guide

What are the components of a complete sentence?

A complete thought, a subject, and a verb.

What is a dependent clause?

A clause that is not a complete thought.

Give an example of a subordinating conjunction.

Before, while, because.

What is a clause?

A group of words containing a subject and a verb.

What is a phrase?

A group of words that contains a noun OR verb, but not both.

Define a noun.

A person, place, or thing.

What is the role of a subject in a sentence?

Drives the action of the verb.

What are object pronouns?

Pronouns that receive the action (e.g., us, me, them).

What does an adjective do in a sentence?

Modifies a noun.

Define an adverb.

Modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

What is a modifier?

Adds information and further defines an element in a sentence.

What is the function of prepositions?

Indicate location or direction.

What do conjunctions do in a sentence?

Combine two independent clauses.

Give an example of an interjection.

Ouch! Yay! Wow! Ah!

What is an article?

A word that defines a noun as specific or general.

What distinguishes transitive verbs from intransitive verbs?

Transitive verbs take a direct object; intransitive do not.

What are linking verbs?

Verbs that connect the subject to a subject complement.

Difference between 'lay' and 'lie'?

'Lay' is transitive (to lay down an object), 'lie' is intransitive (to recline).

What is a gerund?

A verb turned into a noun, typically the '-ing' form.

How do common nouns differ from proper nouns?

Common nouns are general (not capitalized); proper nouns are specific (capitalized).

Explain the difference between 'your' and 'you’re'.

'Your' indicates possession; 'you’re' is a contraction for 'you are'.

What is the subject pronoun case?

I, we, they, she, he.

Define who vs. whom.

Who is subjective; whom is objective.

What is subjunctive mood?

Expresses hypothetical or contrary-to-reality situations.

Effect vs affect?

Effect is a noun (the result); affect is a verb (to influence).

When do we use 'because' vs 'since'?

'Because' indicates cause; 'since' indicates time.

What are principal and principle?

Principal is a noun (school administrator) or adjective (main); principle is a noun (a guiding code).

What is the difference between 'none' and the phrase 'not one'?

'None' refers to no quantity at all; 'not one' implies singularity.