GCSE English LanguageGrammar and punctuation
30 questions on word classes. Pick your answer, then tap to see if you were right and why. Every question comes from the Show Working English Language bank.
Knowing a verb from an adverb lets you write about a writer’s word choices precisely. These questions ask you to name nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions and determiners in real sentences.
01 / Quiz yourselfTry it, then tap to check
Choose your answer before you open it. Then read why, so it sticks.
01 / Word classesOur own example
The fox ran swiftly across the field.
Answer: B Adverb
“Swiftly” tells us how the fox ran, so it is an adverb modifying the verb “ran”. “Across” links “ran” to “the field” and shows where, so it is a preposition.
02 / Word classesOur own example
The soldier’s courage surprised everyone.
Answer: B Abstract noun
“Courage” names a quality you cannot see or touch, so it is an abstract noun. “Surprised” is the action the courage did to everyone, so here it is the verb.
03 / Word classesOur own example
A flock of sheep blocked the lane.
Answer: C flock
A collective noun names a group as one thing. “Flock” is the group; “sheep” are the animals in it. Other examples are “team”, “herd” and “swarm”.
04 / Word classesOur own example
We visited Edinburgh last summer.
Answer: A Edinburgh
A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place or thing, and it takes a capital letter. “Edinburgh” names one city. “Summer” is a common noun, so it has no capital.
05 / Word classesOur own example
The ancient castle looked gloomy.
Answer: A Adjective
Adjectives describe nouns. “Ancient” sits before “castle” and describes it; “gloomy” comes after the verb “looked” but still describes the castle.
06 / Word classesOur own example
Tom called Priya, but she did not answer.
Answer: C Pronoun
“She” stands in place of the noun “Priya”, so it is a pronoun. “But” joins the two main clauses, so it is a conjunction (a coordinating one).
07 / Word classesOur own example
Every student needs a pencil.
Answer: C Determiner
A determiner comes before a noun and shows which one or how many. “Every” goes with “student”. “A”, “the”, “some” and “every” are all determiners.
08 / Word classesOur own example
Some people stayed late.
Answer: C Determiner
“Some” comes before the noun “people” and tells us how many, so it is a determiner here.
09 / Word classesOur own example
The kettle has boiled.
Answer: B has
“Has” helps the main verb “boiled” to make the present perfect tense. Common auxiliary verbs are forms of “be”, “have” and “do”.
10 / Word classesOur own example
You should leave now.
Answer: C Modal verb
Modal verbs, such as “should”, “must”, “could”, “might” and “will”, go with a main verb (“leave”) to show how likely or necessary something is.
11 / Word classesOur own example
She often walks to school.
Answer: B Adverb
“Often” tells us how frequently she walks, so it is an adverb of frequency. Not every adverb ends in “-ly”.
12 / Word classesOur own example
The keys are under the cushion.
Answer: D Preposition
“Under” shows where the keys are in relation to the cushion, so it is a preposition. Prepositions often show place or time: “on”, “in”, “under”, “during”.
13 / Word classesOur own example
We stayed indoors because it was raining.
Answer: A Conjunction
“Because” joins the main clause to a subordinate clause and gives a reason, so it is a conjunction (a subordinating one).
14 / Word classesOur own example
Although he was tired, he kept running.
Answer: A Conjunction
“Although” starts the subordinate clause “Although he was tired” and links it to the main clause, so it is a subordinating conjunction.
15 / Word classesOur own example
Happiness is hard to find.
Answer: C Noun
“Happiness” names a feeling, so it is a noun (an abstract noun). The adjective is “happy” and the adverb is “happily”.
16 / Word classes
Answer: C decision
“Decide” is the action (verb), “decision” names it (noun), “decisive” describes a person or act (adjective) and “decisively” describes how something is done (adverb).
17 / Word classesOur own example
The wind clawed at the windows.
Answer: C It is fierce, like a wild animal
Animals claw with sharp nails. Choosing this verb makes the wind sound violent and threatening, as if it is attacking the house.
18 / Word classesOur own example
At lunch, they cleaned the hall.
Answer: B they
“They” stands in place of a noun naming the people, so it is a pronoun. “Lunch” and “hall” are nouns, and “cleaned” is the verb.
19 / Word classesOur own example
The man who lives next door keeps bees.
Answer: C Pronoun
“Who” is a relative pronoun. It stands for “the man” and starts the relative clause “who lives next door”, which tells us more about him.
20 / Word classesOur own example
We walked along the Thames at dusk.
Answer: C It is a proper noun
“Thames” is the name of one particular river, so it is a proper noun and always takes a capital letter, wherever it comes in a sentence.
21 / Word classesOur own example
The tired runners finally crossed the line.
Answer: D crossed
“Crossed” is the action the runners did, so it is the verb. “Tired” ends in “-ed” too, but here it sits before the noun “runners” and describes them, so it is an adjective.
22 / Word classes
Answer: D How, when or where something happens
Adverbs usually modify verbs, adding how (“slowly”), when (“yesterday”), where (“outside”) or how often (“never”). They can also modify adjectives, as in “very cold”.
23 / Word classes
Answer: A Shows which or how many of a noun
A determiner comes before a noun (and any adjectives) to show which one or how many: “the”, “a”, “this”, “every”, “some”, “three”.
24 / Word classes
Answer: A A word used in place of a noun
Pronouns such as “she”, “they”, “it” and “who” stand in for a noun, so the writer does not have to repeat the same name again and again.
25 / Word classesOur own example
The storm left a huge hole in the roof.
Answer: A huge
“Huge” describes the noun “hole”, so it is an adjective. “Storm” and “roof” are nouns, and “left” is the verb.
26 / Word classesOur own example
The old man crept, shuffled and staggered home.
Answer: D Verbs
All three are actions the man did, so they are verbs. Precise verbs like these show how he moves without needing extra adverbs.
27 / Word classesOur own example
This is the darkest night of the year.
Answer: C A superlative adjective
“Darkest” describes the noun “night” and compares it with all others, so it is a superlative adjective. The comparative form is “darker”.
28 / Word classesOur own example
Quietly, the nurse checked the chart.
Answer: D Quietly
“Quietly” tells us how the nurse checked the chart, so it is an adverb. Here it is fronted: moved to the start of the sentence and followed by a comma.
29 / Word classesOur own example
A team of builders arrived at dawn.
Answer: A Collective noun
“Team” names a group of people as one unit, so it is a collective noun. It is not a proper noun (no particular name) and you can see a team, so it is not abstract.
30 / Word classesOur own example
Write your name at the top.
Answer: C Verb
“Write” is an action and here it gives a command, so it is a verb in the imperative (command) form.
02 / Where marks slipOne thing to watch
Mixing up adjectives and adverbs. An adjective describes a noun (a slow train); an adverb usually describes a verb (it moved slowly).
03 / In the appComing to Show Working
In the app, Word classes gives you ten questions at a time, picked from all 43, with the reason after every answer. English Language is built, but it isn’t on phones yet: it will arrive in an update.
Coming soon to the App StoreOur own questions, written for every board. Lines from books are from authors who died long enough ago that their words are free to quote. Show Working is independent and not affiliated with any exam board.
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