Part of speech "out"

Question

What part of speech is "out" in this sentence: "Every teacher was out sick"? It seems like an adverb, since it tells where, but can a being verb take an adverb? How would you diaggram this sentence?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Yes, linking verbs can take adverbials:

He was away all week.
The dog is under the tree.
I'll be at home tomorrow.

Anonymous · Answer

I see the words "out sick" as an idiom. The idiom is used as a noun showing a state of being.

Otherwise, "out" would be an adverb modifyong the verb "was sick," explainimg where the teacher was sick.

Anonymous · Answer

I tend to see out sickas a unit, but how would you diagram this?. Or,

AnonymousI see the words "out sick" as an idiom. The idiom is used as a noun showing a state of being.Otherwise, "out" would be an adverb modifyong the verb "was sick," explainimg where the teacher was sick.

out could be viewed as an adverb, modifying either the verb or the predicate. In general, though, one should remember that English verbs are peculiar in that they change meaning when a preposition is added, as in give in, give out, etc. In this case, was out would be a synonym for absent. Out would be considered to be doing the work of an adverb. Out would be diagrammed under was, to indicate it as a modifier. Sick would be the subject complement.

Anonymous · Answer

what part of speech is "out"

Part of speech "out"

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