It's probably easiest to get a handle on what some tests for noun status might look like, by seeing in action. Here's a couple of case studies:
Case Study 1
Let's have a look at the item ** in a sentence such as:
- I work there **
The competing word categories for this word in alphabetical order are probably adverb, noun and preposition. This phrase is an Adjunct (read adverbial) in the clause structure. It's modifying the verb phrase work there. This syntactic function is associated in school-learned grammar with adverbs. The item also