Language Terminology Flashcards
Noun (and noun phrase)
A noun is always the subject of the sentence. It is used to describe a person, a place, a thing, an idea or a concept.
A noun phrase plays the role of the noun. It is made up of group of words which contains a noun. A noun with any sort of modifier is a noun phrase.
Verb (and verb phrase)
Verbs are “doing words”. A verb can express a physical action, a mental action, or state of being.
A verb phrase consists of a main verb and one or more helping/auxiliary verbs linked together. Helping verbs include forms of be, such as am, is, are, was, were, being, and been etc.
Example: “Despite our reservations, we did go out in the snowstorm”.
Did go is the verb phrase. Did is the helping verb, and go is the main verb.
Adjective (and adjectival phrase)
An adjective is simply a “describing word”. An adjective specifically describes a noun or noun phrase and by doing so, gives more information about the object signified.
An adjectival phrase is a group of words headed by an adjective. It is also used before a noun it is modifying.
Examples:
Unbelievably expensive Extremely menacing Fairly bored with you Far too serious Very tempting Her overly enthusiastic
The dog COVERED IN MUD is mine.
Adverb (and adverbial phrase)
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, determiner, noun phrase, clause, or sentence.
An adverb is a word that tells us more about a verb. It “qualifies” or “modifies” a verb (The man ran quickly).
Adverbial phrase is the term for two or more words which play the role of an adverb. For example: I will sit quietly. (normal adverb) I will sit in silence. (adverbial phrase) I will sit like a monk meditates. (adverbial clause)
Simile
A simile is a figure of speech. It involves the comparison of on thing with another thing of a different kind. It is used to make a description more empathetic or vivid.
Example: “her cheeks are like roses”
Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren’t alike but do have something in common.
Personification
Personification is the attribution of personal qualities. Representing a thing or object as a person or a human form.
Pathetic Fallacy
Pathetic Fallacy is a technique for creating atmosphere in a story. Emotions are giving to setting, objects and weather.
Literally means “fake emotions”.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repeated occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of consecutive or closely connected words.
Colloquial Language
Words and phrases used in casual situations (not formal).
It is local slang. Everyday speech: informal language that is not rude but would not be used in a formal situation.
Imagery
Imagery is a way of describing something symbolically, using words to create a picture in the reader’s imagination.
Fact (and Statistic)
A fact is a thing that is known or proved to be true.
A statistic is a piece of data obtained from a study.
Imperative Verb
Imperative words are basically commands. They tell people what to do.
“Close the door”
“Eat your dinner”
“Empty the trash”
Rhetorical Question
A type of question asked simply for effect with no answer expected.
A figure of speech that is asked in order to make a point.
Hyperbole
Statements that are deliberately exaggerated not meant to be taken literally.
“Everyone knows that”
“She is the fastest thing on two feet”
