb: The time nears.
Adjective: He is a near relation.
Adverb: Draw near and listen.
Preposition: The school is near the post office.
NEITHER
Pronoun: It is difficult to negotiate where neither will trust.
Adjective: Neither statement is true.
Conjunction: Give me neither poverty nor riches.
NEXT
Noun: Who is your next?
Adjective: I shall go to Lahore next Sunday.
Adverb: What next?
Preposition: He was sitting next to him.
NO
Noun: I`ll not take a no.
Adjective: It is no joke.
Adverb: He is no more.
OIL
Noun: Oil is fatty substance.
Verb: Oil your own machine.
ONCE
Noun: Please help me for once.
Adverb: You were young once.
Conjunction: Once he hesitates, he will fall.
One
Noun: One would think he was mad.
Pronoun: The little ones cried in joy.
Adjective: One day I met him in the street.
ONLY
Adjective: It was his only chance.
Adverb: He was only (=simply) foolish.
Conjunction: Take what I have, only let me go.
OVER
Noun: In one over he took four wickets.
Adverb: Read it over carefully.
Preposition: At forty a change came over him.
RIGHT
Noun: It is a matter of right.
Verb: It is much a fault that will right itself.
Adjective: He is the right man for the job.
Adverb: Serve him right.
ROUND
Noun: The boy played well in the first round.
Verb: They rounded the shrine silently.
Adjective: A square peg in a round hole.
Adverb: At last he came round to their belief.
SHOWER
Noun: Heavy shower is harmful to crop.
Verb: Honours were showered upon him.
SINCE
Adverb: I have not seen him since.
Preposition: I have not seen him since Monday.
Conjunction: It is many days since I saw you last.
SO
Adverb: I am so sorry.
Conjunction: He was ill, so he could not come to school.
SOME
Pronoun: Some say one thing and others another.
Adjective: We must find some way out of it.
Adverb: Some twenty guests were there.
STILL
Noun: He heard a shrill cry in the hill of night.
Verb: Mothers still their babies with a lulling song.
Adjective: Mosquitoes lay eggs in still water.
Adverb: He is still in idleness.
SUCH
Pronoun: Such was not my intention.
Adjective: Don`t do this in such hurry.
THAT
Pronoun: That is what I want.
Adjective: What is that noise?
Rel. Pronoun: The evil that men do remains after them.
Conjunction: He works hard that he may succeed.
THE
Article: The boy who came here is my brother.(demon. Adjective)
Adverb: The sooner the better.
TILL
Preposition: He will stay here till tomorrow.
Conjunction: Don`t start till I give the order.
UP
Noun: Every man has ups and downs in life.
Adjective: The next up train will leave at 10 p.m.
Adverb; Prices of essential commodities are going up.
Preposition: He went up the hill.
WATER
Noun: None can live without water.
Verb: She is watering the plant.
WELL
Adjective: I am well [Predicative Adj.] I hope you are now well.
Adverb: He played well. Or well begun is half done.
Interjection: Well, you may go.
WHAT
Interrogative Pronoun: What do you want?
Interrogative Adjective: What book do you want?
Relative Pronouon: Give me what you can.
Interjection: What! You don`t mean to say so?
WHILE
Noun: Sit down and rest a while.
Verb: They while away their time in idleness.
Conjunction: While a great poet he is a greater dramatist.
WHY
Noun: I don`t know the why and wherefore of it.
Interrogative Adverb: Why did he come here?
Relative Adverb: I know the reason why he did it.
Interjection: Why, it is surely Siren!
YET
Adverb: There is more talk yet to be told.
Conjunction: He is unable, yet willing.
