it + is = it’s I + am = I’m
they + will = they’ll we + are = we’re
you + have = you’ve he + would = he’d
EXERCISE 1. A contraction stands for two words. Write the two words for each ital-
icized contraction below.
Sample:
He’ll go. = He will
1. You’d laugh! =
2. They’ve left. =
3. Let’s stop. =
4. They’re clever. =
5. It’s a pity. =
EXERCISE 2. Write each of the following as a contraction.
Sample:
they will = they’ll
1. let us = 6. you would =
2. you have = 7. we have =
3. they are = 8. I am =
4. we will = 9. they would =
5. it is = 10. you are =
Caution: Do not confuse a contraction with a possessive pronoun.
A contraction always has an apostrophe:
you’ll (you will); it’s (it is), etc.
A possessive pronoun never has an apostrophe:
yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS 59
CONTRACTIONS POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
(Use an apostrophe to (Do not use an apostrophe.)
replace omitted letters.)
It’s (It is) raining. Its fur is soft.
You’re (You are) wrong. Your friend is here.
They’re (They are) here. Their parents came.
EXERCISE 3. Write the choice that makes the sentence correct.
Samples:
The employees want (they’re, their) pay. their
Note that they’re would not fit because it
means they are.
You know (they’re, their) not happy. they’re
Note that they’re (they are) fits in with the
rest of the sentence.
1. Do they have (they’re, their) uniforms?
2. By now (they’re, their) really tired.
3. Are these (you’re, your) notes?
4. (It’s, Its) too late.
5. Is the laptop computer (her’s, hers)?
6. This is my book. Where is (yours, your’s)?
7. The cat hurt (its, it’s) tail.
8. Shall we go to your house after school
or (our’s, ours)?
9. (Your, You’re) always complaining.
10. (Lets, Let’s) go!
60 PA R T S O F S P E E C H
Lesson 10 Review of
Verbs, Nouns,
and Pronouns
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
REVIEW OF VERBS, NOUNS, AND PRONOUNS 61
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.
Answer: have been mailed.
Note: Whenever you are asked for the verb of a sentence containing a verb phrase, give
the whole verb phrase.
EXERCISE 2. Name the verb in each of the following sentences.
Sample:
They must have lost their way. must have lost
1. Anything can happen.
2. You might have tried harder.
3. Is the trash being removed?
4. They should have been invited.
5. Jack should have been given another chance.
6. Elizabeth reads a book in a day.
7. Are we here yet?
8. Colleen is studying physics.
Nouns can be tricky, too. They change form depending on how they are used—as sin-
gular, plural, or possessive nouns. On the next page is a summary of the rules for forming
plurals of nouns.
62 PA R T S O F S P E E C H
When to add S:
A. To most nouns: book—books. (See Rule 1, page 28.)
A–X. Exceptions to A:
man—men foot—feet mouse—mice
woman—women tooth—teeth goose—geese
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.)
REVIEW OF VERBS, NOUNS, AND PRONOUNS 63
EXERCISE 3. For each singular noun below, write (a) the plural and (b) the letter of
the rule for forming that plural. Take your rule letters from the preceding four boxes.
Samples:
SINGULAR PLURAL RULE LETTER
notebook notebooks A
penknife penknives H
tax taxes F
baby babies G
ox oxen A–X
1. pencil
2. leaf
3. child
4. tomato
5. louse
6. piano
7. sheriff
8. torch
9. echo
10. party
11. landlady
12. woman
13. jackknife
14. alloy
15. dash
16. stepchild
17. rodeo
64 PA R T S O F S P E E C H
