HESI Grammar Flashcards

Noun

A person, place, thing, or idea

Pronoun

Takes the place of a noun

Adjective

Describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

Preposition

Shows relationship between two words

Verb

A word or phrase used to describe an action or state of being. Verbs express time through tense

Adverbs

Describes or modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Often ends in -ly

Conjunctions

Joins words, phrases, or clauses (FANBOYS)

Interjections

Words expressing emotion with no grammatical connection to the sentence

Declarative Sentence

Statement

Interrogative Sentence

Question

Imperative Sentence

Command

Exclamatory Sentence

Emotion

Subject

Who or what the sentence is about

Predicate

What the subject does or what is being done to the subject. (includes the verb and all the words modifying the verb.)

Predicate Adjective

Follows a linking verb to explain the subject

Predicate Nominative

A noun that renames the subject

Independent Clause

A complete thought that can stand alone.

Dependent Clause

Starts with a subordinating conjunction; cannot stand alone

Phrase

A group of words acting as a single part of speech, lacking a subject and predicate.

Direct Object

Directly affected by the verb

Indirect Object

Answers to whom or for whom

Subject-Verb Agreement

A subject must agree with its verb in number. (Singular = Singular, Plural = Plural)

Comma in a Compound Sentence

When joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS), place a comma before the conjunction.

Comma in a Series

Use a comma to separate three or more items. The HESI uses the Oxford Comma (the comma before the final “and”).

Run-on Sentences

Occurs when two independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions

Sentence Fragments

Occurs when a dependent clause or phrase is punctuated as a full sentence.

Dangling Participles

Participle phrases must modify the noun that immediately follows them.

Prepositions at the end of Sentences

For the HESI A2, avoid ending a sentence with a preposition (e.g., in, at, with, from)

Cliches

Expressions that have lost originality due to excessive use.

Euphemisms

Mild or vague terms substituted by harsh or blunt ones. HESI prefers direct, clinical language over Euphemisms

Sexist and Insensitive Language

Avoid language that excludes gender or is culturally insensitive. However, do not break grammar rules (like subject-verb agreement) to do so.

Affect

Verb: to influence or to change. Noun: An emotional disposition

Effect

Verb: To bring about/ accomplish. Noun: A result or outcome

Farther

Measurable, physical distance

Further

Figurative distance or extent

Lie

Does not take a direct object (you do it yourself). To recline

Lay

Requires a direct object (you do it to something). To put/place

Who

Used for subjects. Replace with “he” or “they”

Whom

Used for objects. Replace with “him” or “they”

Abstract Nouns

Quality or idea. You cannot touch

Possessive Pronouns

A personal pronoun that shows ownership

Linking Verbs

Links the subject to a noun, pronoun, or predicate adjective.

Prepositional Phrase

Shows the relationship of a noun/pronoun to another word in the sentence.