Linda & all,
The suffix -tion is an exceptionally good clue that a word is a noun.
Even Karl's list of -tion verbs can be shown to be nouns as well by
making them plural--with the possible exception of apportion. But
the list of -tion words made from verbs is huge. In the discussion of
noun derivational suffixes in Understanding English Grammar, I list
the following from the first few pages of the dictionary:
abbreviation, abolition, abortion, abstraction, accommodation,
accumulation, accusation, acquisition, action. Every page has them
in abundance--verbs that can be turned into nouns with the -ion (or
-tion, -ation, etc.) added.
And -tion is only one of many such derivational suffixes that
identify a word as a noun: Another that was mentioned was -ment.
There's also -ance, -al, -ant, -age, -y, -ure, and -er--and more.
The concept of "noun" as one of the form classes--along with verbs,
adjectives, and adverbs--is an important distinction between the
Latin-based "eight parts of speech" and the word classes based on
English. All the form classes have distinctive forms that students
will come to recognize in a conscious way--and they'll learn to
appreciate their inner grammar expertise.
And of course, nearly all nouns can function as adjectives. It's
important in discussing "parts of speech" to recognize the
distinction between form and function. It presents a problem for
test takers when they are asked to identify the "part of speech." In
a sentence with "the telephone book," for example, the underlined
word is functioning as an adjective, but that doesn't make it an
adjective; it's still a noun in form.
Just some thoughts.
Martha
>Here's a list (generated from an aspell file) of all the reasonably
>common verbs ending in -tion. All were ultimately derived from nouns,
>although for some of them (e.g., apportion) the conversion took place
>before the word was borrowed.
>
>It's not a large list, but it does show that the -tion = N rule is too tidy.
>
>apportion
>auction
>audition
>caption
>caution
>condition
>function
>malfunction
>mention
>motion
>partition
>petition
>portion
>position
>precondition
>proportion
>proposition
>question
>ration
>reapportion
>recondition
>reposition
>requisition
>sanction
>section
>station
>vacation
>
>
>rbetting wrote:
>> Herb,
>>
>> Comments on noun functions. Does calling nouns used this way adjective make
>> sense to students? Our linguistic system likes to be able to manipulate form
>> words into other parts of speech, nouns to verbs and so on. One choice that
>> appears to be handy is our use of nouns as modifiers, as in "the stocking
>> committee planning chart" or "a fan belt compression fitting design plan."
>> So we might hear of a "site plan coordination effort currently underway." I
>> just read about the " 2007 Devils Lake operation summary report document."
>> How's this: "The linear realignment task force control system planning
>> session." That could apply to grammar study.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "STAHLKE, HERBERT F" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:33 AM
>> Subject: Re: tion & nouns
>>
>>
>> Linda,
>>
>> You're right that nouns can modify nouns and therefore function as
>> adjectives. And function is a nice instance of a verb in -tion.
>> English borrowed "function" from French as a noun in the late 16th c.
>> It's verb use doesn't appear until 1856.
>>
>> And your cynicism is well founded.
>>
>> Herb
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Linda Comerford
>> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:50 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: tion & nouns
>>
>> Can't words ending in -tion (or -ion) also function as adjectives like
>> an
>> election poll (or like a verb as used in this sentence: function)? I'm
>> all
>> for simplifying as much as possible for my students, but I've learned to
> > be
>> cynical about using the words "all" or "none" regarding grammar.
>>
>> Linda
>>
>>
>>
>> Linda Comerford
>> 317.786.6404
>> [log in to unmask]
>> www.comerfordconsulting.com
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jan Kammert
>> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:36 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: tion & nouns
>>
>>
>> I teach middle school. One of the teachers in my district (not my
>> building)
>> said that all words that end in -tion are nouns. I never heard that
>> before,
>> but I thought of all the words I could that end in -tion. I think he
>> might
>> be right.
>>
>> Then I thought maybe all words that end in just -ion are nouns. Am I
>> right?
>> Maybe this information will help my students, but I don't want to tell
>> them
>> something wrong.
>>
>> If all words that end is -ion are nouns, can someone tell me why? Is
>> there
>> some history about those words?
>> Thanks!
>> Jan
>>
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