Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow…
2021
Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options :
The very nature of the mind is restlessness. It cannot stay at one place or hold one thought for long. For every thought that appears, there are comments, judgements and associations. Thinking is a continuous activity with the mind jumping from one thought to another from morning till night. Like clouds in the sky or waves in the ocean, thoughts appear and disappear as if in ceaseless activity.
However, all thoughts that pass through our mind do not affect us. But we get affected when our ego is hit. Then the mind whirls and creates a tornado of restlessness within. A variety of probable scenarios crop up 'how dare he insult me; what does she think of herself ? Where I am not respected, I will not go; if he speaks thus, I will reply so'. And so it goes on and on.
We have an inbuilt filter in our mind which chooses the types of thoughts or subjects that we like to brood upon. We are not born with this filter but we acquire it over the years with the kind of books we read, the company we keep and the subjects we are interested in.
That is why some people are obsessed with football, cricket or fashion while others could not care less for such things. This filter is built day by day by our actions, suggestions, teachings and influence of others. We can ultimately choose our own filter. So let us learn to build our filter wisely and strengthen it daily.
Which part of speech is the underlined word in the following expression?
'It cannot stay at one place.'
- A.
Determiner
- B.
Pronoun
- C.
Particle
- D.
Adverb
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
A determiner is a word placed directly before a noun to specify, quantify, or identify it (for example: this, some, each, one). It always accompanies and modifies a noun - it never stands alone in place of one. This is different from a pronoun, which fully replaces a noun; a particle, which is a function word carrying no independent meaning of its own (used in phrasal verbs or to mark non-finite verb forms); and an adverb, which modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, never a noun directly.
In the expression 'at one place', the word 'one' sits immediately before the noun 'place' and specifies it, indicating a single location, without replacing the noun. That is precisely the defining behaviour of a determiner, so 'one' is functioning as a determiner in this sentence.
A word replacing 'place' entirely (e.g., 'This is the one I want') would be a pronoun; here 'one' precedes and modifies 'place' rather than substituting for it, so the pronoun reading does not fit.
A particle carries no independent meaning and combines with a verb (as in 'give up') or marks a non-finite verb form; 'one' instead carries a quantifying meaning tied to a noun, so it is not a particle.
An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., 'stay calmly'); 'one' modifies the noun 'place' directly, which an adverb does not do, so it is not an adverb.
Hence, 'one' in 'at one place' is a determiner.