VMBO KB Engels key terms

The most important point a text or speaker wants to get across, usually stated once and supported by the rest of the material. Questions often ask you to pick it from several options that are only details.

A sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that announces what that paragraph is about. Finding it quickly helps you understand the structure of a longer text.

A single fact, name, number or example inside a text. Details support the main idea, and exam questions often ask you to locate one specific detail rather than the overall message.

To read a text very quickly to get a general impression of its subject and structure, without reading every word. Useful for the first look at a text before answering questions.

To move your eyes quickly through a text looking for one specific piece of information, such as a date, a price or a name, instead of reading everything in order.

A conclusion you draw from clues in a text that are not stated directly. The answer is not written word for word, but the text gives enough evidence to support it.

To suggest something without saying it in so many words. When a writer implies a meaning, the reader has to work it out from the wording, tone or context.

The words, facts or examples in a text that support an answer or a claim. Good exam answers can usually be traced back to a specific sentence in the passage.

The attitude a writer or speaker shows towards the subject, for example humorous, angry, neutral or worried. Word choice and punctuation often reveal the tone.

The reason someone wrote a text or made a speech, such as to inform, persuade, warn, entertain or instruct. Recognising the purpose helps you judge which answer fits best.

The group of people a text or talk is aimed at, for example teenagers, customers, parents or experts. The audience influences the choice of words and the amount of explanation given.

A word such as he, she, it, they, this or there that points back to something already mentioned. Exam questions often ask what such a word refers to in the sentence.

The words and sentences surrounding a word or phrase, which help you work out its meaning. When you meet an unknown word, the context often gives enough clues to guess it.

To work out the likely meaning of an unfamiliar word by using the surrounding sentences, your knowledge of the subject and the grammar of the sentence, rather than a dictionary.

A block of sentences in a text that deals with one idea and is separated from other blocks by a blank line or indentation. Paragraphs help you find information quickly.

The title printed in large letters above a newspaper or magazine article. It is written to attract attention and often hints at the subject of the whole piece.

A question that gives a statement and asks you to decide whether it matches the text. Watch for words like always, never or only, which often make a statement false.

A question with several possible answers of which only one is correct. Read all options before choosing, because two may look similar and one may be only partly right.

The general meaning or essence of what is said, as opposed to every single word. Listening for the gist means focusing on the overall message of a fragment.

The specific facts a listener needs in order to answer a question, such as times, prices, names or places. Knowing what to listen for makes a recording much easier to follow.

Writing down short words, numbers or symbols while listening so you do not lose important information. Notes should be brief, because writing too much makes you miss what comes next.

An answer option or piece of information that sounds correct but is not the right answer. Distractors often repeat a word from the recording while changing the surrounding meaning.

To say or write the same idea using different words. In listening tests the correct answer is often a paraphrase of what the speaker said, not the exact wording.

A word that means almost the same as another word, for example big and large. Recognising synonyms helps you match what you hear to the wording of the question.

The way a speaker's voice rises and falls while talking. It can show a question, surprise, doubt or emphasis, and it sometimes reveals the speaker's real opinion.

The extra force a speaker puts on a particular word or syllable. A stressed word often carries the most important part of the message, so listen for it.

The way people from a particular region or country pronounce a language. Recordings may use British, American or other accents, so practise listening to different varieties.

The way a word is spoken, including its sounds and stress pattern. If you know how a word sounds, you will recognise it more quickly in a recording.

Language that follows polite conventions and avoids slang, used in letters to companies, job applications and official situations. It typically uses full forms like cannot instead of can't.

Relaxed everyday language used with friends, family or people you know well. It may include contractions, short sentences and slang, and is not suitable for official letters.

The greeting at the start of a letter or email, such as Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Mr Jones. The choice depends on whether you know the reader's name.

The words that end a letter or email before the signature, such as Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely or Kind regards. The correct choice depends on how you opened the message.

A shortened form in which an apostrophe replaces letters, for example don't, I'm or it's. Contractions are common in speech and informal writing but usually avoided in formal letters.

A word such as however, because, although or therefore that links ideas and shows how sentences relate. Using connectors well makes a written text clearer and more fluent.

The quality of a text in which ideas follow each other logically and the reader can easily understand how the parts connect. Connectors and clear paragraphing both help create coherence.

A question used to start a conversation or to keep it going, for example asking what someone thinks or how they feel about something. It invites the other person to speak.

The way speakers in a conversation take turns to talk without interrupting each other. Good turn-taking means waiting for a natural pause and reacting to what was just said.

A question asked after someone's answer to find out more, such as asking why, how or for an example. It shows you are listening and keeps a conversation going.

A speaking task in which you act out a situation with an examiner or partner, for example ordering food or asking for directions. You must use the prompts and respond naturally.