Yamagata Prefectural Public High School Entrance Examination - English key terms

A future form made with am, is, or are + going to + base verb. It expresses a plan made before speaking or a prediction based on present evidence.

A modal auxiliary used for future predictions, decisions made at the moment of speaking, and offers or promises. It is followed by the base form of a verb.

A verb form made with have or has + past participle. It connects a past action or experience to the present, often with ever, never, already, yet, or since.

An adjective or adverb form used to compare two people, things, or actions. Short words add -er; longer words use more before the word, often followed by than.

An adjective or adverb form that compares three or more items and shows the highest or lowest degree. Short words add -est; longer words use most, usually with the.

A sentence pattern made with be + past participle. The person or thing receiving the action becomes the subject, and the doer may be left out or introduced with by.

A word such as who, which, or that that begins a clause describing a noun. It connects the describing clause to the noun without starting a new sentence.

A verb form ending in -ing that works as a noun. It can be a subject, object, or complement, as in Swimming is fun or I enjoy reading.

The base form of a verb with to, such as to study. It can show purpose, follow certain verbs, or act like a noun or adjective in a sentence.

A helping verb such as can, must, should, may, or will. It adds meaning like ability, obligation, permission, or possibility and is followed by a base verb.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb, even when words come between them.

The usual arrangement of words in an English sentence, often subject + verb + object. Correct order is needed for statements, questions, negatives, and phrases with adverbs.

A connecting word such as and, but, because, or although. It joins words, phrases, or clauses and shows relationships like addition, contrast, reason, or time.

A word such as in, on, at, for, or with that shows a relationship of place, time, direction, or manner between a noun and another part of the sentence.

A small word placed before a noun: a, an, or the. A and an are indefinite; the is definite. Articles show whether the noun is general or specific.

The way a pronoun such as it, they, or this points back to a noun or idea mentioned earlier. Readers use meaning and number to identify the correct referent.

The central point that a paragraph or passage is mostly about. It is often stated in a topic sentence but may need to be inferred from several details.

A fact, example, reason, or description that helps explain or prove a main idea. Details answer who, what, when, where, why, or how and should relate to the point.

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in a text rather than from a direct statement. It requires combining evidence with background knowledge and checking that the conclusion fits.

Information in nearby words, sentences, or the overall passage that helps a reader guess an unknown word's meaning. Examples, definitions, contrasts, and causes can all act as clues.

A fast reading method used to find one specific piece of information, such as a name, date, number, or word. The reader moves the eyes quickly without reading every sentence.

A quick reading method used to get the general idea or organization of a passage. The reader looks at titles, first sentences, and key words rather than every detail.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in a particular context. Recognizing synonyms helps with vocabulary questions and with understanding paraphrases in reading.

A word that means the opposite of another word, such as hot and cold or begin and end. Antonyms are often tested in vocabulary items and can act as contrast clues in reading.

To express the same meaning using different words, often to check understanding or to avoid copying. A good paraphrase keeps the original idea but changes vocabulary and sentence structure.

A short statement of a text's main points, written in the reader's own words. It leaves out minor details and examples while keeping the central idea and important supporting information.

A sentence, usually near the beginning of a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main point. The other sentences should support or explain it with details and examples.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, first, or in addition that shows how ideas connect. It helps readers follow contrast, cause, result, time, or added information.

A group of sentences about one main idea. It usually begins with a topic sentence, includes supporting details, and ends with a closing sentence that wraps up the point.

A sentence that clearly states what the writer thinks or believes about a topic. A strong one is specific and can be supported with reasons and examples in the rest of the text.

An explanation or piece of evidence that shows why an opinion is reasonable. A good reason is directly connected to the opinion and may be developed with an example or personal experience.

The final sentence of a paragraph or piece of writing. It often restates the main point in a new way, summarizes key reasons, or gives a final thought without adding a new topic.

A short plan made before writing that lists the main point, supporting reasons, and examples in order. It helps the writer organize ideas and avoid missing or repeating information.

Writing down key words, numbers, names, or short phrases while listening so important information is not forgotten. Good notes use abbreviations and focus on the main points, not full sentences.

An exercise in which a person listens to spoken words or sentences and writes them exactly. It tests careful listening, spelling, punctuation, and the ability to hold words in memory.

The rise and fall of a speaker's voice across a phrase or sentence. It can show a question, surprise, listing, or the end of a thought and helps listeners understand meaning.

The extra force or loudness given to a syllable or word in speech. In English, stress can change meaning and helps listeners identify important words in a sentence.

A conversation between two or more speakers. In listening tasks, the speakers' purpose, relationship, and tone can be as important as the specific facts they mention.

A spoken or written public message that gives information to many people, such as a schedule change or event notice. Listeners should catch the topic, time, place, and required action.