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Grammatical Feature Definition Example 3 4 Grammatical Definition Example 3 4 5 6 feature Adjectives Adjectives are describing words; they An adjective has three forms: GfW GfW GfW pick out certain characteristics such as Adjective size or colour. They can be used to Comparative (-er or more) 10 26 44 modify a noun or complement a verb. Superlative (-est or most). big, bigger, biggest stupid, more stupid, most stupid Adverbs An adverb is a word which modifies or TIME – before, now, then, already, soon, seldom. GFW GfW GfW adds to the meaning of a verb, an Example: We have met before. adjective or another adverb. 23 39 44 Adverbs may be divided according to PLACE – here, there, everywhere and nowhere. their use, into the following classes: Example: They came here yesterday. TIME PLACE MANNER – badly, easily, slowly, well MANNER Example: The tall boy won easily. DEGREE FREQUENCY DEGREE – almost, much, only, quite, very, rather QUESTIONING Example: The old lady walked very slowly. The majority adverbs are formed from FREQUENCY - once, twice, sometimes corresponding adjectives by adding –ly, Example: Once, twice, three times a lady. e.g. brave - bravely QUESTIONING- where, when, how Example: When did you see him? An apostrophe shows: OMISSION – Come over ‘ere. (colloquial speech) Apostrophes GfW Either a place of omitted letters or contracted words, or possession – CONTRACTION – It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to. 27 belonging to. POSSESSION – John’s ball. Grammatical Definition Example 3 4 5 6 feature Article Articles can be found in two forms. They Definite: the differentiate the importance attributed to a noun. ‘The’ bag instead of ‘a’ bag. Indefinite: a / an Definite: the Indefinite: the indefinite article occur before a consonant (a bag) and a vowel (an apple) Audience Adapt writing for different readers and Principles and explanation GfW GfW purposes by changing vocabulary, tone Writing can be adapted for different readers and purposes by and sentence structures to suit, e.g. varying: 35, 41 53 simplifying for younger readers; ● sentence length (including variations); ● sentence complexity; ● use of subordinate clauses and conjunctions; ● use of reported speech; ● use of first and second person pronouns; ● use of tenses; ● use of questions and other alternatives to ordinary statements (eg suffice it to say …;…, don’t you? …thought Wolfie …); ● use of names (eg Mr Wolf, The Big Bad Wolf,Wolfie); ● use of vocabulary (eg childish – scampered, prettiest; racey – chill out; etc.). Capitalisation Capital letters are used: GfW TO BEGIN SENTENCES 4, 6 TO BEGIN PROPER NOUNS and 12 TO BEGIN WORDS IN TITLES TO BEGIN WORDS OF EXCLAMATION TO BEGIN WORDS HE, HIM, HIS WHEN REFERRING TO GOD TO WRITE THE PRONOUN ‘I’ Grammatical Definition Example 3 4 5 6 feature Clauses A clause is either a complete sentence, or Main clause: My sister is older than me. part of a sentence that could be used, with small changes, as a complete sentence. Subordinate: My sister is older than me and she is very annoying. For further details on Subordinate Clauses Embedded clause: My sister, who is very annoying, is older than see below. me. Some clauses embed additional information, but will not stand alone as a full sentence. These are called ‘embedded clauses’. Cohesive Cohesive devices are words that make A visit has been arranged for the Year 6 class, to Mountain Peaks device clear how a text’s parts are related to one Field Study Centre, on July 18th, leaving school at 9.30am. This is another. Some words such as determiners an overnight visit. ... The centre has extensive grounds in which a and pronouns are especially important for nature trail has been designed. During the afternoon, the children building cohesion because they refer back will follow the nature trail. to earlier words. Other words such as prepositions, conjunctions and adverbs (connectives) make relations clear. Grammatical Definition Example 3 4 5 6 feature Colon Use the colon after a complete sentence Examples: to introduce a list of items when You may be required to bring many items: sleeping bags, pans, introductory words such as namely, for and warm clothing. example, or that is do not appear. I want the following items: butter, sugar, and flour. I want an assistant who can do the following: (1) input data, (2) write reports, and (3) complete tax forms. Use a colon instead of a semicolon Examples: between two sentences when the second I enjoy reading: novels by Philip K Dick are among my sentence explains or illustrates the first favorites. sentence and no coordinating Garlic is used in Italian cooking: It greatly enhances the flavor conjunction is being used to connect the of pasta dishes. It also enhances the flavor of an aubergine. sentences. If only one sentence follows the colon, do not capitalize the first word of the new sentence. If two or more sentences follow the colon, capitalize the first word of each sentence following. Commas Commas are used in lists (nouns, verbs, List: It was an itsty, bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow, polka dot bikini. GfW GfW GfW adjectives), to mark off embedded clauses; Embedded clauses e.g. Jill, my boss, is 28 years old. after a subordinate clause; with many After a subordinate clause, e.g. Although it was cold, we didn’t 7, 19 24, 28 40 connecting adverbs. wear coats. With many connecting adverbs, e.g. Anyway, in the end I decided not to go. Complex sentence - contains a main clause and one or Although it was late, I wasn’t tired. My Gran (who is as wrinkled Complex GfW GfW GfW GfW more subordinate clauses. as a walnut) is one hundred years old. sentences 17 28 34, 40, 47 For further examples refer to clauses. 43 Compound sentence – two or more clauses joined by It was late but I wasn’t tired. Compound GfW GfW a conjuction: and, but or so. The main clauses are both/all sentences main clauses – there is equal weighting to both clauses. 17 28 Grammatical Definition Example 3 4 5 6 feature A conditional sentence is one in which one ● Conditional sentences often contain the conjunction if, e.g. If you Conditional GfW thing depends upon another. leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me. Other conjunctions are unless, providing, 51 provided and so long as. ● A conditional sentence can refer to an imaginary situation, e.g. I would help you if I could. (but in fact I can’t) What would you do if I sang out of key? ● The term ‘conditional’ is sometimes used to refer to the form would + verb, e.g. would go, would help. A conjunction joins words, phrases or Example 1: and, but, for, whereas, either, neither, nor, or, both Conjunction GfW GfW GfW GfW sentences together. Example 2: refer to clauses 17 32 34 47 There are two main types: 1) Conjunctions which join similar parts of speech and clauses of equal value. 2) Conjunctions which join main clauses to subordinate clauses. ‘Connective’ is an informal name for It rained on sports day so we had to compete without worrying Connectives GfW GfW words whose main function is to connect about getting wet, but the ideas expressed in different clauses; it was great fun because we got really muddy. 18 46 such words may be prepositions, conjunctions or adverbs. Cause and effect: because, as a result of, then, therefore, accordingly, for Connectives, types of: Choices: or, on the other hand, either or, another, otherwise, alternatively Compare and contrast: but, or, however, likewise, otherwise, similarly, yet, on the other hand, not withstanding, the opposing view Conclusions the findings are, in summary, hence, thus, on the whole, in the main, in conclusion Linking moreover, besides, in the same way, likewise, what is more, additionally, as well as Order finally, after this, next, then, firstly, secondly, presently, subsequently, eventually, then Grammatical Definition Example 3 4 5 6 feature Phrases which are connected with equal Susan and Anna met in a café. Co-ordinating weighting, are linked as equals by means connectives of a conjunction such as ‘and’ or ‘or’. Susan got on the bus but Anna walked. Subordinating connectives introduce I can’t tell you whether I’m able to attend until I hear back from Subordinating subordinate clauses. Examples include: Libby. connectives although, because if, since, when, while, etc. I’ll serve dinner when your brother gets home. E.g. the, a, this, any, my This is an overnight visit. Your child will be travelling by coach and Determiner A determiner stands before a noun and will be any other words that modify the noun. A accompanied by Mrs Talib, the class teacher, and her teaching singular noun such as boy requires a assistant, Mrs Medway. determiner, so we can say with the boy but not: with boy. (See also: possessive.) Punctuation mark used to show the Stop, in the name of … Ellipses omission of a word or phrase from a sentence that is understand from contextual cues. It can also be used to show the passage of time. Two words are homophones if they have You’re just too good to be true … Homophones the same pronunciation but different spelling. Two words that have the same spelling Flash! Homonyms and pronunciation but different meaning. The meaning is contextual. Hyphens are used to link words and parts Hyphens are used in many compound words to show that the Hyphen of words. They are not as common today component words have a combined meaning (e.g. a pick-me-up, as they used to be, but there are three mother-in-law, good-hearted) or that there is a relationship main cases where you should use them: between the words that make up the compound: for example, • in compound words rock-forming minerals are minerals that form rocks.
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