NECO English key terms

The sentence or short set of sentences that states the central claim of an essay and tells the reader what the essay will argue or explain.

A sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that names the paragraph’s main idea and controls what the rest of the paragraph discusses.

The quality of an essay or paragraph that makes its ideas easy to follow because each part is logically connected to the next and supports the overall purpose.

The use of linking words, pronouns and repeated key terms to tie sentences and paragraphs together so that the writing reads as a connected whole.

The level of formality in language, such as formal, neutral or informal, chosen to suit a particular audience, purpose and writing situation.

A letter written in polite, standard language to an official, institution or person you do not know well, following conventions such as addresses, salutation, heading and closing.

An essay that takes a clear position on an issue and supports it with reasons and evidence while also acknowledging and answering opposing views.

An essay that explains, describes or informs about a topic in a balanced way, using facts and clear organization rather than trying to persuade the reader.

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in a passage rather than from a statement made directly; it requires combining evidence with general knowledge.

The central point that a passage or paragraph is about, often stated in a topic sentence but sometimes left for the reader to work out.

The meaning a word or phrase has in a particular passage, which may differ from its usual dictionary meaning because of the surrounding words and situation.

The attitude a writer expresses towards the subject or reader, such as serious, humorous, critical or sympathetic, shown through word choice and style.

To restate a passage’s meaning in your own words, keeping the main ideas but changing the wording and sentence structure.

A reading skill of separating statements that can be proved true or false from statements that express beliefs, feelings or judgements.

Language that uses images, comparisons or unusual expressions rather than literal meaning, such as metaphor, simile and personification, to create a special effect.

A contrast between what is said or expected and what is actually meant or happens, often used to criticize or amuse.

The skill of reducing a passage to its most important points in your own words, leaving out examples and details that are not essential.

The most important idea in a passage or section, which a summary must keep because it carries the writer’s central message.

A fact, example or explanation that helps to develop or prove a main point and is usually left out of a summary.

Unnecessary repetition of an idea or word in a passage; in summary writing, redundant material should be removed to save words and keep the message clear.

The quality of expressing an idea in as few words as possible without losing important meaning, a key requirement in summary writing.

The maximum number of words allowed for an answer, which a summary must respect even if it means cutting extra detail.

The grammatical agreement between parts of a sentence, especially the agreement between a subject and its verb in number and person.

The form of a verb that shows the time of an action or state, such as present, past or future.

A helping verb such as can, may, must or should that adds meanings like ability, permission, obligation or possibility to a main verb.

A verb combined with an adverb or preposition, or both, that together have a meaning different from the verb alone, as in give up.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of its individual words, such as break the ice.

The habitual pairing of words that native speakers naturally use together, such as heavy rain rather than strong rain or make a mistake rather than do a mistake.

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

A pronoun such as who, which or that that introduces a clause describing a noun and connects it to the rest of the sentence.

A sentence pattern in which the subject receives the action rather than doing it, formed with be and a past participle, as in the letter was written.

A clause that states a condition, often beginning with if or unless, on which the action in the main clause depends.

The smallest unit of sound in a language that can change meaning, such as the difference between /p/ and /b/ in pat and bat.

A speech sound made without blocking the flow of air through the mouth, such as the sounds in see, sit, bed and car.

A speech sound made by partly or completely blocking the flow of air through the mouth, such as /t/, /s/ or /m/.

The extra force or loudness given to a particular syllable or word in speech, which can change meaning or show emphasis.

A unit of pronunciation containing one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, such as the two beats in wa-ter.

The rise and fall of the voice in speech, used to show meaning such as a question, surprise or completion of a statement.

Two words that differ in only one sound in the same position, such as ship and sheep, used to test whether sounds are distinguished.

A vowel sound that glides from one quality to another within the same syllable, such as the sound in boy or house.