Parts of Speech: A Word’s Most Basic Function Ms. M. Hudson Resurrection of Our Lord School September 14, 2009 “… united through Christ …”

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

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

Every word has a job, or a function . Look at the word below each picture. Which part of 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 speech is each word acting as? What is the function?

Look at the word below each picture. Which part of speech is each word acting as? What is the function? Each word is a noun , and a noun is a word that names a person, a place, a thing, or an idea. How does a noun function? It names . painter firefighter police officer chef nurse

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

Let us try again but with a new set of words. What is the part of speech? What is the function? paints sprays directs cooks cares John paints the living room wall a soft mauve. The firefighter sprays a few droplets of water from the hose. The police officer directs traffic from the middle of the street. If the chef cooks his famous gumbo, I am ordering two bowls! My nurse cares for me very well.

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

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

John paints the living room wall a soft mauve.

The firefighter sprays a few droplets of water from the hose.

The police officer directs traffic from the middle of the street.

If the chef cooks his famous gumbo, I am ordering two bowls!

My nurse cares for me very well.

Each word is a verb , which is a word that shows action or state-of-being. All of the words on this slide demonstrate action, so they are called action verbs. paints sprays directs cooks cares

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

Quick Tip In standard English, verbs usually follow their subjects, which can be nouns or pronouns. So, you will see the noun first . Then the verb . Example: My nurse cares for me very well. paints sprays directs cooks cares

Quick Tip

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

A Closer Look at Common & Proper Nouns Common nouns do not name particular persons, places, or things. Common nouns are lowercased. Examples: school, student, politician Proper nouns name specific persons, places, and things. Proper nouns are capitalized. Examples: Resurrection, John Smith, Gov. Jindal

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

Common nouns are lowercased.

Examples: school, student, politician

Proper nouns name specific persons, places, and things.

Proper nouns are capitalized.

Examples: Resurrection, John Smith, Gov. Jindal

Easy enough, right? Let us move on to the following types of nouns: singular nouns plural nouns collective nouns

Let us move on to the following types of nouns:

singular nouns

plural nouns

collective nouns

What are the basics? Singular nouns are words that name one person, place, thing, or idea. Example: kid, island, toy, belief Plural nouns are words that name more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Example: kids, islands, toys, beliefs To make a noun plural, add an –s. To make a verb singular, add an –s.

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

Example: kid, island, toy, belief

Plural nouns are words that name more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Example: kids, islands, toys, beliefs

To make a noun plural, 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 rules … To make a noun plural, add an –s. To make a verb singular, add an –s. desks The desks form a circle. laughs Janice laughs at the jokes.

To make a noun plural, add an –s.

To make a verb singular, add an –s.

Follow a few steps to identify collective nouns. Which noun acts as the subject of the sentence? Is the noun singular or plural? If you do not know, find the word that acts as the verb. If the verb ends in –s , it is singular and the collective noun in that sentence is also singular . If the verb does not end in –s, it is plural and the collective noun in that sentence is also plural.

Which noun acts as the subject of the sentence?

Is the noun singular or plural?

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

If the verb ends in –s , it is singular and the collective noun in that sentence is also singular .

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

Practice Time! The volleyball club meets after school. Each volleyball team has six players. The group take their individual positions. The committee discuss their reactions. Our class watches the volleyball match.

The volleyball club meets after school.

Each volleyball team has six players.

The group take their individual positions.

The committee discuss their reactions.

Our class watches the volleyball match.

Time for an intermission. (Click the inside of the plasma television.)

In-Class Practice The school band plays at every game. Our family arrive at the stadium at different times. The crowd is always friendly at the games. The coaching staff also meet after each game to discuss their strategies.

The school band plays at every game.

Our family arrive at the stadium at different times.

The crowd is always friendly at the games.

The coaching staff also meet after each game to discuss their strategies.

In-Class Practice The school band plays at every game. Our family arrive at the stadium at different times. The crowd is always friendly at the games. The coaching staff also meet after each 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

The school band plays at every game.

Our family arrive at the stadium at different times.

The crowd is always friendly at the games.

The coaching staff also meet after each game to discuss their strategies.

In-Class Practice The school band plays at every game. Our family arrive at the stadium at different times. The crowd is always friendly at the games. The coaching staff also meet after each game to 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.

The school band plays at every game.

Our family arrive at the stadium at different times.

The crowd is always friendly at the games.

The coaching staff also meet after each game to discuss their strategies.