ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with words that do not fit easily into the previous word-class-based chapters since they belong to several word classes. This multi-functionality is a feature of many English words, especially the more common ones. For some grammarians the multiple word-class membership is an argument against the whole concept of word class as a way of describing English grammar; for others the difference in word class is a useful tool. The words discussesd in the chapter are something of a mixed bag; there is little that holds them together, apart from the fact that they all belong to at least one of the major content word classes: noun, adjective or verb. The distinction between the preposition and adverb particle uses is very slim. In some cases the differences between the various uses of one form are great that they can be regarded as different words, even though the spelling and pronunciation are identical.
