[Grammar] how do I know that the word 'all' is a noun in the phrase?

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learning54

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Hi teachers,
In relation to this question, 'How much of their schoolwork do the children do at home?' This is the correct answer according to a text, 'All of it.'
A teacher told me that 'all' in that answer is a noun.

I know that after and adjective 'all' is always a noun like in the following:
I didn't give it my all.
He puts his all in every game.

My question is, how do I know that the word 'all' is a noun in that phrase? What tells me that it is a noun. How can I easily recognize when 'all' is a noun?

Thanks in advance.
 

5jj

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'How much of their schoolwork do the children do at home?' This is the correct answer according to a text, 'All of it.'
A teacher told me that 'all' in that answer is a noun.[...]My question is, how do I know that the word 'all' is a noun in that phrase? What tells me that it is a noun. How can I easily recognize when 'all' is a noun?
That teacher is wrong, in my opinion. I think that 'all' is functioning as a pronoun there.
 

learning54

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That teacher is wrong, in my opinion. I think that 'all' is functioning as a pronoun there.

Hi 5jj,
Thank you for your reply.
If it is functioning as a pronoun, it should substitute ...?
 

learning54

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With personal pronouns, we use 'all of' + object form, don't we?
In the given answer, 'all of it', 'it' substitudes 'their homework', doesn't it?
 
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