Can a word be more than one part of speech? I'll show you 3 ways.

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One of my students recently came to me rather confused over a sentence he found while reading an article. Following my advice, he was diagramming parts of speech in sentences to better understand grammar. However, he got stuck on a word that he recognized as a preposition which was being used differently—as an adverb of place. Confused, he asked me, “Can a word be more than one part of speech?”

His question highlights an interesting aspect of English which got me to thinking. So, here I present you (and him) with some answers. The truth is words can shift their roles to a different part of speech depending on context. Let’s explore three fascinating ways this happens.

1. The first way a word can be more than one part of speech: Zero-Affixation Verbs

When I’m teaching English, I often note down the root words and their derivatives. A derivative basically means a word with a slight change to form it into another part of speech. We call this word building, and we use suffixes to perform this. For example, a common noun suffix (or ending) is [-ion] which often transforms from the verb. Observe the following example:

confuse → confusion
precise → precision

However, some words (mostly verbs) don’t require any affixation (that’s fancy talk for any word altering additions – prefixes and suffixes together).

Another way to name this is Zero-affixation, meaning no suffixes or prefixes added to change the part of speech. A common example is how many verbs can seamlessly double as nouns. You can observe this in the following example:

To search → A search
To talk → A talk

This phenomenon is incredibly common in English, making it one of the primary ways a word can function as more than one part of speech. These pairs often (but not always) share related meanings where the verb describes the action while the noun names the result of that action.

Here’s an example of “search” operating as a verb.

We	searched	for the missing evidence.
	Verb	Object

Conversely, the verb “search” is now operating as the object noun.

We	conducted	a search	for the missing evidence.
	“Empty” Verb	Object	Adverbial

For further reading on this topic, you can explore the theoretical debates surrounding zero affixes and their role in word derivatives with De Gruyter’s article “Zero Affixes in derivational morphology.”

Zero-Affixation Nouns are often part of an Empty Verb Phrase

One thing you will notice in the revised example is the “empty verb” tag underneath the verb “conduct.”

An empty verb is the situation where you use a verb to introduce a noun when a direct verb version of the word also exists.

Now, I don’t want to go too far off topic, so if you want to learn more about these, you can refer to my upcoming post on empty verbs, coming soon.

List of Examples with Zero-Affixation Pairs

Here are 50 examples of zero-affixation verb/noun pairs to study:

Verb	Verb Example	Noun	Noun Example
To run	She likes to run in the morning.	A run	I went for a run this afternoon.
To walk	They walk to school every day.	A walk	We took a walk in the park.
To talk	Can we talk about this later?	A talk	He gave a talk on climate change.
To drive	He will drive us to the party.	A drive	The drive to the lake was lovely.
To jump	Watch the cat jump over the wall.	A jump	He made a huge jump across the stream.
To swim	They swim in the lake every summer.	A swim	Let’s go for a swim after lunch.
To call	I’ll call you after dinner.	A call	She received a call from her mom.
To look	Look at the beautiful sunset.	A look	She gave him a curious look.
To play	The children play in the garden.	A play	We went to see a play last night.
To laugh	He makes everyone laugh so much.	A laugh	Her laugh brightened the room.
To work	I work at a software company.	A work	The artist displayed his best work.
To cook	She loves to cook Italian food.	A cook	He’s an excellent cook.
To paint	I plan to paint the living room.	A paint	We bought some blue paint for the walls.
To search	Let’s search for the missing keys.	A search	The search took several hours.
To test	They need to test the new software.	A test	The test was easier than expected.
To help	Could you help me with this?	A help	Your advice was a great help.
To dance	She loves to dance to pop music.	A dance	The couple performed a romantic dance.
To love	I love spending time with you.	A love	Their love was inspiring.
To hate	He hates waiting in long lines.	A hate	His hate for injustice is evident.
To wish	I wish you all the best.	A wish	She made a wish on her birthday.
To dream	He dreams of traveling the world.	A dream	Last night, I had a strange dream.
To visit	Let’s visit the museum tomorrow.	A visit	Her visit was a pleasant surprise.
To shop	They shop for groceries on Fridays.	A shop	There’s a new shop on Main Street.
To cry	She started to cry during the movie.	A cry	His cry for help was heard immediately.
To fight	They fight for their rights every day.	A fight	The fight lasted several rounds.
To change	I need to change my password.	A change	The weather brought a welcome change.
To plan	We plan to visit Paris next month.	A plan	She presented a detailed plan.
To check	Please check the email for updates.	A check	The waiter brought us the check.
To show	Can you show me how this works?	A show	The talent show was entertaining.
To share	Let’s share this dessert.	A share	His share of the profits was significant.
To save	Save your work before closing the app.	A save	The goalkeeper made an incredible save.
To report	They report their findings tomorrow.	A report	The report highlighted key issues.
To produce	Farmers produce fresh vegetables.	A produce	The produce section is at the front of the store.
To record	I’ll record the lecture for you.	A record	He set a new record in the race.
To book	Can we book a table for two?	A book	This book is a bestseller.
To issue	They will issue a new statement.	An issue	This is the latest issue of the magazine.
To file	I need to file these documents.	A file	The file contains important information.
To date	He plans to date her soon.	A date	Their first date was magical.
To race	They race to the finish line.	A race	The race started at 9 a.m.
To catch	Try to catch the ball!	A catch	That was an incredible catch!
To drop	Don’t drop your phone!	A drop	A drop of rain fell on my hand.
To match	These shoes match your outfit perfectly.	A match	It was a tough match to win.
To score	He will score the winning goal.	A score	The final score was 3-1.
To crash	The car might crash if you speed.	A crash	The crash caused a traffic jam.
To flash	The light will flash twice.	A flash	There was a sudden flash of lightning.
To guide	Can you guide us through the city?	A guide	The guide was very knowledgeable.
To place	Place the book on the shelf.	A place	This is a quiet place to study.
To block	They block the road during parades.	A block	The building is three blocks away.
To set	Let’s set the table for dinner.	A set	This chess set is beautiful.

If you would like to have these as a PDF, you can subscribe to my email newsletter and I’ll send you a PDF with all the lists from this post for you to study.

2. The second way a word can be more than one part of speech: Phonological Alteration

Have you ever noticed a word in English with the exact same spelling but two different ways to pronounce it?

This fascinating phenomenon is known as phonological alternation where a pronunciation change accompanies the shift in grammatical function. This shift typically happens between verbs and nouns. For example:

To present (verb) vs. A present (noun)
To record (verb) vs. A record (noun)

In these pairs, the stress changes depending on the part of speech: verbs are stressed on the second syllable while nouns are stressed on the first syllable.

However, not all phonological shifts occur in two-syllable words. Additionally, the word doesn’t even need to be a different part of speech. The next example will demonstrate a shift on a single-syllable word of the same part of speech:

to read (present) vs read (past)

In this case, the verb “read” changed its pronunciation when in the past simple or past participle.

List of Examples with Phonological Alternation

How about another list of 27 phonological alternation pairs with examples for you to study?

Verb	Verb Example	Noun	Noun Example
present	He will present the award tomorrow.	present	The present was wrapped in colorful paper.
record	They will record the meeting on Monday.	record	The record broke after years of use.
conduct	She will conduct the orchestra tonight.	conduct	His conduct during the event was polite.
project	They will project the image on the screen.	project	The group is working on a science project.
object	I must object to this decision.	object	The strange object was glowing faintly.
permit	He will permit entry only to invited guests.	permit	You need a parking permit for this area.
import	The company imports coffee beans from Brazil.	import	The import of goods has increased.
export	They export goods worldwide.	export	The country’s largest export is wheat.
address	Please address the audience now.	address	Write your address clearly on the envelope.
increase	They will increase prices next year.	increase	There’s been a sharp increase in demand.
surprise	The results surprise everyone each time.	surprise	His birthday surprise was a great success.
tear (vowel + r pronounced as “air”	Be careful not to tear the paper.	tear (vowel + r pronounced as “ear”	A single tear rolled down her cheek.
lead (vowel pronounced as long-E)	He will lead the team to victory.	lead (vowel pronounced as short-e)	Lead pipes were used in old buildings.
bow (pronounced “ow” as in “wow”	The performers bow to the audience.	bow (pronounced “oh” as in “row”	The archer notched an arrow on the bow.
close (“s” pronounced as “z”	He will close the door behind him.	close (“s” pronounced as “ss”	The close of the show was spectacular.
wind (vowel pronounced as long-I)	You need to wind the clock before it stops.	wind (vowel pronounced as short-I)	The strong wind made sailing difficult.
wound (rhymes with “found”)	He wound the bandage around his arm.	wound (vowel sound is long-U)	The soldier’s wound took weeks to heal.
content (adj)	They are content with the results.	content (n)	The book’s content was very informative.
contest	She will contest the results of the election.	contest	The beauty contest attracted many.
desert	They plan to desert the sinking ship.	desert	The desert is scorching during the day.
excuse	She will excuse herself from the meeting.	excuse (ss)	His excuse was hard to believe.
produce	Farmers produce organic vegetables.	produce	Fresh produce is sold here daily.
reject	They will reject the offer if it’s too low.	reject	That product was a factory reject.
subject	They will subject the data to further tests.	subject	The subject of the article is technology.
extract	We extract juice from fresh oranges.	extract	The extract from vanilla beans smells good.
conflict	The reports conflict with one another.	conflict	The region is in a state of armed conflict.
research	They research to find innovative solutions.	research	The scientist’s research was groundbreaking.

Once again, if you would like to get these lists with examples, sign up for my newsletter and I’ll email you a copy.

This is but one of many common mistakes involved with verbs. If you would like to know the other common mistakes with verbs, check out my post on it here.

3. The third way a word can be more than one part of speech: Adverbs and Prepositions of Place

A third way that a same word can be more than one part of speech occurs with the use of adverbs and prepositions. Adverbs and prepositions often overlap because they both modify the verb in terms of time, place, manner, or reason. The difference lies in structure: an adverb stands alone, while a preposition connects to a noun.

Adverb: The police are outside.
Preposition: The police are outside the building.

This crossover highlights how meaning depends on the word’s function in a sentence. If you review the roles and relationships between the parts of speech with my extensive post on the subject, you will see that both adverbs and prepositions can both modify verbs.

The difference is in how they modify. In fact, nouns and verbs can be modified on three levels:

Modified directly by a part-of-speech modifier (adjectives and adverbs)
Modified indirectly by a phrase (the most common of which are prepositional phrases)
Modified by a clause (relative clauses for nouns, adverbial clauses for verbs)

So, adverbs modify directly with one word whereas prepositions modify indirectly with a phrase.

List of Examples with Adverb/Preposition Pairs

Here are 23 examples for you to explore:

Adverb/Preposition	Adverb Example	Preposition Example
Above	The plane flew above.	The clouds are above the mountains.
Across	She walked across.	She walked across the street.
Along	They ran along.	They walked along the river.
Around	He turned around.	She walked around the park.
Before	We arrived before.	He stood before the judge.
Behind	She hid behind.	The cat is behind the curtain.
Below	The temperature dropped below.	The basement is below ground level.
Beneath	The treasure lies beneath.	The cat is sleeping beneath the table.
Beside	He stood beside.	The dog lay beside the fire.
Between	He stood between.	The park is between the two buildings.
Inside	Come inside.	The cat is inside the house.
Outside	Stay outside.	He waited outside the door.
Over	The plane flew over.	The bridge goes over the river.
Past	We walked past.	We drove past the old church.
Through	They ran through.	She walked through the door.
Up	He climbed up.	She looked up at the stars.
Down	They fell down.	The ball rolled down the hill.
Near	Stay near.	The store is near my house.
After	We left soon after.	After dinner, we went for a walk.
Within	Stay within.	The answer lies within the text.
Without	He left without.	She did it without help.
Alongside	They walked alongside.	The path runs alongside the river.
Underneath	He hid underneath.	The cat is underneath the table.

Why Does This Matter for English Learners?

As an English learner, if you understand these shifts, they can help you improve grammatical flexibility and avoid mistakes. For instance:

Recognizing zero-affixation can simplify sentence construction.
Knowing stress patterns in phonological alternation prevents mispronunciation.
Identifying when an adverb functions as a preposition improves comprehension.

English thrives on flexibility. By mastering how words transition between roles, you can improve your understanding of sentence structure and context.

In my book, English Grammar Explained, I talk a lot about grammatical flexibility. This kind of flexibility means you know more than one way to say the same thing in different grammatical ways. If you ever do sentence transformations, they require flexibility. So, here are some takeaways concerning grammatical flexibility:

Being able to use the noun form of a verb to transform a sentence makes you grammatical flexible.
Your grammatical understanding of parts of speech and roles in a sentence must be active when you’re reading aloud.
Knowing how to modify on 3 levels allows you to find the balance in English sentences that non-native speakers often don’t have a feel for.

Conclusion: The Beauty of Multi-Functional Words

So, can a word be more than one part of speech?

Absolutely!

English words are versatile, transitioning between roles to fit the context and meaning.

From zero-affixation and phonological alternation to adverb-preposition overlap, these shifts make English both fascinating and challenging. Embrace these patterns, and you’ll unlock new levels of fluency and confidence.

Further explore the parts of speech with reading from my other posts

This post here is a fascinating read on a debated topic surrounding the parts of speech. Another debated question about the parts of speech actually surrounds the number of parts of speech. You may definitely find it interesting whether you’re a teacher or an English learner.

You may be more interested in the topic of parts of speech and its various aspects from a more general perspective. For those of you who aren’t sure where to start, browse my pillar post on the parts of speech that may point you to your specific interest within the topic.

Jon

Jon Williams is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Economics. While doing his undergraduate studies at UCLA, he also tutored microeconomics for other students in the AAP program. After graduation, he went on to become a financial advisor where he learned financial sales and management training. In 2003, he decided to take a gap year, going to teach English in Poland which eventually stretched into 3 years. Upon returning to Los Angeles in 2006, he worked in West Los Angeles for an investment management firm where he spent another 4 years in a financial and investment environment. Ultimately, though, his love for teaching led him to move back to Poland where he founded his business Native 1 English Learning. Now he operates a private teaching practice, posts articles and lessons on his blog, creates online courses, and publishes YouTube video English lessons.

Can a word be more than one part of speech? I’ll show you 3 ways.