Lexis (lang. levels) Flashcards
Proper noun
Refer to specific people and places, usually written with initial capital letter. Eg. England
Common noun
Classify things into general types or categories. Eg. car
Concrete noun
Refer to physical things like people objects and places. Eg. Table
Abstract noun
Refer to ideas, processes, occasions, times and qualities. Eg. time
Collective nouns
A term that refers to group of people or things. Eg. family
Superlative adjective
To show something has a quality to the greatest or least degree. Eg. Tallest
Comparative adjective
Adjective used to compare two things. Eg. Taller
Base adjective
A normal adjective with no emphasis of ‘very’. Eg. Tall
Main verb
Expresses the main meaning. Eg. I must have been thinking
Auxiliary verb (overall)
Known as the helping verb. Placed in front of the main verb to help express the meaning. Eg. I must have been thinking
Auxiliary verb (primary)
Can be used both as main and aux. verbs.
Form of to be (primary auxiliary)
Am, is, are, was, were, being, been
Form of to do (primary auxiliary)
Doe, do, did
Forms of to have (primary auxiliary)
Has, have, had, having
Auxiliary verb (modal)
Can never be used alone and cannot change forms or use infinitive or participle forms
Modal verb examples
Could, would, should, might, can, may, will, must, shall
Dynamic verb
The verb describes an action rather than a state. Eg. joe is chasing the bus.
Stative verb
The verb describes a state rather than an action. Eg. I like chocolate but I prefer fruit
Active verb
Expresses an activity that a person or thing can do. Eg. Tara eats cake
Passive verbs
When the subject isn’t doing anything. Eg. Car was arrested
Types of adverbs
- Time (I’m going there TOMORROW)
- Manner (John drives CAREFULLY)
- Places (My uncle is UPSTAIRS)
- Degree (You are walking TOO SLOWLY)
- Frequency (I NORMALLY see them)
- Duration (it was TEMPORARILY out of order)
Coordinating conjunctions
Joining two words that link together part of a sentence but clauses need to make sense on their own before joining. Eg. and, or.
Subordinating conjunctions
Used to add additional information. S. conjunction is the word used to connect the information to the main clause. Eg. He was annoyed because the train stopped
Personal pronouns
Usually replaces nouns representing people or a person. Eg. I, you, she, he, it, we, me, they, who
Possessive pronouns
Used to show ownership. Eg. his, its, ours, their, hers, my, your, mine
Interrogative pronouns
Used for questions. Eg. Who, why, when, which, what
Demonstrative pronouns
Used to demonstrate or indicate something. Eg. this, that, these, those
Indefinite pronouns
Used for non-specific persons or things. Eg. another, anybody, anyone, everyone, either, nobody
Relative pronouns
Add more information to sentence. Eg. that, which, whos, whom
Reflexive pronoun
Used when someone or something does something to itself. Eg. yourself, herself, himself, itself, themselves
Article determiners
- Definite article (the)
- Indefinite article (a or an)
Demonstrative article
This, that, these & those. For these to act as demonstratives they must be in front of a noun. Eg. that porridge was delicious
Possessive determiners
My, your, his, her, its, own & their before a noun.
Quantifier determiners
How many or how much. Eg. some, many, more, several, less, both, each
Preposition
A word that tells you where or when something is in relation to something else.
Lexical field
Words connected by the same topic. Eg. Music - song, lyrics, cadence…
Formality
The lexis people use depends on the situation, audience, purpose and context (register).
Formal
- More serious and impersonal
- Made up of SE words
- Bigger and more complex (polysyllabic)
- Less likely to abbreviate words
- Latinate roots
Informal
- Relaxed and familiar
- Colloquial and non-SE so contains dialect & slang
- Lots of abbreviations and contractions
- Usually smaller and monosyllabic
- Old-English roots
Slang
- Informal register
- Spoken rather than written
- Exclusive to particular groups
Colloquial
Familiar conversation, not formal
Taboo
Words and phrases considered inappropriate in certain context
Jargon
Specialist vocabulary associated with a particular occupation or activity. Eg. football, lawyers
Sociolect
Variety of language used for a particular class and social group. Eg. aave, northern dialect
Idiolect
Individuals use of language and speech. It relates to sociolect but can be influenced by the media, and what media you consume.
Intransitive verbs
When verbs do not have a direct object (eg. Alex laughed manically)
Transitive verbs
When verbs have a direct object (eg. Jake bought a new phone)
