Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 1 views

    Formal Definition

    Uploaded by

    lanzenriqgdm

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Formal Definition

    Uploaded by

    lanzenriqgdm
    1 views17 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    1 views17 pages

    Formal Definition

    Uploaded by

    lanzenriqgdm

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 17

    Observe correct

    grammar in
    making definitions
    Wednesday

    O
    K
    PARTS OF DEFINITION

    Parts of A Formal Definition


    ✓ Term – refers to the word of phrase that is being defined.
    ✓ Verb – this pertains to the verb used along the definition.
    ✓ General Class/Category/Genus - pertains to the class/category
    where the terms belong
    ✓ Differentia – pertains to the details that will provide the
    characteristics, quality, types, and its distinction from any other
    words.
    Remember this construction formula in writing down your formal
    definitions. term + verb + class/category + differentia= formal definition

    EXAMPLE: FORMAL SENTENCE DEFINITION

    TERM VERB CLASS/CATEGORY CHARACTERISTICS/


    /GENUS DIFFERENTIA
    repeating beginning letter
    Alliteration is a literary device sound in quick succession.
    Carbohydrates are a food
    group including sugars, starches,
    and cellulose
    TERM CLASS

    Carbohydrates are a food group


    including sugars, starches, and
    cellulose DIFFERENTIA
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    Example:

    Influenza was an acute highly contagious


    respiratory tract, which occurs sporadically or in
    epidemics and that lasts up to month.
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    1. Use simple present tense of the verb after the


    term.
    is
    Influenza was an acute highly contagious
    respiratory tract, which occurs sporadically or in
    epidemics and that lasts up to month.
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    Binoculars is two telescopes mounted side-by-side


    and aligned to point the same direction, allowing
    the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant
    objects.
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    2. The verb must agree in number with the


    subject. Singular subject-----Singular verb

    are Plural subject----plural verb

    Binoculars is two telescopes mounted side-by-side


    and aligned to point the same direction, allowing
    the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant
    objects.
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    3. The class or category and the term being


    defined must agree in number.

    Narcolepsy is a disorders characterized by


    uncontrollable episode of falling asleep during the
    day.
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    4. Be specific about the class.

    Courage is a thing that….


    vs.
    Courage is the quality that….
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    5. Use the same part of speech for the class and


    the term being defined.
    ❑ Face mask is used over…[incorrect]
    (noun) (passive verb)
    ❑ Face mask is a protective covering
    used over the face. [correct]
    (noun) (noun)
    Guidelines for writing formal definitions:

    6. Don’t repeat the term in the category/class

    ❑ Face mask is a protective


    mask….[incorrect]
    ❑ Face mask is a protective covering used
    over the face. …[correct]
    The Grammar Definition
    Formal definitions commonly use indefinite articles for the term and class, forms of the verb be
    and an adjective clause or reduced adjective clause to express its distinguished characteristics.

    7. Drop the relative pronoun and the verb “be” if the


    adjective clause contains passive verb

    A campus wide information system is an online service that is used as


    a central source of information at a college or university.

    ➔A campus wide information system is an online service used as a


    central source of information at a college or university.
    The Grammar Definition
    Formal definitions commonly use indefinite articles for the term and class, forms of the verb be
    and an adjective clause or reduced adjective clause to express its distinguished characteristics.

    8. Drop the relative pronoun and the verb “be” if the


    adjective clause contains an adjective.

    An electronic book is a document that is lengthy enough to be


    considered a book. Adjective clause with an adjective

    ➔An electronic book is a document lengthy enough to be


    considered a book.
    The Grammar Definition
    Formal definitions commonly use indefinite articles for the term and class, forms of the verb be
    and an adjective clause or reduced adjective clause to express its distinguished characteristics.

    9. Drop the relative pronoun and the verb “be” if the


    adjective clause contains a prepositional phrase.

    An electronic book is a document that is on diskette or hard drive.


    Adjective clause with a prepositional phrase

    ➔An electronic book is a document on diskette or hard drive.


    ACTIVITY: Give the formal definition of the
    following terms.

    1. Verb
    2. Biology
    3. Haiku
    4. Cellphone
    5. Essay

    You might also like