Grammar - Syntax Flashcards
Grammar
The whole system and structure of a language (including morphology and syntax)
Syntax
The word order and grammatical structure of sentences
Double Negative
Two negatives placed in the same sentence, thereby turning it into a positive
For example:
It can’t possibly not rain = It will rain
Tautology
Producing redundancy through saying the same thing twice in different words
For example:
Sam’s AUTOBIOGRAPHY of HIS OWN LIFE
Clause
A grammatical unit which can either stand alone (main clause) or support a section of the sentence (subordinate clause) but it must contain a verb
Main Clause
A clause which is complete by itself and as such, can form an independent sentence
For example:
I walk the dog
Subordinate Clause
A clause which is not complete by itself and as such, cannot form independent sentence
For example:
Because the pig rolled.
Conditional Clause
A specific type of subordinate clause which expresses an imagined situation or condition and the possible result of that situation - it is usually introduced with either IF or UNLESS
For Example:
If it rains
Relative Clause
A specific type of subordinate clause which adds more information to the noun and is usually introduced with a relative pronoun
For example:
My gran, who is 82, still lives in Newcastle.
Co-ordination
Joining aspects of a sentence together using coordinating conjunctions. These are FANBOYS
Subordination
Joining aspects of a sentence together using subordinating conjunctions.
For example:
Because
Sentence
A unit of meaning which is formed from a clause / several clauses (except in the case of the minor / orthographic sentences)
Simple Sentence
One complete independent clause
For example:
I burnt dinner.
Compound Sentence
2 or more independent clauses which are joined together with a coordinating conjunction
For example:
I made tea and she fell asleep.
Complex Sentence
An independent close and a dependent / subordinate clause which are usually joined with either a subordinating conjunction or a comma
For example:
Whilst I was sleeping, I walked around my house.
Compound-Complex Sentence
They have at least two independent clauses and a subordinate clause.
For example:
When it was snowing, Pippa read and she drank hot chocolate.
Orthographic / Minor Sentence
A sentence without a verb (also called a fragment sentence)
For example:
Oh my God!
Declarative Utterance
A sentence which makes a statement
Exclamative Utterance
A sentence which has an expressive function and ends with an exclamation mark
Imperative Utterance
A sentence which is a command
Interrogative Utterance
A sentence which asks a question
Conditional Utterance
A main clause and a conditional clause showing possibility.
For example:
If it rains, I will cry.
Subject
The noun, pronoun or noun phrase that precedes and governs the main verb.
Object
A noun, noun phrase or a pronoun that is affected by the action of a verb.
Active Voice
Placing the subject before the verb
For example:
The pupils looked in confusion at Miss B.
Passive Voice
Placing the object and verb before the subject – it is usually indicated by “by + subject”, however the subject is sometimes omitted
Vocative
A word or phrase used to address a reader or a listener directly, usually in the form of a personal name, title, or term of endearment
Antecedent
The noun or noun phrase which a pronoun refers to.
For example:
If a MAN has talent and can’t use it, HE’S failed.
Fronting (Front-Focus)
Placing elements of a clause before they would typically appear to add emphasis
For example:
A very posh camera it was.
Suspension (End-Focus)
Delaying the most important information within a sentence until the end.
For example:
All you need is love.
Fronted Adverbial
An adverbial phrase which has been moved to the front of the sentence and is usually separated from the main clause with a comma
For example:
All night long, we danced.
Syntactical Parallelism
When parts of the sentence are grammatically the same or are similar in construction - it can be a word, a phrase, or an entire sentence.
For example:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Normal Syntax
The typical word order and grammatical structure of sentences.
For example:
Jane ate the cake.
Inverted Syntax
A change to the typical word order and grammatical structure of sentences.
For Example:
A cake Jane ate.
