Question

review of the eight parts of speech
the eight parts of speech are

• noun • adverb
• pronoun • preposition
• verb • conjunction
• adjective • interjection

a word’s particular role in a sentence determines its part of speech in that sentence.
activity 1
on the line provided, write the part of speech of each underlined word or word group.
the minuet
mary mapes dodge
grandma told me all about it, 1.
told me so! i couldn’t doubt it, 2.
how she danced, my grandma danced; long ago— 3.
how she held her pretty head, 4.
how her dainty skirt she spread, 5.
how she slowly leaned and rose—long ago. 6.
grandma’s hair was bright and sunny, 7.
dimpled cheeks, too, oh, how funny! 8.
really quite a pretty girl—long ago. 9.
bless her! why, she wears a cap, 10.
grandma does, and takes a nap 11.
every single day; and yet 12.
grandma danced the minuet—long ago. 13.
“modern ways are quite alarming,” 14.
grandma says, “but boys were charming” 15.
(girls and boys she means, of course) “long ago.” 16.

Explanation:

To determine the part of speech for each underlined word, we analyze their function in the sentence:

1. about: A preposition shows a relationship between nouns/pronouns and other words. "about it" shows the relationship between "all" and "it", so preposition.
2. ! (in "so!"): Interjections express strong feelings or emotions. The exclamation mark here (as a word - like interjection) shows excitement or emphasis, so interjection.
3. danced: Verbs describe actions. "danced" is the action Grandma performed, so verb.
4. pretty: Adjectives describe nouns. "pretty" describes "head", so adjective.
5. skirt: Nouns are people, places, things, or ideas. "skirt" is a thing, so noun.
6. slowly: Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. "slowly" describes how she "leaned", so adverb.
7. Grandma’s: A possessive pronoun (or noun - possessive) shows ownership. "Grandma’s" shows that the hair belongs to Grandma, so pronoun (possessive) or noun (possessive).
8. oh: Interjections express emotion. "oh" shows surprise/emphasis, so interjection.
9. Really: Adverbs can modify adjectives or other adverbs. "Really" modifies "quite", so adverb.
10. why: Interrogative adverbs (or interjections) can express surprise or introduce a question. Here, it shows surprise, so interjection (or adverb, but interjection fits the emotional tone).
11. Grandma: Nouns name people. "Grandma" is a person, so noun.
12. and: Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. "and" connects "does" and "takes", so conjunction.
13. long: Adjectives describe nouns. "long" describes "ago" (as an adjective - noun phrase), or adverb? Wait, "long ago" - "long" here can be an adjective describing "ago" (a noun - like word). So adjective.
14. Modern: Adjectives describe nouns. "Modern" describes "ways", so adjective.
15. but: Conjunctions connect contrasting ideas. "but" connects "Modern ways are alarming" and "boys were charming", so conjunction.
16. ago: Adverbs (or nouns) that tell time. "ago" tells when the action happened, so adverb.

Answer:

s (for each numbered blank):

1. Preposition
2. Interjection
3. Verb
4. Adjective
5. Noun
6. Adverb
7. Pronoun (Possessive)
8. Interjection
9. Adverb
10. Interjection (or Adverb)
11. Noun
12. Conjunction
13. Adjective (or Adverb)
14. Adjective
15. Conjunction
16. Adverb