Module 1 – Grammar

 
Adverb 
An adverb describes or gives more information about how, when, where or to what degree something is done, e.g. he 
worked quickly and well. 
 
Auxiliary verb: see verb. 
 
Article 
An article can be definite (the), indefinite (a) or zero (-), e.g. I was at (-) home in the sitting room when I heard a noise. 
 
Aspect 
A way of looking at verb forms not purely in relation to time. The perfect, continuous and simple are aspects. The 
continuous aspect, for example, suggests that something is happening temporarily.  
 
Base form of the verb: see verb. 
 
Clause 
A clause consists of a verb and (generally) a subject. A clause can be a full sentence or a part of a sentence.
 
Main clause 
When the teacher arrived, the students stopped talking.
 
Subordinate clause 
When the teacher arrived, the students stopped talking.
 
Relative clause 
The students who were sitting near the front stood up. 
 

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© 
UCLES 
Cambridge 
ESOL 
2005
2
Collective noun: see noun. 
 
Comparative adjective: see adjective. 
 
Compound noun: see noun. 
 
Conditional 
A possible or imagined situation usually with ‘if’, e.g. If it rains, I will get wet. (but it’s not raining now) 
Conditional forms 
A verb form that refers to a possible or imagined situation. Grammar books often mention three kinds of conditionals: