Identifying Parts of Speech Practice Test 2026 - Free Parts of Speech Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the sentence "The school closes at four p.m.," the word "at" functions as a preposition. Prepositions are words that indicate a relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other parts of the sentence, often related to time, place, or direction.

In this context, "at" specifies the exact time when the school closes, linking the noun "four p.m." to the action of closing. This relationship clarifies when the event occurs, which is a characteristic function of a preposition. Other parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, or adverbs, would not accurately capture the role that "at" plays in conveying that specific time reference. Therefore, identifying "at" as a preposition is correct, as it fulfills its role in establishing the temporal relationship in the sentence.