Category: Grammatical Terms

Modal Verb

Definition of Modal Verb A modal verb is a type of verb that joins up with another verb to create a mood or situation. Also known as a “modal auxiliary verb,” a modal verb expresses uncertainty, necessity, permission, or ability. Unlike…

Helping Verb

Definition of Helping Verb A helping verb is a verb that precedes the main verb in a sentence. A helping verb is also called an “auxiliary verb,” and words may or may not separate a helping verb from the main…

Prepositional Phrase

Definition of Prepositional Phrase Prepositional phrase is a group of words comprising a preposition, its object, and a modifier of the object. In a longer sentence, this phrase modifies verbs, nouns, clauses, and phrases. A prepositional phrase usually comes at…

Possessive Pronoun

Definition of Possessive Pronoun A possessive pronoun is used to show possession, or to point out the person who owns the object. It replaces a noun within a sentence. Possessive pronouns include: my/mine your/yours his hers its our/ours their/theirs whose…

Demonstrative Pronoun

Definition of Demonstrative Pronoun Demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that points towards the noun it replaces, indicating it in time, space, and distance. It can be singular or a plural; it may be a near demonstrative, “this, that,” or a…

Coordinating Conjunction

Definition of Coordinating Conjunction Coordinating conjunction is a type of conjunction that connects two syntactically equal, and similarly constructed clauses, phrases, and words. In fact, it joins the elements which are similar in structure and importance. Coordinating conjunction is a…

Personal Pronoun

Definition of Personal Pronoun A personal pronoun represents a particular person, a thing, a place, an animal, or a group. Its purpose is to avoid repetition of a noun in the sentence, or in the text. It appears in the…

Phrase

Definition of Phrase A grammatical term, which is a group of words, functions as a meaningful part or unit within a clause or sentence is called phrase. It consists of a headword that determines the grammatical nature of the unit…

Interjection

Definition of Interjection An interjection is a short expression that writers use to express emotion. Interjections can stand alone, or they can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. Interjections can convey emotions without necessarily connecting to the…

Conjunction

Definition of Conjunction Etymologically, the term “conjunction” is derived from an old French term meaning “joining together.” In grammar, a conjunction  connects sentences, phrases, clauses, and words. A conjunction can also add meaning to the other words within a sentence.…

Clause

Definition of Clause The word “clause” has been derived from the Medieval Latin word “clausa,” meaning the close of a period, a termination, or a conclusion. In grammar, a clause is a combination of words within a sentence that is…

Pronoun

Definition of Pronoun A pronoun is a grammatical term that replaces a noun, noun clause, or noun phrase in a sentence to avoid its repetition. A pronoun is a traditional part of speech that  originated from the Latin word “pronomen,”…