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Adjective A descriptive work that modifies a noun or a pronoun.
Adverb A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb and indicates when, how, where, why, or how much.
Article A word that is used to limit a noun, either indefinite (a and an) or definite (the).
Clause A group of words that are related and contain both a subject and a verb.
Direct Object The noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb and answers the question whom or what.
Noun A word for a person, place, or thing.
Object of the Preposition The noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause to which the preposition refers.
Phrase A group of words that are related but do not contain a verb and a subject together.
Possessive Pronoun A pronoun used to indicate ownership.
Preposition A word such as by, at, to, or from that gives additional information, usually in relationship to something else in the sentence.
Pronoun A word that replaces and refers to a noun.
Subject A noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb. If a sentence contains a verb of being or a linking verb such as be, feel, become, or look, the subject of the sentence is the noun or pronoun being described.
Verb A word that shows an action or a state of being.
Identify the parts of speech 'The Young Boys Enjoy Soccer Practice' The= Definite Article Young= Adjective Boys= Subject- Noun Enjoy= Verb Soccer= Adjective Practice= Direct Object
Prepositional Phrase A preposition followed by a phrase (group of words) usually composed of a preposition, an article, and an object of the preposition, with modifiers added sometimes.
Preposition Mnemonic 'box' The boy can sit 'on' the box, 'by' the box, 'above' the box, 'below' the box, 'around' the box, or 'near' the box.
This does not account for: 'to' and 'from''
First Person Possessive Pronouns Singular: Mine, My Plural: Our, Ours
Second Person Possessive Pronouns Singular: Your, Yours Plural: Your, Yours
Third Person Possessive Pronouns Singular: Her, Hers, His, Its Plural: Their, Theirs
Subject Verb Agreement agreement in number between a subject and a verb. If the subject is singular, the verb is singular. If the subject is plural, the verb is plural.
Pronoun Antecedent Agreement pronouns and antecedents must agree in number and gender
Antecedent The noun that a pronoun refers back to.
Point of View The perspective from which an author writes
First Person point of view Narrator tells story from his/her point of view and refers to him/herself as 'I' and uses words such as 'my', 'we', or 'our'. This narrator may be an active character or observer.
Second Person point of view The narrator tells the story using the pronouns 'You', 'Your,' and 'Yours' to address a reader or listener directly.
Third Person point of view an unknown narrator, tells the story, they will reference the thoughts or actions of other characters.
Coordinating Conjunctions Words that join two or more words, phrases, or clauses so that each conjoined element is equal. FANBOYS=for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Subordinating Conjunction A word that joins two or more clauses and makes the clause that contains it depended on another clause, the clause that contains the subordinating conjunction is of less importance.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions Because, though, although, as, as if, when, while.
Nominalization The making of a noun from a verb, adverb, or adjective.
Active Verbs Verbs that should an action performed by the subject of the sentence.
Passive Verbs Are Comprised of be plus a past participle that shifts the action of a sentence from the subject to the object of the sentence.
Passive Voice In passive voice, the active subject and the direct object change places, and the subject receives the action of the verb.
Syntax Arrangement of words in phrases and sentences
Modifiers Describes or modifies someone or something in the sentence
Diction A writer's or speaker's choice of words
Word Structure The way in which the parts of a word are arranged together.
Etymology The history of a given word, or its origin.
Root Word A word in its simplest form, before any affixes are attached.
Prefix A group of letters added to the beginning of a word that modifies or extends the words meaning.
Suffix A group of letters added to the end of a word that modifies or extends the words meaning.
Prefix: UN Definition: Not Examples: unavailable, unarmed, unattractive
Prefix: RE Definition: again Examples: reacquaint, readjust
Prefix: IN Definition: Not Examples: invisible, inaccurate
Prefix: DIS Definition: Not Examples: disorganized, disagreeable
Suffix: IA, Y Definition: state or condition Examples: amnesia, democracy
Suffix: IC, ICAL,AC Definition: having to do with Examples: endoscopic, physical, cardiac
Suffix: ISM Definition: Belief in Examples: nationalism, activism
Suffix: OLOGY Definition: the study of Examples: archeology, bacteriology
Suffix: OR, ER Definition: one who takes part in Examples: conductor, reporter, fighter
Root: Arch Definition: ruler Example: archenemy, tetrarch, hierarchical
Root: Audio Definition: Sound Example: audiovisual, audiocassette
Root: Bio Definition: Life Examples: biochemistry, biodegradable
Root: Chrom Definition: Color Examples: monochrome
Root: Geo Definition: Earth Examples: geometry, geode, geologic
Root: Graph Definition: Written Example: Biographic, calligraphy, mimeograph
Root: Morph Definition: Form Examples: endomorph, isomorphic, morphine
Root: Ortho Definition: Correct Examples: orthodontia, unorthodox
Root: Ped Definition: Foot Examples: backpedal, millipede
Root: Terra Definition: Earth Examples: terrace, terrarium, extraterrestrial
Root: Therm Definition: Heat Examples: exothermal, endothermic, geothermal
Simple Sentence A sentence that contains only one clause that has a complete meaning, known as a independent clause. They MUST NOT contain any dependent clauses. A simple sentence only needs a SUBJECT and a VERB to be COMPLETE.
Independent Clause A clause that has a complete meaning.
Dependent Clause A clause that is make dependent or incomplete because of the addition of a subordinating conjunction.
Complex Sentences Contain one or more dependent clauses
Compound Sentence Contains two or more independent clauses joined together with a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.
Sentence Fluency Making your writing readable and smooth, and giving sentences variety.
Periodic Sentence The meaning or point of the sentence is delayed until the end, usually in the form of an independent clause.
Cumulative Sentence (loose sentence) The independent clause of the sentence comes first and is followed by modifiers that further develop the initial idea.
Commonly Misspelled Words Accidentally, Accept, Accommodate, Accompanied, Achieved, Across, Address, Aggravate, Aisle, Allot, Allotted, Alright, All Right, Amateur, Annual, Anxiety, Apparent, Appearance, Appropriate, Arctic, Argument, Arrangement, Association, Attendance, Auxiliary, Awkward, Bachelor, Barbarian, Barbarous, Barren, Beggar, Believe, Beneficial, Benefited, Biscuit, Brilliant, Business, Cafeteria, Calendar, Candidate, Career, Carriage, Ceiling, Cemetery, Changeable, Changing, Characteristic, Chauffeur, Colonel, Column, Commit, Committed, Committee, Comparative, Comparatively, Comparison, Compel, Compelled, Competent, Competition, Completely, Compulsion, Conceivable, Conceive, Conception, Confident, Conqueror, Conscience, Conscientious, Conscious, Contemptible, Convenient, Coolly, Course, Courteous, and so on.
Ellipses A deliberate omission of words expressed through [...]
Commas The separation of two words or phrases in a series of three or more. [,]
Semicolons Semicolons are used to: 1.Separate related independent clauses 2.Separate items in a series if the elements of the series already includes commas 3.Separate the independent clauses in a compound sentence other commas are needed in either of the independent clauses 4.Separate sentences in a series if one or more of the sentences is long. [;]
Colons Colons are used: 1.After a complete statement in order to introduce one or more directly related ideas 2.After a salutation in business letter 3.Between hours and minutes in time notation 4.Between chapter and verse in biblical references [:]
Hyphens 1.Used to divide a word that would otherwise be incomplete on one line. 2. Create compound words. 3. Go between Numbers [-]
Parentheses 1. Enclose supplementary or explanatory material that interrupts the main sentence. [()]
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