GMAS Language Term Review

grammar

• the set of rules for language
• an alphabetical list of words and phrases and their meanings; often found at the end of a text
• implied meaning; the meaning the writer intends, which may not be the same thing as the literal or dictionary meaning of a word
• a reference book that provides the precise, or exact, meanings of words and phrases

correct usage

• a word or phrase that means the opposite of a word or phrase in the same language
• expresses a single complete thought and contains a subject and a verb
• the use of words that have repetition of similar vowel sounds but are not rhyming words (examples: cake and lane or eat and eel)
• using the correct word when there is a choice

phrase

• an alphabetical list of words and phrases and their meanings; often found at the end of a text
• the foundation of a word
• a comparison between two things that helps to express the relationship or connection between the words (example: Moon is to night as sun is to day.")
• a group of words working together as a unit

clause

• a group of words that contains a subject and a verb
• a word that imitates the natural sound of something (examples: meow, pop, fizz, and clop)
• implied meaning; the meaning the writer intends, which may not be the same thing as the literal or dictionary meaning of a word
• a group of words working together as a unit

independent clause

• a group of words that contains a subject and a verb
• words and phrases that surround another word and help to explain its meaning
• a type of clause that expresses a complete thought and stands alone
• letters that are added to a root word that change its meaning

dependent clause

• a word or phrase that means the opposite of a word or phrase in the same language
• words and phrases that surround another word and help to explain its meaning
• a type of clause that must be joined to an independent clause to be grammatically correct
• using a phrase or word that repeats something else and is unnecessary

simple sentence

• words and phrases that surround another word and help to explain its meaning
• the use of words that have repetition of similar vowel sounds but are not rhyming words (examples: cake and lane or eat and eel)
• a reference book that provides the precise, or exact, meanings of words and phrases
• expresses a single complete thought and contains a subject and a verb

compound sentence

• contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunction
• a comparison between two things that helps to express the relationship or connection between the words (example: Moon is to night as sun is to day.")
• a group of words working together as a unit
• the foundation of a word

complex sentence

• words and phrases that surround another word and help to explain its meaning
• an indirect reference to something
• contains an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses
• has two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause

compound-complex sentence

• the set of rules for language
• has two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
• the words, facts, or ideas in a text that explain a difficult or unusual word
• contains an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses