english language terminology

Question 1

adjective

Answer 1

A word that describes a noun or pronoun. e.g. heavy, kind, unusual

Question 2

adverb

Answer 2

A word that gives extra information about a verb. e.g. carefully, rarely, tightly

Question 3

alliteration

Answer 3

When words that are close together start with the same sound. e.g. “the beat of the band”

Question 4

analogy

Answer 4

A comparison to show how one thing is similar to another, which makes it either more memorable or easier to understand. e.g. “watching a cricket is about as exciting as watching paint dry”

Question 5

antithesis

Answer 5

A rhetorical technique where opposing words or ideas are presented together to show a contrast.

Question 6

audience

Answer 6

the person or group of people that read a text

Question 7

biased writing

Answer 7

gives more support to one point of view that to another, due to the writers own opinions affecting the way they write

Question 8

broadsheet

Answer 8

A more serious type of newspaper, which often focuses on more serious topics e.g. The Guardian or The Telegraph

Question 9

chronological writing

Answer 9

presented in time order, from earliest to latest

Question 10

colloquial language

Answer 10

Informal language that sounds like ordinary speech.

Question 11

imperative

Answer 11

A sentence that tells the reader to do something.

Question 12

complex sentence

Answer 12

A sentence that links together two or more clauses.

Question 13

compound sentence

Answer 13

Two main clauses joined to make one sentence using a conjunction such as ‘or’, ‘but’ or ‘and’

Question 14

connotations

Answer 14

The suggestions that words can make beyond their obvious meaning. e.g. ‘stroll’ means ‘walk’ but it has connotations of moving slowly.

Question 15

context

Answer 15

The background to something order the situation surrounding it, which affects the way it is understood.

Question 16

counter-argument

Answer 16

The opposite point of view to the writer’s own view. This is useful when writing to argue or pursuade- first give the counter-argument then explain why you disagree with it.

Question 17

determiner

Answer 17

A word that goes before a noun to show possession or quantity. e.g. ‘his’, ‘two’

Question 18

direct address

Answer 18

When the writer talks straight to the reader e.g. “you might recall…”

Question 19

double negative

Answer 19

A sentence construction that incorrectly expresses a negative idea by using two negative words or phrases e.g. “I don’t want to no trouble”

Question 20

emotive language

Answer 20

Language that has an emotive effect on the reader.

Question 21

empathy

Answer 21

The ability to imagine and understand someone else’s feelings or experiences.

Question 22

exclamation

Answer 22

A sentence that conveys strong emotions, usually ending with and exclamation mark.

Question 23

explicit information

Answer 23

Information that is directly stated in a text.

Question 24

figurative language

Answer 24

Language used in a non-literal way to create an effect. e.g. personification.

Question 25

first person

Answer 25

A narrative viewpoint where the narrator is one of the characters.

Question 26

flashback

Answer 26

A writing technique where the scene shifts from the present to an event in the past.

Question 27

form

Answer 27

The type of text e.g. a letter, a speech or a newspaper article.

Question 28

frame narrative

Answer 28

A narrative in which one story is presented within another.

Question 29

generalisation

Answer 29

A statement that gives an overall impression (sometimes a misleading one) without going into details.
E.g. “children today eat too much junk food”

Question 30

hyperbole

Answer 30

When exaggeration is used to have an effect on the reader.

Question 31

imagery

Answer 31

A type of figurative language that creates a picture in your mind. e.g. metaphors and similies.

Question 32

impersonal tone

Answer 32

A tone that doesn’t try to directly engage with the reader.

Question 33

implicit information

Answer 33

Information that is hinted at without being said.

Question 34

inference

Answer 34

A conclusion reached about something based on evidence.

Question 35

intensifier

Answer 35

A word used alongside an adjective to provide emphasis e.g. “very friendly”

Question 36

irony

Answer 36

Saying one thing but meaning the opposite. e.g. “what a great idea of mine to go o a nice long walk o. the rainiest day of the year”.

Question 37

limited narrator

Answer 37

A narrator who only has partial knowledge about the events or characters in a story.

Question 38

linear structure

Answer 38

A type of narrative structure that tells the events of a story in chronological order.

Question 39

linguistic devices

Answer 39

Language techniques that are used to have an effect on an audience e.g. onomatopoeia

Question 40

rule of three

Answer 40

Using three words or phrases together to create emphasis.

Question 41

metaphor

Answer 41

A way of describing something by saying that it is something else to create a vivid image. e.g. “His eyes were deep blue pools”

Question 42

motif

Answer 42

A recurring image or idea in a text.

Question 43

narrative

Answer 43

Writing a story that describes an experience.

Question 44

non-linear structure

Answer 44

A type of narrative structure that tells the events of a story in non-chronological order.

Question 45

omniscient narrator

Answer 45

A narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in a narrative.

Question 46

onomatopoeia

Answer 46

A word that imitates the sound it describes as you say it. e.g. “whisper”

Question 47

pace

Answer 47

The speed at which the writer takes the reader through the events in a story.

Question 48

paraphrase

Answer 48

Describing or rephrasing something in a text without including a direct quote.

Question 49

parenthesis

Answer 49

A rhetorical technique where an extra clause or phrase is inserted into a completes sentence.

Question 50

personification

Answer 50

Describing something as if it were a person “The sea growled”

Question 51

posessive determiner

Answer 51

A determiner such as ‘my’ or ‘your’ that tells you who something belongs to.

Question 52

pronoun

Answer 52

A word that takes the place of the noun e.g. ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’

Question 53

purpose

Answer 53

The reason a text is written. e.g. to pursuade, to inform

Question 54

repetition

Answer 54

The technique of repeating words for effect.

Question 55

rhetoric

Answer 55

Using language techniques (e.g.repetition or hyperbole) to achieve a persuasive effect.

Question 56

rhetorical question

Answer 56

A question that does not need an answer. e.g. “why do we do this to ourselves?”

Question 57

sarcasm

Answer 57

Language that has a mocking/scornful tone, often using irony.

Question 58

satire

Answer 58

A style of text that makes fun out of people or situations, often by imitating them or exaggerating there flaws.

Question 59

second person

Answer 59

A narrative viewpoint that is written as if the reader is one of the characters.

Question 60

sensory language

Answer 60

Language that appeals to the 5 senses

Question 61

simile

Answer 61

A way of describing something by comparing it to something else.

Question 62

simple sentence

Answer 62

A sentence made up of a single, main clause

Question 63

standard english

Answer 63

English that is considered to be correct as it uses formal, standardised features of spelling and grammar.

Question 64

structure

Answer 64

The order and arrangement of ideas in a text. e.g. how a text begins, develops and ends.

Question 65

tabloid

Answer 65

A less formal type of newspaper, which often focuses on more sensational topics.

Question 66

third person

Answer 66

A narrative viewpoint where the narrator remains outside the events of the story

Question 67

tone

Answer 67

The mood or feeling of a piece of writing e.g. serious/light-hearted/happy/sad.

Question 68

viewpoint

Answer 68

The attitude and beliefs that a writer is trying to convey.