13. Independent Clause
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a main clause.Example:
"Don't ever argue with the big dog [independent clause], because the big dog is always right [dependent clause]."
(Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive, 1993]
14. Indirect Object
A noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of a verb in a sentence is performed.Example:
"It's a family motto. Are you ready, Jerry? I wanna make sure you're ready, brother. Here it is: Show me the money."
(Rod Tidwell to Jerry McGuire in Jerry McGuire, 1996)
15. Interrogative Sentence
A sentence that asks a question.Example:
"Was there no end to this conspiracy of irrational prejudice against Red Ryder and his Peacemaker?"
(Ralphie in A Christmas Story, 1983)
16. Noun
The part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive.Example:
"Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash."
(Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally, 1989)
17. Passive Voice
A verb form in which the grammatical subject receives the verb's action. Contrast with active voice.Example:
"Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection."
(First Elder to Jor-El in Superman, 1978)
18. Predicate
One of the two main parts of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb.Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
19. Prepositional Phrase
A group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the object's modifiers. See Adding Prepositional Phrases to the Basic Sentence Unit.Example:
"A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe."
(Paikea, in The Whale Rider)
20. Pronoun
A word that takes the place of a noun. See Using the Different Forms of Pronouns.Example:
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
(Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)
21. Sentence
A word or (more commonly) a group of words that expresses a complete idea. Conventionally, a sentence includes a subject and a verb. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a mark of end punctuation. See Basic Sentence Structures.Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
22. Subject
The part of a sentence that indicates what it is about.Example:
"I don't ever remember feeling this awake."
(Thelma Dickinson in Thelma and Louise, 1991)
23. Tense
The time of a verb's action or state of being, such as past, present, and future. See Forming the Past Tense of Regular Verbs.Example:
"Years ago, you served [past tense] my father in the Clone Wars; now he begs [present tense] you to help him in his struggle against the Empire."
(Princess Leia to General Kenobi in Star Wars, 1977)
24. Verb
The part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.Example:
"Send this pestilent, traitorous, cow-hearted, yeasty codpiece to the brig."
(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, 2007)
Are you ready to move beyond these 24 basic terms? If so, visit our extensive Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms.
