Types of words Flashcards
Adjective
a word that describes a noun or pronoun
The pretty bird sang. | The kind man helped me.
Adverb
A word that describes verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
He ran quickly. (describes the verb “ran”)
My sock is very wet. (describes the adjective “wet”)
He ran so quickly. (describes the adverb “quickly”)
Article
A word that connects words, phrases, and clauses (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
The horse ate an apple
Coordinating conjunction
A word that connects words, phrases, and clauses (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Dan and I made cookies, but they burned
Preposition
A linking word, often shows a relationship or position in time or space (of, off, at, on, by, in, out, below, from, under, into, through, during, after, inside).
After lunch we walked over the bridge.
The bouquet of flowers is from Dad.
Pronoun
a word that replaces a noun There are eight types of pronouns. (These examples are not complete lists.)
* personal (I, you, he, she, we, they, it)
* possessive (his, her, hers, their, theirs, our, ours, your, yours, its)
* demonstrative (that, this) * adjective (that, this, which, what, any, each)
* relative (that, which, what, who)
* indefinite (another, any, each, either, none)
* interrogative (who, what, which)
* reciprocal (each other, one another We gave the book to her, and she loved it.
Proper noun
A specific name of a person, place, or thing (Proper nouns are capitalized.)
Ellen lived in Virginia during the Civil War.
Subordinating conjunction
A connecting word that comes at the beginning of a dependent clause (There are over 50 subordinating conjunctions).
After the game ended, we ate dinner.
We ate dinner after the game ended.
When you are ready, we will leave.
Subject
Who or what is doing or being (The subject can be a noun or a pronoun.)
Miguel is nice. | The beautiful bird sang a song
Verb
An action or being word (A “being verb” is a form of the verb “to be.”)
The boy jumped and laughed.
You are happy, and so am I.
Allegory
An extended metaphor that presents objects, events, or characters in a symbolic narrative
Christ’s parables are examples of allegories.
Alliteration
The repetition of the same beginning sound of words that are adjacent or close together. (Writers use alliteration to make lines sound more smooth and catchy.) The winter wind whispers outside the window.
Allusion
An indirect or passing reference to a well-known place, event, character, or literary work.
Walking through your yard is like visiting Eden.
That Scrooge grumbles about the holiday season
Anaphora
The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of sentences or clauses
We shall not fail. We shall go on. We shall prevail!
Assosonance
The repetition of vowel sounds within a phrase, sentence, or line of a poem.
My kite flies high at night.
Consonance
The repetition of consonant sounds within a phrase, sentence, or line of a poem.
The tent they sent has a lot of lint and ants
Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally; an obviously exaggerated statement. He walks slower than a snail creeps.
These shoes are killing me.
Metaphor
A literary device in which a word or phrase is used to compare two things without using “like” or “as”.
The snow was a white blanket.
The lawn is a green carpet.
Onomatopoeia
The use of a word or words that imitate the sounds they represent. Tick-tock, Swish, Zoom, Bang! Boom!
Personification
A figure of speech in which non-human things are given human attributes.
Rain pounded on the roof.
The thunder grumbled across the sky.
Sensory language
Writing that appeals to the senses: touch, taste, sound, sight, smell
The clattering of hooves woke the king.
Simile
A literary device in which a word or phrase is used to compare two things using “like” or “as”.
Gina is as gentle as a lamb.
Seth sings like an angel.
