Reference: Using writing tools


Notation used in Grammatik

Grammatik uses the following notations to identify parts of speech or parts of a sentence.

Notation in Grammatik
Grammatical term
Explanation
3v
third-person present verb
The following sentences use the third-person present-tense verb form:

“He waits.”

“She brushes her hair.”

“Does it sing?”
<>
punctuation
Punctuation clarifies the meaning of a phrase or statement. Examples:
 
period (.)
 
comma (,)
 
question mark (?)
abrv
abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened version of a word. For example, “etc.” is an abbreviation of “etcetera.”
adj
adjective
An adjective modifies a noun. Example: a “good” book.
adv
adverb
An adverb modifies a verb or an adjective. Examples:
 
go “quickly”
 
a “very” good book
aux
auxiliary verb
An auxiliary verb is a form of “be,” “have,” or “do.” Examples:
 
“is” coming
 
“had” not run
 
“did” he say
bv
base verb
A base verb is the form of a verb that comes after “to” in an infinitive, or after a modal (such as “would”).
c/s
comparative/superlative
The comparative and superlative forms of adjectives or adverbs indicate a degree of comparison. Examples:
 
happier
 
slowest
cj
conjunction
A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. Examples:
 
the book “and” the pen
 
I want to leave “because” it is late.
det
determiner
A determiner is a type of adjective. Examples:
 
a
 
an
 
the
 
some
 
these
 
any
direct object
direct object
A direct object receives the action. Example: Bob opened “the box.”
ij
interjection
An interjection is an exclamation. Examples:
 
Hi!
 
Oh!
 
Hey!
indirect object
indirect object
An indirect object tells “to whom” or “for whom” the action of the sentence occurs. Examples:
 
Bob gave “her” an apple.
 
I sent “him” a postcard.
inf
split infinitive
A split infinitive is a verb in its infinitive form (to be, to run) that is split by intervening modifiers. For example, in the split infinitive “to boldly go,” the adverb “boldly” splits the infinitive “to go.”
main clause
main clause
A main clause is complete in meaning without any other sentence component. Examples:
 
Let’s have the picnic today unless it rains. (Main clause: “Let’s have the picnic today”)
 
When not in school, children play. (Main clause: “children play”)
mod
modal
A modal is a type of auxiliary verb. Examples:
 
will
 
must
 
can
 
should
 
might
num
number
A number expresses a quantity. Examples:
 
“three” boys
 
“497” days
 
“62” percent
phrasal
phrasal preposition
A phrasal preposition is a preposition that belongs to, but is separated from, a verb phrase. Example: put the book “down.”
pn
plural noun
A plural noun is the plural form of a noun. Examples:
 
books
 
children
poss
possessive noun
A possessive noun shows ownership. It is used as an adjective to modify another noun. Examples:
 
“dog’s” leg
 
,“students’” cars
 
,“Joe’s” son
ppt
past participle
A past participle is a past-tense verb form. Example: The note was “written” in ink.
prep phr
prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object, plus any modifiers. Prepositional phrases function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. Example: We came back “for the second show.”
pres-p
present participle
A present participle is a verb form that can function as part of a verb phrase or as an adjective. It is usually created by adding “ing” to the base verb. Examples:
 
He is “writing” a book.
 
She is “going” to bed.
 
The lawyers presented “closing” arguments.
prn
pronoun
A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Examples:
 
I
 
me
 
you
 
mine
 
yourself
 
these
 
who
 
which
pv
past tense
The past tense expresses actions that have already occurred. Examples:
 
He “wrote” the book.
 
We “went” to the store.
relative clause
relative clause
A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that acts like an adjective, describing the noun or pronoun that precedes it. A relative clause usually begins with a relative pronoun, such as “who,” “whom,” or “what.” Example: The employees “who worked diligently” were rewarded.
rel prn
relative pronoun
A relative pronoun introduces a subordinate clause and links it with an independent clause. Examples: The noise “that” scared you was made by the boy “who” lives next door.
sn
singular noun
A singular noun is the name of one person, place, thing, or idea. Examples:
 
Tom
 
Canada
 
pen
 
health
subject
subject
The subject of a clause performs an action. A subject can be one word or several. Examples:
 
“John” ran.
 
“The cats” meowed.
 
“All the children and their mothers” took naps.
subordinate clause
subordinate clause
A subordinate clause, which is also called a dependent clause cannot stand alone. It depends on another clause to complete its meaning. Example: We will have the meeting today, “because everyone is here.”
that clause
that-clause
A that-clause is a specialized subordinate clause starting with “that.” Example: We were sure “that you would pay us.”
verb or verb phrase
verb or verb phrase
A verb or verb phrase shows action. Verbs can contain one word or several words, but Grammatik uses “verb phrase” when the verb consists of more than one word. Examples:
 
John “ran.”
 
He “has gone.
wh-clause
wh-clause
A wh-clause is a specialized subordinate clause starting with “when,” “how,” “why,” or “where.” A wh-clause can serve as a noun, an adverb, or an adjective. Examples:
 
We knew “where she would go.”
 
I will tell you “when I go.”

Reference: Using writing tools