English Grammar and Sentence Structure Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering parts of speech, sentence structures, punctuation rules, word usage, and grammar strategy based on lecture notes.

Complete Sentence

A group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought.

Sentence Fragment

An incomplete sentence that is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

Run-on Sentence

Two or more independent clauses incorrectly joined without proper punctuation or a conjunction.

Comma Splice

Two independent clauses joined only by a comma.

Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)

The words For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So, which are used with a comma to join two independent clauses.

Independent Clause

A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Dependent Clause

A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Semicolon (;)

A punctuation mark used to join two closely related independent clauses, or to separate complicated list items that already contain commas.

Colon (:)

A punctuation mark used after a complete independent clause to introduce a list, explanation, example, or clarification.

Noun

A person, place, thing, or idea.

Pronoun

A word that replaces a noun, such as he, she, it, they, or we.

Verb

A word that shows an action or state of being.

Adjective

A word that describes a noun or pronoun.

Adverb

A word that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

Preposition

A word showing a relationship between things, often involving location or time, such as in, on, under, beside, or before.

Parallel Structure

Using the same grammatical pattern for items in a series or comparison.

Active Voice

A sentence structure in which the subject performs the action (e.g., "The student studied the material.").

Passive Voice

A sentence structure in which the subject receives the action (e.g., "The material was studied by the student.").

Homophone

Words that sound alike but have different meanings or spellings.

Affect

Usually used as a verb meaning to influence.

Effect

Usually used as a noun meaning a result or consequence.

Then

A word used to refer to time or sequence.

Than

A word used for comparisons.

Fewer

A word generally used for things you can count.

Less

A word generally used for things you cannot count.

Good

A word that is usually used as an adjective.

Well

A word that is usually used as an adverb.

Dangling Modifier

A descriptive phrase that appears to modify the wrong word because the sentence is unclear or incorrectly structured.

Comma Restrictions

Rules specifying that a comma should not be used to separate a subject from its verb or a verb from its direct object.

TEAS Grammar Strategy

The step-by-step approach to identify the subject and verb first, determine whether each clause is complete, then check punctuation and word choice.