Language Flashcards
Proper nouns
specific people
and places: Paris,
Andrew, Venus
Abstract noun
things that do not
exist physically;
feelings, ideas and
qualities
Concrete nouns
things that exist
physically:
computer, house,
dog
Collective nouns
groups of people,
animals or objects:
team, family, flock,
gaggle, litter, herd
Comparative adjectives
Compare one noun
to another e.g.
bigger, smaller
Superlative adjectives
The adjective is the
least or the most
e.g. ‘biggest’,
‘strongest’
Dynamic verbs
A verb you can
physically see e.g.
running, walking
Stative verbs
A verb that is a
state not an action
e.g. thinking,
wondering
Modal auxiliary verb
These tell you the
necessity of
possibility attached
to a verb e.g.
should, could,
would, may, might
Adverbs
Modify verbs by
telling us the
manner, time,
place, frequency,
degree, quantity or
evaluation of a
verb
Lexical fields
a segment of reality symbolized by a set of related words
Connotations
an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Metaphor
a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison, but in a way different from a simile.
Simile
a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid
Personification
the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.
Symbolism
the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Pathetic fallacy
the attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals, especially in art and literature.
