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Appendix 2 Useful Language Terms

Part of Speech Definition Example

Adjective An adjective is a word that describes a Hurricane winds can be extremely
noun or pronoun. destructive.

Adverb An adverb is a word that describes a Before starting any experiment,
verb, an adjective, or another adverb. chemists must carefully prepare
the chemicals involved.

Article The definite article the is used with The cottonmouth is an example of
specific nouns. The indefinite articles a poisonous snake.
a and an are used with singular count
nouns.

Auxiliary An auxiliary is a helping verb that is used Voters did not pass the new law,
with a main verb. Common auxiliaries are but supporters may try to write a
be, do, have, will, and modals such as different law.
may, should, and could.
Conjunction A conjunction is used to connect words, The capital of the United States
phrases, or clauses. A coordinating used to be Philadelphia, but now it
conjunction connects two independent is Washington, D.C.
clauses. Common conjunctions are and,
but, and so.

Noun A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. The Bengal tiger has been listed as
A noun can be used as an adjective. an endangered species since 2010.
Object An object is a word that comes after a Thomas Jefferson signed
transitive (action) verb or a preposition. the Declaration of Independence
in 1776.

Preposition A preposition is a word that shows The books about gravity are located
relationships between nouns, such as in the physics section of the library,
location, time, or direction. Prepositions behind the biology section.
can consist of one, two, or three words.
Stative verb Stative (nonactive) verbs describe states, Early astronomers believed
senses, feelings, appearance, desires, or that Earth was the center of our
possession. Stative verbs are not usually universe.
used with progressive forms.

Subject The subject of a sentence tells who or The professor is absent this term
what the sentence is about. because he is on a sabbatical leave.

Verb A verb shows the action of a sentence or The people of Brazil speak
the existence of something. Portuguese.

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