You watch a video online. You type your thoughts below. You share your opinion.
That is a comment. Today we learn four words.
“Comment,” “commentator,” “commenting,” and “commented.”
Each word shares the idea of saying or writing an opinion. Each does a different job.
Parents and children can learn these words together. They help with online and classroom talk.
What Does “Same Word, Different Forms” Mean?
One action takes different shapes. The action here is giving an opinion or explanation.
“Comment” is a verb. “Please comment on this story.” Action.
“Comment” is also a noun. “She left a nice comment on my post.” Message.
“Commentator” is a noun. “The sports commentator described the goal.” Person.
“Commenting” is a noun or verb part. “Commenting on videos is popular.” Activity. “I am commenting right now.” Verb part.
“Commented” is a past tense verb. “He commented on the weather yesterday.” Action in the past.
Same root. Different endings. Different jobs. The opinion stays the same.
Personal Pronouns Change Their Form
Pronouns change for grammar. “I” becomes “me.” “We” becomes “us.”
Our words change for role and time. “I comment on photos.” Present.
“The commentator speaks clearly.” Person. “Commenting takes time.” Activity.
“She commented last week.” Past.
Pronouns help us speak faster. Word families help us talk about sharing thoughts.
When children know these four words, they understand social media and news.
From Verb to Noun to Adjective to Adverb – One Family, Many Words
“Comment” works as a verb. “Comment below with your answer.” Action.
“Comment” also works as a noun. “Read the comments on this article.” Message.
“Commentator” is a noun. “A political commentator gave her view.” Person.
“Commenting” is a noun. “Commenting on the internet can be fun.” Activity.
“Commented” is a past tense verb. “The teacher commented on my drawing.” Action finished.
We have no common adverb. “Commentingly” is very rare. Skip it.
Five members. One word has two jobs (noun and verb for “comment”).
One Root, Many Roles – How Words Grow from Actions to Qualities
The root “comment” comes from Latin “commentari.” It meant to think over or invent. Later it meant to write notes.
Ancient scholars wrote comments on old texts. They explained difficult passages.
From that root, we add “-ator” to name the person. “Commentator” means one who comments professionally.
We add “-ing” to name the activity. “Commenting” is the act of leaving remarks.
We add “-ed” for past tense. “Commented” means the remark was already made.
Help your child see this pattern. Comment is the remark. Commentator is the person. Commenting is the activity. Commented is the past.
Same Meaning, Different Jobs – Is It a Verb or a Noun?
Look at “comment” in a sentence. Ask: Is it an action? Or is it a message?
“Please comment on my drawing.” Action. Verb.
“That comment was very kind.” Message. Noun.
Same word. Two jobs. Context tells you.
Now look at “commentator.” Always a noun. “The commentator analyzed the play.”
“Commenting” is usually a noun or verb part. “Commenting is allowed.” Noun. “I am commenting on this video.” Verb part.
“Commented” is always a past tense verb. “Mom commented on my good grade.”
Teach children to look at the word’s ending. “-ator” means person. “-ing” means activity. “-ed” means past.
“Comment” alone can be present verb or noun.
Adjectives and Adverbs – When Do We Add -ly?
We add “-ly” to “commenting” to make “commentingly.” Very rare. Skip it.
We do not add “-ly” to “comment,” “commentator,” or “commented.”
If you want to describe how someone comments, use a separate adverb. “She commented thoughtfully.” “He commented quickly.”
This family stays simple. Focus on the verb and noun forms.
Children use “comment” and “commented” often with online platforms.
That is plenty for digital life.
Watch Out for Tricky Spelling Changes (Double Letters, y to i, and More)
Spelling has one small note. “Comment” has double “m” in the middle. Keep both “m”s.
For adding endings: “Comment” adds “-ator” to make “commentator.” Keep double “m.” Comment + ator = commentator.
“Comment” adds “-ing” to make “commenting.” Keep double “m.” Comment + ing = commenting.
“Comment” adds “-ed” to make “commented.” Keep double “m.” Comment + ed = commented.
No dropping. No vowel changes. The double “m” stays in all forms.
Practice with your child. Write “comment.” Circle the double “m.” Add “ator.” You get “commentator.” Add “ing.” You get “commenting.” Add “ed.” You get “commented.”
No tricks. Very clean.
Let’s Practice – Can You Choose the Right Form?
Try these sentences. Fill in the blank with comment, commentator, commenting, or commented.
Please _____ on this picture. (action verb)
The sports _____ described the final play. (person)
_____ on social media can be positive or negative. (activity, starts sentence)
She _____ that the cake was delicious. (past tense verb)
I left a nice _____ under the video. (noun, message)
The news _____ explained the election results. (person)
He _____ on every post his friend made. (past tense verb)
We are _____ on the live stream right now. (verb part with are)
Answers: 1 comment, 2 commentator, 3 Commenting, 4 commented, 5 comment, 6 commentator, 7 commented, 8 commenting.
Number 3 starts with a capital letter because it begins the sentence.
Number 5 uses “comment” as a noun meaning the message itself.
Number 8 uses “commenting” as a verb part with “are” for present continuous tense.
Tips for Parents – Help Your Child Learn Word Families in a Fun Way
Watch a video together. “Leave a comment below the video.”
Point to the commentator on TV. “That person is a commentator.”
Talk about commenting as an activity. “Commenting nicely makes people happy.”
Use past tense. “Yesterday, you commented on my drawing.”
Read the comments section of a kid-friendly post. Point out different comments.
Play a game. You show a picture. Your child makes a comment. “I like the blue car.”
Write a fake comment section on paper. “Write your comment here.”
Do not correct every mistake. If your child says “commenter” instead of “commentator,” gently say “On TV, we call them commentators.”
Celebrate when your child uses “commentator.” That is a specific and impressive word.
Explain that a commentator talks about what is happening. “In sports, the commentator tells you what the players are doing.”
Tomorrow you might leave a comment on a recipe. You will hear a commentator on the radio. You will see people commenting on a live video. You will remember who commented on your post yesterday.
Your child might say “I commented on my friend’s drawing.” You will ask what they wrote.
Keep commenting. Keep watching commentators. Keep practicing commenting. Keep using commented for yesterday.
Your child will grow in language and in thoughtful sharing of opinions. Comments can build connection.
