act

A person who does something intentionally or with forethought acts or takes action. The word "act" can be used as a noun or as a verb.

In these examples, "act" is a verb:

• Bertha acted quickly when she learned she was in trouble.
• If you don’t act now, you’ll miss the opportunity to buy that car on sale.
• Dennis is acting strangely today. What’s wrong with him?
• That’s not the way a person in his position is supposed to act. He should resign.
• My computer is acting up again. I might have to take it in to get fixed. (act up = to misbehave)

In these examples, "act" is a noun:

• Acts of kindness helped the tornado victims recover from the disaster.
• A terrible act of vandalism cost the homeowners thousands of dollars.
• In a final act of desperation, they kicked out the windows to escape from the fire.
• An Act of Congress becomes a law when it’s signed by the President. (an Act = a law in the United States)

The word "act" is also used for performers on a stage, in a theater, or in movies. This word can take on many different grammatical forms:

• She really knows how to act. (infinitive)
• She’s a great actress. (noun)
• She received an award for her acting skills. (adjective)
• She has acted in several films. (present perfect tense)
• He wants to be a professional actor. (noun)
• Acting is his passion. (gerund)
• He’s currently acting in a play put on by the college he attends. (present continuous tense)

 He’s acting in a play.

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May 27, 2013