Maharashtra SSC Punjabi (First Language) key terms

The prose section of the textbook, made up of essays, sketches, and life-writing pieces studied for theme, character, and style rather than verse form.

A poem in the prescribed poetry section, read for central idea, mood, rhythm, and the figures of speech the poet uses.

The supplementary reader containing extra stories and narratives that are examined for plot, character, and message alongside the main textbook.

The grammar section covering word formation, sentence structure, idioms, and vocabulary items tested through direct application questions.

The composition section where candidates write letters, essays, reports, and similar tasks using correct format and clear organisation.

The central subject or topic of a prose piece or poem, stated briefly and then supported with evidence from the text.

Characterisation: how a writer builds a person in a story through actions, speech, and the reactions of others, used in character-sketch answers.

Dialogue in a prose piece or story; it reveals character, moves the plot forward, and often carries the regional flavour of speech.

The moral or message a prose piece or story conveys, usually stated in one sentence and then explained with textual support.

The central idea or core feeling of a poem, expressed in a sentence or two and backed by lines from the text.

A figure of speech such as simile, metaphor, or alliteration that decorates and deepens poetic expression; candidates must name and explain it.

Simile: an explicit comparison of two things using words such as 'ਵਾਂਗ', 'ਜਿਵੇਂ', or 'ਸਮਾਨ', for example comparing a face to the moon.

Metaphor: an implied comparison in which one thing is directly identified with another without a comparing word, as in calling life a journey.

Alliteration: repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, creating musical rhythm in a line of verse.

The rhythmic flow or tempo of a poem when read aloud, shaped by syllable count, pauses, and the pattern of stressed beats.

Recitation of a poem with correct pronunciation, pauses, stress, and emotional tone, assessed in oral work and internal assessment.

The plot or narrative line of a story: the sequence of events from beginning through conflict to resolution, used in summary answers.

The climax or turning point of a story, the moment of highest tension after which the outcome becomes clear.

Word form: the changed shape a word takes with gender, number, or case endings, as tested in grammar exercises.

Grammatical gender in Punjabi: masculine or feminine, which decides matching verb and adjective endings in a sentence.

Grammatical number, singular or plural, which changes noun and verb forms and must agree across the sentence.

Sentence construction: arranging subject, object, and verb in correct Punjabi order with proper agreement and punctuation.

An idiom whose meaning is figurative, not literal; for example 'ਅੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਤਾਰਾ' means a dearly loved person.

A proverb or saying that carries folk wisdom in fixed wording, often used to open an essay or support an argument.

Synonyms: different words sharing a similar meaning, such as 'ਸੁੰਦਰ' and 'ਸੋਹਣਾ', tested through matching and substitution items.

Antonyms: words with opposite meanings, such as 'ਉੱਚਾ' and 'ਨੀਵਾਂ', commonly asked in vocabulary exercises.

Translation between Punjabi and another language, or between Punjabi registers, practised to test precise grasp of meaning and idiom.

An essay written on a given topic with a clear introduction, developed body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph, in formal register.

A letter: formal letters follow a set layout of sender, date, address, subject, body, and closing; informal letters are personal in tone.

A factual write-up of an event or incident, usually with a heading, opening statement, ordered details, and a closing line.

An outline or skeleton plan of main points made before writing an essay or long answer, to keep the composition organised.

A summary or precis of a passage, keeping the main points in the writer's own words and within a stated word limit.

The content or subject matter of a passage or poem, as distinct from its form, style, or technique.

Listening skill: understanding a passage read aloud and answering questions on its content, tested in oral and internal assessment tasks.

Project work for internal assessment, such as a scrapbook, wall magazine, or spoken presentation on a text or author.

Correct pronunciation of Punjabi sounds, including retroflex and aspirated consonants, needed for clear recitation and oral answers.

Punctuation marks such as full stop, comma, question mark, and quotation marks, used correctly in written answers and compositions.

Brief background on an author or poet, such as period, region, and major works, often asked as a short factual question.

The context of a quoted line: where it appears, who speaks it, and why, needed when explaining an extract in prose or poetry answers.