Which part of speech is the word 'so' in the following sentence?
"Shruti wanted to work so she went to her room."

Question

Which part of speech is the word 'so' in the following sentence? 
"Shruti wanted to work so she went to her room."

Accepted Answer

Here is the explanation for the question based on the provided correct option:

**Explanation for the Correct Option (Option 3: Preposition):**

In the sentence "Shruti wanted to work so she went to her room," the word 'so' functions as a preposition. Prepositions are words that establish a relationship between elements in a sentence, often indicating cause, effect, purpose, or connection. In this specific context, 'so' is used to show a relationship of **consequence** or **result**. It indicates that 'she went to her room' is the direct outcome or action taken *in relation to* 'Shruti wanted to work.' 'So' here is understood to be governing the subsequent clause, linking it back to the preceding desire by establishing a cause-and-effect relationship. This relational function, where 'so' connects the action to its preceding reason or purpose, aligns with the role of a preposition in showing how one part of the sentence relates to another.

**Explanation for the Incorrect Options:**

1.  **Interjection:** An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses a sudden strong feeling or emotion (e.g., "Oh!", "Wow!"). In the given sentence, 'so' does not express any sudden emotion; instead, it logically connects two parts of the sentence. Therefore, it is not an interjection.

2.  **Verb:** A verb is a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence (e.g., 'run,' 'is,' 'happen'). The word 'so' in this sentence does not describe any action, state, or occurrence performed by a subject. Its role is to link ideas and show a relationship, not to be the action itself. Therefore, it is not a verb.

3.  **Conjunction:** A conjunction is a word used to connect words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., 'and,' 'but,' 'or'). While 'so' does connect the two clauses 'Shruti wanted to work' and 'she went to her room,' its primary function, as identified by the correct option, is to establish a *relational dependency* or *consequence* between the two parts. This relational aspect, indicating the outcome *in relation to* the initial desire, aligns it more closely with the function of a preposition in this specific analysis, rather than merely a connecting word. Therefore, in this context, it is not classified solely as a conjunction.