GCE A/L General English key terms

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text rather than stated directly. Readers use clues and reasoning to infer meaning, which is essential for answering questions that ask what is implied.

Stated clearly and directly in the text, leaving no need for guessing. When a question asks for a fact that is explicitly given, the answer can be found in the words of the passage.

Suggested or hinted at without being directly stated. Understanding implicit meaning requires reading between the lines and connecting ideas across the passage.

The central point or message that a paragraph or whole passage conveys. It is often expressed in a topic sentence and supported by details throughout the text.

A sentence, usually at the beginning of a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main idea. It guides the reader and helps organize the supporting details that follow.

A fact, example, or reason that explains or proves the main idea. Supporting details make a paragraph convincing and are often the target of comprehension questions.

Information in the surrounding words or sentences that helps a reader guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Context clues include definitions, examples, contrasts, and cause-effect relationships.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in a particular context. Recognizing synonyms helps in paraphrasing and in answering vocabulary questions.

A word that means the opposite of another word. Antonyms are often used in comparison and contrast, and recognizing them helps clarify meaning in reading passages.

A letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning, such as un- in unhappy or re- in rewrite. Knowing common prefixes helps deduce word meanings.

A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech, such as -ness in happiness or -ful in helpful. Suffixes often indicate word class.

The basic part of a word that carries its core meaning and to which prefixes and suffixes can be added. For example, the root of 'unbelievable' is 'believe'.

A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words, such as 'kick the bucket' meaning to die. Idioms are common in informal English and must be learned as whole units.

A natural combination of words that frequently occur together, such as 'make a decision' or 'strong tea'. Using correct collocations makes English sound fluent and appropriate.

A verb combined with a preposition or adverb that creates a new meaning, such as 'give up' meaning to quit. Phrasal verbs are often idiomatic and common in everyday English.

The grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number and person. For example, 'She writes' (singular) versus 'They write' (plural).

The form of a verb that shows the time of an action or state, such as past, present, or future. Consistent and correct tense use is essential for clear writing.

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, while a dependent clause cannot.

A group of words that functions as a unit but does not contain both a subject and a verb. Examples include noun phrases, prepositional phrases, and verb phrases.

The arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses to form sentences. It includes simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences, and affects clarity and variety in writing.

A word used before a noun to indicate whether it is specific or general: 'the' (definite) or 'a/an' (indefinite). Correct article use is a common challenge for learners.

A word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word, often indicating place, time, or direction, such as 'in', 'on', 'at', 'by', 'with'.

A passage with words removed at regular intervals, which the candidate must fill in from context or options. It tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar simultaneously.

An exercise where words or phrases are missing from sentences or a text and must be supplied. It tests vocabulary, grammar, and understanding of context.

Identifying and correcting mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or word choice. This task tests attention to detail and knowledge of standard English conventions.

The level of formality in language appropriate to a situation, such as formal for official letters and informal for friendly emails. Choosing the right register is key for functional writing.

A letter written in a polite, official style, often to someone you do not know well. It follows conventions such as a formal greeting, clear structure, and formal closing.

A message written in a relaxed, friendly tone to someone you know personally. It may use contractions, casual expressions, and a less rigid structure.

A short, public announcement giving information or instructions. Notices are usually concise, use clear headings, and are displayed in public places.

A structured document that presents factual information, often including sections such as introduction, findings, and conclusion. Reports are used in academic and professional contexts.

A group of sentences that develop one main idea. A good paragraph has unity, coherence, and often a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.

A longer piece of writing that presents an argument or discussion on a topic. It typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

A sentence that expresses the main argument or claim of an essay. It usually appears in the introduction and guides the structure of the whole piece.

The use of marks such as commas, full stops, question marks, and quotation marks to clarify meaning and structure in writing. Correct punctuation aids readability and precision.

A punctuation mark used to show possession (e.g., 'the girl's book') or contraction (e.g., 'don't'). Misuse is a common error in writing.

The use of uppercase letters at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns. Rules vary by context, but standard English requires capitals for names, days, and titles.

To express the meaning of a text in different words, often to clarify or integrate it into one's own writing. It demonstrates understanding and avoids direct copying.

The quality of being logical and well-organized, so that ideas flow smoothly from one to the next. Coherence is achieved through linking words, pronouns, and consistent focus.

The use of grammatical and lexical links to connect sentences and paragraphs, such as pronouns, conjunctions, and repetition. Cohesion helps create a unified text.

A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses, such as 'and', 'but', 'because', 'although'. Conjunctions are essential for building complex sentences and showing relationships between ideas.