Grammar and usage crossword vocabulary pack

Teacher key

1. APPOSITIVE · 10 letters · noun · advanced
   Noun phrase that renames a nearby noun

   Hint: It often sits between punctuation marks after the word it identifies.
   Why it fits: APPOSITIVE fits because this construction gives another name or description for a noun beside it, as in a title or identifying phrase.

2. ANTECEDENT · 10 letters · noun · advanced
   Earlier noun a pronoun points back to

   Hint: Find the word that gives he, she, it, or they its reference.
   Why it fits: ANTECEDENT is correct because pronoun agreement and clarity depend on the earlier word or idea being referenced.

3. MODIFIER · 8 letters · noun · intermediate
   Word or phrase that describes another word

   Hint: Adjectives and adverbs often play this role.
   Why it fits: MODIFIER fits because descriptive words and groups narrow, qualify, or add detail to nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

4. GERUND · 6 letters · noun · intermediate
   Verb form used as a noun

   Hint: It often ends with ing while naming an activity.
   Why it fits: GERUND fits because words such as reading or swimming can name activities while occupying noun positions.

5. PARTICIPLE · 10 letters · noun · advanced
   Verb form that can act like an adjective

   Hint: Look at words such as broken or running when they describe nouns.
   Why it fits: PARTICIPLE is correct because forms like frozen or shining can modify nouns while still coming from verbs.

6. INFINITIVE · 10 letters · noun · intermediate
   Base verb form often introduced by to

   Hint: The phrase can name an action without showing tense.
   Why it fits: INFINITIVE fits because phrases such as to learn or to compare use a base verb outside ordinary tense marking.

7. PREDICATE · 9 letters · noun · introductory
   Sentence part that tells what the subject does or is

   Hint: After locating the subject, look for the verb and its companions.
   Why it fits: PREDICATE is correct because it contains the verb and the words that describe the subject's action, state, or condition.

8. CLAUSE · 6 letters · noun · introductory
   Word group with its own subject and verb

   Hint: It may stand alone, or it may depend on another group.
   Why it fits: CLAUSE fits because independent and dependent word groups both need a subject and a verb to qualify as this unit.

9. PHRASE · 6 letters · noun · introductory
   Word group that lacks a subject-verb pair

   Hint: It acts as a unit but is not a complete clause.
   Why it fits: PHRASE is correct because prepositional, noun, and verb groups can work together without forming a full clause.

10. CONJUNCTION · 11 letters · noun · introductory
    Word that links words, phrases, or clauses

    Hint: And, but, and because can serve this connecting job.
    Why it fits: CONJUNCTION fits because these words show how grammatical units are joined or related in a sentence.

11. PREPOSITION · 11 letters · noun · introductory
    Relationship word such as under, before, or with

    Hint: It usually begins a group ending with an object.
    Why it fits: PREPOSITION is correct because words like under and with connect a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence.

12. INTERJECTION · 12 letters · noun · introductory
    Sudden word or phrase showing feeling

    Hint: Wow and oh can be examples in a sentence.
    Why it fits: INTERJECTION fits because it can stand apart from the main grammar of a sentence while showing a speaker's reaction.

13. AGREEMENT · 9 letters · noun · intermediate
    Grammar match between related words

    Hint: A singular subject usually needs a singular verb.
    Why it fits: AGREEMENT is correct because sentence parts must align in number, person, or gender depending on the rule being applied.

14. PARALLELISM · 11 letters · noun · advanced
    Balanced grammar pattern in a list or series

    Hint: Check whether listed items share the same structure.
    Why it fits: PARALLELISM fits because clear writing often keeps items in a series in the same grammatical shape.

15. SUBJUNCTIVE · 11 letters · noun · advanced
    Verb mood for wishes or contrary conditions

    Hint: It appears in sentences like If I were choosing carefully.
    Why it fits: SUBJUNCTIVE is correct because English uses forms such as were to mark hypothetical or recommended situations.

16. TRANSITIVE · 10 letters · adjective · intermediate
    Describing a verb that takes a direct object

    Hint: Ask whether the action passes to what or whom.
    Why it fits: TRANSITIVE fits because verbs such as carry or solve can take direct objects that complete the action.

17. INTRANSITIVE · 12 letters · adjective · intermediate
    Describing a verb with no direct object

    Hint: The action can be complete without answering what or whom.
    Why it fits: INTRANSITIVE is correct because verbs such as sleep or arrive can complete a clause without a direct object.

18. COMMA · 5 letters · noun · introductory
    Punctuation mark used to separate sentence elements

    Hint: It can divide items in a series.
    Why it fits: COMMA fits because writers use this mark between list items, after introductory elements, and around some nonessential details.

19. SEMICOLON · 9 letters · noun · intermediate
    Punctuation mark linking closely related clauses

    Hint: It is stronger than a pause mark but not a full stop.
    Why it fits: SEMICOLON is correct because it joins independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction when the ideas are tightly connected.

20. COLON · 5 letters · noun · intermediate
    Punctuation mark that can introduce a list or explanation

    Hint: Use it after a complete thought to point forward.
    Why it fits: COLON fits because it signals that what follows will expand, list, or explain what came before.

Accept a different answer only when it matches the clue, length, grammar, and any supplied crossings. Use the reviewed answer when teaching the intended vocabulary target.