Language and Grammar - High School

If you want to be a grammar guru, it's imperative that you capitalize on this list. Learn about punctuation, parts of speech, types of sentences, and more. This list is sure to help you develop superlative knowledge of language and grammar. Period.
117 words 1993 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. active voice
    when the subject of a sentence performs the action
  2. adjectival
    of or relating to or functioning as an adjective
  3. adjective
    the word class that qualifies nouns
  4. adverb
    a word that modifies something other than a noun
  5. adverbial
    of or relating to or functioning as an adverb
  6. affix
    a linguistic element added to a word
  7. agreement
    in grammar, the correspondence between two words
  8. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  9. analogy
    drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
  10. antecedent
    the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers
  11. antonym
    a word that expresses an opposite meaning
  12. apostrophe
    a mark used to indicate the omission of one or more letters
  13. auxiliary verb
    a verb that combines with another verb in a verb phrase to help form tense, mood, voice, or condition of the verb it combines with
  14. bracket
    either of two punctuation marks used to enclose text
  15. citation
    a passage or expression that is quoted
  16. clause
    an expression including a subject and predicate
  17. cognate
    a word deriving from the same root as another word
  18. colon
    a punctuation mark used after a word introducing a series
  19. comma
    a punctuation mark (,) indicating the separation of elements
  20. comparative
    the form of an adjective or adverb with "more" or "-er"
  21. complex sentence
    a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause
  22. compound sentence
    a sentence composed of at least two coordinate independent clauses
  23. concise
    expressing much in few words
  24. conjunction
    a function word that serves to conjoin words or phrases
  25. connotation
    an idea that is implied or suggested
  26. coordinating conjunction
    a conjunction (like `and' or `or') that connects two identically constructed grammatical constituents
  27. dangling modifier
    a word or phrase unclearly or illogically describing a noun
  28. dash
    a punctuation mark used between words or to mark a break
  29. demonstrative pronoun
    a pronoun that points out an intended referent
  30. denotation
    the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression
  31. dependent clause
    a section in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone
  32. derivation
    an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase
  33. determiner
    one of a limited class of noun modifiers that determine the referents of noun phrases
  34. direct object
    the object that receives the direct action of the verb
  35. direct quotation
    a report of the exact words used in a discourse
  36. ellipsis
    a mark indicating that words have been omitted
  37. etymology
    a history of a word
  38. euphemism
    an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
  39. figurative
    not literal
  40. figure of speech
    language used in a nonliteral sense
  41. first person
    pronouns and verbs used to refer to the speaker
  42. formal
    adhering to traditional standards of correctness
  43. function
    what something is used for
  44. gender
    a grammatical category governing agreement
  45. gerund
    a noun formed from a verb
  46. grammar
    the branch of linguistics that deals with sentence structure
  47. homograph
    one of two words spelled the same way that differ in meaning
  48. homonym
    a word pronounced or spelled the same with another meaning
  49. homophone
    a word pronounced the same with another meaning or spelling
  50. hyphenation
    division of a word especially at the end of a line on a page
  51. idiom
    expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from its words
  52. independent clause
    a section in a complex sentence that can stand alone
  53. indicative
    a mood that represents the act or state as an objective fact
  54. indirect object
    the object that is the recipient or beneficiary of the action of the verb
  55. infinitive
    the uninflected form of the verb
  56. inflection
    a change in a word's form to indicate grammatical function
  57. informal
    having the simple or familiar structure of everyday language
  58. interjection
    an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion
  59. main clause
    a section in a complex sentence that can stand alone
  60. misplaced modifier
    a word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., `when young' in `when young, circuses appeal to all of us'
  61. modal
    a verb expresing how the action is conceived by the speaker
  62. modifier
    a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb
  63. modify
    add a qualifying word to a constituent
  64. mood
    verb inflections that express how the action is conceived
  65. nonrestrictive clause
    a subordinate clause that does not limit or restrict the meaning of the noun phrase it modifies
  66. noun
    a content word referring to a person, place, thing or action
  67. nuance
    a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
  68. number
    the grammatical category that counts the entities involved
  69. object
    (grammar) a noun or noun equivalent that is acted upon
  70. parenthesis
    a punctuation mark used to enclose textual material
  71. parenthetical
    expression in punctuation marks enclosing textual material
  72. participial
    of or relating to or consisting of participles
  73. participle
    a form of the verb used as an adjective
  74. part of speech
    a class of words distinguished by its function in a sentence
  75. passive voice
    when the subject of a sentence is a recipient of the action
  76. person
    a grammatical category according to discourse role
  77. phrase
    an expression consisting of one or more words
  78. predicate
    the constituent of a sentence containing the verb
  79. prefix
    an affix that is added in front of the word
  80. preposition
    a word before a noun or pronoun connecting to another word
  81. prepositional phrase
    a phrase beginning with a preposition
  82. pronoun
    a function word that is used in place of a noun
  83. punctuation
    a symbol that helps one read and understand written text
  84. quotation
    a passage or expression that is cited
  85. reciprocal pronoun
    a pronoun or pronominal phrase (as `each other') that expresses a mutual action or relationship between the individuals indicated in the plural subject
  86. redundant
    repeating the same sense in different words
  87. reference
    a publication noted as a source of information
  88. relative clause
    a clause introduced by a relative pronoun
  89. relative pronoun
    a pronoun (as `that' or `which' or `who') that introduces a relative clause referring to some antecedent
  90. restrictive clause
    a subordinate clause that limits or restricts the meaning of the noun phrase it modifies
  91. second person
    pronouns and verbs that refer to the person being addressed
  92. semicolon
    a punctuation mark used to connect independent clauses
  93. sentence structure
    the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
  94. set off
    direct attention to, as if by means of contrast
  95. structure
    the building of something and the arrangement of its parts
  96. style
    a mode of expression typical of a person, group, or period
  97. subject
    one of the two main constituents of a sentence
  98. subjunctive
    a mood that represents an act as contingent or hypothetical
  99. subordinate clause
    a section in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone
  100. subordinating conjunction
    a conjunction that introduces a dependent clause
  101. suffix
    a linguistic element that is added at the end of the word
  102. superlative
    the form of a word denoting the greatest degree or extent
  103. synonym
    a word that expresses the same or similar meaning
  104. syntactical
    of or relating to or conforming to the rules of syntax
  105. syntax
    the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
  106. tense
    a category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
  107. thesaurus
    a book containing a classified list of synonyms
  108. third person
    pronouns referring to people besides the speaker or listener
  109. tone
    a quality that reveals the attitudes of the author
  110. transition
    a passage or word that connects a topic to one that follows
  111. usage
    the customary manner in which language is spoken or written
  112. vague
    not clearly understood or expressed
  113. verb
    a word denoting an action, occurrence, or state of existence
  114. vernacular
    the everyday speech of the people
  115. voice
    a means by which something is expressed or communicated
  116. wordiness
    boring verbosity
  117. wordy
    using or containing too many words
Created on Wed Jan 25 13:26:52 EST 2017 (updated Wed Mar 29 15:44:05 EDT 2017)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.