Identify the underlined part of speech in the following sentence:

He came before the appointed time.

The correct answer is 'Preposition'.

Key Points

• A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else.
  • Example - There is a cow in the field.
• The underlined word 'before' is used as a Preposition in the given sentence.
• The preposition 'Before' means earlier than the time or event mentioned and We use 'before' to refer to place, especially when it is seen as part of a journey or as part of a sequence of events in time.
  • Example - Get off the bus just before Nehru place Station.
• In the given sentence, 'Before' shows the relation between the action expressed by the verb 'came' and the appointed time.
• Therefore, the underlined word is a Preposition.

Hence, the correct answer is option (4).

Additional Information

• Adverb: It is a word used to add something to the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
• Conjunction: It is a word used to join words or sentences.
• Noun: It is a word used as the name of a person, place or thing.