Term
|
Definition
| An adjective refers to and describes a noun. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They explain how, where, why, or when. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Agreement refers to maintaining consistency in person and number when using subjects and verbs. In addition, pronouns must agree in person and number. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An antecedent is the word to which a pronoun refers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An apostrophe indicates possession and can also be used to replace missing letters or numbers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Appositives are words or phrases that further explain a noun or a pronoun. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Articles are words that modify nouns. Three common articles are the, a, and an. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Auxiliary verbs—or helping verbs—combine with main verbs to form a complete verb. The auxiliary verbs are all the forms of do, be, and have. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Brackets contain words added to direct quotations to make them grammatically correct. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cardinal numbers are the counting numbers: 1, 2, 3, and so on. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A clause contains a subject, verb, and modifiers—but is not necessarily a complete sentence. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A cliché is an expression that has lost its power although at one time it was probably clever. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Colloquial implies that expressions and phrases are not formal. Use formal language for academic writing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A comma splice is a comma used incorrectly to join two independent sentences. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A complex sentence is a sentence composed of an independent clause and a dependent clause. |
|
|
Term
| Compound-Complex Sentence |
|
Definition
| A compound-complex sentence is a sentence with two or more independent clauses and a dependent clause. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined either by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Conditional describes sentences in which a result is predicated on a condition. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Conjunctions are words that join sentences. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two independent clauses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Dashes are used to indicate a shift from one idea to another. Dashes can also be used to provide emphasis or clarity. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A dependent clause is a phrase that cannot stand alone. Dependent clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions and followed by commas. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A direct object receives the action of a verb. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Ellipsis is the name of the three dots used to show parts have been left out of a direct quotation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An expletive has two meanings: it is either an expression that adds no meaning to the sentence or a vulgar expression. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A fragment is an incomplete sentence. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hyphen is used to connect two or more words in a sentence. Hyphenated words can act as modifiers or compound words that can stand alone. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An independent clause is a phrase that can stand alone as a complete sentence. While independent and dependent clauses can have a subject and a verb, only an independent clause can stand alone. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An indirect object receives the direct object. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An indirect quotation restates the general meaning rather than the actual words of the speaker. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An infinitive is the non-conjugated form of a verb that begins with "to." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An interjection is a short exclamation and is normally used to show emotion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Jargon refers to expressions used only within certain disciplines or by certain people. Because formal writing is intended to be read by a wide audience, avoid jargon. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Linking verbs connect the subject to a noun or an adjective. The following are linking verbs: be, get, become, taste, feel, stay, sound, and appear. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A main clause is another name for an independent clause or a phrase that can stand alone. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is not connected to the object it is modifying. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Modal verbs are a special set of helping verbs. The following are modal verbs: can, should, must, and may. Sometimes dare and need |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A modifier changes the meaning of another word. A modifier can be a verb or adverb, but a phrase can also be a modifier. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A nonrestrictive clause adds information about the antecedent but does not limit the antecedent. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A noun is a person, place, or thing—tangible or abstract. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Ordinal numbers tell position: first, second, third, and so on. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Parallelism means that words in a list are grammatically similar. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Parentheses are used to set off information that is not essential to the meaning of a sentence. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| English has two types of participles: present and past. The present participle is the -ing form of a verb. Normally, the past participle is formed by adding -ed to a verb, but there are irregular forms of the past participle. In addition, participles can serve as adjectives. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Parts of speech refer to a way to classify words in a sentence. The following are parts of speech and covered as individual terms in the Grammar Glossary: noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, conjunction, preposition, verb, and interjection. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A preposition shows relationships between nouns. Some examples of prepositions are: over, under, around, through, in, and at. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A pronoun takes the place of a noun. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Quotation marks are used to set off someone's words or thoughts, titles of minor literary works, words that need special emphasis in a sentence, and formal definitions of words. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Redundancy refers to unnecessary repetition. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A relative clause is the clause introduced by a relative pronoun. The relative pronouns are who(m), which, and that. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A relative pronoun refers to a noun in the previous clause. The relative pronouns are who(m), which, and that. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A restrictive clause is one that limits its antecedent. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A run-on sentence is two independent clauses written together without correct punctuation or conjunctions. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A split infinitive is formed when an infinitive verb forms with a word inserted between "to" and the verb. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The subject of a sentence is the doer, sometimes called the agent. |
|
|
Term
| Subordinating Conjunction |
|
Definition
| A subordinating conjunction is a word that joins an independent clause and a dependent clause. |
|
|
