ISEE Primary 4 key terms

The most important point a passage makes about its topic. It is broad enough to cover the whole text, not just one detail, and is often stated in the first or last sentence.

A fact, example, or reason in a passage that explains or proves the main idea. Details answer questions like who, what, when, where, or why.

The sentence in a paragraph that names what the paragraph is mostly about. Other sentences in the paragraph give details that support it.

A conclusion a reader draws using clues in the text plus what the reader already knows. The answer is not written word for word, but the text supports it.

Words, sentences, or details from a passage that support an answer or idea. Good readers point to evidence to show why their thinking is correct.

A word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that helps a reader figure out its meaning. Clues may be definitions, examples, opposites, or comparisons in the same sentence.

The meaning a word takes on in a particular sentence or passage. A familiar word can have an unusual meaning, so readers check how it is used.

A word that has more than one dictionary meaning, such as "bat" for an animal or for hitting a ball. The surrounding sentence tells which meaning fits.

The order in which events happen in a story or steps happen in a process. Signal words like first, next, then, and finally help readers follow the order.

Explaining how two or more things are alike and how they are different. Words like both, alike, unlike, and however often signal this kind of text.

A word or phrase that shows how ideas in a text connect, such as because, but, however, or therefore. Signal words help readers follow the writer's logic.

The reason a writer created a text, usually to inform, persuade, or entertain. The purpose shapes the kinds of words, details, and organization the writer chooses.

A category of writing that shares features, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biography, or folktale. Knowing the genre helps readers predict how a text will work.

Writing about imagined people and events rather than real ones. Stories, novels, and fables are fiction and usually include characters, setting, and plot.

A person or animal that takes part in a story. Readers learn about characters from what they say, do, think, and how others treat them.

The time and place in which a story happens. Details about weather, season, buildings, or landscape often reveal the setting.

The events of a story, usually built around a problem, the steps taken to solve it, and a resolution. Plot moves the story from beginning to end.

A group of sentences about one idea, set off by an indent or space. A paragraph usually begins with a topic sentence and adds details that support it.

A word that means nearly the same thing as another word, such as "happy" and "glad." Synonyms can make writing more varied and precise.

A word that means the opposite of another word, such as "early" and "late." Recognizing opposites helps readers understand how ideas are set against each other.

Small differences in strength or feeling between words with similar meanings, such as "warm," "hot," and "scorching." Choosing the right shade makes writing more exact.

A comparison that shows how two pairs of words are related in the same way, as in "finger is to hand as toe is to foot." Analogies test word relationships.

A group of things that share a common feature, such as fruits or vehicles. Naming the category a word belongs to is one way to show its meaning.

A word part added to the beginning of a base word that changes its meaning, such as un- in "unhappy" or re- in "reread." Knowing prefixes unlocks new words.

A word part added to the end of a base word that changes its meaning or its part of speech, such as -ful in "hopeful" or -ly in "quickly."

The main part of a word that carries its core meaning, before prefixes or suffixes are added. For example, "help" is the base word of "helpful" and "helpless."

The value a digit has because of its position in a number. In 4,382, the 3 is worth 300 because it is in the hundreds place.

A number written with digits in the usual way, such as 5,204. It is one of several ways to show a number, along with word form and expanded form.

A number broken apart to show the value of each digit, such as 5,204 written as 5,000 + 200 + 4. It makes place value visible.

Replacing a number with a nearby number that is easier to work with, based on place value. 47 rounds to 50 when rounding to the nearest ten.

An answer that is close to the exact amount, often found by rounding first. Estimates help check whether a calculated answer is reasonable.

The result of adding two or more numbers together. In 8 + 7 = 15, the sum is 15.

The result of subtracting one number from another. In 15 − 8 = 7, the difference is 7.

The result of multiplying two or more numbers. In 6 × 4 = 24, the product is 24.

The result of dividing one number by another. In 24 ÷ 6 = 4, the quotient is 4.

The amount left over when a number does not divide evenly. 25 ÷ 4 gives a quotient of 6 with a remainder of 1.

A number that names part of a whole or part of a group, written as one number over another. In 3/4, the whole is split into 4 equal parts and 3 are counted.

The top number in a fraction, which tells how many equal parts are being counted or described. In 3/4, the numerator is 3.

The bottom number in a fraction, which tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into. In 3/4, the denominator is 4.

The amount of surface a flat shape covers, measured in square units. For a rectangle, area equals length times width.

The distance around the outside edge of a flat shape. For a rectangle, perimeter equals twice the length plus twice the width.

A group of words that expresses a complete thought, with a subject and a predicate. It begins with a capital letter and ends with punctuation.

The part of a sentence that names who or what the sentence is about. In "The dog barked," the subject is "The dog."

The part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is. In "The dog barked loudly," the predicate is "barked loudly."

A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea, such as teacher, park, pencil, or courage. Nouns can be singular or plural.

A word that shows an action or a state of being, such as run, jump, is, or seem. Every complete sentence needs at least one verb.

A word that describes a noun or pronoun, such as tall, red, or friendly. Adjectives can tell what kind, which one, or how many.

A word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, such as quickly, very, or yesterday. Adverbs often tell how, when, or where.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens: past, present, or future. For example, "walked" is past and "will walk" is future.

The rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. "She runs" is correct, but "She run" is not.

Using uppercase letters for the first word of a sentence, proper nouns, and titles. Correct capitalization helps readers see where sentences and names begin.

Marks such as periods, commas, question marks, and quotation marks that organize writing and clarify meaning. Punctuation shows where sentences end and ideas pause.

The name of a specific person, place, or thing, such as Maya, Chicago, or Monday. Proper nouns are always capitalized.

Arranging sentences in a logical order so a paragraph is easy to follow. Writers group related ideas, use order words, and keep one main idea per paragraph.