This guide to language terminology provides short definitions and an example for the most important language terms used on this site. Each term is linked to pages with more in-depth information you can use to study each grammar point. 

Language Terminology P - Q

A - E, F - O, R - Z

participle = a form of the verb, usually referring to the present (present participle) for use with the continuous forms, or the past (past participle) for use with the perfect forms.


For example: She is playing the flute. He has taken the train.

part of speech = type of word including noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition and more.

passive voice = used to express what was done to the subject of a passive sentence. For example: The cars were made in Germany.

past continuous = tense used to speak about what was happening at a specific moment in time in the past, also known as the past progressive. For example: She was watching TV when I came into the room. 

past participle = form of the main verb used in perfect tenses. For example: He's understood the question. How long have you lived here?

past perfect = tense used to speak about what had happened before something else in the past. For example: He'd already eaten when she arrived.

past perfect continuous = tense used to speak about what had been happening up to another moment in the past, also known as the past perfect progressive. For example: Mary had been working for three hours when I arrived. 

past simple = tense used to express what happened at a specific time in the past.

For example: He bought a computer. 

personal pronouns = words referring to people. For example: she, us, they

phrasal verb = a verb made up of a main verb and at least one participle. For example: put up, look forward to

phrase = a short group of words with meaning. For example: in the corner, by the time

plural = more than one. For example: children, books

possessive = the possessive shows to whom or what something belongs. For example: boy's game, his car

possessive pronoun = a pronoun that indicates possession. For example: her house, my dog

preposition = word that shows a relationship between two or more items. For example: between, from, to

present continuous = tense that is used to express what is happening at the present moment in time, also known as the present progressive. For example: I'm writing these sentences at the moment. 

present participle = form of the verb used with continuous tenses. For example: They are making tea. We will be playing tennis.

present perfect continuous = tense used to speak about what has been happening up to the present moment, also known as the present perfect progressive. For example: They've been talking for two hours. 

present simple = tense used to speak about routine actions that happen repeatedly, and facts. For example: They usually eat at seven o'clock.

pronoun = a part of speech used to refer to a person, place or thing. For example: she, it, them

proper noun = the specific name of a person, place or thing. For example: Mount Rainer, Ken

quantifier = a word that indicates how much or how many there is. For example: I have a lot of friends.

question tag = question tags are used at the end of a sentence to confirm information. For example: You understand me, don't you?

More Language Terminology

Language Terminology A to E

Language Terminology P to Q

Language Terminology R to Z