Apart or A Part | Difference & Example Sentences
Apart and a part are pronounced similarly but have different meanings and grammatical roles.
- Apart (one word) can be used as an adverb and adjective to describe separation or distance. It can also be used as a preposition in the phrase ‘apart from’ to mean ‘except for’.
- A part (two words) is a noun phrase meaning ‘a piece’ or ‘a segment’ of a greater whole. It can also refer to an acting role.
| Examples: ‘Apart’ in a sentence | Examples: ‘A part’ in a sentence |
|---|---|
| The tent was blown apart by the wind. | Julie asked to be a part of our group. |
| The US and UK are far apart. | He’s a respected actor who has played a part in Hamlet. |
| The siblings were born years apart | A part of the puzzle is missing |
‘Apart’ as an adverb
Apart can be used as an adverb to describe the separation of two or more people or things, or the dismantling of something into various pieces. As an adverb, it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
The teacher made the children sit apart because they were distracting each other.
‘Apart’ as an adjective
Apart can be used as an adjective to mean ‘separated’ or ‘divided’. It can also be used to describe distance. Used in this way, it typically modifies a noun that precedes it.
It is also commonly used to figuratively emphasise difference. In this context, it is typically preceded by a noun.
They may both be finalists, but the athletes are a breed apart.
‘Apart from’
Apart from is a preposition meaning ‘except for’ or ‘besides‘. It is used to exclude something from consideration.
I have eaten everything apart from the broccoli.
Some sentences may use apart from after a verb to mean a literal separation from something (e.g., ‘The tree was torn apart from the soil’). But if the clause that begins with the phrase apart from can be placed at the beginning of the sentence, it means ‘except for’.
- The tree was torn apart from the soil.
- Apart from the soil, the tree was torn.
- I enjoyed the films, apart from the latest one.
- Apart from the latest one, I enjoyed the films.
‘A part’ is a noun phrase
A part is a noun phrase (consisting of the indefinite article ‘a’ and the noun ‘part’) that refers to a piece or segment of a greater whole.
Doing homework is a part of being a student.
In many instances, the article ‘a’ can be dropped from the phrase a part without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Doing homework is part of being a student.
You can also remember that you should never write ‘apart of’, so you always mean a part in that context.
Worksheet: A part or apart
Test your knowledge of the difference between ‘apart’ and ‘a part’ by using our practice worksheet below. Fill in either ‘apart’ or ‘a part’ in each sentence.
- The old building was torn ______.
- With the cat and dog ______, the house was finally calm.
- Cooking at home and working in a restaurant are worlds ______.
- April took the car ______ and noticed that the engine was missing ______.
- ______ from comics, I don’t read much.
- The old building was torn apart.
- Here, ‘apart’ is correct. In this instance, it is being used as an adverb to describe separation.
- With the cat and dog apart, the house was finally calm.
- Here, ‘apart’ is correct. In this instance, it is being used as an adjective to mean ‘separated’ or ‘divided’.
- Cooking at home and working in a restaurant are worlds apart.
- Here, ‘apart’ is correct. In this instance, it is being used as an adjective to figuratively emphasise difference.
- April took the car apart and noticed that the engine was missing a part.
- First, ‘apart’ is used as an adverb to describe separation. At the end, the noun phrase ‘a part’ is used to refer to a piece of a larger whole.
- Apart from comics, I don’t read much.
- Here, the preposition ‘apart from’ is correct. It means ‘except for’ and is used to exclude something from consideration.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
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Ryan, E. (2022, December 02). Apart or A Part | Difference & Example Sentences. Scribbr. Retrieved 22 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/frequently-confused-words/apart-or-a-part/
