If someone is a teacher or has a degree in English, that would be sweet. We've diagrammed this sentence intensively, but there is still some dispute, and it is causing much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Thanks for your help!
2006-08-28 20:38:14 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is a noun. It is an abbreiviated version of a phrase like "food that stimulates thought," i.e. the kind of food that can fuel thoughts; an idea to think about. Alternatively, the original prase could be "food OF thought," its just that in idioms, and between languages, prepositions can be interchanged with little loss of meaning. Also, consider that if it was a verb, it would be a *past* tense of "to think." The phrase refers to action, thinking about something, that takes place in the FUTURE though, so using a past tense verb makes no sense.
2006-08-28 20:49:49 · answer #1 · answered by aristotle2600 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe "thought" is a noun. I thought that it was, anyway. Ops, there it is as a verb. Well, a word can be more than one thing depending on the sentence. So I'm sure it's a noun in your example. I have done some copyediting and I enjoy grammar.
2006-08-28 20:44:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In this case, 'thought' is being used as a noun. It can't be a verb since it's not describing the action of thinking, but rather the single thing of the thought itself.
2006-08-28 20:44:43 · answer #3 · answered by rainthatwalks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is many stuff to a lot of human beings. The be conscious Jesus is a suitable call, and hence i think a noun. In uncomplicated use, inspite of the undeniable fact that, it truly is something the consumer intends, alongside with a impolite expletive. i like Jesus as a individual, yet even if in case you think of of him as a course or a fashion, those additionally are nouns. in case you talk approximately Jesus a fashion, then perchance you have a verb.
2016-11-06 00:18:04 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop your gnashing.
The phrase "food for thought" refers to "something substantial to think about". Since "to think about" something is an action, I would say that "thought" is a verb.
Notice the difference in the phrase "penny for your thoughts". In this case, someone is offering a financial reward in the "penny" for an object that you possess "your thoughts". Hence, the "thoughts" are in the form of a noun.
2006-08-28 20:47:53 · answer #5 · answered by Tuna-San 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thought is still technically a verb but it is part of a prepositional phrase so in this case it is referred to as an adverb. in the sentence "That should give you some food for thought." "should give" is the verb and "for thought" is the prepositional phrase being used as an adverb.
2006-08-28 20:55:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the phrase, the word "thought" is used as a noun.
2006-08-28 20:50:47 · answer #7 · answered by misscoyote 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe its a noun . for if it was supposed to be the verb it must have read food for thinking.
2006-08-29 01:00:46 · answer #8 · answered by Lamya 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
food is a noun
thought is used as a verb acting as past participle
"food for thought" is a linking verb,possibly used as the direct object therefore, I believe it's a helping verb.
2006-08-28 21:17:39 · answer #9 · answered by cascadingrainbows 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
noun, thought is being used as a thing and a noun is defined as a person, place or thing
2006-08-28 20:45:52 · answer #10 · answered by athenababe05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋