Lesson 4: Observing Correct Grammar in Making

Definitions

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students must be able to:
a. identify parts of definition;
b. determine sentence patterns used in writing;
c. spot incorrect grammar in definitions; and
d. write definitions using the given sentence patterns.

Previously, you have learned that definition is a statement of the meaning of a word or
word group or a sign or a symbol.

However, in technical writing, we use definitions to explain the meaning of the word as it
relates to the subject being discussed. The goal of making or writing definitions is to solve
problems and confusions among the readers. Providing definitions will enable you, as the writer,
and your readers to have a unified understanding of a term.

Other than knowing your audience, knowing how to be thorough in providing description
and details will help you make useful definitions. Knowing the parts of a definition and correct
usage of words will help you write descriptions for your definitions easily.

This lesson will help you in observing correct grammar in writing helpful definitions.

The examples below show the parts of a definition.

Example 1
Definition Term General Class Differentiating
Characteristics
Research is the Research Systematic Study materials and
systematic investigation sources in order to
investigation that establish facts and
study materials and reach new
sources in order to conclusions.
establish facts and
reach new
conclusions.

Pattern 1

Fact refers to the information that has been objectively verified.

Term Class Differentiating Characteristics
And it can also be written as:

Pattern 2
The information that has been objectively verified is called a fact.
Class Differentiating Characteristics Term

Parts of a Definition:
A. Term
- refers to the word or phrase that is being defined. It may be introduced by articles the”,
“an”, and “a”. Written together with the term is general class to make an independent
clause.

If you use Pattern 1 in writing a definition, the term is the subject of your sentence and the
verb to be used should agree with it. Here are the verbs or verb conjugation that you can use
when writing a definition.

Is/ are Refer/ refers Denote/ denotes

Describe/ describes Pertain/ pertains to Is/ are defined as

When writing your definitions, make sure that the verb you will use agrees with the subject
of your statement. Remember, a singular verb should take a singular verb. A plural subject
should take a plural verb.

Read the following examples:

1. An abstract is a brief statement of essential information contained within a document or

(Art.) (Term) (V)

presentation.

2. Research questions are questions that you include in the body of your work.
(Term) (V)

3. An in-text citation refers to a brief form of reference that you include in the body of
(Art.) (Term) (V)

your work.

REMEMBER:

Be careful with terms that end with “s” but are singular in form like the example below:

Statistics is a form of mathematical analysis that uses quantified models.

And words that are plural in form but do not end with “s” like the example below:

Data are characteristics or information that are collected through observation.

And when a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, remember that the verb still
agrees with the subject, not the noun in the phrase following the subject of the sentence. This
may occur when you use Pattern 2 in writing your definitions.

Look at the examples below:

1. A brief statement of essential information contained within a document or presentation

(Subject) (Class)

is called an abstract.
(V) (Art) (Term)

B. Class or General Class

A general class - refers to the class where the term belongs. When writing your definition, it
is necessary to include the general class to which it belongs, if there is any. Though this method,
your readers will have specific idea of the term being defined.

Examples:
1. Statistics is a form of mathematical analysis that uses quantified models.
(Term) (Class)

2. Dependent Variable is a variable that varies due to the impact of the independent
(Term) (Class)

variable.

C. Differentiating Characteristics
To introduce your differentiating characteristics, you should use relative pronouns and
a dependent clause. Look at the examples below:
(Dependent Clause)
1. Statistics is a form of mathematical analysis that uses quantified
(Term) (Class) (Relative Pronoun) (DC)

models.

(Dependent Clause)
2. Research questions are questions that you include in the body of your work.
(Term) (Class) (RP) (Differentiating Characteristics)
LANGUAGE FOCUS: DEFINING RELATIVE PRONOUN

In writing your distinguishing characteristics, it is important to use defining relative

pronouns. These relative pronouns will help you in the transition from the independent clause
(term and class) to the subordinate clause/ defining relative clause (distinguishing
characteristics). Below is a list of defining relative pronouns that you can use.

who, that, which, whose, whom

Defining relative clauses give essential information about someone or something –

information that we need in order to understand what or who is being referred to. A defining relative
clause usually comes immediately after the noun it describes.

Look at the examples below, the relative pronoun is in bold face, and the person or thing
being referred to is boxed:

(Noun being referred to) (Defining relative pronoun)

1. Respondents are those individuals who have been invited to participate inn a particular
study. (Dependent Clause)

THAT vs WHICH

Use “that” to introduce a clause that gives information essential to the meaning of the
sentence. Look at the example below:

(Noun being referred to) (Defining relative pronoun)

1. Applied Research refers to the study that helps solve practical problems using scientific
methods. (Dependent Clause)

The example used “that” as a relative pronoun since the dependent clause gives more
explanation on what kind of study is an applied research- and the clause cannot be eliminated.

On the other hand, “which” is used to introduce a clause that can be eliminated. The
clause introduced by “which” does not limit the meaning of the sentence. It might lose interesting
details when removed, but the meaning of the sentence would not change. Look at the example
below.

(Noun being referred to) (Defining relative pronoun)

1. Theoretical framework is the concept underpinning of a research study which may be
based on theory or a specific conceptual model.

The example used “which” since the dependent clause may be eliminated and still “concept
with the phrase “underpinning of a research study” can define the term theoretical framework.
Activity 1

Directions: Read each statement carefully and write the letter of the portion that has an error
on a separate sheet of paper. Write the letter E for no error.

1. Organization refer to a large group of individuals that is formally organized for the purpose
A B C D
of attaining a goal. No error.
E

2. Poverty line pertain to the amount of income that it takes to maintain a family at a basic
A B C D
level. No error.
E

3. Patriarchy is a social organization which structures the dominance of men over women.
A B C D
No error.
E

4. Personality refers to the consistent pattern of attitudes and beliefs than an individual
A B C
projects to the social world. No error.
D E

5. Government refers to normal institutional structures of the nation-state which attempt to

A B C
regulate internal and external relations. No error.
D E

Activity 2
Directions: Use that or which to complete each statement that will make it a correct grammar
definition. Use a separate sheet of paper to do this activity.

1. Authority refers to power ___ is attached to a position that others perceived as legitimate.
2. Ideology are shared ideas or beliefs ___ serve to justify and support the interests of a
particular group or organization.
3. Civil disorders are social conflict (such as riots) ___ the government becomes involved in
to restore public order.
 4. Deviance refers to behaviors ___ do not conform to significant norms held by most of the
members of a group or society.
5. Legitimation refers to the ways in ___ an institution creates acceptance, validity, or
commitment from individuals and other institutions.
6. Ascribed status refers to a social position ___ is given at birth such as race or sex.
7. Kinship refers to the network of social relationships ___ link individuals through common
ancestry, marriage, or adoption.
8. Crime is any action ___ violates criminal laws established by political authority.
9. Conformity refers to the human behavior ___ follows the established norms of a group or
society.
10. Ego refers to Freud’s posited part of the self ___ represents reason and common sense.

Performance Task 1
Directions: Think of a topic for a research paper. Then, using the spider map, put the topic
inside the body of the spider and the terms that are related to your main topic in smaller circles.
Remember, these terms should be related to your topic and will help you complete your research
paper. Use a separate sheet of paper to do this.

Performance Task 2
Directions: Make an operational definition of terms for your research paper. Use a separate sheet
of paper to do this.

Operational Definition of Terms

Topic
Term Definition
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.