oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

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GLOSSARY
sub clause See main clause.
subject In the sentence The ship sails in an hour, the noun phrase the ship is the
subject. In a statement the subject comes before the verb.
subject complement See complement.
subjunctive The subjunctive is the base form of a verb. We can use it in rather
formal English in some contexts, e.g. I propose that the money be made available.
• 242
suffix The adverb calmly has a suffix ly. The noun movement has a suffix ment.
• 285
superlative Superlative forms are oldest, most famous, most sharply etc. • 217
syllable The word important has three syllables: important.
tag See question tag.
tag question a sentence with a question tag, e.g. We've got time, haven't we?
tense a form of the verb which shows whether we are talking about the present
(I refuse, he knows, we are) or the past (I refused, he knew, we were) •61(1)
to-infinitive a verb form like to go, to answer, to sleep • 115
to-infinitive clause See infinitive clause.
transitive verb a verb that takes an object, e.g. We enjoyed the meal. The postman
brings the letters. • 8
truth adverb e.g. definitely, possibly, maybe • 214
uncountable noun a noun that cannot have a/an in front of it and has no plural
form, e.g. gold, petrol, music, • 144. An uncountable noun takes a singular verb.
verb In the sentence The parcel arrived yesterday, the word arrived is a verb. Verbs
are words like play, walk, look, have, discover.
verb of perception e.g. see, hear, feel, smell
verb of reporting a verb used to report what someone says or thinks, e.g. say, tell,
answer, promise, think • 265
verb phrase a verb or a group of words that functions as a verb, e.g. opens, went, is
coming, had waited, can swim, must have seen • 57
viewpoint adverbial e.g. economically, weather-wise • 213(3)
voiced/voiceless These consonant sounds are voiceless:
. These consonant sounds are voiced:
. All vowel sounds are voiced.
vowel The letters a, e, i, o and u are vowels. The other letters, e.g. b, c, d,f, are
consonants.
weak form Some words can be spoken in a strong form or a weak form. For
example, the word can has a strong form and a weak form .•55(1)
wh-question a question that begins with a question word, e.g. who, what, where
• 24
word class a type of word such as a noun, adjective or preposition • 3
yes/no question a question that can be answered yes or no, e.g. Are you ready?~
Yes, I am. Did anyone call? ~ No. • 24
yes/no short answer an answer such as Yes, it is. or No, they didn't. • 29(2)