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Grammar term
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Meaning
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Adjective (adj.)
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An adjective is word used
to describe a noun (e.g. good, bad, enjoyable, tedious.)
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Adverb (adv.)
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An adverb is a word that
describes how the verb is performed (e.g. quickly, slowly,
carefully).
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Clause
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A clause is a minimal
group of words that makes sense in English. A clause often, though not
always, contains a subject. It will generally contain a verb,
and often it contains an object or another structure as well. A
clause can be independent (this is known as a 'main clause') or dependent on
the other part of the sentence (known as a 'subordinate caluse').
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Countable Noun
(N. Count)
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A countable noun is a
noun that can be counted in terms of number (e.g. a table, a chair).
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Definite article
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The definite article
('the') is used together with a noun when the reference is specific.
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Gerund
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This is the 'ing' form of
the verb that is used after certain prepositions (e.g. by) and after certain
verbs (e.g. to enjoy).
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Indefinite article
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The indefinite article
('a', 'an') is used together with a noun when the reference is not specific.
'A' or 'An' cannot be used before an uncountable noun.
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Infinitive (inf.)
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This is the basic form of
the verb that has not been changed to indicate the person (e.g. (to) play, to
enjoy).
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Intransitive verb (v.i.)
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This is a verb that has
no object after it (e.g. to die).
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Modal verb
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A modal verb is a special
kind of verb (known as an auxiliary verb) which describes the way a speaker
feels about a situation (e.g. whether the speaker thinks that the situation
is possible or impossible, advisable or inadvisable). Common examples are
'can', 'could', 'may', 'might'. 'must', 'have to', 'should', 'will', 'would',
etc.
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Noun (n.)
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A noun is the name of a
person, place, thing or abstract quality (e.g. kindness).
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Object (o.)
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An object is a person or
thing that 'receives' the action.
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Passive voice
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This is a type of
sentence where the focus is on the object that 'receives' the action, and the
action itself (not the subject, as is usually the case).
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Phrasal verb
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This is a verb that
contains one or two particles after it (e.g. to get on with, to put up with,
etc). The meaning is often idiomatic.
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Preposition
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This is a small word
which is used with place (e.g. 'at home'), time (e.g. 'in the
afternoon'), after certain verbs (e.g. it depends on) and with
particular expressions (e.g. let's get down to business)
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Relative word
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This a word like 'who',
'whom', 'which' and 'whose' which indicates relationships and belonging.
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Sentence
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A sentence is a group of
words with at least one main (independent) clause. The shortest sentence must
contain at least a subject and verb (e.g. 'He arrived').
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Subject
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A subject is a person or
thing that 'does' the action.
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Tense
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Tenses are used to refer
to different time frames (past, present and future). There is no simple
relationship between tense and time in English.
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Transitive verb (v.t)
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This is a verb that is
followed by an object (e.g. to watch).
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Uncountable Noun
(N. Uncount.)
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An uncountable noun is a
noun that cannot be counted in terms of number (e.g. water, oil).
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Verb (v.)
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A verb generally
indicates an action (e.g. play, happen) but can also refer to mental
processes (e.g. 'think', 'consider', 'imagine') and verbal processes (e.g.
'write', 'conclude', 'emphasise').
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