Lesson
10
Review of
Verbs, Nouns,
and Pronouns
REVIEW OF VERBS, NOUNS, AND PRONOUNS 61
To learn what part of speech a word is, ask yourself: How is the word used in its sen-
tence?
For example, in sentence 1 below, paper is a noun; it names a thing. In sentence 2, pa-
per is a verb; it expresses action.
1. I need more paper.
N.
2. The room will look better if we paper the walls.
V.
EXERCISE 1.
Like many words in English, each of the following can be a noun or a
verb, depending on how it is used in a sentence. For each word, write two sentences—
one using the word as a noun and the other using the word as a verb.
Sample:
bridge/bridge
We are about ready to cross the longest bridge in the state.
Gillian bridges the gap in age by taking an interest in her little sister’s dolls.
1. hound/hound
2. monitor/monitor
3. train/train
4. effect/effect
5. hedge/hedge
As you do these exercises, remember that verbs can be more than one word.
Question:
Is the verb in the following sentence mailed or have been mailed?
The letters have been mailed.

child—children louse—lice ox—oxen
(See Rule 2 Exceptions, page 28.)
B. To most nouns ending in f: belief—beliefs. (See Rule 3, page 30.)
B–X. Exceptions to B:
leaf—leaves shelf—shelves
loaf—loaves thief—thieves
half—halves wolf—wolves
self—selves
C. To nouns ending in a vowel + y: way—ways. (See Rule 5, page 31.)
D. To nouns ending in a vowel + o: radio—radios. (See Rule 7, page 33.)
E. To most nouns ending in a consonant + o: auto—autos. (See Rule 8, page 33.)
When to add es:
E–X. Exceptions to E:
potato + es = potatoes echo + es = echoes
tomato + es = tomatoes veto + es = vetoes
F. To nouns ending in s: class + es = classes
sh: wish + es = wishes
ch: bench + es = benches
or x: box + es = boxes
(See Rule 2, page 28.)
When to change y to i and add es:
G. When a noun ends in a consonant + y: lady—ladies. (See Rule 6, page 31.)
When to change f to v and add s:
H. In the following three nouns ending in fe and their compounds:
knife—knives
life—lives
wife—wives
penknife—penknives
housewife—housewives
(See Rule 4, page 30.)

Hpenknives
Anotebooks
64 PARTS OF SPEECH
18. life
19. pie
20. monkey
EXERCISE 4.
As we have learned, a noun may have as many as four forms.
(1) (2) (3) (4)
POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE
SINGULAR PLURAL SINGULAR PLURAL
student students student’s students’
On each line below, only one form of a noun is given. Write the other three forms of
that noun.
POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE
SINGULAR PLURAL SINGULAR PLURAL
1. girl _______________ _______________ _______________
2. _______________ children _______________ _______________
3. _______________ teachers _______________ _______________
4. _______________ _______________ nurse’s _______________
5. _______________ _______________ _______________ women’s
Read the following. (Sentences have been numbered.)
1
J. R. R. Tolkien creates a complex fictional world, Middle Earth, in
his trilogy of books, The Lord of the Rings.
2
He called the first book The
Fellowship of the Ring.
3
In this book, Sauron is the Dark Lord of Mordor

Though tales of fantasy, the Lord of the Rings books do echo truths
about the real world we live in.
13
They will bring you hours of great read-
ing.
EXERCISE 5
. Write the antecedents of the pronouns listed below.
Sample:
He (sentence 2)
1. He (sentence 4)
2. it (sentence 4)
3. It (sentence 7)
4. it (sentence 7)
5. They (sentence 9)
6. she (sentence 10)
7. them (sentence 10)
8. him (sentence 11)
9. it (sentence 11)
10. They (sentence 13)
Note:
In sentence 7, the two occurrences of it, with different antecedents, might make
for confusing reading. It is better to change one it back to what it refers to. For
example, change the second it to the ring.
EXERCISE 6.
Write:
1. the subject of the verb comes in sentence 5: ____________________
2. the direct object of the verb gives in sentence 10: ____________________
3. the indirect object of the verb gives in sentence 10: ____________________
4. the subject of the verb do echo in sentence 12: ____________________
5. the direct object of the verb will bring in sentence 13: ____________________

REVIEW OF VERBS, NOUNS, AND PRONOUNS 67