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English > Core English: Grammar And Literary Terms > Flashcards

Core English: Grammar And Literary Terms Flashcards

0
Q

Explain what this is an example of: Sly, selfish Samantha slurped up her spaghetti. Alliteration or onomatopoeia.

A

This is an example of alliteration. How you would describe alliteration: alliteration is the repetition of constant sounds.

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1
Q

What is an AMBIGUITY?

A

An AMBIGUITY is when an expression used has more than one meaning. E.G. Do you like him more than me?

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2
Q

Explain what an allusion is.

A

An indirect, passing reference to something the reader understands. E.G the shower head on Jacob Zuma’s head is an allusion to his statements about A.I.D.S

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3
Q

What is this an example of: Can you plan an evening for Anne?

A

There’s a repetition of vowel sounds, thus you’d call it assonance.

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4
Q

I CAME, I SAW, I ATE AND THEN I WENT TO BED: what is this an example of?

A

This is an example of BATHOS which is an intentional or unintentional anti-climax.

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5
Q

“And as Mary exhaled on the glass
She realized that although her house was full
And her stomach was full
And she was warm
She was still very much alone.” - what is this an example of?

A

This is an example of an ENJAMBMENT. An ENJAMBMENT, in poetry, is run on sentences.

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6
Q

“Unfortunately, just this morning, your grandfather passed away.”
“You’ll be going away for a very very long time.”
“When mommy and daddy love each other very much, they hug each other very tight and-“

  • What is all of this an example of?
A

This is all an example of a EUPHEMISM. A EUPHEMISM is when an inoffensive expression is utilized in place of a blunter one.

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7
Q

ITS BEEN A CENTURY SINE WE LAST SAW EACH OTHER. - What is this called?

A

This is called a hyperbole. A hyperbole is a bold overstatement. Exaggerated statements or claims that should not be taken literally, they are used to emphasize the absurdity of a situation.

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8
Q

When a teenager asked her mom what she thought of her dress her mom replied, “That’s a lovely swimming top love.” - This is an example of-

A

INNUENDO which is hinting (normally strongly) at something without actually saying it. Normally sexual, there is a difference though.

An allusive or oblique remark or hint , typically a suggestive or disparaging one.

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9
Q

A man driving a Mercedes and living in a mansion says that he is a very caring man because he recycles, yet his business employs child labour - what is this an example of?

A

This is an example of IRONY. Not to be confused with sarcasm as it is the use of words, intentionally or unintentionally, in order to express something other than their literal meaning.

Using language that is opposite to the meaning of what you are saying which often involves the use of language with a hidden meaning in addition to the surface meaning.

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10
Q

What is JARGON? (Provide an example.)

A

These are special words or phrases used bby a certain community, society or profession. An example would be the jargon used in English.

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11
Q

What is litotes?

A

Litotes is when, through the assertion of a ‘negative term’, a strong ‘positive term’ is expressed. An example would be saying that Khayelitsha is not the safest area in Cape Town.

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12
Q

What is a Malapropism?

A

(Mom does it often.) A malapropism is when one accidentally mistakes one word for another. An example would be, “Doctor, I have severe pain in my bowls.”

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13
Q

Give an example of meiosis.

A

Oh, it’s only a scratch - arm is cut from elbow to shoulder.

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14
Q

What is a metaphor?

A

A metaphor is a figurative comparison. “You’re like a gold coin in a muddy lake.” Note that metaphors have a subject - you- and a Comparison -a gold coin.

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15
Q

What is a metonymy?

A

A symbology. An example would be referring saying that you’re aligned with the crown. The crown refers to the king.

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16
Q

What is a mixed metaphor?

A

It is when you mix the comparison of a well metaphor with another. An example would be, “If we hit it in the bulls eye, all the dominoes will fall like a freight train.”

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17
Q

What is onomatopoeia?

A

Onomatopoeia is when the words used sound like the sound an object makes. “-smashed the dumpsters together.”

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18
Q

“Last first kiss.” -what is this an example of?

A

This is an oxymoron. When a short phrase is made up of words that seem to contradict each other, but make sense.

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19
Q

What is an a “longer version” of oxymoron?

A

This would be a paradox. This is a phrase that seems as though it shouldn’t make sense, as it is very contradictory, but on closer inspection, it does make sense. Poets often utilize this.

Self contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

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20
Q

What should one not confuse with allusion?

A

Parody. This is often an imitation of a style or serious topic username a comedic way. This is often movies eg Scary Movie.

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21
Q

What is pathos?

A

A deep feeling beyond actually sadness.

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22
Q

What is this an example of?:

“The sky wept and the ground kissed her feet as the sun marveled at her beauty.”

A

This is personification; given inanimate object or an abstract concept human-like qualities.

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23
Q

“Last night I dreamt that I wrote Lord of the Rings. Turns out I was just Tolkien in my sleep.”
“I went to a Lord of the Rings ice cream bar. I ordered a Frodo yoghurt.”

  • What is this an example of?
A

This is an example of pun. This is a word play involving homophones or homonyms. Using words that have the same sounds but different meanings

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24
What is a redundancy?
When a writer or speaker communicates one idea twice by the use of different words or expressions.
25
What is the following an example of: What, do you think I'm blind?
These are rhetorical questions. They are asked in order to incite thoughts, not actual answers. They are used for emphasis as well.
27
What is satire?
Satire uses irony, sarcasm or mockery to expose a vice or folly in a person or institution . Used to draw attention to an issue.
28
Give me an example of a simile.
A simile is a figurative comparison between two distinct things.
29
What is a spoonerism?
This is when one accidentally swaps the first two letters of two or more words in a sentence.
30
What is register?
Register is a the language used by a person or used in a piece of writing.
31
What is the purpose of emotive language?
The purpose is to appeal to emotion rather than intelligence. E.G FAMILY dog VISCOUSLY BLUDGENED and then MURDERED.
32
What is denotation?
It is the strict, dictionary meaning associated with a word. It is often literal or obvious.
33
What is the emotional and figurative association surrounding a word called?
Connotation.
34
What is the purpose of PROPAGANDA?
It is used to persuade and brainwash mass audiences with subjective, biased ideas or values.
35
What is the purpose of sensationalism?
Sensationalism is the deliberate use of dramatic words in order to excite, horrify or capture interest.
52
"What a lovely thing to tell your wife." After her husband told her that she looked a bit overweight. What is this an example of?
This is sarcasm. This is not to be confused with IRONY as it is a far more bitter and direct. This is when what is being said is the complete opposite of what is meant.
53
What is irony?
The use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal meaning
54
What is a subject?
Person or thing performing action joined to a description by verb
55
What is a predicate
Part that modifies the subject in some way , the predicate must contain a verb explaining what the subject does
56
What is a phrase?
A group of words, part of a sentence doesn't contain a subject and a verb or express a complete thought
57
What is a clause
A group of words that contain a subject and a predicate can be independent or dependant
58
What is an independent clause?
Group of words that contain a subject and a verb , it is a sentence and expresses a complete thought
59
What is a dependent clause?
Contains subject and verb but does not express complete thought. Often starts with conjunction and relies on independent clause to complete thought
60
What is a loose sentence?
Independent clause first and the dependent clause second
61
What is a periodic sentence
Dependent clause first and the independent clause. Influence readers perceptions by placing favorable or unfavorable information first that the reader reflects on before the rest of the sentence
62
What is a simple sentence?
Simple sentence states a single idea , subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. It is an independent clause. Eg I ate a hamburger for supper.
63
What is a compound sentence
Contains two independent clauses joined together by a conjunction (for, and, not, but , or, yet, so) or with a semicolon. Eg Kate waited for the train, but the train was late. Kate waited for the train; the train was late.
64
What is a complex sentence?
Independent clause with one or more dependent clauses attached to it Eg After he had a shower Leonard felt clean and comfortable.
65
What is the function of a comma?
Separate items in a series ( allow us to distinguish words and meanings) Separate interrupting or additional information from the main clause.
66
What is the function of an apostrophe?
1. Contraction - condenses two words into one by replacing the missing letters (exception contraction of it's gets an apostrophe but possession (Its bowl ) doesn't 2. shows possession , that something belongs to something / one else
67
What is the purpose of a colon
Introduce a series of items | Introduce a long quotation however you do not use quotation marks
68
What is the function of a semi colon?
Joins independent clauses with similar or related content.
69
What is the function of a hyphen
Show connections between words that are working as a single unit Compound noun- well-being Compound adjective- well -considered Compound adverb - well-meaning
70
What is the function of a dash
Used to separate information in sentences or introduce lists and provide additional information
71
What is the function of parenthesis
Group additional information apart from the main Clause
72
When does a concord error occur
When the verb does not match the subject
73
What is a split infinitive?
When there is another word in between the to and the verb
74
What is an ambiguity?
Occurs when a sentence can be interpreted as having two meanings although one should be more apparent. If you correct this sentence remove the ambiguity.
75
What is a misrelated participle
Participles are verbs functioning as adjectives, misrelated participle occur she. The subject and the participle do not relate correctly
76
What is a gerund
Participle used as a noun , must have a possessive adjective (his ,my, our, her , their) Eg. His smoking offended the others.
77
What is a comma splice error
Occurs when two independent clauses are connected using a comma instead of a semi colon or a full stop. Should be used to join a dependent clause to an independent clause.
78
What is the active voice
Subject is doing the verb - subject + verb + object
79
What is the passive voice
Verb is being done to the object removing the need for a subject . By removing the subject we avoid placing blame on the subject
80
Why would one use the passive voice when writing
To avoid placing blame, diminishing bias, objectivity / subjectivity , possible sensitive subject matter or position of the writer Not necessary to mention subject Not sure who did the action Demands are made anonymously Nameless accusation made
81
What are the two parts of direct speech?
Clause containing introductory verb (asked , said) followed by a comma Actual words spoken between quotation marks
82
What is reported speech
No quotation marks Introductory verbs in past tense + that Pronoun changes
83
Which is the noun and which is the verb | Practice/ practise advice/ advise
C - noun | S - verb
84
What is the difference between who's and whose
Who's - who is | Whose - name is required
85
When do you use that and who
That is for inanimate objects and animals | Who/whom is for people
86
What is a prefix
Added to the beginning of a root word , changes the meaning of the root word
87
What is a suffix
Added to the end of a root word , used to change the part of speech Eg. Actual- adjective Actualize- verb
88
What is an antithesis
An opposition or contracts of ideas is expresses by a parallelism of words that are opposites or strongly contrast with each other Eg hatred stirs up strife , but love covers all sins
89
What must a dictionary entry include
Part of speech Definition Word origin
90
When do you use whom
Use whom when you are referring to the object of the sentence "Whom did you step on?" ( if you're trying to find out whether or not I squished squiggly) Use whom with a preposition - to whom , from whom , with whom, for whom
91
When do you use who?
Asking about the subject of the sentence "Who stepped on squiggly"

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