JAMB UTMEUse of EnglishLexis & Structure2023

Identify the noun in: 'The teacher gave us homework.'

AThe
Bgave
Cus
DhomeworkCORRECT
AI
Toasta AI Explanation
Why the answer is D, and why the others tempt you.
**The reasoning** A **noun** is a naming word—it identifies a person, place, thing, or idea. In the sentence "The teacher gave us homework," we need to spot which word names something. Let's check each word: - "The" → just points to something (article) - "gave" → shows an action (verb) - "us" → refers to people but it's a **pronoun**, not a noun - "homework" → names a **thing** (the assignments you do) ✓ Both "teacher" and "homework" are actually nouns here, but since only "homework" appears in the options, **D is correct**. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **A (The)**: Articles always come before nouns, so students confuse them with nouns themselves - **B (gave)**: Action words can feel important in a sentence, but they're verbs, not nouns - **C (us)**: This is tricky! "Us" replaces a noun (pronoun), but it isn't a noun itself—it's like using a nickname instead of the actual name **Quick takeaway** Ask yourself: "Can I touch it, see it, or is it a person/place/idea with a name?" If yes, it's likely a noun—and "homework" definitely fits!
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