QCAA Spanish key terms

The style of Spanish used with strangers, officials, or in writing, marked by usted forms, fuller sentences, and polite formulas; contrasted with casual speech among friends.

The relaxed style of Spanish used with friends and family, marked by tú or vos forms, slang, ellipsis, and looser grammar; appropriate only in informal contexts.

Addressing someone with the pronoun tú and its verb forms, typical of informal relationships in most Spanish-speaking regions; its use can signal closeness or, wrongly applied, disrespect.

Addressing someone with usted and third-person verb forms to show respect or distance, used with superiors, elders, or strangers in many Spanish-speaking communities.

Use of vos with its own verb forms instead of tú, widespread in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Central America; a regional marker of identity rather than an error.

Matching language choices, such as register, tone, and vocabulary, to the audience, purpose, and situation of a text; a key criterion in producing and analysing texts.

The intended effect a speaker or writer wants to achieve, such as persuading, informing, or entertaining; it shapes structure, tone, and choice of language features.

The underlying aim or attitude a writer brings to a text, which readers infer from word choice, emphasis, and omissions rather than from explicit statements.

The emotional quality or attitude conveyed by a text, such as ironic, nostalgic, or urgent, created through vocabulary, rhythm, punctuation, and imagery.

The central claim or main position a persuasive or argumentative text advances, usually stated early and supported by reasons and evidence throughout.

A reason or line of reasoning offered to support a claim, often introduced by connectors such as ya que, puesto que, or dado que.

An opposing view that a writer acknowledges and then rebuts, often signalled by aunque, sin embargo, or si bien; strengthens persuasive writing by showing balance.

A word or phrase linking ideas and showing logical relations, such as sin embargo, por lo tanto, además, or en cambio; essential for cohesion in written and spoken texts.

The way sentences and paragraphs are tied together through connectors, pronoun reference, and repetition of key terms so a text reads as a unified whole.

The logical consistency of a text's ideas and structure, so each part contributes to a clear overall message without contradiction or irrelevant digression.

The organisation of a text into parts such as introduction, development, and conclusion, or the layout typical of a genre like a letter or news report.

A recognised category of text with conventional features, such as carta formal, correo electrónico, artículo de opinión, or reseña; each has expected layout and language.

A short critical text evaluating a book, film, or event, combining summary with judgement; typically uses evaluative adjectives and a recommendation.

A persuasive newspaper or magazine piece in which the writer argues a personal viewpoint on a current issue, using evidence, rhetorical questions, and emotive language.

A letter written to an institution or unknown recipient, following conventions such as a salutation, formal register, clear purpose, and a closing formula like atentamente.

Working out meaning that is implied rather than stated, using context, background knowledge, and textual clues; a core reading and listening skill.

The most important point of a paragraph or whole text, which the remaining sentences support, illustrate, or qualify.

Restating a text's meaning in different words while keeping the original sense, used to show comprehension and to integrate sources without direct quotation.

A condensed version of a text that retains its key points and removes detail, examples, and repetition; often requires reporting verbs and third-person phrasing.

The surrounding words, situation, or cultural background that shapes how a message is understood and helps resolve ambiguity in unfamiliar vocabulary.

Language used non-literally, including metaphor, simile, and personification, to create imagery or emphasis; common in poetry, advertising, and journalism.

A figure of speech describing one thing as if it were another, without like or as, for example calling time a river; used to shape perception and tone.

A Spanish verb mood expressing doubt, desire, emotion, or hypothetical situations, typically triggered by phrases such as es posible que or quiero que.

The Spanish verb mood used for statements of fact, certainty, and reality, contrasting with the subjunctive in contexts of doubt or emotion.

A verb construction made of a conjugated auxiliary plus an infinitive or gerund, such as ir a hacer, estar haciendo, or acabar de llegar, expressing aspect or nuance.

A past tense describing habitual actions, ongoing background situations, or descriptions in the past, contrasted with the preterite for completed events.

The Spanish simple past tense used for completed actions viewed as finished events, often with time markers such as ayer, el año pasado, or de repente.

Reporting what someone said without quoting directly, requiring tense shifts, pronoun changes, and adjustments to time and place references.

A traditional Spanish saying conveying popular wisdom, such as No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano; reflects cultural values and often resists literal translation.

Differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar across Spanish-speaking countries, for example coche, carro, and auto for car.

A variety of a language associated with a region or community, with its own pronunciation, vocabulary, and sometimes grammar, all equally valid within Spanish.

An oversimplified generalisation about a group of people, often reproduced uncritically in media; recognising and questioning it is part of intercultural analysis.

The sense of belonging to a community shaped by shared language, traditions, history, and values, frequently explored in Hispanic literature and film.