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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Language and Grammar

Here you will learn some English words about language and grammar, such as "contraction", "voice", "syllable", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Essential Words Needed for TOEFL
abbreviation

the shortened form of a word, etc.

Ex: When writing a report , be sure to define any abbreviations the first time you use them .
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contraction

a short form of a word or a group of words used instead of the full form

Ex: Contractions are often used in informal writing and speech .
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dialect
dialect
[noun]

the spoken form of a language specific to a certain region or people which is slightly different from the standard form in words and grammar

Ex: Linguists study dialects to better understand language variation and change , as well as the social and cultural factors that shape linguistic diversity .
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accent
accent
[noun]

a manner of speaking that indicates social class, nationality, or locality of the speaker

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apostrophe

the symbol ' used in writing to show possession or omission of letters or numbers

Ex: His essay had multiple errors in the use of apostrophes.
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article
article
[noun]

(grammar) any type of determiner that shows whether we are referring to a particular thing or a general example of something

Ex: The book provides exercises to help learners practice using articles correctly .
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agreement
agreement
[noun]

(grammar) the situation where words in a phrase have the same gender, person, or number

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number
number
[noun]

(grammar) the form of a word that indicates whether one, two, or more things or people are being referred to

Ex: In languages like Spanish and French , nouns have gender as well as number, requiring agreement with adjectives and articles in both aspects .
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syllable
syllable
[noun]

a word or part of a word, which contains a vowel sound and usually one or more consonants

Ex: He emphasized the first syllable of the word " banana . "
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vowel
vowel
[noun]

‌(phonetics) a speech sound produced without interfering with the flow of air coming through the mouth or nose

Ex: The word " apple " begins with a vowel.
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consonant
consonant
[noun]

‌(phonetics) a speech sound produced by interfering with or stopping the flow of air through the mouth or nose

Ex: The poem had a pleasing rhythm because of the repeated consonant sounds .
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voice
voice
[noun]

(grammar) the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject does something or something is done to it

Ex: Understanding when to use active or passive voice is an important aspect of writing effectively and communicating ideas clearly in English grammar.
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auxiliary
auxiliary
[noun]

a verb that supports or helps another verb to form different tenses, moods, or voices

Ex: In the passive voice “ The cake was eaten , ” the verb “ was ” serves as an auxiliary to the main verb .
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complement

a word or phrase that completes the meaning of a grammatical expression

Ex: The complement often provides essential information about the subject .
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compound
compound
[Adjective]

(of a word) formed by combining two or more separate words

Ex: The compound term "firefighter" joins "fire" and "fighter" to describe a specific profession.
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conjunction

(grammar) a word such as and, because, but, and or that connects phrases, sentences, or words

Ex: Understanding how to use conjunctions correctly can improve the flow and clarity of writing .
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prepositional
prepositional
[Adjective]

(grammar) formed with or connected to a preposition

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determiner

(grammar) a word coming before a noun or noun phrase to specify its denotation

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fluency
fluency
[noun]

the quality of being able to speak or write very well and easily in a foreign language

Ex: He spoke with such fluency that no one realized it was n’t his native language .
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gerund
gerund
[noun]

(grammar) a form of a verb that functions as a noun and is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the base form of the verb

Ex: Gerunds are used to express actions or activities in a general or abstract sense , rather than as specific instances of action .
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collocation

a particular combination of words that are used together very often

Ex: The teacher explained the meaning of each collocation.
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idiom
idiom
[noun]

a group of words or a phrase that has a meaning different from the literal interpretation of its individual words, often specific to a particular language or culture

Ex: The idiom ' piece of cake ' refers to something that is very easy to do , which has nothing to do with an actual piece of dessert .
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slang
slang
[noun]

words or expressions that are very informal and more common in spoken form, used especially by a particular group of people, such as criminals, children, etc.

Ex: The slang term 'cop' is commonly used to refer to a police officer, originating from the verb 'to cop,' meaning to capture or arrest.
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proverb
proverb
[noun]

a well-known statement or phrase that expresses a general truth or gives advice

Ex: Many cultures have a version of the proverb ' The early bird catches the worm , ' which highlights the benefits of being proactive and starting tasks early .
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imperative
imperative
[Adjective]

(of grammar) asserting a command or order

Ex: The verb "Please pass the salt" is used in the imperative mood.
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interjection

(grammar) a phrase or word used suddenly to express a particular emotion

Ex: During the debate , the speaker highlighted the importance of interjection in conveying emotions in speech .
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intonation

(phonetics) the rising and falling of the voice when speaking

Ex: Intonation is an important aspect of spoken language that helps listeners interpret the speaker 's attitude , mood , and intention , contributing to effective communication .
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transitive
transitive
[Adjective]

(grammar) describing a verb that needs a direct object

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intransitive
intransitive
[Adjective]

(grammar) describing a verb that does not take a direct object

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linguistic
linguistic
[Adjective]

related to the science of language, including its structure, usage, and evolution

Ex: Linguistic barriers can make communication in multicultural teams challenging .
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metaphor
metaphor
[noun]

a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things to highlight their similarities and convey a deeper meaning

Ex: Her speech was filled with powerful metaphors that moved the audience .
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progressive
progressive
[Adjective]

(grammar) describing a form of a verb that indicates an action is continuing

Ex: The difference between the simple and progressive tenses often involves the focus on the duration or continuity of an action.
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punctuation

the use of marks such as a period, comma, etc. in writing to divide sentences and phrases to better convey meaning

Ex: The editor pointed out several punctuation errors in the draft that needed to be corrected .
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quote
quote
[noun]

a sentence from a speech, book, etc. that is repeated somewhere else because it is wise or interesting

Ex: " The only thing we have to fear is fear itself , " remains one of Franklin D. Roosevelt 's most memorable quotes from his inaugural address .
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