Vocabulary and Grammar Fundamentals

Definition: The set of words known and used by a person or group.
Types of Vocabulary:
- Active Vocabulary: Words used in speaking and writing.
- Passive Vocabulary: Words recognized and understood when reading or listening but not regularly used.
Building Vocabulary:
- Reading: Exposure to diverse texts increases word knowledge.
- Context Clues: Using surrounding text to deduce meanings of unknown words.
- Word Formation: Understanding roots, prefixes, and suffixes helps infer meanings.
- Synonyms and Antonyms: Enhances understanding of nuance in word choice.
Techniques:
- Flashcards: Effective for memorization of new words.
- Vocabulary Journals: Keeping track of new words and their meanings.
- Games: Engaging methods like crossword puzzles and word searches.

Definition: The set of rules that govern the structure of sentences in a language.
Parts of Speech:
- Nouns: Names of people, places, things, or ideas.
- Verbs: Action words or state of being.
- Adjectives: Words that describe nouns.
- Adverbs: Words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Pronouns: Words that replace nouns (e.g., he, she, it).
- Prepositions: Words that show relationships between nouns/pronouns and other words.
- Conjunctions: Words that connect clauses or sentences (e.g., and, but).
- Interjections: Words that express emotion (e.g., wow, ouch).
Sentence Structure:
- Simple Sentences: Contains one independent clause.
- Compound Sentences: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
- Complex Sentences: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Tenses:
- Present: Describes current actions or states.
- Past: Describes actions that have already happened.
- Future: Describes actions that will happen.
Common Grammar Issues:
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
- Run-on Sentences: Occurs when two independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation.
- Fragments: Incomplete sentences that lack a main clause.

Vocabulary encompasses the words that an individual or group knows and utilizes.
Active vocabulary refers to the words actively used in writing and speech.
Passive vocabulary consists of words recognized and understood during reading or listening but not commonly used.
Reading various texts enhances vocabulary, exposing individuals to new words and contexts.
Context clues, which are hints within surrounding text, help deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words.
Understanding the formation of words through roots, prefixes, and suffixes aids in inferring meanings.
Utilizing synonyms and antonyms develops a deeper understanding of word nuances and variations.
Effective memorization techniques for building vocabulary include using flashcards, which provide quick recall exercises.
Maintaining vocabulary journals allows individuals to track new words and their definitions over time.
Engaging in word-related games such as crossword puzzles or word searches makes vocabulary learning enjoyable and interactive.

Grammar consists of the rules that dictate how sentences are structured in a language.
Nouns identify people, places, objects, or concepts, serving as the building blocks of sentences.
Verbs indicate actions or states of being, essential for sentence construction.
Adjectives describe nouns, providing additional details and characteristics.
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often indicating manner, degree, or frequency.
Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition and promote sentence fluidity (e.g., he, she, it).
Prepositions illustrate the relationships between nouns/pronouns and other sentence elements, often indicating location or time.
Conjunctions connect words or groups of words, such as clauses or sentences (e.g., and, but).
Interjections are expressive words or phrases indicating emotion (e.g., wow, ouch).
Simple sentences consist of a single independent clause, far easier to understand.
Compound sentences join two or more independent clauses using conjunctions, creating connections between ideas.
Complex sentences merge one independent clause with at least one dependent clause, adding depth to communication.
Tenses reflect the timing of actions, including present (current actions), past (completed actions), and future (actions yet to happen).
Common grammar issues include subject-verb agreement, ensuring consistency in number, run-on sentences lacking proper punctuation between clauses, and sentence fragments, which are incomplete sentences missing a main clause.