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02/02/08, 04:45 AM
Active and passive voice, direct and indirect objects, compound and complex sentences. Odds are good that you've heard these terms before. Some you still remember, and others--well, others may not be quite as familiar to you as they used to be. If you're in the mood to brush up on your grammar, read this brief definitions and examples of the two dozen most common grammatical terms.
A word of caution: learning (or relearning) these grammatical terms won't automatically make you a better writer. But reviewing these terms should deepen your understanding of how words are arranged in English to create sentences. And that understanding should eventually help you to become a more versatile and confident writer.
1. Active Voice
The verb form in which the subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb. Contrast with Passive Voice.
Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
2. Adjective
The part of speech that modifies a noun or a pronoun. See Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to the Basic Sentence Unit.
Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007)
3. Adverb
The part of speech that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. See Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to the Basic Sentence Unit.
Example:
"There I was, standing there in the church, and for the first time in my whole life I realized I totally and utterly loved one person."
(Charles to Carrie in Four Weddings and a Funeral, 1994)
4. Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A clause may be either a sentence (independent clause) or a sentence-like construction included within another sentence (dependent clause).
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
5. Complex Sentence
A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause.
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
6. Compound Sentence
A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by a conjunction.
Example:
"I can't compete with you physically [independent clause], and you're no match for my brains [independent clause]."
(Vizzini in The Princess Bride, 1987)
7. Conjunction
The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. See: coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction, correlative conjunction, and conjunctive adverb.
Example:
"I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains."
(Vizzini in The Princess Bride, 1987)
8. Declarative Sentence
A sentence that makes a statement.
Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
9. Dependent Clause
A group of words that begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction. A dependent clause has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a subordinate clause. See Subordination with Adjective Clauses and Building Sentences with Adverb Clauses.
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
10. Direct Object
A noun or pronoun in a sentence that receives the action of a transitive verb.
Example:
"All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers."
(Sophia in The Color Purple, 1985)
11. Exclamatory Sentence
A sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.
Example:
"God! Look at that thing! You would've gone straight to the bottom!"
(Jack Dawson looking at Rose's ring in Titanic, 1997)
12. Imperative Sentence
A sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or a command.
Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007)
13. Independent Clause
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a main clause.
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
14. Indirect Object
A noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of a verb in a sentence is performed.
Example:
"It's a family motto. Are you ready, Jerry? I wanna make sure you're ready, brother. Here it is: Show me the money."
(Rod Tidwell to Jerry McGuire in Jerry McGuire, 1996)
15. Interrogative Sentence
A sentence that asks a question.
Example:
"Was there no end to this conspiracy of irrational prejudice against Red Ryder and his Peacemaker?"
(Ralphie in A Christmas Story, 1983)
16. Noun
The part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive.
Example:
"Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash."
(Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally, 1989)
17. Passive Voice
A verb form in which the grammatical subject receives the verb's action. Contrast with active voice.
Example:
"Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection."
(First Elder to Jor-El in Superman, 1978)
18. Predicate
One of the two main parts of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb.
Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
19. Prepositional Phrase
A group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the object's modifiers. See Adding Prepositional Phrases to the Basic Sentence Unit.
Example:
"A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe."
(Paikea, in The Whale Rider)
20. Pronoun
A word that takes the place of a noun. See Using the Different Forms of Pronouns.
Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
21. Sentence
A word or (more commonly) a group of words that expresses a complete idea. Conventionally, a sentence includes a subject and a verb. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a mark of end punctuation. See Basic Sentence Structures.
Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
22. Subject
The part of a sentence that indicates what it is about.
Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
23. Tense
The time of a verb's action or state of being, such as past, present, and future. See Forming the Past Tense of Regular Verbs.
Example:
"Years ago, you served [past tense] my father in the Clone Wars; now he begs [present tense] you to help him in his struggle against the Empire."
(Princess Leia to General Kenobi in Star Wars, 1977)
24. Verb
The part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.
Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007
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A word of caution: learning (or relearning) these grammatical terms won't automatically make you a better writer. But reviewing these terms should deepen your understanding of how words are arranged in English to create sentences. And that understanding should eventually help you to become a more versatile and confident writer.
1. Active Voice
The verb form in which the subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb. Contrast with Passive Voice.
Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
2. Adjective
The part of speech that modifies a noun or a pronoun. See Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to the Basic Sentence Unit.
Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007)
3. Adverb
The part of speech that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. See Adding Adjectives and Adverbs to the Basic Sentence Unit.
Example:
"There I was, standing there in the church, and for the first time in my whole life I realized I totally and utterly loved one person."
(Charles to Carrie in Four Weddings and a Funeral, 1994)
4. Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A clause may be either a sentence (independent clause) or a sentence-like construction included within another sentence (dependent clause).
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
5. Complex Sentence
A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause.
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
6. Compound Sentence
A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by a conjunction.
Example:
"I can't compete with you physically [independent clause], and you're no match for my brains [independent clause]."
(Vizzini in The Princess Bride, 1987)
7. Conjunction
The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. See: coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction, correlative conjunction, and conjunctive adverb.
Example:
"I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains."
(Vizzini in The Princess Bride, 1987)
8. Declarative Sentence
A sentence that makes a statement.
Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
9. Dependent Clause
A group of words that begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction. A dependent clause has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a subordinate clause. See Subordination with Adjective Clauses and Building Sentences with Adverb Clauses.
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
10. Direct Object
A noun or pronoun in a sentence that receives the action of a transitive verb.
Example:
"All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers."
(Sophia in The Color Purple, 1985)
11. Exclamatory Sentence
A sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.
Example:
"God! Look at that thing! You would've gone straight to the bottom!"
(Jack Dawson looking at Rose's ring in Titanic, 1997)
12. Imperative Sentence
A sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or a command.
Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007)
13. Independent Clause
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a main clause.
Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
14. Indirect Object
A noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of a verb in a sentence is performed.
Example:
"It's a family motto. Are you ready, Jerry? I wanna make sure you're ready, brother. Here it is: Show me the money."
(Rod Tidwell to Jerry McGuire in Jerry McGuire, 1996)
15. Interrogative Sentence
A sentence that asks a question.
Example:
"Was there no end to this conspiracy of irrational prejudice against Red Ryder and his Peacemaker?"
(Ralphie in A Christmas Story, 1983)
16. Noun
The part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive.
Example:
"Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash."
(Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally, 1989)
17. Passive Voice
A verb form in which the grammatical subject receives the verb's action. Contrast with active voice.
Example:
"Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection."
(First Elder to Jor-El in Superman, 1978)
18. Predicate
One of the two main parts of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb.
Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
19. Prepositional Phrase
A group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the object's modifiers. See Adding Prepositional Phrases to the Basic Sentence Unit.
Example:
"A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe."
(Paikea, in The Whale Rider)
20. Pronoun
A word that takes the place of a noun. See Using the Different Forms of Pronouns.
Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
21. Sentence
A word or (more commonly) a group of words that expresses a complete idea. Conventionally, a sentence includes a subject and a verb. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a mark of end punctuation. See Basic Sentence Structures.
Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
22. Subject
The part of a sentence that indicates what it is about.
Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
23. Tense
The time of a verb's action or state of being, such as past, present, and future. See Forming the Past Tense of Regular Verbs.
Example:
"Years ago, you served [past tense] my father in the Clone Wars; now he begs [present tense] you to help him in his struggle against the Empire."
(Princess Leia to General Kenobi in Star Wars, 1977)
24. Verb
The part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.
Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007
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