Glossary of Grammatical Terms

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[idiom] [imperative mood] [imperative sentence] [indefinite adjective] [indefinite article] [indefinite aspect] [indefinite pronoun] [indefinite tense] [independent clause] [indicative mood] [indirect object] [indirect question] [infinitive form] [infinitive phrase] [intensive pronoun] [interjection] [interrogative] [interrogative adjective] [interrogative pronoun] [interrogative sentence] [intransitive verb] [irony] [irregular verb]

^ top Idiom

An idiom is an expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of the word(s) therein. For example:

pushing up daisies (dead)

paint the town red (have a good time)

Is it true that Martha has a bun in the oven? [idiom]

^ top Imperative Mood

Mood is the form a verb takes to show the manner in which it is to be regarded (e.g. as a fact, a command, a wish, an uncertainty, etc).

The imperative mood is used for commands or requests.

Open the window.

Stop the bleeding.

Run!

I am going to cross the field. Shout when you see the bull. [imperative mood]

^ top Imperative Sentence

An imperative sentence gives a direct command. It can end in a full stop or an exclamation mark, depending on how forceful the command is:

Clear this desk by tomorrow!

Please tidy your room.

Consider the lily.

Drive to the roundabout and then turn left.

Shut up! I am talking. Go and stand in the corridor. [imperative sentence]

^ top Indefinite Adjective

An indefinite adjective is an adjective formed from an indefinite pronoun. The most common indefinite pronouns are:

all, any, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody, and someone.

When used as adjectives, these are known as "indefinite adjectives".

There are several in the safe room. (indefinite pronoun)

There are several people in the safe room. (indefinite adjective)

I have seen some in the cupboard. (indefinite pronoun)

I have seen some cartridges in the cupboard. (indefinite adjective)

There are only a few deer left, and we need to tag each one. [indefinite adjective]

Related lesson: "Adjectives"

^ top Indefinite Article

In English, there are 3 articles. They are the adjectives "a", "an" and "the". "The" is called the definite article as it is used to indicate something specific; whereas, "a" and "an" are called the indefinite articles as they are used to indicate something unspecific.

Would you like a pear? (an unspecific pear - i.e. any pear)

Would you like the pear? (a specific pear)

I'm not a bitch. I'm the bitch! [indefinite article]

Related lesson: "Adjectives"

^ top Indefinite Aspect

Any verb (in the past, present or future) in the indefinite (or simple) tense is said to be in the "indefinite aspect" (also called the "simple aspect"). Such verbs are used to describe actions but do not state whether the action is complete or on-going.

In the past: I went / they ate / she felt
(the simple past tense)

In the present: I go / we clean / it recovers
(the simple present tense)

In the future: I will go / you will act / he will fly
(the simple future tense)

^ top Indefinite Pronoun

An indefinite pronoun refers to a non-specific person or thing. It usually conveys the idea of all, any, none or some. The most common ones are:

all, any, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody, and someone.

When used as an adjective, these are known as "indefinite adjectives".

All in the lobby must remain seated. (indefinite pronoun)

All personnel in the lobby must remain seated. (indefinite adjective)

Please take some to Mrs Chandler. (indefinite pronoun)

Please take some lemons to Mrs Chandler. (indefinite adjective)

Does anyone know anything about yesterday's accident? [indefinite pronoun]

Related lesson: "Pronouns"

^ top Indefinite Tense

The indefinite (or simple) tenses are used to describe actions but do not state whether the action is complete or on-going.

In the past: I went / they ate / she felt
(the simple past tense)

In the present: I go / we clean / it recovers
(the simple present tense)

In the future: I will go / you will act / he will fly
(the simple future tense)

Verbs can be categorised by aspect. These are said to be in the "indefinite aspect" (also called the "simple aspect").

^ top Independent Clause

An independent clause is one that could stand alone as a complete sentence. For example:

The crew could see the whale, which had surfaced only 50m behind them.

independent clause subordinate clause
(i.e. could stand alone) (i.e. could not stand alone)

The crew could see the whale. (complete sentence)

^ top Indicative Mood

Mood is the form a verb takes to show the manner in which it is to be regarded (e.g. as a fact, a command, a wish, an uncertainty, etc).

A verb used to make a statement or ask a question is said to be in the "indicative mood". The vast majority of sentences are in the indicative mood. For example:

The sky is clear tonight.

She is not content with the outcome.

The aliens could not breathe our air.

Is that a whelk?

^ top Indirect Object

The indirect object of a sentence is the recipient of the verb. Every sentence must contain a verb. Most verbs have a direct object (the thing being acted upon). Some verbs have an indirect object (the recipient).

Paula passed the parcel.
(There is no recipient in this sentence. Therefore, there is no indirect object.)

Paula passed her uncle the parcel. ("her uncle" - indirect object)

Paula passed the parcel to her uncle. ("her uncle" - indirect object)

Let him have it. ("him" - indirect object)

Shall I tell the children our ghost story tonight? [indirect object]

^ top Indirect Question

An indirect question is one that does not require an answer because it forms part of a statement. A declarative sentence (i.e. a statement) containing an indirect question does not end with a question mark. For example:

I wonder whether Anne is going to the party. (this contains an indirect question)

Is Anne going to the party? (direct question)

I wonder whether roses will grow in this soil. [indirect question]

^ top Infinitive Form

The infinitive form of a verb is usually preceded by "to" (e.g. to run, to dance, to think). The word "to" is not a preposition in this case; it is often called the "sign of the infinitive". An infinitive can be used as a noun, an adjective or an adverb.

To dance was his ambition. (as a noun)

His ambition was to dance. (as a noun)

They need water to drink. (as an adjective)

The officer returned to help. (as an adverb)

After certain verbs the "to" is dropped.

I helped her tidy the balcony. ("to" dropped from "to tidy")

They made him wait for a day. ("to" dropped from "to wait")

I am leaving at 5 o'clock to raise the lobster pots before the storm. [infinitive form]

Related lesson: "Verbs"

^ top Infinitive Phrase

The infinitive form of a verb is usually preceded by "to" (e.g. to run, to dance, to think). An infinitive phrase is this form of the verb plus any complements or modifiers. In the examples below, the infinitive phrases are in bold:

He helped to build the roof.

Let me show you the best way to paint the door.

The officer returned to help the inspectors.

Infinitive phrases can be used as nouns, adjectives and adverbs.

He helped to build the roof. (noun)

Let me show you the best way to paint the door. (adjective)

The officer returned to help the inspectors. (adverb)

The only solution is to lower the standards. [infinitive phrase]

^ top Intensive Pronoun

Intensive pronouns are used for emphasis. They are formed by adding "-self" or "-selves" to an appropriate pronoun (i.e. a word like him, them, etc.). The intensive pronouns are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.

Leave it! I will do it myself.

Did you build that yourselves?

(Note: There is no such word as "hisself".)

I am off for a day on Wednesday. Can you finish this yourself? [intensive pronoun]

Related lesson: "Pronouns"

^ top Interjection

Interjections are words used to express strong feeling or sudden emotion. They are included in a sentence, usually at the start, to express some type of emotion such as disgust, joy, excitement or enthusiasm.

Oh, I did not expect that.

Blast! How unlucky!

Good, it is about time the rain stopped.

An interjection can be followed by a comma or an exclamation mark.

Indeed, the crane can lift twice that amount, John. [interjection]

Related lesson: "Interjections"

^ top Interrogative

The term "interrogative" is applicable to any sentence or construction that asks a question.

^ top Interrogative Adjective

The interrogative adjectives (which and what) modify nouns and are used in questions.

Which car was involved?

What book are they reading?

^ top Interrogative Pronoun

An interrogative pronoun is a word used to pose a question. The interrogative pronouns are:

who / whom / which / what / whoever / whomever / whichever / whatever

^ top Interrogative Sentence

An interrogative sentence is one that asks a direct question and always ends in a question mark. For example:

What is the capital of Peru?

Has anybody seen my torch?

Although the sentence below contains an indirect question, it is a statement (a declarative sentence) and not an interrogative sentence.

Sarah asked whether anybody had seen her torch. (declarative sentence)

^ top Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is one which involves an action that is not performed on anyone or anything; i.e. it has no direct object. For example:

Mel walks for miles.
(As "walks" is not being done to anything, this verb is intransitive. "Mel walks the dog for miles" does have an object, the dog, and therefore is transitive.)

Every single person voted. ("voted" - not done to anything - intransitive)

The crowd demonstrated outside the theatre. ("demonstrated" - not done to anything - intransitive)

Many verbs can be used intransitively or transitively:

The apes played in the woods. (intransitive)

The apes played hide and seek in the woods. (transitive)

They chopped down the large oak where the jackdaws roost. [intransitive verb]

Related lesson: "Verbs"

^ top Irony

Irony is the use of an expression, which is often mildly sarcastic or humorous, to express the opposite of its literal meaning.

That is just what I needed. (i.e. It isn't.)

I am so glad it has started raining. (i.e. I'm not.)

An ironic event is one that occurs seemingly in mockery of the circumstances. For example:

James Bellamy, who has campaigned for years against the Dangerous Dogs Act, was hospitalised after a vicious attack by his neighbour's dog.

^ top Irregular Verb

An irregular verb is one that does not form its past participle and past form by adding "-ed" or "-t". The past form and past participle are often different. For example:

Regular Verb	Past Form	Past Participle
To cook	I cooked	I have cooked
Irregular Verb	Past Form	Past Participle
To begin	I began	I have begun
To break	I broke	I have broken