Language Revision
Neologism
Brand new word.
Google, gifted (it should be I gave them a …), AI, selfie, Bluetooth, Sellotape, Hoover.
Portmanteau
2 conjoined words.
Motel, vlog, spork, brunch.
Compound word
Joined by a hyphen and usually not together. Each word should be able to stand alone.
Up-to-date, pitch-black.
Initialism
Abbreviation using the letters from each word but you cannot say it as a new word.
BPSA, ATM.
Acronym
Abbreviation using the letters from each word and you can say it as a word.
VAT, PIN, SCUBA.
Abbreviation
Shortened word.
Mr, Dr, Mon.,
Transferred epithet
Queen slept on incestuous sheets.
Adjective describes the sheets BUT ACTUALLY is describing the Queen.
Grammar:
Phrases:
Without subject- verb unit.
Clauses:
Main clause – full, simple sentence. (SVO)
Independent – stand on own, is a main clause.
Subordinate – can’t stand on its own. Extra information.
Dependent – depends on main, is a subordinate
Types of sentences:
Complex – main and subordinate clause.
Simple – main clause only.
Compound – conjunction, 2 independent clauses.
Finite verbs:
1
, Verbs which have the past or the present form are called FINITE verbs. Verbs in any
other form (infinitive, -Ing, or -ed) are called NONFINITE verbs. This means
that verbs with tense are finite, and verbs without tense are non-finite.
A finite verb is the main verb in a sentence. It's the root word that drives the rest of
the sentence. Almost every verb in the English language can be used as a finite
verb as long as it has these qualities in a sentence: a subject. agreement with the
subject.
Concord error:
The word is should be replaced with are as the subject is in plural form
Agreement between the subject and the verb.
Eg. The people(s) are coming(v) here(adv) tonight.
The person(s) is coming here tonight
Eg. A group(s) of people is coming here tonight.
Groups(s) of people are coming here tonight
Eg. A boy visits the church every day.
Boys visit the church every day.
Passive and active voice:
Active – subject, verb, object. (SVO – English syntax)
Eg. The train hit a donkey.
Passive – OVS, subject can be optional, add a preposition.
Eg. a donkey has been hit by the train.
If asked which sentence is more appropriate see whether the subject or the object is
the main point of the story. Then answer by saying active/passive because it
foregrounds the subject/object.
Comma splice
Use full stop instead.
Or conjunction.
Or semi- colon.
Split infinitive:
Don’t split, can’t be split with a word in between.
Can put adverb at the end
Eg. – to jump
- To quickly jump (wrong, can’t split)
- To jump quickly (right, adverb after)
Punctuation:
Apostrophe:
Singular possession – a teacher’s desk.
Plural possession – teachers’ desks
Contraction – don’t, can’t
2
Neologism
Brand new word.
Google, gifted (it should be I gave them a …), AI, selfie, Bluetooth, Sellotape, Hoover.
Portmanteau
2 conjoined words.
Motel, vlog, spork, brunch.
Compound word
Joined by a hyphen and usually not together. Each word should be able to stand alone.
Up-to-date, pitch-black.
Initialism
Abbreviation using the letters from each word but you cannot say it as a new word.
BPSA, ATM.
Acronym
Abbreviation using the letters from each word and you can say it as a word.
VAT, PIN, SCUBA.
Abbreviation
Shortened word.
Mr, Dr, Mon.,
Transferred epithet
Queen slept on incestuous sheets.
Adjective describes the sheets BUT ACTUALLY is describing the Queen.
Grammar:
Phrases:
Without subject- verb unit.
Clauses:
Main clause – full, simple sentence. (SVO)
Independent – stand on own, is a main clause.
Subordinate – can’t stand on its own. Extra information.
Dependent – depends on main, is a subordinate
Types of sentences:
Complex – main and subordinate clause.
Simple – main clause only.
Compound – conjunction, 2 independent clauses.
Finite verbs:
1
, Verbs which have the past or the present form are called FINITE verbs. Verbs in any
other form (infinitive, -Ing, or -ed) are called NONFINITE verbs. This means
that verbs with tense are finite, and verbs without tense are non-finite.
A finite verb is the main verb in a sentence. It's the root word that drives the rest of
the sentence. Almost every verb in the English language can be used as a finite
verb as long as it has these qualities in a sentence: a subject. agreement with the
subject.
Concord error:
The word is should be replaced with are as the subject is in plural form
Agreement between the subject and the verb.
Eg. The people(s) are coming(v) here(adv) tonight.
The person(s) is coming here tonight
Eg. A group(s) of people is coming here tonight.
Groups(s) of people are coming here tonight
Eg. A boy visits the church every day.
Boys visit the church every day.
Passive and active voice:
Active – subject, verb, object. (SVO – English syntax)
Eg. The train hit a donkey.
Passive – OVS, subject can be optional, add a preposition.
Eg. a donkey has been hit by the train.
If asked which sentence is more appropriate see whether the subject or the object is
the main point of the story. Then answer by saying active/passive because it
foregrounds the subject/object.
Comma splice
Use full stop instead.
Or conjunction.
Or semi- colon.
Split infinitive:
Don’t split, can’t be split with a word in between.
Can put adverb at the end
Eg. – to jump
- To quickly jump (wrong, can’t split)
- To jump quickly (right, adverb after)
Punctuation:
Apostrophe:
Singular possession – a teacher’s desk.
Plural possession – teachers’ desks
Contraction – don’t, can’t
2
