BGCSE English Language flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Skimming

Reading a text rapidly to establish its overall meaning, structure or gist without attending to every word or detail. It is used before close reading to build a mental map of the passage.

Scanning

Reading quickly with the eyes moving across the text to locate one specific item, such as a date, name, figure or key word, ignoring everything that is not that target.

Inference

A conclusion a reader draws from evidence in the text combined with general knowledge, when the point is implied rather than stated. It must always be supported by a detail or quotation.

Fact and opinion

A fact is a statement that can be checked or verified; an opinion expresses judgement, belief or evaluation and often contains evaluative adjectives or modal verbs such as should and must.

Tone

The writer's attitude towards the subject or the reader, conveyed through word choice, sentence length and punctuation. Examples include ironic, nostalgic, indignant, detached and mocking.

Topic sentence

The sentence, usually placed first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main point. Everything else in the paragraph should illustrate, explain or support that point.

Discursive essay

An essay that examines two or more sides of a controversial issue, presenting balanced evidence for each before reaching a reasoned conclusion that commits to a position.

Rhetorical question

A question asked for effect rather than for an answer, used to make the reader reflect or to imply an obvious response and so push them towards the writer's viewpoint.

Rule of three

Listing three linked words, phrases or examples because a triad is rhythmically satisfying and memorable, creating the impression that the evidence is complete and well balanced.

Cohesive device

Any word or technique that links ideas across a text, such as connectives (however, therefore), pronoun reference, repeated key nouns and synonyms, keeping the writing unified and easy to follow.

Comma splice

An error in which two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. Repair it with a full stop, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction such as and or but.

Semicolon

A punctuation mark joining two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. It can also separate items in a list when the items themselves already contain commas.

Non-restrictive clause

A subordinate clause giving extra, non-essential information about a noun and enclosed in commas. Removing it leaves the basic meaning of the sentence intact.

Dangling modifier

A participle or modifying phrase with no logical subject in the main clause, as in 'Walking home, the rain began', where the rain is not the thing doing the walking.

Collective noun agreement

Collective nouns such as team, committee or family take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit, and a plural verb when the members act individually.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, independent of the feelings or associations it may arouse. It is the meaning shared by all competent users of the language.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural associations a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning. Childlike and childish share a denotation but carry positive and negative connotations respectively.

Register

The level of formality in language chosen to suit audience, purpose and form. Formal register avoids contractions, slang, phrasal verbs and direct address; informal register permits them.

Collocation

The habitual pairing of words in a language, such as heavy rain, make a decision or do homework. Breaking a strong collocation reads as an error even when the grammar is correct.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word substituted for one considered harsh, blunt or unpleasant, such as passed away for died, or downsizing for making staff redundant.

Paraphrasing in summary

Rewriting the writer's main points in fresh vocabulary and grammar rather than lifting phrases, because marks are awarded for understanding the idea, not for the quotation.

Nominalisation

Turning a verb or clause into a noun phrase, as when 'because prices rose' becomes 'the rise in prices'. It compresses clauses and is common in formal summaries and reports.

Main point selection

Choosing the sentence from each paragraph that carries the essential information, usually the topic sentence, and discarding examples, illustrations and ideas already counted.

Information transfer

Reading a passage and moving specific data into a table, chart or form accurately, copying names, figures and units exactly without adding interpretation or personal opinion.

Imperative verb

A verb giving a command or instruction, with the subject 'you' understood, as in 'Mix the flour' or 'Apply before 30 June'. Common in leaflets, recipes and instructions.

Headline language

The compressed style of newspaper headlines, which omits articles and auxiliary verbs and uses the present tense for past events, as in 'Minister resigns over leak'.

Loaded language

Word choice carrying strong positive or negative associations, used to influence the reader's attitude, such as 'regime' instead of 'government' or 'sleek' instead of 'new'.

Formal letter layout

Conventions including sender's address, date, salutation, paragraphs, complimentary close and signature; Yours faithfully pairs with Dear Sir/Madam, Yours sincerely with a named recipient.

Their, there, they're

Their shows possession, there indicates place or existence, and they're is the contraction of they are. Substituting 'they are' tests whether the contraction is the correct choice.

Affect and effect

Affect is normally a verb meaning to influence; effect is normally a noun meaning a result. 'It affected me' and 'the effect on me' illustrate the standard patterns.

Doubling final consonant

In one-syllable words ending consonant-vowel-consonant, the final consonant doubles before a vowel suffix: hop becomes hopped, run becomes running. Unstressed final syllables do not double.

Practice and practise

In British English, practice is the noun and practise is the verb: 'a doctor's practice' but 'to practise the piano'. American English uses practice for both.