Kagawa Entrance English key terms

The central point a passage is built to convey, stated or implied. Identifying it means deciding what the whole text is mostly about rather than what one sentence says.

A specific fact, example, or reason inside a passage that backs up or illustrates its main point. Questions often ask which detail is stated or which one does not fit.

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in the text plus ordinary reasoning, even though the text never states it directly. Answers must be defensible from the passage, not from personal opinion.

A pronoun or pointing expression such as it, they, this, or the former that stands for something mentioned earlier or later. Finding the antecedent tells you what the sentence actually claims.

The writer's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice, such as critical, amused, neutral, or admiring. Tone questions ask you to name that attitude from evidence in the text.

Reading quickly with eyes moving over a text to locate one specific item, such as a date, name, or number, without reading every word in order.

Reading rapidly for the general sense of a passage, often by looking at first sentences of paragraphs and headings, before deciding where to read closely.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, even when words sit between them.

Keeping verb tenses logically aligned within a sentence or paragraph, shifting only when the time frame genuinely changes, such as from past narration to present comment.

A verb form made with have or has plus the past participle, used for past actions still relevant now or for experience up to the present, as in I have finished.

A clause pattern where the receiver of the action becomes the subject, formed with be plus the past participle, as in The letter was written by Ken.

A clause that describes a noun and begins with a relative pronoun such as who, which, or that, as in the book that I borrowed. It can be restrictive or non-restrictive.

The noun or noun phrase that a pronoun or relative pronoun refers back to. Clear writing keeps the antecedent close and unambiguous so readers know who did what.

A descriptive phrase at the start of a sentence whose intended subject is missing or mismatched, as in Walking home, the rain started, where the rain is not walking.

Balancing items in a list or comparison in the same grammatical form, such as swimming, cycling, and running rather than swimming, cycling, and to run.

Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation or only a comma, which makes the sentence hard to follow. It is repaired with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.

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

A pairing of words that native users expect together, such as make a decision or heavy rain. Choosing the usual partner matters more than literal meaning.

The feeling or evaluation a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning, such as the negative shade of stubborn compared with determined. It shapes tone and appropriateness.

A verb combined with a particle or preposition that creates a new meaning, such as give up, look after, or turn down. The particle cannot usually be guessed literally.

A fixed expression whose meaning is not the sum of its words, such as break the ice or under the weather. Idioms must be learned as whole units.

A meaningful unit attached to the front of a word that changes its sense, such as un- in unhappy or re- in rewrite. Recognizing it helps you guess unfamiliar words.

A meaningful unit attached to the end of a word, often changing its part of speech, such as -ness turning adjectives into nouns or -ly turning them into adverbs.

A group of words sharing one base but differing in endings, such as decide, decision, decisive, and decisively. Knowing the family lets you fill the right part of speech.

A noun that can be counted and takes a plural form, such as chair or idea. Uncountable nouns like information or advice take no plural and no a or an.

The determiner a, an, or the. A and an introduce a non-specific singular countable noun; the points to something already identified or unique in context.

A singular word naming a group, such as team, family, or committee. In English it usually takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit.

A verb form used as an adjective or in compound tenses, either present (writing) or past (written). Participles often replace relative clauses in formal writing.

A verb that needs a direct object to complete its sense, such as put, discuss, or reach. Using one without an object leaves the sentence incomplete.

The way sentences in a text stick together through linking words, repeated key terms, and pronouns. It tells you which sentence logically follows which.

The overall logical flow of a text, where ideas progress in an order a reader can follow. A coherent paragraph has one focus and clear connections between parts.

The sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that announces the paragraph's single controlling idea. The remaining sentences develop or illustrate it.

A linking adverb or phrase such as however, therefore, or in addition that signals how the next idea relates to the previous one, whether contrast, cause, or sequence.

A brief plan listing main points and supporting details in order before drafting. It keeps a composition organized and prevents drifting off the assigned topic.

Restating someone's idea in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the meaning. It is used in summaries and to avoid copying wording directly.

To condense a text into its essential points in fewer words, leaving out examples and repetition. A good summary keeps the original order of importance.

The overall point a speaker or writer is making, as opposed to particular facts. Listening questions often ask for the gist of a short announcement or conversation.

Attending to specific information in speech, such as times, prices, or names, while ignoring less relevant material. It usually follows a quick grasp of the gist.

A spoken phrase that signals the structure of a talk, such as first of all, on the other hand, or to sum up. Noticing these helps you predict what comes next.