Identifying the Part of Speech of 'Noticing'

The question asks us to identify the part of speech of the underlined word "Noticing" in the sentence: "Noticing the change in the behaviour of the officer, the cadets returned to their position."

Let's analyze the word "Noticing" and its function within the sentence. The word "Noticing" ends in "-ing" and appears at the beginning of a phrase, "Noticing the change in the behaviour of the officer." This entire phrase acts like an adjective, modifying or describing the noun "the cadets." It tells us *why* or *how* the cadets returned to their position.

Words that are formed from verbs (like "notice") but function in a sentence as adjectives or adverbs are called participles. A present participle ends in "-ing". In this sentence, "Noticing" is derived from the verb "notice" and is functioning to introduce a phrase that modifies "the cadets". This makes "Noticing" a present participle.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Participle: A word formed from a verb (often ending in -ing or -ed) and used as an adjective or a noun (gerund). In this sentence, "Noticing" is functioning adjectivally.
• Present continuous: This refers to a verb tense (e.g., "They are noticing"). "Noticing" here is not part of the main verb tense of the sentence, which is "returned" (simple past).
• Noun phrase: A group of words headed by a noun or pronoun that functions as a noun in the sentence. The phrase here is headed by the word "Noticing," which is not a noun in this context.
• Noun: A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. While some -ing words can be nouns (gerunds, e.g., "Swimming is fun"), "Noticing" in this sentence modifies "the cadets" and introduces a descriptive phrase, so it is not acting as a noun.

Based on its function as a word derived from a verb ("notice") and used to introduce a phrase that modifies a noun ("the cadets"), "Noticing" is a participle.

Therefore, the underlined word "Noticing" is a participle.

Revision Table: Understanding Parts of Speech

Additional Information: Participles and Participial Phrases

A participle is a word formed from a verb that can be used as an adjective. There are two types:

• Present Participle: Ends in "-ing" (e.g., running, singing, noticing).
• Past Participle: Often ends in "-ed" (for regular verbs) or has an irregular form (e.g., walked, seen, broken).

A participial phrase consists of a participle and any related words (objects, adverbs, etc.). The entire phrase functions as an adjective or adverb in the sentence.

In the given sentence, "Noticing the change in the behaviour of the officer" is a participial phrase. It is introduced by the present participle "Noticing" and modifies "the cadets," telling us more about them or the circumstances under which they returned.

It is important not to confuse a present participle used in a participial phrase with a gerund. A gerund also ends in "-ing" but functions as a noun. For example:

• Gerund (Noun): Noticing things carefully is important. ("Noticing" is the subject of the sentence).
• Participle (Adjective): Noticing the error, she corrected it. ("Noticing the error" modifies "she").

In the sentence "Noticing the change..., the cadets returned...", "Noticing" is clearly introducing a phrase that describes the cadets, making it a participle, not a gerund (noun).