A-Z Grammar Terms

Levels of style or usage (see formal and informal): Different ways of using language in different situations.

Lexical: Related to words and their meanings.

Light verb: A verb that has little meaning on its own and is used with a noun.

Example: Take a shower, have a look, make a decision

Linking adverbial (also called conjunct): A word that connects ideas in sentences.

Example: However, he was late.

Linking words: Words that connect parts of a sentence.

Example: and, but, because, although

Main clause: A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Example: She loves music.

Main verb: The most important verb in a sentence.

Example: She runs every morning.

Mandative subjunctive (see subjunctive): A verb form used in formal commands or wishes.

Example: I suggest that he be on time.

Manner adverb/adverbial: An adverb that shows how something happens.

Example: She spoke softly.

Marked and unmarked:

Marked: A form that is special or different.

Example: Actress (marked for female).

Unmarked: A normal or neutral form.

Example: Actor (can mean any gender).

Masculine: A word that refers to male gender.

Example: He, father, king

Mass noun: A noun that cannot be counted.

Example: Water, sugar, advice

Matrix clause: A main clause without its subordinate clause.

Example: You can drink your orange (if you like).

Main clause: You can drink your orange if you like.

Matrix clause: You can drink your orange.

Mid-position, middle position: When an adverb comes between the subject and verb.

Example: She often visits us.

Minor sentence (see verbless sentence): A short sentence without a verb.

Example: "No problem!"

Modal (auxiliary) verb: A helping verb that shows ability, possibility, or necessity.

Example: can, may, must, should
Example: She can swim.

Modality (see modal auxiliary verb): The way a verb shows possibility, certainty, or necessity.

Example: You must go (necessity).

Modifier: A word that adds meaning to another word.

Example: The red car (red modifies car).

Mood: The way a verb expresses meaning (statement, command, question, wish).

*Example:

Indicative: She is happy.
Imperative: Be happy!
Subjunctive: I wish she were here.*

Morphology: The study of how words change form.

Example: happy → happiness, go → goes

Name, naming expression: A word or phrase used to identify a person, place, or thing.

Example: John, New York, Eiffel Tower

Nationality word: A word that shows the country a person is from.

Example: American, Chinese, French

Negation, negative: A way to make a sentence mean "no" or the opposite of something.

Example: She does not like coffee.

Negative concord: Using more than one negative word in a sentence for emphasis (common in some dialects).

Example: I don’t know nothing (meaning "I don’t know anything").

Negative word: A word that makes a sentence negative.

Example: no, not, never, nothing, nobody

Neuter (or non-personal): A word that is not male or female.

Example: It is raining.

New information (see given and new information): Information that is introduced in a sentence.

Nominal: A word or phrase that acts like a noun.

Example: The rich should help the poor.

Noun phrase: A group of words that acts as a noun.

Example: The tall man in the blue suit is my uncle.

Nominal clause (noun clause): A clause that acts as a noun.

Example: I believe that she is right.

Nominal group: A group of words with a noun as the main part.

Example: A big, fluffy cat slept on the sofa.

Nominal relative clause: A relative clause that acts like a noun.

Example: What she said is true.

Nominalization: Changing a verb or adjective into a noun.

Example: Decide → decision, happy → happiness

Nominative: The form of a noun or pronoun used as the subject of a sentence.

Example: She is my friend.

Non-affirmative, non-assertive: Words used in negative or question sentences, not in positive ones.

Example: I haven’t seen anyone today.

Non-clausal unit (see verbless sentence): A sentence part that does not contain a full clause.

Example: "No problem!"

Non-count noun (uncountable noun): A noun that cannot be counted.

Example: Water, rice, happiness

Non-defining relative clause (see restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses): A clause that gives extra, non-essential information.

Example: My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting us.

Non-finite: A verb form that does not show tense.

Example: To eat, eating, eaten

Non-finite clause: A clause with a verb that does not show tense.

Example: To win the game, you must practice.

Non-finite nominal clause (see nominal clause): A noun clause with a non-finite verb.

Non-finite verb: A verb that does not show tense (past, present, or future).

Example: Running is fun.

Non-finite verb phrases (see non-finite verb): A phrase with a non-finite verb.

Example: To learn English is important.

Non-personal (see neuter): A word that does not refer to a person.

Example: It is cold outside.

Non-restrictive: A phrase or clause that gives extra, unnecessary information.

Example: My car, which is red, is parked outside.

Notional concord: Agreement based on meaning rather than grammar rules.

Example: The team are happy (because "team" refers to multiple people).

Noun: A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

Example: Dog, London, happiness

Noun clause (see nominal clause): A clause that acts as a noun.

Noun phrase: A group of words centered around a noun.

Example: The big brown dog barked.

Noun-pronoun concord (see concord): Agreement between a noun and a pronoun.

Example: A student should do his homework.

Nucleus: The main part of a phrase or sentence.

Null (see gap; zero): When a word or phrase is left out but understood.

Example: She likes coffee, and he does (too). ("does" replaces "likes coffee").

Number: Shows if a word is singular or plural.

Example: Boy (singular), boys (plural)

Numerals (numbers): Words or symbols for counting.

Example: one, two, three; 1, 2, 3