What Part of Speech is “ALL”

In spoken and written English, the word “all” has several functions. It can be used as a adjective, an adverb, a noun, or a pronoun.

1. Adjective

This word can be categorized as an adjective if it is used to introduce a noun in the sentence. Generally, the word “all” expresses the entire quantity or extent of something. For example, in the sentence below:

All students were present.

The word “all” is considered as a adjective because it introduces the noun “students.”

Definition:

a. used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing

• Example:
• All men are equal.

 

     2   . Adverb

The word “all” can also be considered as an adverb if it is used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. For instance, in the sample sentence below:

She is dressed all in white.

This word is classified as an adverb because it modifies the verb “dressed.”

Definition:

a. completely; consisting entirely of

• Example:
• I have all leather couches in my home.

 

     3.    Noun

There are some cases wherein the word “all” is considered as a noun, which means the entirety of one’s energy or possessions. Take for example, the sentence below:

I gave my all.

In the given example, the word “all” is a noun that refers to the whole possession/energy of the pronoun “I.”

Definition:

a. the whole of one’s possessions, energy, or interest

• Example:
• We are giving our all for what we believe in.

 

     4.    Pronoun

Other times, the word “all” serves as a pronoun that represents the whole number or quantity of something. It is classified as a pronoun when it is used to take the place of a noun or a pronoun for the totality of something. For example, in the sentence below:

All of the gadgets were stolen.

The word “all” suggests the whole quantity and replaces the noun “gadgets.”

Definition:

a. the whole number, quantity, or amount

• Example:
• All of us are hungry.