What is an open class?

Definition
	An open class is a grammatical class of words with a potentially unlimited membership. These words have content meaning.

Examples
	Here are some examples of open classes:
	adjectives nouns verbs

Concept module: open class
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): O
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 2 July 1998