Okayama Public High School Entrance Examination - English key terms

The most important point that a whole passage or talk is about. It is broader than a detail and is often stated in the first or last sentence.

A question that asks for one specific piece of information, such as a name, time, number, or reason, stated somewhere in the passage or dialogue.

A conclusion you reach by combining clues in the text with your own knowledge, even though the writer does not state it directly.

The reason a writer produced the text, for example to inform, persuade, explain, or entertain. It shapes the tone and the kind of information included.

The feeling or attitude a writer shows through word choice, such as friendly, worried, humorous, or serious. It is different from the topic itself.

A sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that announces what the paragraph is about and helps the reader follow the structure.

A group of sentences about one point, separated from other groups by an indented first line or a blank line.

Reading quickly to find one particular item, such as a date or a price, without reading every word in order.

Reading quickly through a text to grasp its general content and structure before answering questions or reading closely.

The person, thing, or idea that a pronoun or phrase such as it, they, or this one points back to in the surrounding text.

The way sentences in a text are linked so it reads as one smooth piece, using pronouns, repeated words, and linking words.

A word or phrase such as however, because, or in addition that shows the logical link between two ideas or sentences.

A relationship in which two ideas differ. Signal words include but, however, although, and on the other hand.

A relationship in which one event makes another happen. Signal words include because, so, therefore, and as a result.

To express the same meaning in different words, often with a simpler structure. Correct answer choices are frequently paraphrases of the passage.

A word that has nearly the same meaning as another word, such as begin and start. Recognising them helps match questions to texts.

A word with the opposite meaning to another word, such as cheap and expensive.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens, for example present, past, or future, including perfect forms like has finished.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number, as in she goes but they go, and in person.

A helping verb such as be, have, do, will, or can that works with a main verb to form questions, negatives, tenses, or moods.

A verb form used as an adjective or in compound tenses, such as the present participle running or the past participle written.

A clause beginning with who, which, that, or whose that describes a noun, as in the boy who won the race.

The base form of a verb, often with to, as in to swim. It can follow certain verbs and adjectives or express purpose.

The -ing form of a verb used as a noun, as in Swimming is fun or I enjoy reading.

A word such as in, on, at, by, or with that shows the relation between a noun and another part of the sentence.

A pair or group of words that commonly appear together, such as take a bath or heavy rain, which learners must memorise as chunks.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as under the weather meaning unwell.

The arrangement of words in a sentence. English usually places the subject before the verb and the object after it.

A task in which you rewrite a sentence so it keeps the same meaning while using a given word or structure, often tested with so that, too...to, or comparatives.

The structure used to ask something, usually with an auxiliary verb before the subject, as in Do you like music?

A short question added to the end of a statement, such as isn't it? or didn't she?, whose form depends on the main clause.

Reporting someone's exact words inside quotation marks, as in She said, "I am tired."

Telling what someone said without quoting exactly, which usually shifts the tense and pronouns, as in She said she was tired.

The form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things, such as taller, more interesting, or better.

The form of an adjective or adverb used for the most extreme of three or more things, such as the tallest or the most beautiful.

A short plan listing the points you intend to cover before writing, used to keep a composition organised and on topic.

A piece of writing produced for a task, usually with an introduction, body, and conclusion, written for a stated reader and purpose.

The number of words in a piece of writing. Exam tasks often set a minimum or a limit, so check it before finishing.

Listening to understand the overall message of a talk or conversation without catching every single word.

Listening with a focus on particular facts such as times, places, or numbers, often while ignoring other parts of the speech.

Writing down exactly what you hear. It tests spelling, punctuation, and the ability to catch sounds that are linked or reduced in speech.