act
part of speech
verb (act, acts, acted, acting); noun (an act, acts)
meaning for a pupil
1) To act means to do something, to take action: act quickly in an emergency. tree →
2) To act means to behave in a certain way: stop acting silly. tree →
3) To act means to play a part in a play, film or show. tree →
4) An act is a thing someone does: an act of kindness. tree →
5) An act is a part of a play, or a short show by a performer. tree →
6) An Act is a law made by a parliament or congress. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the law of the suspected wife (sotah), the unfaithful act is a breach of trust. The "mighty acts" are God's wonders, such as the Exodus. Interpretation: The rabbis see the suspected wife's case as a serious matter, tested by a ritual in the Sanctuary. Moses' words about God's "acts" are read as praise of deeds no other power can match. In the primary lessons: In safety lessons «act fast» means do the right thing quickly: get an adult, call for help. In drama lessons pupils act in plays, and a play is divided into acts and scenes. In stories, characters' acts (what they do) show who they are. In everyday talk «act like» or «act as if» means behave in that way, sometimes pretending. Phrases: act quickly, act out, act your age, an act of kindness, caught in the act, put on an act.
examples
- Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: If any man's wife go aside, and act unfaithfully against him, (Torah NUM.5.12, JPS 1917) tree →
- and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, she being defiled secretly, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken in the act; (Torah NUM.5.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- 'O Lord GOD, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth, that can do according to Thy works, and according to Thy mighty acts? (Torah DEU.3.24, JPS 1917) tree →
- The LORD executeth righteousness, and acts of justice for all that are oppressed. (Writings PSA.103.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His abundant greatness. (Writings PSA.150.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- One generation shall laud Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. (Writings PSA.145.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- If you see a fire, act quickly and tell an adult. tree →
- She will act the part of the queen in the school play. tree →
- Stop acting silly and listen. tree →
- Helping the old man was an act of kindness. tree →
- The play has three acts. tree →
- He acted as if nothing had happened. tree →
- The thief was caught in the act. tree →
- We acted out the story in class. tree →
note
Regular verb: acted. «Act like» + noun (act like a baby); «act as if» + sentence. «Act» (do, behave) and «actor» (a person who acts in plays or films). Putting on an act means pretending.
In the corpora
- Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
- And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted treacherously, saith the Lord GOD.'
- O love the LORD, all ye His godly ones; the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully repayeth him that acteth haughtily.
- I will come with Thy mighty acts, O Lord GOD; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only.
- The LORD executeth righteousness, and acts of justice for all that are oppressed.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «act» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.