My son has to classify each word in the sentence; The boys gave my brother a bat. He can't figure out what "my" would be classified as.
I don't know how "Shurley English" classifies words, but "my" is a possessive pronoun, used as an adjective modifying "brother."
My - possessive adjective (usually used to describe a noun which is why it comes before a noun, like other adjectives)
warm hot cold
What is is in shirly English?
To help your son classify the word "my" in the sentence "The boys gave my brother a bat," it is important to understand the different parts of speech and their functions within a sentence.
In this case, "my" is a possessive pronoun. Pronouns replace or refer to nouns, and possessive pronouns specifically indicate ownership or possession. In this sentence, "my" shows that the brother being referred to belongs to the speaker.
Here's how your son can go about classifying "my" in the sentence:
1. Identify the main parts of the sentence: In this case, the main parts are: "The boys gave" (verb phrase) and "a bat" (direct object).
2. Look for modifiers or additional details: The word "my" is positioned before the noun "brother," indicating ownership or possession.
3. Classify "my" based on its role: Considering the function of "my" as a possessive pronoun, it can be categorized as an adjective. Adjectives modify or describe nouns, in this case, modifying the noun "brother."
By following these steps, your son will be able to correctly classify "my" as an adjective in the sentence "The boys gave my brother a bat."