Download The Parts of Speech and Grammar Definitions

IMPORTANT NOTES: KEEP FOREVER!!!!!
The Parts of Speech and Grammar Definitions
1. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
a. Proper--name of a specific person, place, thing(George Washington)
b. common--is not specific--dog, cat, girl, boy
2. Subject-is the part of a sentence which is doing something or about which
something
is said. (noun or pronoun)
3. A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun.
a. personal pronoun--I,you,he,she,it,we,they
b. possessive pronoun--shows ownership(my,mine, our,ours,his,her,hers,their,its,yours)
4. A verb is a word that shows action or links words. The verb is the most important
word in the predicate of the sentence.
Action – shows physical or mental action
Alice jumped over the wall.
State of being (also called linking verb) expresses a state or condition but does
not express action
It seems obvious what the answer is.
In this climate, a light overcoat is warm enough
Helping verbs – helps the main verb express action
verb phrase--1 or more helping verbs + main verb
Have you ever ridden in a big tractor-trailer truck?
I have never heard that song before.
5. An adjective is a word that alters a noun or pronoun.
Answers: what kind? Which one? How many?
6. An adverb is a word that enhances a verb, adjective, adverb, or verbal.
***answer the questions: how? How often? when? where? to what extent?
7. A conjunction is a word or words that join words or groups of words.
8. An interjection is a word or words that interrupt to show emotion or surprise.
***Wow! Would you look at that!
9. Articles: a, an, the
10. The twenty-four helping verbs:
do
have is
was
be
does
has
am
were been
did
had are
being
must
may shall could ought
might
can will
should would
11. A phrase is a group of words.
12. A predicate is the verb part of the sentence.
IMPORTANT NOTES: KEEP FOREVER!!!!!
13. Predicate Nominative--a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and explains or
identifies the subject of the sentence.
(s) (lv) (pn)
(pn)
Jill is a good worker and a happy preschooler.
The tomato(s) is(lv) really a fruit(pn) or berry(pn).
14. A clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate (verb).
15. A sentence is a group of words that has a capital letter at the start, ending
punctuation, a subject and a predicate, and a complete thought.
16. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition, ends with
an object, and transforms other words. (Preposition + object of the preposition)
***The huge, wooly dog barked fiercely at the mailman.
17. A verbal is a word that looks like a verb but is used as a noun or modifier.
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An infinitive is a verbal which usually starts with to used as a noun or modifier.
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A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing used as a noun in a sentence.
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A participle is a verbal that is used as a modifier.
18. A verbal phrase is a group of words containing a verbal that serves as a noun or
modifier.
19. An appositive is a noun that explains or defines the word in front of it.
20. An appositive phrase is a group of words containing an appositive that explains or
defines words in front of it.
21. A declarative sentence is a statement.
22. An exclamatory sentence exclaims and ends with an exclamation mark.
23. An imperative sentence commands and has the implied subject of you.
24. An interrogative sentence questions and ends with a question mark.
25. A simple sentence is one independent clause.
26. A compound sentence is a sentence that has two or more independent clauses (IC)
joined in one of three ways: first, with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction;
second, with a semi-colon; or third, with a dash.
27. A complex sentence is a sentence containing at least one independent and at least
one dependent clause.
28. A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and at
least one dependent clause.
The Definitions for the Elements of a Short Story, Play, or Novel
1. plot summary: sequential summary of story
2. conflict: struggle between protagonist & antagonist
 protagonist: main character around whom conflict revolves
 antagonist: force opposing protagonist
 climax: part of story of greatest emotional tension when major conflict resolved*
3. theme: implied message intended by author
IMPORTANT NOTES: KEEP FOREVER!!!!!
4. characterization: description of main character’s personality traits
5. setting: description of time & place story occurs
6. exposition: introductory part which creates tone, gives setting, & introduces
characters
(*A climax is that part of the story in which the rising action reaches its
highest emotional point [sometimes referred to as the crisis], often
resulting in a resolution of a major conflict, and beginning the falling
action of the story.)