Page 10 - Basic English Usage

10

Words used in the explanations

active In / paid the bill, the verb paid is active. In The bill was paid, the
verb was paid is passive, not active.
adjective a word like green, hungry, impossible, used to describe.
adverb a word like tomorrow, here, badly, also, which is used to say, for
example, when, where or how something happens.
adverb(ial) particle a word like up, out, off, used as part of a verb like
get up, look out, put off.
adverb(ial) phrase a group of words used like an adverb. Examples: in
this place, on Tuesday.
affirmative / was is affirmative; / was not is negative.
auxiliary (verb) a verb like be, have, do, which is used with another
verb to make tenses, questions etc. See also modal auxiliary verbs.
clause a structure with a subject and verb, and perhaps an object and
adverbs. Examples: / know that man. | came home last night.
A sentence is made of one or more clauses. See also main clause.
comparative a form like older, faster, more intelligent.
conditional / shou/d/would + infinitive, etc. See 88.
conjunction a word that joins clauses. Examples: and, so, if, when.
consonant D, c, d, fand g are consonants; a, e, ij, oand u are vowels.
contraction two words made into one. Examples: don't, /'ll.
determiner a word like the, my, this, every, more, which can come at
the beginning of a noun phrase. See 96.
direct object In / gave my mother some money, the direct object is
some money, my mother is the indirect object.
direct speech reporting somebody’s words without changing the
grammar. In She said ‘I'm tired’, the clause I'm tired is direct speech.
In She said that she was tired, the structure is indirect speech or
reported speech.
emphasize You emphasize something if you make it ‘stronger’—for
example, by saying it louder.
expression a group of words used together, like in the morning.
first person /, me, we, us, our, amare first person forms.
formal We use formal language when we wish to be polite or to show
respect; we use more informal language when we talk to friends, for
example. Good morning is more formal than Hello; Hiis very informal.
gerund an -ing form used like a noun. Example: Smoking is dangerous.
hyphen a line (-) that separates words. Example: milk-bottle.
imperative a form (like the infinitive) that is used to give orders, make
suggestions, etc. Examples: Come on; Wait a minute. See 170.
indirect object see direct object.
indirect speech see direct speech.
infinitive In / need to sleep and | must go, the forms to sleep and go
are infinitives. See 175.
informal see formal.
irregular see regular.