Vocabulary Page

On this page, you can find the definitions to some of the vocabulary concerning Phrases and Clauses that might be giving you some trouble.

appositive: a noun or noun phrase that follows another noun and that denotes the same person or thing.

complement: an element which completes a structure (phrase or clause).

direct object: a part of a clause that comes in addition to the subject and verb.

head: the most important word in a phrase; the word that carries the main meaning of the phrase and that cannot be taken away.

indirect object: a clause element which may come in addition to a subject, direct object, and verb.  An indirect object is usually placed between the verb and the direct object, and it refers to something or somebody that benefits from the action, typically a recipient of something.

intensifier: an intensifier is usually another adverb that proceeds a compliment or postmodifier.

modifier: a modifier is a part of the phrase which gives a property to the most important part of the phrase.  Modifiers are always optional.

postmodifier: a modifier that is placed after the main part of a phrase.

predicative: function in the clause.

predicate nominative: a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and refers to the same person or thing as the subject of the verb.

subject: a clause element which comes in addition to the verb in all complete sentences.

subordinating conjunction: a conjunction that completes a function in a phrase or another clause.