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Grammar Definitions

Your Mini-Dictionary of Grammar Definitions

Here is a quick review of common grammar definitions and terms.

Grammar - more than a set of definitions!

Our grammar Clue Cards from The Big Bad Grammar Slammer will give you a visual diagram of the major grammar terms.

Guess what? The study of grammar is more than a list of grammar definitions. Grammar is the relationship between the parts of speech. Using words correctly allows you to write and punctuate any sentence.

See below for the grammar Clue Cards download.

Commonly Used Grammar Definitions

Adjective - Modifies a noun

Adverb - Modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb

Antecedent - A personal pronoun the noun is replacing
I saw John. He is leaving tomorrow.
In this sentence, "John" is the antecedent.

Appositive - Restates the noun
Shannon, my cousin, is coming.

Articles - "a", "an", or "the"

Clause - Group of words which contain a subject and verb
See dependent clause and independent clause below.

Complex sentence - Composed of one dependent and one independent clause
Although she is forty, she looks like she is only thirty.

Compound sentence - Composed of more than one independent clause, both of which could stand as complete sentences

Conjunction - Joins sentences or compound phrases
and, or, but

Definite article - the word "the" which definitely identifies which noun

Dependent clause - A clause contains a subject and verb but cannot stand as a complete sentence.
Because we were late

Direct Object - Noun which receives the action in the predicate

Indefinite article - "an"

Independent clause - A complete sentence or a clause that can stand as a complete sentence

Indirect object - A noun to which the action the verb is directed

Infinitive - A noun phrase comprised of "to and a verb"
To smoke is to risk your health.

Gerund - A verb form used as a noun
Studying improves your grades

Linking Verb - "To be" verbs which connect the subjct and predicate
is, was, will be, etc.

Noun- Person, place, thing or emotion

Participial Phrase - A verb form used as an adjective
Running in the sun, the athlete became tired and thirsty.

Personal pronoun - Takes the place of a noun
I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them

Phrase - Does not have a subject and verb

Predicate Nominative - A noun in the predicate that is the same thing or person as the noun in the subject.
That girl is my friend.

Preposition - Gives the direction in time or place
about, above, across, after, among, at, before, behind, below, beside, between, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, like, near, of, off, on, over, through, to, under, until, up, with, without

Prepositional phrase - A phrase that begins with a preposition (see list above)

Pronouns - Takes the place of a noun

Proper Noun - Names a specific noun and is capitalized

Relative clause - Clause that begins with a relative pronoun, has a subject and verb, but does not express a complete thought
Whoever left their books on the table

Relative Pronoun - Pronoun that begins a relative clause
Who, whoever, whose, which, whichever, that

Subordinate Conjunctions - Begins a dependent clause
After, although, as, because, before, if, in order to, so, then, that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whenever, whether, while

Verb - Action word

Now, don't you feel smarter after reading all those grammar definitions?

Actually, I highly recommend downloading the Grammar Slammer Cue Cards so you can visually see how all these interesting grammar definitions actually work.

Parts of Speech

It isn't enough just to know the common grammar definitions. Writers who master these concept of the parts of speech can define and sharpen their tools when they are discussing them.

Yes, it is possible for someone to use exciting verbs without knowing the definition of "verb." However, it would be difficult for an editor or a teacher to explain to a writer that they need more action verbs, if they were unfamiliar with the concept of "verbs."

Here are the most common parts of speech:

Noun: person, place, thing, or idea
Adjective: describes (or modifies) the noun
Verb: action word
Adverb: describes (or modifies) the verb
Prepositional phrase: group of words beginning with a preposition that describes when or where

Those five different parts of speech are demonstrated in this sentence: The sharp knife smoothly sliced through the rope.

English Grammar Tutorial

Are you looking for more than simple grammar definitions? Our English Grammar Tutorial to provide an overview of grammar lessons and concepts.

The modules include:

5 types of sentences
Types of Nouns
Use of Adjectives
Verb Tenses
Use of Adverbs
Special Sentence Types (appositives, direct address, interogatives)
Complex and Compound Sentences

Download the Clue Cards

Follow our link to download your free copy of the Clue Cards for Diagramming Sentences.

You'll discover how practical and easy grammar and diagramming can be for students and young writers.

Or, you can order the entire curriculum below.