Some Common Grammar Terms
August 24th, 2019 in English Grammar
Declarative
A sentence used to make a statement is called a declarative sentence.
Examples are:
Ann is a journalist.
The war is over.
I am ready.
Declarative question
A declarative question is a question which has the same grammatical form as a statement.
Examples are:
• That is your girlfriend?
• This is your pen?
• You are coming?
Emphatic pronoun
Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, themselves, himself etc.) are often used to emphasize a noun or pronoun. They are then called emphatic pronouns.
I will do it myself.
He himself said so.
They themselves admitted their guilt.
Euphemism
A euphemism is a polite word or expression used in place of a blunter one in order to avoid giving offence.
Examples include pass away for die, and lavatory or rest room for toilet.
• You are telling me a fairy tale. (=a lie)
• He has passed away. (= He has died.)
Fronting
Any construction in which a part of a sentence is moved to the beginning in order to give it special emphasis.
For example, I have never seen such a mess has a fronted counterpart Never have I seen such a mess, in which the adverb never is fronted. In this case the auxiliary verb have must also be placed before the subject I.
Another example is given below.
I can’t watch this movie has a fronted counterpart This movie I can’t watch, in which the direct object this movie is fronted.