English Techniques Flashcards
What is a concrete noun?
A word used to signify something real in the world (or in an imagined world) e.g. table, candle, building.
What is an abstract noun?
A word referring to a concept/ idea e.g. love, hope, intelligence.
What is a proper noun?
A word used to refer to names of people, places and more. e.g. Egypt, Stephanie. (Use a capital letter).
What is a pronoun?
A word used to replace a proper noun e.g. I, she, he.
What is an adjective?
A describing word that adds qualities to a noun or pronoun e.g. greedy, intelligent, old.
What is a verb?
A word that describes the action or state of the subject, a ‘doing’ or ‘being’ word e.g. ran, walked, tore.
What is an adverb?
A word that describes or adds details to a verb (often ending in -ly) e.g. slowly, quickly, menacingly.
What is a preposition?
A word that gives information about place, time or manner e.g. at, near, after.
What is a connective?
A word used to join sentences, clauses and phrases together e.g. and, because, so.
What is a metaphor?
A comparison made without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
What is a simile?
A comparison made using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to create a vivid image.
What is personification?
A type of imagery in which non-human objects, animals or ideas are given human characteristics.
What is a motif?
Any repeated idea, theme or image that has a symbolic significance in the text.
What is repition?
Words, phrases or ideas are repeated for effect.
What is listing?
A number of connected items written one after the other.
What is alliteration?
The repetition of the same sounds (mainly consonants) usually at the beginning of words.
What is onomatopoeia?
The sounds of words to express or underline their meaning.
What is pathetic fallacy?
The environment (usually the weather) reflects the mood of the character or scene.
What is assonance?
The repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words.
What is rule of three?
Repetition in a group of three to strengthen an idea or argument.
What are connotations?
Implied meanings suggested by a word rather than its literal meanings.
What is hyperbole?
Over-the-top exaggeration for effect.
What is a rhetorical question?
A question asked for effect with no answer expected.
