You Stare At A Sentence. You Think You Know Which Word Is The Verb, But Then Again… Is It An Adjective In Disguise? Don’

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Juliette Firla, MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
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Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.
, MA (Teaching Writing)
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1. The words a, an, and, the are called what

Explanation

The words a, an, and the are called articles. Articles are a type of adjective that are used to specify or limit a noun. "A" and "an" are indefinite articles, used to refer to any one of a group of people or things, while "the" is a definite article, used to refer to a specific person or thing.

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About This Quiz
You Stare At A Sentence. You Think You Know Which Word Is The Verb, But Then Again Is IT An Adjective In Disguise? Don - Quiz


You stare at a sentence. You think you know which word is the verb, but then again… is it an adjective in disguise? Don’t worry—this Speech MCQ Quiz... see moreis exactly what your overcooked academic brain needs. It’s made for students who’ve been ambushed by grammar mid-essay or confused mid-test when “conjunction” sounds like a sci-fi weapon.

Each question is crafted to build your skill in identifying the right part of speech faster than your teacher can say “diagram this!” You’ll also see how mastering this will give you a solid edge in your upcoming Parts Of Speech Quiz—because language is lowkey the foundation of every subject.

2. Which part of speech expresses a mild or sudden burst of emotion? Examples are wow! or no,

Explanation

An interjection is a part of speech that expresses a mild or sudden burst of emotion. It is used to convey strong feelings or reactions and is often followed by an exclamation mark. Examples of interjections include "Wow!" or "No!" Interjections are not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence and can stand alone. They add emphasis and express the speaker's emotions or attitude.

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3. What part of speech describes a person, place, thing, or idea? Examples are house, jury, determination.

Explanation

A noun is a part of speech that describes a person, place, thing, or idea. It is a word that represents a name or a general idea of something. In the given examples, "house," "jury," and "determination" are all nouns as they represent a place, a group of people, and an abstract concept respectively. Nouns are essential in sentence construction as they serve as the subject or object of a sentence.

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4. What type of noun cannot be perceived by the senses? (love, ambition, liberty..)

Explanation

Abstract nouns are the type of nouns that cannot be perceived by the senses. They refer to ideas, concepts, emotions, and qualities that cannot be physically seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched. Examples of abstract nouns include love, ambition, and liberty. These nouns represent intangible things that exist in our minds or as concepts rather than physical objects or beings.

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5. What type of noun is always capitalized? (John, Arizona, France...)

Explanation

Proper nouns are always capitalized. They refer to specific names of people, places, organizations, or things. In the given examples, "John," "Arizona," and "France" are all specific names that refer to a particular person or place, so they are considered proper nouns and should be capitalized. Common nouns, on the other hand, refer to general names of people, places, or things and are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Countable and collective nouns are not relevant to the capitalization of nouns.

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6. What part of speech substitutes for a noun or pronoun? Examples are we, they,  him, I, you, me, she...

Explanation

A pronoun is a part of speech that substitutes for a noun or pronoun. It is used to avoid repetition and make sentences less repetitive and more concise. Examples of pronouns include "we," "they," "him," "I," "you," "me," and "she." Pronouns are essential in communication as they help to refer to people, objects, or ideas without having to repeat their names or descriptions every time.

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7. Which part of speech describes the distance/placement/proximity of one word and another word in a sentence? Examples are on, to, behind, with...

Explanation

A preposition is a part of speech that describes the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence. It indicates the distance, placement, or proximity of one word to another. Examples of prepositions include "on," "to," "behind," and "with." They help clarify the spatial or temporal relationship between the words in a sentence.

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8. What type of verb describes physical or mental action?

Explanation

An action verb describes a physical or mental action performed by the subject. It shows what someone or something is doing, whether it involves a physical act (like "run" or "jump") or a mental process (like "think" or "believe"). Unlike linking verbs, which connect the subject to a description, action verbs are used to express the actual actions of the subject.

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9. Which word in the sentence "The cat jumped over the fence" is a preposition?

Explanation

In the sentence "The cat jumped over the fence," the word "over" is a preposition. Prepositions show the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. They typically indicate direction, place, or time. "Over" is a preposition because it establishes the relationship between the verb "jumped" and the noun "fence," telling us the direction or location of the action. It connects the action of jumping to the object, explaining where the cat jumped in relation to the fence. This demonstrates the core function of prepositions in sentence structure.

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10. (She, Her) and Sara went to the store. Which is the correct pronoun to use?

Explanation

"She" is the correct pronoun to use because it is a subject pronoun, referring to the person performing the action in the sentence. The subject pronoun "She" correctly identifies the individual who, along with Sara, went to the store. Using "Her" would incorrectly use an object pronoun, which would be suitable if Sara were the subject and the sentence read, "Sara and her went to the store."

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11. What kind of article is "the"? (it indicates something specific)

Explanation

"The" is a definite article because it is used to refer to a specific noun or nouns. It is used when the speaker or writer assumes that the listener or reader already knows which particular noun is being referred to. In contrast, an indefinite article like "a" or "an" is used when the noun being referred to is not specific or known to the listener or reader.

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12. What type of noun is made up of two or more words? (policeman, father-in-law, real estate...)

Explanation

A compound noun is made up of two or more words that combine to form a single noun. For example, "policeman" combines "police" and "man," "father-in-law" combines three words, and "real estate" combines "real" and "estate." Compound nouns can be written as separate words, hyphenated, or combined into a single word, depending on usage.

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13. What part of speech connects words or groups of words? Examples are for, and, nor, but, or, yetand so?

Explanation

Conjunctions are words that link words, phrases, or clauses together to form more complex ideas. They help establish logical relationships between parts of a sentence, such as cause and effect, contrast, or addition. Examples like "and," "but," and "or" are used to join elements, ensuring the sentence flows smoothly. Without conjunctions, sentences would be disjointed, and ideas would be harder to convey cohesively.

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14. The following sentence is written actively or passively? "Many of the math problems were written down incorrectly by our teacher."

Explanation

This sentence is written in the passive voice because the subject, "many of the math problems," is receiving the action "were written down incorrectly" by the teacher. In the passive voice, the subject is the recipient of the action, not the one performing it. If the sentence were in the active voice, it would read, "Our teacher wrote down the math problems incorrectly."

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15. What kind of punctuation follows interjections to express a sudden burst of emotion?

Explanation

Exclamation points are punctuation marks used to express strong emotions or sudden bursts of excitement, surprise, or anger. They are often used after interjections that convey intense emotions, such as "Wow!" or "Oh no!" Exclamation points add emphasis and help to convey the speaker's tone and intention. They indicate a heightened level of emotion and are commonly used in exclamatory sentences or to end imperative sentences.

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16. What prepositional phrase is there in the following sentence?
"I ran around the block ten times today."

Explanation

A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, its object, and any modifiers. In this sentence, "around the block" is a prepositional phrase where "around" is the preposition and "the block" is the object of the preposition. This phrase describes the location or path related to the action "ran." The other options are not prepositional phrases.

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17. What part of speech is the word "beautiful" in the sentence "She wore a beautiful dress"?

Explanation

In the sentence "She wore a beautiful dress," the word "beautiful" is an adjective. Adjectives describe or modify nouns, providing more information about the noun's qualities, characteristics, or features. "Beautiful" directly modifies the noun "dress" by describing its appearance. Adjectives can answer questions like "What kind?" or "Which one?" In this case, "beautiful" answers "What kind of dress?" This enhances the meaning of the noun by specifying the appearance of the dress. Adjectives can also express opinions, attributes, or emotions related to the noun they modify, as seen with "beautiful."

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18. What type of pronouns are I, we, she, they, him, and us? They refer to "people."

Explanation

The pronouns "I, we, she, they, him, us" are all personal pronouns. Personal pronouns are used to refer to specific people or things and indicate the person speaking (I, me), the person or people being spoken to (you), or the person or people being spoken about (he, she, it, they). In this case, the pronouns mentioned refer to different individuals or groups of individuals, making them personal pronouns.

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19. What type of noun names a group of things? It rarely ends in "s."

Explanation

A noun that names a group of things is called a collective noun. Collective nouns are used to refer to a group or collection of people, animals, or things. They can be singular or plural in form, but they usually represent a single entity or concept. Unlike other types of nouns, collective nouns rarely end in "s." Examples of collective nouns would be “team,” “faculty,” or “class.” 

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20. Robert was an unwise king; he was the king of seven kingdoms. What type of pronoun is found in this sentence?

Explanation

In the sentence, the pronoun "he" acts as the subject, standing in for the noun "Robert." It performs the action of being the king. The subject pronoun "he" is used to indicate the person (Robert) who is being talked about in the sentence. Subject pronouns are essential in identifying who or what is performing the action in a sentence, providing clarity and preventing repetitive phrasing.

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21. I went camping with John and (he, him).

Explanation

In the sentence "I went camping with John and him," "him" is used as the object of the preposition "with." Pronouns like "him" are used in the objective case when they are the object of a verb or preposition. "He" is a subject pronoun, which would not be correct in this context. The correct usage follows standard English grammar rules for objective case pronouns.

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22. Which adjective is the word "American" in the following sentence? The soldiers saluted the American flag.

Explanation

The word "American" in the sentence is functioning as an attributive adjective. An attributive adjective is an adjective that describes or modifies a noun, providing more information about it. In this case, "American" specifies the type of flag being referred to, indicating that it is associated with or related to America. Therefore, "American" is an attributive adjective modifying the noun "flag."

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23. What part of speech is the word "quickly" in the sentence "She runs quickly"?

Explanation

The word "quickly" in the sentence "She runs quickly" is an adverb. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and often provide information about how, when, where, or to what degree an action occurs. In this case, "quickly" modifies the verb "runs," describing the manner in which the action is performed. The adverb answers the question, "How does she run?" By providing this detail, it gives more depth to the action and helps convey the speed of the running. Adverbs like "quickly" typically end in "-ly" and enhance the meaning of the verb.

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24. What part of speech describes a noun or pronoun and answers the questions which one(s)? how many/much? or what kind(s)

Explanation

An adjective is the part of speech that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. It answers the questions "which one(s)?," "how many/much?," or "what kind(s)?" For example, in the phrase "three red apples," "three" tells how many, and "red" tells what kind, both describing the noun "apples." Adjectives help provide more detail about the nouns or pronouns they describe.

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25. What kind of prepositions are the phrases "according to, in addition to, and because of ?

Explanation

The phrases "according to, in addition to, and because of" are examples of compound prepositions. Compound prepositions are formed by combining two or more words to create a single prepositional phrase. In this case, "according to," "in addition to," and "because of" are all made up of multiple words and function as a single unit to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence.

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26. What type of noun can be perceived by the five senses? (table, bird, school, beach...)

Explanation

Concrete nouns are the type of nouns that can be perceived by the five senses. They refer to physical objects that can be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched. In this case, the nouns "table," "bird," "school," and "beach" can all be perceived by the five senses, making them concrete nouns. Proper nouns refer to specific names of people, places, or things and are not relevant to the question. Collective nouns refer to a group or collection of things, which is also not applicable here. Therefore, the correct answer is concrete.

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27. What part of speech describes a verb, adjective, or adverb and answers when? where? how? and to what extent?

Explanation

An adverb is a part of speech that describes a verb, adjective, or adverb and provides information about when, where, how, and to what extent an action is performed. It modifies the meaning of the verb, adjective, or adverb by answering questions such as when did it happen, where did it happen, how did it happen, or to what extent did it happen. Adverbs add more detail and specificity to the sentence, enhancing the overall meaning and clarity.

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28. What type of pronouns are me, them her, him, us? They usually belong in the predicate.

Explanation

The pronouns "me," "them," "her," "him," and "us" are object pronouns. They serve as the direct or indirect object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition. These pronouns typically appear in the predicate, which gives more information about the subject. Object pronouns are used to avoid repeating nouns and to simplify sentence structure by indicating the receiver of the action or the prepositional relationship.

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29. Which infinitive verb phrase is used in the following sentence? "I want to play baseball today."

Explanation

The infinitive verb phrase "to play" is used in the sentence "I want to play baseball today." The phrase "to play" functions as the direct object of the verb "want" and indicates the action that the subject (I) desires to do. It is formed by the base form of the verb "play" preceded by the infinitive marker "to."

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30. There is always a ______at the beginning of prepositional phrases, and it ends with a noun or pronoun.

Explanation

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. They are always found at the beginning of prepositional phrases and indicate location, time, direction, or manner. The prepositional phrase ends with a noun or pronoun, which is the object of the preposition. Therefore, the correct answer is preposition.

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31. Conjunctions used in pairs are called what kind of conjunctions? (both...and/either...or/neither...nor...) EX: I want both pizza and hot dogs.

Explanation

Conjunctions used in pairs are called correlative conjunctions. These conjunctions are used to connect similar elements in a sentence, such as "both...and," "either...or," and "neither...nor." In the given example, "both...and" is used to connect the desire for both pizza and hot dogs. Correlative conjunctions work together to join two balanced ideas or choices.

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32. The noun "mob" is an example of a common noun, a concrete noun, and.......what is the last kind?

Explanation

The noun "mob" is an example of a collective noun. Collective nouns refer to a group or collection of individuals or things. In this case, "mob" refers to a group of people. It is not a proper noun, which would be a specific name for a person, place, or thing. Therefore, the correct answer is collective.

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33. Which verb phrase is there in the following sentence? "I will be going sledding because it's not too cold."

Explanation

The verb phrase "will be going sledding" is the correct answer. It consists of the auxiliary verb "will" and the main verb "going," forming a verb phrase that indicates a future action. "Be" helps to form the continuous aspect, showing that the action is ongoing.

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34. What word is described by the adverb "inside" in this sentence? "A warm fire beckoned the weary travelers inside."

Explanation

The adverb "inside" describes the action of being beckoned. In this sentence, the warm fire is inviting or calling the weary travelers to come inside. The word "beckoned" indicates that the travelers are being urged or encouraged to enter the place where the warm fire is located.

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35. Which verb phrase is used in the following sentence: "They did not go running very far."

Explanation

The verb phrase "did not go running" is used in the sentence "They did not go running very far." This phrase is used to describe the action of "going" and adds the additional detail that they were "running" while doing so. The word "did" is used to indicate past tense, and "not" is used to negate the action.

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36. What is the name of the word that the pronoun stands for or refers to in a sentence? (For example, in "Mary took her friend with her," "Mary" is the __________ for the pronoun "her.")

Explanation

The antecedent is the word or phrase that a pronoun refers to or replaces in a sentence. In the example, "Mary" is the antecedent for the pronoun "her." Identifying the antecedent is important for clarity and ensuring that pronouns correctly refer to the appropriate noun or noun phrase within the sentence.

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37. Which word is a preposition when it is substituted with the word "except," otherwise it is a coordinating conjunction?

Explanation

The word "but" serves as a preposition when substituted with "except," indicating an exception or contrast, as in "Everyone came except John" or "Nothing but good things happened." However, in other contexts, "but" functions as a coordinating conjunction, linking independent clauses or contrasting ideas. This versatility illustrates the importance of context in determining the correct usage of "but" as either a preposition or conjunction.

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38. The verbs seem, is, was and had when used alone are what kind of verbs?

Explanation

The verbs seem, is, was, and had are all linking verbs. Linking verbs do not show action but instead connect the subject of the sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes it. In this case, the verbs are used alone and do not indicate any action, but rather establish a relationship between the subject and a complement. Therefore, the correct answer is linking.

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39. Which three questions are answered by adjectives?

Explanation



“which one? what kind? how many?”. Adjectives describe or modify nouns and pronouns, providing more details about them. They can specify which one(s), describe what kind or type, and indicate how many or how much. For example, in the sentence “I have three red apples”, “three” and “red” are adjectives answering “how many?” and “what kind?”, respectively.
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40. Which word must be able to be switched with the word "because" for it to be a conjunction? (otherwise, it's a preposition)

Explanation

The word "for" must be able to be switched with the word "because" for it to be a conjunction. In this context, a conjunction is used to connect two clauses or sentences. The word "for" can be used in the same way as "because" to provide a reason or explanation for something. Therefore, if "for" can be substituted for "because" without changing the meaning of the sentence, it indicates that "for" is being used as a conjunction.

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41. Which part of speech is this underlined word? "The boys went inside to eat dinner."

Explanation

The word "inside" functions as an adverb in the sentence, modifying the verb "went" by indicating the location where the boys went. Adverbs often describe actions, provide additional context, or answer questions like "where" or "when." In this case, "inside" describes the direction in which the boys were going, enhancing the sentence’s meaning by specifying their destination.

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42. What kind of punctuation is followed in mild interjections?

Explanation

Mild interjections are typically followed by a comma.

For example:
Oh, I didn't know that.
Well, that's interesting.
Hey, come over here.

In these examples, the interjections ("Oh," "Well," "Hey") are followed by a comma.

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43. Which four questions are answered by adverbs?

Explanation

Adverbs are used to answer questions about the extent or degree of an action, the time or frequency of an action, the location or place of an action, and the manner or way in which an action is performed. Therefore, the correct answer is "to what extent/degree? when? where? how?" as it includes all four types of questions that can be answered by adverbs.

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44. How many adjectives and articles are there in the following sentence? "The red car roared around the sharp corner and hit an old oak tree."

Explanation

In the sentence "The red car roared around the sharp corner and hit an old oak tree," there are:

4 adjectives: red, sharp, old, oak

3 articles: the (appears twice), an

Total: 4 adjectives and 3 articles.

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45. How many prepositional phrases are in the following sentence? "During the month of May we went on a trip with our friends to Canada."

Explanation

The sentence contains four prepositional phrases: "During the month of May," "on a trip," "with our friends," and "to Canada." Each of these phrases starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. These phrases provide additional information about time, place, and the relationship between elements in the sentence.

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Juliette Firla |MA (Teaching Writing) |
English Teacher
Juliette is a middle school English teacher at Sacred Heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. Juliette earned a BA in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Elon University and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Classroom Teacher license from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Juliette possesses strong skills in English language arts, writing, editing, and literature study. She has a deep passion for working with young people and contributing to the education of America's youth in the classroom.

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The words a, an, and, the are called what
Which part of speech expresses a mild or sudden burst of emotion?...
What part of speech describes a person, place, thing, or idea?...
What type of noun cannot be perceived by the senses? (love, ambition,...
What type of noun is always capitalized? (John, Arizona, France...)
What part of speech substitutes for a noun or pronoun? Examples are...
Which part of speech describes the distance/placement/proximity of one...
What type of verb describes physical or mental action?
Which word in the sentence "The cat jumped over the fence" is a...
(She, Her) and Sara went to the store. Which is the correct pronoun to...
What kind of article is "the"? (it indicates something...
What type of noun is made up of two or more words? (policeman,...
What part of speech connects words or groups of words? Examples...
The following sentence is written actively or passively?...
What kind of punctuation follows interjections to express a sudden...
What prepositional phrase is there in the following sentence?"I ran...
What part of speech is the word "beautiful" in the sentence "She wore...
What type of pronouns are I, we, she, they, him, and us? They refer to...
What type of noun names a group of things? It rarely ends in "s."
Robert was an unwise king; he was the king of seven kingdoms. What...
I went camping with John and (he, him).
Which adjective is the word "American" in the following...
What part of speech is the word "quickly" in the sentence "She runs...
What part of speech describes a noun or pronoun and answers the...
What kind of prepositions are the phrases "according to, in...
What type of noun can be perceived by the five senses? (table, bird,...
What part of speech describes a verb, adjective, or adverb and answers...
What type of pronouns are me, them her, him, us? They usually belong...
Which infinitive verb phrase is used in the following sentence?...
There is always a ______at the beginning of prepositional...
Conjunctions used in pairs are called what kind of conjunctions?...
The noun "mob" is an example of a common noun, a concrete...
Which verb phrase is there in the following sentence? ...
What word is described by the adverb "inside" in this sentence?...
Which verb phrase is used in the following sentence: "They did not go...
What is the name of the word that the pronoun stands for or refers to...
Which word is a preposition when it is substituted with the word...
The verbs seem, is, was and had when used alone are what kind of...
Which three questions are answered by adjectives?
Which word must be able to be switched with the word "because" for it...
Which part of speech is this underlined word?...
What kind of punctuation is followed in mild interjections?
Which four questions are answered by adverbs?
How many adjectives and articles are there in the following sentence? ...
How many prepositional phrases are in the following sentence?...
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