BETTER Used as Different Parts of Speech :





Some words belong to more than one part of sppech. We can’t know what part ofspeech a word is until we see what work it is doing in a sentiece. A word can do different jobs in diffenrt sentences.

Look at the following sentences.

1. Give me some water.

2. They water the plants daily.

In the first sentence the word WATER names something. So it is a noun.

In the second sentnce the same word WATER expresses an action. It tells what they do. Hre it is a verb.



Study the word FAST in the following sentences.

1. He didn’t take anything during the fast. (It names something. So it is a noun.)

2. Muslims FAST during Ramazan. (It expressess an action. It tells what Muslims do. So, it is a verb.)

3. I missed the FAST train. (It adds to the meaning of the noun train. What kind of a train? A fast train. So, it is an adjecyive.)

4. She speaks fast. (It adds to the meaning of the verb SPEAKS and tells how she speaks. So, it is an adverb.)

The word FAST is a noun in 1, a verb in 2, an adjective in 3 and an adverb in 4.



Here are futher examples.



Above :

We flew above the clouds. (Preposition)

Have you read the above sentce? (Adjective)

See above. (Adverb)



Back :

I have a pain in the back. (Noun)

I will come back in five minutes. (Adverb)

Have you closed the back door? (Adjective)

He backed his car throguth the gate. (Verb)



Better :

This watch is better than that. (Adjective)

He singes better than you. (Adverb)

You should respect your betters. (Noun)

Living conditions have bettered a great deal. (Verb)



Down :

The little girl feels down. (Adverb)

He ran down the hill. (Preposition)

We caught the down train. (Adjective)

The government downed the opposition. (Verb)



Like :

Children like sweets. (Verb)

He climbs like a cat. (Preposition)

You won’t see his like again. (Noun)

Ravindra and his brother are very like. (Adjective)



Near :

He lives near the station. (Preposition)

Most of my near relatives live abroad. (Adjective)

He got nervous as the examinations neared. (Verb)

I went near enough to see over it. (Adverb)



Right :

You are quite right. (Adjective)

Keep to the right. (Noun)

Go right to the end of the road. (Adverb)

They were able to right the boat. (Verb)



Round :

The earth is round. (Adjective)

The boys ran round the tree. (Preposition)

Will you come round to our house this evening? (Adverb)

We won the first round of the tennis cup. (Noun)

The child’s eyes rounded with excitment. (Verb)



Up :

You should stand up when the teacher comes in. (adverb)

He climbed up the hill. (Preposition)

What time is the next up train? (Adjective)

He hit the ball on the up. (noun)






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BETTER Used as Different Parts of Speech
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