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Declension for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: dɪ'klɛnʃən

What does Declension really mean?

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Hey there! So, "declension" is a term we use in grammar to talk about how nouns, pronouns, or adjectives change their form to show their role in a sentence, like whether they're the subject, object, possessive, and so on. It's a bit like how actors change their role depending on the part they play in a movie or a play.

For example, in English, we have pronouns like "I," "me," and "my." "I" is used when we're talking about ourselves as the subject of a sentence, like "I am happy," while "me" is used when we're the object, like "He helped me." "My" shows possession, like "That's my book."

Then, if we look at languages like Latin or Russian, they have different forms for nouns and adjectives depending on their role in the sentence.

So, in a way, declension is like the shape-shifting of words in a sentence to show what they're doing. It's a bit like how a chameleon changes its color to blend into its surroundings. And just like a chameleon, words can change their form to fit in with the sentence. Cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by David Wilson on 2023-11-15 03:29:51

Declension In a sentece

Learn how to use Declension inside a sentece

  • When I say 'she' and 'her' in a sentence, I am using declensions to show different forms of the word for the same person.
  • In Latin, the word for 'dog' changes depending on whether it is the subject of a sentence, the object, or possessive. This is an example of declension.
  • In Russian, the word for 'book' changes its ending depending on whether it is the subject of the sentence, the object, or possessive. This is also an example of declension.
  • In German, the definite article 'the' changes depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter, and whether it is the subject, object, or possessive. This is a form of declension.
  • When we use words like 'his,' 'her,' 'its,' 'their,' and 'our' in English, we are using declensions to show possession or belonging.

Declension Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

declination declination decline decline decline in quality decline in quality declivity declivity descent descent deterioration deterioration downslope downslope fall fall worsening worsening

Declension Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

category category class class decline decline diminution diminution family family incline incline inflection inflection inflexion inflexion side side slope slope

Declension Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

downhill downhill falling off falling off falloff falloff slack slack slump slump steep steep

Declension Has Members

Words that belong to the group defined by the original word.

noun noun