WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-10 MCQs on the Usage of "Why" and "What" as Different Parts of Speech

 

10 MCQs on the Usage of "Why" and "What" as Different Parts of Speech

1. "Why did she leave the meeting before it had officially concluded?" — What part of speech is "why"?

  • A) Conjunction
  • B) Noun
  • C) Adjective
  • D) Adverb

Answer: D) Adverb ("Why" introduces the question and modifies the verb "leave" by asking for the reason or cause of the action — it functions as an interrogative adverb.)

2. "That is the reason why he refused to accept the offer given to him." — What part of speech is "why"?

  • A) Noun
  • B) Adjective
  • C) Adverb
  • D) Conjunction

Answer: C) Adverb ("Why" introduces the relative clause "he refused to accept the offer" and modifies the noun "reason" — it functions as a relative adverb connecting the clause to its antecedent.)

3. "Nobody could explain the why of his sudden and unexpected departure from the organisation." — What part of speech is "why"?

  • A) Adverb
  • B) Conjunction
  • C) Adjective
  • D) Noun

Answer: D) Noun ("Why" is preceded by the article "the" and refers to the reason or cause as a concept — it functions as a noun, the object of the verb "explain," meaning "the reason" or "the cause.")

4. "Why, that is the most absurd suggestion I have ever heard in my entire life!" — What part of speech is "why"?

  • A) Adverb
  • B) Noun
  • C) Interjection
  • D) Conjunction

Answer: C) Interjection ("Why" is used here at the beginning of the sentence to express surprise, indignation, or emphasis — it functions as an interjection that stands independently and does not grammatically connect to the rest of the sentence.)

5. "She could not understand why he had made such a drastic and life-changing decision." — What part of speech is "why"?

  • A) Noun
  • B) Adjective
  • C) Interjection
  • D) Adverb

Answer: D) Adverb ("Why" introduces the embedded noun clause "he had made such a drastic decision" — it functions as an interrogative adverb within the indirect question serving as the object of "understand.")

6. "What a generous and kind-hearted person she has proved herself to be!" — What part of speech is "what"?

  • A) Pronoun
  • B) Adverb
  • C) Conjunction
  • D) Adjective

Answer: D) Adjective ("What" comes before the noun phrase "a generous and kind-hearted person" and expresses strong admiration — it functions as an exclamatory adjective modifying the noun phrase.)

7. "He did not know what had caused the sudden power failure in the building." — What part of speech is "what"?

  • A) Adjective
  • B) Conjunction
  • C) Adverb
  • D) Pronoun

Answer: D) Pronoun ("What" introduces the embedded noun clause "had caused the sudden power failure" and functions as the subject of that clause — it serves as an interrogative pronoun meaning "the thing that.")

8. "Tell me what books you would recommend for improving spoken English." — What part of speech is "what"?

  • A) Pronoun
  • B) Adverb
  • C) Conjunction
  • D) Adjective

Answer: D) Adjective ("What" comes before the noun "books" and introduces a dependent clause — it functions as an interrogative adjective modifying the noun and asking for specification.)

9. "She gave him what little money she had left after paying all her bills." — What part of speech is "what"?

  • A) Pronoun
  • B) Adverb
  • C) Conjunction
  • D) Adjective

Answer: D) Adjective ("What" modifies "little money" and introduces a relative clause — it functions as an adjective meaning "whatever" or "the amount of," emphasising the limited quantity available to her.)

10. "What is done cannot be undone — one must learn to accept the past." — What part of speech is "what"?

  • A) Adjective
  • B) Conjunction
  • C) Adverb
  • D) Pronoun

Answer: D) Pronoun ("What" introduces the noun clause "is done" which functions as the subject of the sentence — it serves as a relative pronoun meaning "that which" referring to actions already completed and beyond change.)

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