English II Grammar Quiz Terms

Adjective

Adjectives are words that describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence. Ex. "Where is thy /leather/ apron and thy rule?"

Preposition

In grammar, a preposition is a word which is used before a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun, connecting it to another word. Generally speaking one can classify prepositions in three groups: prepositions of time, prepositions of place and other types of prepositions. Ex. "The deep of night is crept /upon/ our talk, and nature must obey necessity."

Interjection

In grammar, an interjection is a part of speech or (a lexical category) which is used to show a short sudden expression of emotion. Examples of common interjections in English are hi and hey. Interjections are often used with exclamation mark. Ex. "What private griefs they have, /alas/!"

Indefinite Pronoun

The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in a sentence.

Object of Preposition

The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun governed by a preposition. The object of a preposition is usually (but not always) the noun or pronoun immediately to the right of the preposition. Ex. - "Far from this /country/ Pindarus shall run." - "Look, I draw a sword against /conspirators/."

Verb

The part of speech (or word class) that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being. Ex. "/Dwell/ I but in the suburbs of your good pleasure?"

Conjunction

A conjunction is a part of speech that joins two words, phrases or clauses together. Ex. "If this be known, Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back, /for/ I will slay myself."

Direct Object

A direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" Ex. - "A friendly eye could never see such /faults/." - "Beware the /ides/ of March." - "We'll burn his body in the holy place, and with the brands fire the traitors' houses."

Noun

A noun is a part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action. A noun can function as a subject, object, complement, appositive, or object of a preposition. Ex. "... as dear to me as are the ruddy /drops/ that visit my sad heart."

Predicate Adjective

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies (i.e., refers back to) the subject of the linking verb. A predicate adjective contrasts with an attributive adjective, which typically sits immediately before the noun it modifies. Ex. - "He was my friend, faithful and just to me; but Brutus says he was /ambitious/, and Brutus is an honorable man." - "Lee seems drunk." (The linking verb is seems.) - "Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else." (The linking verb is is.) - "If you look good, you don't need a purpose in life." (The linking verb is look.) - "What can you say about a society which says that God is dead, and Elvis is alive?" (In both cases, the linking verb is is.)

Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative or predicate noun completes a linking verb and renames the subject. It is a complement or completer because it completes the verb. Predicate nominatives complete only linking verbs. The linking verbs include the following: the helping verbs is, am, are, was, were, be, being, and been; the sense verbs look, taste, smell, feel, and sound; and verbs like become, seem, appear, grow, continue, stay, and turn. The verb in a sentence having a predicate nominative can always be replaced by the word equals. Examples: Mr. Johanson is a teacher. Mr. Johanson equals a teacher. Mr. Johanson is a father. Mr. Johanson equals a father. Mr. Johanson is my neighbor. Mr. Johanson equals my neighbor. Ex. "You may do your will; but he's a tried and valiant /soldier/."

Pronoun

A pronoun (I, me, he, she, herself, you, it, that, they, each, few, many, who, whoever, whose, someone, everybody, etc.) is a word that takes the place of a noun. There are three types of pronouns: subject (for example, he); object (him); or possessive (his). Ex. "/This/ was the noblest Roman of them all."

Adverb

An adverb is a word that modifies verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. Adverbs in English often end in -ly. Basically, most adverbs tell you how, in what way, when, where, and to what extent something is done. In other words, they describe the manner, place, or time of an action. Here are some examples: Ex. - "He speaks quietly." (quietly is an adverb of manner.) - "I live here." (here is an adverb of place.) - "We'll leave tomorrow." (tomorrow is an adverb of time.) - "She never sleeps late." (never is an adverb of frequency.)

Antecedent

An antecedent is the word (or words) that a pronoun refers to. The word antecedent means to go before in Latin. It gets its name from the idea that a pronoun refers to something previously mentioned in the sentence. Look at this example:

Indirect Object

An indirect object answers the question "to whom?", "for whom?", "for what?"... An indirect object is the recipient of the direct object, or an otherwise affected participant in the event. There must be a direct object for an indirect object to be placed in a sentence. In other words an indirect object cannot exist without a direct object. Ex. - "They sent him a postcard." - him is the indirect object of the verb sent. (To whom did they send a postcard?) - "He bought his son a bike." - his son is the indirect object of the verb bought. (For whom did he buy a bike?) - "Get /me/ a taper in my study, Lucius."

Plural Pronoun

Use a plural pronoun to refer to both, few, many, or several.

Singular Pronoun

Use a singular pronoun to refer to anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, or something.