English and Language Usage Flashcards
Define a pronoun and give an example.
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Examples include “he,” “she,” “it,” “they.”
What is the difference between ‘there,’ ‘their,’ and ‘they’re’?
‘There’ refers to a location, ‘their’ is a possessive adjective showing ownership, and ‘they’re’ is a contraction for ‘they are.’
What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a comma and a conjunction, or by a semicolon.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, implying a resemblance, without using “like” or “as.”
What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
A thesis statement declares the main point or controlling idea of the entire essay and briefly answers the questions posed by the paper.
What are coordinating conjunctions? Give examples.
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses that are independent or of equal rank. Examples include “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” “so.”
Define ‘passive voice’ and give an example.
Passive voice occurs when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. Example: “The cake was eaten by her.”
Explain the term ‘dangling modifier’ and provide an example.
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. Example: “Driving to the grocery store, the car’s tire went flat.” (It’s unclear who was driving.)
What is an expository essay?
An expository essay explores topics by providing information and facts, explaining ideas, or defining complex terms.
What is a clause in English grammar?
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. It can be independent or dependent.
What is a rhetorical question?
A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a phrase or an expression that has a figurative, sometimes non-literal, meaning.
Explain the difference between ‘affect’ and ‘effect.’
‘Affect’ is typically a verb meaning to influence something, while ‘effect’ is a noun meaning the result of a change.
What is a narrative essay?
A narrative essay tells a story from a particular point of view and includes characters, a plot, and a setting, typically with a climax and a resolution.
What is an infinitive?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word ‘to.’ For example, ‘to eat,’ ‘to see,’ and ‘to be.’
What is a simile?
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as.’
What is a subjunctive mood?
The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, proposals, suggestions, or imagined situations, often following words like ‘wish,’ ‘suggest,’ or ‘if.’
What is the difference between ‘its’ and ‘it’s’?
‘Its’ is a possessive form of ‘it’ (indicating ownership), while ‘it’s’ is a contraction for ‘it is’ or ‘it has.’
What is a homophone? Provide examples.
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and/or spellings. Examples: ‘to,’ ‘too,’ ‘two’; ‘there,’ ‘their,’ ‘they’re.’
What is a thesis in academic writing?
A thesis is a statement or central argument that a writer proposes and will support in a paper.
What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
What is a predicate in English grammar?
The predicate is the part of a sentence or clause that tells what the subject does or is described as doing.
What is a compound-complex sentence?
A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
What does ‘juxtaposition’ mean in literary terms?
Juxtaposition is a literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters, and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts.
What is an ‘ellipsis,’ and how is it used in writing?
An ellipsis is a series of three dots (…) used in writing to indicate an omission of words or a trailing off of speech.
What is a ‘determiner’?
A determiner is a word placed in front of a noun to clarify what the noun refers to, such as articles, demonstratives, and possessive pronouns.
What is an abstract noun?
An abstract noun is a type of noun that is not tangible and cannot be perceived by the senses, such as “freedom,” “love,” or “happiness.”
What is an imperative sentence?
An imperative sentence gives commands, requests, or instructions directly to the reader or listener.
What is a run-on sentence?
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are connected improperly without appropriate punctuation or conjunctions.
What is ‘voice’ in writing?
In writing, ‘voice’ refers to the style or format through which narrators tell their stories, which can be active or passive.
What is a ‘cliché’?
A cliché is an overused expression that, due to its overuse, has lost its original impact or novelty.
What is a conjunction and provide examples.
A euphemism is a polite or mild word or expression used to refer to something embarrassing, taboo, or unpleasant. Example: “Passed away” instead of “died.”
What is a conjunction and provide examples.
A conjunction is a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause, such as “and,” “but,” “if,” and “or.”
What is a ‘subject’ in English grammar?
The subject in a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something.
Define ‘literary device’ and provide an example.
A literary device is a technique a writer uses to produce a special effect in their writing. An example is metaphor, which compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”
What does ‘plural’ mean in grammatical terms?
Plural refers to a grammatical number indicating that there is more than one of something, typically denoted by adding an -s, -es, or changing the word such as ‘foot’ to ‘feet’.
Define ‘sarcasm’ and provide an example.
Sarcasm is the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Example: Saying “What a beautiful view” when looking at a wall of concrete.
Define ‘context’ in terms of reading comprehension.
In reading, context refers to the words or sentences that surround a particular word or passage which help clarify its meaning.
Define ‘paradox’ and provide an example.
A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself but might include a latent truth. Example: “This statement is false.”
What is ‘allusion’ in literature?
An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance without elaborate on the detail.
What does ‘cohesive’ mean in terms of writing?
In writing, ‘cohesive’ refers to the clarity and logical structuring that holds text together and gives it meaning, helping the content flow smoothly from one point or paragraph to the next.
Define ‘oxymoron’ and provide an example.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Example: “deafening silence.”
What is the difference between ‘mood’ and ‘tone’ in literature?
Tone refers to the writer’s attitude toward the subject or audience, whereas mood refers to the feeling or atmosphere that the writing evokes in the reader.
What are transition words? Give three examples.
Transition words are used to link ideas in writing and include examples such as “furthermore,” “however,” and “therefore.”
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
What is the difference between ‘literal’ and ‘figurative’ language?
Literal language means exactly what it says, while figurative language uses similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification to describe something often through comparison with something different.
What is a compound adjective and provide an example.
A compound adjective is made up of two or more words that function as a single adjective. Example: “A well-known author.”
What is a dangling participle? Provide an example.
A dangling participle is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. Example: “While walking across the street, a car hit her.”
What is a malapropism? Provide an example.
A malapropism is the misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar. Example: “He is the very pineapple of politeness,” instead of “pinnacle.”
Define ‘climax’ in a story.
The climax is the most intense, exciting, or important point of something, typically a narrative or series of events.
