Tamil Nadu SSLC English key terms

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in a passage rather than from a sentence stated outright. The answer is not printed in the text, but the evidence must support it.

The central point a paragraph or passage is built around. Every supporting detail explains, proves, or illustrates it, and the whole passage would lose its purpose without it.

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

A fact, example, reason, or statistic that strengthens the main idea. In comprehension answers, details must be taken from the passage, not invented from general knowledge.

A word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that hints at its meaning. Contrast words, definitions, examples, and cause-effect links in the same sentence often supply the clue.

A word that carries nearly the same meaning as another word in a given context, such as 'begin' and 'commence'. Exact interchangeability is rare, so the surrounding sentence decides the fit.

A word opposite in meaning to another, such as 'generous' and 'stingy'. Prefixes like un-, in-, and dis- often create antonyms, but not every word formed this way is a true opposite.

A meaningful unit attached to the front of a base word to change its meaning, as re- in 'rewrite' or mis- in 'misplace'. Knowing common prefixes helps a candidate guess meanings of unseen words.

A meaningful unit added to the end of a base word, often changing its grammatical class, as -ness turns 'kind' into a noun and -less turns 'hope' into an adjective.

The process of building new words from existing ones by adding prefixes and suffixes, compounding, or conversion. Exam tasks ask candidates to supply the correct derived form in a sentence.

One of two or more words pronounced alike but spelled and meant differently, such as 'weather' and 'whether'. Choosing the right one depends on the grammatical role in the sentence.

One of two or more words spelled alike but differing in meaning or pronunciation, such as 'lead' (a metal) and 'lead' (to guide). The sentence context tells the reader which sense applies.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate words, such as 'to let the cat out of the bag' meaning to reveal a secret. Idioms must be learned as whole units.

A small group of words that works as a unit inside a sentence but lacks a subject and a finite verb, such as 'in the morning' or 'having finished the work'.

A group of words containing its own subject and verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent clause cannot and must be attached to a main clause.

A dependent clause introduced by a conjunction such as 'because', 'although', or 'when', which cannot stand alone. It adds information to the main clause of the sentence.

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

The verb form that shows the time of an action and whether it is finished, ongoing, or repeated. English marks present, past, and future, each with simple, continuous, and perfect forms.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person: singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs, even when words sit between them.

The form of a verb showing whether the subject acts or is acted upon. In the active voice the subject performs the action; in the passive voice the object becomes the subject.

Rewriting a sentence without changing its meaning, for example changing active to passive, direct to reported speech, or a simple sentence to a complex one. Meaning must stay intact.

Conveying someone's words indirectly without quotation marks, which usually shifts the tense back and adjusts pronouns and time words, as in 'She said she was tired.'

A deliberate departure from literal language used for effect, including simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole. Identifying the device is a standard poetry comprehension task.

A comparison between two unlike things introduced by 'like' or 'as', such as 'her voice was like a bell'. The comparison is stated openly, not implied.

A comparison in which one thing is described as if it were another, without 'like' or 'as', such as 'the classroom was a zoo'. The comparison is implied rather than stated.

Giving human qualities to a non-human thing, as when a poem says the wind whispered or the moon smiled. It is common in descriptive and nature poetry.

Descriptive language appealing to the senses that creates a picture in the reader's mind. In poetry questions, imagery is often tied to mood and theme.

The pattern of end rhymes in a poem, usually labelled with letters so that each new sound gets the next letter, as in abab or aabb. It is noted line by line.

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that gives a poem its beat. Rhythm affects pace and emphasis, and is often discussed alongside rhyme.

A group of lines set apart in a poem, roughly like a paragraph in prose. Stanzas are often separated by blank lines and may follow a repeated pattern.

The underlying idea or message a literary work conveys about life or human experience, such as courage or the value of friendship. It is broader than the plot.

The methods an author uses to build a character, including description, dialogue, actions, and what other characters say. Direct characterisation states traits; indirect reveals them.

The sequence of events in a story, usually moving through exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Questions often ask for the turning point.

A short formal announcement displayed for a group, giving what, when, where, and whom to contact. It is written in the third person, is brief, and usually has a heading and date.

A letter written for official or business purposes, following a fixed layout with sender's address, date, receiver's address, salutation, subject, body, and closing. The tone stays polite and impersonal.

The greeting at the start of a letter, such as 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam' in formal writing, or 'Dear Ravi' in an informal letter. It sets the level of formality.

The polite ending of a letter, such as 'Yours faithfully' when the name is unknown or 'Yours sincerely' when it is known, followed by the signature.

A group of sentences developing one idea, opening with a topic sentence and closing with a link to the next idea. Unity and coherence are the marks of a good paragraph.

The quality that makes a piece of writing flow logically, with each sentence connected to the one before it. Linking words and consistent pronouns help create it.

A word or phrase that links ideas and shows their relationship, such as 'however', 'therefore', 'moreover', and 'on the other hand'. Connectives guide the reader through an argument.

Rewriting data from one form into another, such as turning a paragraph into a table or a chart into sentences. The meaning must be preserved exactly, with no added opinion.

The record of a word in a dictionary, giving spelling, pronunciation, part of speech, numbered senses, example sentences, and sometimes origin and usage labels. Senses are numbered by frequency.

The bold word printed at the top of each dictionary page showing the first and last entries on that page. It helps a user locate a word quickly without reading every entry.

Arrangement of words by the sequence of letters in the alphabet, comparing letter by letter from the start. It is the organising principle of dictionaries, indexes, and glossaries.