MATSEC IM English flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Comma splice

An error in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma alone, with no coordinating conjunction. Correct it with a full stop, semicolon, or by adding 'and', 'but' or 'so'.

Non-defining relative clause

A clause giving extra, non-essential information about a noun, enclosed in commas. It cannot use 'that': 'My car, which is red, is parked outside.' Removing it leaves the sentence grammatical.

Defining relative clause

A clause that identifies which noun is meant and is written without commas. 'That' is permitted: 'The man who called is my uncle.' Removing it changes the sentence's core meaning.

Present perfect vs past simple

Present perfect links a past action to the present and rejects finished time markers: 'I have lost my keys.' Past simple requires a finished time: 'I lost my keys yesterday.'

Reported speech backshift

When the reporting verb is past, shift the reported verb one step back: present to past, past to past perfect, will to would. Time words shift too: now to then, tomorrow to the next day.

Second conditional

Formed with 'if' plus past simple and 'would' plus infinitive, expressing an unreal or improbable present situation: 'If I had more time, I would travel.'

Third conditional

Formed with 'if' plus past perfect and 'would have' plus past participle, expressing an unreal past situation and its imagined result: 'If she had studied, she would have passed.'

Passive voice formation

Formed with the correct tense of 'be' plus past participle, promoting the object to subject position. 'By' plus agent is added only when the doer is informative.

Semicolon function

Joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or separates complex list items that already contain commas. It never follows a phrase that cannot stand alone.

Colon function

Follows a complete clause and introduces a list, explanation, example or quotation. It must not separate a verb from its object or a preposition from its complement.

Affect versus effect

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence. 'Effect' is usually a noun meaning a result. The rare verb 'effect' means to bring about, as in 'effect change'.

Fewer versus less

'Fewer' modifies plural countable nouns: fewer cars, fewer people. 'Less' modifies uncountable nouns: less traffic, less money. Exam error-spotting items test this distinction directly.

Its versus it's

'Its' is the possessive form with no apostrophe: 'The dog wagged its tail.' 'It's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'. Substituting 'it is' tests which form is correct.

Subject-verb agreement traps

Indefinite pronouns such as each, everyone, neither and either take singular verbs. 'News', 'mathematics' and 'physics' are singular despite their final -s. Collective nouns must be treated consistently.

Formal register markers

Formal prose avoids contractions, slang and first-person anecdote, prefers single Latinate verbs over phrasal verbs, uses impersonal constructions, and links ideas with moreover, therefore and nevertheless.

Topic sentence

The sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's controlling idea. Every following sentence should support or illustrate it; a paragraph without one loses cohesion marks.

Cohesive devices

Words and structures that link text: pronouns with clear antecedents, repeated key nouns, conjunctions, and adverbials such as 'however', 'therefore', 'in addition', 'consequently'.

Discourse markers by function

Addition: moreover, furthermore. Contrast: however, whereas. Cause: owing to, since. Result: consequently, thus. Concession: although, despite plus noun or -ing. Exemplification: for instance, namely.

Skimming versus scanning

Skimming reads quickly for general meaning, gist or the writer's attitude. Scanning searches for specific details such as names, dates or figures. Comprehension tasks specify which is required.

Inference question

A comprehension item whose answer the passage supports but does not state directly. The correct option must be justified by textual evidence, not by general knowledge or personal opinion.

In your own words

An instruction forbidding verbatim copying from the passage. The answer must restate the idea using different vocabulary and structure while preserving the original meaning exactly.

Writer's tone

The attitude conveyed through evaluative adjectives, modal verbs and hedges. Irony, criticism, neutrality and persuasion are identified from these signals, not from the topic alone.

Collocation

The conventional pairing of words, such as 'make a decision', 'take measures', 'heavy rain'. Correct collocation overrides literal synonymy when choosing vocabulary answers.

Summary writing rules

Retain each paragraph's main claim, delete examples and repetition, generalise lists, and paraphrase rather than copy. A summary keeps the source's stance and adds no personal opinion.

Word formation suffixes

Noun suffixes include -tion, -ment, -ness, -ity. Adjective suffixes include -ous, -ive, -able, -ful. Negative prefixes are un-, in-, im-, il-, ir-, dis-, chosen according to the root.

Doubling final consonant rule

Double the final consonant before a vowel suffix when a one-syllable word ends consonant-vowel-consonant: stop becomes stopped, big becomes bigger. Polysyllabic words double only when stress falls on the last syllable.

British spelling conventions

MATSEC scripts conventionally use British forms: organise, colour, centre, defence, travelled. Either variety is acceptable if applied consistently throughout the script.

Gerund after certain verbs

Verbs such as enjoy, avoid, suggest, mind and look forward to take an -ing form: 'She enjoys reading.' Using an infinitive after these verbs is an error.

Infinitive after certain verbs

Verbs such as want, decide, hope, manage and afford take 'to' plus infinitive: 'They decided to leave.' These verbs do not take a gerund complement.

Modal certainty scale

'Must' marks strong deduction, 'should' probable, 'may/might/could' possible, and 'can't' a negative deduction. Choosing the wrong modal changes the strength of the claim.

Direct speech punctuation

Quotation marks enclose the exact spoken words. A comma separates the reporting clause from the quotation, and question or exclamation marks belonging to the quoted words go inside the closing quotation mark.

Used to versus be used to

'Used to' plus infinitive describes a finished past habit: 'I used to swim.' 'Be used to' plus -ing describes familiarity: 'I am used to waking early.' The two are not interchangeable.