GABECE key terms

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

Agreement between words in a sentence, especially between subject and verb or between pronoun and noun, so that grammatical features such as number match correctly.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens, such as present, past or future, and whether it is finished or still continuing.

Words reported exactly as a speaker said them, placed inside quotation marks with reporting verbs and punctuation, for example: She said, "I am tired."

The marks used in writing, such as full stops, commas, question marks and apostrophes, to show pauses, sentence boundaries, possession and meaning.

A group of related sentences that develops one main idea, usually beginning on a new line and often marked by an indented first line.

The sentence, usually at the start of a paragraph, that states the main idea the rest of the paragraph explains or supports.

A short account of the main points of a passage, written in your own words and leaving out examples and minor details.

The ability to read a passage and understand its meaning well enough to answer questions, identify main ideas and infer what is implied.

A conclusion you reach from evidence in a text rather than from a statement made directly, such as working out a character's feelings from their actions.

A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as", for example: as brave as a lion.

A figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another, without using "like" or "as", for example: the classroom was a zoo.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from the individual words, such as "to bury the hatchet" meaning to end a quarrel.

The value a digit has because of its position in a number, so in 4,072 the 4 stands for four thousands and the 7 for seven tens.

A way of writing a number as the sum of the values of its digits, for example 3,506 = 3,000 + 500 + 0 + 6.

Replacing a number with a nearby number of a chosen place value, using the next digit to decide whether to round up or keep the digit unchanged.

Finding an answer close to the exact one by using rounded or convenient numbers, often to check whether a calculated result is reasonable.

A whole number that divides another number exactly without leaving a remainder, so the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.

The result of multiplying a given whole number by another whole number, so the multiples of 5 include 5, 10, 15 and 20.

A whole number greater than 1 that has exactly two factors, itself and 1, such as 2, 3, 5, 7 and 11.

The mean of a set of numbers, found by adding all the values and dividing the total by the number of values.

A fraction or ratio expressed as a part of one hundred, so 45% means 45 out of every 100, or 45/100.

A comparison of two or more quantities of the same kind, showing how many times one contains the other, written for example as 3:2.

The process by which green plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make food, releasing oxygen as a by-product.

The green pigment in plant leaves that absorbs light energy needed for photosynthesis and gives plants their green colour.

The process in living cells that releases energy from food, usually using oxygen and producing carbon dioxide and water.

The breaking down of food into simpler substances that the body can absorb and use, beginning in the mouth and continuing in the stomach and intestines.

A substance in food that the body needs for energy, growth or health, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.

A diet containing the right amounts and variety of nutrients needed for good health, growth and energy, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.

The change of a liquid into a gas when it is heated or exposed to air, as when water changes into water vapour.

The change of a gas into a liquid when it is cooled, as when water vapour forms droplets on a cold surface.

Anything that has mass and takes up space, existing as a solid, liquid or gas and made up of tiny particles.

The movement of people from one place to another to live, either within a country or across borders, often for work, safety or family reasons.

The growth in the proportion of people living in towns and cities, usually caused by rural-to-urban migration and natural increase.

The total number of people living in a particular area, such as a village, district, region or country, at a given time.

An official count of all the people in a country, usually carried out at regular intervals, recording details such as age, sex and occupation.

The legal membership of a country that gives a person rights such as voting and protection, together with duties such as obeying the law and paying taxes.

The set of fundamental rules and principles by which a country is governed, stating the powers of government and the rights of citizens.

The basic freedoms and protections that every person is entitled to simply because they are human, such as life, dignity, education and freedom of expression.

A principle that guides behaviour as right or wrong, such as honesty, respect, responsibility and fairness, and which shapes how people treat others.

The inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's choices and can cause feelings of guilt when they act wrongly.

A good habit or quality of character, such as honesty, patience or courage, that is developed through practice and guides right conduct.

The willingness to accept and respect beliefs, customs and opinions that differ from your own, without treating others unfairly because of them.

A short traditional saying that expresses a widely held truth or piece of advice, often used in speech to teach or persuade.

A traditional story passed down orally from generation to generation, often teaching a moral and featuring animals or legendary characters.

A traditional story that explains natural events, the origins of a people or the actions of gods and spirits, often treated as sacred.

A traditional offering of drink, usually water or alcohol, poured on the ground while prayers are said to honour ancestors or spirits.

A drawing method that shows an object from the front, top and side on separate views, giving exact shapes and measurements for making it.

A pictorial drawing in which the three main dimensions are drawn at equal angles, giving a three-dimensional view of an object.

A drawing in which all measurements are reduced or enlarged by the same ratio so that the drawing represents the real object accurately.

A step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, which can be followed by a person or a computer.

A diagram that uses standard symbols and arrows to show the order of steps in a process or algorithm from start to finish.

A set of coded instructions written in a language a computer can execute to perform a particular task.

Software that arranges data in rows and columns of cells and can calculate totals and averages using formulas.

The changing of a verb's form to show its subject, tense and mood, for example je parle, tu parles and nous parlons in French.

The basic, unchanged form of a verb as listed in a dictionary, such as parler, finir and vendre in French.

The matching of articles and adjectives to the masculine or feminine gender of the noun they describe, as in un petit garçon and une petite fille.

The arrangement of elements such as line, shape, colour and space within an artwork so that they form a balanced and pleasing whole.

A circular chart that shows how colours relate to one another, including primary, secondary and complementary colours used in art and design.

The surface quality of an object or artwork, such as roughness, smoothness or softness, which may be real or shown visually.