Grammar

Grammar

1. Syntax

   • study of how words form larger structures such as phrases, clauses and sentences

2. Descriptive

   • taking an approach to language study that focuses on how language is actually used

3. Prescriptive

   • taking an approach to language study that focuses on rules and notions of correctness

4. Morphology

   • Study of word formation

5. Root

   • a morpheme that can stand on its own

6. Suffix

   • a morpheme that comes after a root word to modify its meaning

7. Prefix

   • a morpheme that goes before a root word to modify its meaning

8. Inflectional Function

   • The way that an affix shows a grammatical category
     • such as a verb tense or a plural noun

9. Derivational Function

   • The way an affix helps form a new word by attaching itself to a root

10. Noun Phrase

    • a group of words built around a noun

11. Verb Phrase

    • a group of words built around a head verb

12. Head word

    • the main noun in a phrase

13. Pre-modifier

    • goes before the head noun to add detail or to clarify it

14. Qualifier

    • an additional word or phrase that adds further detail to the noun

15. Post-modifier

    • comes after the head noun to add detail or clarify it

16. Primary auxiliary verb

    • joins with a main verb to show tense

17. Modal auxiliary verb

    • type of verb that is used to indicate modality – that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation.
    • Deontic modality
      • Strongest- necessity and obligation
    • Epistemic modality
      • Weakest- possibility or certainty

18. Clause

    • groups of words centred around a verb phrase

19. Coordination

    • the joining of 2 clauses that gives them equal weighting

20. Subordination

    • the joining of 2 clauses that gives one clause (main) clause and weighting that another clause- or clauses (subordinate clause(s))

21. Adverbial clause

    • A subordinate clause that functions as an adverbial

22. Noun Clause

    • A subordinate clause that functions as a subject, object or complement

23. Active voice

    • agent in subject position for prominence; verb phrase in present or past tense

24. Orthographic sentence

    • marked by a capital latter and full stop but containing no verb

25. Passive voice

    • agent placed in later in the clause using a prepositional phrase; verb phrase changes to a form of to be + participle form (verb root + en/ed)