In English, there are certain words that can belong to more than one part of speech. We will in this article explore what part of speech the word “odd” belongs to?
The word “odd” is an adjective. Words that qualify or modify singular or plural naming words (nouns or noun phrases) or pronouns by interrogating, describing, demonstrating, or quantifying them belong to the part of speech, adjectives.
This article will explain in detail to us the various facts related to when and how the word “odd’ is an adjective.
When is “odd” an adjective?
The word “odd” can function as an adjective. Here we will find out in what instances (when) the word “odd’ is an adjective.
The following tabular column lists the various situations when the word “odd” takes up the role of an adjective.
| Situations When “Odd” Is An Adjective | Examples | Explanations |
| 1. When used to qualify a naming word whose nature or behavior is strange, unusual, or peculiar. | Sukanya had an odd expression on her face when she heard the news. | In this sentence, the word “odd” is modifying the naming word ‘expression’ (look) by telling us that Sukanya’s expression was strange and peculiar when she heard the news, hence functioning as an adjective. |
| 2. When used to modify a naming word that is, uncommon, unplanned, or abnormal in nature. | The existing crisis made the committee take some odd decisions. | The word “odd” in this sentence is an adjective since it is giving additional details about the uncommon and unplanned decisions of the committee due to the existing crisis. “Odd” is describing the naming word ‘decisions’ here. |
| 3. When used to tell us details about the various and different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures of naming words (mostly things and objects) | The decoration though made with odd paper cuts, looked quite innovative and beautiful. | “Odd” is utilized as an adjective here to modify the naming word ‘paper cuts’ (things) by telling us the different shapes, sizes, or colors of the paper cuts that were used for the innovative and beautiful decoration. |
| 4. When used to qualify a naming word (noun or noun phrase) without its corresponding pair. | Everyone laughed at the odd gloves she was wearing for the cooking competition yesterday. | In this sentence, the adjective utilized is “odd”. “Odd” is describing the naming word ‘gloves’ (thing) by saying to us that ‘she’ was wearing two different gloves belonging to two different pairs for the cooking competition yesterday. |
| 5. When used to qualify a person, thing, animal, idea or place that is left out of a group because of some aspect or left out without being paired. | Ruhi was the odd member of the group as she was the only wearing blue color outfit while all of us were in black. | “Odd” in this sentence is functioning as an adjective that is qualifying the naming word ‘member’ (person). “Odd” is utilized to tell that Ruhi was the only one (odd one out) in the group wearing a blue outfit as others were wearing black outfits. |
| 6. When used to refer to a number that is indivisible by the number two. | All the odd roll numbers are asked to present their projects today. | The adjective “odd” in this sentence is used to qualify the plural noun ‘roll numbers’. “Odd” is utilized to convey to us that all the roll numbers that are indivisible by the number two will present their projects today. |
Is “odd” a descriptive adjective?
Descriptive adjectives give us supplementary details about naming words’ characteristic features, (appearance, size, color, shape) nature, attitude, behavior, and state of mind.
The adjective “odd” is a descriptive adjective since it tells us about the nature, attitude, or state of mind of a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.
Example: Sonali’s odd behavior was noticed by everybody who attended the meeting.
In the above sentence, the word “odd” is an adjective more precisely it is functioning as a descriptive adjective. The descriptive adjective “odd” is providing additional details about the strange and peculiar nature of Sonali’s behavior at the meeting by qualifying the naming word ‘behavior’.
When is “odd” a descriptive adjective?
The adjective “odd” is a descriptive adjective when it is telling us about the strange, unusual, uncommon, unplanned, without a pair, different shapes, sizes or colors, left out, indivisible by number nature, state of mind, the behavior of a noun or a noun phrase.
The examples in the tabular column below will help us have a better understanding of the usage of the word “odd” as a descriptive adjective.
| Examples | Explanations – Usage Of “Odd” As A Descriptive Adjective |
| 1. Suresh had always been an odd person to be with. | In this sentence, the attributive descriptive adjective “odd” is qualifying the naming word ‘person’ by telling the strange and peculiar nature of Suresh. |
| 2. We cancelled our trip yesterday because of the odd weather. | “Odd”, the attributive descriptive adjective in this sentence is giving additional information about the abnormal and unusual nature of the weather because of which ‘we’ cancelled the trip. “Odd” is describing the naming word ‘weather’ here. |
| 3. Though Mihika had used all odd colors in her painting, it looked quite good. | The attributive descriptive adjective “odd” in this sentence is describing the naming word ‘colors’ (things). “Odd” here is giving extra details about the various, different, and uncommon nature of the colors that Mihika has used in painting |
| 4. This little girl has the habit of wearing odd socks to school. | “Odd”, the attributive descriptive adjective in this sentence is modifying the naming word ‘socks’ (thing). It is conveying that the little girl wears two different socks that belong to different pairs to school. |
| 5. Since I had nobody to talk with, I was the odd one out at the party last evening. | “Odd” in this sentence is functioning as a predicate descriptive adjective that is describing the naming word ‘I’ (a person). “Odd” here conveys that ‘I’ was the only one (odd one out) left out at the party last evening as ‘I’ had no one to talk with. |
| 6. We would be learning about odd numbers in the math class tomorrow. | The attributive descriptive adjective “odd” here is telling that ‘we’ would be learning about the numbers which are not divisible by 2 in tomorrow’s math class by modifying the plural naming word ‘numbers’. |
| 7. When we went to her house, we heard an odd noise from the backyard. | “Odd”, the attributive descriptive adjective in this sentence is qualifying the noun ‘noise’. “Odd” here tells about the strange and abnormal nature of the noise that ‘we’ heard in ‘her’ backyard. |
Is “odd” a noun?
We will here check out whether the word “odd” can also be a naming word (noun).
“Odd” is not a noun as it does not name any person, place, feeling, idea, or thought but instead it describes a naming word. However, the plural form of “odd” – ‘odds’; and the words ‘oddness’ and ‘oddity’ can be nouns as the former names the probability or likelihood and the latter names the abstract quality of being odd.
| Examples | Explanations |
| 1. Ruhan should not have said such an odd thing in public. | “Odd” in this sentence is not a noun, but an adjective that states the peculiar and strange nature of the ‘thing’ that Ruhan said in public. |
| 2. The odds are that there are no chances that they can win the game. | In this sentence, the word ‘odds’ is a noun as it is naming the likelihood of them losing the game. |
| 3. At the end of the discussion, there was an air of oddness that prevailed in the room. | The word ‘oddness’ here is functioning as a naming word (noun) since it is naming the strangeness (abstract quality of being strange) that prevailed in the room. |
| 4. After understanding the oddity of the situation, Diya chose to stay silent. | ‘Oddity’ is a noun here as it is naming the weirdness or strangeness (abstract quality of being weird or strange) of the situation because of which Diya stayed silent. |
Is “odd” an adverb?
At times, a word can function as more than one part of speech. In that way, let us see whether the word “odd” can be an adverb.
The word “odd” is not an adverb since it doesn’t modify or describe any adjectives, other adverbs, or action words but only modifies nouns. However, the adverb form of the word “odd” is ‘oddly’ which modifies an action or an event that is strange or unusual.
| Examples | Explanations |
| 1. The entire class finds Rihana to be odd. | Here, “odd” is not an adverb but an adjective as it is qualifying the noun ‘Rihana’ by conveying her strange nature. |
| 2. Varsha spoke oddly when I met her yesterday. | ‘Oddly’ in this sentence is an adverb since it is qualifying the action word ‘speak’ by conveying the strange or unusual way in which Varsha spoke yesterday. |
Conclusion
Hence, with suitable examples and clear explanations, this article explains to us in detail why the word “odd” is only an adjective and not a noun or an adverb.
Hi… I am Sowndharya Jagadeeswaran, a university rank holder in M.A. English Literature. I have also done my master’s in Business Administration. Inquisitive as I am, my interest in action-oriented research helped me publish research papers in reputed journals. Now, as a career, I am an instructor where I teach young and adorable students the intricate technicalities of Public Speaking and Creative Writing. I also enjoy writing articles on topics I specialize and research in.
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