WACE Punjabi Second Language ATAR key terms

Grammatical gender in Punjabi. Every noun is masculine or feminine, and the gender controls verb endings and adjective forms, so learners must record each noun's gender when memorising it.

Grammatical number, singular or plural. Punjabi marks plurals in different ways depending on gender and noun ending, and the verb must agree with the subject in number as well as person.

Grammatical case, the system showing a noun's role in the sentence. Punjabi marks direct and oblique forms, and postpositions follow the oblique form, so case knowledge is essential for correct sentence building.

A postposition, a small word placed after a noun or pronoun to show relationships such as location, time, or possession. Punjabi uses postpositions rather than prepositions, and the preceding noun takes the oblique form.

A verb, the word expressing an action or state. Punjabi verbs change for tense, aspect, person, gender, and number, and the auxiliary often carries the tense information.

Tense, the time reference of a verb such as present, past, or future. Punjabi distinguishes habitual, continuous, and perfect aspects within each tense, which affects which auxiliary and participle are used.

Grammatical aspect, showing whether an action is habitual, ongoing, or completed. Aspect combines with tense in Punjabi, so the same tense can express different meanings depending on the aspect chosen.

A pronoun, a word replacing a noun such as I, you, he, she, or they. Punjabi pronouns have direct and oblique forms and also show respect levels, especially in the second and third person.

An adjective, a word describing a noun. In Punjabi, adjectives often change ending to agree with the noun's gender and number, and some adjectives take oblique forms before a following noun.

An adverb, a word modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb, telling how, when, or where something happens. Punjabi forms many adverbs from adjectives by adding a fixed ending.

The level of respect encoded in Punjabi pronouns and verb endings. Plural forms are used for one respected person, and choosing the wrong level can sound rude or overly formal in conversation and letters.

Word formation, the way Punjabi builds new words through prefixes, suffixes, and compounding. Recognising common patterns helps candidates work out the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary in reading passages.

The script used to write Punjabi. It is alphabetic, written left to right, and distinguishes short and long vowels as well as nasalised sounds, so accurate spelling requires attention to vowel signs.

A vowel sign attached to a consonant in Gurmukhi. Each vowel has its own sign placed before, after, above, or below the consonant, and omitting or confusing a sign changes the word entirely.

Two diacritics marking nasalisation in Gurmukhi writing. The bindi is a dot and the tippi a small mark above the line; they are used with different vowels and must be written correctly for accurate spelling.

An idiom, a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words. Using idioms appropriately in writing shows advanced command of Punjabi and is often rewarded in composition tasks.

A proverb, a traditional saying that expresses shared wisdom or a moral observation. Proverbs are common in Punjabi speech and writing and often carry cultural values about work, family, and patience.

A synonym, a word with a similar meaning to another. Knowing sets of synonyms allows variety in writing and helps candidates answer vocabulary questions that ask for a word closest in meaning.

An antonym, a word with the opposite meaning to another. Antonym pairs are frequently tested in matching and gap-fill items and help candidates express contrast in their own writing.

Folklore, the traditional stories, songs, sayings, and customs passed down in Punjabi culture. Understanding folklore helps candidates interpret literary texts and discuss cultural themes in essays.

Folk song, a traditional song tied to everyday life, seasons, weddings, and harvest. Folk songs appear in Punjabi literature and film, and recognising their contexts supports comprehension of cultural references.

Speech or dialect, a variety of a language spoken in a particular region. Punjabi has several regional varieties, and awareness of dialect differences helps candidates understand spoken texts and informal writing.

Standard Punjabi, the formal variety used in education, news, and official writing. Examination texts and formal compositions generally expect this variety rather than heavy dialect forms.

Translation, rendering meaning from one language into another. In this course, translation tasks require accurate meaning transfer plus natural Punjabi grammar rather than word-for-word substitution.

A summary or gist, a short account of the main points of a text. Summary tasks test whether a candidate can identify key ideas and restate them concisely in their own words.

The main idea or central point of a passage. Identifying it is the first step in comprehension questions and in planning a structured response to a reading text.

Context, the surrounding words, situation, or background that shapes meaning. Vocabulary-in-context questions require choosing the sense of a word that fits the passage rather than its most common dictionary meaning.

Tone or register, the attitude and level of formality conveyed by word choice. Recognising tone helps candidates answer questions about a writer's purpose and choose appropriate language in their own texts.

A formal letter, written to officials, institutions, or businesses. It follows conventions such as a formal salutation, respectful pronouns, a clear subject line, and a polite closing formula.

An informal letter, written to family or friends. It uses relaxed vocabulary, personal detail, and less rigid structure, though it still needs correct grammar and a suitable greeting and closing.

An article or essay presenting ideas on a topic in organised paragraphs. Strong answers state a position, support it with reasons or examples, and use linking words to guide the reader.

An outline or plan made before writing. Listing main points and their order helps candidates produce coherent extended responses and avoid repetition or missing content in timed conditions.

A linking word or connector such as however, therefore, or in addition. Connectors signal relationships between ideas and make extended Punjabi writing flow smoothly for the reader.

A dialogue, a written conversation between two or more speakers. Dialogue tasks test the ability to use appropriate greetings, turn-taking, and respectful forms while keeping the exchange natural.

A notice or announcement giving information to a group. Notices are short, factual, and clearly structured, usually stating what, when, where, and who should respond.

An advertisement, a persuasive text promoting a product, service, or event. It uses catchy headings, descriptive adjectives, and direct appeals to attract attention and persuade readers to act.

A report, a factual account of an event such as a meeting, competition, or accident. Reports answer who, what, when, where, and why, and usually avoid personal opinion.