Glossary: Grammatical Terms and Definitions
Appositives: An appositive is a noun or noun equivalent which supplements or complements the preceding noun. It is set off by commas.
Clauses: A clause contains a subject and a predicate, A main clause is an independent clause and is the grammatical core of a sentence.
A subordinate clause has also a subject and a predicate but it functions as part of a sentence. It is related to the main clause by a connecting word that shows its subordinate relationship. either a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction.
Complements: A complement is a noun or an adjective in the predicate which follows a linking verb. It is related to the subject rather than to the verb. A noun used as a complement is called a predicate noun; an adjective used as a complement is called a predicate adjective.
Objects: An object is a noun or noun equivalent which completes the statement. In contrast to the complement, it is related to the verb rather than to the subject.
Phrases: A phrase is a group of related words. It has no subject or predicate and cannot stand alone. The main kinds of phrases are noun phrases. verb phrases. adjective phrases. infinitive phrases, participle phrases and adverbial phrases.
Simple Sentence: A simple sentence contains an independent clause and no subordinate clauses.
Compound sentence: A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.
Complex sentence: A complex sentence consists of one main clause and one or more subordinate caluses.
Compound-Complex sentence: A compound-complex sentence contains two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.
Transitive Verb: A verb is transitive when it has an object.
Linking Verb : A verb is linking when it links its subject to a predicate noun or an adjective.
Infinitive: An infinitive is (1) the base form of a verb (with or without to) or (2) any verb phrase that can be used with to. An infinitive functions as a noun. an adjective or an adverb.
Participles: A participle is a verb form, typically ending in-ing or-ed used as a modifier.
