15 Words to Boost Your Grammar Vocabulary

Grammar is the building block of language. It’s a complex system, but there are certain terms that are essential for understanding how to form clear and meaningful sentences. Join The Reliable Narrator on a journey through 15 key grammar vocabulary terms. 

The Reliable Narrator will define these grammar vocabulary words, how they work together, and how to use them correctly. By the end of this journey, you’ll have a deeper understanding of grammar and will be using these terms more effectively.

Grammar Vocabulary: Terms to Know

Noun

Definition: A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea.

Pronunciation: /naʊn/

Use: “Tree,” “ocean,” and “freedom” are examples of nouns.

Verb

Definition: A word that denotes an action, state, or occurrence.

Pronunciation: /vɜːrb/

Use: “Run,” “is,” and “think” are verbs that express different actions or states.

Adjective

Definition: A word that describes or modifies a noun.

Pronunciation: /ˈadjɪktɪv/

Use: “Red,” “happy,” and “ancient” are adjectives.

Adverb

Definition: A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverbs, often indicating manner, place, frequency, or degree.

Pronunciation: /ˈadvɜːrb/

Use: “Quickly,” “loudly,” and “often” are adverbs.

Pronoun

Definition: A word that takes the place of a noun, like “he,” “they,” or “who.”

Pronunciation: /ˈproʊnaʊn/

Use: Instead of saying “John said John lost John’s hat,” we use pronouns: “John said he lost his hat.”

Preposition

Definition: A word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun to express a relation to another word or element.

Pronunciation: /ˌprepəˈzɪʃən/

Use: Words like “on,” “under,” “between,” and “with” are prepositions.

Conjunction

Definition: A word that connects clauses, sentences, or words.

Pronunciation: /kənˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

Use: “And,” “but,” and “because” are common conjunctions.

Interjection

Definition: An exclamation or sudden expression within a sentence, often standalone.

Pronunciation: /ˌɪntərˈdʒɛkʃən/

Use: Words like “wow,” “ouch,” and “hey” are interjections.

Clause

Definition: A group of words containing a subject and a verb, and forming part of a sentence or constituting a whole sentence.

Pronunciation: /klɔːz/

Use: In the sentence “She danced because she was happy,” “She danced” and “she was happy” are both clauses.

Predicate

Definition: The part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject.

Pronunciation: /ˈpredɪkət/

Use: In “The cat sleeps,” “sleeps” is the predicate.

Syntax

Definition: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪntæks/

Use: The difference between “The dog bit the man” and “The man bit the dog” is a matter of syntax.

Inflection

Definition: A change in the form of a word to express tense, mood, number, etc.

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈflɛkʃən/

Use: The word “ran” is an inflection of the verb “run.”

Gerund

Definition: A verb form that ends in “-ing” and functions as a noun.

Pronunciation: /ˈdʒerənd/

Use: “Swimming” is fun.

Participle

Definition: A verb form that can function as an adjective or noun. Present participles end in “-ing” while past participles often end in “-ed.”

Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːrtɪsəpl/

Use: “A broken vase” or “a running stream.”

Phrase

Definition: A small group of words standing together without a subject and verb, which together have a single function.

Pronunciation: /freɪz/

Use: “In the morning” and “under the bed” are phrases.

Reliable Thoughts

Grammar, while complex, is a rewarding puzzle. Each of these new grammar vocabulary terms gives insight into the construction and meaning of sentences. Embrace the beauty of structured expression!