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Glossary 5.11 Glossary
- Adjective.
An open-class word that typically modifies nouns and can be graded (comparative/superlative).
- Adjective phrase (AdjP).
A phrase built around an adjective head, often with degree modifiers.
- Adverb.
An open-class word that modifies verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or sentences.
- Adverb phrase (AdvP).
A phrase built around an adverb head.
- Attributive position.
The position directly before a noun, where adjectives typically appear (the tall man).
- Dual-identification principle.
The practice of identifying both a word’s form (part of speech) and its function (role in the sentence) when analyzing grammar.
- Form.
A word’s inherent grammatical category based on its morphology and typical behavior.
- Function.
The grammatical role a word or phrase plays in a particular sentence.
- Head.
The central, obligatory element of a phrase that determines its category.
- Modifier.
An optional element that adds information about the head.
- Morphological test.
A test based on the forms a word can take (plural, tense, etc.).
- Noun.
An open-class word that can be pluralized, possess, and follow determiners.
- Noun phrase (NP).
A phrase built around a noun head, with optional determiners and modifiers.
- Open class.
A word category that freely accepts new members (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).
- Subject complement position.
The position after a linking verb, where adjectives describe the subject (The man is tall).
- Syntactic test.
A test based on how a word behaves in sentences.
- Verb.
An open-class word that can be inflected for tense and determines the structure of the sentence.
- Verb phrase (VP).
A phrase built around a verb head, containing the verb and any required complements.
