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Grammar Glossary
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Grammar Glossary
Abbreviation
Adverb
Antecedent
Action verb
Adverb
clause
Apostrophe
Active voice
Adjective
Adverb
phrase
Adjective
clause
Agreement
Adjective
phrase
Ambiguous
reference
Appositive
Appositive
phrase
Article
Grammar Glossary
Bad, badly
Base form
Brackets
Grammar Glossary
Capitalization
Comma splice
Case of
pronouns
Comparison
of modifiers
Clause
Complement
Compound
sentence
Colon
Complex
sentence
Conjunction
Comma
Compoundcomplex
sentence
Contraction
Grammar Glossary
Dangling
modifier
Double
comparison
Dash
Double
negative
Declarative
sentence
Double
subject
Direct
object
Grammar Glossary
Elliptical
construction
End marks
Essential clause/
essential phrase
Exclamatory
sentence
Grammar Glossary
Faulty
coordination
Fused
sentence
Grammar Glossary
General
reference
Gerund
Gerund
phrase
Good/well
Grammar Glossary
Hyphen
Grammar Glossary
Imperative
mood
Indicative
mood
Interrogative
sentence
Imperative
sentence
Indirect
object
Intransitive
verb
Indefinite
reference
Infinitive
Irregular
verb
Independent
clause
Infinitive
phrase
Interjection
Italics
Its, it’s
Grammar Glossary
Lie, lay
Linking verb
Grammar Glossary
Misplaced
modifier
Modifier
Mood
Grammar Glossary
Nonessential clause/
nonessential phrase
Noun
Noun clause
Number
Grammar Glossary
Objective
complement
Object of a
preposition
Grammar Glossary
Parallel
structure
Parentheses
Participial
phrase
Phrase
Preposition
Predicate
Prepositional
phrase
Predicate
adjective
Participle
Predicate
nominative
Passive voice
Prefix
Pronoun
Grammar Glossary
Quotation
marks
Grammar Glossary
Regular verb
Rise, raise
Run-on
sentence
Grammar Glossary
Semicolon
Slow, slowly
Sentence
Subject
Sentence
fragment
Subject
complement
Simple
sentence
Sit, set
Subjunctive
mood
Subordinate
clause
Suffix
Grammar Glossary
Tense of
verbs
Transitive
verb
Grammar Glossary
Underlining
(Italics)
Grammar Glossary
Verb
Verbal
Verbal
phrase
Verb phrase
Voice
Grammar Glossary
Weak
reference
Who, whom
Wordiness
Grammar Glossary
Abbreviation—An abbreviation is a shortened
form of a word or a phrase.
Examples:
Mr.
(Mister)
Ave.
(Avenue)
Inc.
(Incorporated)
TX
(Texas)
Grammar Glossary
Action verb—An action verb expresses physical
or mental activity.
verb
Uncle Jim drives a school bus.
Drives is an activity.
Grammar Glossary
Active voice—Active voice is the voice a verb is
in when it expresses an action done by its subject.
subject
verb
The dog chased the squirrel across the yard.
The subject, dog, is performing the action of
chasing.
Grammar Glossary
Adjective—An adjective modifies a noun or a
pronoun.
Do you see that beautiful
beautifulhouse
houseover
overthere?
there?
The adjective that modifies the noun house.
The adjective beautiful also modifies the noun house.
Grammar Glossary
Adjective clause—An adjective clause is a
subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a
pronoun.
We saw a car that had aluminum wheels.
The adjective clause that had aluminum wheels
modifies the noun car.
Grammar Glossary
Adjective phrase—A prepositional phrase that
modifies a noun or pronoun is called an adjective
phrase.
Dana prefers the backpack with large pockets.
The adjective phrase with large pockets modifies the noun
backpack.
Grammar Glossary
Adverb—An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective,
or another adverb.
Mom and Dad often drive us to the lake on
weekends.
The adverb often modifies the verb drive.
Grammar Glossary
Adverb clause—An adverb clause is a
subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an
adjective, or an adverb.
Trudy’s grades have improved since she cut
back her TV viewing.
The adverb clause since she cut back her TV viewing
modifies the verb have improved.
Grammar Glossary
Adverb phrase—A prepositional phrase that
modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb is
called an adverb phrase.
After dark, the carol singers went from house to
house.
The adverb phrase after dark modifies the verb went.
Grammar Glossary
Agreement—Agreement is the correspondence,
or match, between grammatical forms.
Grammatical forms agree when they have the
same number and gender.
• of pronouns and antecedents
• of subjects and verb
Grammar Glossary
Ambiguous reference—Ambiguous reference
occurs when a pronoun incorrectly refers to either
of two antecedents.
Ambiguous: A tortoise is different from a turtle only in that
it lives on land, not in water.
Which lives on land—the turtle or the tortoise?
Clear: A tortoise is different from a turtle only in that a
tortoise lives on land, not in water.
Grammar Glossary
Antecedent—An antecedent is the word or words
that a pronoun stands for.
antecedent
pronoun
Tim doesn’t know when he will finish the essay.
The pronoun he refers to the proper noun Tim.
Grammar Glossary
Apostrophe
• contractions
wouldn’t I’ll
• plurals of letters,
A’s and B’s
numerals and words
and’s instead of &’s
used as words
• possession
player’s uniform
someone’s backpack
Grammar Glossary
Appositive—An appositive is a noun or pronoun
placed beside another noun to identify or describe
it.
My friend Desiree recently moved to a new house.
Desiree is an appositive that identifies friend.
Grammar Glossary
Appositive phrase—An appositive phrase
consists of an appositive and its modifiers.
I think this coat belongs to Stanley, the gray-haired
man with a mustache.
The gray-haired man with a mustache is an appositive
phrase that describes Stanley.
Grammar Glossary
Article—The articles, a, an, and the, are the most
frequently used adjectives.
A sudden gust of wind and loud rumbling in the
distance were the first signs of an impending
storm.
Grammar Glossary
Bad, badly
Bad is an adjective. In most uses, badly is an
adverb. A word that modifies the subject of a verb
should be in adjective form.
• nonstandard This chicken soup tastes badly.
• standard
This chicken soup tastes bad.
Grammar Glossary
Base form—The base form, or infinitive, is one of
the four principal parts of a verb.
base form
We heard Suzi sing the national anthem last night.
Grammar Glossary
Brackets
The movie critic wrote, “The leading man’s
performance was a tour de force” [an unusually
skillful performance].
Grammar Glossary
Capitalization
• of abbreviations and acronyms Blvd.
• of first words The cat sat still.
M.B.A.
Dear Dr. Nunez:
• of proper nouns and North America Mexican
proper adjectives
• of titles
Uncle Cesare
Consumers Digest
Grammar Glossary
Case of pronouns—Case is the form a pronoun
takes to show how it is used in a sentence.
• nominative
She and I are taking karate
lessons.
• objective
Is Kate going with them to the
movies?
• possessive
Her speech was interesting.
Grammar Glossary
Clause—A clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and a verb and is used as part
of a sentence.
subject
verb
she arrives at one o’clock
subject
Independent clause
verb
unless the train is late
She arrives at one o’clock
unless the train is late.
Subordinate clause
Complete sentence
Grammar Glossary
Colon
• before lists To assemble the bookcase, you will
need the following tools: a crescent
wrench, a small hammer, and a
Phillips screwdriver.
• in conventional
situations
7:30 p.m.
Dear Sir:
Grammar Glossary
Comma
• in a series
• in compound sentences
• with nonessential phrases and clauses
• with introductory elements
• with interrupters
• in conventional situations
Grammar Glossary
Comma splice—A comma splice is a run-on
sentence in which only a comma separates two
complete sentences.
Comma
splice
REVISED
On our first night in New York City, we
went to Times Square, the next day, we
went to Central Park.
Grammar Glossary
Comparison of modifiers
• comparison of adjectives and adverbs
• comparing two
• comparing more than two
Grammar Glossary
Complement—A complement is a word or word
group that completes the meaning of a verb.
verb
complement
All of Mrs. Lozano’s students admire her.
The complement her tells us whom the students
admire.
Grammar Glossary
Complex sentence—A complex sentence has
one independent clause and at least one
subordinate clause.
My favorite animated film was Cinderella, until I
saw Jungle Book.
My favorite animated film was Cinderella
until I saw Jungle Book
Subordinate clause
Independent
clause
Grammar Glossary
Compound-complex sentence—A compoundcomplex sentence has two or more independent
clauses and at least one subordinate clause.
The sweater that I bought last week was on sale, and it
fits well, too.
The sweater was on sale
Independent clause
that I bought last week
Subordinate clause
it fits well, too
Independent clause
Grammar Glossary
Compound sentence—A compound sentence
has two or more independent clauses but no
subordinate clauses.
Two of the kittens are gray, but the third kitten is
orange.
two of the kittens are gray
Independent clause
the third kitten is orange
Independent clause
Grammar Glossary
Conjunction—A conjunction joins words or
groups of words.
fish or fowl
through the kitchen and up the stairs
Although Boris had a cold, he insisted on performing.
Grammar Glossary
Contraction—A contraction is a shortened form
of a word, a numeral, or a group of words.
Apostrophes in contractions indicate where letters
or numerals have been omitted.
you’re
(you are)
o’clock
(of the clock)
’14
(1914)
Grammar Glossary
Dangling modifier—A dangling modifier is a
modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not
clearly and sensibly modify a word or word group
in a sentence.
Dangling modifier
Riding in the convertible, the day was beautiful.
Was the day riding in the convertible? No. This phrase is a
dangling modifier.
REVISED
Grammar Glossary
Dash
The marine biologist spent several days—ten, I
think—recording the movements of the manatee
and her cub.
Grammar Glossary
Declarative sentence—A declarative sentence
makes a statement and is followed by a period.
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.
My aunt lives in Missouri.
Grammar Glossary
Direct object—A direct object is a word or word
group that receives the action of the verb or shows
the result of the action. A direct object answers
the question Whom? or What? after a transitive
verb.
direct object
Rashmi visited them Tuesday afternoon.
Visited whom?
Visited them. Them is the direct object.
Grammar Glossary
Double comparison—A double comparison is the
nonstandard use of two comparative forms (usually
more and –er) or two superlative forms (usually most
and –est) to express comparison. In standard usage,
the single comparative form is correct.
nonstandard
Jill is the most tallest member of our
family.
standard
Jill is the tallest member of our family.
Grammar Glossary
Double negative—A double negative is the
nonstandard use of two negative words when one
is enough.
nonstandard Alonzo can’t hardly keep his eyes open.
standard
Alonzo can hardly keep his eyes open.
nonstandard I haven’t never been on an airplane.
standard
I haven’t ever been on a airplane.
I have never been on a airplane.
Grammar Glossary
Double subject—A double subject occurs when
an unnecessary pronoun is used after the subject
of a sentence.
nonstandard
Abner Doubleday, contrary to popular
belief, he did not create the game of
baseball.
standard
Abner Doubleday, contrary to popular
belief, did not create the game of
baseball.
Grammar Glossary
Elliptical construction—An elliptical
construction is a clause from which words have
been omitted.
Joel is much taller than his brothers. [are tall].
The words are tall have been omitted from the clause.
Grammar Glossary
End marks
• with sentences
• with abbreviations
Grammar Glossary
Essential clause/essential phrase—An
essential, or restrictive, clause or phrase is
necessary to the meaning of a sentence and is not
set off by commas.
The woman who manages the volunteers is Mrs.
Anton.
The clause who manages the volunteers is essential to
the meaning of the sentence.
Grammar Glossary
Exclamatory sentence—An exclamatory
sentence expresses strong feeling and is followed
by an exclamation point.
What a surprise this is!
I can’t wait to go to the concert!
Grammar Glossary
Faulty coordination—Faulty coordination occurs when
unequal ideas are presented as though they were
coordinate. Usually, the clauses are strung together
with coordinating conjunctions like and or but.
faulty
At the age of sixty-five, my grandmother retired from
teaching school, but within a year she grew bored, for
she missed being around her colleagues and interacting
with students, so she decided to become a substitute
teacher, and now she is back in the classroom nearly
REVISED
every day, and she is enjoying life again.
Grammar Glossary
Fused sentence—A fused sentence is a run-on
sentence in which no punctuation separates
complete sentences.
fused
Our pecan trees produce hundreds of pecans
usually we share with neighbors.
revised
Our pecan trees produce hundred of pecans;
usually we share with neighbors.
Our pecan trees produce hundreds of pecans.
Usually we share with neighbors.
Grammar Glossary
General reference—A general reference is the
incorrect use of a pronoun to refer to a general
idea rather than to a specific noun.
General
reference
The team’s star player, Yolanda, has been
sidelined by an injury. That may be the
reason for their low morale.
What does That refer to?
REVISED
Grammar Glossary
Gerund—A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing
that is used as a noun.
Swimming is good exercise.
The gerund swimming is the subject of the sentence.
Grammar Glossary
Gerund phrase—A gerund phrase consists of a
gerund and any modifiers and complements it has.
On weekends, Alberto enjoys playing soccer with his
friends.
Gerund—playing
Complement of the gerund—soccer with his friends
The gerund phrase is the direct object of the sentence.
Grammar Glossary
Good/well
Good is an adjective. Well may be used as an
adjective, meaning “in good health” or “satisfactorily.”
Well may also be used as adverb, meaning “capably.”
adjective
For a beginner, Julian is a good golfer.
Good modifies the noun golfer.
adverb
For a beginner, Julian plays golf well.
Well modifies the verb plays.
Grammar Glossary
Hyphen
• to divide
words
The Ecology Club at school organized a recycling campaign.
• in compound
numbers
The Ecology Club has ninety-seven
members.
• with
prefixes
The Ecology Club began a recycling
campaign in mid-September.
Grammar Glossary
Imperative mood—The imperative mood is
used to express a direct command or request.
Put that magazine down!
Read what the sign says.
Grammar Glossary
Imperative sentence—An imperative sentence
gives a command or makes a request and is
followed by either a period or an exclamation
point.
Please turn the TV off.
Turn that TV off!
request
command
Grammar Glossary
Indefinite reference—An indefinite reference is
the incorrect use of the pronoun you, it, or they to
refer to no particular person or thing.
indefinite
reference
They claim that the football team is the best
ever.
Who is they?
revised
The fans claim that the football team is the
best ever.
Grammar Glossary
Independent clause—An independent clause
(also called a main clause) expresses a complete
thought and can stand by itself as a sentence.
subject
verb
Dad hired a contractor to build the deck.
Grammar Glossary
Indicative mood—The indicative mood is used
to express a fact, an opinion, or a question.
fact
George Washington was the first U.S.
president.
opinion
My aunt makes the best apple pie.
question Don’t you live next door to the Sandovals?
Grammar Glossary
Indirect object—An indirect object is a word or
word group that often comes between a transitive
verb and its direct object and tells to whom or to
what or for whom or for what the action of the
verb is done.
verb
indirect
direct
object
object
Kathleen gave the dog a rubber toy.
Kathleen gave what? toy—direct object
Kathleen gave a toy to whom? dog—indirect object
Grammar Glossary
Infinitive—An infinitive is a verb form, usually
preceded by to, that is used as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb.
We all wanted to swim, so Mom took us to the
pool.
Grammar Glossary
Infinitive phrase—An infinitive phrase consists
of an infinitive and its modifiers and
complements.
To become a doctor is his goal.
To become—infinitive
To become a doctor—infinitive phrase
The infinitive phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.
Grammar Glossary
Interjection—An interjection expresses emotion
and has no grammatical relation to the rest of
the sentence.
Wow! Look at those fireworks.
Ouch! That cut hurts.
Grammar Glossary
Interrogative sentence—An interrogative
sentence asks a question and is followed by a
question mark.
Have you ever seen the Rockies?
When does the movie start?
Grammar Glossary
Intransitive verb—An intransitive verb is a
verb that does not take an object.
The wind howls fiercely.
John sat at the desk.
Grammar Glossary
Irregular verb—An irregular verb is a verb that
forms its past and past participle in some way
other than by adding –d or –ed to the base form.
Base form
Present
participle
Past
Past
participle
be
[is] being
was, were
[have] been
choose
[is] choosing
chose
[have] chosen
pay
[is] paying
paid
[have] paid
Grammar Glossary
Italics (Underlining)
• for titles
The Great Gatsby [book]
The Water Carrier [long musical
composition]
• for words,
letters, and
symbols used
as such and for
foreign words
Mississippi has four i’s, four s’s, and
two p’s.
A fait accompli is anything that is
done that cannot be undone.
Grammar Glossary
Its, it’s
Its is a possessive pronoun. It’s is a contraction
for “it is” or “it has.”
the gerbil’s
The gerbil is your pet. You need to clean its cage.
It has
it has
It’s been a long time since it’s been cleaned.
Grammar Glossary
Lie, lay
The verb lie means “to rest,” “to recline,” or “to be in a
certain place.” The verb lay means “to put [something]
in place.”
Base form
Present
participle
Past
Past
participle
lie
[is] lying
lay
[have] lain
lay
[is] laying
laid
[have] laid
“You look tired, Mom. Perhaps you should lay your
work aside and lie down for a while,” I suggested.
Grammar Glossary
Linking verb—A linking verb connects the
subject with a word that identifies or describes the
subject.
Sparrows are determined nest builders.
The linking verb are connects sparrows and its description–
determined.
Grammar Glossary
Misplaced modifier—A misplaced modifier is a
word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the
wrong word or words in a sentence.
misplaced
REVISED
The humpback whales entertained the
passengers aboard the tour boat,
leaping gracefully out of the gentle
ocean waves.
Was the tour boat leaping gracefully? No, the
modifier is misplaced.
Grammar Glossary
Modifier—A modifier is a word or word group
that makes the meaning of a word or word
group more specific.
Harriet is happy.
Happy modifies the proper noun
Harriet.
The children laughed excitedly.
Excitedly modifies
the verb laughed.
Grammar Glossary
Mood—Mood is the form a verb takes to indicate
the attitude of the person using the verb.
• imperative mood
• indicative mood
• subjunctive mood
Grammar Glossary
Nonessential clause/nonessential phrase—A
nonessential, or nonrestrictive, clause or phrase adds
information not necessary to the main idea in the
sentence and is set off by commas.
nonessential
clause
Diana discussed her trip to Florida,
which took place last month.
nonessential
phrase
The twins, sitting quietly for a
change, posed for the picture.
Grammar Glossary
Noun—A noun names a person, a place, a thing,
or an idea.
Elizabeth Pena
Paris
(person)
(place)
mountain
knowledge
(thing)
(idea)
Grammar Glossary
Noun clause—A noun clause is a subordinate
clause used as a noun.
The main message of Ms. Pinckney’s talk was that we
should always be punctual.
The subordinate clause that we should always be punctual
works as a noun—a predicate nominative.
Grammar Glossary
Number—Number is the form a word takes to
indicate whether the word is singular or plural.
Singular
child
man
leaf
town
Plural
children
men
leaves
towns
Grammar Glossary
Objective complement—An objective
complement is a word or word group that helps
complete the meaning of a transitive verb by
identifying or modifying the direct object.
transitive
verb
direct
object
objective
complement
Sandy called her grandfather a hero.
Sandy called whom? grandfather—direct object
Sandy called her grandfather what exactly? hero—objective
complement
Grammar Glossary
Object of a preposition—An object of a
preposition is the noun or pronoun that ends a
prepositional phrase.
She heard a composition on the radio by her
music teacher.
Radio is the object of the prepositional phrase on the radio.
Teacher is the object of the prepositional phrase by her
music teacher.
Grammar Glossary
Parallel structure—Parallel structure is the use of
the same grammatical forms or structures to
balance related ideas in a sentence.
nonparallel
Each day, I reserve time for exercising and
to write in my journal.
parallel
Each day, I reserve time to exercise and
to write in my journal.
Each day, I reserve time for exercising
and for writing in my journal.
Grammar Glossary
Parentheses
A praying mantis (see illustration C) is the only insect
that can turn its head from side to side.
A praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its
head from side to side. (See illustration C.)
Grammar Glossary
Participial phrase—A participial phrase consists
of a participle and any complements and modifiers
it has.
Admired for his courage, my cousin is an impressive
young man.
Admired is the participle.
Admired for his courage is the participial phrase.
The participial phrase acts as an adjective and modifies
cousin.
Grammar Glossary
Participle—A participle is a verb form that can be
used as an adjective.
Blushing, Tina accepted the award.
Blushing is used as an adjective to describe Tina.
Grammar Glossary
Passive voice—The passive voice is the voice the
verb is in when it expresses an action done to its
subject.
The president was elected with 60 percent of the
vote.
The subject president receives the action of the verb elect.
The sentence does not indicate who did the act of electing.
Grammar Glossary
Phrase—A phrase is a group of related words that
does not contain both a verb and its subject and
that is used as a single part of speech.
Steve, our champion swimmer, will represent King Junior
High at the Kansas City meet.
Our champion swimmer is an appositive phrase.
At the Kansas City meet is a prepositional phrase.
Grammar Glossary
Predicate—The predicate is the part of a
sentence that says something about the subject.
Will she perform a solo?
Subject: she
Predicate: Will perform a solo
Horace may be responsible for that prank.
Subject: Horace
Predicate: may be responsible for that prank
Grammar Glossary
Predicate adjective—A predicate adjective is an
adjective that completes the meaning of a linking
verb and modifies the subject of the verb.
predicate
adjective
subject
The trees looked red in the evening light.
linking
verb
Red is a predicate adjective that describes the
subject trees.
Grammar Glossary
Predicate nominative—A predicate nominative
is a noun or pronoun that completes the meaning
of a linking verb and identifies or refers to the
subject of the verb.
predicate
nominative
subject
My sister will be a lawyer soon.
linking
verb
Lawyer is a predicate nominative that refers to the subject sister.
Grammar Glossary
Prefix—A prefix is a word part that is added
before a base word or root.
un
+
fair
re
+
elect
self
+
esteem = self-esteem
mid +
April
=
unfair
= reelect
=
mid-April
Grammar Glossary
Preposition—A preposition shows the
relationship of a noun or pronoun to some other
word in the sentence.
Berlin, the capital of Germany, is located in the
east.
The prepositions of and in describe Berlin’s relationship to
Germany and its location.
Grammar Glossary
Prepositional phrase—A prepositional phrase is
a group of words beginning with a preposition and
ending with its object.
Before work, Dan always feeds the birds.
Before is the preposition, and work is its object.
Grammar Glossary
Pronoun—A pronoun is used in place of one or
more nouns or pronouns.
His muscles ached, she was sunburned, and their feet
were sore, but all in all they had had a wonderful day.
All of the guests helped themselves to more of the
spinach salad.
Grammar Glossary
Quotation marks
• for direct quotations
• with other marks of punctuation
• for titles
Grammar Glossary
Regular verb—A regular verb is a verb that
forms its past and past participle by adding –d or
–ed to its base form.
Base form
Present
participle
Past
Past participle
ask
[is] asking
asked
[have] asked
attack
[is] attacking
attacked
[have] attacked
drown
[is] drowning
drowned
[have] drowned
Grammar Glossary
Rise, raise
The verb rise means “to move upward” or “to go up.”
Rise does not take an object. The verb raise means “to
lift (something) up.” Raise usually takes an object.
The river rose rapidly.
The river moved upward rapidly.
They raised a white flag to signal surrender.
They lifted a white flag up to signal surrender.
Grammar Glossary
Run-on sentence—A run-on sentence is two or
more complete sentences run together as one.
run-on
We were looking for the keys he grew a
little impatient.
revised
We were looking for the keys. He grew a
little impatient.
Grammar Glossary
Semicolon
• in compound sentences with no conjunction
• in compound sentences with conjunctive
adverbs
• between items in a series when the items
contain commas
Grammar Glossary
Sentence—A sentence is a group of words that
contains a subject and a verb and expresses a
complete thought.
subject
verb
Mr. Holland will give his presentation in the
auditorium.
Grammar Glossary
Sentence fragment—A sentence fragment is a group
of words that is punctuated as if it were a complete
sentence but that does not contain both a subject and
a verb or that does not express a complete thought.
fragment
In 2002, the Winter Olympic Games in Salt
Lake City.
sentence
In 2002, the Winter Olympic Games will be
held in Salt Lake City.
Grammar Glossary
Simple sentence—A simple sentence has one
independent clause and no subordinate clauses.
subject
verb
The cheetah is an endangered species.
subject
verb
How many other species are endangered?
Grammar Glossary
Sit, set
The verb sit means “to be seated” or “to rest.” Sit
seldom takes an object. The verb set usually means “to
place (something somewhere)” or “to put (something
somewhere).” Set usually takes an object.
The scientists sat quietly, watching the televised
launch of the space shuttle Atlantis.
On top of the television, the science teacher set
her model of the space shuttle Atlantis.
Grammar Glossary
Slow, slowly
Slow is used as both an adjective and an adverb.
Slowly is used as an adverb. In most adverb cases, it is
better to use slowly than to use slow.
adjective
“Slow drivers can be as much of a menace on the
road as fast drivers,” said Erwin.
adverb
Dr. Emmet spoke very slowly, with a pronounced
accent.
Grammar Glossary
Subject—The subject tells whom or what a
sentence is about.
subject
Finally, the train entered the station.
Grammar Glossary
Subject complement—A subject complement is a
word or word group that completes the meaning of
a linking verb and identifies or describes the
subject.
subject
complement
subject
Linus was impressive in the play last night.
linking
verb
Impressive describes the subject, Linus.
Grammar Glossary
Subjunctive mood—The subjunctive mood is
used to express a suggestion, a necessity, a
condition contrary to fact, or a wish.
suggestion
Mrs. Chen recommended that Gloria
audition for the leading role.
condition
contrary to
fact
If I were you, I would have a skilled
mechanic inspect the used car.
Grammar Glossary
Subordinate clause—A subordinate clause (also
called a dependent clause) does not express a
complete thought and cannot stand alone as a
sentence.
Margaret and Melanie are two six-year-old girls who
live in San Marcos, Texas.
Grammar Glossary
Suffix—A suffix is a word part that is added
after a base word or root.
+
ly
= safely
busy +
ly
= busily
safe
swim
+ er
knowledge
= swimmer
+ able
= knowledgeable
Grammar Glossary
Tense of verbs—The tense of verbs indicates
the time of the action or state of being
expressed by the verb.
• Present
• Past perfect
• Past
• Future perfect
• Future
• Present perfect
Grammar Glossary
Transitive verb—A transitive verb is an action
verb that takes an object.
Marcia washed her minivan yesterday.
Washed what? Her minivan.
Grammar Glossary
Underlining (Italics)
• for titles
The Great Gatsby [book]
The Water Carrier [long musical
composition]
• for words,
letters, and
symbols used
as such and for
foreign words
Mississippi has four i’s, four s’s, and
two p’s.
A fait accompli is anything that is
done that cannot be undone.
Grammar Glossary
Verb—A verb expresses an action or state of
being.
We walked slowly down the steep hill.
Walked expresses an action.
The grasshopper is near the fence.
Is expresses a state of being.
Grammar Glossary
Verbal—A verbal is a form of a verb used as a
noun, an adjective, or an adverb. (See also
participle and infinitive.)
The children were amazed by the leaping lemurs.
Leaping is the verbal. It is used an adjective to modify
lemurs.
To leave was hard.
To leave is the verbal. It is used as the subject of the
sentence.
Grammar Glossary
Verbal phrase—A verbal phrase consists of a
verbal and any modifiers and complements it has.
(See also participial phrase and infinitive phrase.)
Running fast, the squirrel reached the safety of the
tree.
Running fast is the verbal phrase. Running is the verbal.
Grammar Glossary
Verb phrase—A verb phrase consists of a main
verb and at least one helping verb.
We will go to San Francisco next week.
Will go is the verb phrase. Will is the helping verb. Go is the
main verb.
Have you seen Rich today?
Have seen is the verb phrase. Have is the helping verb.
Seen is the main verb.
Grammar Glossary
Voice—Voice is the form a transitive verb takes to
indicate whether the subject of the verb performs
or receives the action.
active
voice
passive
voice
Patricia MacLachlan wrote the book
Sarah, Plain and Tall.
The subject performs the action of writing.
The book Sarah, Plain and Tall was
written by Patricia MacLachlan.
The subject receives the action.
Grammar Glossary
Weak reference—A weak reference is the
incorrect use of a pronoun to refer to an
antecedent that has not been expressed.
weak
Jane Austen was a prolific writer; many
of them have been made into films.
revised
Jane Austen was a prolific writer; many
of her novels have been made into
films.
Grammar Glossary
Who, whom
The pronoun who has different forms in the nominative
and objective cases. Who is the nominative form;
whom is the objective form.
For two weeks last summer, I visited my pen pal Emile,
who lives in Montreal, Quebec.
My pen pal Emile, whom I have known for five years,
has taught me much about French Canadian traditions.
Grammar Glossary
Wordiness—Wordiness is the use of more words
than necessary or the use of fancy words where
simple ones will do.
• wordy
• revised
In the event that it rains, we will not cancel the
party that we have planned in celebration of
Cinco de Mayo but instead, as an alternative,
will hold the party indoors, not outdoors.
If it rains, we will hold our Cinco de Mayo party
indoors.
The End