Identify the Part of Speech of the underlined expression. Students should not…

Answer: Verb

Explanation: The underlined expression "while away" is a phrasal verb meaning "to spend time in a leisurely or idle way." In the sentence it denotes the action of spending time, so its grammatical role is that of a verb.

Quick substitution test: Replace the expression with the single-word verb "spend": "Students should not spend their time in frivolous activities." The sentence remains grammatical and the meaning is preserved, confirming the verb function.

• Why it is not an adverb: Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. "While away" does not modify; it expresses the action itself.

• Why it is not a conjunction: Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. "While away" does not serve a linking function here.

• Why it is not a pronoun: Pronouns replace nouns or noun phrases. "While away" does not replace a noun; it denotes an action.