KSEAB SSLC TL Persian key terms

Poetry written in measured, rhyming lines, as opposed to prose. In the prescribed textbook it covers ghazals, qasidas and mathnawis that candidates must read, explain and memorise for the poetry section.

A short lyric poem of usually five to fifteen couplets sharing one rhyme and refrain, expressing love, separation or mystical longing. Candidates identify the matla, maqta and radif of a prescribed ghazal.

A couplet, the basic unit of Persian poetry, made of two hemistiches that share metre and usually rhyme. Questions ask candidates to count, locate or explain a specified bait from a prescribed poem.

One half-line or hemistich of a couplet. A bait contains two misras; the first is called misra-e-ula and the second misra-e-sani, and rhyme falls at their ends.

The opening couplet of a ghazal or qasida, in which both hemistiches rhyme. Identifying the matla is a standard short-answer task on prescribed ghazals.

The closing couplet of a ghazal, often containing the poet's pen name. Candidates are asked to locate it and explain how it seals the poem's theme.

A word or short phrase repeated identically after the rhyme at the end of each couplet in a ghazal. It follows the qafiya and must be reproduced exactly when quoting verses.

The rhyming word that comes immediately before the radif and changes from couplet to couplet while keeping the same final sound. Recognising qafiya helps candidates answer rhyme-scheme questions.

The pen name a poet inserts into the final couplet of a ghazal, such as Hafiz or Saadi. Candidates use it to identify the poet and to comment on the poem's closing address.

Simile: likening one thing to another through an explicit word of comparison such as مانند or مثل. Poetry questions ask candidates to find the mushabbah, mushabbah-bihi and wajh-e shabah in a line.

Metaphor: using a word for something other than its literal meaning because of a shared quality, without an explicit comparison word. Candidates explain the borrowed image and its intended effect.

An indirect expression whose intended meaning is implied rather than stated, such as describing generosity by mentioning open hands. Candidates interpret kinaya in prescribed verses and in unseen prose.

Figurative or transferred usage of a word away from its literal sense, with a stated or understood link. Distinguishing majaz from haqiqat is a recurring literary-device question.

The first hemistich of a couplet, literally the earlier line. When quoting a verse as evidence, candidates should give both hemistiches and mark where the first ends.

A prescribed prose lesson from the textbook. Candidates answer comprehension, vocabulary and theme questions on each sabaq and reproduce its central message in their own words.

The central idea or main theme of a lesson or poem, stated in one or two sentences. Exam questions regularly ask for it separately from the summary.

A summary that condenses a passage or lesson into its essential points in the candidate's own words, keeping the original order of ideas and omitting examples and repetition.

A short passage quoted from the prescribed text on which comprehension questions are set. Candidates read it closely and answer in complete sentences drawn from the passage.

An unseen passage not taken from the textbook, used to test genuine reading ability. Candidates must infer meaning, identify the main point and answer vocabulary questions without prior familiarity.

The title of a passage, lesson or poem. A good title question asks candidates to propose or justify a heading that captures the whole text, not just its opening line.

Antonym: a word opposite in meaning to a given word, such as روشن and تاریک. Vocabulary items ask candidates to supply a correct opposite that fits the context.

Synonym: a word with the same or very close meaning to another, such as دل and قلب. Candidates choose a synonym that suits the register of the sentence rather than a loose equivalent.

An idiom: a fixed phrase whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as دست و پا گم کرنا. Candidates explain idioms and use them correctly in sentences.

A technical term or set expression with a settled meaning in a field or in everyday usage. Questions test whether candidates can explain it and insert it appropriately.

The verb: a word expressing an action or state in past, present or future time. Grammar items ask candidates to identify the verb, its tense and whether it agrees with its subject.

The noun: a word naming a person, place, thing or abstract idea. Candidates classify ism as proper, common, collective or abstract and check its gender and number.

The adjective: a word that describes or qualifies a noun, usually placed before it in Persian and linked by ezafe. Agreement and correct ezafe construction are commonly tested.

The unstressed linking vowel -e- that joins a noun to a following modifier, as in کتابِ خوب. Missing or misplaced ezafe is a frequent error in composition and translation answers.

Grammatical tense. Persian marks past, present and future mainly through verb endings and auxiliaries such as خواهد, and candidates convert sentences between tenses on request.

A verb form showing person and number, such as first-person singular or third-person plural. Candidates change a verb from one sigha to another while keeping the tense correct.

Singular and plural number. Candidates form plurals using suffixes such as -ها and -ان and choose the form that fits the sentence and the noun's animacy.

Agreement between sentence parts, especially subject and verb in person and number. Error-correction items often hinge on a verb that does not match its subject.

Translation: rendering a Persian passage into the target language, or the reverse, while preserving meaning, tone and idiom. Marks are given for accuracy first and fluency second.

Sentence construction or word order. Translation and composition answers are marked on correct Persian word order, which normally places the verb at the end of the clause.

An essay or composition written on a set topic. Candidates need a clear introduction, ordered body paragraphs and a conclusion, all in correct Persian within the word limit.

A letter written for a practical purpose, such as inviting a friend or applying for leave. Format, salutation, body and closing must follow the conventions taught in the textbook.

A formal application addressed to an authority requesting leave, admission or another favour. It follows a fixed layout: addressee, subject line, respectful body and signature.

Everyday life situations such as shopping, travel, health and school, used as contexts for applied language tasks. Candidates produce short functional sentences that a real speaker would use.

Dialogue or conversation. Applied items present a short exchange or ask candidates to write two or three turns of dialogue appropriate to a given everyday situation.