clitic Definition
- 1a word that is pronounced like an unstressed syllable, but is closely connected to the word that comes before it or after it
- 2a word that cannot stand alone as a sentence element, but is attached to a nearby word
Using clitic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "clitic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In the sentence 'I'm gonna', the word 'gonna' is a clitic.
Example
The word 'n't' in 'don't' is a clitic.
Example
In the sentence 'She's gone', the word 'she's' is a clitic.
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Summary: clitic in Brief
A clitic [ˈklɪtɪk] is a word that is closely connected to the word that comes before it or after it and is pronounced like an unstressed syllable. It cannot stand alone as a sentence element, but is attached to a nearby word. Examples include 'gonna' in 'I'm gonna', 'n't' in 'don't', and 'she's' in 'She's gone'.
