Grammar Glossary

A J S B K T C L U D M V E N W F O X G P Y H Q Z I R

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Abbreviation Action verb Active voice Adjective Adjective clause Adjective phrase Adverb Adverb clause Adverb phrase Agreement Ambiguous reference Antecedent Apostrophe Appositive Appositive phrase Article

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Bad, badly Base form Brackets

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Capitalization Case of pronouns Clause Colon Comma Comma splice Comparison of modifiers Complement Complex sentence Compoundcomplex sentence Compound sentence Conjunction Contraction

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Dangling modifier Dash Declarative sentence Direct object Double comparison Double negative Double subject

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Elliptical construction End marks Essential clause/ essential phrase Exclamatory sentence

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Faulty coordination Fused sentence

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General reference Gerund Gerund phrase Good/well

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Hyphen

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Imperative mood Imperative sentence Indefinite reference Independent clause Indicative mood Indirect object Infinitive Infinitive phrase Interjection Interrogative sentence Intransitive verb Irregular verb Italics Its, its

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Lie, lay Linking verb

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Misplaced modifier Modifier Mood

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Nonessential clause/ nonessential phrase Noun Noun clause Number

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Objective complement Object of a preposition

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Parallel structure Parentheses Participial phrase Participle Passive voice Predicate adjective Predicate nominative Prefix Phrase Predicate Preposition Prepositional phrase Pronoun

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Quotation marks

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egular verb Rise, raise un-on sentence

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Semicolon Sentence Sentence fragment Simple sentence Sit, set Slow, slowly Subject Subject complement Subjunctive mood Subordinate clause Suffix

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Tense of verbs Transitive verb

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Underlining (Italics)

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erb Verbal Verbal phrase Verb phrase Voice

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Weak reference Who, whom Wordiness

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AbbreviationAn abbreviation is a shortened form of a word of a phrase.
Examples: Mr. Ave. Inc. TX
(Mister) (Avenue) (Incorporated) (Texas)

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Action verbAn action verb expresses physical or mental activity.
verb

Uncle Jim drives a school bus.

Drives is an activity.

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Active voiceActive 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.

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AdjectiveAn adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Do you see that beautiful house over there? beautiful house over there?
The adjective that modifies the noun house. The adjective beautiful also modifies the noun house.

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Adjective clauseAn 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.

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Adjective phraseA 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.

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AdverbAn 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.

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Adverb clauseAn adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

Trudys 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.

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Adverb phraseA 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.

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AgreementAgreement 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

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AgreementAgreement is the correspondence, or match, between grammatical forms. Grammatical forms agree when they have the same number and gender. of pronouns and antecedents
antecedent Singular pronoun

Desmond often rides his bike to school.

antecedent pronoun

Plural

Have all of the members paid their dues?

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AgreementAgreement is the correspondence, or match, between grammatical forms. Grammatical forms agree when they have the same number and gender. of subjects and verbs
subject Singular verb

The music teacher is composing an opera.

verb subject

Plural

Here are the topics for the projects.

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Ambiguous referenceAmbiguous 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 landthe turtle or the tortoise? Clear: A tortoise is different from a turtle only in that a tortoise lives on land, not in water.

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AntecedentAn antecedent is the word or words that a pronoun stands for.
antecedent pronoun

Tim doesnt know when he will finish the essay.

The pronoun he refers to the proper noun Tim.

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Apostrophe
contractions wouldnt Ill

plurals of letters, As and Bs numerals and words ands instead of &s used as words possession players uniform someones backpack

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AppositiveAn 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.

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Appositive phraseAn 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.

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ArticleThe 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.

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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.

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Base formThe 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.

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Brackets
The movie critic wrote, The leading mans performance was a tour de force [an unusually skillful performance].

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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

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Case of pronounsCase is the form a pronoun takes to show how it is used in a sentence.
nominative
She and I are taking karate lessons. Is Kate going with them to the movies?

objective

possessive

Her speech was interesting.

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ClauseA 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 oclock

subject verb

Independent clause

unless the train is late She arrives at one oclock unless the train is late.

Subordinate clause Complete sentence

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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:

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Comma
in a series in compound sentences with nonessential phrases and clauses with introductory elements with interrupters in conventional situations

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Comma
in a series Shandra, Seth, and I spent the summer working in an animal shelter.
Commas are used to separate items in a series.

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Comma
in compound sentences My friend Albert plays the guitar, and I play the drums.
Commas are used with coordinating conjunctionslike and, but, and orto join independent clauses in compound sentences.

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Comma
with nonessential phrases and clauses West Side Story, which is based on Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, is my favorite musical.
Commas are used to set off nonessential phrases and clauses from the rest of the sentence.

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Comma
with introductory elements Sitting around the bonfire, the campers told ghost stories.
Commas are used to set off introductory elements from the rest of the sentence.

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Comma
with interrupters The Gila monster, for example, is a poisonous lizard.
Commas are used to set off interrupters from the rest of the sentence.

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Comma
in conventional situations
Send the letter to 728 Lakewood Boulevard, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0827. Commas are used to separate items in addresses. The letter should be mailed before Friday, May 8, 2009. Commas are used to separate items in dates.

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Comma spliceA comma splice is a run-on sentence in which only a comma separates two complete sentences.
Comma splice

On our first night in New York City, we went to Times Square, the next day, we went to Central Park.

REVISED

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Comma spliceA comma splice is a run-on sentence in which only a comma separates two complete sentences.
Revised On our first night in New York City, we went to Times Square. The next day, we went to Central Park.

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Comparison of modifiers
comparison of adjectives and adverbs comparing two comparing more than two

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Comparison of modifiers
comparison of adjectives and adverbs Positive short bad/ill slowly Comparative shorter worse more (less) slowly Superlative shortest worst most (least) slowly

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Comparison of modifiers
comparing two Of Mars and Venus, which planet is closer to Earth? Which of these two blades cut more precisely?

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Comparison of modifiers
comparing more than two Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes. Of the all the skaters, she jumps most gracefully.

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ComplementA complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a verb.
verb complement

All of Mrs. Lozanos students admire her.

The complement her tells us whom the students admire.

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Complex sentenceA 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

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Compound-complex sentenceA 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 that I bought last week it fits well, too.
Independent clause Subordinate clause

Independent clause

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Compound sentenceA 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 the third kitten is orange
Independent clause Independent clause

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ConjunctionA 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.

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ContractionA 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.
youre oclock 14
(you are) (of the clock) (1914)

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Dangling modifierA 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

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Dangling modifierA dangling modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not clearly and sensibly modify a word or word group in a sentence.
Riding in the convertible, we enjoyed the beautiful day.
Now it is clear who was riding in the convertible.

Revised

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Dash
The marine biologist spent several daysten I thinkrecording the movements of the manatee and her cub.

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Declarative sentenceA declarative sentence makes a statement and is followed by a period.
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. My aunt lives in Missouri.

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Direct objectA 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.

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Double comparisonA 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. Jill is the tallest member of our family.

standard

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Double negativeA double negative is the nonstandard use of two negative words when one is enough.
nonstandard Alonzo cant hardly keep his eyes open. standard

Alonzo can hardly keep his eyes open.

nonstandard I havent never been on an airplane. standard

I havent ever been on a airplane. I have never been on a airplane.

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Double subjectA 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. Abner Doubleday, contrary to popular belief, did not create the game of baseball.

standard

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Elliptical constructionAn 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.

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End marks
with sentences with abbreviations

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End marks
with sentences
declarative interrogative exclamatory imperative

Mark set the record for the high jump. Has he set any other records? Yes! Hes set six records! Dont forget to attend the next meet.

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End marks
with abbreviations In 1964, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Was the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

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Essential clause/essential phraseAn 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.

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Exclamatory sentenceAn exclamatory sentence expresses strong feeling and is followed by an exclamation point.
What a surprise this is! I cant wait to go to the concert!

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Faulty coordinationFaulty 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.

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Faulty coordinationFaulty 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. revised
At the age of sixty-five, my grandmother retired from teaching school. Within a year, however, she grew bored, for she missed being around her colleagues and interacting with students. As a result, she decided to become a substitute teacher. Now she is back in the classroom nearly every day and is enjoying life again.

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Fused sentenceA 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.

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General referenceA general reference is the incorrect use of a pronoun to refer to a general idea rather than to a specific noun.
General reference The teams star player, Yolanda, has been sidelined by an injury. That may be the reason for their low morale.
What does That refer to?
REVISED

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General referenceA general reference is the incorrect use of a pronoun to refer to a general idea rather than to a specific noun.
revised That the teams star player, Yolanda, has been sidelined by an injury may be the reason for their low morale.
That refers to Yolandas being sidelined by an injury.

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GerundA 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.

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Gerund phraseA gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any modifiers and complements it has.
On weekends, Alberto enjoys playing soccer with his friends.
Gerundplaying Complement of the gerundsoccer with his friends The gerund phrase is the direct object of the sentence.

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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.

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Hyphen
to divide words in compound numbers with prefixes The Ecology Club at school organized a recycling campaign. The Ecology Club has ninety-seven members. The Ecology Club began a recycling campaign in mid-September.

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Imperative moodThe imperative mood is used to express a direct command or request.
Put that magazine down! Read what the sign says.

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Imperative sentenceAn 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

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Indefinite referenceAn 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.

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Independent clauseAn 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.

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Indicative moodThe indicative mood is used to express a fact, an opinion, or a question.
fact George Washington was the first U.S. president. My aunt makes the best apple pie.

opinion

question Dont you live next door to the Sandovals?

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Indirect objectAn 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.
indirect verb object direct object

Kathleen gave the dog a rubber toy.

Kathleen gave what? toydirect object Kathleen gave a toy to whom? dogindirect object

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InfinitiveAn 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.

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Infinitive phraseAn infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and its modifiers and complements.

To become a doctor is his goal.

To becomeinfinitive To become a doctorinfinitive phrase The infinitive phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.

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InterjectionAn interjection expresses emotion and has no grammatical relation to the rest of the sentence.
Wow! Look at those fireworks. Ouch! That cut hurts.

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Interrogative sentenceAn interrogative sentence asks a question and is followed by a question mark.
Have you ever seen the Rockies? When does the movie start?

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Intransitive verbAn intransitive verb is a verb that does not take an object.
The wind howls fiercely. John sat at the desk.

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Irregular verbAn 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 be choose pay Present participle [is] being [is] choosing [is] paying Past was, were chose paid Past participle [have] been [have] chosen [have] paid

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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 is, four ss, and two ps. A fait accompli is anything that is done that cannot be undone.

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Its, its
Its is a possessive pronoun. Its is a contraction for it is or it has.
the gerbils

The gerbil is your pet. You need to clean its cage.

It has it has

Its been a long time since its been cleaned.

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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 lie lay Present participle [is] lying [is] laying Past lay laid Past participle [have] lain [have] laid

You look tired, Mom. Perhaps you should lay your work aside and lie down for a while, I suggested.

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Linking verbA 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.

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Misplaced modifierA misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the wrong word or words in a sentence.
misplaced

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.

REVISED

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Misplaced modifierA misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the wrong word or words in a sentence.
revised

Leaping gracefully out of the gentle ocean waves, the humpback whales entertained the passengers aboard the tour boat.
Now, the modifier sensibly modifies the noun whales. The whales were leaping gracefully.

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ModifierA 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.

xcitedly modifies the verb laughed.

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MoodMood is the form a verb takes to indicate the attitude of the person using the verb.
imperative mood indicative mood subjunctive mood

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Imperative moodThe imperative mood is used to express a direct command or request.
Put that magazine down! Read what the sign says.

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Indicative moodThe indicative mood is used to express a fact, an opinion, or a question.
fact George Washington was the first U.S. president. My aunt makes the best apple pie.

opinion

question Dont you live next door to the Sandovals?

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Subjunctive moodThe 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. If I were you, I would have a skilled mechanic inspect the used car.

condition contrary to fact

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Nonessential clause/nonessential phraseA 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. The twins, sitting quietly for a change, posed for the picture.

nonessential phrase

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NounA noun names a person, a place, a thing, or an idea.
Elizabeth Pena Paris
(place) (thing) (idea) (person)

mountain knowledge

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Noun clauseA noun clause is a subordinate clause used as a noun.
The main message of Ms. Pinckneys talk was that we should always be punctual.
The subordinate clause that we should always be punctual works as a nouna predicate nominative.

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NumberNumber is the form a word takes to indicate whether the word is singular or plural.
Singular Plural child children man men leaf leaves town towns

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Objective complementAn 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? grandfatherdirect object Sandy called her grandfather what exactly? heroobjective complement

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Object of a prepositionAn 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.

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Parallel structureParallel 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. 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.

parallel

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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.)

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Participial phraseA 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 an adjective and modifies cousin.

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ParticipleA participle is a verb form that can be used an adjective.
Blushing, Tina accepted the award.
Blushing is used as an adjective to describe Tina.

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Passive voiceThe 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.

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PhraseA 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.

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PredicateThe 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

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Predicate adjectiveA predicate adjective is an adjective that completes the meaning of a linking verb and modifies the subject of the verb.
subject predicate adjective

The trees looked red in the evening light.

linking verb Red is a predicate adjective that describes the subject trees.

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Predicate nominativeA 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.
subject predicate nominative

My sister will be a lawyer soon.

linking verb
Lawyer is a predicate nominative that refers to the subject sister.

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PrefixA prefix is a word part that is added before a base word or root.
un re self + + + fair elect = unfair

= reelect

esteem = self-esteem April = mid-April

mid +

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PrepositionA 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 Berlins relationship to Germany and its location.

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Prepositional phraseA 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.

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PronounA 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.

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Quotation marks
for direct quotations with other marks of punctuation for titles

Grammar Glossary
Quotation marks
for direct quotations Learning a few simple rules, said the teacher, will help you avoid many common spelling errors.

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Quotation marks
with other marks of punctuation
Through which South American countries does the Amazon River flow? asked Enrique. Which popular poem by Alfred Noyes begins with the line The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees?

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Quotation marks
for titles
Song of the Trees Mama Is a Sunrise Many Rivers to Cross (short story) (short poem) (song)

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Regular verbA regular verb is a verb that forms its past and past participle by adding d or ed to its base form.
Base form ask attack drown Present participle [is] asking [is] attacking [is] drowning Past asked attacked drowned Past participle [have] asked [have] attacked [have] drowned

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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 sentenceA 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. We were looking for the keys. He grew a little impatient.

revised

Grammar Glossary
Semicolon
in compound sentences with no conjunction in compound sentences with conjunctive verbs between items in a series when the items contain commas

Grammar Glossary
Semicolon
in compound sentences with no conjunction

My sister plays violin in her schools symphony orchestra; her goal is to become first chair.

Grammar Glossary
Semicolon
in compound sentences with conjunctive verbs

I play that movies soundtrack nearly every day; consequently, I know the lyrics of all of its songs.

Grammar Glossary
Semicolon
between items in a series when the items contain commas The bands cross-country tour includes concerts in Seattle, Washington; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Miami, Florida.

Grammar Glossary
SentenceA 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 fragmentA 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 sentenceA 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
SubjectThe subject tells whom or what a sentence is about.
subject

Finally, the train entered the station.

Grammar Glossary
Subject complementA subject complement is a word or word group that completes the meaning of a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject.
subject subject complement

Linus was impressive in the play last night.

linking verb Impressive describes the subject, Linus.

Grammar Glossary
Subjunctive moodThe 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. If I were you, I would have a skilled mechanic inspect the used car.

condition contrary to fact

Grammar Glossary
Subordinate clauseA 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
SuffixA suffix is a word part that is added after a base word or root.
safe

ly ly

= safely = busily = swimmer + able = knowledgeable

busy + swim

+ er

knowledge

Grammar Glossary
Tense of verbsThe tense of verbs indicates the time of the action or state of being expressed by the verb.
Present Past Future Present perfect Past perfect Future perfect

Grammar Glossary
Present
I write you write he, she, it writes we write you write they write

Past
I wrote you wrote he, she, it wrote we wrote you wrote they wrote

Grammar Glossary
Future
I will (shall) write we will (shall) write

you will (shall) write you will (shall) write he/she/it will (shall) write they will (shall) write

Present perfect
I have written you have written he, she, it has written we have written you have written they have written

Grammar Glossary
Past perfect
I had written you had written he/she/it had written we had written you had written they had written

Grammar Glossary
Future perfect
I will (shall) have written you will (shall) have written he/she/it will (shall) have written we will (shall) have written you will (shall) have written they will (shall) have written

Grammar Glossary
Transitive verbA 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 is, four ss, and two ps. A fait accompli is anything that is done that cannot be undone.

Grammar Glossary
VerbA 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
VerbalA 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 phraseA 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 phraseA 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
VoiceVoice 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 referenceA 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
WordinessWordiness is the use of more words than necessary or the use of fancy words where simple ones will do.
wordy
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.

revised

The End