Grammar - the rules describing the best use of language. The two primary areas of study are morphology and syntax. Infinitive - A non-finite verb form that functions as a noun or adjective or adverb; it names the activity in the most general sense. It is usually preceded by 'to'. E.g.: he likes to read. You need not read this. He considered the matter to have been settled. Inflection - the change of word form to express different grammatical relations, including the declension of nouns and pronouns, the conjugation of verbs, and the comparison of adjectives and adverbs. Morphology - the study of word structure, primarily affixes and inflection. English makes little use of this to express grammat- ical meaning. Non-finite Verb - A verb which has been turned into another Part of Speech; it may express aspect and voice. See Gerund, Infinitive, Participle. Number - the property in words of expressing that one (singular), or more than one (plural) person or thing is spoken of. Participle - a non-finite verb form that functions as an adjective. It participates in the nature of a verb expressing aspect and voice, and may take take an object, and in the nature of an adjective in qualifying a noun. E.g.: Having heard this he went away. Person - The three classes of pronouns and corresponding verb forms denoting the person speaking (first person), the audience addressed (second person), and the rest of the world (third person). [2.b, 3.c.i] Phonetics - the science of vocal sounds (es- pecially of a particular language) that deals with their production and representation. Phrase - a group of words which operate together as an element of a sentence. E.g. 'turning left' (participial phrase), 'on a hill' (adverbial phrase), 'because of (prepositional phrase) . Prefix - a verbal element joined to the beginning of a word to qualify its meaning, e.g. impossible, antiseptic, hypersensitive. Reflexive - describes transitive verbs where the subject and direct object refer to the same thing or person; also pronouns so used (usually ending in '-self'). E.g. He saw himself in the mirror. Semantic - relating to significance or meaning. For example, with a passive verb, the grammatical subject expresses the semantic object. Sentence - a combination of words forming at least one clause. It is meaningful by itself. See also Complex Sentence. Simple Sentence - a series of words in connected speech or writing, forming the grammatically complete expression of a single thought. A combination of words forming only one clause. See also Complex Sentence. Suffix - a verbal element joined to the end of a word to form a new word, e.g. short ly, fault less, friends/lip, caxeful. Syntax - the study of sentence structure, primarily the conventions of arrangement by which the connection and relationship of words are shown. Verb - See Finite Verb and Non-finite Verb. Word - a minimal element of speech having meaning as such. By itself it expresses a universal concept; in a sentence it denotes a specific thing, attribute, relation, etc.
