Language Flashcards
Statement
Provides information.
Question
Requires an answer
Command
An instruction
Exclamation
Conveys emotions, usually ends in exclamation mark.
Simple sentence
Stands alone and contains one finite verb.
Compound sentence
Two or more simple sentences joined by conjunctions.
Complex sentence
Contains a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Compound complex sentence
A combination of compound and complex sentences
Loose sentence
The main clause appears at the beginning of the sentence.
Periodic sentence
The main clause appears at the end of the sentence.
Slang
Words which are used in informal talk and are not usually written down. They are particular to a group of people and
not understood by those outside of the group.
Colloquial language
Informal words that were slang but have become universal and accepted. May also be idioms.
Standard English
Proper formal English.
Jargon
Words which are particular to a certain profession, trade or
any exclusive group.
Synonyms
Words which are similar in meaning.
Antonyms
Words which are opposite in meaning.
Cliché
Very well-known and overused expression
Spoonerism
When the first letter of a word is swapped with the first letter of another word.
Malapropism
sing the incorrect word which sounds similar to the correct word.
Pun
A play on words /one word has more than one meaning.
Satire
To ridicule an important issue or ideology in order to present a truth.
Irony
To say something, but to mean the opposite.
Sarcasm
To say something but mean the opposite - always nasty and usually not very clever.
Rhetorical question
A question that does not require an answer; it is a statement.
Wit
To use irony or humour in a clever way.
Simile
Comparison using like or as.
Metaphor
Comparison by calling something by another name.
Personification
Giving non-human things, human qualities.
Assonance
Repetition of vowels.
Alliteration
Repetition of consonants.
Onomatopoeia
Giving the exact sound of something.
Euphemism
Saying something harsh in a much softer way.
Hyperbole
Gross exaggeration.
Innuendo
Implying something, rather than saying it out straight.
Proper noun
The name of unique objects, places and people; always begins with a capital letter.
Common noun
The name of everyday objects that can be recognized by our five senses. Never have a capital letter.
Collective noun
The name of groups of nouns.
Abstract noun
The name of abstract or intangible nouns. Very often are feelings.
Adjectives
describe the noun.
Give examples of adjectives
Descriptive, demonstrative, possessive, interrogative, numerical, indefinite and the articles.
Definite article
The
Indefinite article
a, an.
Verbs
Show action or a state of being.
Finite verbs
subject, number and tense
Non-finite verbs
Auxiliary verbs (help), Present participles, Past participles, Infinitives (to be)
Gerund
Verbal noun
Gerundive
Verbal adjective.
Transitive verbs
The action is carried over to the object.
How to identify transitive verb
That is, an object follows the verb directly.
Intransitive verbs
The verb has no object or as an indirect object.
How to identify an intransitive verb
A pronoun appears between the verb and the object.
Linking verb
connects the nouns or noun phrases. One implies the other.
Pronouns
Stand in the place of a noun.
Name the different types of pronouns
Personal, relative, demonstrative, interrogative, possessive, reflexive, and indefinite.
Conjunctions
Join words, phrases or sentences.
Prepositions
Show position and the relationship between nouns.
Adverbs
Add to the verb and answer the question when? where? and how?
Name the different types of adverbs
Manner, place, time, reason, negation, degree.
Interjections
Interrupt the sentence and have no grammatical value.
A phrase
Is a group of words functioning as a part of speech but does not contain a finite verb.
An adjectival phrase
Begins with either a preposition or a participle and functions as an adjective.
An adverbial phrase
Begins with a preposition, functions as an adverb, and qualifies the verb in terms of manner, reason, time or place.
A clause
Is either a main clause or a subordinate clause.
A main clause
The main idea in the sentence.
subordinate clause
functions as a part of speech. Both must contain finite verbs.
An adjectival clause
Always begins with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which or that) and functions as an adjective.
An adverbial clause
Always begins with a conjunction and qualifies the verb in terms of manner, reason, time or place.
