AIL DALI C1 key terms

The most important point that a whole text or talk communicates, as opposed to small supporting facts. Readers and listeners identify it by asking what the author or speaker most wants them to understand.

A specific fact, example, or reason that explains or backs up the main idea of a text. Details answer questions like who, when, where, or how much.

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in a text rather than from a statement written directly. It requires combining evidence with general knowledge to understand what is implied.

Reading quickly through a text to get its general sense without attending to every word. People skim to decide whether a text is useful or to preview its topic.

Looking rapidly through a text for one specific piece of information, such as a date, a name, or a number, while ignoring everything else around it.

A word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that helps the reader guess its meaning. Clues may be definitions, examples, contrasts, or the general sense of the sentence.

A word or phrase, such as a pronoun or connector, that links parts of a text and shows how ideas relate. These devices help readers follow the flow of information.

A pronoun or similar word that points back or forward to another word in the text, such as 'it' or 'they'. Understanding what it refers to is essential for comprehension.

The reason a writer produced a text, for example to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct. Recognising purpose helps a reader judge how to interpret the content.

The central meaning or general sense of a spoken or written message, captured in a few words. Listening or reading for gist means ignoring details to grasp the overall point.

Listening with the aim of catching specific facts such as times, prices, or names. The listener filters out everything that is not needed for the task.

An option in a listening or reading task that sounds or looks correct but is not supported by the recording or text. Distractors often repeat words from the material to mislead the candidate.

Expressing the same meaning with different words. In listening and reading tasks, the correct answer is often a paraphrase of what was actually said or written.

A spoken or written expression that signals the direction of a talk, such as 'firstly', 'however', or 'to sum up'. These words help listeners predict what comes next.

Writing brief key words and symbols while listening in order to remember important information. Good notes are selective and organised rather than full sentences.

A word or phrase that joins ideas and shows their relationship, such as 'because', 'although', or 'therefore'. Connectors signal cause, contrast, addition, or result.

A pair or group of words that habitually occur together in a language, such as 'make a decision' or 'heavy rain'. Using natural collocations makes speech and writing sound fluent.

A verb combined with an adverb or preposition that creates a new meaning, such as 'give up' or 'look after'. The meaning usually cannot be guessed from the separate parts.

A fixed expression whose meaning is not the literal meaning of its words, such as 'break the ice'. Idioms are learned as whole units and often carry a cultural flavour.

A word that has a similar meaning to another word, such as 'begin' and 'start'. Synonyms are rarely identical, differing in tone, formality, or slight shade of meaning.

A word that means the opposite of another word, such as 'cheap' and 'expensive'. Antonyms are useful for expressing contrast and for guessing meaning from context.

The grammatical form of a verb that shows when an action happens, for example present, past, or future. Tense also interacts with aspect to show whether an action is finished or continuing.

The part of verb meaning that shows how an action unfolds in time, such as whether it is ongoing or completed. English marks aspect through simple, continuous, and perfect forms.

A helping verb such as 'be', 'have', or 'do' that works with a main verb to form questions, negatives, tenses, or passive structures. It carries grammatical information rather than the main meaning.

A verb such as 'can', 'must', or 'should' that expresses ability, obligation, permission, or possibility. Modals are followed by the base form and do not take -s in the third person.

A sentence structure that describes a situation depending on a condition, usually with 'if'. Different forms express real, unreal, or past hypothetical situations.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person, as in 'she works' but 'they work'. Errors often occur with collective nouns or long subjects.

A word such as 'he', 'it', or 'themselves' that stands in for a noun or noun phrase. Pronouns must agree with their referent and be used consistently.

A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it depends on a main clause. It often begins with a conjunction like 'although' or 'which'.

The level of formality and style chosen for a particular situation, ranging from casual to formal. Register affects word choice, grammar, and the structure of a message.

A sentence, usually at the start of a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main point. It guides the reader and keeps the paragraph focused.

A group of related sentences dealing with one idea, separated from other groups by a line break or indentation. A well-built paragraph has a clear focus and logical order.

A written message following conventions such as a clear subject line, polite greeting, structured body, and appropriate closing. It avoids slang and contractions and is used in professional contexts.

The attitude a writer or speaker conveys through word choice and structure, for example friendly, neutral, or firm. Tone should suit the audience and purpose of the message.

Checking a finished piece of writing for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and layout before sending or submitting it. It is the final stage of the writing process.

The rules that govern who speaks and when in a conversation, including how speakers signal that they have finished or want to interrupt politely. Smooth turn-taking keeps interaction comfortable.

A short sound or phrase such as 'mm-hm' or 'I see' that a listener uses to show they are following the speaker without taking a full turn. Backchannels keep conversation flowing.

A request or explanation that makes something clearer, often signalled by phrases like 'Could you repeat that?' or 'Do you mean...?'. It is a key strategy for managing misunderstandings.

The ability to speak at a natural pace with few long pauses, linking ideas smoothly. Fluency concerns flow and ease of communication rather than perfect accuracy.

The way words are spoken, including individual sounds, word stress, and intonation. Clear pronunciation helps listeners understand the message without effort.