Language (Grammar and Sentence Structure) Flashcards
Grammar
The structures and systems that make up a language.
Prescriptivism (Grammar thought)
Encourage grammatically correct usage and adheres to strict language rules.
Descriptivism (Grammar thought)
Believe language should be taught in a way that mirrors how it is used daily based on culture.
Personal Pronoun
Act as the subject or the object.
The person doing the verb or The Who/what the verb I done too.
Possessive Pronouns
Indicate possession.
Reflexive/Intensive Pronouns
Intensify a noun or reflect back upon the noun. End with “self”
Relative Pronouns
Begins dependent clauses. References person or thing when renaming it or giving additional information in the sentence.
That, which, whom, whose, who
Interrogative Pronouns
Begin questions by asking for information about someone or something.
Demonstrative Pronouns
Point out or draw attention. They can indicate proximity or distance.
Indefinite Pronouns
Basic pronouns that replace a noun to avoid repetition.
Indicative Verb
Verbs that state facts. Usually written as a phrase
Subjunctive Verb
Make a wishful statement or speculates something.
Conditional Verbs
Something has to happen in order for the other thing to happen. It’s a condition.
Imperative Verbs
Give a command
Verb Tenses
Indicates the time of the action. Past, present, future.
Linking Verbs
Connects the subject to the subject complement.
Subject Complement
Adjective, noun, or pronoun that renames or describes the verb.
Helping Verbs
Verbs that extend another verb’s meaning.
Transitive Verbs
Take an object. Lay, raise, set.
Present Participle
When a verb ends in -ing and is used to show an action is continuing.
Simple Past Tense
The action has already happened.
Past Continuous Tense
We use this to refer to something in the past that has already happened, but as though it were still happening (usually in the context of another event).
Past Perfect Tense
We usually use this to talk about events that have already been completed before a specified time or another event.
Past Perfect Continuous
Verb form that refers to an action that was still happening until another event occurred.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Join independent clauses.
Correlative Conjunctions
Connecting words that come in pairs and both have to be used in the sentence.
Prepositions
Show relationship in time or space. Detail location.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Connect words, phrases, and clauses. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Syntax
Study of how words are combined to create sentences.
Phrase
A group of words that communicates a partial idea, but is missing a subject or predicate.
Predicate
Contains a verb and says something about the subject.. it tells what the subject does.
Prepositional Phrase
Begins with a preposition and explains relationship in time and space including when and where.
Verb Phrase
Phrase made up of the main verb and helping verbs. “The chef WOULD HAVE CREATED another cake…”
Noun Phrase
Phrase that includes a noun and its modifiers.
“THE BIG, RED BARN rests beside THE VACANT CHICKEN COOP.”
Appositive Phrases
Renames a word or a group of words that precedes them.
Gerund Phrase
Begin with a verb that’s acting like a noun.
Participle Phrase
Phrase that acts like an adjective. It can be removed from the sentence and the sentence will still make sense.
Infinitive Phrase
Begins with “to-VERB”. Acts like noun, adjective, or adverb.
Absolute Phrase
Noun + participle. Usually answers the question “under what conditions?”
Clauses
Contain a subject and a verb. Independent or dependent clause.
Dependent Clause
Can’t stand alone. Also called subordinate clauses.
Adverb Clause
Type of Dependent Clause. They modify independent clauses by answering adverb questions.
Noun Clauses
Acts like a noun and takes the place of the subject, object of the preposition, or direct object.
Adjective Clauses
Provide more information about the noun or pronoun in the sentence. They always follow it.
Usually start with relative pronouns and adverbs.
Simple Sentence
Basic sentence with one subject and one predicate (verb and says something about the subject.)
Compound Sentence
Two or more simple sentences joined together with a conjunction.
Complex Sentence
A simple sentence with a dependent clause added to it.
Compound-Complex Sentences
A sentence with at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause.
Present Progressive Tense
Indicates something that is happening now and uses the “to be” helping verb.
Future Tense
Indicates something that will happen later.
Subject + shall/will + verb.
Present Perfect Tense
Indicates the action has been completed or that the action extends to the present.
Present Tense + Past Participle of the verb.
Past Progressive Tense
Indicates action that happened in the past but with an -ing ending verb.
“To Be” verb in past tense + the present participle _-ing ending)
Use of a semi-colon
Show relationship between two independent clauses. Usually uses a conjunctive adverb
Use of a colon
Shows relationship between two clauses while highlighting the info in the second clause. Used with lists, definition, or clarifications.
Usage Conventions
Govern word choice and order.
Progressive Tense
Indicates continuing action or an action in progress
Sentence Fragment
When a group of words does not have a subject and a verb. Doesn’t express a complete thought.
Comma Splice
When two independent clauses are connected by just a comma. (missing conjunction).
Run on sentences
When two independent clauses are put together without punctuation.
Affixes
Prefixes and suffixes of words.
Denotation
A word’s dictionary definition.
Connotation
A word’s implied meaning.
Sociolinguistics
Study of language and it’s relationship with culture and society.
Pidgin
A grammatically simplified language that combines elements of multiple languages. Created out of necessity to communicate.
Register (language)
Understanding the level of formalness needed, differences in setting, appropriate context, etc.
Cognate
Words that have the same root word.
Apposition
When two noun phrases are next to each other and one identifies the other in a different way.
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.”
Euphony
Words that sound pleasant
