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absolute phrase

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a phrase that is related to a sentence in meaning, but has no grammatical relationship to the phrase. Ex. "The movie over......,"

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abstract noun

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a noun that names a quality or mental concept

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active voice

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the subject performs the action

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antecedent

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the noun, usually before the pronoun, that the pronoun replaces.

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clause

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a group of related words containing both a subject and a predicate.

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comparative adjective

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compares two persons, places or things. It is usually followed by "than". ex. colder than

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complement

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a word often used to complete the meaning of an intransitive verb without receiving the intransitive verb's action and with copulative (linking) verbs to describe state of being.

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concrete noun

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a noun that names a member of a class; a group of people, places, or things that is physical, visible, and tangible

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coordinating conjunction

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a word used to connect grammatically equal elements. These include and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet.

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countable noun

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a noun that can be maid plural via changing the ending, usually by adding "s"

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dangling modifier

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A modifiying phrase or clause that does not sensibly modify any word or words in a sentence. Usually the actor is missing from the sentence. (Ex. "Reading a book, the black cat crawled onto my lap." The cat was not reading the book. To fix: add an actor to the sentence.)

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demonstrative pronoun

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a noun that points out a specific person, place, or thing without naming it (Ex: this, that, these, those)

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direct object

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a word that receives a direct action from the subject of the sentence. Answers the question what or whom.

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elliptical clause

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an instance in which clause elements are omitted if the context makes clear what is being indicated. ex. Jessica had three dollars; Janie, one.

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idiom

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an , an expression having a special meaning different from the usual meanings of the words (example - "hit the road")

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indefinite pronoun

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a pronoun that does not refer to a specific, person, place, thing, or idea (Ex: everyone, everything, everybody, anybody, many, most, few, each, some, someone, all, nothing, nobody, and no one)

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indicative mood

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The indicative mood is used to make a statement or ask a question. Most sentences are in the indicative mood. -Do you like to play baseball? -I learned to play last year. -Baseball is my favorite game.

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indirect object

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a word that receives the action of the subject indirectly. ex. She gave Bill a present.

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infinitive

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the basic form of a verb, usually preceded by the preposition "to"

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interjection

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used to express stong emotion or surprise. "oh" or "well"

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interrogative pronoun

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a pronoun that poses a question. ex. what, which, who, whom, and whose

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interrogative statement

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a sentence that asks a question

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intransitive verb

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a verb that does not take an object. ex. lie, arrive, went

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misplaced modifier

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a modifier that is not placed near near the word it modifies.

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nominal of a sentence

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a word or group of words that can function as a noun

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nominative case

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when a noun or pronoun is the subject of a verb

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noncountable noun

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a noun that cannot be made plural by changing the ending, usually by adding "s". (Ex: milk, juice, music, art, love, happiness, furniture, luggage, rice, sugar, electricity)

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noun compound

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a group of words (usually two) that functions as a single part of speech

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objective case

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when a noun or pronoun is used as the direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition

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participial phrase

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phrase that contains a participle and its modifiers and functions as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun, (Ex: They arrested the man DRIVING THE CAR.)

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participle

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Verb that can be used as a adjective. *Present ends in -ing*-----*Past ends in ed.-d,-t,-en,-n (The TERRIFYING movie was rated "R"

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passive voice sentence

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a sentence in which the subject receives the action

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positive adjective

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an adjective used when there is no comparison being made. (Ex: This is a HOT day.)

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predicate

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the action of the sentence or what is being said about the subject

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regular verb

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a verb that forms the past tense by adding "ed" to the basic verb

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relative pronoun

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a pronoun that relates one part of a sentence to a word in another part of the sentence. (Ex: that, which, who, whom, whose)

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split infinitive

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An instance in which the words that make up an infinitive are separated by one or more words. (Ex: to boldly go)

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subjunctive

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An uncommon construction used to express with exactitude how a verb usage is to be interpreted.

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subordinating conjunction

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a word which joins together a dependent clause and an independent clause. Examples are although, because, while, etc.

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superlative

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compares three or more persons, places or things.

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transitive verb

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a verb that takes an object to complete its meaning

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verbals

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words that appear to be verbs, but are acting as some other part of speech. (EX: READING and WRITING are fundamental skills that all of us should possess.)

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WHILE refer to time and should not be used as a substitute for ALTHOUGH, AND, or BUT INCORRECT: While I'm usually interested in Fellini movies, I'd rather not go tonight.

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CORRECT: Although I'm usually interested in Fellini movies, I'd rather not go tonight.

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WHERE refere to a place and should not be used as a substitute for THAT. INCORRECT: We read in the paper where they are making great strides in DNA research.

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CORRECT: We read in the paper that they are making great strides in DNA research.

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After words like REASON and EXPLANATION, use THAT not BECAUSE. INCORRECT: His explanation for his tardiness was because his alarm did not go off.

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CORRECT: His explanation for his tardiness was that his alarm did not go off.

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Present Perfect Tense

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for an action that began in the past but continues into the future. (Ex: I HAVE LIVED here all my life.)

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Past Perfect Tense

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for an earlier action that is mentioned in a later action. (Ex: Cindy ate the apple that she HAD PICKED. - First she picked it, then she ate it.)

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Future Perfect Tense

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for an action that will have been completed at a specific future time (Ex: By May, I SHALL HAVE GRADUATED.)

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Present Participle

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for an action that occurs at the same time as the verb. (Ex: SPEEDING down the interstate, I saw a cop's flashing lights.

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Perfect Participle

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for action that occurred before the main verb. (Ex: HAVING READ the directions, I started te test.

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Subjunctive Mood

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to express a wish or state condition contrary to fact. (EX: IT IT WERE NOT raining, we could have a picnic.)

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Use THAT after

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verbs like REQUEST, RECOMMEND, SUGGEST, ASK, REQUIRE, and INSIST and after such expressions as IT IS IMPORTANT and IT IS NECESSARY. (EX: It is necessary THAT all papers BE SUBMITTED on time.)

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Unusual Single Verbs: criterion alumnus datum medium

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Unusual Plural Verbs: criteria alumni data media

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Nominative (Subject) Pronoun Case:

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I he she we they who

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Objective (Object) Pronoun Case:

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me him her us them whom

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Use nominative case for

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the subject of an elliptical clause (Molly is more experience than HE.) the subject of a subordinate clause (Robert is the driver WHO reported the accident.) the complement of an infinitive with no expressed subject (I would not want to be HE.)

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Use objective case for

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for the object of a preposition (Just between you and ME, I'm bored.) for the appositive of a direct object (The committee elected two delegates, Barbara and ME.)

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When a conjunction connects two pronouns or a pronoun and a noun, remove the "and" and the other pronoun or noun to determine the correct pronoun form.

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Mom gave Tom and myself a piece of cake. Mom gave Tom and I a piece of cake. Mom gave Tom and me a piece of cake. CORRECT: Mom gave Tom and me a piece of cake.

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The only pronouns that are acceptable after BETWEEN and other prepositions are...

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me, her, him, them, and whom

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When deciding between WHO and WHOM...

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try substituting HE for WHO and HIM for whom

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When an antecedent is one of dual gender (student, singer, artist etc) use HIS OR HER or change the antecedent to a plural noun to avoid using the sexist, singular pronoun HIS. INCORRECT: Everyone hopes that he will win the lottery.

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CORRECT: Most people hope they will win the lottery.

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WHO refers to WHICH and THAT refer to WHERE refers

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people things and places places

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Singular indefinite pronouns

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another, anyone, anybody, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, something

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Plural indefinite pronouns

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both, few, many, others, several

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Prepositions for Time, Place, and Introducing Objects (10)

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on, at, in, since, for, by, from-to, from-until, during, within

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Prepositions Indicating Place or Location

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in, inside, on, at, over, above, beneath, underneath, below, near, next to, by, between, among, opposite etc

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Prepositions Introducing the Objects of Verbs (3)

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at, of, for (Ex: glance at, look at, approve of, smells of, call for, look for)

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Prepositions Indicating Direction (5)

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to, onto, into, on, in

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Good vs. Well

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Good is an adjective (The quiche tastes good.) Well is and adverb or an adjective meaning "in good health". (He plays well. - Adverb My mother is not well. - Adjective)

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Bad vs Badly

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BAD is an adjective used after sentence verbs (look, smells, tastes, etc) or linking verbs (is, am, are, was, were) I feel BAD about the delay BADLY is an adverb It doesn't her very BADLY

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Sort Of vs. Kind Of

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often misused instead of "rather" or "somewhat" INCORRECT: Jan was KIND OF saddened by the results of the test. CORRECT: Jan was SOMEWHAT saddened by the results of the test.

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It is not necessary to use a comma with a short sentence INCORRECT: In January, she will go to Switzerland.

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CORRECT: In January she will go to Switzerland.

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Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses connected by a conjunctive adverb. INCORRECT: He took great care with his work, therefore, he was very successful.

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CORRECT: He took great care with his work; therefore, he was very successful.

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DO NOT use a colon after a verb INCORRECT: My favorite holidays are: Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Halloween.

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CORRECT: My favorite holidays are Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Halloween.

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DO NOT use a colon after a preposition INCORRECT: I enjoy different ethnic foods such as: Greek, Chinese, and Italian.

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CORRECT: I enjoy different ethnic foods such as Greek, Chinese, and Italian.

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When quoting several paragraphs, place quotation marks at...

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the beginning of EACH paragraph and at the END of the last paragraph.

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Capitalize geological periods

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Neolithic age Cenozic era late Pleistocence times (*notice only the main period is capitalized NOT the other descriptor)

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Capitalize personifications

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Reliable Nature brought her promised Spring. Bring on Melancholy in his sad might. She believed that Love was the answer to all her problems.

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Capitalize historical periods

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Middle Ages World War 1 Christian Era Roaring Twenties Age of Louis XIV (*notice the WHOLE period is capitalized)

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Capitalize Equatorial Current

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NOT equator

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Most important words of titles are capitalized. Conjunctions and short prepositions are not (unless they are the first or last word)

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A Man for All Seasons Of Mice and Men Rise of the West Amazing Grace

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Do NOT capitalize compass directions or seasons

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north, south, west, east, spring, autumn, winter, summer

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Capitalize political groups and philosophies

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Democratic party Communist party Transcendentalism (* note only the GROUP is capitalized not the following descriptor)

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Do NOT capitalize systems of government or individual adherents to a philosophy

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democracy communism transcendentalist

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five Words Weak Writers Use

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you, we, they, this, it

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Use ACTIVE voice when writing

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PASSIVE: The winning field goal was kicked by her. (Stressed the action) ACTIVE: She kicked the winning field goal. (Stresses the actor)

MTEL Communication & Literacy Skills: Writing Subtest Review – Flashcards

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