reflexive verb a verb that is typically used with a reflexive pronoun; e.g. enjoy yourself; pride yourself on.
relative clause a subordinate clause that gives more information about someone or something mentioned in the main clause. See also defining relative clause and non-defining relative clause.
relative pronoun a wh-word such as who or which, used to introduce a relative clause; e.g. …the girl who was carrying the bag.
reported clause the part of a reporting structure that describes what someone has said; e.g. She said that I couldn’t see her.
reported question a question that is reported using a reporting structure rather than the exact words used by the speaker. Also called indirect question.
reported speech speech that is reported using a reporting structure rather than the exact words used by the speaker. Also called indirect speech.
reporting clause a clause that contains a reporting verb, which is used to introduce what someone has said; e.g. They asked if I could come.
reporting verb a verb that describes what people say or think; e.g. suggest, say, wonder.
reporting structure a structure that reports what someone has said by using a reported clause rather than repeating their exact words; e.g. She told me she’d be late.
result clause a subordinate clause introduced by so that which gives the result of something; e.g. The house was severely damaged, so that it is now uninhabitable.
rhetorical question a question that you use in order to make a comment rather than to obtain information; e.g. Oh, isn’t it silly?
second person see person.
semi-modal the verbs dare, need, and used to which behave rather like modals.
sentence a group of words that express a statement, question, or command. A sentence usually has a verb and a subject, and may consist of one clause, or two or more clauses. A sentence in writing has a capital letter at the beginning and a full-stop, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end.
sentence adverbial an adverbial that applies to the whole clause, rather than to part of it; e.g. We possibly have to wait and see. See also sentence connector.
sentence connector a sentence adverbial used to introduce a comment or reinforce what is said; e.g. moreover, besides.
s form the base form of a verb with s on the end, used in the present simple.
simple sentence a sentence that contains only one clause.
singular the form used to refer to or talk about one person or thing; e.g. dog, woman. Compare with plural.
singular noun a noun typically used in the singular form; e.g. sun, business.
split infinitive the placing of a word between to and the base form of a verb; e.g. …to boldly go where no man has gone before.
split sentence a sentence in which emphasis is given to either the subject or the object by using a structure beginning with it, what, or all; e.g. It’s a hammer we need… What we need is a hammer.
stative verb a verb that describes a state; e.g. be, live, know. Compare with dynamic verb.
subject a noun phrase that usually comes before a verb, and agrees with the verb in person and number. In active sentences, the subject usually refers to the person or thing who does the action expressed by the verb; e.g. We were going shopping.
subjunctive a verb form that is used in some languages to express attitudes such as wishing, hoping, and doubting. The subjunctive is not very common in English, and is used mainly in conditional clauses such as If I were you….
submodifying adverb an adverb that is used in front of an adjective or another adverb in order to strengthen or weaken its meaning; e.g. …very interesting… quite quickly.
subordinate clause a clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction such as because or while and which must be used with a main clause.
subordinating conjunction a conjunction that begins a subordinate clause.
substitution the special use of pronouns and other words to replace part or all of a clause; e.g. ‘Are you going to the party?’ – ‘I hope so’.
superlative an adjective or adverb with -est on the end or most in front of it; e.g. thinnest, quickest, most wisely.
tense the verb form that shows whether you are referring to the past or the present.
that-clause a clause starting with ‘that’ which is used mainly when reporting what someone has said; e.g. She said that she’d wash up for me. That can be omitted when the clause is used after a reporting verb.
third person see person.
time adverbial an adverbial that gives more information about when something happens; e.g. I saw her yesterday.
time clause a subordinate clause that indicates the time of an event; e.g. I’ll phone you when I get back.
title a word used before a person’s name to show their position or status; e.g. Mrs, Lord, Queen.
to-infinitive the base form of a verb preceded by to; e.g. to go, to have, to jump.
transitive verb a verb used to talk about an action or event that involves more than one person or thing, and so is followed by an object; e.g. She’s wasting her money.
uncountable noun a noun that refers to a general kind of thing rather than to an individual item, and so has only one form; e.g. money, furniture, intelligence. Also called uncount noun.
verb a word used with a subject to say what someone or something does, or what happens to them; e.g. sing, spill, die.