mode of expression in which the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. Ex.: The boy threw the ball.
count nouns
words that name people, places, things, or ideas that can be counted and made into plurals, such as teacher, restroom, and joke.
definite article
the; a "noun marker" — a signal that a noun will follow.
gerund
-ing form of a verb used as a noun. Ex.: Smoking is not allowed.
Idiomatic
particular to a certain language.
indefinite article
a or an; a "noun marker" — a signal that a noun will follow.
noncount nouns
words that refer to things or ideas that cannot be counted, such as water, bravery, snow.
nonspecific nouns
words that refer to things or ideas whose specific identity the reader does not know; these nouns are introduced with the indefinite articlesa or an. Ex.: Today our cat brought a baby bird into the house.
passive voice
mode of expression in which the subject receives the action instead of performing it. Ex.: The ball was thrown by the boy.
proper nouns
words that name particular people, places, things, or ideas and are always capitalized.
qualifier
a word that expresses the quantity of a noncount noun. Ex.: "some water"
specific nouns
words that refer to things or ideas whose specific identity the reader does know; these nouns are introduced with the definite article the. Ex.: Today our cat brought a baby bird into the house.
transitive verbs
verbs that need direct objects to complete their meaning. Ex.: The boy threw the ball.
