CSET English: Grammar terms

Terms in this set (74)

represent individual countable items & cannot be seen as a mass or group (both singular and plural forms)

abstract concepts, a collection, a group, or a mass (do not have an individual state of being)

Nominative pronoun

when the pronoun is the subject or subject compliment

Objective pronoun

when the pronoun is the object or a verb or preposition

the noun that a pronoun replaces

Relative Pronoun

it links two clauses into a single complex clause. It is similar in function to a subordinating conjunction. Unlike a conjunction, however, a it stands in place of a noun. In English, they are: who, whom, which, whose, that, where, when, why.

Restrictive Clause

a clause that introduces info essential to the sentence and is not set off by commas (can use "that" or "which")

Nonrestrictive Clause

a clause that introduces supplementary info and is always set off by commas (use "which")

Demonstrative Pronoun

This; that; these; those; none and neither are examples. They substitute nouns when the nouns they replace can be understood from the context. They also indicate whether they are replacing singular or plural words and give the location of the object:

Possessive Pronoun

indicate ownership; there are also possessive adjectives, but they modify the noun. For example: my/our, your/your, his/her/its/their.

Reflexive Pronoun

used when the object of a verb in a sentence is the same as its subject (myself, yourself, him/herself/itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves)

Intensive Pronoun

identical to reflexive pronouns, but they are used for emphasis, to intensify the meaning of the sentence (No one else would clean the kitchen, so I did it myself.)

Reciprocal Pronoun

indicate a mutual or reciprocal action by the subjects of the verb (In english: "each other & one another")
On their wedding day Jhon gave Mary a gold ring and Mary gave Jhon a gold ring.
* Using this term, "each other", this could be rewritten:
=> On their wedding day Mary and Jhon gave each other gold rings.

Indefinite Pronoun

pronouns that refer to people, places, things, or ideas in a general way (do not refer to a specific antecedent) (can be adjectives: few plants)

Interrogative Pronoun

pronouns that introduce questions (who/whom/whose, which, what) (When, where, why, how are adverbs: declarative, imperative, and interrogative moods)

express action, states of being, conditions, tense, voice, & mood.

Intransitive Verb

verbs that do not require objects to express their meanings (subject & verb)
The sun shines.
My arm hurts.

Transitive Verb

verbs that require an object; do not make sense unless they are followed by a direct object (subject, verb, & direct object)
Jorge mailed a letter. (What did Jorge mail? A letter.)
I hurt my arm.
What did you buy your mom for her birthday?

Indirect Object

tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb was done (usually living beings like people or animals)

this verb does not express action. Instead, it connects the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject. (is, am, are)

Present Progressive Tense

indicates an action currently in progress or actively taking place
Present tense form of be + present participle ("ing")

Past Progressive Tense

indicates an event that was in progress at a particular point in the past.
Simple past tense of to be + present participle

Future Progressive Tense

indicates an event that will be in progress at a specific point in the future.
Will be + present participle

Present Perfect Tense

refers to actions completed in the past that have some consequence or effect on the present situation.

Past Perfect Tense

indicates an action that preceded another action in the past.

Future Perfect Tense

indicates an event that will be completed by a specific point in the future.
Will have + past participle

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

indicates an ongoing event begun in the past and continuing into the present.
Present tense form of have + been + present participle
She has been looking tired.

Past Perfect Progressive

indicates an ongoing event that was completed in the past, prior to some other past event.
Had + been + present participle
I had been anticipating a new challenge when this job offer came along.

Future Perfect Progressive Tense

indicates an ongoing event that will be completed by a certain point in the future.
Will have been + present participle
I am sure they will be tired; they will have been working all day.

form of the verb that indicates whether the subject is doing the action of the verb or receiving the action of the verb.

the subject does the action of the verb (subject + verb + object)

the subject receives the action of the verb (subject + verb by object)
"by" can be omitted, especially if the doer is unknown or impersonal (The car was stolen.)

Indicative Mood

usual mood of most verbs; it simply declares that an action is so.
I will be building the new cabinets.
Keiko enjoys hiking and rock-climbing.

Imperative Mood

give orders, instructions, or commands; come at the beginning of a sentence; implied subject is "you"
Deliver this to Ms. Zhang.

Subjunctive Mood

indicates desired, demanded, or hypothetical situations that are contrary to fact; ask that, demand that, wish that, suggest that, recommend that, insist that; etc.; it is important that, it is desirable that, it is necessary that; etc.
The doctor recommends that my father get a knee replacement.
She wished that she were lying on the beach In Hawaii. (contrary to current situation)

Phrasal Verb / compound verb

a verb that requires more than one word to express their meanings; often the word attached to a it looks likes a preposition (out, in, off, on); however, when these words are essential parts of the phrasal verb, they no longer function as prepositions and are instead called particles.
She put her hat on the table. (single-word verb)
She put on her hat and coat. (phrasal verb)

Intransitive Phrasal Verb

no direct object
I am going to {take off} after the meeting is over.

Transitive Phrasal Verb

multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. They are are made of: verb + adverb. This form in particular needs a direct object or it will not make sense. (they TURNED DOWN my offer)

Modal Auxiliaries

small group of auxiliary verbs that indicate ability, possibility, permission, or obligation; precede any other verb in a sentence

a word derived from a verb (a verbal); "ING"; often parts of phrases

verbals that act as nouns; often part of phrases
To + base form of the verb

Split Infinitive

grammatically okay to split infinitives
We need to completely revise our strategic plan. (split)
We need to revise our strategic plan completely. (not split)

verbal that acts as an adjective and modifies the subject of a sentence
In present from = what a thing does
Talking parrot
In past tense = what was done to a thing
Dried meat

Participle Phrase

phrase that includes the participle, its modifier, and its objects; example: The child, FLASHING A MISCHIEVOUS SMILE, turned and walked away.

connect or "conjoin" other words, phrases, or clauses

Subordinating Conjunction

onnect subordinate clauses to independent clauses; a subordinate clause as a subject and a verb, but it depends on the independent clause for its meaning; no punctuation required.He used to be a mechanic before he became a teacher.

Conjunctive Adverb

connect independent clauses; adverbs because they also modify one of the independent clauses; {Independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause}
You need to study more; otherwise, you will flunk calculus.

modify a noun or pronoun by describing a relationship between it and the remainder of the sentence: place and time

Prepositional Phrase

consists of the preposition or compound preposition, its object (a noun or pronoun), and a set of determiners which modify the object
Preposition + determiner + object
Into the seats

Predicate Preposition

a prepositional phrase following a form of the verb to be and telling where the subject of the sentence is
The dog is in the neighbor's backyard.
My keys were on the kitchen table.

modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence; often answer question which (which house? The big house.)
He is kind.
It was a fast car.

answer the questions who, what, where, when why, how, how many; modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs; rarely modify nouns.
He acted kindly towards me.
Schumaker drives fast.

Adjective and Adverbial Phrase

an entire phrase used as an adjective to modify a noun (at, between, by for, from, in, on, to, with)
The chair in the living room is my favorite place to watch TV.

Comparative & Superlative

compare; can be adjectives or adverbs
The old ship is the USS Constitution. (positive)
The older of the two ships is the USS Constitution. (comparative)
The oldest ship in the Navy is the USS Constitution. (superlative)

Misplaced modifier & dangling participle

the closer a modifier is to the word it modifies, the clearer a sentence will be.

closely related group of words that lacks both a subject and a verb; grammatical units, such as subjects, objects, or modifiers

has both subject and verb; can act as subjects, objects, or modifiers

anything that governs that action of a verb; doer of the action expressed by the verb (however, in passive sentences, the subject actually receives the action of the verb)

The part of a sentence that contains the action

anything that receives the action of the verb (except in passive voice)

tells who or what received the action of the verb; can be a person or a thing.
The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. (what did they build? The pyramids)

Indirect Object

tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb was done; usually people or living things.
We gave our teacher a birthday card.

any collection of closely related words that lacks both a subject and a verb; can act as nouns, verbs, modifiers, subjects, and objects

acts as the subject (a small black dog)

Prepositional phrase

acts as adverbs (on the steps, behind the building)

Appositive Phrase

noun phrase that renames or re-identifies a noun or noun phrase that precedes it; set of by commas
(The girl standing over there, the blonde, looks just like cousin.)

Absolute Phrase

does not directly modify a specific noun or pronoun; modifies the entire sentence, adding info that would not otherwise be known; contains a noun or pronoun, a participle, and any other words modifying them; set off by commas
(Their hope fading as the hours passed, the rescuers searched the rubble for survivors.)

Independent Clause

expresses a complete thought and can stand on its own as a sentence
Jack painted the fence.

Dependent Clause

contains a subject and verb but down not express a complete thought and cannot stand on its own.
The movers ruined the china cabinet that belonged to my great-grandmother.

Subordinate clause

introduced by a subordinating conjunction
I thought is was a good deal until I heard the price.

Relative Clause

introduced by a relative pronouns
The parade, which had been planned for months, had to be moved.

Restrictive Element

introduces essential information into a sentence; do not use commas
Police hope to find a jogger who might have been a witness to the crime.

Nonrestrictive Element

introduces extra information that does not affect the basic meaning of the sentence.; always use commas
The Palms Hotel, built in 1905, has a magnificent skylight in the lobby.

a rule of style stating that parts of a sentence that have the same grammatical function or weight should have the same grammatical form.

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