Maharashtra SSC English - First Language (MSBSHSE) key terms

A conclusion drawn from clues in a passage rather than from a statement made directly. Readers combine evidence with background knowledge to work out what the writer implies.

The central point a paragraph or passage is built around. Every other sentence supports, explains, or illustrates it, so it can usually be stated in one sentence.

The sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that announces what the paragraph is about. The remaining sentences develop it with reasons, examples, or details.

A fact, example, statistic, or reason that strengthens the main idea. Removing it would leave the main idea unsupported and the paragraph thin.

The writer's attitude towards the subject, revealed through word choice and sentence structure. It may be ironic, sympathetic, critical, humorous, or neutral, and is named with an adjective.

The feeling a passage creates in the reader, such as suspense, calm, or gloom. Mood is produced by setting, description, and rhythm rather than by direct statement.

Information in the surrounding words or sentences that helps a reader guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Definitions, examples, contrasts, and causes often act as clues.

The underlying idea about life or human nature that a literary work explores, such as the cost of ambition or the value of friendship. It is broader than the plot.

The sequence of events in a story, arranged to create cause and effect. It typically moves through exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

The point of greatest tension in a narrative, where the central conflict reaches its peak and the outcome becomes inevitable. It is usually followed by a short falling action.

The struggle between opposing forces that drives a story forward. It may be internal, within a character's mind, or external, against another person, society, or nature.

The methods a writer uses to build a character, including description, speech, action, and the reactions of others. Direct characterisation states traits; indirect shows them.

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses so readers can see, hear, or feel a scene. It often relies on simile, metaphor, and sensory adjectives.

A figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another, without using 'like' or 'as'. For example, calling old age 'the evening of life'.

A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as', such as 'brave as a lion'. It makes an abstract quality concrete and easy to picture.

Giving human qualities to an object, animal, or idea, as in 'the wind whispered through the trees'. It creates atmosphere and makes description vivid.

The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, such as 'silent, silver stream'. It draws attention to a phrase and adds rhythm.

A word that imitates the sound it names, such as 'buzz', 'hiss', or 'clang'. It makes writing more audible and immediate.

The pattern of end rhymes in a poem, shown by letters such as abab or aabb. Naming the scheme helps a candidate describe stanza structure accurately.

A group of lines forming a unit in a poem, separated by a space from other groups. Stanzas work like paragraphs, each developing one idea or image.

A line or phrase repeated at intervals in a poem, often at the end of stanzas. It builds rhythm and emphasises the central feeling or message.

The freedom poets take with grammar, word order, and spelling to suit rhythm or rhyme. It explains unusual constructions that would be errors in ordinary prose.

A word with a meaning close to another word, such as 'begin' and 'commence'. Exact synonyms are rare, so the best choice depends on register and context.

A word opposite in meaning to another, such as 'generous' and 'stingy'. Antonyms may be graded, like hot and cold, or absolute, like alive and dead.

A meaningful group of letters added to the front of a word to change its meaning, as 'un-' in 'unfair' or 'pre-' in 'preview'. It rarely changes the word class.

Letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or word class, as '-ness' turns 'kind' into a noun. It often signals whether a word is a noun, verb, or adjective.

The process of building new words from existing ones through affixes, compounding, or conversion. Recognising these patterns helps candidates work out unfamiliar words in a passage.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as 'to let the cat out of the bag'. Idioms must be learnt as whole units.

The habitual pairing of words that native speakers expect together, such as 'make a decision' rather than 'do a decision'. Wrong partners make writing sound unnatural.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action, as in 'The teacher marked the papers'. It is usually clearer and more direct than the passive.

A construction in which the subject receives the action, formed with a form of 'be' plus the past participle, as in 'The papers were marked'. It is used when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

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

A group of words that functions as a single unit but lacks a subject and verb pair, such as 'in the morning' or 'a very tall boy'. Phrases cannot stand alone as sentences.

A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses, such as 'and', 'but', 'because', and 'although'. Coordinating conjunctions join equals; subordinating ones introduce dependent clauses.

A verb form used as an adjective or to build tenses, ending in '-ing' (present) or '-ed/-en' (past). Dangling participles are a common error in school writing.

Conveying what someone said without quoting the exact words, requiring changes to pronouns, tense, and time words. For example, 'She said that she was tired.'

The level of formality in language suited to a particular audience and situation. A letter to an editor uses a formal register; a letter to a friend uses an informal one.

A short public announcement displayed on a board or wall, giving information to a specific group. It states what, when, where, and whom to contact, in the fewest possible words.

A factual account of an event or investigation, written in the past tense and third person. It presents information objectively under a heading, without personal opinion.

A writing task in which a given proverb or quotation is explained and illustrated with examples. It requires interpreting the idea, then supporting it with reasoning and illustration.

A structured piece of writing on one topic, built from an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph develops a single point in logical order.