Basic Grammar and Sentence Structure Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the nine parts of speech, sentence components (subject, predicate, verbals), sentence types by function and structure, and the definitions of phrases and clauses.

Parts of Speech

The categories that words are grouped into based on how they function in a sentence, defining their specific role such as naming, describing, connecting, or showing action.

Noun

A word used to name a person, place, thing, or idea.

Concrete Nouns

Words for tangible things or beings that can be perceived by the five senses, such as table, book, Mr. Geri, Macbeth, or daggers.

Abstract Nouns

Words representing concepts, qualities, ideas, or emotions that cannot be perceived through the five senses, such as love, courage, independence, or democracy.

Pronoun

A word that replaces a noun, such as he, she, it, they, who, either, both, or someone.

Verb

A word that shows action or a state of being, such as run, jump, contemplate, is, or seem.

Adjective

A word used to describe a noun or pronoun, such as shiny, annoying, blue, fantastic, or abysmal.

Adverb

A word that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb, usually ending in "-ly," such as quickly, haphazardly, very, or yesterday.

Preposition

A word that shows relationships between nouns, usually relating to location, direction, or time, such as under, over, through, beside, in, or near.

Conjunction

A word or set of words that connects words, phrases, or clauses.

Coordinating Conjunctions

The specific set of conjunctions used to join elements of equal rank: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Correlative Conjunctions

Pairs of conjunctions used together, such as both/and, not only/but also, if/then, neither/nor, or either/or.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Words like after, although, because, if, since, while, and whereas that join a dependent clause to an independent clause.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Adverbs that function as connectors, such as accordingly, furthermore, however, nevertheless, therefore, and thus.

Interjection

Words that express emotion or surprise with a dramatic flair, like Wow!, Hey!, or Ugh!

Determiner

Words that introduce nouns and clarify meaning, including articles like the, a, and an, as well as this and those.

Subject

The person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence focuses on, answering the question "Who?" or "What?".

Predicate

The part of the sentence that tells what the subject does or is, always containing a verb and potentially including objects or modifiers.

Verbal

A word form derived from a verb but used as a noun, adjective, or adverb, not functioning as the main verb of the sentence.

Infinitives

A type of verbal, such as "To eat," that can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Gerunds

A type of verbal ending in -ing, such as "Running," used specifically as a noun.

Participles

A type of verbal used as an adjective, such as "singing" in "the singing bird" or "broken" in "the broken vase."

Objects

Nouns or pronouns that are the recipients of the action of the verb.

Complements

Nouns, pronouns, adjectives, or adverbs that provide more information about the subject or object.

Modifiers

Words that add detail or nuance to nouns, verbs, and other parts of speech within the subject or predicate.

Declarative Sentence

A sentence that makes a statement or expresses an opinion.

Interrogative Sentence

A sentence that asks a question.

Imperative Sentence

A sentence that gives a command or makes a request.

Exclamatory Sentence

A sentence that expresses strong emotion.

Simple Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of exactly one independent clause.

Compound Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Complex Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Compound-Complex Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Phrase

A group of words functioning as a single unit within a sentence that lacks a subject and a predicate.

Clause

A group of words containing both a subject and a predicate.

Independent Clause

A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence and expresses a complete thought.

Dependent Clause

A clause that contains a subject and predicate but cannot stand alone as a complete thought, requiring an independent clause to make sense.