Tamil Nadu HSE Second Year Communicative English flashcards

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

Skimming versus scanning

Skimming is a rapid read for general meaning, main idea, or tone. Scanning is a targeted search for a specific detail such as a date, name, or figure.

Inference item rule

A correct inference is supported by evidence in the passage. An option that is true in the world but neither stated nor implied by the text must be rejected.

Vocabulary in context

To answer a meaning-in-context item, substitute each option into the original sentence. Keep the option that preserves the logic of the surrounding lines.

Tone words in comprehension

Attitude is described with words such as appreciative, objective, critical, sceptical, or nostalgic. Extreme labels like hostile rarely fit factual or expository passages.

Reference resolution

For items asking what 'it' or 'this' refers to, find the nearest grammatically agreeing noun phrase before the pronoun, then confirm it makes sense.

Prefix meaning pairs

Prefixes fix meaning: un-, in-, dis- mean not; mis- means wrongly; pre- means before; post- means after; re- means again; sub- means under.

Common roots

Roots carry core meaning: bene- good, mal- bad, chron- time, bio- life, graph- write, phon- sound, tele- far, micro- small, auto- self, mega- large.

Suffixes and word class

Suffixes signal part of speech: -tion, -ment, -ness, -ity form nouns; -ous, -ful, -ive, -able form adjectives; -ise, -ify, -en form verbs; -ly forms adverbs.

Homophone traps

Distinguish affect (verb) from effect (noun), principal (head) from principle (rule), stationary (still) from stationery (paper), and advice (noun) from advise (verb).

Collocation examples

Collocation is the fixed partnership of words: make a decision, do homework, heavy rain, strong tea, take a photograph, pay attention, commit a crime.

Phrasal verb particles

The particle changes meaning: give up means quit, give in means surrender, give away means donate or reveal, give out means distribute or fail.

One-word substitution

A polyglot speaks many languages; an optimist expects good outcomes; a pessimist expects bad ones; an omnivore eats both plants and animals.

Present perfect with since

Use present perfect with since or for when an action began in the past and continues or has present relevance: She has worked here since 2019.

Subject-verb agreement traps

One of the boys is; each, every, neither of plus a singular noun takes a singular verb; the number of students is, but a number of students are.

Three conditionals

Type 1: if plus present, will plus base. Type 2: if plus past, would plus base. Type 3: if plus had plus past participle, would have plus past participle.

Reported speech backshift

When the reporting verb is past, shift tenses back: present to past, past to past perfect, will to would. Time words shift too: now to then, tomorrow to the next day.

Passive voice formation

The passive is the correct form of be plus the past participle. Only transitive verbs can be made passive, and the by-agent is omitted when unknown or unimportant.

Relative pronoun choice

Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for place. Non-defining clauses take commas and never use that.

Question tag polarity

Tags mirror the auxiliary and reverse polarity: She hasn't come, has she? Imperative sentences take will you? as in Open the door, will you?

Formal letter layout

Order: sender's address, date, receiver's designation and address, subject line, salutation, body paragraphs, subscription, signature. Missing parts cost format marks.

Faithfully versus sincerely

Yours faithfully follows Dear Sir or Madam, when the name is unknown. Yours sincerely follows Dear Mr Rao, when the name is known.

Notice format

A notice carries the institution's name, the word NOTICE, the date, a heading, a short third-person body, and the signatory's name and designation at the end.

Report structure

A report gives title, reporter, date and place, then uses past tense and third person to state what happened, who was involved, and the action taken.

Paragraph unity and cohesion

Each paragraph states one controlling idea in a topic sentence, supports it with examples, and links to the next using however, therefore, moreover, or as a result.

Figures of speech

Simile compares using like or as; metaphor states identity; personification gives human traits to non-human things; hyperbole exaggerates; oxymoron joins opposites.

Sound devices in poetry

Alliteration repeats initial consonants, assonance repeats vowels, onomatopoeia imitates sound in the word itself, and a refrain repeats a line for emphasis.

Character answer formula

Name the trait, then cite the specific incident from the text that proves it. A trait without textual evidence earns little credit.

Theme versus plot

A theme is a general claim about life or human nature, not a summary of events. Support it with two separate moments from the text.

Listening note-taking symbols

Use shorthand while listening: up arrow for increase, down arrow for decrease, right arrow for leads to, therefore sign, w/ for with, approx. for approximately.

Language functions and exponents

Requests use Could you...? Offers use Shall I...? Suggestions use Why don't we...? Apologies use I'm afraid... Invitations use Would you like to...?

Telephone English phrases

Standard telephone phrases include May I speak to...?, Hold on please, Could I take a message?, and I'm afraid he's not available. Avoid blunt Who are you?

Presentation signposts

A talk moves through greeting, purpose statement, main points marked by firstly and moving on, then to sum up, and finally thanks with an invitation for questions.