The word ‘so’ can function as different parts of speech depending on how it is used in a sentence.
1. **Adverb**: Most commonly, ‘so’ is used as an adverb to indicate a degree or extent. For example, in the sentence, ‘She was so happy,’ ‘so’ modifies the adjective ‘happy’ to express the intensity of her happiness.
2. **Conjunction**: ‘So’ can also act as a conjunction. In this case, it is used to link clauses or sentences, typically to indicate a result. For example, in the sentence, ‘It was raining, so we stayed indoors,’ ‘so’ connects the two ideas, showing that staying indoors was a consequence of the rain.
3. **Interjection**: In some contexts, ‘so’ can serve as an interjection to indicate agreement or to introduce a statement, as in ‘So, what do you think?’ Here, it is used to prompt further discussion.
In summary, ‘so’ can be an adverb, a conjunction, or an interjection. Understanding its role in a sentence will help you identify its part of speech.