Syntax

Question 1

Phrases

Answer 1

Structure of words but lacks the subject-predicate organisation of a clause. (often lacking a verb)

Example: The house at the end of the street. (Noun phrase)

Question 2

Clauses

Answer 2

Smallest grammatical unit that expresses a complete proposition. (Subject + Predicate, verb phrase)

Question 3

Subject

Answer 3

Indicates what a sentence is about or who performs an action (agent).

Example: [Mary] cooked pasta.

Question 4

Object

Answer 4

The entity that is acted upon by the subject.

Example: Mary cooked [pasta].

Question 5

Complement

Answer 5

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Question 6

Adverbial

Answer 6

A word, phrase or clause that performs the function of an adverb.

Example: James answered the phone [this morning] (describes how he answered the phone).

Question 7

Sentence Fragment

Answer 7

An incomplete sentence, often missing a subject or verb.

Example: I don’t really like the sky. [Which is blue.]

Question 8

Simple Sentences

Answer 8

A unit structured around a verb phrase. (clause)

Example: You can eat the food.

Question 9

Compound Sentences

Answer 9

Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Example:

Question 10

Complex Sentences

Answer 10

A clause and an independent clause joined by a subordinating conjunction.

Example: [I usually use a guitar pick] whenever [I play my guitar].

Question 11

Compound-complex Sentences

Answer 11

A sentence made up of two independet clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Example: [Although I like camping], [I haven’t had time to go lately] and [I haven’t found anyone to go with.]

Question 12

Ellipsis

Answer 12

The ommision of a part of a grammatical structure.

Example: “[Are] you going to the party?” “[I] might be.”

Question 13

Nominalisation

Answer 13

The process in which words from various word classes are formed into nouns. This increases formality and can often remove the agent from a sentences.

Example: (without) I recommend you eat the cake. (with) It is a recommendation that you eat the cake.

Question 14

Coordination

Answer 14

Linking sentences using coordinating conjunctions, while giving each sentence equal power.

Example: The two girls cooked soup and the three boys built a snowman.

Question 15

Subordination

Answer 15

Linking sentences using conjunctions in such a way that one sentence has more attention and emphasis than another. Often contains a dependent clause.

Example: While it was snowing, the three boys built a snowman.

Question 16

Active Voice

Answer 16

SVO: Agent -> Action -> Object
(The order of the key elements in a sentence.)

Example: The dog jumped onto the boy. The man shot water at the target.

Question 17

Passive Voice

Answer 17

OVS: Object -> Action -> Agent
(The order of the key elements in a sentence.)

Example: The boy was jumped on by the dog. The target was shot with water by the man.

Question 18

Agentless Passive

Answer 18

OV: Object -> Action
(The order of the key elements in a sentence, removing the agent of the sentence.)

Example: The boy was jumped on. The target was shot by water.

Question 19

Antithesis

Answer 19

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Question 20

Listing

Answer 20

A list of two or more items.

Example: eggs, milk, flour, water.

Question 21

Parallelism

Answer 21

The use of a similar sentence structure through the use of sounds, words and clauses.

Example: The sun rises. The sun sets.

Question 22

Declarative (Sentence Type)

Answer 22

Declarative sentences are statements.

Example: The floor was blue.

Question 23

Imperative (Sentence Type)

Answer 23

Imperative sentences are commands or instructions.

Example: Clean the floor.

Question 24

Interrogative (Sentence Type)

Answer 24

Interrogative sentences are questions or queries.

Example: What was the weather like?

Question 25

Exclamative (Sentence Type)

Answer 25

Exclamative sentences are sentences that express heavy emotion.

Example: OUCH!

Question 26

Predicate

Answer 26

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