Syntax Patterns

noun a morpheme added at the beginning or end of a word to modify its meaning, such as prefixes and suffixes

verb to attach or fasten something to something else

• In linguistics, an affix is a morpheme that is attached to a word stem to form a new word or word form.
• You can affix the stamp to the envelope before mailing it.
• I'll affix the bumper sticker to my car later.
• The artist decided to affix a small butterfly charm to the painting for added flair.

noun a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

• The use of a double modal in English is considered non-standard by many grammarians.
• I might could help you out with that if you need a double modal in your sentence.
• I ain't gonna do that, no way no how - that's a double modal!
• Using a double modal is like adding an extra layer of uncertainty to your sentence.

adjective relating to a grammatical construction in certain languages that marks the subject of a transitive verb or the direct object of an intransitive verb

• In ergative-absolutive languages, the absolutive case marks the subject of an intransitive verb and the object of a transitive verb.
• I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of absolutive case in linguistics.
• The absolutive case is like the 'catch-all' case in some languages, covering various roles in a sentence.
• The absolutive case can be seen as the glue that holds the sentence together, indicating the main participant or theme.

noun the act of turning a word or phrase into an adverb

verb None

adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

article None

• The process of adverbialization involves converting words into adverbs.
• Adverbialization is when you turn words into adverbs.
• Adverbialization is like adverb-ifying stuff.
• Adverbialization is like adding a touch of adverb magic.

verb the action of turning a word or phrase into an adverb

adjective describing the process of turning a word or phrase into an adverb

• Linguists often study the process of adverbializing in different languages.
• She's always adverbializing her sentences, trying to sound more sophisticated.
• Stop adverbializing everything you say, it's annoying.
• His storytelling skills are so advanced, he's practically adverbializing the plot twists.