UOB English Placement key terms

The most important point that a speaker or writer wants to communicate about a topic; it is broader than any single detail and is often stated near the beginning or end.

A specific fact, example, reason, or statistic that explains or proves a main idea. Details answer questions such as who, what, when, where, why, or how.

A conclusion reached by reasoning from evidence in a text or conversation rather than from a directly stated fact. It requires connecting clues to background knowledge.

A restatement of a text or speech in different words while keeping the original meaning. It is often used to check understanding or to avoid quoting directly.

To give a brief account of the main points of a text or talk, leaving out minor details and examples. A good summary is shorter than the original and in your own words.

A word, phrase, or sentence near an unfamiliar word that helps you guess its meaning. Clues may be definitions, examples, contrasts, or synonyms.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same language, such as 'big' and 'large'. Synonyms are often tested in vocabulary questions.

A word that means the opposite of another word, such as 'hot' and 'cold'. Recognizing antonyms helps in understanding contrasts and in vocabulary exercises.

A sentence, usually at the beginning of a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main idea. The other sentences in the paragraph support or explain it.

A word or phrase such as 'however', 'therefore', or 'in addition' that shows how ideas are connected. Transitions help readers follow the logic of a text.

The quality of a text that makes it easy to follow because its ideas are logically connected and flow smoothly from one to the next.

The way sentences in a text are linked together through grammar and vocabulary, for example by using pronouns, repeated words, or transition phrases.

The grammar rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens-past, present, or future-and whether it is ongoing or completed.

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent clause cannot.

A group of words that functions as a unit in a sentence but does not contain both a subject and a verb. Examples include prepositional phrases and noun phrases.

A word such as 'in', 'on', 'at', 'by', or 'with' that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence, often indicating place or time.

The relationship between a pronoun (such as 'he', 'it', or 'they') and the noun it refers to. Clear pronoun reference avoids confusion in writing.

A word or phrase that describes or limits another word, such as an adjective describing a noun or an adverb describing a verb. Modifiers add detail to sentences.

A way of listening in which you focus fully on the speaker, notice key points, and may take notes or ask clarifying questions to confirm understanding.

The general meaning or main point of a spoken or written message, without the details. Listening for gist means trying to understand the overall message first.

The extra force or emphasis given to a particular syllable or word in speech. Stress can change meaning or show which information is most important.

The rise and fall of the voice in speaking, which can show a question, surprise, or the speaker's attitude. It is an important part of listening comprehension.

The way in which a word or language is spoken, including sounds, stress, and intonation. Clear pronunciation helps listeners understand the message.

The level of formality in language that a speaker or writer chooses for a particular situation, such as formal, neutral, or informal.

The writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience, which can be serious, humorous, critical, friendly, and so on. Tone is conveyed through word choice.

The people for whom a piece of writing or a speech is intended. Knowing the audience helps a writer choose the right level of detail, tone, and vocabulary.

A sentence that presents the central argument or claim of an essay, usually appearing near the end of the introduction. It guides the structure of the whole piece.

A plan that lists the main points and supporting details of a piece of writing in order. It helps organize ideas before drafting.

An early version of a piece of writing that is written quickly to get ideas down. A draft is usually revised and edited before it becomes a final version.

To read through a piece of writing and make changes to improve its content, organization, and clarity, rather than just correcting grammar mistakes.

To correct errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word choice in a piece of writing. Editing usually happens after revising for content.

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

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words, such as 'break the ice' or 'hit the books'.

A letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning, such as 'un-' in 'unhappy' or 're-' in 'redo'.

A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech, such as '-ness' in 'happiness' or '-ly' in 'quickly'.

A group of words that share the same base or root but have different prefixes, suffixes, or endings, such as 'act', 'action', 'active', and 'activity'.