21 Terms Defined – AP Language and Composition – GRAMMAR TERMS
Adverb modifies/describes a verb. Sometimes ends in “ly”. Answers questions like when, where, how,
why.
Sarah waits patiently.
Antecedent: a pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun. Many pronouns have antecedents, nouns
or pronouns to which they refer. A pronouns and its antecedent agree when they are both singular or
both plural. Singular: Dr. Tweed finished her rounds. Plural: The hospital interns finished their rounds.
Appositive: are noun phrases that rename nouns or pronouns. A pronoun used as an appositive has the
same function (usually subj. or obj.) as the word(s) the appositive renames.
The chief strategies, Dr. Bell and I, could not agree on a plan.
Articles: a, an, or the. Those 3 word signify a noun is about to appear.
Clause: a group of words that contains a subject plus a verb. They are either dependent or independent
Dependent: a subj. + verb is found, but they cannot stand alone as a sentence. The dependent
clause needs an independent clause attached to make sense.
Dependent:( )(When he was done with supper), he ran outside to play baseball. (independent)
Independent: a group of word that contains a subj. and verb and can stand alone as a sentence
and makes sense. He ran outside to play baseball (ind.) when he was done with supper. (dependent)
Comparative: Most adj. and adverbs have three forms: the positive, the comparative, and the
superlative.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
Soft
softer
softest
Fast
faster
fastest
Careful
more careful
most careful
Bad
worse
worst
Good
better
best
Coordinating conjunction: Words like “and, or, nor, but, for” that connect equivalent words, phrases,
or a clause.
Tom can either take the test over or accept the “D” grade.
Dangling modifier: Group of words (usually verbs) that fail to refer logically to any word in the
sentence application. Upon entering the doctor’s office, a skeleton caught my attention.
This dangling modifier falsely suggests that the skeleton entered the doctor’s office.
2
Direct object: a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. The dog attacked the cat.(D.O)
Gerund: is a verb + ing. The word is used as a noun. Shopping can be quite a workout when covering the
mall by foot.
Helping verb: 23 words that help action words or can be a verb on its own: have, has, had, do, does,
did, be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been, can, could, may, might must, shall, should, will, would, (ought)
Infinitive phrase: Basic form of a verb usually proceeded by “TO” and can function as a noun, an adj.,
or adverb. To study requires hard work. (noun) He cut off his nose to spite his face.
Modifier: are adjective that modify or describe nouns or pronouns. Adverbs also modify or describe
verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. The car runs smoothly. (smoothly modifies the verb runs).
The green snake slithered quickly down the road. (green is an adj. that modifies snake; quickly is an
adverb that modifies slithered which is a verb)
Predicate: is the grammar term given to the verb plus its objects, complements, and adverbial
modifiers.
Predicate adjective: completes the thought and tells something about the subject.
She is kind. (“she” is the subject and kind tells something about the subject).
Propositional phrase: The phrase begins with a preposition and contains a noun and its modifiers.
Look in handbook has the list of prepositions. To an ant, a few drops of water are a flood. (“to” is
preposition and “ant” is the object). With a heavy heart, he returned home. (“with” is preposition and
“heart” is the object; heavy modifies heart)
Pronouns: replace nouns, their antecedents, for conciseness. I, we, you, he, she, me, us, him, her, mine,
their, his.
Rose left the door open while she was running errands.
Proper noun: denotes a particular person, place, or thing: President Obama, Seattle, Grand Canyon
Subordinating conjunction: connects unequal parts of a sentence (because, as, since, if, while)
Ella was lonely because her best friend moved. Ben would only stop baseball if called for supper.
Superlative: Most adjectives and adverbs have three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative.
Superlative is to compare three or more. CHS football team is the most talented in SW Washington.