Is there a special rule about "kind of"?

[moonlike]

Hi
Actually I wanted to ask this question in my previous thread, but as we can ask just one question in each thread, I opened another one. Could you kindly tell me if there is a special rule after "kind of" based on grammar, or not? I mean can we use all parts of speech after that?
- I kind of ate all the cake.
- I was kind of tired.
- I kind of meticulously searched around.
- It was kind of a ball.
- I'm kind of a counselor.
Thanks a million.
PS. Is it mainly British or American? Is it common in speaking?

 

[Jenniferhu]

I think it's basically American English. In oral English it's kinda or sorta.

 

[5jj]

I think it's basically American English. In oral English it's kinda or sorta.

In both varieties 'kind of' it is often pronounced 'kinda' in informal conversation, but should not be written that way in any but informal correspondence. In any case, 'kind of ' and'sort of', even when written in full are used as alternatives to 'rather, in some way' only in informal speech.