Parts of Speech:Parts of Speech:A Word’s Most Basic A Word’s Most Basic

FunctionFunction

Ms. M. HudsonMs. M. HudsonResurrection of Our Lord SchoolResurrection of Our Lord School

September 14, 2009September 14, 2009

“… “… united through Christ …”united through Christ …”

Every word has a job, or a Every word has a job, or a functionfunction..

The function tells us The function tells us how a word actshow a word acts in in a sentence. And, words may have more a sentence. And, words may have more than one part of speech.than one part of speech.

Every word has a job, or a Every word has a job, or a functionfunction..

Look at the word below each picture. Which part of Look at the word below each picture. Which part of speech is each word acting as? What is the function?speech is each word acting as? What is the function?

painter

firefighter

police officer

chef

nurse

Look at the word below each picture. Which part of Look at the word below each picture. Which part of speech is each word acting as? What is the function?speech is each word acting as? What is the function?

painter

firefighter

police officer

chef

nurse

Each word is a Each word is a nounnoun, and a noun is a word that names a person, a place, a thing, or an , and a noun is a word that names a person, a place, a thing, or an idea.idea.

How does a noun function? How does a noun function? It It namesnames..

paints

Let us try again but with a new set of words.Let us try again but with a new set of words.

What is the part of speech? What is the function?What is the part of speech? What is the function?

sprays directs cooks cares

1.1. John John paintspaints the living room wall a soft mauve. the living room wall a soft mauve.

2.2. The firefighter The firefighter sprayssprays a few droplets of water from the hose. a few droplets of water from the hose.

3.3. The police officer The police officer directsdirects traffic from the middle of the street. traffic from the middle of the street.

4.4. If the chef If the chef cookscooks his famous gumbo, I am ordering two bowls! his famous gumbo, I am ordering two bowls!

5.5. My nurse My nurse carescares for me very well. for me very well.

paints

Each word is a Each word is a verbverb, which is a word that , which is a word that shows shows actionaction or state-of-being. All of the words on this slide or state-of-being. All of the words on this slide demonstrate action, so they are called action verbs.demonstrate action, so they are called action verbs.

sprays

directs

cooks

cares

paints

Quick TipQuick Tip

In standard English, verbs usually follow their In standard English, verbs usually follow their subjects, which can be nouns or pronouns. So, subjects, which can be nouns or pronouns. So, you will see the you will see the noun firstnoun first. Then . Then the verbthe verb..

sprays

directs

cooks

cares

Example: My Example: My nursenurse carescares for me very well. for me very well.

A Closer Look at Common & Proper A Closer Look at Common & Proper NounsNouns

Common nouns do not name particular persons, Common nouns do not name particular persons, places, or things.places, or things.

Common nouns are lowercased.Common nouns are lowercased.

Examples: school, student, politicianExamples: school, student, politician

Proper nouns name specific persons, places, and Proper nouns name specific persons, places, and things.things.

Proper nouns are capitalized.Proper nouns are capitalized.

Examples: Resurrection, John Smith, Gov. JindalExamples: Resurrection, John Smith, Gov. Jindal

Easy enough, right?Easy enough, right?

Let us move on to the following types of Let us move on to the following types of nouns:nouns:

singular nounssingular nounsplural nounsplural nounscollective nounscollective nouns

What are the basics?What are the basics?

• Singular nouns are words that name Singular nouns are words that name one person, place, thing, or idea.one person, place, thing, or idea.

• Example: kid, island, toy, beliefExample: kid, island, toy, belief• Plural nouns are words that name more Plural nouns are words that name more

than one person, place, thing, or idea.than one person, place, thing, or idea.• Example: kids, islands, toys, beliefsExample: kids, islands, toys, beliefs• To make a noun plural, add an –s.To make a noun plural, add an –s.• To make a verb singular, add an –s.To make a verb singular, add an –s.

Wait! I thought this lesson was about nouns! Why do you add notes about verbs?

You must remember two You must remember two rules …rules …

• To make a noun plural, add an –s.To make a noun plural, add an –s.

• To make a verb singular, add an –s.To make a verb singular, add an –s.

desksThe desks form a circle.

laughsJanice laughs at the

jokes.

Follow a few steps to identify Follow a few steps to identify collective nouns.collective nouns.

• Which noun acts as the subject of the sentence?Which noun acts as the subject of the sentence?

• Is the noun singular or plural?Is the noun singular or plural?

• If you do not know, find the word that acts as the If you do not know, find the word that acts as the verb.verb.

• If the verb ends in –sIf the verb ends in –s, it is singular and the , it is singular and the collective collective nounnoun in that sentence is also in that sentence is also singularsingular..

• If the verb does not end in –s, it is plural and the If the verb does not end in –s, it is plural and the collective noun in that sentence is also plural.collective noun in that sentence is also plural.

Practice Time!Practice Time!

1.1. The volleyball club meets after school.The volleyball club meets after school.

2.2. Each volleyball team has six players.Each volleyball team has six players.

3.3. The group take their individual The group take their individual

positions.positions.

4.4. The committee discuss their reactions.The committee discuss their reactions.

5.5. Our class watches the volleyball match.Our class watches the volleyball match.

Time for an intermission.Time for an intermission.

(Click the inside of the plasma television.)

In-Class PracticeIn-Class Practice

6.6. The school band plays at every game.The school band plays at every game.

7.7. Our family arrive at the stadium at different Our family arrive at the stadium at different

times.times.

8.8. The crowd is always friendly at the games.The crowd is always friendly at the games.

9.9. The coaching staff also meet after each The coaching staff also meet after each

game to discuss their strategies.game to discuss their strategies.

In-Class PracticeIn-Class Practice

6.6. The school The school bandband plays at every game. plays at every game.

7.7. Our Our familyfamily arrive at the stadium at different arrive at the stadium at different

times.times.

8.8. The The crowdcrowd is always friendly at the games. is always friendly at the games.

9.9. The coaching The coaching staffstaff also meet after each also meet after each

game to discuss their strategies.game to discuss their strategies.

P

P

S

S

Hint: Use the verb. If the verb is singular (ends in –s), then the noun is singular. If the verb is plural (no added –s), then the noun is plural.

P

P

S

S

In-Class PracticeIn-Class Practice

6.6. The school The school bandband plays at every game. plays at every game.

7.7. Our Our familyfamily arrive at the stadium at different arrive at the stadium at different

times.times.

8.8. The The crowdcrowd is always friendly at the games. is always friendly at the games.

9.9. The coaching The coaching staffstaff also meet after each game to also meet after each game to

discuss their strategies.discuss their strategies.

P

P

S

S

The words different, times, their, and strategies are plural. If the family arrive at “different times,” the members are acting separately, which means that the collective noun “family” is plural. The same logic applies to the word “staff” in #9. The pronoun “their” is plural, so it has to refer to or rename a plural noun. The coaches are discussing their different strategies.