Conjugation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when discussing the modification of verbs to express different tenses, moods, voices, aspects, numbers, and persons in a particular language.

• In Spanish class, we learned the conjugation of the verb 'to dance' in the past tense.
• Proper verb conjugation is crucial for clear communication.

A general term used for the modification of words to express different grammatical categories including tense, mood, voice (verbs), case, number, gender (nouns), etc. Often used in a broader sense to cover both conjugation and declension.

• English has relatively simple inflection compared to languages like Hungarian.
• The inflection of verbs can indicate whether the action is happening now or happened in the past.

Used when discussing the modification of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives to express different grammatical cases, numbers, and genders in a particular language.

• The Latin declension system can be quite complex, with multiple cases to remember.
• In Russian, nouns follow different patterns of declension.

Commonly used in grammar and biology. In grammar, it refers to changing a verb form to show tense, mood, number, etc. In biology, it refers to a method of sexual reproduction in bacteria.

• Spanish verb conjugation can be tricky for beginners.
• Bacterial conjugation is a way for bacteria to transfer genetic material.

Used when talking about a significant change in form, appearance, or character. Applied in contexts like biology, mathematics, personal growth, and technology.

• The caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly is amazing to watch.
• The technology sector has seen rapid transformation in recent years.

Refers to the act of placing items or people into groups based on common characteristics. Used in various settings like education, work, or data analysis.

• The teacher used grouping to make the classroom activities more effective.
• In our project, we used grouping to categorize the data.

This term is often used in both grammar and biology. In grammar, it refers to the variation of the form of a verb according to its subject, tense, mood, etc. In biology, it describes a process where two unicellular organisms join together to exchange genetic material.

• In French conjugation, the verb 'être' becomes 'je suis' when conjugated in the first person singular present tense.
• Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of genetic transfer that plays a crucial role in antibiotic resistance.

Used mainly in a biological context, this term describes the movement of genetic material between organisms other than by inherent reproduction. It emphasizes the technical process through which genes are moved from one organism to another.

• Gene transfer is pivotal in genetic engineering, where genes from one organism are introduced into another to produce desired traits.
• Horizontal gene transfer can occur between different species, providing a method for rapid adaptation to new environments.

This phrase is often used to broadly refer to the transfer of genetic material between organisms. It can be applied to natural processes like recombination or artificial processes like genetic engineering. It does not specify the method of transfer, making it a more generalized term compared to 'gene transfer'.

• Genetic exchange between populations can increase genetic diversity, which is crucial for the survival of a species.
• In the laboratory, genetic exchange techniques are used to study gene function and regulation.