Pronunciation

/pərˈtɪk(ə)lər/

Definitions

• Noun: A small word or phrase that serves as a grammatical element, often functioning without independent meaning, to indicate grammatical relationships or add emphasis to a sentence. Examples include conjunctions, prepositions, and particles like “up” or “on.”
• Adjective: Referring to a word or part of a sentence that has little or no inherent meaning but contributes to the structure or function of the sentence. It can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other particles.

Phrases

• “Particle phrase” denotes a group of words that includes a particle and its complement.
• “Interruption particle” refers to a particle used to interrupt a sentence.
• “Prepositional particle” is a particle that follows a preposition.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The prepositional particle ‘in’ indicates location in this sentence: ‘I left my keys in the car.’”
• Adjective: “The sentence’s emphasis shifted with the use of the particle ‘indeed.’”
• Interruption: “He interrupted his lecture with a quick ‘ahem’ particle.”

Synonyms

• None (since particles are specific types of words with unique functions)
• Grammatical marker
• Structural element
• Function word

Notes

Particles are often considered a part of grammar rather than standalone vocabulary items, as they primarily serve to connect or modify other parts of a sentence. They are not easily replaced by synonyms because their function is integral to the sentence structure.