Question

Differentiate between a noun and an adjective: is the underlined word in the following sentence a noun or an adjective?

My friend continued to live in profound misery for several years after the death of her husband.


noun


adjective

Answer 1

I can answer either way depending which word is underlined:

- If "profound" is underlined: adjective — it describes the noun "misery."
- If "misery" is underlined: noun — it’s the object of the preposition "in" (the state in which she lived).