Grade 10 English – 1.3.1 Word Classes Quiz
1. Choose the noun in the sentence: The students gathered at the gate before assembly.
A noun names a person, place or thing. 'Students' names people, so it is the noun. 'Gathered' is a verb, 'at' and 'before' are prepositions/conjunction words indicating time or place.
2. Choose the verb in the sentence: The driver stopped the matatu at the traffic light.
A verb shows action or state. 'Stopped' is the action the driver did, so it is the verb. 'Driver' and 'matatu' are nouns; 'traffic' is a noun.
3. Choose the adjective in the sentence: She wore a bright dress to the Harambee meeting.
An adjective describes a noun. 'Bright' describes the dress, so it is an adjective. 'Wore' is a verb, 'Harambee' is a proper noun, and 'to' is a preposition.
4. Choose the adverb in the sentence: He arrived early for his KCSE revision class.
An adverb modifies verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. 'Early' modifies the verb 'arrived' and tells when he arrived, so it is an adverb. 'Arrived' is a verb, 'his' a possessive adjective, and 'class' a noun.
5. Choose the pronoun in the sentence: We will meet them at the bus stop.
A pronoun replaces a noun. 'Them' replaces the people being met, so it is a pronoun. 'Meet' is a verb; 'bus' and 'stop' are nouns.
6. Choose the preposition in the sentence: The teacher put the books on the shelf.
A preposition shows relationship of a noun to another word. 'On' shows the relationship between 'books' and 'shelf', so it is the preposition. 'Teacher' and 'books' are nouns; 'the' is an article (determiner).
7. Choose the conjunction in the sentence: I wanted to study but I was feeling unwell.
A conjunction joins words or clauses. 'But' connects two clauses showing contrast, so it is the conjunction. 'Study' is a verb, 'feeling' a verb/participle, and 'unwell' an adjective.
8. Choose the determiner in the sentence: Each candidate must bring the original copy of their ID.
'The' is a definite article used as a determiner to specify a particular noun ('original copy'). 'Candidate' and 'ID' are nouns; 'bring' is a verb.
9. Choose the interjection in the sentence: Wow, that goal was amazing!
An interjection expresses strong feeling or reaction. 'Wow' shows surprise or admiration, so it is the interjection. 'Goal' is a noun, 'was' a verb, and 'amazing' an adjective.
10. Choose the proper noun in the sentence: Mombasa is famous for its white sandy beaches.
A proper noun names a specific place, person or organisation and is capitalised. 'Mombasa' names a specific city, so it is the proper noun. 'Famous' and 'sandy' are adjectives; 'for' is a preposition.
11. Choose the collective noun in the sentence: A flock of sheep grazed near the farm.
A collective noun refers to a group as a single unit. 'Flock' refers to a group of sheep, so it is the collective noun. 'Sheep' is the animals (noun), 'grazed' a verb, and 'near' a preposition.
12. Choose the word functioning as a gerund (a verb form used as a noun): Swimming in Lake Naivasha is my favourite activity.
A gerund is a verb ending in -ing used as a noun. 'Swimming' here is the activity (noun) that is liked, so it is a gerund. 'In' is a preposition, 'favourite' an adjective, and 'activity' a noun.
13. Choose the modal verb in the sentence: You should revise past papers before the exam.
A modal verb expresses ability, permission, obligation or advice. 'Should' gives advice, so it is the modal. 'Revise' is a main verb, 'before' a preposition, and 'exam' a noun.
14. Choose the auxiliary (helping) verb in the sentence: She has completed her project on time.
An auxiliary verb helps form verb tenses. 'Has' helps form the present perfect tense with 'completed', so it is the auxiliary. 'Completed' is the main verb, 'project' a noun, and 'on' a preposition.
15. Choose the possessive adjective in the sentence: Our coach praised the team's effort.
A possessive adjective (also called possessive determiner) modifies a noun to show possession. 'Our' modifies 'coach' to show whose coach, so it is a possessive adjective. 'Team's' is a possessive noun; 'praised' a verb; 'effort' a noun.
16. Choose the adverb of frequency in the sentence: He always carries his umbrella during the rainy season.
An adverb of frequency tells how often something happens. 'Always' indicates frequency, so it is the adverb of frequency. 'Carries' is a verb, 'umbrella' a noun, and 'during' a preposition.
17. Choose the countable noun in the sentence: There are three chairs in the classroom.
A countable noun can be counted and has a plural form. 'Chairs' is plural and countable. 'Are' is a verb, 'in' a preposition, and 'classroom' is a countable noun too but the sentence emphasises 'chairs' with a number.
18. Choose the abstract noun in the sentence: Honesty is an important quality for a leader.
An abstract noun names a concept, idea or feeling not perceived by the senses. 'Honesty' is a concept, so it is an abstract noun. 'Important' is an adjective, 'quality' and 'leader' are nouns (but 'quality' is concrete in sense as a characteristic).
19. Choose the demonstrative being used as a pronoun in the sentence: Those were the best moments of our trip.
A demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun and points to something. 'Those' stands alone to mean 'those moments', so it functions as a demonstrative pronoun. 'Were' is a verb, 'best' an adjective, and 'moments' a noun.
20. Choose the relative pronoun in the sentence: The student who answered the question received praise.
A relative pronoun introduces a relative clause and refers back to a noun. 'Who' introduces 'who answered the question' and refers to 'student', so it is the relative pronoun. 'Student' is a noun, 'received' a verb, 'praise' a noun.
21. Choose the subordinating conjunction in the sentence: Because it rained, the match was postponed.
A subordinating conjunction links a subordinate clause to a main clause and shows a relationship (reason, time, condition). 'Because' introduces the reason clause, so it is the subordinating conjunction. 'Rained' is a verb; 'match' and 'postponed' are noun and verb respectively.
22. Choose the preposition that shows time in the sentence: The exam starts in the morning.
Some prepositions show time. 'In' here indicates when the exam starts ('in the morning'), so it is the temporal preposition. 'Starts' is a verb; 'exam' and 'morning' are nouns.
23. Choose the adjective in comparative form: My sister is taller than I am.
Comparative adjectives compare two things and often end in -er. 'Taller' compares height between the speaker and sister, so it is the comparative adjective. 'Sister' is a noun, 'than' a conjunction, and 'am' a verb.
24. Choose the past participle in the sentence: The letter was written by the student.
A past participle is a verb form often used with an auxiliary to form perfect or passive tenses. 'Written' is the past participle used in the passive voice with 'was'. 'Letter' and 'student' are nouns; 'was' is the auxiliary verb.
25. Choose the definite article in the sentence: The county bank opened a new branch in Kisumu.
The definite article 'the' specifies a particular noun. 'The' before 'county bank' identifies a specific bank, so it is the definite article. 'County' and 'branch' are nouns; 'opened' is a verb.
26. Choose the demonstrative used as a determiner in the sentence: This book belongs to my cousin.
A demonstrative determiner modifies a noun to show which one. 'This' modifies 'book' and points to a specific book, so it is a demonstrative determiner. 'Book' and 'cousin' are nouns; 'belongs' is a verb.