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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Hard Parts of Speech Quiz to Challenge Your Grammar Skills

Quick, free parts of speech test with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Vanita MeghrajaniUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art with letters speech bubbles and pencils on dark blue background promoting free English grammar quiz.

Use this hard parts of speech quiz to check how well you spot nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions in real sentences. If you want targeted practice, try our noun verb adjective quiz, explore a broader word class quiz, or focus on modifiers with an adjective adverb quiz.

Which part of speech is the word "cat"?
Noun
Adjective
Verb
Adverb
The word "cat" names an animal, making it a noun. Nouns identify people, places, things, or ideas. In a sentence, nouns often serve as subjects or objects. .
In the sentence "I run every morning," which part of speech is "run"?
Verb
Adverb
Adjective
Noun
In this context, "run" expresses an action performed by the subject, so it functions as a verb. Verbs convey actions, occurrences, or states of being. They are essential for forming predicate structures. .
Which part of speech is the word "wittingly"?
Conjunction
Noun
Adverb
Adjective
"Wittingly" modifies verbs by indicating manner or intention, which is the role of an adverb. Adverbs frequently end in -ly and describe how actions take place. They can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. .
Which part of speech is the word "quickly"?
Adverb
Verb
Preposition
Pronoun
"Quickly" describes how an action is performed, a classic function of adverbs. Adverbs often answer questions like how, when, where, and to what extent. They do not serve as subjects or objects. .
Which part of speech is the word "beautiful"?
Pronoun
Adjective
Conjunction
Adverb
"Beautiful" modifies a noun by describing a quality, which is the role of an adjective. Adjectives provide details about size, shape, age, color, and other attributes. They often appear directly before the nouns they modify. .
In the sentence "Someone left their umbrella," what part of speech is "someone"?
Adjective
Adverb
Noun
Pronoun
"Someone" stands in place of an unspecified person, which makes it an indefinite pronoun. Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition. They have different categories such as personal, relative, and indefinite. .
In "I wanted tea, but he preferred coffee," what part of speech is "but"?
Interjection
Adverb
Conjunction
Preposition
"But" connects two independent clauses, indicating contrast, which is the role of a conjunction. Specifically, it is a coordinating conjunction. Conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauses. .
Which part of speech is the word "between" in "The secret is between you and me."?
Preposition
Pronoun
Conjunction
Adverb
"Between" shows the relationship of space or position between two elements, marking it as a preposition. Prepositions link nouns or pronouns to other words in a sentence. They typically appear before their object. .
What part of speech is "Alas!" in the sentence "Alas! I have lost my key."?
Interjection
Preposition
Adjective
Adverb
"Alas!" expresses emotion or exclamation, which is the function of an interjection. Interjections often stand alone or are set off by punctuation. They convey the speaker's attitude or emotional response. .
Identify the part of speech of "happiness" in "Happiness is contagious."
Adverb
Noun
Verb
Adjective
"Happiness" names a concept or state of being, classifying it as a noun. Abstract nouns represent ideas, qualities, or states rather than concrete objects. They function as subjects or objects in a sentence. .
In the sentence "Running water cooled the boiler.", what part of speech is "running"?
Adjective
Adverb
Noun
Verb
Here, "running" modifies the noun "water," so it acts as an adjective (a present participle used adjectivally). Participles can function as adjectives when they describe nouns. This is distinct from a gerund, which functions as a noun. .
In the sentence "Swimming is fun.", what part of speech is "Swimming"?
Adverb
Adjective
Verb
Noun
In this example, "Swimming" is a gerund, a verb form functioning as a noun and serving as the subject of the sentence. Gerunds end in -ing but behave like nouns. They can act as subjects, objects, or complements. .
In "The man who called you is waiting.", what part of speech is "who"?
Conjunction
Adverb
Preposition
Pronoun
"Who" replaces and refers back to "man," acting as a relative pronoun that introduces a relative clause. Relative pronouns connect clauses and refer to antecedents. They differ from conjunctions or adverbs. .
In "Whom did you see at the party?", what part of speech is "whom"?
Conjunction
Pronoun
Adverb
Adjective
"Whom" functions as an object pronoun in this question, taking the place of the object of the verb "see." Objective-case pronouns like "whom" follow the verb. This contrasts with "who," which is nominative. .
In the sentence "He is well suited for the task.", what part of speech is "well"?
Conjunction
Noun
Adjective
Adverb
Here, "well" modifies the past participle "suited," describing how he is suited, which makes it an adverb. Adverbs can modify adjectives and participles. This distinguishes it from its adjectival use meaning "healthy." .
In "Notwithstanding the rain, we went out.", what part of speech is "Notwithstanding"?
Adjective
Preposition
Adverb
Conjunction
In this context, "Notwithstanding" acts as a preposition meaning "in spite of." It introduces a noun phrase and indicates contrast. Although it shares meaning with subordinating conjunctions, here it functions as a preposition. .
In "She had her car washed.", what part of speech is "washed"?
Adjective
Adverb
Verb
Noun
Here, "washed" is a past participle form of the verb used in a causative construction with "have." It retains its verbal properties even though it follows the object. This pattern shows a verb, not an adjective. .
In the phrase "a good night's sleep", what part of speech is "night's"?
Conjunction
Pronoun
Noun
Adjective
"Night's" is a possessive noun showing ownership of the sleep. Possessive nouns function like adjectives by modifying another noun, but their part of speech remains noun. This usage is distinct from an adjective form. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Parts of Speech -

    After taking the quiz, you will be able to recognize and label words as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and other core parts of speech.

  2. Differentiate Similar Categories -

    Learn to distinguish between closely related parts of speech - such as adjectives versus adverbs - to avoid common grammatical errors.

  3. Apply Grammar Rules -

    Use your knowledge to correctly select and position parts of speech within sentences, enhancing both clarity and precision in writing.

  4. Interpret Advanced Adverbs -

    Explore nuanced adverbs like "wittingly," understanding their definitions and proper usage in context.

  5. Reinforce Grammar Skills -

    Solidify your grasp of English grammar fundamentals through an engaging, interactive parts of speech quiz designed for all levels.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding Nouns and Pronouns -

    In this parts of speech quiz, you'll learn how nouns name people, places, things, and ideas, while pronouns stand in for nouns to avoid repetition. Use the SPOT mnemonic - Subjective, Possessive, Objective, Reflexive - to keep your references clear (e.g., "She wrote her essay, then she proofread it").

  2. Mastering Verb Forms and Tenses -

    Verbs express actions or states, and mastering their tenses is key to acing any english grammar test online. Recall the "I do, I am, I have" formula for simple, progressive, and perfect forms (e.g., "I read, I am reading, I have read").

  3. Distinguishing Adjectives and Adverbs -

    Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs - many ending in "-ly." Remember the wittingly definition: if you do something wittingly, you do it knowingly and deliberately, which is a fun way to test adverb usage in your quiz.

  4. Connecting with Conjunctions and Prepositions -

    Conjunctions link words or clauses - use the FANBOYS mnemonic (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to keep sentences flowing smoothly. Prepositions show relationships of time, place, and direction; try the "Mrs. P. Table" chart from Purdue OWL to memorize common ones like in, on, and at.

  5. Articles and Interjections -

    Articles ("a," "an," "the") are a staple of any grammar quiz for beginners, helping to specify nouns by indicating definiteness or generality. Interjections express emotion or reaction - think "Wow!" or "Ouch!" - and though they're brief, they add personality and emphasis in both writing and speech.

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