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Clauses
A Clause is a part of a sentence that usually contains a Subject and a Verb. It is usually connected to the other part of the Sentence by a Conjunction. It is not a complete sentence on its own.
A Clause is a part of a sentence that usually contains a Subject and a Verb. It is usually connected to the other part of the Sentence by a Conjunction. It is not a complete sentence on its own.
Copula Verbs
A copula (also spelled copular) verb is a verb that connects the subject to the complement. They are sometimes called linking verbs. EG: That food smells nice. ('Smells' connects the subject to the adjective that describes it.) The following are the principal Copula Verbs in English that can be used...
A copula (also spelled copular) verb is a verb that connects the subject to the complement. They are sometimes called linking verbs. EG: That food smells nice. ('Smells' connects the subject to the adjective that describes it.) The following are the principal Copula Verbs in English that can be used...
Objects
The object of a verb is created, affected or altered by the action of a verb, or appreciated or sensed by the subject of the verb.EG: He wrote the book. ('book' is the object, created by the action of writing)EG: I saw the film. ('film' is the object, sensed by...
The object of a verb is created, affected or altered by the action of a verb, or appreciated or sensed by the subject of the verb.EG: He wrote the book. ('book' is the object, created by the action of writing)EG: I saw the film. ('film' is the object, sensed by...
Ergative Verbs
Ergative verbs are found in sentences where the verb affects the subject: The sun melted the butter. Here, we have a sentence with a standard subject, a transitive verb and a direct object. The butter melted. Here, the subject was the object of the original sentence. The butter didn't melt...
Ergative verbs are found in sentences where the verb affects the subject: The sun melted the butter. Here, we have a sentence with a standard subject, a transitive verb and a direct object. The butter melted. Here, the subject was the object of the original sentence. The butter didn't melt...
Direct Object
The direct object of a verb is created, affected or altered by the action of a verb, or appreciated or sensed by the subject of the verb.EG: She closed the door. ('door' is directly affected by her action.)
The direct object of a verb is created, affected or altered by the action of a verb, or appreciated or sensed by the subject of the verb.EG: She closed the door. ('door' is directly affected by her action.)
Euphemisms
A Euphemism is when you substitute language that is less direct and vague for another that is considered to be harsh, blunt, or offensive. When talking or writing about subjects that we find embarrassing or unpleasant, we often use euphemisms; rather than say that somebody has died, we might say...
A Euphemism is when you substitute language that is less direct and vague for another that is considered to be harsh, blunt, or offensive. When talking or writing about subjects that we find embarrassing or unpleasant, we often use euphemisms; rather than say that somebody has died, we might say...
Linking Verb
A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject to the complement. They are sometimes called copula or copular verbs. EG: That food smells good. ('Smells' connects the subject to the adjective that describes it.) Common Linking Verbs The following are the principal linking verbs in English that can...
A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject to the complement. They are sometimes called copula or copular verbs. EG: That food smells good. ('Smells' connects the subject to the adjective that describes it.) Common Linking Verbs The following are the principal linking verbs in English that can...
Person
Person is a way of organising the pronouns used as the subject of a verb and each person can be either singular or plural: First Person: I WeThis pronoun is used when the subject is the speaker or the group with them.Second Person: You This is used when the speaking...
Person is a way of organising the pronouns used as the subject of a verb and each person can be either singular or plural: First Person: I WeThis pronoun is used when the subject is the speaker or the group with them.Second Person: You This is used when the speaking...
Nouns
A noun is a word used to refer to people, animals, objects, substances, states, events and feelings. Nouns can be a subject or an object of a verb, can be modified by an adjective and can take an article or determiner. Nouns may be divided into two basic groups: Countable...
A noun is a word used to refer to people, animals, objects, substances, states, events and feelings. Nouns can be a subject or an object of a verb, can be modified by an adjective and can take an article or determiner. Nouns may be divided into two basic groups: Countable...
Concord
When words have a grammatical relationship which affects the form of one or more of the elements then they are showing concord. 'They are' shows concord because the plural subject takes the verb form associated with the plural.
When words have a grammatical relationship which affects the form of one or more of the elements then they are showing concord. 'They are' shows concord because the plural subject takes the verb form associated with the plural.
Major Sentences
A major sentence is a term used for a full sentence, containing a Main Verb and a Subject that is either present or readily identifiable. See also: Phrase; Clause; Question; Paragraph; Word; Readability Test; Paragraph; Topic Sentence; Letter; Text; Grammar; Syntax; Minor Sentence; Utterance
A major sentence is a term used for a full sentence, containing a Main Verb and a Subject that is either present or readily identifiable. See also: Phrase; Clause; Question; Paragraph; Word; Readability Test; Paragraph; Topic Sentence; Letter; Text; Grammar; Syntax; Minor Sentence; Utterance
Noun Phrases
A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or a group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb. EXAMPLES OF NOUN PHRASES: EG: John was late. ('John' is the noun phrase...
A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or a group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb. EXAMPLES OF NOUN PHRASES: EG: John was late. ('John' is the noun phrase...
Gerunds
A Gerund is a verb when it acts as a noun; gerunds can act as the subject or object of a main verb. EG: Studying is good for you. Gerunds are used after prepositions, but not usually after 'to'. The gerund looks identical to the present participle, which is used...
A Gerund is a verb when it acts as a noun; gerunds can act as the subject or object of a main verb. EG: Studying is good for you. Gerunds are used after prepositions, but not usually after 'to'. The gerund looks identical to the present participle, which is used...
Case
Case is used in some languages to show the function of a Noun or Noun Phrase in a sentence by Inflection.English nouns have two cases:The dog (General case)The dog's (Genitive case- indicating possession)Personal Pronouns have three cases:he (Subject case)him (Object case)his (Genitive case)Other languages can have more or fewer cases...
Case is used in some languages to show the function of a Noun or Noun Phrase in a sentence by Inflection.English nouns have two cases:The dog (General case)The dog's (Genitive case- indicating possession)Personal Pronouns have three cases:he (Subject case)him (Object case)his (Genitive case)Other languages can have more or fewer cases...
Active
English verbs can be in either the Active or the Passive Voice. Voice shows the relationship between the verb and the noun phrases. In a sentence in the active, the person or thing that performed the action is the Subject of the Verb. eg: I wrote the letter. In a...
English verbs can be in either the Active or the Passive Voice. Voice shows the relationship between the verb and the noun phrases. In a sentence in the active, the person or thing that performed the action is the Subject of the Verb. eg: I wrote the letter. In a...
Complement
A complement is the part of a Sentence that comes after the Verb and is needed to make the sentence complete. The following are the most important types of complement used in English:SUBJECT COMPLEMENTEg: He's a surveyor. (The Subject is completed by the complement to the verb. This is a...
A complement is the part of a Sentence that comes after the Verb and is needed to make the sentence complete. The following are the most important types of complement used in English:SUBJECT COMPLEMENTEg: He's a surveyor. (The Subject is completed by the complement to the verb. This is a...
Dynamic Modality
Dynamic modality does not express the speaker's opinion, nor does the speaker affect the situation: He can speak perfect French. Here, the speaker is describing a factual situation about the subject of the sentence. See also: Auxiliary Verb; Deontic Modality; Ditransitive Verb; Dynamic Verb; Epistemic Modality; Finite Verb; Inchoative Verb;...
Dynamic modality does not express the speaker's opinion, nor does the speaker affect the situation: He can speak perfect French. Here, the speaker is describing a factual situation about the subject of the sentence. See also: Auxiliary Verb; Deontic Modality; Ditransitive Verb; Dynamic Verb; Epistemic Modality; Finite Verb; Inchoative Verb;...
Discourse Marker
A discourse marker is a word or phrase used in a conversation to signal the speaker's intention to mark a boundary:"Anyway, I'll have to be going now." The function of anyway is to signal a change in the direction of the conversation, in this case to finish it, so anyway is...
A discourse marker is a word or phrase used in a conversation to signal the speaker's intention to mark a boundary:"Anyway, I'll have to be going now." The function of anyway is to signal a change in the direction of the conversation, in this case to finish it, so anyway is...
Dangling Modifiers
If a phrase modifies a word or phrase that is not clearly given in the sentence, it is a dangling modifier; it is dangling because it does not connect with what it is supposed to. Dangling modifiers, or misplaced modifiers, are words, phrases or clauses where it is unclear which element...
If a phrase modifies a word or phrase that is not clearly given in the sentence, it is a dangling modifier; it is dangling because it does not connect with what it is supposed to. Dangling modifiers, or misplaced modifiers, are words, phrases or clauses where it is unclear which element...
Adjective
Adjectives are one of the major parts of speech in English. They modify a noun or noun phrase. Often called describing words, they describe the quality, state or action that a noun refers to. They can be used to distinguish a particular noun- the red car distinguishes one car by colour from the others. Adjectives are...
Adjectives are one of the major parts of speech in English. They modify a noun or noun phrase. Often called describing words, they describe the quality, state or action that a noun refers to. They can be used to distinguish a particular noun- the red car distinguishes one car by colour from the others. Adjectives are...
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